“What’s that?”
Gu Chen didn’t react for a moment, standing frozen in place.
‘I was just secretly going there to take a bath. When did I ever discuss being the physical education representative with my teacher?’
“Gu Chen, discussing things with your teacher isn’t embarrassing. Why are you still afraid of people finding out? Really, never mind.”
Seeing his lack of reaction, Teacher Li reminded him again.
‘She had helped me this much; if I still don’t have any situational awareness, I might as well find a block of tofu to bash my head against.’
“Oh, oh, right. I was just afraid of people gossiping. Who knew Tang Ziya would insist that pervert was me, turning things into such a mess.”
Gu Chen wasn’t stupid; he naturally understood what his homeroom teacher meant.
Although he didn’t know why she was lying to bail him out, at least by admitting it, he wouldn’t actually have to take off his pants for an inspection…
Sure enough, the whole class began whispering again.
On the surface, they were discussing business, but their relationship had long been the subject of various speculations.
After all, the homeroom teacher always seemed to favor Gu Chen.
So, in the eyes of others, this had become a midnight tryst.
“What?”
Tang Ziya’s expression shifted, still looking half-skeptical.
She turned and asked, “Teacher Li, you’re not lying to us, are you?”
“As a teacher, is it necessary for me to lie?”
“Alright.”
Teacher Li really could lie without even blinking.
Since she had put it that way, everyone could only believe her for the time being.
It gave everyone a way out, preventing the situation from escalating further.
Gu Chen also sent her a grateful look.
“Everyone, start your self-study. Gu Chen, come out with me for a moment.”
After Teacher Li finished making the arrangements, she called out to him.
“Me?”
Hearing that his homeroom teacher wanted a private talk, Gu Chen felt another pang of unease.
He could only walk out of the classroom under the boys’ undisguised “death stares,” wondering what she wanted to talk to him about privately this time.
Since it was morning study period, the hallway was basically empty and very quiet.
To ensure they wouldn’t be overheard, Teacher Li walked up another floor and didn’t stop until they reached the rooftop entrance.
“Teacher Li, that pervert really wasn’t me!”
Gu Chen guessed she would likely ask about this, so he rushed to clarify.
“Yes, I believe it wasn’t you. However, the commotion Tang Ziya made by storming into the boys’ dormitory today was quite significant. Even the dean called me in for a talk. Tell me, what exactly happened?”
Teacher Li leaned against the wall.
As a teacher, she had to understand the situation personally.
The biggest news in the class was usually the various conflicts between Gu Chen and Tang Ziya.
Anyone would find it a headache.
“It’s like this…”
Faced with the inquiry, Gu Chen didn’t hide anything and recounted the entire sequence of events, including tearing her clothes.
“No wonder the class monitor looks like she wants to kill you. You brat, you probably enjoyed the view, didn’t you?”
Teacher Li realized the truth.
She even spoke with a playful tone, smiling faintly.
“That was an accident!!”
“I’m not some perverted thief; how could I do something like that! Teacher Li, why… why did you help me?”
Gu Chen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Of all the people he could choose, there was no way he would pick Tang Ziya to tear her clothes.
With her personality, she had probably already planned 100 ways to kill him.
It was said that she had been binge-watching *Detective Conan* to learn methods of murder.
Thankfully, the author, Aoyama, was afraid someone would actually learn and use them, so he intentionally designed the methods to be impossible in reality.
Otherwise, Gu Chen wouldn’t have survived until his senior year!
“You’re my student. Shouldn’t I help? Besides, you’ve already agreed to be the PE representative. If you really got caught up in a ‘pervert incident,’ wouldn’t it be a hassle?”
Teacher Li shrugged.
The corners of her mouth curled slightly.
Helping was helping, but it wasn’t for nothing.
“When did I agree?”
“Just now. By admitting it, you agreed.”
Teacher Li blinked her eyes as a reminder.
“Holy crap!!”
Gu Chen was suddenly shocked.
He finally realized it.
Admitting that they had talked last night meant he had also accepted the position of PE representative.
It was all a setup!
“I didn’t agree. This doesn’t count!”
Gu Chen waved his hand, simply playing shameless.
He refused to agree no matter what.
“Oh?”
Faced with his attitude, the homeroom teacher’s mouth hung open slightly; she had anticipated this.
She tsked twice.
“Then I’ll just have to admit to the students that I committed perjury for you. But it’s fine. If student Gu Chen takes off his pants for an inspection, he can still prove his innocence. It’ll just seem like your teacher was being over-affectionate.”
“Don’t!!”
Gu Chen was so terrified his scalp felt numb, and he quickly stopped her.
After thinking it over, it seemed that agreeing to be the class representative was the smallest price to pay.
“Fine, I’ll agree.”
He had no choice.
Even though he had been played, there was absolutely nothing he could do, so he could only temporarily compromise.
“Hehe, I knew you would make the wise choice, Gu Chen.”
Teacher Li patted Gu Chen’s shoulder.
She continued, “Also, don’t keep fighting with the class monitor. Find an opportunity to explain things properly and try to become friends, okay?”
“Teacher, do you think I still have a chance…”
Gu Chen spread his hands.
The suggestion was almost laughable.
She wouldn’t even listen to an explanation, let alone become friends.
“That’s easy. During evening self-study, I’ll arrange for you and the class monitor to go out and buy supplies. When the time comes, treat her to a meal as an apology. After all, tearing a girl’s clothes really is a bit much.”
The homeroom teacher’s arrangement was quite good, having considered everything.
If she made Gu Chen apologize in public, he certainly wouldn’t do it.
But if they went outside and it was just the two of them, it was barely acceptable.
“Fine. As long as she agrees, I have no problem.”
Gu Chen sighed.
Even if it was just because his homeroom teacher helped him out, he had to give her this face.
One had to be reasonable.
To survive in school, it wasn’t just about fighting; it was also about the ways of the world…
After getting his consent, Gu Chen was finally let go and returned to the classroom.
The eyes of the entire class turned toward him in unison, and there was a few seconds of silence.
Gu Chen ignored them and walked toward his seat, passing by Tang Ziya’s seat on the way.
He noticed she was staring at her phone.
Glancing over, he saw that the screen was displaying an AI search: *How to commit the perfect murder and dispose of the body without a trace!*
“Holy crap!”
Gu Chen felt a chill run down his spine.
As expected, she still hadn’t planned on letting him off.
Returning to his seat, that fat guy Guo Ming hadn’t come over yet, and Gu Chen couldn’t help but shake his head.
As for the reason, during the earlier confrontation in the dormitory, Tang Ziya had accidentally stepped on the guy’s body pillow.
When Guo Ming saw it upon his return, it was as if the sky had fallen.
He hugged the pillow and cried harder than if he had lost a wife, wailing that this was his goddess and now she had been foully murdered.
He beat his chest and stomped his feet.
In the end, he cried and shouted that he wanted to hold a funeral for his goddess, even ignoring class.
“Sigh, it looks like I need to find that pervert as soon as possible. Otherwise, Tang Ziya will eventually spread this rumor to the whole school. When that happens, I’ll be more wronged than Dou E.”
Gu Chen muttered to himself.
He figured that in this school, besides himself, Li Fugui was the most likely person to do something like that.
***