Chapter 138: This Contradictory Man
"Don’t worry. I only stand on the side of justice," Xie Huaizhen said.
"As for you, where did you learn to speak English so well?"
Su Zhaozhao gave the man a puzzled look. He was always staring at her as if he knew her.
’He might be handsome, but his personality is way too cold. Not my type.’
’I’d rather have Xie Huaizheng’s cranky, fierce temper.’
’Once you tame a vicious dog, all its affection is yours. That’s pretty great!’
’But being around someone this cold...’ Su Zhaozhao felt like things would just get awkward and stiff.
"I’m self-taught. My family has a long scholarly tradition, so a little English is nothing," Su Zhaozhao said with a bright smile.
"A scholarly tradition?" Xie Huaizhen frowned.
He didn’t know much about the Su Family, but he was certain that wasn’t true of her father’s side.
’What about her mother’s side?’
’He’d heard she’d lost contact with them long ago.’
’Whatever. He shouldn’t be interested in Su Zhaozhao anyway.’
’The woman was cold-blooded and ruthless. He’d better keep his distance.’
’Once this is over, he won’t interact with Su Zhaozhao ever again.’
’But Zhou Chengguo... what a shame.’
They left the office and went to a quiet corner of the school grounds.
Su Zhaozhao looked at Zhou Chengguo. "Zhou Chengguo, you lost. A deal’s a deal. Remember to resign from the military district elementary school."
"I was wrong." Zhou Chengguo looked at Su Zhaozhao, his eyes turning red.
"Please, I can’t resign. If I resign, my life is ruined."
"That’s not necessarily true. Zhou Chengguo, you’re a university graduate. You’re smart. You can definitely find another path. But I don’t think you’re suited to be a teacher anymore."
’Teachers are supposed to be role models who educate and shape young minds.’
’But someone like Zhou Chengguo... he could go into business or work in a factory, but he is absolutely unfit to be a teacher to children.’
’He’d definitely be a bad influence on them.’
"No, please... uh, how about this? I’ll give you money. Every month, just like I give to Wen Xiaoqi, I’ll give you a cut. Just don’t make me resign, okay?"
Hearing this, Su Zhaozhao shook her head. "You honor a lost bet. This was the deal you agreed to."
Zhou Chengguo stumbled back two steps. "But..."
He turned to Xie Huaizhen. "Does it really have to be this way? I... you know it wasn’t easy for me to get to this point..."
Xie Huaizhen told him, "Chengguo, this is the only way. You gave her your word, and I was the witness."
Zhou Chengguo knew it was useless to ask Xie Huaizhen.
Xie Huaizhen wouldn’t take his side. He was an upright soldier who always stood for justice.
’But he really couldn’t lose this job.’
’If he just held on a little longer, he could’ve become a teacher in a more prosperous city.’
’He was up for a promotion and a raise, too.’
’But if he resigned now, he’d have nothing.’
"You... you tricked me!" Zhou Chengguo shouted, pointing at Su Zhaozhao. "You’re clearly great at English, but you pretended you didn’t know any just to bait me!"
’If he hadn’t been absolutely certain of winning, why would he have ever agreed to her terms?’
Seeing Zhou Chengguo’s unhinged expression, Su Zhaozhao took two steps back to stand beside Xie Huaizhen.
Xie Huaizhen glanced at Su Zhaozhao. ’So, the woman does know fear?’
However, Zhou Chengguo’s current state was definitely not right. Xie Huaizhen walked over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder to both comfort and restrain him.
"Chengguo, calm down. Be a man and honor your lost bet."
"How can I calm down? This is all because of that woman! She’s the one who ruined me!" Zhou Chengguo said through gritted teeth.
"If I lose this job, I honestly don’t know how I’m going to survive."
Su Zhaozhao was losing her patience.
"Zhou Chengguo, I won’t push you too hard. Take a few days to think it over. You can finish teaching for the rest of this semester. But come next semester, you can no longer be a teacher here."
"I’ll be watching. If you’re still here, I’ll expose everything you’ve done. I’ll even tell that girl you like."
At these words, Zhou Chengguo lunged for Su Zhaozhao but was held back by Xie Huaizhen.
"Don’t get cocky! If my life is ruined, I’ll make sure yours is too."
Su Zhaozhao waved a dismissive hand. "We’ll see about that when the time comes."
’She’d been taking self-defense classes recently and always carried pepper spray. She wouldn’t let anyone hurt her again.’
’Once Zhou Chengguo resigned, she’d ask Xie Huaizheng to have someone watch him and make sure he left.’
’In any case...’
’When it came to her safety now, Su Zhaozhao was doing everything she could to stay out of harm’s way.’
Having said her piece to Zhou Chengguo, Su Zhaozhao turned and left.
She left the military district elementary school. A moment later, she heard footsteps approaching from behind.
Su Zhaozhao turned. Xie Huaizhen had actually followed her.
The man’s features were as frosty as ever, his entire demeanor ice-cold.
His dark, deep eyes stared at her. "Do you realize how dangerous this is? You’ve backed him into a corner. He might try to hurt you."
The moment the words were out, Xie Huaizhen felt he was being a busybody.
’A bad woman like Su Zhaozhao who loves to stir up trouble should be left to face the consequences. Why on earth did he run all the way over here just to warn her?’
’He must be crazy!’
’Or was it because he’d seen a different side of her today, and he didn’t despise her as much as he used to?’
’No. She kicked his family when they were down, making his mother so angry she fell gravely ill.’
’She still suffered from the aftereffects to this day. He had no business worrying about Su Zhaozhao.’
Su Zhaozhao looked at the man before her, sensing his internal conflict.
His words were of concern, yet the chill radiating from him made her feel like she was standing in a walk-in freezer despite the summer heat.
Su Zhaozhao really didn’t understand this strange sensation.
’It was probably because the man before her was, on the one hand, Zhou Chengguo’s friend, but on the other, felt compelled to uphold justice.’
’That’s why he was so conflicted.’
"Don’t worry. If someone truly has malicious intent, being nice to them won’t stop them from trying to hurt you."
She recalled the criminal psychology she had studied. ’Predators pick kind people as victims, striking when their targets are being good to them and have their guard down.’
’They never go after other predators.’
’Because they’re afraid they might lose.’
’Zhou Chengguo was the type to bully the weak and fear the strong.’
’If pushed to the brink, would he really attack her?’
’Let him try. We’ll see who ends up beating up whom.’
Just then, a voice called out from a short distance away, "What are you two doing?"
Su Zhaozhao turned her head and saw Xie Huaizheng.