“No, I have a place to go. Remember, don’t let my identity as a girl slip.”
Gu Chen refused Wang Meng’s offer and reminded her in a low voice.
There wasn’t much time left before class resumed.
By the time they finished washing up, it would be almost time, leaving no chance to sneak into the student dorm.
Fortunately, she had experience with this.
She could just use the public showers in the faculty area.
“Okay, I won’t.”
Wang Meng didn’t say anything more and hurried off with the others toward the student dormitory.
After retrieving her hidden clothes, Gu Chen confirmed no one was paying attention to her before sneaking off in the opposite direction.
This time, she didn’t have to worry about running into Li Yanqiu, as the teacher’s dormitory had its own private bathroom.
The faculty dormitory planning had been flawed from the start.
Most rooms lacked private bathrooms, forcing residents to use the public showers, which was incredibly inconvenient.
The only people assigned dorms with bathrooms were either those with connections to the leadership or outstanding faculty members.
Gu Chen remembered that Li Yanqiu had just started working there during her freshman year.
“There shouldn’t be anyone here, right?”
She peeked inside the entrance as usual.
At this time, faculty members were either in class or resting in their offices.
Even if someone wanted to shower, they likely wouldn’t choose this time slot.
It should be safe.
Once she was sure it was empty, Gu Chen cautiously entered.
She went straight to the innermost stall, turned on the hot water, and gave herself a quick rinse.
A sense of unease lingered in her heart.
I’ll just take a proper shower at home tonight.
A few minutes later, she quickly washed off the sweat, trying to minimize her time there to avoid any unexpected incidents.
Freed from the sticky feeling, Gu Chen dried off, changed clothes, and felt much more comfortable.
She was just about to leave.
But the moment she pushed the door open, she heard footsteps outside.
“Damn it, you can’t be serious!”
She was literally about to leave.
How could someone actually come now?
And why did this scenario feel so familiar again?
“It’s so hot. When will this awful weather cool down?”
“Just bear with it a little longer. It should get better by December. Alright, let’s go shower.”
From the sound of it, it was two women heading this way.
Gu Chen immediately hid behind the door, holding her breath.
After two separate door-closing sounds, she tiptoed, preparing to slip away without making a sound.
“By the way, have you heard about this year’s Outstanding Teacher selection?”
“Of course I have. Li Yanqiu got it again.”
Hearing the homeroom teacher’s name, Gu Chen stopped in her tracks.
“How is it her again? Outstanding Teacher every single year? What gives? We work so hard to improve the college acceptance rates, but ever since she arrived, none of us have been selected.”
“Why else? It’s all thanks to that vixen face of hers, seducing people everywhere! I heard she has some shady relationship with Director Gou. She’s probably his mistress already, and the spot was just handed to her.”
“Exactly. She dresses like a total slut every day, it’s disgusting! What right does someone like that have to be a teacher? Reporting her is useless. It’s infuriating.”
“Don’t worry, her true colors will show eventually. Let me tell you something in secret. I had someone install a camera in her dorm this morning. We’re bound to catch some shady evidence. Once we post it online, let’s see how the school officials, who only think with their lower halves, can cover for her then.”
“Are you crazy? That’s illegal! If you get caught, you’re finished.”
“I’m not the one who’s going to post it, so what’s there to be afraid of? Besides, the surveillance cameras on our floor have been broken for ages. Even if they investigate, they won’t find any leads. Relax, I just can’t stand that woman’s methods.”
Inside the showers, the two female teachers chatted through the wall, unaware someone was listening outside.
“What!”
Gu Chen almost cried out, her pupils contracting sharply before a wave of anger surged through her.
What did they mean by ‘only knows how to seduce people’?
Every time Li Yanqiu won Outstanding Teacher, wasn’t it because of her class’s outstanding results?
Even if the boys worked hard for the reward incentives, that was still her ability.
What was there to be jealous of?!
She felt like kicking open the stall door to see exactly who was saying such despicable things behind someone’s back.
But she held back in the end.
After all, this wasn’t the right place.
More importantly—they had just said they installed a camera in Li Yanqiu’s dorm!
This was no small matter!
Once private footage was captured, even if the culprit was caught, her reputation would be completely ruined!
Thinking of this, Gu Chen felt frantic with anxiety.
Ignoring the two women, she rushed toward the faculty dormitory at top speed.
There weren’t many people around during the day, and with the hallway surveillance broken, she didn’t have to worry about being caught on camera.
Knock, knock, knock!
“Teacher Li! Are you there?”
Gu Chen pounded on the door, hoping it wasn’t too late.
But there was no response from inside.
With such loud knocking, it was impossible she hadn’t heard it.
Could she not be back yet?
If they hadn’t had time to record anything yet, that would be the best outcome.
At least her privacy wouldn’t be compromised.
She needed to solve the problem first.
She tried the doorknob and found it wasn’t locked.
She simply pushed the door open and went inside, ready to search for the camera.
“Huh?”
As soon as she stepped in, the sound of running water came from the bathroom.
“Oh crap! She’s showering?”
Gu Chen froze on the spot.
No wonder there was no response earlier; she was inside.
But if a camera had been installed in the bathroom too, then the homeroom teacher’s life would truly be ruined!
Without another thought, she rushed to the bathroom door and knocked hard, shouting:
“Teacher Li, are you in there?”
“Ah! Who is it?”
Li Yanqiu cried out in surprise, asking warily.
“It’s me, Gu Chen!”
“Oh, it’s you. You scared me. What is it? You’re getting more and more impudent. Do you want to shower with your teacher?”
Hearing it was him, Li Yanqiu relaxed, complaining with a hint of displeasure.
“No, no! Teacher Li, come out first. It’s something very important, extremely urgent!”
Gu Chen hurriedly explained.
“Fine, I’m coming.”
Soon, the bathroom door opened, releasing a wave of warm, humid air.
Li Yanqiu stepped out with a trace of annoyance, wearing only a blue towel wrapped around her.
Clearly, hearing “extremely urgent,” she hadn’t even had time to get dressed.
The towel only reached the top of her thighs, simply tied at her chest.
Because of her slender figure, the fabric couldn’t cover everything completely, still revealing a glimpse of snowy cleavage.
Un-dried water droplets slid down her fair neck, disappearing into the depths of her chest, nearly making Gu Chen’s nose bleed on the spot.
“Your eyes are about to fall out. Wasn’t it extremely urgent? Now it’s not so urgent anymore?”
Li Yanqiu didn’t seem to mind, just a bit irritated at having her shower interrupted.
She casually let down her pinned-up hair.
“Ahem!”
Gu Chen snapped back to reality and quickly said:
“Sorry, it really is urgent! Teacher Li, someone installed a camera in your dorm. Check the bathroom quickly to see if there’s one there!”
“There isn’t one in the bathroom. There’s one outside, though, right on the desk.”
Li Yanqiu answered calmly, showing not a hint of panic.