The night grew deeper. Ange finally managed to suppress the chaotic thoughts and lingering restlessness in her body.
She had just slipped under the covers, eyelids heavy and about to close, when the cell phone by her pillow suddenly went off, buzzing non-stop with a frantic vibration.
The flashing screen was especially piercing in the darkness.
She sighed in resignation and groped for the cell phone.
As expected, her three “good students” had started their nightly bombardment of messages.
First up was Ingrid. Her messages were always proper, carrying the unique earnestness of a model student.
Ange, Teacher, sorry to bother you so late.
May I ask if we need to prepare any specific textbook for the first class tomorrow? Where should we pick up the books? And are there any requirements for attire? Do we need to wear the Academy uniform?
Ange rubbed her bleary eyes and forced herself to type a reply.
Textbook… I’ll take you to pick them up tomorrow. Wear whatever you want, just don’t go overboard. What you have on now is fine.
No sooner had she replied than Sakika’s message popped up, simple and direct.
Teacher, I’m out of shampoo, can I borrow yours?
Such a small thing, of course Ange wouldn’t refuse.
Sure, it’s on the bathroom shelf in my room. Come get it yourself.
Last came the one person who never brought good news—the red-haired young lady.
Huayin’s message came with her signature opening that always made Ange’s blood pressure rise.
Huayin: Want to… sleep together? (followed by a provocative smirk emoji)
Ange’s drowsiness vanished by half, her blood pressure subtly climbing. She took a deep breath and tapped out a reply.
Ange: Not interested. Putting aside the influence of the demon markings, I honestly have zero “sexual” interest in brats like you. Yes, I didn’t type that wrong.
Huayin: You’re so cocky. There are others who’d love this opportunity but never get it.
Ange: Listen, Huayin, you’re still young, your future is full of possibilities. As for me, I’m just a trouble-prone passerby plagued by Curses. Whatever happened between us, it’s best left as an accident.
Huayin: Go, go, go! Don’t give me all that philosophy, like I don’t get it! And what are you thinking, huh? Did you really think I asked you over because I wanted to do something? (disdain emoji)
Ange: Uh… I didn’t say that… (feeling a little guilty) I just think, since the wedding can be postponed, maybe we’ll have the chance to end this ridiculous situation. You’re a student, I’m a teacher, our relationship should stop at teacher and student.
Huayin: Heh, sounds nice (cold laugh emoji), but too bad. I have a pessimistic view of so-called marriage. Big families are always like this—rather let their children suffer a bit than let the Family’s reputation be tainted even a little. A bloodline left outside? That would never be allowed.
Ange: You mean…
Huayin: I mean, as long as that child exists, my parents probably won’t let me look for anyone else. Unless I completely sever ties with the Family, stop associating with them, only then could I decide my own marriage. I’m telling you all this just so you know.
Her tone grew heavy and clear through the words.
Huayin: Ange, Teacher, you really owe me a lot, a whole lot.
Huayin: Good night then. What you owe, you’ll pay back to me slowly.
Staring at those last few lines on the screen, Ange’s fingers hovered over the keyboard for a long while before finally she just replied with two words.
Ange: Good night.
She set down the cell phone, and the room sank back into darkness and silence. Ange gazed at the ceiling and let out a long, silent sigh.
I don’t want to get married…
I just want to fall in love…
But not with that sharp-tongued, short-fused firebird young lady…
With that complex and humble wish, she finally drifted off into a muddled sleep.
Time passed, and the darkness outside the window gradually gave way to dawn.
Then… the sun climbed higher and higher.
“Mm…” Ange turned over in bed, instinctively reaching for her cell phone, squinting her bleary eyes at the screen.
12:07.
“…Huh?” Her brain froze for a few seconds, then she shot upright in bed, all sleep gone.
“It’s noon?! Where’s my alarm clock?!”
Frantically scratching her hair, she remembered that last night, drained in both body and mind, she’d completely forgotten to set the alarm clock.
As she sat there clutching her head, gripped by the terror of skipping out on the very first day of school, she caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye—by her bedside, at some point, three silent figures had appeared.
Ingrid’s face was full of worry and words unsaid.
Sakika’s expression was blank, but her eyes seemed to say, as expected.
And Huayin, arms crossed, a mocking, knowing smile curled on her lips, as if everything was in the palm of her hand.
Ange’s mind went blank. She blurted out instinctively.
“Eh? Are you… here to wake me up?”
Huayin let out a snort and drawled slowly, sarcasm undisguised in her voice.
“Sorry, Ange, Teacher, as students, we can’t skip class. So, we can’t come to wake you up during class time.” She especially emphasized “students” and “can’t skip class.”
Ange grew even more confused, pointing at them, then at herself.
“But you’re… right here?”
Actually, Ange knew everything—she just didn’t want to admit it.
Ingrid’s face flushed red as she mumbled quietly.
“Teacher… um… well… actually…”
Sakika let out a small yawn and said, in her signature flat tone, the deadliest fact of all.
“Class is already over, Ange, Teacher. It’s lunchtime now.”
She paused, her dark eyes meeting Ange’s, and added,
“As long as you buy me lunch, I’ll overlook you wasting my precious morning.”
Ange’s vision went black; she nearly fell back onto the bed.
She glanced again at the phone’s glaring 12:07, which now seemed to silently mock her dignity and sense of responsibility as a teacher.
On the very first day of school, she, Ange, former number one Demon Hunter, Special Operations Squad Commander, slept in until noon under her students’ watchful eyes.
It’s over… there’s no way I can keep being a teacher now…