My Sister Is Acting Strange - Chapter 36 - Is My Teacher Acting Strange Too?

Tang Yaoyao sat quietly at her desk, her fingers gently brushing over the bracelet on her wrist. Her gaze lingered on the small ring dangling from the end of the chain, lost in thought.

After a long while, she pulled out her diary from the drawer and began writing silently.

September 17th, Clear Skies

I really love the bracelet Jin gave me, especially the little ring on it. It feels like an engagement ring between Jin and me.

I’m so happy, it’s like living in a dream. When Jin kissed me, it felt so wonderful.

But Jin, do you know? I’m also so scared. Your sister is really scared.

Aunt Li’s startled, suspicious, scrutinizing gaze, and the faint trace of disdain and disgust hidden in her eyes.

I know where that disdain comes from. It stems from the ordinary mindset of people, from their moral codes.

That disdain feels like a knife, piercing your sister’s heart from the beginning to the end, reminding me of one undeniable truth:

Even though we’re not blood-related siblings, others will still look down on me. They’ll look down on you.

Sometimes, your sister dreams of Mom and Dad asking us how we’re doing. Even though they smile so kindly, I always seem to see a flicker of pain in their eyes. It makes me wake up feeling so guilty, like I’m escaping from the dream.

That’s why your sister hates dreaming.

And I know that if we’re together, this kind of disdain will follow us for a lifetime. We’ll live forever in fear of being discovered by others.

Your sister really wishes we could go somewhere far away, where there’s no one else-just you and me. We could hide there and live our lives.

But that’s impossible. I know that too.

So, Jin, what should your sister do?

If only I could be like Lin Ruoxi, meeting you, getting to know you, falling in love with you-how wonderful that would be.

Tears began to fall from Tang Yaoyao’s cheeks, landing on the pages of her diary, leaving faint marks on the paper.

The next morning, Tang Huaijin knocked softly on his sister’s door and called out, “Sister?”

“I’m skipping breakfast,” came her voice from inside.

Tang Huaijin stood silently outside the door for a moment before turning away.

His heart was in turmoil. He could ignore the judgmental stares of others, but his sister-being a woman, sensitive and delicate-would struggle to do the same.

She had always been reserved, keeping a careful distance. This incident must have shaken her deeply. Yet, a small part of him hoped that perhaps she would come to understand after this. If they were to be together, they would inevitably face questioning, even malicious looks from others.

He didn’t know what to do either. If he pushed too hard, he feared she might break down. But if he softened his stance, they would remain stuck in this ambiguous space between siblings and lovers.

With a heavy heart, he finished his breakfast and left the house.

Sitting on the familiar Route 9 bus, Tang Huaijin ignored Lin Ruoxi, who was smiling mischievously at him, and turned his gaze toward the window.

Lin Ruoxi glanced curiously at Tang Huaijin’s furrowed brow and asked, “What’s with you? Got dumped?”

Ugh, this brat. Ever heard of “don’t kick someone when they’re down”?

Tang Huaijin replied irritably, “Yeah, so what?”

Seeing that he wasn’t joking, Lin Ruoxi’s eyes widened in surprise. She pressed him, “You really got dumped? When did you even start dating?”

“None of your business,” Tang Huaijin rolled his eyes in exasperation.

Just as Lin Ruoxi was about to get annoyed, her eyes darted around, and a sly smile spread across her face. She leaned in closer, her tone suddenly playful. “Want to come to big sis’s arms? Let me comfort you.”

“Spare me, please.” Lin Ruoxi’s innocent face paired with her exaggerated attempt to act seductive was more comical than alluring, reminding Tang Huaijin of a clumsy imitation of beauty. He couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Ugh, boring.” Lin Ruoxi pouted in mock disappointment. She scooted closer and nudged his shoulder affectionately. “Come on, tell me. Who dumped you?”

“I already told you it’s none of your business. Move over a bit, don’t sit so close.” Tang Huaijin frowned, realizing Lin Ruoxi’s intention-to chat like old friends, bringing their dynamic back to the days when they were desk mates.

Seeing her little scheme exposed, Lin Ruoxi pouted unhappily and asked, “Why are you so cold to me? Can’t we even be friends after breaking up?”

Tang Huaijin sighed and replied, “Haven’t you heard? People who truly loved each other can’t be friends after breaking up.”

“So, you’re saying you loved me?” Lin Ruoxi’s eyes lit up.

Realizing he’d misspoken, Tang Huaijin grew annoyed. “Can you focus on the main point?”

“Why not? I still want to be friends with you. I want you to explain yourself.” Lin Ruoxi blinked, her probing gaze fixed on Tang Huaijin’s eyes.

“…” Tang Huaijin remained silent for a while, then turned his head back toward the window, ignoring Lin Ruoxi’s persistent chatter.

There are only two kinds of exes who can remain friends: those who never truly loved each other, with no emotional ties, and those who still have lingering feelings and aren’t ready to let go.

…

Arriving at school, Tang Huaijin didn’t bother saying goodbye to the sulking Lin Ruoxi. He headed straight to his classroom, where Bai Yuerou sat quietly, absorbed in her book. Her serene expression was a stark contrast to the chaos caused by the other women in his life.

