"Something came up, so I happened to be at the school gate."
The teacher smiled and said, "Is it because Yaya doesn't like walking with me?"
"Not at all!"
The child answered right away.
She was just a little confused.
And because the teacher was walking with her, her friends kept their distance and secretly made faces at her from the side.
She secretly made a bitter face back at them, too.
When they left the school, the child was suddenly full of energy again.
"Teacher."
"I'm off."
The child waved goodbye to the teacher.
A bright smile lit up her face.
The teacher's lips curled into a smile.
"Be careful on your way home."
"Don't talk to strangers."
"Even if it's someone you know..."
The teacher paused, then continued, "...don't let anything delay you from getting home."
"Got it?"
"Your mom and dad will worry."
The child looked a little puzzled.
But she obediently nodded.
"Got it."
"Go on home."
The teacher waved.
"Mm."
The child waved enthusiastically again. "Goodbye, Teacher~"
The child turned and jogged a few steps.
Her friends ran over.
They fell into step beside her.
"Why did the teacher suddenly walk with you?"
"Yeah."
"You scared us."
"We thought you'd gotten into trouble."
The child rolled her eyes, speechless.
"What trouble could I get into?"
"I'm a good kid. A good student."
The child puffed out her chest.
She was one of the top students in her class, after all.
"The teacher likes me."
"Sure, sure."
One of the child's friends pursed her lips. "The teacher likes you."
"Maybe the teacher will walk with you to the school gate every day from now on."
"We won't walk with you anymore."
"Hey..."
The child grew anxious. "Don't!"
"The teacher only walked with me today because something