627. Work Life Shenanigans【8/10】
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The photoshoot for the wedding dress went off without a hitch, but the wait to get the pictures was going to be a long one.
The wedding was already scheduled for this year’s Qixi Festival—a date as romantic as a cheese plate at a party.
Booking the hotel and drafting the guest list was handled by the elders, leaving Lin Nan and Chen Yao to get back to life and work after the photoshoot.
“Xiong Da! Seriously, when are you going to get a girlfriend? Lin Nan and I are about to tie the knot here!”
Chen Yao spun around in his chair to glare at Xiong Da, whose bald head had reached new heights of shine.
“Not my problem,” Xiong Da deadpanned, maintaining his usual glacier-like demeanor.
Since graduation, Tu Junhui had returned to his old home to prepare for civil service exams, while Xiong Da had, for better or worse, joined Chen Yao at this indie game studio.
With a family that has more money than sense, Xiong Da didn’t care about his salary at all. He just wanted to work alongside people he knew. This guy was making four thousand a month, renting a two-thousand yuan flat, and spending a cool grand on collectible figurines.
Chen Yao, on the other hand, was fueled by pure passion for domestic single-player games to get into this gig.
Fresh out of college, sitting in an air-conditioned office was already a sweet deal, especially with four thousand a month. For your average undergrad, that was considered pretty darn sweet.
Most undergrads were pulling in four to five thousand at best, while some couldn’t find work altogether, endlessly tossing out resumes like confetti.
Not everyone could waltz out of college making ten grand a month.
The studio only had five people. When Chen Yao joined, he was told he’d be doing modeling, but now he was obliviously in charge of all the art duties, running around like his hair was on fire. The only time he got to catch a breath was now, while “working” at his desk.
Everyone in the studio was young, most of them having graduated only a year or two ago, with only the boss being in his thirties. He’d done quite a few games, saved up, and decided to open this studio to realize his dream game.
“When’s the wedding?”
As they were gearing up to work, Xiong Da suddenly leaned in.
“Qixi this year. Make sure to show up!” Chen Yao replied, only to catch a glimpse of the envious look in Xiong Da’s eyes.
Ever since his heart got stomped on, Xiong Da had turned into a full-blown hermit. Forget dating—he could barely manage to chat with girls anymore.
“Must be nice…” Xiong Da sighed, staring blankly at his computer screen.
“Nice? I’m not even married yet and they’re already pestering me about kids!” Chen Yao grimaced, shaking his head. “They don’t even consider what my financial situation with Lin Nan is like when they start with the kid talk.”
“Lin Nan’s teaching now, right?”
“Yep, she was a training instructor but quit to teach at a private middle school.”
Private school pays well, and you don’t have to take any exams to get a government position. Sure, the school’s reputation is as bad as a soggy cardboard box, but Lin Nan was going for it.
Chen Yao wasn’t worried about her at all. Those middle school kids could be little devils, but they’d learn real quick if Lin Nan gave them a few stern words.
Wait, wasn’t today her first official day on the job?
Hope the kids don’t give her too much trouble—fingers crossed.
…
“I’m your new English teacher, Lin Nan. From now on, I’ll be in charge of your class’s English.”
Lin Nan, a bit over five feet tall, stood at the front, bravely writing her name and contact details on the board. “Note down my contact info! If you need anything, you can find me.”
She looked up, nervous but trying to be friendly, at the few observing teachers in the back. Then, sweeping her gaze across her new classroom, her smile vanished faster than a magician’s rabbit.
You had to hand it to kids these days—their growth spurts were a miracle. In a middle school class, there were plenty of students towering over 5’7″.
But these kids… had started class just to chat, play games, and even the one in the back—built like a bear at 6′ because apparently middle school kids now either play sports or fight crime—was puffing away on a cigarette right next to an observing teacher without a care in the world.
Oh, so this is what the worst middle school in the city looks like?
No wonder the principal was so eager during the interview.
They’re all here just to coast through life!
Lin Nan straightened her face, picked up the huge triangular ruler from the desk, and slammed it down a few times for good measure. “Quiet!”
The class fell silent for a moment, but it wasn’t long before the chatter erupted again, almost shaking the walls.
“This new teacher is kinda cute!”
“Hey, do you have a boyfriend?”
“Just teach! Who cares about us?”
“How old are you? Are you sixteen?”
Taking a deep breath, Lin Nan tried to calm her nerves.
It’s fine, at least the girls in the front are fairly quiet and look obedient enough.
Chen Yao used to cause a ruckus just like this in middle school, even giving the teachers the finger sometimes. And look at him now—he’s practically her fiancé!
But the more she tried to reassure herself, the more her temper brewed.
All that pent-up frustration got released when Lin Nan suddenly swung her fist down with a thunderous smack, plunging the class into silence once more.
All eyes were on her, and she noticed the wooden podium wobbling precariously before it tipped over, collapsing to the floor with a crash.
The students froze, staring in shock at the splintered podium.
The observing teachers were terrified, not sure whether to laugh or cry as they silently stared at Lin Nan up front.
Is this new teacher a bit too violent for her own good?
Lin Nan remained unfazed as she squatted down and retrieved her English textbook from the wreckage.
“Alright, let’s officially get this lesson started.”
The podium couldn’t have cost that much, right? It’s just wood—should be under a hundred.
While pondering the price of the podium, she glanced back at the observing teachers, suddenly worried that breaking school property might get her fired.
Pushing the worries aside, Lin Nan asked, “Where did you last leave off in the last lesson? Let’s pick up from there.”
Silence engulfed the room, then finally, a girl in the front raised her hand. “We’re on Unit Three.”
“Great! Everyone flip to the Unit Three vocabulary list. Let’s read through these words together. Tomorrow, we’ll have a quiz on them.” Lin Nan nodded at the girl while giving her a warm smile.
This sent the girl into near hysterics—almost in tears.
With a sigh, Lin Nan scanned the class of middle schoolers who now looked like a bunch of quail, and continued, “Anyone who fails the quiz will have to run three laps after class. Now let’s read together…”
The bell rang, signaling the end of class, but the students remained silent as statues.
That’s when Lin Nan noticed the observing teachers gesturing towards the door. Only then did she realize it was time for her to leave, clutching her textbook and striding out of the classroom.
Once the door swung shut behind her, the chaos erupted—louder than a rock concert—as she stood before the beaming middle-aged observing teachers.
“Principal Wu, how did I do today?”
“…” After a moment of silence, Principal Wu replied cautiously, “I think, maybe, this job is not quite right for you.”
Lin Nan’s smile vanished in an instant.
“You see, things aren’t what they used to be…”
Touché. A few decades ago, if a teacher had a point, they’d just smack the kids around a bit and nobody thought twice. Back in the day, being a teacher was a respected gig.
But nowadays? Parents are ready to start a riot at the drop of a hat when their little darlings come home with a bruise, real or imagined.
——————
Almost done! Time to wrap up the graduation, wedding, and married life bits. Getting close to the finish line!
