Feng Hui only learned about the major upheaval in Tao Fengche’s family when she saw the news later. Because of this, when Cai Hong was surrounded and intimidated by several sports students, Feng Hui chose to turn a blind eye, since no trouble had arisen and Cai Hong hadn’t come to her for help.

Faced with such a huge change, she could understand Tao Fengche’s feelings and the self-destructive thoughts that could occasionally arise during adolescence. However, Tao Fengche needed to correct his attitude towards his studies. Even if he had conflicts at home, he couldn’t make a joke out of his own academic performance.

This was his own life, and he had to take responsibility for it.

This was just a final exam. Although it affected the summer camp, it was not a big deal. But what if it were a language test?

Or, even later, an entrance exam?

… That would be catastrophic.

Feng Hui’s eyes were full of worry. Tao Fengche pressed his lips together, slightly lowered his gaze, and, with a tone full of difficulty, spoke the excuse he had long prepared.

“I wasn’t feeling very well at the time, and I was a bit uncomfortable during the exam…”

He did not continue, leaving Feng Hui plenty of room for imagination.

“Okay.” Feng Hui nodded. “Are you feeling better recently?”

“Much better. I’ve been taking care of myself during the summer vacation.”

“That’s good. You’re at a critical period right now. Your health is of utmost importance; you mustn’t get sick. Once you take a leave, it’s very hard to catch up. You can’t rely on your good grades to be careless. It’s already autumn, so don’t be tempted by the cool weather. Dress warmly in the mornings and evenings, and it’s best to carry a jacket with you…”

Feng Hui babbled on and on. Tao Fengche showed no sign of impatience, nodding obediently to show he was listening. After a while, Feng Hui turned off her thermos and took a sip of water, finally asking the question she had been contemplating for a long time.

“Tao Fengche, there’s a parent-teacher meeting tomorrow afternoon. Do you think you…”

Her expression was different, her tone hesitant, with a hint of apology in her eyes. Since Tao Fengche was fourteen, he had attended group meetings with Tao Zhixing, mixing among a bunch of old foxes, observing their scheming. Feng Hui’s current thoughts were clear to him with just a glance.

When he had fought with Cai Hong, Feng Hui had persistently inquired about his family situation. In frustration, he had told her directly that he had no family. Feng Hui didn’t believe him and insisted on having a guardian come in. As a result, Xu Song came to the office to pick him up. Since then, Feng Hui’s gaze toward him had always carried a trace of barely perceptible pity, as if she were sorry for his circumstances.

But Tao Fengche hated this cautious approach to questioning.

He suddenly felt a wave of irritable frustration, his hand unconsciously clenching into a fist, so tight that his knuckles turned white, and his neatly trimmed nails nearly dug into his palm.

Yet his expression remained a deliberately maintained calmness: “Teacher, don’t worry. Uncle Xu will come.”

If it had been Xu Song or anyone from the Tao family, they would have wisely kept quiet or at least changed the topic—because Tao Fengche looked like he was on the verge of losing his temper.

But Feng Hui was just a young high school teacher who had recently taken over the class. She had never spent day and night with Tao Fengche, did not understand his body language, and did not know the underhanded tactics of the Tao family. To her, Tao Fengche was just a pitiful student in his rebellious phase, with no parents.

She was completely unaware that she had touched Tao Fengche’s limit of tolerance, dancing on the warning line without knowing it.

“Is that so…” Feng Hui nodded, her expression three parts sorrowful and seven parts affectionate. “Alright, nothing else for now. You can go back.”

Tao Fengche looked at her, feeling a wave of discomfort in his stomach, as if he had been punched hard, almost feeling nauseous.

—In fact, Tao Zhixing had never attended many parent-teacher meetings while he was still alive.

The Tao family’s business was too large, and he was always busy with official duties. Parent-teacher meetings were generally attended by Xu Song. The situations of classmates’ families were mostly similar; either an omega playing the mother role or a steward attending in their place, with few fathers participating.

It was very normal for Xu Song to attend parent-teacher meetings. Tao Fengche could not understand why Feng Hui felt the need to pity him so condescendingly.

… Was it just because other students could still see their parents at home, while he could only visit their graves if he wanted to see his?

Tao Fengche hated such looks and being treated this way.

The unhealed wound was still oozing pus and blood. He just wanted to find a quiet place to hide and let it heal slowly over time. But there were always people who would keep reopening his scars, making the wound bigger and bigger, constantly reminding him that he was injured, that he had no family, and that he had no home.

As if, no matter how wealthy or powerful he was, he was still a blustering stray dog. Therefore, even those who were less than him could come up and kick him—because they had family, they were one level above him.

