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nTranslator: Exodus Tales

nEditor: Exodus Tales

nChapter 22 – Is Sixth High Doomed?

nUpon receiving Chen Yike’s call, Mother Chen promptly left the hotel she worked at and raced home at flying speeds. When she opened the door to the house and saw Chen Yu’s form teacher sitting in the living room, her heart immediately sank. However, she hurriedly forced a smile as she asked, “Teacher, why are you here? Did Chen Yu cause trouble again?”

n“I didn’t—”

n“You keep your mouth shut!” Mother Chen immediately glared at Chen Yu, stopping his attempt at clearing his name, before moving forward to refill the form teacher’s teacup. She then turned her gaze toward Principal Pang and Niu Lanshan as she asked the form teacher, “Teacher, these two are…”

n“Mrs. Chen, you’re being too polite,” Chen Yu’s form teacher said as he stood up to receive the tea Mother Chen proffered. He then pointed at his superior and colleague and introduced them, “This person here is Sixth High’s principal, Principal Pang. This other person here is Sixth High’s PE teacher, Teacher Niu.”

n“Prin-Principal?” Mother Chen’s heart sank even further upon hearing the form teacher’s introduction. She then extended a hand to Principal Pang while saying, “Gr-Greetings, Principal.”

nAs for the PE teacher, Niu Lanshan, Mother Chen ignored him completely.

nPE teacher?

nDid high schools still have the PE teacher profession?

n“Greetings! Greetings!” Principal Pang said as he enthusiastically shook Mother Chen’s hand with both hands. “I am Sixth High’s principal. You can just call me Principal Pang. The reason for today’s sudden visit is a matter relating to Student Chen Yu. I hope you forgive us for our abruptness.”

n“Did… Did my son cause trouble again?” Mother Chen asked anxiously as she turned to look at Chen Yu.

n“Why did you add ‘again’?” Chen Yu questioned with an ugly expression. “When did I cause trouble before?”

n“Chen Yu! You’re still talking back?! Why aren’t you apologizing to Principal Pang yet?!”

n“Mrs. Chen, you misunderstand.” Sensing the hostile gaze Chen Yu was giving him, Principal Pang explained hurriedly, “Student Chen Yu indeed did not cause any trouble. He is Sixth High’s most outstanding student. How could he possibly make mistakes?”

n“Most outstanding?”

nWhen Mother Chen heard these two words, a thought instantly came to her mind—Has Sixth High fallen to such a degree already?

n“Indeed.” Principal Pang nodded while smiling. “Student Chen Yu is extremely talented. He is Sixth High’s most outstanding student. The reason for our visit today is to discuss his future development with you.”

nHesitantly, Mother Chen asked, “Chen… Chen Yu still has a future to develop?”

n“Mom! You’re too much!” Chen Yu shouted, mixed feelings filling his heart.

nCreak!

nAt this time, the door to the house opened once more as Father Chen, who had gotten off work, arrived home. Upon seeing a bunch of strangers crowding the living room, he could not help asking, “What’s going on?”

n“Greetings!” Principal Pang immediately extended a hand to Father Chen. “I am Sixth High’s principal. You can just call me Principal Pang. This person here is Teacher Niu, while this other person here is Student Chen Yu’s form teacher.”

n“Chen Yu!” When Father Chen learned of the three strangers’ identities, his eyes promptly turned to Chen Yu as he demanded, “What trouble did you cause again?!”

nChen Yu: “…”

n“Mr. Chen, you are disqualified as a parent if you behave in such a manner,” Principal Pang said as he applied his acting skills and put up a solemn face. “Student Chen Yu is Sixth High’s pride. As his parent, how could you treat him with so little value?”

n“Pride?”

nAt this word, a thought immediately surfaced in Father Chen’s mind—Has Sixth High fallen to such a degree already?

n“Principal Pang.” After changing into his house slippers, Father Chen walked up to Principal Pang and said, “I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

n“I’ve just told this to your partner, but we are here this time mainly to discuss Student Chen Yu’s future development,” Principal Pang said. He then pointed at the door and continued, “This is going to be a long discussion, so let’s head out and find a restaurant to continue our chat. My treat.”

n“This… How can we possibly impose on you for this!” Mother Chen originally planned to say that she would treat the three teachers. However, when she remembered the family’s finances, she immediately changed her words and said, “Let’s eat at home. Home-cooked food is much better than what you can find in a restaurant. I’ll start cooking right away.”

