Chapter 17

Shen Tan cleared his throat and said, "The Dean of Academic Affairs just called me and sent me this photo. He said that this incident has been going on in No. 2 Middle School and No. 8 Middle School for some time, and it is possible that our school may have been involved as well."

The teaching staff of No. 1 Middle School is very strong. One of the teachers in the teaching and research group is a professor from the School of Education who was hired at a high salary. The quality of the papers for all major school examinations is very high and very useful for reference. Privately, many schools hope to get the papers from No. 1 Middle School. The textbooks and student notes used in daily life are also in great demand.

Tao Luanxi swallowed and said, "This notebook is mine, but I lost it some time ago. I'm looking for it too."

Shen Tan nodded: "Well, I believe you are innocent. I understand my students, but I can't just believe this. We have to find the culprit and give the school an explanation. I discussed it with the Dean of Academic Affairs and decided not to publicize this matter widely to avoid alarming others, which would not be good for you."

"Yes, thank you, teacher."

The post incident a while ago just happened not long ago. If something else were to come out at this time, it would definitely affect Tao Luanxi. Shen Tan's consideration was half for him.

"I called you here today to talk to you and to ask you if you have any clues. Have you lent your notebook to anyone?"

"I have lent it to... quite a few people, but I don't know who didn't return it in the end."

Shen Tan frowned and thought for a while: "It seems that someone is taking advantage of the situation."

Tao Luanxi lowered his head. No matter how you look at it, he couldn't get away from this matter. If it weren't for his notebook, if he hadn't borrowed money from people everywhere, this wouldn't have happened.

Tao Luanxi sighed inwardly, why are there so many things happening recently?

Just as he was sighing, a big hand touched the back of Tao Luanxi's head. The reassuring warmth of the palm slightly eased the anxiety in his heart. Tao Luanxi looked up and saw Qiu Yi touching his head with one hand. He looked at Shen Tan seriously and said, "Apart from this picture, are there any other clues?"

"There are still a few pictures I haven't had time to type out." Shen Tan took out his mobile phone, opened the pictures and handed them to Qiu Yi. Qiu Yi took it and took a look. The screenshots at this time were chat records of purchases. The buyer claimed that he knew Tao Luanxi's girlfriend and that he bought the items on her behalf because the other party was not convenient to show up. He also posted a few pictures of a girl in a uniform and said she was Tao's girlfriend.

Qiu Yi narrowed his eyes when he saw this. The picture in the chat record was too small to see the face clearly, so he couldn't tell who it was, but these were enough to arouse his anger.

The merchant's ID and profile picture were censored. Qiu Yi frowned, leaving his phone on the table, and said in a cold voice, "How do you know who it is without any information?"

Shen Tan was stunned: "The teacher from No. 2 Middle School only sent these few pictures, which were obtained from the students involved. This person is said to be active only on WeChat, and no student knows who he is in real life."

"Since they have been arrested, why are they posting a censored picture? Who are they trying to fool? Is this guy in cahoots with the other guy? Or is he trying to cover up for him? Is this how a teacher from No. 2 Middle School looks?"

Shen Tan thought about it, picked up his phone and started typing: "I'll tell the teacher about it."

"Remember to send me the information of that person if you get it."

Shen Tan raised his head and stared at Qiu Yi with an ambiguous look: "Teachers have no right to check student information privately. They can only investigate through questioning."

"I didn't ask you to investigate. I'll do it myself." Qiu Yi said coldly, "Even if you are held accountable, it's my business."

Shen Tan stared at Qiu Yi, then he noticed that his hand had been placed on Tao Luanxi's head at some point. His eyes suddenly became heavy, and he stared at Qiu Yi coldly without saying a word.

The two of them just stared at each other silently. Tao Luanxi turned her head to glance at Qiu Yi, and her fluffy hair brushed across Qiu Yi's palm. Qiu Yi retracted his hand and patted Tao Luanxi on the shoulder: "You go study first, I'll talk to my cousin."

Tao Luanxi intuitively felt that the atmosphere between the two of them was not right, but Qiu Yi did not use the word "teacher" but "cousin", obviously not wanting to drag Tao Luanxi into it.

