The Class Genius Sitting Next to Me Is Always Trying To Flirt With Me

The old fashioned air conditioner in the teachers office was sending out cold air with a low buzz.

Hua Wangchun was sitting behind his desk, facing the father and son who sat on the sofa before him, at a loss.

He has been in the teaching profession for many years, it is safe to say he has seen and dealt with most-if not all-types of families and their dynamics.

But he has never seen such a peculiar situation like this.

Father Ye and Ye Cheng were sitting on opposite ends of the sofa, half the sofa between them, as if they were mere nodding acquaintances, not father and son. Maintaining a polite, business like boundary between themselves.

After Ye Cheng’s initial words, the two haven’t spoken to each other since. No small talk, such as asking how the other had been, or what they had for lunch, nothing of the sort.

Hua Wangchun cleared his throat, breaking the stagnant atmosphere that had settled around them.

“Since student Ye is here now, let us continue on with our previous conversation.”

“In regards to your question, Mr. Ye, I am sorry to say that the school has failed to receive a recommendation place for A university,” He cleared his throat numbly at Father Ye’s slight frown,
“But according to student Ye’s grades, he will have no problem with his admittance for A University.”

Ye Cheng was amused, thinking to himself that if the 13th high school could receive a recommendation for any university- considering the number of places are limited and no school could guarantee a place- that would be a miracle.

Slowly, he realized why Ye Gaoyang appeared here. There’s an 80% chance that he is here because of Zhou Yufen’s phone call that has stirred up trouble.

Ye Gaoyang nodded at Hua Wangchun’s words, “I’m not worried about Xiao Cheng’s grades, I’ll have to trouble the teacher to take care of him.”

Hua Wangchun didn’t know Mr. Ye very well, but as soon as he entered the door he saw his outfit and temperament and knew he was a high standing person in life, so he was very polite.
“No trouble, this is what we should do. Ye Cheng is a very good student.” Hua Wangchun said fawningly. “With your earlier question, class 20’s head teacher has taken a leave of absence so I will be personally replacing him until he is back.”

Ye Gaoyang frowned, “The children are almost in their third year of high school. If they change teachers frequently, it will affect their school work. I hope the school understands this.”

Hua Wangchun nodded his head like a chick pecking rice, “Of course! Of Course! You can rest-assured that there will be no more incidents!”

Ye Cheng felt bored. He used to be eager to hear this conversation; it was a symbol of Ye Gaoyang’s concern for him, showing that he cared about Ye Cheng and what he did.

Now?

Now he just felt like he was chewing wax.
Bored and tired. His head felt stuffy as the cold medicine numbed the edges of his fever.

Ye Gaoyang was still talking to Hua Wangchun. Ye Cheng stared at the crumbling label on the air conditioner, letting their voices come in one ear and out the other.

The crumbling sign hung off the old air conditioner, Ye Cheng was seriously thinking of when it would fall off.

“You’re right, I’ll arrange to change the seats as soon as possible.”

“Dean Hua, don’t get me wrong- I just don’t want him to be influenced by unimportant people.”

“Yes, I understand. Just this morning these two kids didn’t attend any of their morning classes.” Hua Wangchun sighed, “Lu Xiao is on leave, but not Ye Cheng.”

Ye Gaoyang turned to Ye Cheng, “What did you do this morning? You didn’t ask the teacher for leave?”

Ye Cheng gradually returned to the conversation, mind playing catch up as he looked from Hua Wangchun to Ye Gaoyang. He had no choice but to say randomly: “I went to find Lu Xiao last night, but it was storming and the rain was too heavy to return.”

Hearing this name, Ye Gaoyang’s expression changed, “Where did you go? Did your grandmother know?”

“Yes, she knew where I was. I told her.” Ye Cheng was reluctant to explain where he was, so he avoided the important information and said lightly, “Dad, it was raining too much yesterday, we were late this morning because we couldn’t get a taxi…”

“Late?” Ye Gaoyang’s voice turned stern, “You missed all the morning classes!”
The more he thought about it, the more wrong he felt, “Xiao Cheng, you were not like this before. You were very good, your grandma and I have never been called for something like this before.”

He happened to be passing by Nancheng when he was on a business trip, he decided to take a quick look at his son’s school and who would have known such a thing would happen!

Earlier, Zhou Yufen had told him over the phone that there was a student named Lu Xiao in his son’s class, this boy was a gangster and a bully who ranked last, and that he and Ye Cheng got very close.

