Chapter One Hundred Fourteen: Return to Northern Jiangsu (4)

After letting Yang Xiaoqing play for a little longer, Yang Xiaofan and his group bid farewell to Zhao Liufang and set off for home. There was no other choice; time was pressing. The holiday was coming to an end that night, and Yang Xiaofan and Qin Nuanyu needed to rush back to Subei to prepare for their upcoming wedding procedures—meeting the parents, the engagement, the wedding photos, and a mountain of other tasks.

Zhao Liufang did not force them to stay and even sent people to see them off. With the movie set to premiere in a week, he had to work overtime to manage the final promotional efforts and theater scheduling.

That evening, after finishing dinner, Yang Xiaofan said goodbye to his parents and sisters, and with Qin Nuanyu in tow, drove straight to Subei. Thanks to his current physical state—which had reached the level of a sage—he possessed abundant mental energy that provided a constant source of vitality. Even after several days and nights without sleep, he felt no discomfort. This made the long drive safe, as there was no risk of fatigue.

By the time they reached Subei, it was already past two in the morning. Returning to the dormitory was out of the question, so Yang Xiaofan booked a presidential suite at the best hotel in the city and checked in with Qin Nuanyu.

It was past ten the next morning before the two finally arrived at their classroom.

"Permission to enter."

When Yang Xiaofan pulled Qin Nuanyu to the classroom door, her face was alarmingly flushed. It was too embarrassing—to be this late, and to arrive together with Yang Xiaofan, was enough to make her want to disappear. Predictably, the classmates let out a long, drawn-out "Oooooh," which turned Qin Nuanyu’s face the color of a ripe apple, even her earlobes burning with heat.

Yang Xiaofan gave a light cough, his aura of protective boyfriendly dominance instantly silencing the room. The students clamped their mouths shut, though they couldn't help but suppress their laughter. After all, Yang Xiaofan was currently riding so high that no one wanted to provoke him; they were all hoping to curry favor with him.

Only the teacher was unfazed. He didn't say much, simply pushed up his reading glasses and coughed lightly. "You two are over two hours late. According to class rules, you will have to stand outside for the duration of this lecture."

"What?" Yang Xiaofan frowned slightly. He wouldn't mind standing, but how could Qin Nuanyu? She was pregnant.

The teacher narrowed his eyes. "What? Unwilling? Do you two intend to break class regulations?"

"That's not it," Yang Xiaofan said, stepping onto the podium. He discreetly slipped a stack of banknotes under the desk and whispered to the teacher, "Actually, sir, there's a reason we're late. On the way here, we encountered a car accident and stopped to help the victims."

The teacher glanced down at the stack of red bills, his expression remaining perfectly calm. He gave another light cough. "Since it was to save lives, we shall let it slide this time. However, if such a thing happens again, you must inform me in advance."

"Yes, I understand."

"Then take your seats."

"Thank you."

Yang Xiaofan turned back and winked at Qin Nuanyu, who bit her lip to suppress a smile. Standing at the door, she had seen the whole transaction clearly. As they walked to their seats, she whispered, "You're getting more and more slippery, like an old oily fox."

Yang Xiaofan flashed a wicked grin. "Is it bad to be well-oiled? It reduces friction, saves effort, and boosts efficiency. Don't you know that car bearings need grease? Even engines need oil for lubrication."

Qin Nuanyu’s face turned pink. She certainly didn't think he was talking about cars. "You're impossible!"

The shy look on her face made Yang Xiaofan’s heart flutter. Thinking about it, he hadn't had a moment to breathe these past few days, and with Qin Nuanyu's pregnancy, he felt as if he had returned to his bachelor days. Now that they were settling down, he found himself unexpectedly missing the life of a farmer—toiling in the fertile fields by the mountain stream. It was tiring, but it made him feel alive, with the sound of music drifting through the air...

Looking at the teacher, who was still lecturing intently, Yang Xiaofan lowered his voice. "Class monitor, want some milk tea? It’s fresh and hot."

"When did you buy milk tea?" Qin Nuanyu was startled, then realized what he meant and pinched his hand hard. "Are you crazy? It's class time! No snacks or drinks are allowed in the classroom, understand?"

"What are you afraid of? You haven't had milk tea in so long, it misses you. Just take a sip."

"Yang Xiaofan! You jerk!"

In the end, Qin Nuanyu couldn't resist him. Coaxed and wheedled, she ended up sneaking the snack and the milk tea. But things took an unexpected turn. Just as she was drinking, the teacher suddenly called on her.

"Qin Nuanyu, why don't you answer? Tell the class what I just said."

Qin Nuanyu jumped in shock and stood up, her face turning bright red. She couldn't say a word. She had been too busy drinking to pay attention. She stammered, unable to answer.

The teacher shook his head, but perhaps out of consideration for the money he’d received, he didn't make things too difficult for her, though his tone was stern. "I'll let it pass this time, but if there's a next time, I will have to speak with your head teacher."

Qin Nuanyu nodded, feeling aggrieved. As she sat down, her eyes welled up with tears. Yang Xiaofan felt a pang of guilt and whispered, "I'm sorry, class monitor. It’s all my fault that you got scolded."

Qin Nuanyu pinched him again. "I never want to talk to you again. I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life. And... and I was trying to spit the milk tea out, but when he called on me, I got nervous and swallowed it all! It's all your fault! I hate you!"

Yang Xiaofan’s face turned a shade of eggplant purple. *Sigh, today is just not my day.* This wouldn't do; as her pregnancy progressed, her belly would only get bigger. It seemed he would have to find a way to secure a long-term leave.