After leaving the school, Lin Jiang drove back to his shop.
Thinking back on Jiang Xiaoqi’s actions, there were a few things he still couldn’t figure out.
’Logically, I should have been the one to take the initiative and ask about the criteria for the Outstanding Teacher award. I never expected her to ask me out herself.’
’Could she have been drawn in by this uncontainable Charm of mine?’
’That’s a bit ridiculous.’
But no matter what, having a chance to meet tonight was definitely more advantageous for his mission.
After returning, he spent a busy day at the shop and also looked for a suitable design company on the side. The day passed just like that.
A little after five in the afternoon, seeing that it was about time, Lin Jiang got in his car and left.
Around six in the evening, the teachers of Huaihe Second Primary School began to file out of the building.
On campus, the young female teachers formed one group, and the older teachers another.
Due to the age difference, these two groups didn’t interact much outside of work hours.
After all, being older meant having seniority, and many of them were Outstanding Teachers. Naturally, they wouldn’t mingle with the younger teachers, as it would damage their prestige.
And among all the female teachers, Jiang Xiaoqi was particularly eye-catching.
A slate-blue skirt hugged her shapely legs, and paired with small black boots, it made her legs look long and straight.
On top, she wore an off-white knit sweater with the hem tucked into her skirt, complemented by a silk scarf. The ensemble gave her a relaxed style with a hint of a sophisticated, older-sister vibe.
With such a standout outfit, Jiang Xiaoqi stood out from the other female teachers like a crane among chickens.
"Qiqi, you’re dressed so nicely today. Got a date?"
The speaker was a slightly chubby female teacher named Xu Xinrui, who was walking out alongside Jiang Xiaoqi and the others.
"I always dress like this. It has nothing to do with a date, so don’t spread rumors."
"No, no, no. Even though your outer clothes are pretty much the same every day, there’s more to it than meets the eye today. Don’t think I can’t tell."
"Huh? What do you mean, ’more to it than meets the eye’?" Jiang Xiaoqi asked, confused.
"You’re wearing a push-up style today, don’t think I didn’t notice. Making your figure look this good... you’re definitely up to something," Xu Xinrui said, her eyes narrowed.
"I didn’t even notice until you said something, but you’re right, it is a push-up. What a sly move," the other female teachers chimed in, teasing.
"All my others are in the wash, so I just grabbed this one today. Stop making things up," Jiang Xiaoqi defended herself.
"Alright, alright. We know you’re thin-skinned. We’ll drop it," Xu Xinrui said.
"I saw you go to the director’s office this morning. Did she talk to you about the Outstanding Teacher selection?"
"Don’t say that, nothing’s set in stone yet."
Jiang Xiaoqi was being coy. Before the official results were announced, she didn’t want to leak the news.
"Oh, don’t be so modest. I went to the director’s office this afternoon and saw your file," another female colleague said.
"Xiaoqi, you’re amazing! You’ve only been here for a little over three years and you’re already being selected as an Outstanding Teacher."
"Our Xiaoqi has a master’s from Beijing Normal University. That’s a 985 university, several tiers above us. It’s only natural she’d be chosen as an Outstanding Teacher."
"Okay, okay, that’s enough out of you all. And even if you’re going to talk, don’t do it now. You’re just rubbing salt in her wound."
After Xu Xinrui spoke, the few female teachers with Jiang Xiaoqi all glanced to the side.
A lone figure was walking out, clutching her bag with a gloomy expression on her face.
The woman’s name was Ma Yang. She was three years older than Jiang Xiaoqi and had arrived at the school two years earlier.
Ma Yang also had a master’s degree from a normal university, but it was from a 211 institution. However, she had a real knack for teaching, and coupled with her seniority, her advantage had been significant.
But Jiang Xiaoqi was no slouch in teaching either. And when it came to the hard qualifications of her academic background, she was practically unbeatable in all of Huaihe Second Primary School. So in this selection, she also had a fighting chance.
But because of Lin Jiang’s appearance, Zhou Hejuan had changed her mind and given the spot to Jiang Xiaoqi.
Although the final results hadn’t been announced, the selection was already set in stone and wouldn’t change.
With the Outstanding Teacher spot having vanished into thin air, it was understandable that Ma Yang looked upset.
The teachers with Jiang Xiaoqi all fell silent and walked quietly toward the school gate.
At that moment, a black Mercedes E-Class was parked at the school gate.
Seeing Ma Yang come out, a man in casual clothes holding a bouquet of red roses eagerly walked toward her.
"Yangyang, congratulations! I’ve booked a table, let’s go celebrate."
"What’s there to congratulate? Someone stole it," Ma Yang said, her face cold.
"Huh? Wasn’t it already decided? How could someone steal it?"
"They must have used some dirty tricks. But whatever, it’s just a title. The extra 300 yuan a month in salary is nothing to me," Ma Yang said, making an indirect jab.
"It really is nothing. It’s not even enough for the two of us to have a nice dinner out."
"That’s what I think too. We have a house and a car, so it doesn’t matter how much I earn. It’s all just spending money anyway. Unlike some people, who have to work themselves to death to support their family."
Everyone’s gazes fell on Jiang Xiaoqi.
Ma Yang’s words were laced with sarcasm, clearly aimed at her.
But thinking about it, they couldn’t refute it.
Her boyfriend did seem to be quite rich; you couldn’t afford a Mercedes otherwise.
"Teacher Ma, stop with the veiled insults. You just have a bit more seniority. In every other aspect, I’m not any worse than you."
Jiang Xiaoqi couldn’t hold back anymore and confronted her directly.
"We both teach Chinese. My class’s average score is higher than yours. The highest score in the grade is from my class too. Even if you factor in every other subject, my class still outperforms yours. So don’t tell me it’s not decided yet. Even if they do give the Outstanding Teacher award to me, I’ll have earned it!"
"You!"
Jiang Xiaoqi’s words, fired off like a machine gun, left Ma Yang speechless with rage.
And yet, it was the truth. Comparing herself to Jiang Xiaoqi, seniority was truly the only thing she had going for her.
"I know you’re impressive. A top student from a prestigious 985 university. How could we possibly compare?"
Ma Yang rolled her eyes and said sarcastically,
"But as I said, it’s just an Outstanding Teacher award. I don’t care. I just work here to earn some spending money. Maybe I’ll just quit one day."
As she spoke, Ma Yang patted her boyfriend’s car and sneered,
"You should save up that extra 300 yuan a month. After ten or twenty years, you might even be able to buy a second-hand Mercedes."
"It’s just a stupid Mercedes, what’s so great about it? I couldn’t care less!"
"Ooh, ’a stupid Mercedes you couldn’t care less about’? Can you even afford one?"
HUMMM—
Just then, a Maybach pulled up and stopped smoothly in front of Jiang Xiaoqi.
The female teachers were all stunned, wondering what the car was doing there.
Lin Jiang lowered the passenger-side window.
"Teacher Jiang, let’s go."

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