Is Chapter 41 a tortoise?
Conference hall on the third floor of the administration building at Jiangzhou University.
The meeting, which was supposed to discuss the teaching reform plan for the next semester, has subtly veered off course.
"Dean, besides teaching duties, shouldn't some of us teachers also be mindful of the impact our personal lives have on the school?"
Professor Wang adjusted his glasses, his tone casual, but his gaze drifted intentionally or unintentionally in a certain direction:
“Some orientations are not so mainstream, and if they get out, they may cause unnecessary discussion about the school’s reputation and the students.”
"Yes, I've received several anonymous emails in the past few days, alleging that a teacher and student are dating..."
"Sigh! Some teachers' behavior is indeed not in line with the image of university teachers. In public, they are too intimate with the same sex. As role models, teachers should always be more cautious."
"Teachers, isn't that a bit much?"
A professor sitting opposite frowned and retorted, "A teacher's professional competence and ethics are fundamental. As for their personal life, as long as it's not illegal, what does it have to do with their work?"
"Isn't separating work and life a principle that the institute has always emphasized?"
“Teacher Zhou, what are you doing? I was just reminding you to be mindful of the impact, why are you making such a big deal out of it? Besides, the person involved has been sitting here without saying a word.”
"Did you bring this up first? This is a teaching reform meeting..."
"Alright, everyone, say less." The dean, sitting in the main seat, spoke up to stop them.
His gaze swept over Shen Beidao, who was sitting by the window. Shen Beidao's expression was indifferent, and he didn't seem to want to participate in the discussion.
The dean cleared his throat: "What can a few blurry photos of unknown origin prove?"
"With today's advanced technology, with photo editing and all sorts of AI synthesis, what can't they create? I think most of it is just fabrication!"
He paused, then turned his gaze to Shen Beidao, deliberately softening his tone: "Beidao, you are a young man, so it's inevitable that there will be some gossip."
I remember you and Professor Fang Yu were dating, weren't you? It's a good thing for young people to date, but they need to be mindful of the occasion.
This statement, while seemingly a way to defuse the situation, actually also establishes a safe boundary.
Shen Beidao raised his eyes, his gaze calmly meeting that of the dean, and also sweeping over his colleagues present, whose expressions varied.
He did not immediately refute the allegations regarding the photos, nor did he dwell on the unfounded "intimate behavior."
After a moment, he stood up: "I apologize, Dean, and fellow teachers."
His voice was not loud, but his words were clear: "I am not feeling well and request to leave the meeting early. Thank you all for your concern."
"However, regarding Ms. Fang Yu and me, we are just ordinary colleagues, not boyfriend and girlfriend as rumored."
He paused, his tone now carrying an undeniable seriousness: "As for my personal relationship status, who I date, whether male or female, I consider that to be my private matter."
"If any teacher or anyone else here has any objection to my personal behavior, or believes that it violates professional ethics or school regulations, I suggest that you directly report it to the principal's mailbox with your real name, or file a complaint with the higher-level education authorities."
"Thank you for your concern about my personal situation. Please focus your energy on our main topic today—teaching reform."
After saying that, he gestured to the dean to leave first, ignoring the subtle atmosphere that had suddenly become in the conference room.
Shen Beidao did not stop and went straight to the teaching building.
He also has a German class in the afternoon.
The classroom was more crowded than usual, and the whispers suddenly subsided when he walked in, only to resume when he turned to write on the blackboard.
Those gazes, curious, inquisitive, and tinged with a secret excitement, would occasionally fall on his back.
Shen Beidao didn't care at all. He opened the courseware as usual and began to explain the knowledge points in German in his usual clear and calm tone...
When the bell rang, he packed his things and left the classroom.
When I got home that evening, the "hug" I had expected didn't happen.
The room had been thoroughly cleaned, and a faint scent of lemon cleaning agent lingered in the air, replacing the usual lazy atmosphere left by Lin Yi.
The thin blanket casually draped over the sofa was gone, and the pair of Nike shoes that Lin Yi loved to wear by the door were also missing.
On the dining table, a sticky note was pressed down by a simple glass.
Shen Beidao walked over and picked it up. It was covered in Lin Yi's sloppy handwriting:
There's been a lot going on at school lately, so I'm going home for a few days. I've called for cleaning services before I leave.