Tao Luanxi looked at the two of them, nodded silently, and went out.

Once the office door was closed, only Shen Tan and Qiu Yi were left in the room. Qiu Yi put his hands in his pockets and said, "Just ask me what you want to ask. You won't get anything out of staring at me."

"What do you mean? To Tao Luanxi."

"Didn't I tell you clearly last time? I like him."

"Like it or not! How old are you to talk about likes or dislikes?"

Shen Tan felt something was wrong about the last post, and when Qiu Yi was looking for the student records, he asked him about it. He admitted it generously. Shen Tan found it unbelievable at first, and thought that Qiu Yi was just teasing Tao Luanxi and playing with him, so he didn't take it seriously. Who knew that this guy would become even worse and become more and more undisguised in his love for Tao Luanxi.

"Eighteen," Qiu Yi shrugged, adding, "I am an adult."

"No matter how old you are, you are still a kid!" Shen Tan rolled his eyes: "Do you know how old I am?"

"Sixteen. What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Shen Tan was so angry that he let out a heavy breath: "She's only in the first year of high school, still a child, what the hell are you thinking about all day long?"

"I didn't say what to do to him, did I? I know he's underage, but you keep staring at me like a thief all day long. What are you thinking?" Qiu Yi chuckled, "This is not good, Teacher Shen!"

Shen Tan stood up suddenly and hit Qiu Yi on the back of the head: "If you keep being so disrespectful to me!"

Qiu Yi didn't move. He silently swallowed the slap and smacked his lips: "Don't worry about it. You can deal with the school for two days. I'll tell you after I find out."

The emotion in Shen Tan's eyes was unclear, and he murmured, "I've never seen you care so much about anyone."

"Everyone has a first time in life!" Qiu Yi said indifferently. The smile of Tao Luanxi on the basketball court last time appeared in his mind unconsciously, and the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously.

"Besides, he deserves it."

Shen Tan stared at Qiu Yi's smile with a gloomy face, his voice a little dry: "Qiu Yi, you are here because of the incident with your aunt--"

"No." Qiu Yi denied it straightforwardly. The smile on his face faded instantly when he heard Shen Tan mention the word "aunt": "Don't tie these two people together. She doesn't deserve it."

"He? Which one?"

Qiu Yi's eyes could almost freeze a person to death: "You know."

Tao Luanxi was lying on the table, frowning and biting her nails, when she suddenly heard the sound of a stool being dragged beside her. Qiu Yi pulled out a chair and sat down as if he was ignoring what was happening. He pulled out a textbook from the table, picked a random page, opened it and spread it on the table.

The two people were not close to each other. Tao Luanxi tilted his head and shouted as quietly as possible: "Hey!"

Qiu Yi turned to look at him, raised his eyebrows and asked him what he was doing.

"What are you going to do?"

Qiu Yi leaned towards Tao Luanxi and leaned closer to her: "What did you say?"

Tao Luanxi raised her voice: "I said you——"

"Ahem!" Tao Luanxi coughed and started to speak. When Tao Luanxi looked up, the teacher with the reflection in his glasses was staring at him expressionlessly. Tao Luanxi lowered his head and shrank to the side.

The next second, Qiu Yi dragged his desk and chair over, glanced at the teacher and said, "Let's discuss the topic."

Today's self-study teacher did not teach Class A, but he knew the relationship between Qiu Yi and the school, so he just reminded them to "speak more quietly" and said nothing more.

The two of them lay on the table, their heads pressed together. Qiu Yi turned to look at him: "What do you want to ask?"

It was the first time that Tao Luanxi was so close to someone. Qiu Yi's breath fanned his face. Tao Luanxi blinked and could almost see every distinct eyelash on his eyelids.

The smell of clean grass lingered at the tip of her nose, and Tao Luanxi felt a little numb on the side of her face as she approached Qiu Yisi. On the other hand, Qiu Yisi did not feel uncomfortable at all, and her eyes looked at Tao Luanxi's face calmly.

Perhaps because Tao Luanxi's discomfort was seen through, Qiu Yi smiled lightly: "If you don't say anything, I'll want to do something else."

