Chapter 27

Chapter 27

The school forum was abuzz with activity early that morning.

"Hey, have you all heard about that incident?"

"Is it true? Someone actually dared to confront *him*? Do they have a death wish?"

"I'm shaking in my boots. Several students from Class Six who got into fights have already transferred. All I can say is, good luck to this brave soul!"

"Wait! Who is this 'him' you're all talking about? What are you being so cryptic about? Can someone please explain?"

"The person upstairs must be an underclassman. How do you not know about *him*? Have you heard of Mingji Technology? The young master of Mingji Technology studies at our school. Search for the keyword JXL, and you'll find infamous stories of the young master 'kicking' both classmates and teachers in the past."

"???"

"I knew our school had a lot of rich second-generation kids, but I didn’t realize there were this many. Seriously, why doesn’t JXL study abroad?"

No one responded to his bitter remarks.

Everyone was clearly more interested in the morning’s incident: "It’s legit because I was there. When JXL walked into the school with his lackeys, the scene was so intimidating that even the student council kept their distance. JXL probably knew this, which is why he dared to blatantly not wear his uniform. The student council was already planning to pretend they didn’t see him and let him go, but then a female teacher suddenly appeared and stopped him. No exaggeration, JXL’s face instantly darkened. I was terrified. The female teacher looked very young—if JXL had thrown a punch, he might have made her cry. But guess what? She wasn’t intimidated at all. She directly pulled out her discipline notebook and deducted a point from JXL."

"So it was a young teacher. No wonder."

"Uh-oh, uh-oh. Is JXL really going to hit a female teacher?"

"Definitely. Maybe the female teacher is already in the hospital."

"Well... actually, no. After deducting the point, the female teacher shoved a broom into JXL's hand and told him to sweep the fallen leaves at the school entrance."

"?"

"???"

"And then JXL actually went and swept them."

"…………"

***

Jiang Xuli returned to the classroom after sweeping the leaves.

As he entered, his classmates all looked up at him in unison. He couldn’t help but frown, and they quickly pretended not to care, shifting their gazes away.

Wang Shuya turned around and called out to him from several seats away, "Jiang Xuli, what did Teacher Jin want with you?"

Ever since she found out that Jin Ran had given Jiang Xuli a set of math test papers, Wang Shuya had been bothered by it. She insisted on taking the papers and made a copy but still couldn’t finish them even after five days.

They were too difficult.

But she refused to believe it was a problem with her own ability. The difficulty of those questions far exceeded what was taught in the first year of high school. Instead, she thought Jiang Xuli was secretly working hard. Since then, she had been keeping an eye on him. Although she had always watched him before, now she was even more intense. Hearing about the incident, she couldn’t help but look at him suspiciously, "Since when have you become so close with Teacher Jin?"

Jiang Xuli frowned, "Who said that?"

Wang Shuya glanced at him, her tone dripping with jealousy, "Otherwise, why would Teacher Jin only target you and not anyone else?"

Jiang Xuli: "???"

Is this even human language?

Would you like this kind of "blessing"?

Jiang Xuli was so angry he almost laughed, letting out a cold snort. He had come to realize that woman had some kind of witchcraft—anyone who came into contact with her would be utterly bewitched.

Even he had almost been fooled.

Thinking about what happened to him that morning, Jiang Xuli gritted his teeth in frustration.

Little did he know that Wang Shuya genuinely wanted that "blessing."

As the discipline committee member of Class Three, she took her duties seriously. After class, she went to the office to find Jin Ran.

"Teacher Jin, next time you’re on duty, let me help you."

Jin Ran remembered this young girl who was always following Jiang Xuli around.

Teenagers always think they’re hiding their feelings perfectly, unaware that adults can see right through them like transparent glass. From their first meeting, Jin Ran could tell the girl had a crush on Jiang Xuli—the deliberate "coincidental" encounters, the evasive glances—all were the most straightforward scenes of youth.

It reminded her of a joke she once read: "When I was young, I always wondered how I got caught cheating. Later, when I became a teacher, I realized my teachers had actually gone easy on me."

The post was accompanied by a picture of a primary school student sitting upright during an exam but with their eyes darting around.

In Jin Ran’s eyes, Wang Shuya was no different from that primary school student.

Still, after spending some time with her, she quite liked the girl.

Not for any particular reason—simply because Wang Shuya was always exceptionally enthusiastic during math class. Sometimes, when Jin Ran felt tired, she would glance down at the classroom and meet Wang Shuya’s eager, hungry eyes.

After class, while others were chatting or playing on their phones, Wang Shuya would approach her with a notebook filled with questions.