n“No, no, no!” Principal Pang hurriedly waved his hands. “That will put too much trouble on you. Let’s just eat out. It’s much more convenient that way. You can bring the children, as well. Let’s go, chil— Huh? Where are the children?”

nBy the time Principal Pang realized it, Chen Yu’s and Chen Yike’s figures had disappeared from the living room already.

n“Over here.”

nAt this time, a voice came from the front door. When everyone turned to look toward the voice, they noticed that Chen Yu had already ushered Chen Yike, pulled Chen Erke, and carried Chen Sanke out of the house. All four of them were dressed properly and were waiting in the corridor outside the security door.

n“The elevator’s here. Hurry up,” Chen Yu said.

nThe five adults: “…”

n…

nAfter taking the elevator to the first floor, everyone from the Chen family got on Principal Pang’s SUV.

n“I know a restaurant that’s close by and serves delicious food. Let’s head over there,” Principal Pang said to Father Chen, who rode shotgun, after fastening his seatbelt.

n“We’re really sorry for making you spend so much money,” Father Chen said humbly.

n“It’s nothing. This is something I should do,” Principal Pang responded.

n“But…” Father Chen then looked at the taxi behind the SUV through the rearview mirror and asked, “Is it really alright to let Teacher Niu and Chen Yu’s form teacher take the taxi?”

n“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Principal Pang said with a nonchalant wave of his hand. Instead of paying attention to his two subordinates, he continued working hard on gaining Father Chen and Mother Chen’s favor, saying, “As teachers, it is only natural for them to suffer a little. Moreover, Mr. Chen, you’ve nurtured such an outstanding child, benefiting the country and its people greatly. How could we possibly let you ride a taxi?”

nUpon hearing Principal Pang’s words, Father Chen could not help turning skeptically to Chen Yu, who sat at the back of the car. He then eyed his son up and down in an attempt to locate the outstanding parts Principal Pang spoke of.

nChen Yu: “…”

n“Come, children! Have some candy!” In order to gain the Chen family’s support, Principal Pang went as far as to curry favor with the family’s young children. After digging out a handful of candies from the glove compartment, he passed the sweets to Chen Yike, Erke, and Sanke and said, “These are honey pomelo sweets. They’re good.”

nAfter receiving the sweets, Chen Yike, Erke, and Sanke said, “Thank you, Principal.”

nHowever, upon seeing this scene, Chen Yu felt horrified.

nJust why did the principal have sweets catering to little girls in his car?

n…

nAfter driving through a few streets, Principal Pang stopped the car and led everyone to a nearby restaurant.

nFamous Imperial Kitchen!

nThe Chen family’s four siblings exchanged looks involuntarily when they saw the restaurant’s name. It was obvious that all four of them recognized it as the same restaurant they had eaten and gotten takeout at.

n“This is the restaurant I was talking about. The braised pork here is exceptional!” Principal Pang said as he opened the doors to the restaurant and invited the Chen family of six into the establishment.

n“Welcome!”

nUpon seeing the group’s arrival, the two beautiful female staff stationed by the entrance automatically bowed and greeted the group. However, when the two women raised their heads and noticed Chen Yu and his three younger sisters, they were startled.

n“What luck! The main hall is empty. Let’s dine in the main hall! I dined on the second floor before, and the rooms there felt a little stuffy,” Principal Pang said as he entered the restaurant. He then pointed at a large dining table and said, “Let’s sit over there.”

n“We’ll follow your arrangements.” Father Chen and Mother Chen naturally had no objections to Principal Pang’s suggestion.

nAs for the Chen family’s four siblings, they naturally had no objections, either.

nAs for Niu Lanshan and Chen Yu’s form teacher, they similarly had no objections.

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nHowever, it was a different story for the restaurant’s manager.

n“Sir, how many guests will be dining today?” the female manager asked as she walked up to Chen Yu, the smile on her face not reaching her eyes.

n“Uh…” Upon seeing the female manager, Chen Yu involuntarily stepped back, together with Chen Erke and Chen Sanke. He then turned to gesture at Principal Pang and said, “You misunderstand. He’s paying today.”

nUnfazed by Chen Yu’s words, the female manager said, “Sir, our shop’s event has ended already.”

nChen Yu: “…”

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