Rumours and Standing in the Corner
During the break between classes, students rushed out to use the restroom, rest, and play. The corridors were crowded with people everywhere.
As Qin Shi walked downstairs, almost every student turned to look at her, their eyes full of curiosity.
Everyone appreciates beauty—even children. Suddenly seeing a beautiful teacher, they naturally couldn’t help but take a few extra glances.
“Which class does she teach? Why haven’t I seen her before?”
“Is she an English teacher? She looks so stylish!”
“Her hair and skirt are so pretty—and she’s really beautiful too.”
After a casual question, the boys realized no one knew anything about her, so they quickly lost interest and went back to playing. But the girls began whispering among themselves as they watched Qin Shi walk away, discussing her outfit and appearance.
In this era, most people wore only a few basic colours—white, grey, blue, black—and didn’t pay much attention to dressing up. So when someone refined, beautiful, and fashionable suddenly appeared, it quickly drew everyone’s attention.
It wasn’t just the students who were curious; even the adults had their own thoughts.
Some, like Zhang Yanli, were inspired and wanted to dress like Qin Shi. Whenever they saw her, they would secretly observe her carefully—how she styled herself, what her clothes looked like—planning to go home and try making similar outfits themselves.
But more people thought she looked too “seductive.” Wearing dresses every day, putting on makeup—they felt she was improper, overly showy, and probably up to no good.
After learning that Qin Shi had married Lu Zetian as his second wife—and that she came from the countryside—many looked down on her even more. They assumed she married for money and couldn’t be a good person.
Lu Zetian was known in the military for being cold and distant, especially toward women. Countless people liked him, and even after divorcing Mo Ling, many were willing to become stepmothers to his three children—but he had refused them all.
Yet after simply sending his mother back to her hometown, he suddenly got married. Who knew what really happened behind the scenes?
Now, seeing Qin Shi like this, many believed she must have seduced Lu Zetian.
Still, people only gossiped privately. No one dared say anything directly to her face.
Although Qin Shi hadn’t heard the rumours, she could feel the strange looks—envy, disdain, disgust, admiration, appreciation, even lewd gazes… all kinds.
But she didn’t care at all. Completely unaffected, she continued to dress beautifully every day, doing as she pleased.
Zhang Yanli adored the designs Qin Shi had drawn, praising them repeatedly. “I want all of these—they’re so beautiful! I can already imagine what they’ll look like finished!”
Then she sighed. “Too bad my wallet’s too thin. I can’t have them all. And the weather’s getting cooler—it won’t be long before I can’t wear dresses.”
Qin Shi pointed at two designs and smiled. “These can be made with wool or fine yarn. They’ll look just as nice.”
Zhang Yanli sighed deeply. “Are you trying to empty my wallet?”
Qin Shi just smiled.
“Fine, I’ll start with this one. I’ll wear it for a while—then think about the others later,” Zhang Yanli said after much hesitation.
Qin Shi glanced at her choice: a square-neck, long-sleeved French-style dress—elegant and ladylike.
“What colour do you want?” Qin Shi asked. “It looks good in navy blue, white, black, or floral.”
Zhang Yanli hesitated again before finally choosing navy blue.
“I don’t like black, and I already have too many white and floral dresses. Navy blue feels more dignified—and people will like it.”
Then she looked at Qin Shi and asked, “Have you heard the rumours going around lately?”
Qin Shi replied casually, “Why bother with them? I dress to please myself, not others. Let them talk—I don’t care.”
She had expected this reaction from the beginning, but she chose to dress this way anyway. As long as she looked good, she was happy.
“I like dressing up,” Qin Shi said calmly. “Who are they to make me feel wrong for it? Why should I wear clothes I don’t like just to satisfy them?”
“What I wear has nothing to do with them. And in big cities—especially in the Special Economic Zones—women dress in all kinds of colours: red, yellow, green. Compared to that, I’m not even that bold.”
Her wardrobe mostly consisted of blues, greys, blacks, whites, and beige. The cuts weren’t exaggerated—just slightly tailored to show her figure.
She hadn’t even considered tight-fitting clothes or bodycon skirts.
Zhang Yanli looked at her. Today Qin Shi wore a white blouse tucked into a high-waisted, straight-cut floral skirt with ruffled edges, highlighting her slim waist.
Her long hair was tied into a low bun, secured with a ribbon matching her skirt—elegant, refined, and effortlessly stylish.