What teacher wouldn’t appreciate a hardworking student?

There was just one downside.

"Teacher Jin, please don’t blame Jiang Xuli. I’m sure he didn’t intentionally not wear his uniform. I heard from others that his father just got remarried, so he might be neglected."

Jin Ran: "..."

Here it comes. This was the downside she was talking about.

Her good student, for some reason, had picked up some gossip and was always trying to stick up for Jiang Xuli in front of her.

Jin Ran helplessly pinched the bridge of her nose, "Wang Shuya, this is someone else’s family matter. Besides, you’ve never even met that... stepmother. Gossiping about others behind their back is impolite."

Wang Shuya had spoken without thinking and immediately apologized, "I’m sorry, Teacher Jin."

"Also, how can you assume she’s not good at math? What if she’s secretly a math genius?"

Wang Shuya, who had just been apologizing, instantly retorted, "Impossible! Teacher Jin, you are the best!"

Jin Ran: "..."

She didn’t know whether to laugh or be angry.

Angry because minors were so impressionable, believing every rumor they heard.

Amused because even in this situation, the other party held her math class in high regard.

What could she do? She couldn’t very well tell her that both were her!

Jin Ran felt this wasn't a good way to continue.

So when Wang Shuya was about to say more, she put on a serious expression and lectured earnestly, "If you truly want to understand someone, you should approach and communicate with them personally, not rely on hearsay, and certainly not jump to conclusions without really knowing them."

"Caring about your classmates is a good thing."

Seeing Wang Shuya’s flushed face, Jin Ran softened her tone a bit, "But the premise is that your concern comes from goodwill, not prejudice."

***

Being a mentor/confidante wasn’t easy. After Wang Shuya left the office deep in thought, other teachers saw Jin Ran slumped over her desk with a look of utter despair and tried to cheer her up.

"This is just the beginning. This is what being a teacher is like. It could be worse—homeroom teachers and academic deans are even busier."

"Exactly, look at Teacher Chen. Middle-aged and already half-bald. At this rate, he might as well become a monk in a few years."

"And the Dean of Students—not only does he focus on grades and student mental health, but he also manages the teaching staff and handles school administration. It’s like one person doing the job of two."

"I heard the principal has started looking for candidates recently?" one teacher shared some gossip. "Probably one of those veteran teachers from the senior class."

Hearing this, Jin Ran shot upright from the desk.

"Is it confirmed already?" she asked eagerly.

The other teachers were taken aback by her sudden energy, then couldn’t help but marvel at the resilience of the young. "Not yet. The principal probably has his considerations."

"Maybe it’ll be a competitive hiring process, based on comprehensive performance reviews."

Just then, Teacher Lu from next door suddenly spoke up.

Teacher Lu was the principal’s nephew. He usually kept to himself, but whenever he did speak, it was like dropping a bombshell.

Everyone assumed he’d gotten some insider information from the principal, and Jin Ran thought so too. Her eyes instantly lit up—as a young teacher, age and experience were her unavoidable "shortcomings," and they couldn’t be changed overnight. Unless she was willing to spend decades at the school, waiting until she was in her forties or fifties to become a dean.

But Jin Ran couldn’t wait that long.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have proactively revealed her identity during the job application.

Although some might see this as unfair, she didn’t think there was anything wrong with it.

First, she genuinely earned the position on her own merits—a graduate of a prestigious university, her demonstration lesson was among the best in her interview group. Unless Wencheng High School had suddenly lost its mind, they would’ve hired her anyway.

Second, the workplace has its share of unspoken rules. For example, men are often favored over women under equal conditions, and married women with children are often preferred over single or childless women.

Jin Ran also disliked these hidden rules, but since she couldn’t change the status quo, she chose to seize every opportunity.

When competitors were equally capable, an extra "advantage" could often be the deciding factor. So Jin Ran had a clear sense of her positioning: a professional with a unique edge.

Her teaching experience couldn’t match that of veteran teachers, and her professional skills might not surpass that of her outstanding colleagues, but she had one advantage no other teacher possessed.

Remembering something, Jin Ran took out pen and paper and organized the thoughts that had been swirling in her mind.

These ideas had been brewing for a while, and now they poured out smoothly. In less than half an hour, she had completed a detailed proposal for Wencheng High School.

As soon as the class bell rang, she grabbed the document and headed straight for the principal’s office.

The principal of Wencheng High School was in his fifties, portly and had a genial appearance, but a series of recent events had left him worried. When he saw Jin Ran enter, he mustered a cheerful smile and said, "Ah, Teacher Jin, come in."

Not many people at the school knew about Jin Ran’s identity, but the principal was one of them.

