"Teacher Shi, want to play basketball with us? They're all so bad."
"Teacher, you can play basketball, right?"
Akatsuki Kojou and Yaze Motoki came over, holding a basketball. One was enthusiastically inviting, the other was clearly provoking.
"Sure," Shi Chen said with a smile, standing up.
"Aiba, you sit here for a bit longer. I'll go play with Akatsuki and the others."
"Understood… Oh, Teacher Shi, you can just call me Asagi."
"Alright then, Asagi."
"Mm." Aiba Asagi pursed her lips and nodded.
"Don't just sit here. Go move around a bit later, okay?"
"Understood."
"Teacher Shi, hurry up!"
"Yeah, Teacher, are you scared?"
"Me, scared of you? Don't cry when I crush you later."
"Tsk~"
Aiba Asagi watched Shi Chen's retreating back, a faint curve appearing at the corner of her mouth.
Perhaps it was the hope, or perhaps the release of inner pressure, but at this moment, she felt exceptionally relaxed.
She hadn't expected at first that the new physical education teacher would be so meddlesome, and even offer hope of saving her mother.
This must be fate's arrangement.
…
"Kojou, pass the ball!"
"Akatsuki, watch out for Teacher Shi!"
"Oh no!"
Swish!
Thump!
The basketball fell from the hoop, bounced at Shi Chen's feet, and then he reached out and caught it.
"Kyaaah—Teacher Shi is so cool!"
"As expected of Teacher Shi!"
"Amazing!"
The cheers from the surrounding girls made Shi Chen feel a little pleased. He managed to suppress his smugness and smiled at Akatsuki Kojou and the others: "How about it? Do you submit to Teacher? Let's see if you dare to play basketball with me next time."
"Tsk~ Teacher, you're just relying on being older than us!"
"Exactly, we don't submit!"
"It's fine if you don't submit, just wait until you slowly grow up," Shi Chen said indifferently.
"You promised, Teacher Shi, you'll wait for us to grow up! We'll definitely beat you then."
"No problem… Time's almost up, Kojou. Organize everyone to put the equipment back, then you can dismiss class."
"Understood, Motoki, come with me."
"OK."
"Catch the ball," Shi Chen reminded, passing the basketball to Akatsuki Kojou.
Akatsuki Kojou easily caught it and left with Yaze Motoki, finding the others and informing them to put away the equipment.
"Teacher Shi, are you tired? Want me to wipe your sweat?"
"Teacher Shi, are you thirsty? I bought you water."
As soon as Akatsuki Kojou and Yaze Motoki left, the girls couldn't help but crowd around, each more enthusiastic than the last.
"No, no, no, I'm all sweaty," Shi Chen said, not expecting these young girls to be so proactive, quickly waving his hands to create distance.
"It's okay, Teacher, your sweat smells really good."
"You're so perverted… but I think so too."
"Teacher, let us wipe your sweat?"
"And water."
"…" Shi Chen was a little scared.
These young girls seemed a bit too bold.
"I'll drink the water, but you don't need to wipe my sweat," Shi Chen took the water from one of the girls, twisted open the cap, and took a sip.
"Gulp!"
No one knew who it was, but seeing Shi Chen tilt his head back to drink, the clean neck, and the beads of sweat rolling down with his Adam's apple, they couldn't help but swallow.
However, besides Shi Chen, no one noticed, as they were all staring at him.
When Akatsuki Kojou and the others returned, Shi Chen announced the end of class and left alone.
"Motoki, I told you Teacher Shi isn't that petty, right?"
"Impossible, he's definitely waiting for me to let my guard down."
"Sigh… Aiba, what are you looking at?"
"Nothing… Let's go back." Aiba Asagi retracted her gaze from the direction Shi Chen had left and walked towards the teaching building ahead of them.
Akatsuki Kojou and Yaze Motoki followed closely behind.
Shi Chen returned to the office, sat down at his desk, and casually finished the water the female student had given him.
"Teacher Shi, finished with class?" Sasasaki Misaki walked over at this moment.
"Mm." Shi Chen nodded.
"How was it?"
"Very good, they're all excellent students."
"That's good. Keep it up, Teacher Shi," Sasasaki Misaki said with a beaming smile, encouraging him.
"Thank you."
"Oh, by the way, Teacher Shi, are you free after school? Want to go for a drink together?"
"A drink?" Shi Chen looked at her strangely.
"Cough cough, don't misunderstand, it's with everyone, just to get to know each other," Sasasaki Misaki quickly explained, then asked the other teachers in the office: "Everyone, isn't that right?"
"Ah, yes, yes, yes!"
"Teacher Sasa, you decide."
"Cough cough, Teacher Shi, what do you think?"
