"See you at 6 p.m. sharp."
Just as Tang Tang let the boy go, the boy kept scratching his head, wondering why Tang Tang was so determined.
"You..." The boy frowned. "I'm also money - minded, but we're both students. I'll cover this time. You don't have to go."
Tang Tang couldn't help but want to laugh at his bitter - sounding words. It was he who came to ask in the first place, and now he was the one who backed out.
Tang Tang didn't really care. "It's okay. It's just a joke between acquaintances."
The boy was speechless for a while. Maybe he was shocked by Tang Tang's nonsense. Who would joke about going to the morgue?
But after all, they had nothing to do with each other, so he didn't say much.
"Then I'll leave."
As the boy was about to leave, Tang Tang thought for a moment and called out to him, "Wait."
The boy replied, "Yeah? What else? I'm telling you, I don't know anything."
Tang Tang couldn't help but smile. "I know. I just want to say, remember to get the balance of the payment."
This time the boy was completely stunned. He was just about to return the money honestly, but she actually told him to go and get the balance?
"Why such an expression?" Tang Tang couldn't help but laugh. "You've done your job, and you deserve your money. Why not take it?"
The boy was left speechless.
Tang Tang waved her hand. "Anyway, it's up to you. Take it if you want."
Then she was about to leave when her phone beeped.
The boy looked back at Tang Tang again. Their school was one of the best in City C, on a par with the Affiliated High School and No. 1 Middle School, with a very high enrollment rate every year.
Just as famous as the school's reputation was the name "Yan".
The four characters on the first - floor lobby of the school represented the school's long - standing principle: "Quiet upon entering, no playing around."
Almost all students tacitly agreed not to bring mobile phones to school.
But Tang Tang was openly holding her phone here, and what's more, it wasn't even on silent.
"You..."
Tang Tang looked up at the boy. "Yeah? What?"
The boy hesitated for a moment and looked at Tang Tang. "The school discipline supervisor will come soon."
"It's okay. They can confiscate it later."
It was hard to tell who was the more "jinxed" one. Just as Tang Tang turned on her phone and hadn't even had a chance to look at it, she heard a booming shout from behind.
"Who's playing with a phone there!"
Both Tang Tang and the boy were startled and looked back at the voice in disbelief.
The school discipline supervisor, Big Mouth, stood there with one hand on his hip and the other pointing at them. "Don't run, you little rascals. Do you think I won't know which class you're from if you run? Tang Tang! Stand there. I know it's you!"
Tang Tang suffered a setback on her way to escape. She was almost scared off the stairs by Big Mouth's shout. Fortunately, the boy reached out and steadied her, and they stumbled forward.
"Don't run," Big Mouth shouted. "Tang Tang!"
It would be stupid not to run at this moment. Even though Big Mouth had already called out her name, Tang Tang still ran for her life.
When they reached the second floor, the boy separated from her.
The boy, a freshman, wanted to say something, but Tang Tang pushed him and urged, "Go quickly. If he catches up, I'll take the blame."
After sending the boy away, Tang Tang started to walk downstairs slowly. Big Mouth, a middle - aged man with a bit of a paunch, ran very nimbly. Before Tang Tang reached the lobby, Big Mouth caught up with her.
Big Mouth was out of breath and pointed at Tang Tang but couldn't say a word for a while.
"I'm sorry."
Tang Tang had an excellent attitude of admitting her mistake. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have played with my phone, but there's something I don't know if I should say or not."
"Shut up," Big Mouth pointed at Tang Tang. "Not only did you play with your phone, but you were also fooling around with a boy. And you ran away as soon as you saw me. I haven't even finished my words yet. Why did you run!"
Tang Tang thought to herself, Of course I have to run. Do I wait for you to catch me? But on the surface, she pretended to be obedient. "I know I was wrong."
"You don't know shit,"
Tang Tang quickly tried to soothe him. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Director, take a break before scolding me. Don't get angry."
Big Mouth pointed at Tang Tang for a long time without saying a word. Finally, he sighed, leaned his bulky body against the handrail of the stairs, and said, "I don't know if your English teacher has heard about the English competition."
"Competition?"
Tang Tang was surprised. "Our English teacher didn't tell us about it."
Big Mouth nodded. "Well, let's talk in my office."
Tang Tang's heart hadn't fully settled down when she heard Big Mouth say directly, "By the way, hand over your phone."
Tang Tang was left speechless.
Big Mouth reached out his hand very naturally, right in front of Tang Tang, as if he wouldn't take it back if she didn't hand over the phone.
Tang Tang sighed faintly and handed over her phone.
There were many students coming and going, and Big Mouth didn't say anything more about the competition.
Tang Tang had heard about the competition. Although her English was good, Big Mouth couldn't overstep his authority and replace the English teacher to tell her about it.
Sure enough, as soon as Big Mouth closed the office door, he called Tang Tang over. "Zuo Mu told me to take good care of you at school."
Tang Tang wasn't stupid. "Is something going on?"
"A few days ago, some human tissues were found in the suburbs. After identification, they were human heart tissues."
Tang Tang was startled and blurted out, "What does that have to do with me?"
Big Mouth looked at Tang Tang. "Today, a body was fished out from the river near our school."
"This kind of thing spreads quickly, but it's been suppressed. It probably won't be suppressed for long. It will probably spread before noon today. It's a girl. Her body was dismembered, and her heart is missing."
Tang Tang unconsciously squeezed her fingers. Big Mouth gave the phone back to Tang Tang. "You're in a special situation, so I'll give your phone back to you for now. But let me make it clear first. Don't always play around with your phone."
Tang Tang, who played around with her phone every day, nodded without any guilt. "I know."
This statement was not convincing at all. Big Mouth didn't even need to look to know that this was just like saying "I'm sorry, but I'll do it again next time."
"By the way, that boy..."
Tang Tang looked at Big Mouth warily. "He's not from my class. You don't even know him. Just forget about it."
"I know," Big Mouth said to Tang Tang impatiently. "I'm not that petty to pick on a little boy. I'm just telling you, no puppy love! Puppy love will affect your studies!"
Tang Tang, who was actually in a puppy - love relationship but not with this boy, felt inexplicably guilty.
Big Mouth probably didn't want to see Tang Tang either. He threw the phone to her and chased her away. "Go, go. Don't bother me here."
Tang Tang took the phone and was about to leave. But when she reached the door, she suddenly glanced into the study in Big Mouth's office. Her fingers tightened, and she looked up at Big Mouth. "Director, is there someone else in your office?"
Big Mouth's face stiffened for a moment. He looked up at Tang Tang. "What someone? Go quickly. I have other things to do."
Tang Tang tightened her grip on the phone. She looked inside in disbelief but saw nothing. The figure she had just seen seemed to be an illusion and disappeared at the door.