TYAM Chapter 41

On the drive back from the amusement park, Boss Jiang appeared calm, as if he hadn’t just been outwitted so hard by the park. 

Ji Linqiu, on the other hand, was in high spirits, even humming a tune on the way home, a thing he rarely does.

Jiang Wang listened quietly for a while, glancing at the child on the backseat who was sleeping sprawled out like an octopus. He then spoke slowly, “I didn’t know Teacher Ji had such a talent.”

“Not bad, right?” Ji Linqiu chuckled. “Even the bungee jumping tower didn’t faze me.”

Jiang Wang responded with a simple “Hmm” and continued driving in his usual composed manner.

Ji Linqiu sensed something was off.

This guy was always sly, never one to miss the chance for payback when given the chance—especially today. Normally, Jiang Wang would react immediately if his pride was poked.

But now… Jiang Wang was acting as if nothing had happened.

Knowing Jiang Wang well, Ji Linqiu figured he was either hiding something or had already planned his counterattack.

Unsure of what it was, Ji Linqiu began to carefully observe Jiang Wang’s subtle expressions.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Wang glanced at him, teasingly adding, “If you’re hungry, there are snacks in the drawer.”

“You’re hiding something from me,” Ji Linqiu said sharply. “Just tell me what it is.” 

Their relationship had always been straightforward, which was why they got along so well. They never held things back or kept secrets.

Jiang Wang continued driving with a mischievous smile, intentionally staying silent.

Less than thirty seconds later, Ji Linqiu gave in, taking out a grape-flavored lollipop from the drawer and peeling off the wrapper for him.

Jiang Wang bit down on it, his voice slightly muffled. “Do you remember, it’s almost Chinese New Year.”

“Yeah, and then?” Ji Linqiu suddenly realized what was coming, and his brain sped up.

“Before New Year’s, right after the finals, isn’t there a parent-teacher conference?”

Ji Linqiu had a very bad feeling. “You’re not saying—”

“Of course I’m going,” Jiang Wang said, sounding quite pleased as he sucked on the lollipop. “I did win a little ‘Outstanding Parent’ award, didn’t I?”

This year, the parent-teacher conference was scheduled unusually late.

It was typically held mid-term, but during that time, a child had gone missing from a nearby school, and when they were found, they had tragically drowned. In response, schools were occupied with bolstering safety measures and education programs. After that, a higher-level inspection came down, and there was no time to organize the conference.

Having it at the end of the term wasn’t a big deal. It gave a chance to review students’ performances and remind parents about safety issues. After all, there were always those careless parents who got caught up in playing mahjong and neglected everything else, leading to accidents in the past.

But Ji Linqiu hadn’t expected Jiang Wang to seriously plan on attending this conference.

Things were about to get a little awkward.

Whenever Ji Linqiu shifted into teacher mode, it was like watching a celebrity on duty—his smile was always perfectly timed. No matter how frustrating the situation, he could handle it with grace and ease. You could say he was a master at navigating any social setting.

When he entered this professional mindset, his world-weary and rebellious sides were tucked away into a small mental box, perfectly sealed off. 

Before becoming close with Jiang Wang, this was how Ji Linqiu operated—stepping out of his tiny rented room, slipping into this polished version of himself, and only allowing himself to relax once he returned home. 

But now, if his ambiguous romantic interest sat in the classroom as a parent, it felt like the facade could easily crumble.

Teacher Ji’s brain momentarily short-circuited. “Don’t come.”

“Why can’t I?” Jiang Wang pouted with an aggrieved face. “I’ve been taking care of Xingxing for so long. Now that the finals are over, I want to show my concern for the child. Isn’t that normal?”

“Stop pretending already, would you?” Ji Linqiu retorted, pinching his cheek. “You’re doing this on purpose.”

Ever since Ji Linqiu moved into Jiang Wang’s home, Jiang knew all about school events and updates on Peng Xingwang’s academic progress. Whether his grades improved or slipped, Jiang was always the first to know. 

The child, who used to be at the bottom of the class, had now climbed into the top ten. He was well-behaved and self-motivated – there really wasn’t much to worry about anymore.