Tang Huaijin sighed inwardly. Among all the women around him, Yuerou was the only one who didn’t cause trouble. She didn’t stab at his wounds or create drama-she was pure and straightforward.

Yuerou’s the best, he thought. Simple and without ulterior motives.

With that thought, a gentle smile appeared on Tang Huaijin’s face. He greeted Bai Yuerou warmly, “Morning, Yuerou.”

Immersed in her book, Bai Yuerou looked up upon hearing his voice. She returned his smile with one of her own, soft and graceful. “Good morning, Jin.”

Tang Huaijin’s gentle tone made her unexpectedly happy. Gathering her courage, she called him “Jin.” After saying it, she felt a bit shy inside.

How wonderful-soft and sweet, with a gentle demeanor that could melt anyone’s heart. Bai Yuerou’s shy blush only added to her charm. Tang Huaijin didn’t pay much mind to her calling him “Jin,” instead smiling warmly as he watched her.

As he continued to admire her, a figure clad in a black knit cardigan suddenly stepped into his line of sight, blocking it entirely. A mocking voice followed: “Could you not look at Rou with such a disgusting gaze?”

Disgusting? So, by default, that means she thinks I’m disgusting too? Bai Yuerou, who had noticed Tang Huaijin’s appreciative gaze, felt a mix of shyness and pride. But hearing this comment, her face turned a deep shade of red. Embarrassed and annoyed, she snapped, “What nonsense are you spouting, you little brat, Xinya?”

Tang Huaijin felt his face heat up as well. He had merely been appreciating a pretty girl, and she hadn’t objected. It was all innocent admiration. But now, thanks to Xinya’s remark, the whole thing had taken on a weird undertone.

He waved her off with exaggerated disdain. “Can you move aside? You’re blocking my view of the beauty.”

Xia Xinya’s eyes widened in disbelief. Pointing to her own face, she demanded, “What about me? Are you saying I’m not a beauty? Are you blind?”

To be fair, Xia Xinya’s features were exceptionally delicate-bright eyes, pearly teeth, and skin as smooth as jade. She looked like she had been handcrafted by the goddess herself. No wonder she was so confident. Hearing someone deny her beauty was enough to provoke this kind of reaction.

Tang Huaijin blinked innocently and glanced around as if searching for something. “Blind? Me? Not at all. But where’s the beauty? Isn’t the only beauty in our class standing right behind you?”

Though Bai Yuerou knew they were just bickering, Tang Huaijin’s repeated compliments still made her blush uncontrollably.

Tang Huaijin’s over-the-top performance made Xia Xinya grit her teeth in frustration. “What do you mean I’m not a beauty? Tell me, what’s wrong with me?” Her tone was laced with pride, clearly unwilling to believe he could find any flaws.

Tang Huaijin scrutinized her for a while but couldn’t pinpoint any shortcomings. Just as he was about to give up, his eyes lit up. He smirked and teased, “Your butt’s too small. That’s why I said a flat-chested, small-bottomed little brat like you dares to call herself a beauty?”

“Rubbish! It’s called petite and perky, thank you very much!” Xia Xinya retorted, covering her backside with her hands, her face flushed with embarrassment and anger.

“Ha! Perky, sure,” Tang Huaijin chuckled mischievously. Seeing her face turn an even deeper shade of red, he added with a sly grin, “But cuteness doesn’t hold a candle to sexiness. Compared to some people, you’re just… insignificant.”

Xia Xinya couldn’t stand being compared unfavorably to others. Her competitive nature flared as her eyes widened, her face turning crimson. “Who? Tell me who!”

“Why not? What, are you going to pick a fight with her?” Tang Huaijin scoffed, feeling a bit smug. With a tone of genuine admiration, he said, “Haven’t you noticed Counselor Shen’s figure? Now that’s-”

He stopped mid-sentence, noticing Xia Xinya’s expression shift from anger to surprise and then to a gleeful smirk. Her reaction confused him. “What’s wrong with you?”

Meanwhile, Bai Yuerou was frantically signaling him with her eyes, her face filled with panic.

Tang Huaijin turned around, puzzled, only to freeze in place. His voice stammered, “C-Counselor Shen…”

Standing silently behind him was none other than the icy beauty herself, Counselor Shen Yiqiu. Her expression remained calm, but her words carried a sharp edge. “Oh, so Tang Huaijin not only studies diligently but also takes the time to observe his teacher’s figure. How… thorough of you.”

Ah, yes. Life’s top ten most embarrassing moments: Number one, being overheard by a superior while running your mouth. Number two, gossiping about someone only to realize they’re standing right behind you.

It was over. Social death. This was even worse than the time he joked about someone’s wide hips being good for childbearing.

Counselor Shen’s face remained composed, but her words were laced with venom, making Tang Huaijin’s already awkward situation even worse. He inwardly cursed his bad luck.

But to everyone’s surprise, Counselor Shen merely glanced at him and said, “Stand during morning self-study.” With that, she let him off the hook and gracefully walked to the podium to begin the session. Her light steps and the faint smile on her face made it clear she was in a surprisingly good mood.

Tang Huaijin, however, stood at his desk, his expression bitter. There was no relief in his heart, only a nagging thought.

Is my teacher… acting strange too?