After the phone call, Ye Gaoyang couldn’t help thinking of the last time he had returned home and found the drunk person in the house. That should be Lu Xiao.

He suddenly had a bad premonition in his heart.

Ye Cheng had never made him worry since he was a child; he was studious and the friends he made were all upright and honest.

Since the last time he went his own way and changed schools his behaviour seemed to be different from before. Ye Gaoyang didn’t know if it was because of his neglect that his son had quietly entered a period of rebellion, but he thought that no matter what, he should avoid letting him go astray!

Ye Cheng looked at Ye Gaoyang quietly for a few seconds, his indifferent gaze a whole solar system away from how he looked at him when he was a child.

When was the last time they spoke like this? Junior high school? Or elementary school?

Suddenly, Ye Cheng smiled and said without panic: “Dad, you’re so humorous. How many times have you been to school and home since I was young?”

The air froze instantly.

The label on the air conditioning finally couldn’t hold on anymore and fell to the floor with a quiet gust of wind.

Hua Wangchun felt embarrassment bubble up uncontrollably. He averted his eyes to miss the obvious family affairs being brought up before him.

“Well,” He cleared his throat, trying to ease the atmosphere between father and son, “Ye Cheng, watch your tone when talking to your father.”

As one of the Deans of the No. 13 high school, Hua Wangchun has seen many fights between parents and their children. The most famous one is Lu Xiao taking over the Dean’s office to fight with his father.

Hua Wangchun felt cold sweat soak his back as he prayed for these two Ye father and son before him to quell their anger and not resort to such violence. He didn’t want a repeat.

Fortunately, Ye Gaoyang’s upbringing taught him restraint, even as his chest heaved with anger and he felt his blood boil with rage, he didn’t swear at anyone or start anything.

With trembling fingers, he pointed at Ye Cheng and cursed lowly: “Look at this attitude! Even if you have good grades you can’t be unscrupulous!”

Ye Gaoyang took a steadying breath, easing the anger in his chest as his tone evened out.
“What have you always been taught- the most important thing is to be a person who treats others with respect! I think you’ve been spoiled by this Lu Xiao!”

Ye Cheng let out a laugh, gaze sharp as he stared at Ye Gaoyang coldly, “Treat others with respect? What have I always been taught? Do you mean for me to lead by example?”
Ye Cheng’s eyes roved over Ye Gaoyang from head to toe, “You don’t have to implicate innocent people. Lu Xiao is not what you call a ‘bad student’ at all..”

Ye Gaoyang stood up from the sofa, face alternating between red and blue as he pointed at Ye Cheng with trembling fingers, “You- you…!”

Hua Wangchun hurriedly rose to his feet, sweat dripping down his face as he chuckled nervously, eyes jumping between the duo before him.

“M-Mr. Ye, please calm down!” He turned to Ye Cheng, “Ye Cheng! Don’t quarrel with your Father, you need to use your words properly and talk calmly, if not call your mother to mediate.”

With a woman present, these two would never butt heads violently like this!

Ye Cheng got up, expressionless, “I don’t have a mother.”

He got up, slamming the door on his way out, irritation radiating off him in waves.

Hua Wangchun felt his heart plummet, blood freezing, his mouth opening and closing with no words exiting. After a long time, he finally managed to fumble a few words out, voice dry: “Ah, this… Mr Ye, I wasn’t- I didn’t realise…” Taking a deep breath he bowed his head slightly, “I’m sorry Mr. Ye, I wasn’t aware of your situation.”

Ye Gaoyang had a headache, taking off his glasses and rubbing at his temples, “It’s alright, it’s our Xiao Cheng who is too worry free.”
Righting his glasses Ye Gaoyang retook his seat, smoothing out his tie as he continued in a slightly heavy voice, “His mother died when he was five, so he’s developed a very stubborn personality. It’s my fault that I usually let him go unrestrained, in the future I will have to ask you to work hard and pay more attention to him to keep him on track.”

A student has just attempted to jump off a school building, Hua Wangchun would naturally have each student under a microscope at the moment to ensure no further accidents.
He said solemnly, “Don’t worry, I will talk to the students every morning to make sure they are all on track. I will go to class later and arrange the new seating arrangements for them too, Ye Cheng will be moved to the front rows.”

Ye Gaoyang smiled, standing up and clasping Dean Hua’s hand firmly, “Thank you, Dean Hua, for all your help.”