“The Special Zone is different. This place isn’t there yet,” Zhang Yanli said. “People here haven’t changed their mindset.”
“Here, it’s all uniforms, work clothes, shirts and trousers. Even wearing a dress gets attention—let alone someone like you, who dresses so well and looks so good,” she sighed. “Even if your style is simple, it’s still a kind of beauty people here haven’t seen.”
Qin Shi smiled. “This will change sooner or later. One day, the streets will be full of colourful dresses.”
Zhang Yanli sighed. “That day isn’t now.”
“It’s coming soon,” Qin Shi replied.
Zhang Yanli tilted her head.
“Didn’t you notice?” Qin Shi smiled. “More female teachers at school are starting to wear dresses.”
“That’s true!” Zhang Yanli sat up. “And they’re copying the one you wore on your first day!”
“And more people are braiding their hair like you too.”
Qin Shi lifted her chin playfully. “Of course. Soon, people will start wearing ribbons too. With me setting the trend, it won’t be long before conservative ideas are broken and women start dressing up.”
“I’ll finish your dress in a few days. Then we can wear them together,” she added with a grin. “If only one person dresses like this, they think I’m strange. But if everyone does, it becomes normal.”
She stood up and patted Zhang Yanli’s shoulder. “Help me spread the word—get more people to join us. Once enough people do it, no one will gossip anymore.”
Zhang Yanli teased, “Oh, so you’re planning to make a fortune? Shouldn’t you pay me advertising fees?”
Qin Shi rolled her eyes. “At most, I’ll give you a promotion fee. I’m the one doing the advertising!”
They laughed and chatted before parting ways.
After finishing her afternoon classes, Qin Shi headed home. Near the primary school section, she ran into Li Qianqian again.
Qin Shi had no intention of talking to her, but Li Qianqian blocked her path and said in a fake-sweet tone, “Oh, Teacher Qin, what a coincidence. Since we’ve met, let me remind you of something.”
“Gu Qinghai got into a fight and was punished by his homeroom teacher—he stood in the hallway for an entire class,” she said with mock concern. “Being a stepmother isn’t easy, huh? Kids are hard to manage—you must be exhausted.”
“Oh, and since your English is good, maybe tutor him when you get home. He missed class because of the punishment—but don’t hit him,” she added, deliberately provoking her.
Qin Shi suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and smiled calmly. “I know my child. He wouldn’t start a fight for no reason.”
“Thank you for the reminder, Teacher Li,” she added sweetly. “Aren’t you the English teacher for Years 3 and 4? My child should be in your class, right? So you just left him standing in the hallway instead of calling him back in?”
“Even if they’re being punished, shouldn’t they at least listen to the lesson while standing inside?” Qin Shi frowned slightly. “Leaving them outside isn’t appropriate.”
Li Qianqian was instantly angered, her own words thrown back at her. But she couldn’t react openly—it had been her who started the conversation.
Suppressing her irritation, she forced a smile. “That was my mistake. I didn’t want to undermine the homeroom teacher…”
Qin Shi’s expression turned serious. “That’s not right. As a teacher, educating students should come first. Physical punishment is wrong to begin with. Even if you let them sit down, what’s the problem?”
“Worried about offending the homeroom teacher? Who do they think they are?” Qin Shi said calmly. “You’re here to teach—not to play politics. And I doubt your homeroom teacher is that petty.”
Li Qianqian clenched her fists. “What are you trying to say?”
Qin Shi looked at her, disappointed. “Just advice—I’m reminding you too.”
Li Qianqian was furious. Who are you to remind me?
Seeing her twisted expression, Qin Shi felt satisfied.
Serves you right for trying to stir trouble.
Clearly, Li Qianqian had come just to provoke her—to make her lose her temper or punish the child. But her tactics were shallow.
Qin Shi sighed, putting on a disappointed expression. “Forget it. I’ll go now. Do as you like.”
With that, she turned and headed toward the primary school building.
Behind her, Li Qianqian gritted her teeth. “Qin Shi!”
Who does she think she is? Why does she always get the better of me?
Clutching her books, Li Qianqian stormed off toward the office building, exhausted after three consecutive classes.
Meanwhile, Qin Shi’s expression grew serious as she entered the primary school and walked quickly toward Gu Qinghai’s classroom.
Gu Qinghai wasn’t the type to cause trouble. If he got into a fight, something must have happened.
She would find out the truth first—then have a proper talk with his homeroom teacher.
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