The remaining half of the class was easy. All that was left was to go over example problems and the logic behind solving them after the theory. As long as the calculations and answers were correct, there was no way anyone could find fault.

The math teacher turned back to the blackboard, writing one example after another as he talked without pause.

“Everyone, take a good look. This is a classic trigonometry problem. The way to solve it is…”

The soft rustle of note-taking stopped. The whispering—something that hadn’t happened once all class—quickly grew loud enough to hear clearly.

This was definitely not a good sign.

Because, as a rule, when the top students in the advanced class started whispering, it usually meant that girl had opened her eyes—and the teachers were about to make fools of themselves.

The hand hovering in front of the blackboard froze. The math teacher frantically searched the white writing he’d just put down for a flaw in the reasoning or a mistake in the calculations.

There was still time. If he found the mistake now and corrected it quickly, he might be able to save some of his dignity as a teacher.

But there wasn’t one.

That’s right. Not a single mistake.

The math teacher couldn’t help feeling stunned. He suddenly remembered that, to keep the girl behind him from opening her eyes, he’d chosen examples the day before while preparing his lesson that had stood the test of time. Every step of the working and every answer had long since been confirmed as correct.

But even with an example this close to being straight out of a textbook, could the girl behind him still find fault with it?

It was possible.

A chill ran through the math teacher.

Geniuses were called geniuses because they could do things ordinary people couldn’t.

But fine, you’re a genius. Why do you have to step on someone else’s dignity to prove how great you are?

As a student, couldn’t you at least show your teacher some respect?

The math teacher turned around in despair and looked at the students beneath the lectern.

Sure enough, the girl sitting at the very back of the class had opened her eyes.

But unexpectedly, she wasn’t looking at the blackboard. She’d turned toward the doorway, staring intently at something.

The knock reached the math teacher’s ears almost at once.

All the students, along with the math teacher, immediately turned toward the door. The teacher stiffly said,

“Come in.”

The door creaked open, and a student stood in the doorway.

“Um, I—I’m looking for Su Mo. I have something really important to talk to her about.”

That voice… Was it a guy?

Everyone wondered.

Then all the students and the math teacher looked at Su Mo, the girl sitting at the back. But unlike their curious, searching looks from before, this time their gazes were full of teasing and gossip.

To be honest, Su Mo was at the top of her class, and she wasn’t bad-looking either. There were plenty of boys around her. But as far as the math teacher and the other students knew, Su Mo never gave boys the time of day. She wouldn’t even acknowledge a confession from a guy. She’d even ripped up a love letter and thrown it in the trash right in front of the person who’d given it to her. Did anyone really expect her to let him down gently with a “let’s just be friends”?

The boy outside the door was in for a rough time. Of all people, he’d gone and fallen for Su Mo. He was probably about to get humiliated in front of the whole class.

So after seeing Su Mo’s expressionless face, many students turned their pitying gazes toward the boy in the doorway.

Everyone thought Su Mo would drive him away with a few sharp words.

But things always seem to take an unexpected turn—especially when everyone’s certain they know what’s going to happen.

Su Mo slowly stood up and said to the math teacher,

“Teacher, I’m going to step outside with this student for a moment.”

The whole class erupted.

The math teacher nearly dropped the chalk in his hand.

Su Mo was leaving?

Su Mo was walking out of the classroom?

Didn’t that mean he’d be rid of the ticking time bomb behind him?

It wasn’t very virtuous of him to think so, but whenever Su Mo was absent or out of class for one reason or another, it was always the easiest, most relaxed, and happiest time for the teachers who taught the advanced class.

The math teacher’s gaze immediately shifted to the student at the door. Maybe it was just his imagination, but why did this kid suddenly seem so sweet and kind? He looked like such an honest, earnest young man, just beginning to fall in love.

Letting Su Mo go out with him shouldn’t lead to any trouble, right?

No. Nothing would happen. Definitely not.

Still, the math teacher cleared his throat with a show of authority, then spoke up.

“Su Mo, I hope you understand that you’re already in your final year of high school. Some things are fine to try a little, but don’t get in too deep.”

Su Mo tilted her head and examined the math teacher’s face with her gaze. It was a complicated look, as if it held every kind of emotion—or perhaps just one emotion the math teacher couldn’t understand. But one thing was certain: there was no respect for a teacher in her eyes.

The math teacher felt a little awkward. When it came to this eccentric genius, all the teachers in the advanced class—including him—had learned to put up with her. No one dared to provoke Su Mo.

Luckily, Su Mo didn’t keep teasing the math teacher with her gaze. She walked straight out of the classroom, grabbed the young man by the arm, and the two of them quickly disappeared through the doorway.

With the weight lifted from his heart, the math teacher turned to the other students in high spirits and called out,

“All right, all right. Let’s focus. We’re continuing the lesson.”