However, her hiring wasn’t a special case. By the time he found out, the list of candidates selected from the interviews had already been finalized, and Jin Ran was on it.

At first, he thought this well-connected Mrs. Jiang might struggle to adjust, or that she’d joined the school just to look after her stepson.

Unexpectedly, after starting, she neither put on airs nor asked for special treatment. Instead, she was more diligent than many seasoned teachers. Over time, the principal stopped paying her special attention.

"Are you settling in well at the school, Teacher Jin? If there’s anything you need, just let me know. Our school values teachers’ well-being."

Out of respect for Mr. Jiang, as long as it wasn’t too troublesome, the principal would help her where he could.

Jin Ran didn’t know the principal’s exact thoughts, but she had a pretty good idea.

Before proving her capabilities, she would always be seen as "Mrs. Jiang Mingsuo" in others’ eyes.

Fortunately, she didn’t mind. She even proactively leveraged this connection, smiling as she thanked the principal before smoothly shifting the conversation to casual matters. With a concerned tone, she said, "I heard from other teachers that several new schools have been built in A City recently, especially high schools. But the educational resources from the authorities are limited, and Wencheng’s share keeps shrinking."

"Exactly," the principal sighed, reminded of his worries. "We originally planned to build a sports field and laboratories this year to provide a better learning environment for our students, but we hit a snag right before breaking ground."

Jin Ran smiled appropriately. "Even though I’m just a substitute teacher, I really love Wencheng High School. Your vision for the school is very forward-thinking, Principal. Such a great project should be more widely known."

Hearing this, the principal, who had initially been indifferent, his eyes lit up, and he sat up straighter.

The reason for his worry was that after the previous investor withdrew, the school couldn’t find new donors, and the project had to be shelved.

Remembering the woman’s identity, the principal ventured, "Even the best wine fears a deep alley. Our school is among the best in the eastern district, but it still can’t compare to those elite private schools."

Jin Ran: "I’ve thought about that too, but I believe our school still has some advantages."

It was only then that she finally handed her proposal to the principal, smiling meaningfully. "Besides, as you know, Principal, putting aside other qualities, my husband does have connections in certain circles."

***

When Jin Ran left the principal’s office, she not only got the day off but also received an additional promise from the principal.

If she could help the school secure sponsorship, she would be allowed to be involved in managing follow-up projects.

On paper, it was just handling miscellaneous tasks, but for an ordinary teacher, it was significant. Most teachers only needed to focus on teaching, but she had taken her first step into school administration.

In the evening, the glow of the setting sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the walk-in closet of the Jiang family villa.

A professional styling team of six worked efficiently and orderly. Stylist Freya held up two gowns and asked the woman reading on the sofa, "Which of these two do you prefer, madam?"

Jin Ran snapped out of her reverie.

The last time she’d been waited on by so many people was at Haidilao, the hot pot restaurant, when a friend secretly threw her a surprise birthday party, and a group surrounded her, singing "Happy Birthday," to her mortification.

Now the staff were stylists and makeup artists, sincerely asking for her input before bustling around her, determined to make sure she looked her absolute best.

Jin Ran couldn’t help but marvel at the extravagance of the wealthy lifestyle. Fine food and a beautiful home were one thing, but even getting dressed was taken care of for her.

She glanced at the two gowns in Freya’s hands—one a dark red spaghetti-strap dress, the other a silver sequined mermaid gown.

Without hesitation, she chose the silver one.

Grandpa Jin’s 80th birthday was just a formality for her, a granddaughter in name only making an appearance. There was no need to dress too conspicuously.

But little did she expect, when she went to the dressing room to change into the gown, she realized the silver one was even more eye-catching than the red!

The woman in the mirror resembled a mermaid queen emerging from the deep sea, with a vast expanse of her snow-white back exposed and her delicate shoulder blades looking as if they might flutter away.

Further down, the high-slit fishtail hem; her long legs peeked through with every movement.

Jin Ran’s face grew hot.

She had never worn such a daring outfit before and felt completely out of her element.

Yet she had to admit that this gown was truly stunning—its off-the-shoulder, backless design was covered in delicate sequins, glistening like moonlight on water. The fabric, cut, and measurements were impeccable, hugging her figure perfectly and outlining an elegant yet sensual silhouette.

As her shyness faded, it was replaced by a growing excitement.

In her joy, she wanted to share, and as soon as the styling was finished, she couldn’t wait to step outside.

On the other hand, men's attire was far simpler than women's. Jiang Mingsuo had already changed and was sitting in the living room reading a book. Hearing the noise, he turned his head.