He wanted to lash out uncontrollably, to use absolute violence and sharp words to vent his frustration, but Feng Hui was just a twenty-something female omega. She was ignorant and naive, not understanding what she had touched, merely thinking that as a teacher, she needed to save a student who had gone astray.

But who asked her to save him?

Tao Fengche absolutely hated such self-righteous “good-hearted” actions.

He took a deep breath, stifling the urge to lash out, and quickly nodded to Feng Hui as if to say goodbye before hastily leaving the uncomfortable place.

He left so quickly that he did not see the fleeting sorrow and the secretly determined expression in Feng Hui’s eyes.

After Tao Fengche’s figure was no longer visible, Feng Hui walked to a drafty spot in the corridor, spent a few minutes sorting out her thoughts, and then took out her phone to call Sui Yuesheng.

“Hello, Mr. Sui, this is Tao Fengche’s homeroom teacher, Feng Hui. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“No,” Sui Yuesheng set down his pen, removed the blue light glasses from his nose, and signaled Assistant Zhou to pause. “What’s the matter, Teacher Feng?”

“Well, Mr. Sui, I just spoke with Tao Fengche. His final exam scores last semester were not ideal due to illness. Actually, the papers for this mock exam are almost all graded. I looked at his results, and he’s already back to his previous level, so you don’t need to worry too much…”

Sui Yuesheng: “…”

What illness during the exam?! He just didn’t want to attend the summer camp!

This lying little rascal.

He sighed silently and responded helplessly, “I understand. Thank you, Teacher Feng.”

“There’s one more thing I’d like to discuss with you.” Feng Hui cleared her throat. “I mentioned before when I called you that the senior year is especially critical, especially the first half of the year. After applying to schools, the situation is pretty much set. At this age, kids are on the verge of adulthood, and even if they don’t say it, they are actually very dependent on their families. As his guardian, you should also be aware of his family situation. Tao Fengche’s family is quite special…”

Sui Yuesheng’s eyes narrowed, and he quickly interrupted: “Sorry, Teacher Feng, did you mention this to Tao Fengche?”

“No, I don’t think so?” Feng Hui furrowed her brow, somewhat unsure.

According to the recent events, she should have remembered, but Sui Yuesheng’s imposing manner and sudden interruption startled her, making her memory a bit fuzzy.

Sui Yuesheng tightly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and swallowed the curse words on the tip of his tongue.

If Feng Hui were Tao Fengche’s subordinate, even if she were a female omega, she would have been ruthlessly scolded.

Tao Zhixing’s unexpected death was already difficult for Tao Fengche to accept. They had been at odds for a while, and now that he was finally starting to recover, even he tried to avoid mentioning it to Tao Fengche. Why did Feng Hui, an outsider, insist on bringing it up?

If he weren’t so busy recently, Sui Yuesheng would have called the principal of Tao Fengche’s school for a meal to discuss the teachers’ conduct and offer a few copies of “The Art of Conversation.”

Feng Hui was completely unaware that she was treading on the edge of losing her job. Feeling that she had laid enough groundwork, she subtly shifted to the main point: “As a guardian, you should pay more attention to the child. After the preliminary exam, the school has scheduled a parent meeting according to routine, set for tomorrow at 3:30 PM, at the school. It shouldn’t take too long. Please see if you—”

Sui Yuesheng’s office was located on the top floor of Tao corporation building, spacious and serene. Feng Hui stood at a drafty spot in the corridor; her voice was naturally loud, and since Sui Yuesheng didn’t bring his headphones, Assistant Zhou inevitably overheard their conversation.

Sui Yuesheng looked up and glanced in his direction. Assistant Zhou recalled Sui Yuesheng’s schedule and quickly shook his head, but the next moment, Sui Yuesheng withdrew his gaze, nodded, and said “Understood.”

On the other side, Feng Hui achieved her goal and hung up the phone with satisfaction. Meanwhile, the large office was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Sui Yuesheng’s face was full of frustration, his eyes blazing with anger. He was clearly staring at the documents in his hand, but it was as if he wasn’t seeing anything.

The air in the room seemed to turn as heavy as cement. Assistant Zhou held his breath, afraid to accidentally provoke the “big boss” and bring trouble upon himself. But as Sui Yuesheng’s assistant, he had to muster the courage to remind him.

“Boss, tomorrow afternoon, Chairman Qian has scheduled a tea meeting with you, and you also agreed to have dinner together in the evening…”

Without lifting his head, Sui Yuesheng replied, “Cancel it for me.”