Tao Luanxilian remembered Qiu Yi's previous words about wanting to kiss him, and her ears immediately turned red. She got on the horse and pinched Qiu Yi's arm: "Will you die if you don't talk nonsense?"

Qiu Yi cried out softly when he was pinched, and said innocently while grabbing the textbook on his desk, "I meant reading."

Tao Luanxi's hand froze after pinching the man, and then he touched his neck awkwardly, turning his head away to hide his embarrassment: "Oh."

Qiu Yi just put down the book and said patiently: "Just ask whatever you want to ask!"

"What are you going to do?"

"To solve this kind of thing, you just need to check the person first, have a chat after finding him, return the money you collected, and clarify the matter. The rest of the matter will be the school's responsibility."

"What if he doesn't admit it?"

Qiu Yi looked at Tao Luanxi and smiled: "He will." Before Tao Luanxi could speak, he stretched out a finger and gently pressed against Tao Luanxi's lips: "Don't ask why, it's better for you not to know some things."

Tao Luanxi was a little unconvinced, and pried Qiu Yi's hand away and said, "Do you think I don't know? It's nothing more than threats or fighting. Who do you think you are?"

Qiu Yi smiled: "I was wrong, you are not."

Tao Luanxi snorted and let go of her hand. Qiu Yi withdrew his hand and placed it under the table. The soft touch of Tao Luanxi's lips was still lingering on his fingertips. The look in his eyes when he looked at Tao Luanxi also became gentle unconsciously.

Tao Luanxi hesitated and said, "We should handle it normally if we can! If we really fight, it will easily leave a handle, which will be disadvantageous to us."

Qiu Yi nodded: "Okay." In his heart, he was enjoying the joy of Tao Luanxi making him one of his own.

I have been attending classes for the next few days, and I haven't heard any rumors about anyone buying materials in No. 1 Middle School yet. It's just that because of the publicity from the Youth League branch, many people know that Tao Luanxi's notes were lost, and they all feel sorry for him.

"I wonder who is so evil as to use something and not return it? It's so abominable!" Lin Qian [Student Councillor of Class A] is weak at physics. She relies on Tao Luanxi's notes before every exam. Now that someone else's things are lost, she has to bear the consequences. She has to study on her own and can't help feeling resentful.

"But speaking of which, next time, don't lend your notes to others. Keep them for yourself and use them wisely! After all, they are your own hard work. It would be a shame if they were lost by others."

"Thank you." Tao Luanxi smiled and did not tell others that his notes had been dismembered and sold.

Now there was no one around Tao Luanxi. Qiu Yi, her deskmate, was sleeping. Li Linqian put her hands behind her back and asked boldly, "Tao Luanxi, I heard you have a girlfriend?"

"Ah?" Tao Luanxi was stunned and didn't notice that the pile of school uniforms sleeping beside him moved.

Tao Luanxi laughed: "Who told you that?"

"Well, I heard it from a friend," Lin Qian touched her face embarrassedly, "I heard that she is a beautiful senior in the second year of high school in our school, but this is just gossip. I came here to ask you out of curiosity."

At this point Lin Qian's face turned red: "I'm sorry, I was so abrupt, just pretend you didn't hear anything!" After saying that, she was about to leave.

Tao Luanxi couldn't let someone just leave without knowing what was going on, so she immediately grabbed Lin Qian's hand and said, "Wait a minute, can you tell me more about this?"

Stared at by Tao Luanxi's deer-like almond-shaped eyes, Lin Qian found it difficult to refuse. Just as her eyes were shyly darting around, Lin Qian suddenly realized that there was someone behind Tao Luanxi staring at her with a gloomy face. She instantly felt a chill on her back, and all the romantic thoughts were scared away.

Tao Luanxi felt Lin Qian's body stiffen, and before she could react, she asked in confusion, "What happened?"

"Nothing... " Lin Qian had also heard about the affair between these two people, but she just took it as a joke and didn't take it seriously. Now looking at Qiu Yi's eyes, she suddenly remembered the things that happened between the two of them some time ago. The more she thought about it, the more creepy she felt.

