Agent Yi Leng

Chapter Vol. 1 Ch. 11

Ari simply asked when she could start working.

The principal replied, "You can start right now. First, familiarize yourself with our school, the staff, and the students to see where you can begin. Once we have time, we’ll sign a contract. But let me make it clear—the salary for substitute teachers isn’t much, only 1,800 yuan per month."

"That’s wonderful!" Ari said enthusiastically.

The principal was momentarily speechless. Is this the so-called "silly and sweet type"? How could anyone think 1,800 yuan was "wonderful"? That wouldn’t even cover rent and meals! What the principal didn’t realize was that Ari thought 1,800 yuan could buy plenty of stationery to give to students, making her genuinely excited.

The school had a severe shortage of English teachers because they couldn’t retain talent. Fresh graduates with English degrees all flocked to big cities for better opportunities, and the school didn’t offer permanent teaching positions. Who would willingly stay to teach? The available teaching resources were all concentrated on the graduating classes. Furthermore, since Ari wasn’t professionally trained as a teacher, the principal assigned her to the 8th-grade group to temporarily teach one class as a trial.

What the principal underestimated was Ari’s abilities. Despite holding a Singaporean passport, she had received her primary and secondary education in China and was very familiar with the system.

During the last period of the morning, Class 5 of the 8th grade was preparing for an English class. Their previous English teacher had left, and a substitute teacher was temporarily covering the class, but the workload was overwhelming, leaving her hoarse.

When the bell rang, the homeroom teacher, the principal, and a stylish, cheerful, and beautiful young woman walked into the classroom.

The students looked at one another, puzzled. What’s with the formal lineup? What’s happening?

Only Yi Nuannuan recognized the woman as the person she had lunch with the day before, and a faint sense of excitement stirred in her heart. However, she had no one to share her secret with and had to keep it to herself.

The principal spoke first, introducing the new teacher. "This is Teacher Ou, a foreign teacher specially hired by our school. I’d like to emphasize that she’s an international scholar and a graduate of Princeton University. Let’s give her a warm welcome."

The students clapped enthusiastically as Teacher Ou began her self-introduction—in fluent American English. It was a stark contrast to the heavily accented English of their previous teachers. The students listened intently but struggled to fully understand what she was saying.@@@@

The homeroom teacher then added, "Students, pay attention. Teacher Ou’s teaching methods may differ from other teachers, but this is a rare opportunity, so make the most of it."

After their remarks, the homeroom teacher and principal left, leaving Teacher Ou alone with the class.

"Don’t be nervous," Teacher Ou said. "My name is Ou Li, but you can call me Teacher Ou. However, I’d prefer if you called me Ari. Now, I’d like to invite one of you to introduce yourself in English—just one sentence. Anything will do."

The student who was called upon stood up nervously and stammered, "Ma na mu yi si Li Xiaoming..."

Ari chuckled and said, "I used to be a student at Fudan High School. Although our textbooks were different, the basics were the same. I still remember the first time I went abroad and had to introduce myself..."

She was a natural storyteller, seamlessly embedding English knowledge into vivid anecdotes that captivated the students. Even those who disliked English found themselves listening attentively.

After sharing two short stories, Ari asked, "Why do you think we need to learn English? Let’s hear from the English class representative."

Yi Nuannuan shrank into the least conspicuous corner, keeping her lunchbox covered with its lid, trying to hide it from view. Fortunately, Yin Weiran wasn’t present. Without their ringleader, Jane Shiyu and Mei Xin seemed to have lost their backbone, like puppets without their manipulative master. They didn’t stir up any trouble.

The atmosphere at the tables was both formal and lively. Everyone sat upright, their expressions both excited and serious. Feng Xiaoxiao stood up, holding a glass bottle of Perrier water, preparing to give a toast on behalf of the class. His gesture mirrored his father, Ma Xiaowei, whom he'd often observed giving eloquent speeches at dinner parties. Feng Xiaoxiao had clearly inherited the knack for it.

Just as he was about to speak, the school’s gatekeeper entered. He scanned the room briefly and then placed a cloth bag in front of Yi Nuannuan without saying a word before walking out.

All eyes immediately turned toward Yi Nuannuan in the corner. With everyone staring, she had no choice but to open it.

Reluctantly, she untied the bag beneath their collective gaze. The thick material of the bag provided excellent insulation. Inside was a three-layer lunchbox set. Slowly, she opened each layer.

The first layer revealed rosemary-crusted crispy beef ribs, scallion-seasoned broad beans, and three fresh, vibrant green asparagus spears. The second layer contained fragrant Thai jasmine rice sprinkled with black sesame seeds. The third layer held peeled orange slices and cherry tomatoes, neatly arranged and wrapped in cling film to retain their moisture. Additionally, there was a small insulated container filled with chicken soup and a box of fresh milk.

It wasn’t ostentatious because of the expense of the ingredients but rather because of the effort that had gone into preparing it. Every item was portioned perfectly for a middle school girl’s appetite. The meal was balanced, with meat, dairy, and fruit, and the presentation was immaculate. It was clear that whoever prepared this lunch did so with the utmost care and love.

Ari exclaimed in admiration, "What a thoughtful and beautifully prepared lunch! Your mom must be such a kind and gentle person."

This casual compliment struck Yi Nuannuan squarely in the heart. If her mother were still alive, she might indeed have prepared such a lunch for her. But her mother was in heaven—how could it possibly be her?

Yi Nuannuan couldn’t hold back anymore. Tears streamed down her face as she broke into uncontrollable sobs.

Ari panicked, not knowing what she had said wrong. She looked to the class monitor for help. Feng Xiaoxiao leaned in and whispered, "Teacher, Yi Nuannuan’s mother has passed away, and I heard her father isn’t around either."

In an instant, Ari felt a searing, heart-wrenching sadness. She pulled Yi Nuannuan into her arms without saying a word, holding her close to offer comfort. Tears rolled down Ari’s cheeks as well.

Yi Nuannuan hadn’t been held like this in a long time, and it only made her cry harder.

A strange but soothing warmth began to rise in her heart. It was as if her mother were truly holding her, and for the first time in a long while, she felt consoled. Gradually, her wailing turned into soft sobs, and then it stopped entirely. She apologized to everyone around her.

Ari wiped her tears and said warmly, "It’s okay. Let’s eat."

Yi Nuannuan placed her beautifully prepared, nutritionally balanced lunchbox in a prominent spot on the table. For the first time, she felt an unprecedented sense of security and dignity. In that moment, it was as if her mother and father were right there by her side.

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