Shen Beidao stared at the line of text for a few seconds, put down the note, took out his phone, and dialed Lin Yi's number.
The receiver played a repeated message: "The user you dialed is currently on another call. Please try again later."
Shen Beidao put down his phone, the screen went dark, revealing his expressionless face.
The next moment, he picked up the coat he had just taken off, put it back on, and went straight to Lin Yi's house.
He knew the door lock code for Lin Yi's residence. He entered the familiar number, and with a "beep," the door opened.
Shen Beidao didn't turn on the lights. Looking at the faint light filtering through the city outside the window, he walked to the sofa in the living room and sat down.
He kept thinking about whether Lin Yi had suffered a lot of disdain, gossip, or contempt during high school.
How did he get through that time?
Given the little rabbit's seemingly stubborn but actually timid and soft-hearted nature, it must have secretly cried, right?
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel heartbroken.
If only I had met him sooner...
At 7 p.m., the sound of the keypad lock finally came from outside the door.
The door was pushed open, and the light from the corridor flooded in, outlining Lin Yi's somewhat tired figure.
He bent down to change his shoes before looking up.
"Damn!" Lin Yi was clearly startled. His eyes widened as he looked at Shen Beidao, who stood up from the sofa and walked towards him. "You... what are you doing in my house?"
Shen Beidao didn't say anything. He took a few steps forward, grabbed Lin Yi's wrist, and pulled him into the house.
The door slammed shut behind me.
"What are you doing..." Lin Yi staggered and tried to pull his hand back, but Shen Beidao had already let go of him.
Shen Beidao turned around, took out a neatly folded A4 sheet of paper from his backpack, and placed it on the table.
The paper was unfolded, revealing a clearly printed table.
Title: Monthly Partner Evaluation Rating Form (Probationary Period)
Below are listed items such as "Providing Emotional Value", "Participation in Shared Activities", "Quality of Intimate Interactions", and "Attitude in Handling Misunderstandings". There are even empty spaces left for "Rating" and "Evaluator's Comments".
Lin Yi's lips twitched, almost laughing: "Shen Beidao, you...you actually printed this thing out?"
Shen Beidao looked at him, but his tone was serious, even businesslike: "President Lin, the probation period for this month is over. Please give me a timely evaluation. I'm in a hurry to get promoted."
"You have the nerve to bring up performance reviews? These past few days... I've felt unwell even walking, I'll almost need crutches. Do you think you can meet the 'quality of intimate interactions' standard?"
Lin Yi curled his lip: "I think it doesn't meet the standard."
He tried to steer the conversation in a lighter direction with this half-serious, half-joking complaint.
Or rather, a direction where he could temporarily hide.
Shen Beidao wasn't fooled at all. He took a half-step closer and lowered his voice: "So what? You didn't meet the standard... and then what?"
“Not up to standard…” Lin Yi’s throat tightened, his eyes drifted elsewhere, avoiding looking at Shen Beidao. “Not up to standard… then just keep trying next month.”
"Isn't the probationary period for evaluation?"
"Lin Yi." Shen Beidao called him by his full name, his attitude becoming even more serious, as if he were reprimanding a student, "Do you know something?"
He approached step by step: "Li Rui told you? So you're... avoiding me?"
"...I didn't." Lin Yi subconsciously retorted, but his voice involuntarily stuttered, "I...I did have a full day of classes today, I can see my schedule if you don't believe me."
"Can't you go home after class in the evening?" Shen Beidao asked rhetorically.
“Your home is too far away. I have class early tomorrow morning, and it's inconvenient for me to come and go. Staying at my place will save you time.”
Shen Beidao didn't say anything more, but turned to the side and pointed to the bulging dark travel bag on the living room sofa.
“I understand.” Shen Beidao crossed his arms, nodded, and his tone regained its usual calm. “So, I’ll come and stay at your house.”
"You..." Lin Yi felt a lump in his throat.
After a long while, Lin Yi seemed to have finally mustered up his courage and said, "There are rumors at your school that you have a boyfriend... that you are gay."
Shen Beidao looked at him and listened silently.
"This won't be good for you... Shen Beidao, how about... we separate for a while? Wait until things calm down..."
“No.” Shen Beidao interrupted him, his words firm and leaving no room for negotiation.
Why not?
Lin Yi raised his head and met Shen Beidao's gaze, which held a kind of almost stubborn determination that he rarely saw, completely brooking no negotiation.
