168: Chapter 167 The New English Teacher

The weekend passed quickly.

On Monday morning, when Su Bai arrived at the classroom, the morning self-study session hadn't started yet.

There weren't many people, just a few scattered groups talking together. Li Longyu was already sitting at her desk, head bowed, reading a book. Her school uniform collar was turned up high, covering half of her face.

Su Bai put down his bag and sat down. Li Longyu didn't look up; she just turned a page of her book.

Mu Qing walked in through the classroom door, holding a cup of soy milk. She sat down in front of him, turned around, and glanced at him. "Have you eaten?"

Su Bai said he had.

The class bell rang.

Teacher Song Jiang, the homeroom teacher, walked in, stood on the podium, and scanned the room.

"Students, today I'd like to introduce a new teacher to you all. Your English teacher, Teacher Wang, has retired. Starting today, Teacher Yan will be teaching your English classes."

He turned to look at the door. "Teacher Yan, please come in."

The sound of high heels clicking on the floor—tap, tap, tap—was very crisp.

A woman walked in, wearing a white shirt, a black pencil skirt, black stockings, and black high heels.

Her shirt was tucked into her skirt, accentuating her slender waist, full bust, and wide hips.

Her hair was styled in large waves, draping over her shoulders. She wore light makeup, with winged eyeliner and rosy lips.

She stood on the podium, swept her gaze across the class, and smiled. The smile was faint but beautiful.

"Hello, students. My name is English Teacher Yan Suxin, and I will be your English teacher starting today."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear, carrying a slight southern accent that sounded soft and sweet.

The classroom fell silent for a moment, then applause erupted. Some clapped, some banged on their desks, and some whistled.

English Teacher Yan Suxin smiled and picked up the class roster. "Let's take attendance."

She called out names one by one, and whoever was called raised their hand.

When she got to Su Bai, she paused, looked up, and her gaze landed on him.

"Su Bai."

Su Bai raised his hand. "Here."

English Teacher Yan Suxin looked at him for two seconds and smiled.

"Your name is very pleasant."

Su Bai didn't speak.

English Teacher Yan Suxin lowered her head and continued calling names.

The lesson began.

English Teacher Yan Suxin opened the textbook and taught an English short story.

Her voice was lovely, and her pronunciation was standard, like a radio broadcaster. She spoke slowly and clearly, pronouncing every word accurately.

Su Bai listened, occasionally bowing his head to take notes.

"Su Bai." Teacher Yan called him.

Su Bai looked up.

English Teacher Yan Suxin looked at him, her eyes bright. "Please read this short story aloud."

Su Bai stood up, picked up the textbook, and began to read. His pronunciation was also standard and fluent; he didn't mispronounce a single word.

English Teacher Yan Suxin listened, the corners of her mouth curling up, her eyes shining even brighter.

After finishing the last sentence, Su Bai put down the textbook. English Teacher Yan Suxin nodded. "Very good, please sit."

Su Bai sat down.

Mu Qing turned around from the front seat, glanced at him, and mouthed something. Su Bai didn't catch what it was.

Li Longyu kept her head down, her pen writing something in her notebook.

Liu Hao turned around from the front seat and pushed up his glasses. "Su Bai, when did your English get so good?"

Su Bai said it had always been this good.

Liu Hao opened his mouth as if to say something, but then turned back around.

The bell rang for the end of class.

English Teacher Yan Suxin closed the textbook. "That's all for today's class. Class dismissed."

She walked out of the classroom, her high heels clicking on the floor—tap, tap, tap—fading into the distance.

Mu Qing turned around and looked at Su Bai.

"Su Bai, the new teacher seems interested in you."

Su Bai looked at her. "How can you tell?"

Mu Qing smiled. "The way she looks at you is different."

Su Bai didn't speak.

Mu Qing turned back around.

At noon, Su Bai went to the cafeteria to eat.

After getting his food, he carried his tray to a corner and sat down.

He had only taken a few bites when someone sat down opposite him.

"Su Bai." Mu Qing was holding a bowl of noodles with lots of chili; the soup was red.

She picked up her chopsticks, lifted a mouthful of noodles, blew on them, put them in her mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

Su Bai ate his meal. "You eat noodles every noon. Don't you get tired of them?"