“Gently, gently,” Jiang Wang said, maintaining a straight face. “I genuinely want to witness Teacher Ji’s teaching style. I find it completely reasonable.”

Ji Linqiu suddenly felt like his professional life was under siege.

“Don’t cause trouble.”

“I won’t.”

“Don’t ask random questions.”

“I won’t say a word.”

“And no fidgeting. Don’t start folding things or messing around while the other teachers are talking.”

Jiang Wang shot him a side glance. “You know me so well. Have you been secretly in love with me for a long time?”

Ji Linqiu moved to pinch his cheek again.

“Wait—stop, you’ll make my face asymmetrical!”

Things turned out to be slightly more complicated than they anticipated.

Jiang Wang’s plan was simple. When the time came, he would dress sharply, slick his hair back, and stroll into the school. There, he would listen to the teachers praise young Xingwang on how smart and clever he is, and how rapid his academic progress is. He then could sneak a few flirtatious glances at the refined Teacher Ji, and then head out for a nice meal afterward. 

What he hadn’t considered was the presence of many other parents.

To be precise, these parents weren’t just his bookstore patrons; they were regulars at the local express delivery station, as well as potential matchmaking candidates, or relatives of such candidates.

The sharply dressed Boss Jiang had barely stepped inside the school grounds when a parent recognized him.

“Hey! Brother Jiang, you’re here too! Come on, have a cigarette—brand new pack of Furong Wang!”

“Isn’t this Boss Jiang! Here for the parent-teacher meeting, huh?”

As if magnetized, Jiang Wang attracted a growing crowd of acquaintances as he walked, like a snowball rolling downhill.

Some wanted to talk business, others were there to borrow money, having heard of his financial success.

“Our kids are in the same class—how could I not pay you back, right?”

Single mothers shyly greeted him, asking if he’d like to grab a meal after the meeting.

“Brother Jiang…”

Maintaining his smile started to become a bit of a struggle. “Sorry, I’ve got work back at the company later. Maybe next time.”

For a moment, Jiang Wang understood what it felt like to be a homeroom teacher, surrounded by dozens of people, each needing something from him. It was overwhelming.

‘No wonder Linqiu never wanted to be a homeroom teacher. Although being an English teacher probably wasn’t much better.’

Due to his overwhelming popularity and the love for social drama, a large group of parents from different classes had gathered, blocking the hallway. The situation became so chaotic that it drew the attention of the class’s homeroom teacher, an older woman, who frowned deeply and barked orders.

“Clear the way! Everyone, back to your seats!”

Some of the parents were her former students, and they scrambled back into the classroom at her command.

Once all the parents were seated, the homeroom teacher began the usual review: discussing the importance of second grade, how it laid the foundation for future success. These were the standard lines, repeated year after year. Every grade was deemed crucial — from first grade laying the foundation for middle school to middle school paving the way for high school.

Jiang Wang casually signed the attendance sheet and flipped through a primary school textbook, feeling a brief sense of nostalgia for his childhood.

The other teachers were either lined up at the door waiting for their turn to speak or off delivering their presentations in other classes.

It wasn’t until about halfway through the meeting that Jiang Wang spotted Ji Linqiu through the window.

Teacher Ji was busy, moving between several classes, with this one being his last stop.

Some parents had stepped out to take phone calls or smoke, and upon seeing him, they surrounded him to chat, forming a small group that blocked his face from view.

Jiang Wang had hoped to exchange a few playful glances with Teacher Ji, but realizing he wouldn’t get the chance, he sighed and slouched back into his seat, feeling a bit cramped in the small desks meant for children.

The homeroom teacher, Mrs. Xu Rong, suddenly cleared her throat loudly, abruptly interrupting the current speaker.

“Some parents are here, yet still seem half-asleep. If you’re that tired, feel free to go home and rest.”

Jiang Wang felt a chill run down his spine and immediately straightened up, offering the teacher an apologetic smile.

Teacher Xu snorted and didn’t bother to look at him again.

On the other side, Teacher Ji was busy explaining the English learning progress of several children to their parents. 

