Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

In the 22D Lead Teacher’s office, Tina had arranged for a simple setup at Jared’s request: just a desk and a sofa that could be used for resting. At the moment, Tina was busy at the desk, Jared was on his wheelchair playing with his cell phone (though in reality, he was handling matters), and Nathan was sitting on the sofa. None of them had spoken, creating a quiet atmosphere.

Professor Lininger’s team had completed all subject tests for the 22D students and had created a learning plan. Once the learning plan was set, Tina organized the class schedule. The workload for the past month had been heavy, and Tina had even scheduled class during the evening self-study time. However, she had not arranged any physical education classes within the week, which Jared had no objections to. The students of 22D had had enough leisure time; it was time to buckle down and study.

By the time Tina finished the class schedule and other miscellaneous classroom arrangements, it was already half past twelve. She looked up, surprised to see Jared and Nathan still there, and asked, “Aren’t you two going to eat?”

“Waiting for you,” Jared replied upon hearing her, sending out one last message before putting his phone away. A gentle smile graced his handsome face, and his voice was soft.

“Waiting for me?” She was going home for lunch today. The school mainly served rice meals, which she didn’t prefer. She had asked Jennie to make some noodles in the morning. Why would Jared wait for her?

“Yes, I called Mrs. Reed this morning; I’ll have lunch at your place.” Jared wheeled himself over to Tina, not waiting for her to respond, and said, “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not freeloading. I’ve paid my living expenses, and from now on, I’ll be eating at your home except for breakfast.”

Tina was stunned, “What about your grandfather and Sophia?”

Jared raised his brow and a light smile played on his lips, “I forgot to tell you, I’ve paid for four people’s meals… for myself, my grandfather, Sophia, and Nathan.”

Tina was speechless. How shameless!

She tidied up the desk and, turning to leave, her gaze inadvertently fell on the pendant around Jared’s neck. It was identical to the one she wore, the one that should have been with her mother, gleaming even more brightly in the sunlight.

Tina discreetly averted her eyes and glanced at Jared, then headed for the door saying, “Let’s go.”

As they left the office, they saw a person standing at the door. The person immediately approached with a cheerful greeting, “Miss Reed, hello! I’m the Lead Teacher of 22A, my name is Ann Scott.”

Mrs. Scott had arrived at half-past eleven but seeing Tina busy through the window, she didn’t want to interrupt and had waited at the door. She hadn’t expected that she would have to wait for an hour.

She couldn’t believe Miss Reed was so dedicated to her work that she was still occupied with student matters even past lunchtime.

“Mrs. Scott,” Tina greeted, “Is there something you need from me?”

“It’s like this,” Mrs. Scott began, eager to explain so as not to be misunderstood, “I was wondering if I could sit in on Professor Lininger’s class?”

Tina looked at Mrs. Scott. Since coming to Ensford High School, she had met very few teachers who put students first like Mrs. Scott did.

She considered for a moment before replying, “Okay, I’ll give Professor Lininger a call about it.”

“Thank you! You’re so kind, Miss Reed, not to mention beautiful,” Mrs. Scott said excitedly.

Kind?

No!

You misunderstand me!

“Is there anything else, or may I go?” Tina was very hungry and eager to eat.

Just as Tina was about to leave, Mrs. Scott suddenly remembered something else and quickly asked, “Miss Reed, could you please ask Professor Lininger if he could spare some time to give a lesson to other classes, even just one or two would be great!”

“For the next month, Professor Lininger won’t be teaching other classes. Our class has a heavy workload and the schedule is very tight,” Tina said quietly, “After a month, once 22D’s learning is stable, I’ll arrange it.”

“Alright!” Mrs. Scott left happily with a confirmed answer.

On the way back to Pinkwater Ally, Nathan was driving while Jared and Tina sat in the backseat. Tina leaned against the window, holding her phone as if waiting for a message.

Jared glanced at her and suddenly asked, “With two PhDs, why don’t you teach yourself?”

Tina was brought back from her thoughts by his voice, “I’m busy.”

She wasn’t a machine! Teaching every class fromGrade 9 to Grade 11, with forty-five students in a class, would require a tremendous amount of time and energy. She could afford the best educational team to teach them, so why exhaust herself?

Moreover, she had other things to do at Ensford High School.

“What kind of person was your mother?” Jared suddenly changed the subject.

The shift was so abrupt that Tina didn’t respond immediately. After a pause, her cool gaze fixed on Jared, her body exuding an icy chill as cold as winter frost, bone-piercingly cold.

Jared met her icy look with a smile, “I’m very curious about the person who raised someone as outstanding as you. I heard your grandmother didn’t like your mother because she was a country woman?”

Tina simply looked at him, her expression unchangingly cold.

“I also heard that when the Reed family was in decline, it was your mother who used a perfume formula to save the Reed family and help them enter Ensford’s elite circles. Is that true?” Jared’s slender fingers tapped rhythmically against the car window edge, his tone slow, as if speaking of something utterly mundane.

Nathan, driving the car, also observed Tina’s reactions through the rearview mirror.

After a long stare, Tina leaned closer to Jared, her smile radiant and dazzling, “Have you ever heard that knowing too much can get you killed faster?”

Her face was close to his, and he could clearly feel that although she was smiling, the smile didn’t reach her eyes and even seemed rather sinister.

Jared touched her head with a gentle, indulgent voice, “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.”

He could smell a faint scent of strawberry cream on her, probably because she had been eating a lot of strawberry cake recently. It was sweet and pleasant.

Tina leaned in closer, her hand resting on the back of his neck, her smile even brighter, “And don’t worry about me. My mom is very easy to talk to. She won’t harm someone who offends her, she’ll just climb out from the grave at midnight to discuss life with them.”

The fingers resting on the back of his neck held a thin silver needle.

Jared was taken aback.

Such a poisonous tongue!