Mu Qing shook her head. "No."

She lifted another mouthful of noodles, put them in her mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

"Su Bai."

"Yeah."

"What do you think of the new teacher?"

Su Bai thought for a moment. "She's quite good."

Mu Qing looked at him. "What's good about her?"

Su Bai said she teaches English well.

Mu Qing nodded and lowered her head to continue eating her noodles.

The last period in the afternoon was English class.

English Teacher Yan Suxin walked into the classroom. She had changed her clothes into a black knitted sweater and off-white wide-leg pants, still wearing those same black high heels.

Her hair was loose, even curlier than in the morning.

She stood on the podium and opened the textbook. "Today we will cover grammar."

She explained things in great detail, making every point very clear.

When discussing attributive clauses, she wrote a sentence on the blackboard, turned around, and looked at Su Bai.

"Su Bai, please analyze the components of this sentence."

Su Bai stood up, looked at the sentence on the blackboard, and analyzed it.

English Teacher Yan Suxin nodded. "Very good, please sit."

Her eyes were bright, and the corners of her mouth were curled up.

After class, English Teacher Yan Suxin didn't leave immediately.

She stood on the podium, packing up her textbooks and lesson plans. As Su Bai passed by her, she looked up at him.

"Su Bai."

Su Bai stopped.

English Teacher Yan Suxin smiled. "Your English is very good. Are you interested in participating in an English competition?"

Su Bai thought for a moment. "What competition?"

English Teacher Yan Suxin pulled a piece of paper from her lesson plan and handed it to him.

"The National Middle School Student English Proficiency Competition. The preliminary round is next month. Take it home and look it over; if you're interested, come sign up with me."

Su Bai took the paper, glanced at it, folded it, and put it in his pocket.

"Okay."

English Teacher Yan Suxin nodded, picked up her textbooks and lesson plans, and walked out of the classroom.

Su Bai stood in place, watching her back. Her hips swayed as she walked, and the sound of her black high heels—tap, tap, tap—faded into the distance.

After school, Su Bai saw English Teacher Yan Suxin at the school gate.

She was standing by the side of the road, holding her phone and making a call.

Sunlight shone on her, and her hair shimmered with a chestnut glow in the light.

She hung up the phone, looked up, and saw Su Bai.

"Su Bai, where do you live?"

Su Bai said Lanyuan Residential Area.

English Teacher Yan Suxin's eyes brightened. "I live in the residential area next to yours. It's on the way. Could I catch a ride?"

Su Bai nodded and walked toward the parking lot, with English Teacher Yan Suxin following behind him.

Once in the car, English Teacher Yan Suxin sat in the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt.

She looked at the car's interior. "This is a nice car."

Su Bai started the engine. "Thank you."

The car drove out of the parking lot and merged into traffic.

English Teacher Yan Suxin leaned back against the seat, looking out the window. Streetlights retreated one by one, trailing streams of orange light across the car window.

"Su Bai, your English is so good. Have you lived abroad?"

Su Bai said no.

English Teacher Yan Suxin turned her head to look at him. "Then how did you learn it?"

Su Bai thought for a moment. "Listen and watch more."

English Teacher Yan Suxin smiled. "That answer is too perfunctory."

Su Bai didn't speak.

The car stopped at the gate of the residential area where English Teacher Yan Suxin lived. She pushed the door open and got out. After walking a few steps, she turned back, bent down, and leaned toward the car window.

With a graceful posture.

"Su Bai, thank you."

Su Bai said you're welcome.

English Teacher Yan Suxin smiled, turned around, and walked into the residential area.

Su Bai sat in the car, watching her back—the black knitted sweater, the off-white wide-leg pants, and the black high heels—tap, tap, tap—fading into the distance.

He started the engine, and the car drove away.

Back home, Su Bai changed his shoes and walked into the living room.

Chu Xiang was sitting on the sofa, holding a book open to the middle, though she wasn't really reading it.

Lin Qiaoyou was sitting next to her, hugging a throw pillow and watching TV.

Hearing the door open, the two of them looked up.

"You're back?" Chu Xiang asked.

Su Bai gave an affirmative grunt, walked over, and sat down opposite them.

Chu Xiang lowered her head to continue reading, and Lin Qiaoyou turned back to continue watching TV.