Peace City Affiliated Middle School.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was an ordinary day. Boarding students had finished their morning exercises and were preparing for self-study. Day students were hurriedly cycling through the school gates. Teachers arrived for work, some driving cars, others riding electric scooters.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The security guard at the gate greeted the teachers as usual: "Wang Teacher. Teacher Li. Teacher Zhao." Then his eyes lit up, and his tone became noticeably more eager, "Teacher Jian."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing walkedzily through the school gates.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Although her rented apartment was only a ten-minute walk from the school, less than 1000 meters away, she was still tired.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After not working for several years, getting up early to clock in again made her feel utterly hopeless.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Hearing someone call her name, she merely smiled, not wanting to speak at all.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The security guard didn''t mind and concernedly said, "Teacher Jian, did you not sleep well? Do you have sses this morning?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Yes."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Then try to take a nap before ss starts."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She ambled away slowly.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The security guard turned to his colleague and said, "Teacher Jian seems to be in a bad mood today?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Ah, it must be because of Teacher Jin''s situation," the other guard replied with a gossipy look. "It''s caused such amotion..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The two exchanged knowing nces.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing was lost in thought all the way, constantly pondering who might want to kill her. As she entered the office and met her colleagues'' gazes, she suddenly had her first suspect.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Teacher Jian," a friendly female teacher asked with concern, "you don''t look well. Did you not sleep well?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She nodded.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The female teacher nced at the male teacher sitting in the far corner and hesitantly asked, "So, you and Teacher Jin..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing smiled, surveying the young man who was tidying up his teaching materials.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She had graduated with a degree in Chinese literature and taught Chinese. Everyone in the office was a Chinese teacher. Teacher Jin was one of only two male teachers in the high school Chinese department. He was refined and fair-skinned, with parents who were a civil servant and a retired state-owned enterprise employee, respectively. His family was well-off.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
A man with such credentials was highly sought after in the marriage market.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Since the first half ofst year, Teacher Jin had been introduced to many excellent young women. After being picky for a long time, he finally found a girl who met his requirements.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In the second half of the year, Jian Jing signed on at this school.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Compared to her parallel universe counterpart who was a bestselling author, Jian Jing as an ordinary teacher was undoubtedly more... how should one put it, attainable in the eyes of men.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Her family background was ordinary, her origins unremarkable. Apart from a pretty face, she wasn''t particrly outstanding in any other way.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As a result, many men had their eyes on her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Teacher Jin was one of them.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His girlfriend had good credentials - she had studied abroad and her father was also a civil servant. The only drawback was that she wasn''t very pretty. And men, being the creatures they are, want both a father-inw who can save them ten years of hard work and a beautiful girl.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Teacher Jin himself had decent qualifications and supportive parents, so he wasn''t particrly desperate for a father-inw''s advancement. Therefore, between a capable but not-so-pretty girlfriend and the beautiful but ordinary Jian Jing, he chose thetter.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Well, if that were all, it might have been fine. But the problem was that he didn''t break up with his girlfriend before pursuing Jian Jing. Instead, he was maintaining a rtionship with his girlfriend while also flirting with Jian Jing.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Jian Jing of that time was... rather "gentle".<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She had no interest in Teacher Jin, but out of consideration for maintaining a cordial work rtionship, she would always respond with a word or two whenever he spoke to her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In his girlfriend''s eyes, this looked like mutual affection!<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She became furious and stormed into the school, causing a scene.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Everyone found out about it.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Could the girlfriend... be the one who wanted to kill her?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing nced at Teacher Jin and smiled slightly, "Teacher Jin, my phone is out of battery. Could I borrow yours? I need to make a call."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After falling out with his girlfriend, Teacher Jin had been nning to pursue Jian Jing anyway. Hearing this request, how could he refuse? He coolly handed over histest iPhone model, saying, "I''ll go check on my ss."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing took the phone and pretended to dial a number.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But as soon as he left, she immediately found his girlfriend''s number.