The Lion in the Eyes

Seeing Yue Zhengyang’s gentle expression, Huang Xiu gradually relaxed.

“Since we’re just talking, shouldn’t it be in a five-star hotel conference room or some secret agency’s office?”

“After all, that’s how it is in novels, right? Have you read ‘Eyes of the Lion’? That’s how it’s written, high-end hotels, luxury brands, spending fortunes just to make a beauty smile…”

“I’ve read ‘Eyes of the Lion’.”

Huang Xiu noticed that when Yue Zhengyang heard the book’s name, a strange expression flickered across her face.

Then she coughed lightly. “The author of this book is a student from Tian Du University!”

“Really?” Huang Xiu was shocked.

The book is about a group of college students with superpowers called Night Watchmen, fighting monsters from the Void and secretly protecting the world.

The story is simple, even cliché.

But with its cool writing style and youth fantasy that deeply resonated with students, it became incredibly popular among them.

Even Huang Xiu herself is a fan of this book.

But despite her curiosity, Yue Zhengyang didn’t want to say more.

“When you get a chance to enter Tian Du University, you’ll know. The author is quite famous on campus.”

She raised her head slightly.

“As for the high-end hotel you mentioned, that works too. The school gave me a generous budget. What do you say? Want to go?”

For a moment, Huang Xiu admitted she was a little tempted.

A high-end hotel, she’d never been to one.

The most expensive restaurant she’d ever been to was a home-style place with an average of sixty to seventy per person.

But in the end, she refused.

“Better not. High-end places aren’t for me.” She rested her hands behind her head and shook it lightly. “Besides, this is just a talk between a teacher and student, right? No need to be so formal.”

“Alright.” Yue Zhengyang smiled and nodded. She pointed toward the school gate. “In that case, let’s head out!”

They walked for a bit until the school gate came into view. That was when Huang Xiu remembered something important, as a student, without a permission slip, she couldn’t leave during the day!

Even with a teacher, it wasn’t allowed. That was Ying City’s strict policy.

“Um, Teacher Yue…”

At the gate, seeing the security guard who had caught her several times before, Huang Xiu was about to speak but was interrupted.

“Just follow me!”

Yue Zhengyang said a few words to the guard and easily led Huang Xiu out.

It was so smooth that she felt a bit dazed.

“I already arranged it with your school leadership. I also got leave for you for today and tomorrow.” Yue Zhengyang turned back with a smile.

What? Leave already arranged? When? Today and tomorrow, was that necessary?

Huang Xiu stood at the gate, completely confused.

“Don’t worry. You’ll have a full two days!” Yue Zhengyang raised her arm and checked her watch.

“Can I come back?” Huang Xiu didn’t move.

Behind her, students walked past the gate, their laughter and chatter fading.

“Hurry up, hurry up! There won’t be hot water later!”

“It’s fine. I’ll shower first.”

“Get lost, you dog!”

“Haha, I’m out!”

Cars drove by on the road ahead, the crunch of tires on gravel clear.

“You can come back.”

Yue Zhengyang stood straight as a ruler. “I only asked for two days off!”

The students walked farther away, their noise fading. The car sounds grew louder.

Huang Xiu suddenly turned back to look at her alma mater.

Under the gray sky, the orange-red school name stone stood silently, weathered by years.

The elderly security guard yawned, eating rice from a large ceramic mug with a handle.

Together, they had witnessed the rise and fall of this school.

A breeze blew, and the osmanthus trees on campus swayed gently, occasional oval leaves spiraling down.

The main road from the gate to the teaching building seemed perpetually buried in these osmanthus leaves.

So much so that students had to sweep them every day.

She remembered that during her cleaning duty, she had been tasked more than once with sweeping this road.

“No, I mean later… you know what I mean.” Huang Xiu looked seriously at the young woman before her.

“If you want to come back, you definitely can. Do you think I would stop you?”

Yue Zhengyang’s smile faded. She adjusted her glasses with her right hand and turned to look seriously at Huang Xiu.

“But you should understand: a person can walk backward for a while, but can they do it for a lifetime?”

“I’m not asking for a lifetime. That’s too long. I’m only two days away from turning seventeen.”

Huang Xiu raised her head, her eyes bright. “I don’t want to go backward either. I just want to stop. For one year…”

“One year or two years, it doesn’t matter. Anyway…”

Yue Zhengyang raised her right arm; the sleeve fell back, revealing a skeleton mechanical watch.

“It’s getting late. Let’s eat first!”

With that, she strode forward.

“Wait…” Huang Xiu pointed to the right. “Teacher Yue, you’re going the wrong way. The restaurant is on the right.”

*****

Xiao Tian’s Family Feast was a home-style restaurant specializing in Hunan cuisine, tucked in an alley to the right of the school.

Known for its good value and tasty food, it was very popular among students of the No. 1 Middle School…

Well, and perhaps it also had a little something to do with the beautiful owner’s generous bosom.

But Huang Xiu could swear she chose this place purely for the food.

“Hey, how many?”

The owner, wearing an apron, was busy but still noticed them as they entered.

“Four. Do you have a private room?” Yue Zhengyang glanced around the restaurant.

Square brown wooden tables filled the hall, paired with old-fashioned high-back chairs, giving off a 90s vibe.

It was already one in the afternoon, not exactly meal time, but there were quite a few people.

All locals speaking dialect, uncles and aunties, working men.

The food should be good…

Yue Zhengyang’s mood lifted a little.

“Yes, there’s one left. Upstairs.”

The owner led them to a private room on the second floor, left a greasy wooden clipboard, then went downstairs. She came back with four sets of tableware.

“Do you have any dietary restrictions, Teacher Yue?”

Taking the clipboard, Huang Xiu pulled out the purple pen clipped to it, flipping through the menu with her left hand while twirling the pen with her right.

“None at all. Just order plenty.” Yue Zhengyang looked down at her phone, seemingly texting someone.

“Everyone has a big appetite, just like you.”