"Actually, it was a friend of mine from No. 2 Middle School who said that you became famous after you got first place in the exam. They also said that you are good-looking, and many girls said they wanted to come and see you. Later, there was a rumor that you already have a girlfriend, and that she is a beautiful girl. I really don't know anything else. I just heard it from others." Lin Qian was about to cry: "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned this to you. I won't say it again!"

After saying that, he shook off Tao Luanxi's hand and ran out. Tao Luanxi called out to him twice but it was of no use. When he was reflecting on what he had done wrong, he turned around and saw Qiu Yi staring at him with a mysterious look on his face.

"When did you wake up?"

"When you said your girlfriend was a beauty." Qiu Yi closed his eyes and began to rub his neck.

Tao Luanxi was speechless when she heard his cold tone, and said inexplicably: "I don't have a girlfriend."

Qiu Yi turned his head and looked at him: "Are you explaining to me?"

Tao Luanxi nodded seriously: "At least not now."

“…”

"What's wrong?" Tao Luanxi frowned: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Nothing." Qiu Yi retracted his gaze and stood up: "I just found out that you are a straight man."

After saying this, Qiu Yi walked out, leaving Tao Luanxi with a puzzled look in her eyes.

Tao Luanxi looked at Qiu Yi's leaving back, and after being stunned for a few seconds, she pursed her lips slightly, and said with some confusion and grievance: "I am a straight man!"

Within two days, the message from Shen Tan came. Qiu Yisi did not hesitate to send the message without any hesitation from the teacher as she placed her cell phone on the table.

Now the two people's study room desks are still permanently pushed together, and Tao Luanxi can see what Qiu Yi is doing on his mobile phone just by looking up.

“When can we find out?”

"Very soon." Qiu Yi turned to look at him: "Do you have time this weekend?"

Tao Luanxi wanted to use the weekend to finish his previous notes, so he hesitated for a long time and didn't say anything.

"No time? Then I'll go by myself."

"What is it?"

"Fight against the person who is making money by using your girlfriend's name."

Tao Luanxi's eyes lit up instantly, and Qiu Yi's lips curled up: "Are you going or not?"

"go!"

On the weekend, Qiu Yi didn't come and wanted to pick up Tao Luanxi, but Tao Luanxi righteously refused. In the end, they met at the gate of Wenxinyuan.

There were few people at the gate of Wenxinyuan on weekends. When Tao Luanxi arrived, there was only a red motorcycle parked at the gate. The person on the motorcycle was wearing a black motorcycle suit and was looking down at his mobile phone. His two long legs crossed on the ground were particularly conspicuous.

Tao Luanxi looked around but didn't see Qiu Yi, so he lowered his head and edited a text message for Qiu Yi. A few seconds after he sent it, he heard the WeChat notification sound around him.

When Tao Luanxi turned her head, Qiu Yi happened to look up and saw Tao Luanxi in a white sweatshirt and jeans, as clean as half white jade. He was so stunned that he couldn't take his eyes off her.

Tao Luanxi ran over, looked Qiu Yi up and down at his outfit, and gave a fair comment: "He is a very social person."

Qiu Yi smiled but didn't say anything. When he looked into Tao Luanxi's eyes, he suddenly paused. He bent his index finger and gently rubbed Tao Luanxi's lower eyelid. Qiu Yi frowned slightly and asked, "Did you stay up late again last night?"

It's not staying up late, it's staying up all night. Tao Luanxi corrected herself silently in her heart.

As he had something to do today, Tao Luanxi worked hard to make up his notes all day long. When he finally finished, he found that it was already dawn when he looked up. He slept for two or three hours, had lunch, and hurried out to keep his appointment with Qiu Yi.

Qiu Yi's tone was filled with blame, but more of heartache: "Can't you feel more sorry for yourself?"

Tao Luanxi blinked, her fingertips were slightly warm, but she surprisingly didn't find it annoying. If it was someone else, Tao Luanxi would definitely say with peace of mind, "It's okay, I can handle my own affairs!" But looking at Qiu Yi, Tao Luanxi couldn't say these words.

"I'll try my best next time."

Qiu Yi sighed softly, not knowing whether he believed Tao Luanxi's words or not. He pointed to the back seat and said, "Get in!"

