Chapter 33: Do Me This Favor, For My Sake—Won't You?

After Xia Yan finished speaking, she gave Yuan Xiangqin several appraising glances up and down. Her facial expression remained unchanged, but her gaze was full of disdain. Yuan Xiangqin’s face turned green with anger. “You... you’re shameless!”

“Oh, look at me, always speaking a little too honestly. Teacher, don’t take it to heart... Even if no one has ever called you a homewrecker in this life, there’s always a chance someone might in the next one, if we try hard enough.”

“You—you—you...”

This time, Yuan Xiangqin was so flustered she couldn’t even form a complete sentence.

A trace of amusement flickered in Xia Yan’s eyes. Did she really think she could outplay me? I’ve dealt with people far trickier than her in my day.

She could understand Zhu Yan’s hostility when they met, but Yuan Xiangqin was different. Not only did she unjustly accuse her child, she even tried to use him as leverage—no wonder Xia Yan refused to back down.

“Teacher, if you want to discuss my child, we can sit down and have a calm conversation. If my boy really did something wrong, I’ll have him apologize and write a reflection. But if...” Xia Yan’s tone shifted abruptly. “If you’re falsely accusing him and speaking rudely to me, then I’ll have to take this to the school administration and lay everything out.”

Yuan Xiangqin was so intimidated by Xia Yan’s forceful presence that she retreated several steps, her confidence faltering. “I... I didn’t mean it that way.”

“Then what did you mean?” Xia Yan pressed on relentlessly, giving her no room to breathe.

“My point is...” Yuan Xiangqin took a moment to recover. She hadn’t expected to be cowed by this young woman, but quickly gathered herself, glaring at Xia Yan. “You have some nerve! Go on, take it to the administration if you dare!”

A hint of mockery flashed in Xia Yan’s eyes. “Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. If you don’t know where the principal’s office is, I’ll take you there myself,” Yuan Xiangqin replied boldly.

“All right.” Xia Yan nodded and stood up, heading for the door. “Let’s go, teacher.”

Seeing that Xia Yan wasn’t bluffing, Yuan Xiangqin began to waver. She knew she’d made a mistake in her explanation during yesterday’s class, and if this escalated to the principal, a docked paycheck would be the least of her worries. If this woman said something damaging, her entire job could be at stake.

“I... I have another class! I’ll speak to Lin You about this myself. After all, you’re just the stepmother—there’s nothing more to discuss with you.”

With that, she tried to dash out of the office, but Xia Yan caught her by the arm.

“Don’t go, teacher. A stepmother is still a mother. If you want to talk to Lin You, I’ll fetch him for you right now. But unless you give me some answers about today’s incident, don’t think you’ll get off so easily.”

Half an hour later, in the principal’s office.

Lin You stood there with a stern expression. He had been drilling the students on the field when he suddenly got a call from the school and hurried over.

“Ms. Yuan, I may not know exactly what happened between you and Xia Yan just now, but as a teacher, bringing your personal emotions into class and unjustly accusing a child seems highly inappropriate, don’t you think?”

After Lin You arrived, Xia Yan briefly recounted what had happened, omitting the part where Yuan Xiangqin called her a homewrecker.

“Principal Li, I hope you can give us a satisfactory explanation for this.”

Principal Li looked mortified. “Captain Lin, please don’t be upset. There may be some misunderstanding...”

“Misunderstanding? Principal Li, are you suggesting my wife and child are lying?” Lin You’s gaze was intense, his tone full of challenge.

“I... Ms. Yuan, submit a written self-reflection,” Principal Li stammered, unable to respond to Lin You and swiftly turning his attention to Yuan Xiangqin.

“Principal Li, there’s no need for a written reflection. I just want her to apologize to my child,” Xia Yan said calmly.

A written self-reflection was the most ineffective form of punishment; if someone couldn’t recognize their mistake, even writing tens of thousands of words would be meaningless. An apology might not always help, but at least it could help her child regain some confidence.

“Apologize to the child? Impossible! I did nothing wrong!” Yuan Xiangqin blurted without thinking.

Xia Yan gave an “oh” and looked at Principal Li, her eyes questioning.

“Ms. Yuan! Watch your attitude. As teachers, we should set an example and correct our mistakes. Go write a self-reflection and apologize to the child. If you can’t, take a leave of absence until you’re ready to admit your fault,” Principal Li ordered sharply.

“Principal, I...”

Yuan Xiangqin wanted to protest, but seeing Principal Li’s furious face, she swallowed her words and nodded, suppressing her anger. “I understand.”

Only then did Principal Li’s furrowed brow relax. “Captain Lin, about this matter...”

Lin You glanced at Xia Yan, who smiled and said, “Principal Li, when I first walked in, I could tell you’re a wise and just educator! Now, I think I must add ‘impartial and upright’ to your list of virtues.”

Principal Li beamed at the compliments, the wrinkles on his face gathering in delight. But as a principal, he quickly regained his composure. “Ahem, Comrade Xia, you flatter me. These are just the most basic qualities.”

Yuan Xiangqin felt a tightness in her chest, unable to breathe.

Once the three left the office, Principal Li’s cheerful smile returned. He walked over to the mirror and admired himself. “Wise, impartial... Well said, indeed.”

“Lin You, this is the woman you chose? I truly pity Zhu Yan!” Yuan Xiangqin could hold it in no longer. Outside the office, she turned and pointed at Lin You.

“Hmm? Ms. Yuan, this is my family’s business, not yours. At school, I respect you as Xiao Zhuo and Xiao Zhe’s teacher, but if you dare speak rudely to my wife again, don’t blame me for having a word with Zhou Yong,” Lin You replied coldly.

Zhou Yong was Yuan Xiangqin’s husband, a company commander under Jiang Weiguo. Lin You’s meaning was clear: if you bully my wife, I might let it go, but I can always retaliate against your husband.

“Lin You, you...” Once again bested, Yuan Xiangqin stomped her foot and left in frustration.

“Ms. Yuan, don’t forget your self-reflection! If you do, I’ll be sure to remind you at school tomorrow,” Xia Yan called after her with a mischievous grin.

But the next moment, she felt her ear pinched by someone. “Still causing trouble? Come home with me.”

“Hey, Lin You, we’re at school! Can’t you at least spare me some dignity?”