Chen Ning smirked. "And don't forget her lifelong majors—professional napper and expert procrastinator. She's been acing those since day one."
Xiao Luo, munching on his pear, grinned. "Plus professional snack thief! Certified since kindergarten."
Jiaqi rolled her eyes, half amused. "Yeah, and I was this close to majoring in dinosaur studies last semester. So keep your snacks safe."
Ning laughed. "I swear she has a minor in 'changing her mind'—that one lasts about a week each time."
Uncle Yifeng chuckled, shaking his head. "At this rate, she's earned enough credits for a degree in indecision."
Aunt Min smiled, adding, "And a double minor in keeping us entertained."
Jiaqi shrugged with a smirk. "True. But hey, at least I'm well-rounded."
Ning fired back, "You're a walking résumé with no punctuation."
"And yet, here I am. Family's last hope."
"You were literally a last resort," Ning said with a grin.
Chen Jiaqi smirked. "Still prettier."
Uncle Yifeng laughed, "Don't let them get to you, Jiaqi. If you can survive this family roast, you can survive anything."
"No refunds if I run away in the night."
"You're too cheap to give back gas money," Ning muttered.
Chen Jiaqi just tossed the cushion back at her.
⸻
Later that evening, after dinner, Chen Jiaqi found herself sitting across from her uncle as he sipped his tea, watching her with that knowing gaze elders loved to pull out when they were hiding something.
"So," she said slowly. "What exactly is it I'll be doing?"
Her uncle grinned. "You'll be teaching, of course."
"Yes, but what? What grade? What subjects? Are we talking math? Music? Interpretive dance?"
He waved her off, calm and vague. "A bit of everything. Multi-discipline. You're flexible. You're a jack of all trades — you'll do fine."
"That's a non-answer if I ever heard one."
"Teaching is in our blood, Jiaqi. Sixteen generations of scholars. You're just… a late bloomer."
She raised an eyebrow. "You're not worried I'll curse at the wrong student or fall asleep halfway through a lesson?"
"I have complete faith in you."
She narrowed her eyes. "You're hiding something."
He only smiled.
She crossed her arms. "If any of these kids try to bribe me for grades, I'm taking it. Just letting you know now."
⸻
📢 [System Alert: B.E.T.S. Notification]
—
[⚠️ Bribery Warning: Bribes: monetary, verbal, or implied — are strictly prohibited.]
—
[✅ Acceptable: Gifts from students or parents that are spontaneous, genuine, and not tied to performance or favoritism.]
"No wait!"she sat up quickly and tried to stop the system.
[📄 First Violation: Written Warning]
[Initiating shock]
—Zzzzaap
"Wait! I- was jus— Oww!?" She rubbed her arm.
—
[Host A Second Violation will lead to Point Deductions!]
[⛔ Third Violation: System BETS shop Suspension -24hrs]
—
[📝 Reminder: Respect is earned, not extorted.]
⸻
Chen Jiaqi flinched. "Jeez, I was kidding."
The system didn't respond. Of course it didn't. It had no sense of humor.
Her uncle chuckled at her expression but said nothing more.
Just before she got up to head to bed, her uncle added, "Oh — tomorrow morning, I'll drive you to the small house next to the academy. It's quiet and near the main gate. You'll stay there during the week."
"Wait—there's more?"
"But you're always welcome here anytime on weekends," he said gently. "This place is always home."
From the hallway, Chen Ning called out, "Don't forget to pack snacks. That school is out of delivery range!"
Xiao Luo added, "And bring my dinosaur book when you visit!"
"Duly noted," Jiaqi replied with a sigh. "I'm not even gone yet, and I've already got homework."
⸻
[System Notification]
-
[ New Objective Assigned: "Settle In & Prepare Lesson Plans."]
—
📝 Tasks:
—
• Unpack and organize teaching supplies
• Review student files and class lists
• Plan icebreaker activities for first day
• Prepare introduction and class rules
• Meet school staff by Friday
• Draft first lesson plan
—
🕒 Task Frequency:
• Daily: Check attendance and student engagement
-
• Weekly: Submit progress reports; hold office hours
-
• Monthly: Organize parent-teacher meetings; evaluate student behavior trends
-
• Semester: Complete curriculum milestones and assessments
—
🏆 Possible Points:
—
• Task Completion: 5-15 points per task
• Creativity Bonus: 1-5 points
• Student Engagement Bonus: 2-6 points
• Professionalism Bonus: 3-8 points
• Disciplinary points: 2-5 points
⸻
Chen Jiaqi stared at the list blinking in front of her. She sighed, muttering, "Great. Now the system wants me to be organized, social, and basically less salty."
She squinted up at the floating text, voice low but firm: "Look, can you pick someone else? I'm really not cut out to be the world's teacher."
[Host Refusal Detected.]
[System Override: Contract Locked. Host Duties Activated.]
Chen Jiaqi groaned and rolled her eyes. "Figures."
⸻
Chen Jiaqi kicked off her slippers, flopped onto the guestroom bed, and stared at the ceiling fan spinning slowly overhead.
She wasn't here for long. Just a quick gig, maybe a few months or better yet a few weeks or days, earn some money, play nice. She definitely was not going to be a teacher for real.
No way. Probably not.