159: Chapter 159 I Like You

Standing in the back corner of the classroom, Fang Xun leaned against the wall, feeling as though the world was playing a prank on him.

Though it was true he really liked his younger sister...

He couldn't be that obsessed.

Fang Xun had already put on his jacket.

It covered the image of Jiang Qin's cute sleeping face on his T-shirt.

To be fair, the photo was actually quite well-taken.

It was a shot of Jiang Qin resting her head on her desk during a break between classes.

The young girl's head was tilted as she lay on her arm.

She looked like she was sleeping soundly, with a tiny bit of glistening drool at the corner of her mouth.

With such a cute appearance, Fang Xun felt it would have been hard not to take a photo to commemorate it.

But wearing that photo on his body made him feel like some obsessed solo-stan.

As Fang Xun stood at the back, those little rascals in the class would occasionally look back and give him a thumbs-up.

Looking at those thumbs-ups, Fang Xun very enthusiastically returned an affirmative gesture.

And then he was greeted by a piece of chalk thrown by his homeroom teacher.

"Stand properly and stop moving around."

And so... a whole period passed.

Before ending the class, the Old Class Teacher announced one more thing.

"After class, you and Jiang Qin, both of you come to my office with me."

As the Old Class Teacher's voice fell, the little rascals erupted in another wave of excitement.

When the teacher walked out, Fang Xun followed behind her, as quiet as a well-behaved grandson.

As for Jiang Qin, she was by Fang Xun's side. Although her head was lowered, she still glanced at him from time to time.

The crimson flush on her face had never faded.

They finally arrived at the office.

When the teachers in the office saw Fang Xun enter, they all greeted him quite enthusiastically.

"Oh, what did Fang Xun do this time? Sleeping in class again?"

"I bet he was playing on his phone again."

"It couldn't be puppy love, could it?"

"No, that's impossible."

Listening to the teachers' words, Fang Xun deeply etched the only teacher who stood up for him into his heart.

Who says I can't be in a relationship!?

What, I'm not allowed to date? I'll date, I'll date, I'll date!!!

Then, the Old Class Teacher slowly sat down in her seat, putting down the book in her hand before speaking:

"Fang Xun, oh Fang Xun, what am I supposed to say to you?

It's already the third year of high school, the final hundred days.

Look at you, look at you. You're struggling to even reach the minimum passing score, yet you still won't study hard.

Jiang Qin told me she wanted to help you and sit next to you. I only agreed after she asked several times.

Not only do you not cherish it, you pull a stunt like this on me?

What, trying to lead my Class Monitor astray!?

Huh?"

"No... no..."

Even though he knew it was an illusion, Fang Xun still felt intimidated facing the teacher.

Mainly because this shirt was really hard to explain; wearing his sister's face was a bit too abstract.

"No? If I see you wearing this shirt again tomorrow, you can expect me to call your parents!"

Saying that, the Old Class Teacher turned her gaze to Jiang Qin.

"You too. You're not really dating this brat, are you?"

As soon as the Old Class Teacher spoke, several teachers in the office immediately pricked up their ears.

Jiang Qin would actually date?

And with a kid like Fang Xun?

It wasn't huge news, but it was certainly something to gossip about.

"Teacher..." Jiang Qin murmured shyly, neither denying nor objecting.

"You're actually dating?!" The Old Class Teacher's voice suddenly rose several octaves.

"I was wondering why you asked to move next to this brat. So this was it."

"No!" Hearing the Old Class Teacher about to make it official, Fang Xun hurried to explain:

"No, please see clearly, Old Class Teacher. That... it's really just a joke. Jiang Qin and I live right across from each other, it's really just a joke."

Fang Xun didn't see that after he said those words, the light slowly faded from Jiang Qin's eyes.

"Really?" Jiang Qin said softly.

"Really," Fang Xun nodded immediately.

"Oh."

"See, Old Class Teacher, even Jiang Qin is nodding," Fang Xun said to the teacher upon seeing Jiang Qin's reaction.

However, the Old Class Teacher emphasized, "Early romance is not good."

"Exactly."

"But there's no point in me saying anything; you young people won't listen to me anyway."

"True."

"I won't separate your seats for now."

"Oh, okay."

"Jiang Qin, if your grades drop, I'll beat this kid up."

"Huh?"

"Go back now. Don't let your relationship interfere with your studies."

"We're not dating, teacher!" Fang Xun was still insisting.

Just as Fang Xun was about to explain further, Jiang Qin suddenly grabbed his shoulder.

"We understand, teacher. Fang Xun and I won't let it affect our grades."

"That's fine then, go back. I'll be watching your performance." The Old Class Teacher nodded and waved them away.

"Okay, teacher," Jiang Qin said. She immediately grabbed Fang Xun's hand and prepared to walk out.

"Wait." As Jiang Qin was pulling Fang Xun away, the Old Class Teacher called them back again.

"The girl is being so brave, yet you, a young man, aren't showing any sign of commitment?"

"Huh?" Fang Xun was stunned.

"I didn't..."

"Hmm?" The Old Class Teacher's expression suddenly became stern, her hand already reaching for the small pointer on the desk.

"I..."

"What?"

Looking at the increasingly stern teacher, Fang Xun had no choice but to concede:

"Sorry, Old Class Teacher. Even if I am in a relationship, I won't let it affect my studies."

"It's fine, I'm not worried about your studies being affected," the teacher's tone softened.

"?"

"But who are you dating?" the teacher asked again.

"Jiang... Qin?" Fang Xun ventured tentatively.

"Do you like her?" the teacher asked once more.

"I do."

"Do you love her?"

"I do."

Fang Xun said this very smoothly.

Even if everyone in the world disliked Jiang Qin...

He would still love his sister.

"Go back then, get ready. Class is about to start."

"Okay!"

Fang Xun followed the flow, quickly pulling Jiang Qin along as they walked out.

The moment they stepped out, Fang Xun let out a sigh of relief.

After nearly ten years, facing a homeroom teacher again still felt so intimidating.

"Let's go, it's all over," Fang Xun turned and said to Jiang Qin.

"I'll change out of this shirt as soon as we get back."

At that moment, Jiang Qin spoke up:

"Fang Xun, do you really like me?"

"I do," Fang Xun replied immediately. If he didn't like her, was he supposed to wait for Tang Xiaotang to come and like him?

"Is that really, truly the truth?" Jiang Qin emphasized again.

"It's really, truly the truth," Fang Xun affirmed.

Hearing Fang Xun's affirmation, Jiang Qin suddenly became bashful.

"Then... then... I like you too."

Jiang Qin clenched her fists tightly, her body somewhat stiff.

Saying those words seemed to have taken all her strength.

"I like you too. I like you very, very much."

As Jiang Qin said this, she threw her arms around Fang Xun with great force.

Tears flowed out at some point, soaking Fang Xun's school uniform.

The tears felt cool.

"Fang Xun."

"Yeah?"

Jiang Qin stood on her tiptoes.

"I like you."