Shen Beidao's fingertip hovered over the absurd "Evaluation Form." "Didn't you say I failed the evaluation? Probationary employees have an obligation to work extra hard and strive to leave a good impression."
"Therefore, I have to work overtime day and night until President Lin is satisfied."
Lin Yi: ...
He recalled the message Li Rui had sent that afternoon, along with a link to the school forum.
The link contains various anonymous and malicious posts...
Li Rui: [The school forum is full of talk about Professor Shen. It's said that the dean even made anti-homosexual remarks during a meeting.]
Li Rui: [I think Teacher Shen must have been greatly affected; she was completely distracted in class today.]
"But..." Lin Yi's voice trailed off, "I don't want you to let me affect your career...actually..."
He bit his lower lip, his voice muffled: "We can keep it private...like having secret lovers. As long as it doesn't affect you, I'm fine with it."
After he finished speaking, he looked at Shen Beidao and tried to force a smile, but the smile was uglier than a cry.
Shen Beidao looked at him, at the self-sacrificing love and the cautiousness in his eyes, and the anger that had been suppressed suddenly dissipated.
“Lin Yi,” he called his name, his voice softening, “Do you think that just because we hide underground, people above ground won’t gossip about our shadows underground?”
“Once prejudice is established, the crime has already been committed.”
Whether we are out in the open or in hiding, it won't change how they see us.
Those gazes won't become more tolerant just because we hold back.
He stepped forward, squatted down, and aligned his gaze with Lin Yi, who was sitting in the chair, and took his somewhat cold hand in his.
"It is their narrow-mindedness that is their own problem. Can they tarnish the purity of our feelings by indulging in their narrow-mindedness?"
What right do they have to dictate how we should love each other, or even whether we should love each other at all?
Lin Yi countered, "But what do you love about me, Shen Beidao? I... I don't seem to have anything special about me, and I'm always causing you trouble..."
“Lin Yi,” Shen Beidao interrupted his self-deprecation, ““What do you love about me?” is a false question in the eyes of lovers.
"I can't quite explain what I love about you, whether it's your appearance, your personality... or a particular moment; "
I can't explain why it has to be you, just like scientists can't explain why air exists or why water flows—it's the same reason.
"Love isn't about making a list and meeting a few criteria to fall madly in love. It's about the fact that it happens and exists, and that's the reason."
There aren't that many "whys," nor is there a need for so many "whys."
Lin Yi: ...It sounds quite touching.
But! It's like saying nothing at all... it's no different.
At this moment, Shen Beidao reached out and embraced Lin Yi.
Lin Yi went to meet him, burying her face deeply in Shen Beidao's shoulder, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist.
Having been a teacher for so long, they really love to lecture... but they always avoid answering questions. Humph...
Shen Beidao's voice carried a warm tone: "Are you a tortoise?"
Hmm? At the slightest sound of wind or movement outside, it hurriedly retracts its head and limbs into its shell.
Lin Yi gave a muffled "humph" in his arms, "What's wrong with a turtle?"
"Longevity! Living a long life!"
As he spoke, the hand that was wrapped around Shen Beidao's waist suddenly slid down restlessly, accurately patting the man's firm buttocks with a light touch: "Considering what you just said... it was barely passable! You've passed this month's assessment!"
"Therefore, Professor Shen, keep up the good work and strive to be promoted to a full-time position ahead of schedule next month."
Upon hearing this, Shen Beidao narrowed his eyes, and the gloom deep in his eyes completely dissipated.
He grabbed Lin Yi's chin, forcing him to look at him, and asked slowly and deliberately:
"So, Mr. Lin's sudden departure, refusal to answer the phone, and suggestion of separation today were... a test of me?"
"Do you think I'll back down because of a little pressure? Am I... someone you can entrust your life to?"
"Mr. Lin, your acting is quite good." He said, pinching Lin Yi's cheek as if punishing him.
"You're too kind. It's all thanks to Teacher Shen for her excellent teaching."
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Author's note: Junior high school students should study hard~ Just treat reading novels as a way to relax occasionally, okay?
I finally got fooled by Kobayashi! Actually, Kobayashi really is a little turtle.
The photo was taken by a classmate when they were kissing in the cafeteria, and it had already been posted on the forum. The reason it was only recently brought up again is because someone...
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