Are strawberries tastier than oranges?

Where does misfortune begin? The story must start from that night.

—

When Li An finished playing "Passion" and rose to bow, he opened the panel.

It was as if a new world unfolded before his eyes.

Notifications filled his ears, one after another.

First, Yu Xiaobei's teacher-student index shot past 80, reaching 83.

And just as he predicted, Xiaobei's index hitting 80 activated a new function.

[Advanced Student Strategy]

Just from the name, it sounded high-level. Reflecting on the earlier basic strategies for his students, they were truly useful.

But then, the system's prompt made him calm down again.

‘Unlocking the Advanced Student Strategy requires 500 teaching points.’

At that moment, Li An only had 46 points.

Ji Yang's teacher-student index stopped at 79, just one shy of the 80 mark.

Wang Xiaohu's index rose to 52. Li An's first reaction was both delight and worry.

Thankfully, Liu Fengrui's index soon reached 52 as well, putting his mind at ease, at least for now.

Song Kun's index increased to 46.

Originally, Lin Pengfei was behind Song Kun, but he had disappeared, replaced by a child named Zhang Moran.

Zhang Moran's teacher-student index was 32.

Li Qun's name had vanished too, replaced by Che Lin.

Che Lin's index was 27.

Lastly, there was a student Li An knew: Wang Wen Yue, Huang Juan's pupil, with an index of 19.

Just as he was about to step down from the stage, two figures appeared at its edge in the corner of his eye.

A cry of “Teacher!!” made him hurriedly close the panel.

Following the principle of letting the younger ones go first, he took the flowers from Wang Xiaohu's hands.

Backstage, when he reopened the panel—

The notification sounded, and he was stunned.

‘Wang Xiaohu’s index has reached 60, entering Li An’s piano class.’

‘....’

What a disaster.

...

And so, for now, Li An’s piano class was full.

Full it might be.

But after two days, Wang Xiaohu, that rascal, hadn’t practiced a single note.

Yesterday, when Li An messaged Xiaohu’s grandmother, he specially emphasized that the exam was imminent and she should keep a close eye on him.

Looking at his two female students—

Ji Yang had practiced ten hours this week.

Yu Xiaobei had practiced eight.

“Come on, boys, show some spirit.”

Li An glanced at his experience (37/100).

He still needed 63 hours for the next upgrade.

Wang Xiaohu’s sudden arrival made him realize the pianos in the classroom would soon be insufficient.

He wanted to speed up his upgrade.

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—

Rewards and such. (×)

Liu Fengrui’s teacher-student index was about to reach 60. (√)

According to the system, the next upgrade would allow him to add another piano to the classroom.

Closing the panel, Li An filled out Song Muzi’s progress report, then began the day’s practice session.

Midway, when he returned to the office, Ma Tao, Xu Hongxin, and Wang Panpan were huddled under the window, sitting in a row, fiercely battling on their phones.

Li An shook his head. He’d played that game before, but he truly couldn’t see what was fun about it.

Little figures running back and forth, tossing skills at each other, endlessly fighting—it was so violent.

Now, with Wang Panpan as their ace spy, Ma Tao and Xu Hongxin could play games in the office even more recklessly.

“Have some candy.”

Li An took three Truth Pops from his drawer and handed them out.

Ma Tao took his: “Thanks, An bro.”

Wang Panpan took hers: “Thanks, senior.”

Xu Hongxin examined his: “An bro, do you have any orange flavor?”

Before Li An could answer, Wang Panpan interjected, “What flavor did you get?”

Xu Hongxin: “Strawberry.”

Wang Panpan: “Hey, hey, I have orange. Let’s swap. I want strawberry.”

Li An: ...

Are they three children...?

He quietly placed two orange-flavored lollipops beside Chen Xuan's lesson plans, fetched a glass of water, and returned to the piano room with his bread.

At noon, when Chen Xuan returned from class, she saw the two candies next to her lesson plans.

She glanced at the other three, then snapped a photo and sent it to Li An.

Moments later, she got a reply.

Eight-One: When I bought candy for the students this morning, I picked some up for you all too.

Seeing the ‘you all’, Chen Xuan pouted slightly.

Then—

Eight-One: They each got one, you have two, I have none.

She let out a soft laugh.

Wang Panpan looked over curiously: “What’s up, Sister Xuan?”

Chen Xuan shook her head: “Just saw a cold joke.”

Wang Panpan turned away with an ‘Oh’. She didn’t like cold jokes.

After replying, Chen Xuan put one candy into her bag and unwrapped the other, popping it into her mouth.

Sweet and sour.

Not bad at all.

In Classroom Four, Li An pondered as he held his phone.

Leaf: I like strawberry flavor.

Is orange really not as good as strawberry?

Impossible.

...

Early Wednesday, Li An was downstairs buying a bag of tea eggs when someone tapped him from behind.

Turning around, Wang Xiaohu beamed at him.

“Good morning, teacher.”

“Morning, Xiaohu.”

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—

Suddenly, Li An remembered that this rascal hadn’t practiced at all these past two days. He probed quietly, “Xiaohu, how’s your practice been lately? Any problems?”

“Didn’t practice.”

Wang Xiaohu took two bread rolls from the shelf.

It was the first time Li An had seen someone so brazen about not practicing, though, in a way, it was at least honest.

“Why didn’t you practice?” He asked, holding up his tea egg.

“My mom took me to Red Leaf Valley for two days.”

Wang Xiaohu walked over as he spoke.

“Oh....”

Seeing Xiaohu’s cheerful face, Li An’s heart softened, “Give them to me, I’ll buy you breakfast.”

“Thank you, teacher!”

Without hesitation, Wang Xiaohu handed the bread rolls to Li An.

The cashier girl smiled sweetly, “Teacher Li treats his students so well.”

Before Li An could respond—

“Nineteen-fifty in total. Do you need a bag?”

“No, thanks.”

Li An smiled as he paid, though inwardly it felt like a wound bleeding.

Two bread rolls cost him eighteen yuan!

“Teacher, you don’t know—this chocolate bread is amazing,” Wang Xiaohu boasted, taking his bread.

Nonsense.

Li An led Wang Xiaohu away, “Did your grandmother let you come here to box again?”

Wang Xiaohu nodded.

Li An: “When you come to the classroom and I’m not there, do you buy breakfast yourself downstairs?”

Wang Xiaohu nodded.

Li An: “Next time, if I’m not in the classroom, just wait for me. Don’t wander off, understood?”

[Wang Xiaohu’s teacher-student index increased to 63]

Mastered.

—

Though he’d been away for two days, Li An’s lesson with Xiaohu went smoothly.

The more he interacted with Xiaohu, the more Li An felt the child’s charm.

So, when the boy didn’t practice, Li An truly felt anxious.

Unlike a month ago, when he worried the child might stop learning from him, now he simply wanted Xiaohu to do better.

In Li An’s view, exams could never be the purpose of learning piano.

After class, Li An earnestly spoke to Xiaohu’s grandmother once more.

At last, Xiaohu’s grandmother reassured him.

“Once his mother finishes her busy period, she’ll take him home and make sure he practices every day.”

Li An hoped so.

Suddenly, his pocket vibrated.

After sending off the grandparents, Li An took out his phone.

Yangyangyangyang: Nine lives, teacher, I’m about to break down!! (crying.jpg)

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