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The other party answered, fuming, "Jin, don''t even think about me forgiving you. I want to break up."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing said, "Hello, Miss Chen, this is Jian Jing."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Miss Chen became cautious, "What do you mean by this?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Nothing much," she replied. "I just wanted to tell you that I''ve never been interested in Teacher Jin. This man, he might look refined and proper, but as a teacher, he doesn''t act like one at all. He''s only willing to speak to students from well-off families,pletely ignoring those from poorer backgrounds. He follows a bunch of inte celebrities online, and they call him ''brother''. Who knows if there''s anything inappropriate going on."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The office fell silent.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing continued, "Your visit yesterday really helped me out. When I tell him ''I''m not free,'' he never seems to understand. Now it''s much better. I should really thank you. How about I treat you to dinner tonight?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
On the other end of the line, Miss Chen struggled to speak for a while before saying, "That''s not necessary -- you really have nothing going on with him?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Teacher Jin is right in front of me now," Jian Jing said, looking at the man standing at the office door with an incredulous expression. She smiled slightly and said, "Would I dare to say such things if I was going to contradict myself? Isn''t that right, Teacher Jin? After my sincere words, you won''t bother me anymore, will you?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Teacher Jin''s face turned ashen, "Who''s throwing themselves at who is yet to be seen. Who do you think you are?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing said to the person on the phone, "Did you hear that?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Miss Chen remained silent.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"With a man like this, I don''t even have the interest to toy with his feelings," Jian Jing said. "I''m hanging up now."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She ended the call and tossed the phone back.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Her aim wasn''t great as the screen lock wasn''t on. It hit the desk with a dull thud.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Oops, my mistake," Jian Jing shrugged, turned on herputer, and tried hard to remember what she was supposed to teach today.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Teacher Jin''s face alternated between shades of green and white.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Teacher Jian, how could you say such things about Teacher Jin!" The man himself didn''t speak up, intent on maintaining his image, but it didn''t matter. In one breath, two smart individuals immediately seized upon the opportunity, using her as a sacrificial pawn.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
A female teacher from the neighboring English department office stood up indignantly, "That''s such nasty talk. Don''t be so excessive!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Teacher Wang, have you set your sights on Teacher Jin now?" Jian Jing asked curiously, unfazed. "What about that PE teacher... Teacher Zhang? No luck there?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Teacher Wang was at a loss for words.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Her family wasn''t well-off, so she wanted to find a husband within the system, preferably from a wealthy family. The PE teacher, Teacher Zhang, came from money, and she had been pursuing him before. But that was new money from relocationpensation, not as "noble" as Teacher Jin''s family background.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Teacher Jin''s face darkened even more.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing looked at him and asked, "Teacher Jin, am I being excessive?" She leaned back in her office chair and asked nonchntly, "Do you want to kill me?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"You''re crazy," Teacher Jin cursed.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing said, "Indeed, you don''t have the guts for that."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Miss Chen didn''t seem likely either.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
When she had called to test the waters earlier, Miss Chen''s immediate response was about "breaking up," not "cut ties with that woman," proving that she clearly understood the root of the problem was the man himself, not Jian Jing.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She also didn''t say things like "you''re a shameless homewrecker" or "you vixen." Even when she came to the school to make a scene yesterday, she mainly pped Teacher Jin and only indirectly criticized Jian Jing with a few words.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Even at the height of her anger, she didn''t redirect her fury towards Jian Jing, so it was unlikely she would resort to murder afterwards.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But now that she was just an ordinary teacher, if it wasn''t about romantic entanglements, what reason could there be for someone to want her dead?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Who wants to kill me?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Who dares to kill me?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Who can kill me?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She pondered these questions for an entire ss period. For the second period, she had to work.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Sigh, I hate working," Jian Jingined to her friendly female colleague. "I really hate going to work."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The female teacher handed her a piece of chocte: "Have something sweet, it''ll cheer you up."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing ate the chocte made with cocoa butter substitute and dejectedly went off to her job.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After she left, the female teacher immediately said to another colleague, "Don''t you think there''s something different about Teacher Jian?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Did she get cosmetic work done?" the female colleague asked. "I wonder which clinic, I''d like to go too."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The female teacher replied, "No, it''s just... she feelspletely different."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
