Back to Auntie’s School Days - Chapter 20

Tutoring began in earnest. No matter how much Jian You resisted, her mother, Jian Sihong, had managed to “forgive” her for being a lesbian; if she didn’t study now, she felt like she’d be failing her mother.

In addition to the three of them, Zhu Xinsui found out about the tutoring sessions and joined in as well.

The four of them became inseparable at school, and the fact that they remained glued together after class led many classmates to tease them about being two pairs of “inseparable couples.”

Some were also surprised: When did Tan Yanqing and Jian You become such good friends?

Jian You: Heh, I have half a mind to tear Tan Yanqing apart.

Jian Hao, however, was thoroughly enjoying herself.

But there was one thing Jian Hao didn’t know how to address: she had a vague feeling that Tan Yanqing was angry with her.

Then again, it might just be her imagination. Tan Yanqing’s face was perpetually cold, and her responses were always a faint “Mhm,” “Okay,” or “Sure,” which made it impossible to read any emotion from her.

But Jian Hao just felt it—Tan Yanqing was unhappy with her.

At school, everything was normal. Even at Tan Yanqing’s house for tutoring, their interactions seemed fine.

Yet, Jian Hao couldn’t put her finger on why it felt so… off.

Actually, it wasn’t just Tan Yanqing; Zhu Xinsui was acting strange, too.

Since the sports meet, Zhu Xinsui’s mood had been consistently low. She was already shy and quiet, but now she was practically silent. You only heard her voice when you asked her a question.

Jian You and the others naturally noticed something was wrong with Xinsui immediately. But whenever they asked, the answer was always “It’s nothing.”

Jian Hao knew why, so since Zhu Xinsui didn’t want to talk, she didn’t pry; she would wait for her to open up on her own.

Right now, Jian Hao was more concerned with: What exactly is wrong with Tan Yanqing?

“I’m not writing anymore! This is killing me!” Jian You threw her pen down and rolled her neck.

The four were sitting around the coffee table. It had been so quiet that the only sound was the flipping of pages and the scratching of pens, so her sudden outburst startled the other three.

Although Jian Hao wanted to throw her pen down and slack off just like Jian You, she had to maintain her image in front of her mom. Also, remembering Tan Yanqing’s previous comment—“If you don’t want to write, then go home”—she endured the ache in her neck and said to Jian You, “Hang in there, there are still three worksheets left.”

Jian You leaned back against the sofa behind her and took a sip of the Coke Tan Yanqing had bought. “Just let me copy yours when you’re finished.”

Jian Hao immediately turned serious. “No. You promised Auntie you’d study hard and get into a four-year university.”

“Tsk.” Jian You let out an exasperated hiss. “Am I giving you too much face? Do you believe I’ll beat you up?”

“Go ahead and beat me, it’s not like you can kill me.” Jian Hao was unmoved; it wasn’t like she’d never been hit before. “Anyway, even after you beat me, you still have to get into that university.”

Jian You took a deep breath and sat up, resting her elbows on her knees. She looked at Jian Hao curiously. “Did my mom give you money?”

Jian Hao: “If she gave me money, would you be able to get into university?”

“Then why are you so invested in me? Why do you care so much whether I go to university or not?”

Jian You suddenly narrowed her eyes, staring at Jian Hao. “You don’t have a secret crush on me, do you?!”

“…?!”

“…”

“…”

Everyone was used to Jian You and Jian Hao’s constant bickering, so even when they argued, Tan Yanqing and Zhu Xinsui usually remained indifferent. But Jian You’s sentence was like a bomb dropped into the sea. It sent waves crashing through the room, and the two girls who had been head-down in their work both snapped their heads up.

Jian Hao’s face turned red with anger!

What kind of improper nonsense is this?!

Who has a crush on their own biological mother?

Aaaaaah! Jian Hao really wanted to shake Jian You by the shoulders and ask if she knew what she was talking about!

If she hadn’t remembered that Jian You was her mother, Jian Hao would have blurted out some profanities. Her voice trembled: “I’m doing this for your own good, and you… you actually say something like that!”

However, her reaction looked more like the panic of someone whose “secret crush” had been exposed.

Seeing such a huge reaction, Jian You couldn’t help but want to tease her.

“Sister here gives you food and a place to stay and treats you so well; it’s only normal for you to fall for me. If you like me, just like me. I won’t judge.”

Jian You was sitting right next to Jian Hao.

As she spoke, she leaned her body toward Jian Hao. Seeing that Jian Hao’s face was impossibly red, she teased, “Ooh, look at you, getting shy.”

She poked Jian Hao’s cheek. “Does Sister need to give you a kiss?”

Jian Hao gave a dry laugh. “Sure.” She leaned her face toward Jian You. “Which side are you going to kiss?”

This move actually left Jian You stunned. Jian Lai had heard her come out with her own ears; how did she still dare to let her kiss her?

What a terrifying heterosexual.

Wait, could it be that Jian Lai also liked girls? Had she brought a wolf into her own house?

Jian You pulled back, moving away from Jian Hao.

Her reaction allowed Jian Hao to score a point back.

Jian Hao lowered her head with a smile. “Anyway, no matter what you say, rest for a bit and then finish the worksheets. Leave the ones you don’t know blank; we’ll solve them together in a bit.”

Jian You slowly came to her senses, realizing she’d been played by Jian Lai. She reached out to tickle her.

“Youyou,” Zhu Xinsui called out at that moment.

Jian You looked over. “Huh?”

Zhu Xinsui stood up from her cushion. “Can you come to the balcony with me? I have something to say to you.”

“…Oh.”

Jian You pulled her hand back, stood up, and followed Zhu Xinsui to the second-floor balcony.

The living room downstairs suddenly became quiet.

Jian Hao flopped face-down onto the coffee table with a thud and let out a long breath, feeling like she’d barely survived. Just as she thought she could finally catch her breath…

“Do you like Jian You this much?”