His cellphone rang so he bid Hua Wangchun goodbye and left the office, lifting the phone to his ear before the door had closed.

Hua Wangchun watched Mr. Ye leave, breathing a sigh of relief as he wiped his cold sweat.

Outside, Ye Gaoyangs voice softened as he answered the phone,
“Hey, Tian Tian, what’s the matter?… No, there’s just been a slight problem at Xiao Cheng’s school- What? She coughed up blood?! Did she go to the hospital?…”

Hua Wangchun couldn’t help shaking his head as Mr. Ye’s voice drifted further and further away.

**

After Ye Cheng left the teaching building, he diverted to the track field instead of going back to class.

The rain had finally stopped, staining the green grass with a glossy sheen as water droplets hung from the blades, the running track was washed clean; a vibrant red against the horizon still gray with rolling clouds. a soft breeze blew through, washing away the muggy air of the previous two days.

Every time Ye Cheng was in a bad mood he would go for a jog, the smooth continues motions relaxing his mind and body.

It was during lunch break, no one was around the field, Ye Cheng circled around the outer track and ran a few laps.

On the fifth lap a person suddenly followed, their footsteps and breathing catching Ye Cheng’s attention as he turned back.

Lu Xiao appeared behind him, tagging along at a constant speed.

“I thought you’d be finished after two laps, but you’re still going.” There was dissatisfaction in his voice, “Are you addicted?”

Ye Cheng remembered that he hated running the most. Seeing that he was willing to follow him, he thought it was funny.

“What are you doing?” He slowed down. Lu Xiao caught up to his side in a few steps, the two of them walking side by side.

“Hua Wangchun just went to class and changed the seating plan.”

“I know.”

They walked a few more spaces before Lu Xiao opened his mouth again,
“A man stood at the door for a long time, was it your dad?”

Ye Cheng pouted, “Probably.”

Lu Xiao nodded his head in agreement, “I think it was, he kept staring at me.”

“He was looking for you?”

Lu Xiao shrugged, noncommittal, “He’s still at the door now.”

Ye Cheng slowly stopped, breathing deeply.

“If he looks for you then just ignore him, don’t bother with it,” He said to Lu Xiao, “Zhou Yufen complained to him so he has a prejudice against you.”

Lu Xiao didn’t respond, his head lowered as he kicked the pebbles across the track, “Even if Zhou Yufen didn’t say it; he wouldn’t like me. After all, I went to your house completely drunk last time.”

Ye Cheng was stunned.

Lu Xiao continued, “I know your family doesn’t want you to be close to me. Actually, Chen Zhen’s family was also like that.”

He said it arrogantly, and yet it made one’s heart itch.

“What do you mean?” Ye Cheng’s eyes widened as he gaped at Lu Xiao speechlessly.

“It means you should stay away from me,” Lu Xiao said sullenly, “Don’t let your parents worry.”

**

When Ye Cheng returned to the classroom he saw Ye Gaoyang standing at the back door, a plastic bag hanging from his fingertips as he talked on the phone, pacing slightly.

Ye Cheng walked over and heard him say to the other person on the call; “Li Mi, cancel the three meetings for this afternoon. No, don’t postpone, I won’t be going to them at all. I don’t have time today…”

Ye Cheng waited off to the side quietly, waiting for him to finish his call. Ye Gaoyang hung up soon after, slipping his phone into his pocket and walking towards Ye Cheng.

“Where did you go? You didn’t answer my calls.” Ye Gaoyang had calmed down a lot, passing the bag in his hands over as he continued, “I heard that your voice was hoarse so I went to the pharmacy to buy some cold medicine, make sure to take it.”

Ye Cheng said nothing, taking the bag silently.

Ye Gaoyang sighed: “Okay, don’t be angry with your father. I know that I owe you too much in the past, I will apologise to you for that.”

Ye Cheng’s heart felt stuffy.

It was funny, if the child is making trouble, would you give him candy?
He used to be so obedient and sensible but he wouldn’t even get a glance from Ye Gaoyang. Yet now that he is a ‘problem student’ he is immediately ‘concerned’.

The irony of it.

Unfortunately, he no longer desires this ‘concern’.

“I have to go to work now so I can’t accompany you.” Ye Gaoyang said, “After the final exam I will pick you up and you can live in Shengzhou for a few days.”

Ye Cheng frowned, about to speak when the older man continued, “I’ve read your winter camp information, it starts in mid-January.”

Ye Cheng was speechless.