Chapter 77

Mo Chen's gaze swept over the youthful faces in the classroom, all turned toward him. His eyes paused for a moment when they landed on Shen Qingtang, deliberately avoiding Ji Nian, who was sitting by the window in the far-right row. Shen Qingtang met his gaze briefly, her expression suddenly becoming distant. How strange... she felt as though she had seen the new Chinese teacher somewhere before. Shen Qingtang, who had lost that part of her memory, frowned in frustration. For some reason, even though Teacher Mo was undeniably handsome and didn’t seem intimidating, Shen Qingtang couldn’t shake the subconscious feeling that he was dangerous, someone she should stay away from. Ji Nian, on the other hand, felt the complete opposite. From the very first moment she saw Mo Chen, she found him inexplicably familiar, especially after he had once said, "No need," a phrase she had carried in her heart for two years. This aloof beauty—what a delight! For the first time, Ji Nian listened intently to a teacher’s words. When Mo Chen announced that they would be selecting a new Chinese class representative and asked interested students to raise their hands, Ji Nian immediately shot her arm up. She wasn’t the only one; many other children also raised their hands. Mo Chen noted their names, his gaze lingering on Ji Nian for only a moment before moving on. "These students, come to my office during break," he said. "Alright, let’s start the lesson now. Open your textbooks to..." After class, the other children either went to the restroom or ran off to play with their friends, holding hands. Ji Nian, however, watched as the beauty—no, Teacher Mo—left the room, her enthusiasm waning. Honestly, being a 27-year-old mentally stuck in a first-grade classroom was pure torture. She had already made up her mind: since Ji Tingzhou knew she could make antidotes, she would just skip grades in a few years. "Ji Nian." Shen Qingtang, surrounded by a group of girls chatting with her, noticed Ji Nian sitting alone, lost in thought. She got up and ran over. "What’s up?" Ji Nian turned to look at her. Shen Qingtang sat down in the seat next to her, hesitating. "Something wrong?" Seeing her like this, Ji Nian knew something was bothering her. "Did someone bully you? Call me, and I’ll take care of them!" Ji Nian shot up from her seat, the sound of the chair legs scraping against the floor startling the other children. Kids are often more perceptive than adults. During the school’s open house, everyone had already noticed Ji Nian. She had arrived with curly hair, a Y2K-style cap, a sleeveless high-neck top paired with wide-legged, floor-length pants, and a shiny crescent-shaped metal belt around her waist. Her striking green eyes had scanned the room with a cool, indifferent gaze, her expression both aloof and relaxed. Her presence was starkly different from the innocent, simple children around her. Ji Nian was notoriously distant, rarely speaking to anyone except Shen Qingtang. Rumor had it that Gu Xiuyuan, the "big boss" of the second grade, had her back, so most kids didn’t dare approach her, though they secretly admired her. Even her surname had been changed. Ji Tingzhou really did treasure his daughter. Mo Chen—or rather, Chen Mo—allowed a flicker of mockery to cross his eyes. "Teacher." Knowing that Ji Nian had concealed her identity, Chen Mo lost interest in the falsified roster. His gaze lingered on Ji Nian’s photo for a moment before he closed the book. "Come in." When he turned around, his face wore a perfectly warm smile, one that could easily put children at ease. The children vying for the position of Chinese class representative stood in a neat line, their eyes shining as they looked at Mo Chen. "No need to be nervous. You can tell me your strengths or what you’re good at." Including Ji Nian, there were five children competing for the role. Despite being only in first grade, Ji Nian’s class was full of confident, articulate kids. Each child introduced themselves clearly, listing their strengths. When it was Ji Nian’s turn, she cleared her throat. "Hello, Teacher. My name is Ji Nian." "The biggest advantage I have for being the Chinese class representative is—" "My math skills." The other kids: ??? Mo Chen looked at Ji Nian, his expression calm, no different from how he regarded the other children. He gestured for her to continue. This encouraging gesture made Ji Nian smile. She went on, "Being good at math means I have strong logical thinking and a flexible mind. I’m also highly self-motivated and have excellent learning abilities." "I’ve been a math class representative before, so I have extensive industry experience. I’m familiar with workflow processes and office dynamics, capable of accurately grasping teaching trends and providing strong support for the development of your Chinese class. I possess a keen sensitivity to language and decision-making skills, allowing me to make wise choices in complex environments." Everyone: "......" The teachers who had been eavesdropping exchanged glances. How many job interviews had this kid done in her past life to still remember this? Just then, the math teacher walked in, puzzled. "What do you mean, you’ve been a math class representative before?" Ji Nian turned to him. "Oh, Teacher, I was just about to find you." "Due to personal reasons, as well as my career planning and some practical considerations, my performance over the past period has not met my own or your expectations. After careful consideration, I’ve decided to submit my resignation." This kid, always with the formalities. The math teacher couldn’t help but laugh. "Resignation denied! You’re staying on." Ji Nian’s face immediately fell. The other teachers burst into laughter.