To be fair, except for teachers like Wang who saw Jian Jing aspetition in the marriage market, most people had a good impression of Jian Jing.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She wasn''t vain, petty, or boastful, and she didn''t take advantage of others. Her conduct clearly showed she was a decent person, so her beauty didn''t provoke resentment. In fact, the older teachers were even enthusiastic about setting her up on blind dates.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The female teacher, who also teaches Chinese literature, is quite artistic and fond of using metaphors: "Let me put it this way, Teacher Jian''s aura used to be like jade - smooth and soothing, veryfortable. Now it''s like a diamond - beautiful but sharp enough to cut."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The female colleague chuckled and winked: "Not cut, more like scratch the face."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As Jian Jing said, no matter how good Teacher Jin''s conditions are, if there''s a w in his character, people will look down on him to some extent, as long as they''re not trying to take advantage.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Meanwhile, Jian Jing walked into the ssroom.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Teacher Jian." The students warmly weed the beautiful teacher, with a hint of gossip in the air.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing said, "We''re watching a movie today."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The unit was supposed to cover "Lin Daiyu Enters the Jia Mansion," but she wasn''t in the mood to teach, so she directly put on the 1989 TV series version, freeing her hands to browse her phone.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Most murders are revenge killings or crimes of passion. For the former, there really were no suspects, but for crimes of passion... she truly couldn''t be sure.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Teacher Jin wasn''t an isted case. Before him, she had already encountered many bizarre incidents. For instance, during college, there was a male student. They were in the same club, often going out together and participating in activities.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The boy thought they were dating.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing was shocked: Howe she didn''t know about this?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The boy said, "I asked you out, and you always agreed."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing replied, "Those were all club activities OR ss activities."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The boy continued, "I bought you milk tea, and you didn''t refuse."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing: "Didn''t you buy it for everyone?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The boy: "I bought it for friends because of you, didn''t I?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing: "Is there a difference between you buying 5 yuan milk tea and the ss monitor buying 7 yuan water?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The boy: "The ss monitor is rich, you''re just after money."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing: "..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Inparison, the little Jing Jing next door who became famous at a young age indeed had fewer troubles.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Getting off track here, anyway, Jian Jing couldn''t guarantee that there wasn''t some deranged man she had rejected who might decide to kill after failing to win her love.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was now just past 9 in the morning, and several chat records had already appeared on WeChat.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Mr. A: [Are you free this weekend? I''d like to invite you to watch a movie]<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Scrolling through the records, they were mostly daily invitations - movies, board games, meals. Jian Jing had refused all the movie and dinner invitations, only attending a few board game sessions.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She tried to recall his identity, seemingly a teacher from another school.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
ncing at his Moments, his daily life seemed quite rich.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Mr. B: [There''s apany cocktail party tonight, want toe and join the fun?]<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing pondered. This man had the best conditions among all her suitors - a second-generation rich, his family definitely worth hundreds of millions. He was also capable himself, having started an intepany after returning from studying abroad.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His pursuit of Jian Jing was quite serious; it was clear he was looking for a girlfriend, not just a fling. After all, a young and beautiful female teacher, working in the system, with a clean background and simple personality, was very suitable for a serious rtionship.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing never thought that her former self was so "wife material."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She had no desire to attend any cocktail party and was about to refuse when another message popped up.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Mr. B: [There will be celebrities too]<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jian Jing pondered.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She remembered attendingst time; they had invited a currently popr young actor. Her colleagues and friends all hoped she could bring back an autograph.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In this unclear situation, maintaining the status quo might be the best choice.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
So she replied: [Alright then]<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0