Chapter 076 【The Power of Gossip】

Before Gu Feng even entered the office, he could hear a heated discussion taking place inside.

Listening carefully, Gu Feng couldn't help but frown.

Because the topic was the gossip swirling around him and Chen Minjun.

"Teacher Gu is a real dark horse!" The first voice was that of "Fatty" Qi Hui.

"I just can't figure it out. How could a girl as pretty as Chen Minjun take a liking to Teacher Gu?" Wu Xue's tone was full of doubt.

"On the surface, he acts like a gentleman, but in reality, he's a wolf in sheep's clothing!" Hu Hua, who hadn't been saying much in the office the past few days, also spoke up. His words immediately silenced the previously lively room.

Clearly, Hu Hua had gone too far. While everyone had been discussing the matter, no one had resorted to personal attacks. Hu Hua's statement was a textbook personal attack!

"Teacher Hu, you shouldn't say that. Teacher Gu isn't that kind of person," Xia Wei retorted, frowning.

Xia Wei's rebuttal annoyed Hu Hua inwardly, but he put on an ingratiating smile and said, "Teacher Xia, as a Chinese teacher, you should understand, 'Distance tests a horse's strength, and time reveals a person's heart.'"

"Teacher Hu, hold on, that's not right. Even if Teacher Gu rejected Chen Minjun, that doesn't make him a wolf in sheep's clothing, does it? If he were really a wolf, would he have rejected her?" Qi Hui chimed in, puzzled.

"Exactly! Teacher Qi makes a good point." Wu Xue, for once, didn't contradict Qi Hui and added her own question: "Teacher Hu, you don't have a grudge against Teacher Gu, do you? Otherwise, why slander him like this?"

"Of course not!" Hu Hua's expression turned unnatural, and he said sourly, "He's *connected* to Principal Xu. How would I dare have a grudge?"

As Hu Hua finished speaking, Gu Feng pushed the door open and entered, shooting Hu Hua a dark look.

Feeling guilty, Hu Hua was startled by the glare and quickly lowered his head, pretending to be busy with something else.

In the office, the other teachers, seeing Gu Feng's stormy expression, stopped gossiping and lowered their heads to their work.

Gu Feng walked straight to his seat and sat down, and noticed that, aside from Xia Wei, everyone was secretly observing him, as if trying to find something on his face.

"A quiet summer..." A pleasant ringtone suddenly chimed, startling most people in the office.

"Sorry," Xia Wei said apologetically as she fished out a pink phone and quickly walked out.

About a minute later, Xia Wei returned, shot Gu Feng a complicated look, and went back to her seat.

"Teacher Xia, whose call was that? Your new boyfriend?" Wu Xue's gossip addiction flared up again.

As soon as Wu Xue spoke, Hu Hua pricked up his ears, looking eager to listen.

Xia Wei blushed slightly and glared at Wu Xue. "Don't be silly. It was Chen Minjun. She invited me to dinner at her place tonight."

Chen Minjun?

As soon as the name was uttered, all the teachers instinctively looked up and turned their gaze toward Gu Feng. It was almost a reflex.

Seeming to realize she had made things awkward, Xia Wei added, "You've all misunderstood Teacher Gu. The gossip going around the school is false. Chen Minjun just wanted to invite Teacher Gu to dinner at her place yesterday."

Xia Wei had meant to help Gu Feng by explaining, but her words just made everyone's expressions shift again!

Clearly, they had misunderstood her.

Wu Xue perked up, looking excited. "Teacher Xia, did Chen Minjun say why she invited you and Teacher Gu?"

Hearing this, everyone looked at Xia Wei curiously, Gu Feng included. Although Gu Feng had agreed to go, he knew her claim of gratitude was just an excuse—there was more to it. Xia Wei's phone call had only confirmed his suspicions.

"Tomorrow is Chen Minjun's birthday. But, she told me inviting Teacher Gu was her father's idea. Perhaps her father knows him," Xia Wei explained. Halfway through, seeing everyone's eyes light up, she realized she'd caused trouble again and quickly added the latter part.

After speaking, she also looked at Gu Feng curiously. In truth, she too wanted to know why Chen Minjun would invite Gu Feng out of the blue.

On the phone, Chen Minjun hadn't mentioned the purpose, only saying the invitation was her father's idea.

Although Gu Feng didn't take the gossip to heart, having the whole office discuss him was pretty awkward. After a moment, he explained, "I helped Chen Minjun's father with something a couple of days ago. Perhaps he invited me to dinner to thank me."

"Teacher Gu, what did you help him with?" Wu Xue was determined to get to the bottom of it.

The question made Gu Feng's head hurt. He answered vaguely, "Just a small favor."

Hearing this, everyone understood he was dodging the question, but didn't press further. Even Wu Xue stopped, though a thoughtful look flashed in her eyes.

Gu Feng's explanation stopped the teachers from gossiping, but it couldn't prevent the students from discussing the rumors.

Originally, the gossip about Gu Feng wasn't a big deal and would have died down. However, as the new homeroom teacher of Class 8, Grade 4, who had gotten the unruly class to behave in just days, he had piqued everyone's curiosity. The students were discussing it with great enthusiasm!

As the person involved, Gu Feng didn't pay it much mind, but Chen Minjun was seething. Her gratitude toward Gu Feng had completely evaporated.

In the afternoon, Gu Feng followed Ling Wei to the field.

By the time they arrived, the other members of the Zifeng Middle School soccer team were already there.

Gu Feng didn't know much about soccer, so he didn't make special demands, letting the players practice on their own.

While they practiced, Gu Feng stood by the edge, quietly watching.

Suddenly—

His phone vibrated intensely several times in his pocket.

Gu Feng took it out and saw a text from Lin Jiaying: "I'm sorry, Gu Feng. I misunderstood you."

Seeing the message, Gu Feng was first taken aback, then a faint smile touched his lips.

Under the setting sun, that faint smile was tinged with happiness...

P.S.: Chapter 2 is here. Friends who enjoy it, please bookmark and vote!