"I'll have to ask Big Sister Natsuki. How about inviting her along?"
"Uh…" Sasasaki Misaki stiffened for a moment but still forced herself to reply: "That's fine."
"Then I'll ask her now."
Shi Chen took out the phone Nanjou Natsuki had gotten for him and messaged her.
Not long after sending the message, Nanjou Natsuki replied, agreeing.
"Teacher Sasa, Big Sister Natsuki said no problem."
"Really? She, she's coming too, right?"
"Mm, no problem, right?"
"Of course, no problem," Sasasaki Misaki immediately replied.
"That's good," Shi Chen smiled slightly.
"…" Looking at Shi Chen's smile, Sasasaki Misaki realized she wasn't entirely against Nanjou Natsuki coming along.
Anyway, it wasn't just the two of them, so one more Nanjou Natsuki wouldn't make much difference.
In the afternoon, Shi Chen had another physical education class, teaching first-year Class C. He was currently only responsible for these two classes' PE.
A total of six classes a week, it was still very relaxed.
There were no acquaintances in Class C, but the girls were just as enthusiastic, which made Shi Chen realize that these young girls were truly precocious.
Shi Chen didn't play basketball with the students during the afternoon PE class; he didn't want to sweat anymore.
Although his body was spotless and he didn't have body odor, sweating was still equally uncomfortable.
The temperature in Itogami Island in March was already approaching summer. Even slight exercise caused sweating, which was truly disheartening.
Fortunately, the True Ancestor's body was just his power; otherwise, with such strong sunlight, he would immediately become as listless as the future Fourth True Ancestor.
This didn't fit his demeanor, at least not in public.
Nanjou Natsuki had more classes, being an English teacher, and by the time she finished her last class, it was almost time for school to end.
Shi Chen was in the office, being asked by Sasasaki Misaki what kind of girls he liked, when Nanjou Natsuki suddenly appeared beside him.
"Idiot dog! You're actually trying to make a move on my brother?" Nanjou Natsuki glared at Sasasaki Misaki as soon as she appeared.
"Is there a problem?" Sasasaki Misaki put her hands on her hips, her curvaceous figure wrapped in a qipao, and retorted, "I'm single, and Shi-kun is single, so why not?"
Nanjou Natsuki glanced at her proud chest, her expression a little cold: "Spring is almost over, and you, this idiot dog, are still in heat?"
"I'm not in heat, I've found true love!"
"Tsk~" Nanjou Natsuki's fan flew out, hitting her forehead with a smack.
"Don't even think about it."
"Why not? You wouldn't be trying to keep it in the family, would you? I didn't realize Natsuki-chan had such hobbies, you really are a brother complex."
"You idiot dog!"
Nanjou Natsuki couldn't stand Sasasaki Misaki's nonsense anymore and controlled her fan, constantly slapping her.
"Stop, stop hitting me, I was wrong," Sasasaki Misaki quickly admitted her mistake.
"Hmph~ Didn't you say we were going for a drink? Let's go quickly."
Nanjou Natsuki glanced at Shi Chen and led the way out.
Shi Chen stood up and followed her.
Sasasaki Misaki rubbed her forehead and asked the others: "Everyone, let's go quickly."
"No, no, I won't go, I suddenly remembered I have something to do at home."
"Me too, my child needs me to pick them up."
"Me too."
"Is that so? Alright then, next time. " Sasasaki Misaki didn't mind, she took off, skipping to catch up with Shi Chen and the others.
"Idiot dog, where are we drinking?"
"Can we go to your place?"
"Of course not."
"Eh, why not? You're not trying to keep me from disturbing your love nest, are you?"
"…" Nanjou Natsuki didn't speak, her fan tapping her palm, calmly looking at her.
"…Well then, let's go to an izakaya, just have a casual drink," Sasasaki Misaki immediately conceded.
"An izakaya at this time? Isn't it a bit early?" Shi Chen asked.
"This time is just right, no one will disturb us, we can have the whole place, and Natsuki-chan can't drink much anyway."
"Is that so?" Shi Chen looked at Nanjou Natsuki.
Nanjou Natsuki's expression was calm: "Don't misunderstand, I just don't like drinking."
"Seriously, you're a woman in your twenties, always drinking black tea, can't you drink more alcohol?" Sasasaki Misaki couldn't help but complain.
"Idiot dog…" Nanjou Natsuki glared at Sasasaki Misaki.
"Isn't it true?" Sasasaki Misaki retorted stubbornly.
"Heh~ I remember Chen doesn't like women who drink alcohol," Nanjou Natsuki sneered.
"Is that so?" Sasasaki Misaki froze for a moment, then immediately confessed: "Actually, I can't drink much either, I was just saying it casually."
"…"