Reversal

At that moment, Minke stood up, grabbed a can of beer, and shouted at all his classmates.

"Everyone, listen up. It's not every day that our teacher treats us to a meal. How about we all raise a glass to him?"

"Yeah!"

Many of the students stood up one after another, each raising a wineglass.

Tang Yan also stood up with a broad smile, raised his glass, and drained it in one gulp before saying,

"Everyone, sit down. You've all been my students for three years, and I've poured my heart and soul into teaching you. To be honest, you're no different from my own children. But all good things must come to an end. Once the City Exam is over, everyone will go their separate ways. We might never see each other again in this lifetime. So don't hold back—eat your fill."

However, the moment Tang Yan said this, the previously lively atmosphere fell silent. Everyone who had been so excited lowered their heads.

Tang Yan watched this scene, and his heart instantly went cold.

Oh no. I've wasted another meal.

So he quickly changed his tune.

"Cheer up! Don't look so down. Let's talk about your dreams. What are your dreams? Minke, you go first."

When Minke saw the teacher asking him, he answered seriously,

"My dream is to get into Outer Academy of the Imperial Court Academy, join the Military Department after graduating, and make a name for myself on the front lines!"

"Good! Give him a round of applause!"

Tang Yan immediately led the applause.

"The class monitor can definitely do it!"

Everyone followed suit, applauding and offering their sincere blessings.

"Thank you."

Minke answered somewhat bashfully.

Tang Yan then called on the blond-haired student.

"Cheng Ran, what's your dream?"

"Me? Actually, I don't want to go to the front lines. I just want to spend a few years in the reserves after graduation, then come back and open a bar of my own!"

The blond-haired student scratched his head as he spoke.

"Whoo~"

Everyone laughed and began to jeer playfully.

"What are you whooping for? You should all talk about your dreams too!"

The blond-haired student protested indignantly.

"What's the point of discussing our dreams? Why not ask about the teacher's dream instead?"

Chen Tong asked with a sly grin.

Everyone's eyes turned toward Tang Yan, and they joined in the teasing.

"Yeah! Teacher, what's your dream?"

"Tell us!"

Su Ming also looked at Tang Yan with interest.

Seeing that everyone wanted to know, Tang Yan said with a smile,

"My dream is to gather thirty positions and transfer to Oakga Academy in the City of Rain."

"Huh? Teacher, you want to transfer to another academy? Isn't it good here?"

Minke and the others asked in confusion.

"It's quite good here, but I still want to transfer there. I can't tell you the specific reason."

Tang Yan answered with a hint of emotion.

"There must be something going on. Is there someone you like at that academy?"

Everyone pressed him with great curiosity.

"Don't make things up."

Tang Yan denied it, but the smile on his face gave him away.

"Teacher, you're smiling so sweetly. It must be true. Come on, tell us—who is she?"

Minke and the others asked, brimming with gossip.

"All right, I'll satisfy your curiosity. She's my classmate, and she teaches at that academy. That's why I want to transfer there."

Tang Yan stopped hiding it.

"I see. But Teacher, you're already quite old, and you've been teaching here for so many years. We've never seen you two interact. That means you probably haven't seen each other in a long time. How can you be sure she isn't married, or that she doesn't have a boyfriend?"

Chen Tong spoke with a wicked grin.

When Tang Yan heard Chen Tong's words, the smile on his face instantly froze. It was as if someone had poured a basin of cold water over him, sending his mood plummeting. Now he was the one feeling miserable.

The lively atmosphere fell silent for a moment, but Tang Yan quickly composed himself and said with an awkward smile,

"I don't know about that. After all, it's only a dream. Enough about this—eat more."

"Okay."

Minke and the others chimed in one after another.

Meanwhile, Su Ming sat alone in a corner, keeping as far away from them as possible while desperately suppressing his urge to eat meat.

He picked up the boiled water and took an occasional sip, pondering the Imperial Court Military Academy.

Su Ming had already known that this academy was difficult to get into, but after Zhang Tai and the others mocked him, he gained a much more direct understanding of just how difficult it was.

At that moment, Tang Yan noticed Su Ming sitting alone in the corner. Looking at this student who seemed so out of place, he sighed softly.

He walked over and sat down beside Su Ming, speaking kindly.

"Su Ming."

Su Ming came back to himself and looked at Tang Yan in surprise.

"Teacher?"

"Why aren't you sitting with everyone else? Have you still not gotten over it? Are you feeling upset?"

Tang Yan asked with concern.

Su Ming looked at Tang Yan and thought it over carefully. In his memories, Teacher Tang Yan had truly treated him very well, but it seemed he had misunderstood something.

Yet some things only became more suspicious the more one tried to explain them, so Su Ming could only answer,

"I'm fine now."

Tang Yan picked up his beer and took a sip, speaking with deep emotion.

"Su Ming, no one can go through life without trouble. We'll always encounter setbacks and regrets. We have to learn to reconcile with ourselves. Understand?"

Tang Yan had originally wanted to encourage Su Ming to work hard and take the City Exam first, then pursue love afterward. But when he thought of the gap between Su Ming and Lin Chuyu, he decisively changed his mind, lest Su Ming's fragile heart be unable to take another blow.

Su Ming thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"Teacher, I understand. But I'm still young, and my future is filled with infinite possibilities. I can work hard to pursue everything I want. I don't need to reconcile with myself yet! You're the one who needs to hurry. You seem rather old, and you don't have much time left. If you delay too long and still don't get transferred, you might truly miss your chance."

After hearing Su Ming's words, Tang Yan felt as if a sharp blade had stabbed into his heart. He thought of his age, then of the pitiful three positions he had in hand and his transfer with no end in sight.

For a moment, he felt utterly awful, and his mood plunged straight to rock bottom.

Tang Yan fell silent. He silently took a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and inhaled deeply.

He soon finished the cigarette, then took out another and lit it, as if this was the only way to ease the pain in his heart.

Su Ming, sitting beside him, watched Tang Yan smoke cigarette after cigarette and sighed as he advised him,

"Teacher, smoke less. Most girls really hate chain smokers. Smoking like this isn't good."

When Tang Yan heard Su Ming's words, he felt as if another knife had stabbed into his heart. He stubbed out the cigarette in his hand, silently picked up his beer, and drank one can after another.

His face revealed his unwillingness and sorrow.

"Cough, Teacher, listen to me. Girls don't like alcoholics either. Especially men who only know how to drink and escape whenever something happens."

Su Ming reminded him helplessly.

After hearing Su Ming's words, Tang Yan's heart was stabbed again. The grievances and unwillingness he had carried all these years surged up under the stimulation of the alcohol.

At that moment, his mental defenses collapsed like a dam bursting.

"Waaah~"

Tang Yan instantly slumped over the table and began to sob bitterly.