Chapter 265

"So hot, so hot, Principal Sima's nonsense." Ma Guojun squeezed onto the ascending staircase, frantically sending blessings.

"Then why are you running around in a jacket?" Li Hua's forehead was also sweating.

Ma Guo wanted to speak but held back, thinking that taking off his jacket made him look fat. But the words reached his lips, and he just blasted Li Hua instead.

"You don't know shit, I'm not wasting my breath on you—you're not worthy to hear it."

Li Hua stood dumbfounded, stunned by a full combo.

"Red Stone! Red Stone!!"

He looked up and saw Yu Tongjie, stuck among the crowd ahead on the stairs, slowly moving upward, and inwardly cursed his bad luck.

At noon, he ran into a corpse.

Yu Tongjie felt gloomy, trapped like a sardine in a can, unable to move. He thought of Hu Nianzhong's promise to him—time to switch groups.

Today was Sunday; after lunch break, seats would be rearranged.

This wasn't an ordinary seat swap—Jiang Nian, whom he couldn't stand, would soon be moved to the very last row of the first big group, right by the classroom back door.

That meant Li Qingrong's group would be pushed back—their new seats would be in the center of the classroom, first and second rows directly facing the podium.

When Li Qingrong and Jiang Nian were separated by such a vast distance, if Hu Nianzhong successfully switched groups, he would fill the vacancy and join Li Qingrong's small group.

Such a golden opportunity came only once a month.

I hope that bastard Hu Nianzhong has even a shred of integrity—my patience is limited, I can't take any more mistreatment!

Not even minor mistreatment!

I waited week after week—he promised the group switch was coming soon. But every time it was "give me a little more time," "I'm too nervous," or "my phone broke."

Pure Wang Ba!

Yu Tongjie was seething with anger as he stepped onto the fourth-floor corridor.

He glanced idly—and suddenly spotted Li Qingrong's back among the crowd. And beside her—the person who was about to enter the classroom.

Jiang Nian!!!

He blinked, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably, eyes straining toward the classroom door.

But he didn't know what to do—he couldn't handle either of them.

Yu Tongjie just couldn't understand: if Li Qingrong simply didn't like him, fine.

Even if she liked someone else, at least there'd be a hope.

After all, liking someone proves she's capable of "liking."

But she only ever walked with Jiang Nian, treating him and everyone else completely differently—no matter what he did, he couldn't shake off the sense of distance.

Yu Tongjie's heart churned with mixed emotions—he felt deeply wounded.

It was like when, as a child, he'd stood on tiptoe staring at an expensive toy for a long time, only to come home from school one day and see the shopkeeper giving it away for free to someone else.

As soon as he entered the classroom, Yu Tongjie found Hu Nianzhong and grabbed him.

"Did the homeroom teacher agree?"

Hu Nianzhong glanced at him, a helpless smile on his face.

"I just went to his office—he wasn't there."

Boom—a thunderclap struck Yu Tongjie. His dream of switching groups with Li Qingrong shattered like a soap bubble, crushed instantly by Hu Nianzhong.

"Not there?"

"Yeah, I waited there for half an hour. Only found out the homeroom teacher hadn't come."

Yu Tongjie clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and whispered low.

"Are you messing with me?"

"What are you talking about? Of course not." Hu Nianzhong feigned annoyance, frowning. "If you don't believe me, I'll refund your money right now."

Yu Tongjie didn't want money—he wanted to switch groups.

Zhuoyue Driving School.

Tian Yongsheng, the school's director, sat at the tea table, earnestly replying to messages on his phone.

"What are you doing, Coach Lao Tian?" Sun Jianguo poured himself tea, white steam rising. "Is your wife checking up on you again? Can't a man be a little more assertive?"

"No, it's an important client." Tian Yongsheng finished typing, sent the message, and put his phone down. "What are you talking about—my wife checking up on me?"

"If she's not checking up on you and you're not busy, why won't you come fishing with me?" Sun Jianguo asked. "Coach Lao Tian, you're not suffering from bronchitis, are you?"

"I have pharyngitis, not bronchitis." Tian Yongsheng changed the subject smoothly. "I've got a student who nearly drove me to death with his driving."

"You're not even a coach—why are you personally training students again?"

"Still that English teacher—the big client." Tian Yongsheng sighed. "I have to be extra careful with her—can't say a single word of criticism."

"Oh wow, VIP client, huh?" Sun Jianguo chuckled, shifting tone. "Then it's your fault—you're just a bad instructor."

"Whatever, I'll wait until that madam feels like driving again." Tian Yongsheng said. "But weirdly, another VIP client just showed up."

"Who?"

"Don't know him—he says he's still in school."

End of third class.

Jiang Nian pulled out his phone, checked the messages, and grew increasingly puzzled.

The other party's attitude was too good—like serving a VIP client. He opened his Moments—filled entirely with ads for recruiting students and self-drive tours.

Clearly, this wasn't some poor struggling driving instructor.

Judging by the quality of his Moments, he seemed more like the school's owner or director. But strangely, his tone implied he personally trained students.

What kind of students? Obviously—VIP students.

None of that mattered—what truly caught Jiang Nian's attention was that the man seemed always available—almost like a personal service, no waiting for appointments.

Hmm. Still no time—I have classes during the day.

Last month, Chunchun had just started Gao San not long ago, still a bit hot-blooded and impetuous. Unfamiliar with the academic intensity of Gao San, he still thought he could take time off from evening self-study.

Basically couldn't take leave, unless he didn't care about his grades.

He thought it over and sent his actual situation to the other party. The reply came almost instantly — a bit exaggerated.

"(Cupped fist) Understood, Zhuo Yue Driving School is at your devoted service."

"Just send me the materials this afternoon. I'll handle all the registration procedures on my end. (Flower) Also, about the clock-in thing."

Jiang Nian scrolled down message by message, and had to admit, it felt like being treated like a treasured old man.

Felt great.

Could keep on messing around in the afternoon, no need to run off to driving school and waste time.

The other party added that if the school was hard to take leave from, they could arrange clock-ins at four or five in the morning. This warm-hearted reply once again hard-CC'd Jiang Nian.

Way too freaking VIP — really treating him like a treasured old man?

Climbing out of his wife's bed at four or five in the morning, braving the cold morning wind to accompany a student for driving practice and clock-in — wasn't this a bit too heartwarming?

At the very least, this was a service worth over ten thousand, yet he seemed to have spent

Fine, not a single cent spent.

So far, the other party hadn't mentioned money once. When he brought it up, the reply was just that they'd collect the fee after he passed Subject Two.

In a blink, lunch break arrived.

After class, the people in the classroom didn't scatter right away. Instead, they started moving desks and switching seats — the rumbling sound of stools being dragged never ceased.

"We're sitting by the back door of the classroom?" Zhang Ningzhi said, surprised.

"Yeah, the spot by the wall at the back door of the classroom lets the wind in." Jiang Nian was tidying his desk, thought for a moment, then asked, "Do you want to swap with Li Hua?"