Tao Luanxi narrowed his eyes slightly in suspicion: "Can you drive this?"

Qiu Yi put his hands down and took out his ID from his coat pocket: "I have it! Don't worry!"

Seeing the certificate, Tao Luanxi felt relieved instantly and jumped on it excitedly. He had never ridden a motorcycle in his life and looked around.

"Sit still!" Qiu Yi threw a helmet to Tao Luanxi.

Half a minute later, the red motorcycle drove away with the roar of its engine.

In less than 20 minutes, the two had arrived. After getting off the car, Tao Luanxi looked around and asked in confusion, "Isn't this No. 2 Middle School?"

"I didn't say we were going to No. 2 Middle School today!" Qiu Yi took a hat out of his bag and put it on Tao Luanxi, reminding her, "Don't talk when someone comes."

Tao Luanxi followed Qiu Yi into a small milk tea shop and chose a seat by the window.

Seeing that there was no one around, Tao Luanxi pulled Qiu Yi's sleeve and asked, "What on earth did you do?"

"I made an appointment to meet your girlfriend online and said I wanted to buy his information."

"Is the other party hooked? Aren't you afraid of exposing your identity?"

Qiu Yi glanced at Tao Luanxi and smiled: "If you pay enough, you won't be afraid. I said I would deliver the goods in person, otherwise I won't get a penny."

Okay, anyway, he who has money is the boss.

After a while, a tall and thin man wearing a hat finally walked into the milk tea shop, holding a brown paper bag in his hand. Qiu Yi waved to the man, and the man sat down.

Tao Luanxi lowered his head with his hat on and glanced at him from the side through the brim of his hat.

A man? And this guy calls himself his girlfriend?!

The man glanced at the person opposite him and asked in a deep voice, "Why did you bring someone with you?"

Qiu Yi remained calm and said, "Who knows whether the one you gave me is real or fake? I'll bring someone from No. 1 Middle School to check the goods."

The man held the paper bag tightly and said, "If you want to see the things, you should show some sincerity first. After all, you broke the rules first."

Qiu Yi sneered: "Who are you pretending to be? I've already paid the deposit, what are you trying to show me now?"

Tao Luanxi didn't say anything, but just listened in shock. This was the first time he heard Qiu Yi swear, but there was an indescribable fierceness in his voice, which was completely different from the way he was in school.

The man shrank back, probably because he was a little afraid of Qiu Yi's physique. After thinking for a while, he took out a few pieces of paper from the paper bag and said, "I can only see part of it first. I can give you the rest after you pay the balance."

Qiu Yi didn't even look at it, and pushed it directly in front of Tao Luanxi: "Look and see if it's true."

The first time Tao Luanxi saw what the man took out of the paper bag, he recognized it as his notebook, but it had been torn into pieces and there were many signs of damage on the corners.

Tao Luanxi flipped through it briefly and whispered, "Yes."

Qiu Yi nodded: "It is the same thing as the electronic scan you showed me before. Okay, I believe you are the real thing. The last question is, what about Tao Luanxi's girlfriend?"

"It's just my girlfriend, what else can it be?" The man smiled and said, "I'm just a delivery man, give me the money first."

"If you don't tell me, you still won't get the money."

The man sighed, muttered "There are so many things to do" and began to explain: "Go search the websites of various schools yourself. There are so many people who claim to be boyfriends and girlfriends among the school idols! What's missing?"

"So you stole the image without permission, right?"

The man was a little annoyed: "What do you mean?"

"It's nothing, I just came to inform you that you are done for fraud and stealing personal portrait rights."

The man was stunned, and then he realized that he was tricked by the man in front of him. He shouted angrily: "Fuck! You are trying to catch my fish, right? Sure! You report me for fraud, and I report you for buying the key points. Let's report each other!"

Qiu Yi said nothing, but turned to look at Tao Luanxi: "What should I do? Someone reported that I bought your key points!"

Tao Luanxi took off his hat and said, "Why don't you ask him why he stole my key points first."

That person realized it later: "Fuck, you are Tao Luanxi?!"

The author has something to say: Xi: I am a straight man!

Keyboard: Oh [smile without saying anything]