1.
Xiang Wenjin studied history at Xiangwen University. After graduating, he secured a teaching job at No. 1 High School in the city. But barely had he settled into the iron rice bowl of a government job before an accident sent him to the county to lie low.
Yiyang County was one of the most educationally disadvantaged counties in the province. Figuring that teaching was teaching wherever he went, Xiang Wenjin packed his bags, grabbed a suitcase, kept it secret from his whole family, and boarded a slow green train to Yiyang alone.
The man in the lower bunk was handsome, with a cold face but a warm heart. After Xiang Wenjin ate his instant noodles, he saw him holding a red pen and quietly said, "Hello, can I help grade your papers?"
The cool, aloof man didn't even look up. "Thanks, but no."
"No need to be polite. I'm a teacher too."
"...Then could you help me grade the multiple-choice questions?"
Since they had the same profession, they soon struck up an easy conversation. When Xiang Wenjin mentioned he was going to Yiyang to teach as a volunteer, the cool, aloof man furrowed his brow.
Thinking the other man felt sorry for him, Xiang Wenjin hurriedly said:
"Don't worry. They'll assign me at most one class. How hard could it be? Just think of it as a vacation in this beautiful, scenic place."
The next day, the head of the grade introduced the man standing beside him.
"Teacher Xiang, this is Teacher Xing, the homeroom teacher of Class One, Grade Ten."
When Xiang Wenjin saw that familiar face, he froze on the spot.
Xing Chuan spoke calmly. "Teacher Xiang, I'm quite serious about my work. Being assigned to the same class as me might make things difficult for you."
Xiang Wenjin: ?! QAQ
2.
Xing Chuan taught at the county high school and hated being paired with teachers from the city. But now he was actually being assigned to share a class with the laid-back so-called colleague he'd met on the train.
Xing Chuan flatly refused, but when he returned to the teachers' apartment, he found that the new teacher had moved into his room.
The man who'd said he was going on vacation had brought a whole suitcase of books. They took up more than half of the desk they shared, while all of Xing Chuan's belongings could fit in a single flimsy backpack.
Xing Chuan rubbed his chin, thoughtful.
3.
The heating pipes in the house Xiang Wenjin had rented burst. In the dead of winter, he was forced to share a roof with Xing Chuan, planning to move out once things settled down.
But when spring arrived, Xing Chuan wouldn't let him leave.
Xiang Wenjin was preparing lessons in the dorm when Xing Chuan appeared behind him and leaned close to his ear, speaking softly.
"The Chinese teacher took tonight's evening study period. And we don't have to teach the weekend makeup classes tomorrow."
"So, Teacher Xiang, can we sleep together tonight?"
Theme: Take your work seriously.
