Jiang Cheng stood for the entire class.

The learning progress was still rapid. Teacher Lü, with an expressionless face, was secretly overjoyed inside. She had never seen such an exceptional student before.

“Alright, let’s stop here for today.”

Teacher Lü closed the dictionary, and said with some thought: “Go back and review more. Don’t think you’re already amazing. You should know that there’s always someone better. I’ve seen several like this, understand?”

“Teacher, I definitely won’t get arrogant. It’s just that I don’t have any books!”

Only then did Teacher Lü remember the issue with the books.

This senior brother of hers is too slow. Asking him to apply for a few books is such a hassle!
Teacher Lü had automatically ignored the fact that only two days had passed.

“Does having no books mean you won’t review? There are always more solutions than difficulties.”

After saying this, Teacher Lü sneakily glanced at Jiang Cheng.

She was afraid Jiang Cheng would become arrogant, but also worried about discouraging her too much. It was a delicate balance.

Jiang Cheng, who had already shouldered her backpack, nodded emphatically: “What the teacher says is right. Whether I have books or not shouldn’t affect my studies. I’ve already memorized everything anyway.”

Teacher Lü: Is she showing off now? Is she? Is she?

“Go on, go on. After all this talking, drink more water.”

Teacher Lü “subtly” reminded her to drink water again, the third time today.

With her keen mind, Jiang Cheng understood perfectly.

The old lady was too shy to give gifts directly, yet wanted the other person to know it was from her, embodying a mix of awkwardness and thoughtfulness.

Jiang Cheng immediately picked up the water bottle, delightedly saying, “This is my first water bottle!”

“Thank you, teacher!”

Jiang Cheng directly gave Teacher Lü a hug, leaving her stunned.

“Let go! Let go! Stay away from me!”

Jiang Cheng immediately released her, smiling brightly at Teacher Lü: “Teacher, I’m leaving. Thank you for the water bottle!”

“Who said I gave it to you? I’m just lending it to you!”

Teacher Lü retorted stubbornly, then felt it wasn’t quite right and added, “You’ve already used it, I don’t want it back!”

“Understood!”

Jiang Cheng left.

A long-lost smile appeared on Teacher Lü’s face, but thinking someone might see, she quickly suppressed it.

This girl, too mischievous!
Jiang Cheng returned to the classroom. She had finished class fifteen minutes early today, probably because the old lady was worried she was too tired from standing.

Back in the classroom, Jiang Cheng put down her backpack and quickly blended into the class, chatting with a few familiar classmates.

“Yue’e, didn’t sleep well last night?”

The haggard Jian Yue’e shook her head, looking preoccupied.

Jian Yue’e didn’t want to talk about it, and Jiang Cheng didn’t press further. Everyone has their private matters.

Just before class started, Jian Yue’e went to the restroom, and Jiang Cheng happened to go as well.

After Jian Yue’e almost bumped into a wall, Jiang Cheng asked again.

“Jiang Cheng—I, I—”

Jian Yue’e pulled Jiang Cheng with a tearful voice, and the two stood in a secluded corner.

A minute later, Jiang Cheng understood and asked, “You’re saying you feel like someone is following you when you go home at night?”

Jian Yue’e nodded, somewhat troubled: “I haven’t seen anyone, it’s just a feeling.”

“Sometimes people’s feelings are very accurate. Who do you walk home with every day, and where do you part ways? In which direction do you each go?”

Following Jiang Cheng’s line of thought, Jian Yue’e began to answer the questions.

After listening, Jiang Cheng called out a few female classmates who walked with Jian Yue’e and directly asked a question.

“After you part ways, do you feel like someone is following you?”

As soon as the question was asked, three out of the five female classmates nodded, their faces pale, speaking one after another.

None of them had seen anyone, all thought it was an illusion, and hadn’t dared to tell anyone.

After listening, Jiang Cheng summarized:
“From what we see now, this isn’t an isolated incident. If it’s premeditated, it wouldn’t just target a few of you.”

“Listen carefully, don’t alarm too many people. Ask your close friends or classmates if they’ve had similar experiences. Compile a list with their addresses, the routes they take home, and where they feel followed. Write everything down.”

Jiang Cheng’s words instantly gave the group a sense of direction.

After they parted, Jian Yue’e looked at Jiang Cheng gratefully: “Thank you, Jiang Cheng.”

Jiang Cheng laughed generously: “No need, you spoke up for me at the school gate that day.”

The two shared a smile and quietly returned to the classroom.

They asked around quietly, growing more and more alarmed.

This alarm and fear were temporarily set aside as class time arrived.

The first class was geography.

The geography teacher also had dark circles under his eyes, making Jiang Cheng wonder if she had been mistaken.

After hearing Jian Yue’e’s story, she inferred from the book that a human trafficking incident would occur a month later.

Human traffickers don’t just target children; women are also their main targets.

But why does the geography teacher look so exhausted? Could it be that they’re also selling illegal coal?

Jiang Cheng’s thoughts wandered.

Meanwhile, Geography Teacher Li was inwardly scolding himself: What is he so afraid of?
Really, as people age, they tend to overthink.

Teacher Li tried to relax, effortlessly teaching the familiar curriculum.

Jiang Cheng, sitting closest to him, kept her head down, busily writing and drawing.

Teacher Li got a bit distracted and misspoke.

Suddenly, Jiang Cheng looked up, and their eyes met.

A cold sweat trickled down Teacher Li’s back, his heartbeat involuntarily quickened, and he hurriedly corrected his mistake.

Jiang Cheng gave a faint smile and lowered her head again.

At this moment, Teacher Li realized Jiang Cheng had indeed memorized the entire textbook.

He deliberately misspoke again, and Jiang Cheng looked up once more, her eyes filled with confusion.

After Teacher Li corrected himself again, Jiang Cheng lowered her head.

Subsequently, Teacher Li misspoke three times, and Jiang Cheng looked up each time.

Teacher Li finally confirmed that Jiang Cheng had definitely memorized the entire book.

After class, Jiang Cheng stood up.

“Teacher, you must make sure to rest well.”

Teacher Li chuckled, too mentally exhausted to respond.

Who is he like this because of???

Having confirmed one thing, Teacher Li returned to the office with mixed emotions and sat in silence for a long time.

In the classroom, Jiang Cheng knew by the third time Teacher Li misspoke that he was testing her.

Knowing this, she felt even less inclined to hide her knowledge.

After class, Jiang Cheng compiled the information collected by everyone and reached a conclusion.

Someone is systematically following single, young girls from the night school.

This matter isn’t something she can resolve on her own at this stage, yet it hasn’t reached the level where it can be reported to the police.

With a shift in thought, Jiang Cheng asked for a few phone numbers and strode out of the classroom.

She went directly to the principal’s office, where there was a telephone.

Using the excuse of returning a lunchbox, Jiang Cheng smoothly entered the principal’s office and stated she wanted to make a phone call.

Principal Wang had a very good impression of Jiang Cheng.

Smart, studious, hardworking, frugal, and patriotic—these were all traits he saw in Jiang Cheng.

“Go ahead and make your call. I’ll take a walk outside.”

Principal Wang smiled as he left, and Jiang Cheng thought to herself: If you knew I wasn’t just making one phone call, you wouldn’t be smiling so happily.

But given the current situation, whether the principal leads or she leads makes a fundamental difference, so it’s better not to involve him.

Jiang Cheng picked up the phone and dialed the number of the textile factory where Jian Yue’e’s father worked.