It was quite a mental exercise. Since he taught multiple classes, every time he met with a parent, it was like a pop quiz. He had to immediately recall each student’s details as if pulling them from a mental database, especially with parents testing him to see if he remembered their child’s grades.

After answering questions from three or four parents, a young and attractive single mother shyly approached him.

“Teacher Ji,” she hesitated, glancing inside the classroom, “that bookstore owner, Mr. Jiang, from this class… is he single?”

Ji Linqiu’s eyebrow twitched, but he calmly responded, “I’m sorry, I only handle student matters.”

The mother seemed slightly disappointed but kept sneaking glances into the classroom, clearly hoping to catch Jiang Wang’s eye.

Ji Linqiu looked over as well and saw Jiang Wang slouched over one of the small desks, looking both a bit frustrated and oddly adorable.

“I chatted with him briefly when I bought some books,” the mother continued wistfully. “He seemed so witty and well-spoken. Maybe next time I’ll ask for his number. You teachers must have such a tough job—thank you for all your hard work.”

Her final words were clearly just a formality.

With a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, Ji Linqiu bid her farewell and walked into the classroom.

‘That bastard, flirting with everyone everywhere.’

Jiang Wang was daydreaming when he suddenly noticed the striking, graceful, musically talented, kind, and elegant Teacher Ji enter the room.

Ji Linqiu looked bookish, polite, and distant—completely different from the relaxed person at home.

Boss Jiang straightened up in his seat, stealing a few glances at him.

Today, however, Teacher Ji wasn’t as approachable as usual. He had a touch of aloofness about him.

When it was his turn to speak, Ji Linqiu merely nodded to the parents and launched into a methodical explanation of the class’s English progress and the changes in their final exam scores.

The parents were fully focused, some even taking notes.

Ji Linqiu’s gaze remained distant, never once falling on a certain someone.

Jiang Wang felt a little disappointed, but he was also content just listening to him.

“In addition, I hope parents will pay attention to their children’s listening and language development in English. It would be helpful to let them listen to English songs or watch English-language films together.”

“Teacher Ji!” A parent suddenly raised their hand. “I heard from Teacher Xu that your accent is an authentic Oxford one. Could you recite something for us?”

Other parents and even some of the children joined in, eager to hear an English recital as if it were a rare treat.

Ji Linqiu nodded slightly and calmly said, “I will recite a poem by Shelley.”

He cleared his throat briefly, and finally, his gaze fell upon a certain someone in the center of the room.

It was like the moonlight shining through a clear night after a snowfall, illuminating the stars.

“Art thou pale for weariness

Of climbing heaven, and gazing on the earth,

Wandering companionless

Among the stars that have a different birth,—

And ever-changing, like a joyless eye

That finds no object worth its constancy?”

“Thou chosen sister of the Spirit, 

That gazes on thee till in thee it pities… “

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T/L:

The author said JLQ is quoting  a poem by Shelley, but didn’t say which one. Also, it’s formatted like: English stanza – Chinese translation, and the English was… uh… awkward. Here’s the original:

“Yet look at me，take not thine eyes away，

which feed upon the love within mine own.”

依旧看着我，别把眼睛移开。

让它们继续宴享我眼中的爱。

“Which is indeed but the reflected ray

of thine owy from my spirit thrown.”

这爱其实也不过是你自己的美，在我灵魂深处反射的光辉。

“……A i wear out life in watg thee.”

而我依旧在燃烧生命注视着你。

 

And here’s my cleaned version of the English stanza:

“Yet look at me, take not thine eyes away,  

which feed upon the love within mine own.”  

“Which is indeed but the reflected ray  

of thine own from my spirit thrown.”  

“…And I wear out life in watching thee.”  

I searched for quite a while and didn’t find any exact match, possibly because it’s either from a derivative work, or from a translated source. Correct me if I’m wrong though! I never studied English poems specifically.

I’m putting Shelley’s “To the Moon” (it’s technically a Sonnet? I think?) so JLQ was quoting a real poem. Why that one? Mostly because the previous paragraph was using celestial bodies as a metaphor, so this poem feels fitting.