Chapter 004 【A Show of Strength】

In the early morning, the campus of Purple Maple Middle School echoed with students’ loud reading. Several birds flew overhead, chirping incessantly. The vibrant red five-star national flag fluttered at the top of the flagpole, snapping sharply in the wind.

Gu Feng stood at the school gate, squinting as he gazed at the flag billowing in the breeze. He instinctively raised his hand to salute—only to be interrupted by the security guard at the entrance: “Hey, what are you doing here?”

“I’m the new teacher.” Gu Feng dropped the salute and glanced at the guard. “How do I get to the principal’s office?”

Noticing Gu Feng’s ramrod-straight posture, the guard felt an immediate sense of familiarity and couldn’t help asking, “Are you a soldier?”

Gu Feng nodded, unsure why the question had been raised.

“I used to be one too—ha!” Recognizing Gu Feng’s nod, the guard instantly warmed up. “The principal’s office is on the eighth floor of the red teaching building on the right.”

“Thank you.” Perhaps hearing the word “soldier” triggered something—just for a moment, a faint smile softened Gu Feng’s usually stern features.

In the principal’s office, a woman in a professional suit sat upright in her chair, swiftly skimming a document.

A slow, measured knock broke her concentration. She pushed her glasses up her nose and said, “Come in.”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Gu Feng opened the door. Seeing the woman behind the desk, he spoke solemnly: “Principal Xu, hello. Gu Feng reporting for duty.”

At Gu Feng’s words, Xu Qin’s previously stern expression melted into a warm, delighted smile. “Xiao Gu, no need to be so formal—this is a school, not the military.”

Gu Feng stood motionless before her, spine straight as a spear.

Today, he wasn’t wearing his signature camouflage short-sleeve shirt. Instead, he wore a light-blue suit over a crisp white shirt.

His attire made Xu Qin pause and look again. Gu Feng had arrived in Hong Kong just four days earlier—this was the first time she’d seen him in a suit. Though not from a luxury brand, it fit him perfectly, enhancing his natural handsomeness.

Hearing Xu Qin’s words, Gu Feng simply replied, “Oh,” then asked, “Principal Xu, what should I do next?”

“It’s just the two of us—no need for ‘Principal.’ Call me Auntie.” Xu Qin smiled. “I’ve already arranged your duties. My plan is for you to start as a physical education teacher here. Later, after some time, I’ll appoint you as a School Trustee.”

“Auntie Xu, forget the Trustee position—I know nothing about that role.” As Xu Qin gestured toward the nearby sofa, Gu Feng sat down—back rigid, shoulders squared, every inch the disciplined soldier.

“Then we’ll follow your preference.” Xu Qin didn’t press further. “I’ll call HR now and have them prepare your office supplies.”

She picked up the phone on her desk, dialed, issued brief instructions, and hung up.

“Did you and Jia Ying argue this morning?” After a moment’s pause, Xu Qin asked.

Recalling the morning, Gu Feng gave a slight nod—but remained silent. After all, the woman seated before him was Lin Jiaying’s mother—his future mother-in-law.

“I already heard about it from Jia Ying. It was her fault—I’ve already scolded her.” Xu Qin added with gentle remorse, “Jia Ying has been spoiled since childhood by her father and me, and developed many bad habits. Please don’t be too hard on her.”

“Perhaps my approach was flawed too.” Reflecting on the morning, though Gu Feng still believed Lin Jiaying’s lifestyle habits needed improvement, he also wondered whether treating her like a subordinate had been overly harsh.

Xu Qin read his thoughts instantly, shaking her head with a knowing smile. “Xiao Gu, you did nothing wrong. Jia Ying isn’t a child anymore—it’s time she changed those habits. Truth be told, I know pairing our Jia Ying with you isn’t entirely fair—to you. But since you’re together now, just try to understand each other a little more.”

Xu Qin understood full well that, absent certain unavoidable circumstances, her daughter would never have stood a chance with Gu Feng.

“Understood, Auntie Xu.” Her words elicited no change in Gu Feng’s expression—he remained as stern and unyielding as ever, as if his demeanor never shifted, year after year.

After concluding their conversation, Xu Qin personally escorted Gu Feng to the Year Four faculty office. In Hong Kong, Year Four corresponds to the first year of high school on the mainland. Gu Feng was assigned as the PE teacher for two Year Four classes.

Because he’d been brought directly by the famously strict Principal Xu Qin, his arrival caused quite a stir. Yet Gu Feng’s reticence meant colleagues offered only brief, perfunctory greetings.

As a result, he left a deep impression on the staff: serious, reserved, and taciturn.

His silence, however, didn’t mean others were equally quiet. Throughout the morning—between classes—the teachers speculated endlessly about Gu Feng’s background. To their recollection, he was the first teacher ever personally escorted to the office by Principal Xu Qin.

Gu Feng neither discouraged the speculation nor offered any clarification.

At 11 a.m., Gu Feng headed to the school basketball gym for his class.

When he arrived, numerous students were already there—clustered in small groups, forming distinct cliques.

Class 7, Year Four had heard earlier that a new PE teacher would be taking over—and they were eager to meet him. His appearance sparked immediate commotion: nearly every student pointed and whispered among themselves.

By then, Gu Feng had shed his light-blue suit and changed into a green tracksuit.

Recalling the lesson plan, he blew his whistle—attempting to gather the students.

To his surprise, the students barely reacted. Most continued chatting or playing as if he hadn’t blown it at all.

Gu Feng frowned slightly, mentally reviewing the plan. It was correct: students were always assembled before PE class with a whistle.

He blew it again—still no response. A few students dribbling basketballs shot him disdainful glances; one even raised his right hand high, middle finger pointed downward—a universally recognized taunt.

The gym erupted in laughter.

Clearly, they were testing his authority.

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