Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

The students in 22D proved to Tina with their actions that completing all the test papers in one class period was beneath their capabilities. They finished all the test papers in just fifteen minutes. As Tina looked at the stack of blank papers submitted to her, she felt as if a wave of dead blood was rushing to her head. She was certain, and she could affirm, that it wouldn't be these kids who would experience a bleak three months, but her! She must have been out of her mind to agree to teach at Mr. Stiller's request!

She took a deep breath to suppress the frustration swelling in her chest. She began grading the papers on the spot. The students had completed their tests quickly, and she graded them just as swiftly. After all, how long could it take to grade blank papers? The best score in the class was from Albert, a Grade 9 student, who scored 160 points. As for Grade 10 and Grade 11, it was better not to mention them at all! Just thinking about it was infuriating! His Grade 10 exams scored a mere forty points. Grade 11 exams, zero points. Not to mention the others-Grade 11 was unanimously zero points across the board, while Grade 9 and Grade 10 barely scraped together forty to fifty points each. She felt the dead blood rising again.

She really wanted to swear, "Are they pigs?" If they didn't know the answers, couldn't they at least guess a few correct ones on the multiple-choice questions? Some didn't get a single multiple-choice question right. That "talent" was none other than Miss Lehman, Velma!

"You have half an hour to find Mr. Stiller and get the textbooks for Grades 6 to 11, one for each person," Tina said, after a long effort to calm herself down. She had initially planned to subdue the students and then arrange for teachers to instruct them. That plan was now clearly out the window. If they answered the Grade 9 papers like that, even if she brought in a Grade 9 teacher, they wouldn't understand a thing. They would have to start from Grade 6. Of course, there was one exception: Miss Lehman would need to start from elementary school.

Tina felt her head growing heavy. Seeing Tina's stern face, the students dared not disobey and obediently went to Mr. Stiller for the textbooks. Mr. Stiller, upon hearing that Tina had sent them, immediately made the arrangements, unable to hide his smile. Was Tina planning to teach them herself? If she taught, Class 22D would surely stabilize.

After the students had left, Tina paused for a moment, then took out her phone and dialed a number. The call connected quickly, and she respectfully greeted, "Professor Lininger."

"Hm?" On the other end, Professor Lininger, who was busy with academic research, picked up the call without looking at the caller ID. Hearing the voice, he paused, then looked at his phone and suddenly stood up, exclaiming in surprise, "Tiiiiiina! You've finally decided to call me?"

His voice trembled with excitement. Tina, "..."

Could everyone please not get so excited?

"Professor Lininger, how have you been recently? Is your health well?" Tina asked.

Professor Lininger was silent for a moment before his tone rose slightly, "No one visits a temple without a cause, either for conspiracy or theft! So, what's your scheme this time?" He knew his student better than anyone; she never contacted him unless it was for a reason!

Of course, it wasn't to say that Tina didn't care about him. She sent him health supplements regularly every year and gifts during the holidays, but she was stingy about personal visits.

"Cough, cough!" Tina coughed lightly, feeling a bit embarrassed, "I was hoping you could do me a favor!"

"I knew it!" Professor Lininger said, puffing with irritation, "Out with it! What do you need?"

"I was hoping you and your team could come to Ensford High School to teach about forty students in Class 22D. They are a bit behind and would need to start from middle school... As for the payment, Mr. Stiller will take care of it." She couldn't possibly pay out of her own pocket!

She was quite poor.

She still had to earn money to support her father, stepmother, a younger brother in kindergarten, and Tina, whom she had yet to meet.

It was all about money!

"What??" Professor Lininger shouted, his temper flaring, "You impudent girl, I am a professor in the physics department at Kongham University, I teach gifted geniuses! And you want me to teach a bunch of no-goods? From middle school, no less??"

Professor Lininger felt like he was about to ascend to heaven from anger!

This was infuriating! He knew that Tina never had good news when she called him. Class 22D of Ensford High School was notorious nationwide for their indiscipline and defiance. Was he supposed to waste his time on them? Tina felt a bit guilty, "I've taken a job-as the Lead Teacher for 22D!"

"Beep beep beep!" As soon as Tina finished, Professor Lininger hung up the phone.

Tina, "..."

She tried calling back, but the old man refused to answer.

Rubbing her temples, Tina let out a sigh, then sent a text message to Professor Lininger, "I can help you witth Mimi's problem."

The message had barely been sent when her phone rang within seconds. She smirked and answered the call.

Professor Lininger spoke rapidly, "Be there at eight o'clock tomorrow morning."

After hanging up, the students of class 22D entered with their textbooks. Because of the sheer number of books, they had to make three trips to get them all.

"Starting tomorrow, a teacher will start from middle school knowledge to instruct you. After school at noon, you will have half a day off. Eat what you should eat, drink what you should drink, and cherish this half-day," Tina announced. "Because for the next three months, you will have no holidays and will have to live on campus."

"Ah ah ah ah!" A chorus of groans filled the classroom.

This was torture! No holidays and mandatory boarding for three months!

"Silence!" Tina barked, and the classroom fell instantly quiet.

"The boarding arrangements will be communicated to your families by Mr. Stiller. That's the decision, and I won't accept any objections," Tina said, then looked at them. "You may voice any concerns now."

The students, "..."

Who would dare? You've said no objections would be accepted!

"Miss Reed, we have no objections. We will comply with your decision," Albert was the first to stand up and speak.

He was now Tina's loyal follower. He wanted to hear what Tina had to say. More importantly, he wanted to study hard and get into college. Having a teacher who was willing to take the job seriously was definitely something to cooperate with. Getting into college was not the primary concern; the effort was what mattered, so he wouldn't have regrets.

The most critical point was that if he got into college, he would have the confidence to confess his feelings to his high school crush. With his current status, he was too scared to confess, fearing he would scare her off.

"We have no objections." After Albert yielded, the others couldn't object.

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Hendrik had already been scared silent by Tina.

Velma, as Tina's close friend, naturally wouldn't oppose.

And so, the matter of studying was settled amicably.

Soon the school bell rang, and Tina headed to the cafeteria for lunch. She had already informed Jennie in the morning that she wouldn't need lunch prepared at home because Ensford High School was quite a distance from Pinkwater Ally and it would be inconvenient to travel back and forth.

As she walked towards the cafeteria, she saw that the students of 22D were following her there. She paused, "Aren't you going back?"

"We'll go back after eating. Our families don't leave lunch for us at home," Albert replied.

They usually ate lunch at school, and with the sudden half-day off, their families wouldn't have prepared lunch for them.

Tina nodded, not saying much more.

She entered the cafeteria with the students of 22D and was just about to get her meal when Albert, eager to please, said, "Miss Reed, let me get your food for you!"

His voice was loud enough for all the nearby students to hear.

The cafeteria fell silent for a long time before someone finally spoke, "Am I having ear problems? Did Albert just sound so respectful?"

"I heard it too, and it was very sycophantic!"

"Yes, yes, yes! What's going on? Who is this Miss Reed?"