Many men had lusted after Tang Yi’s beauty over the years, so when Mr. Mo said those words to her, Tang Yi immediately became wary, scrutinizing him as if trying to see through him.
Mr. Mo, however, smiled faintly and explained, "Teacher Tang, you don't need to be nervous. I don't mean anything else. It's just that you truly resemble a dear old friend of mine. I’ve used a lot of my connections to find her over the years, but there’s been no news. I wanted to talk to you and see if you knew her."
Hearing Mr. Mo's explanation, Tang Yi glanced at him. Seeing that he didn't seem to waver and appeared genuine, Tang Yi wondered if she was overthinking things. Perhaps Mr. Mo had no ill intentions.
So, Tang Yi nodded and followed Mr. Mo to a corner of the school hallway to talk.
Mr. Mo got straight to the point. Looking at Tang Yi, he asked, "Teacher Tang, I heard you are from Yancheng and attended university there. Is that true?"
"Yes."
Tang Yi felt these questions were not illegal. She didn't understand why Mr. Mo was asking her these things, but out of politeness, she still nodded.
"Teacher Tang, do you happen to know a woman named Yu Gui Lan?"
Tang Yi suddenly felt uneasy.
Her eyes watched Mr. Mo warily.
Yu Gui Lan was Tang Yi's mother's name.
But her mother had been living incognito all these years.
Tang Yi only found out her mother's real name was Yu Gui Lan when she accidentally saw her mother's diary as a child.
However, not many people knew her mother's real name over the years.
And this man in front of her actually knew her mother's real name, which made Tang Yi have to be on high alert.
Sensing Tang Yi's caution, Mr. Mo smiled faintly and explained, "She and I were university classmates. But after graduation, she vanished. We used many connections to find her, but all attempts were in vain. I thought you looked very much like her, which is why I wanted to ask you."
Tang Yi remained silent for a long time before finally asking, "Who exactly are you?"
Mr. Mo noticed that Tang Yi was wary of him, yet she hadn't denied knowing this person from the start.
If Tang Yi truly didn't know her, she wouldn't have asked this question.
Mr. Mo's intuition had always been accurate. This Tang Yi definitely had a connection to Yu Gui Lan.
So, Mr. Mo paused for a moment before telling Tang Yi the truth.
"She was my first love, and the woman I deeply loved. For her, I've remained unmarried all these years."
Tang Yi just found Mr. Mo rather amusing. He had never married and was deeply devoted to her mother, yet he had a son studying here, who was also in her class.
Thinking of that boy and the incident of groping, Tang Yi's face turned extremely unpleasant.
Looking at Mr. Mo, Tang Yi's tone was hardly pleasant.
"No."
After saying this, Tang Yi turned to leave.
But Mr. Mo didn't let her go that easily.
Seeing Tang Yi about to leave, Mr. Mo quickly caught up, stared at her, and after a pause, said, "Teacher Tang, I don't know if you have any misunderstanding about me, but if you really know Yu Gui Lan, please tell me where she is. I have something very important to tell her."
Tang Yi sneered, turned, and left, ignoring Mr. Mo.
Mr. Mo watched Tang Yi's retreating back and sighed helplessly.
Although Mr. Mo had asked Tang Yi about Yu Gui Lan’s whereabouts today and Tang Yi hadn't told him, Mr. Mo's intuition told him that Tang Yi must have a connection to Yu Gui Lan.
In the following days, Mr. Mo became very active at the school.
Even the principal noticed Mr. Mo's unusual attention towards Tang Yi.
Although Mr. Mo was an investor in this school, he was usually very busy with his work.
Even his own son was a boarding student, picked up by the family's maid on Friday afternoons.
But now, after Tang Yi arrived at the school, Mr. Mo's gaze towards her was not the same.
And he visited the school frequently.
Everyone was an adult and could see Mr. Mo's ulterior motives.
Mo Shao Xuan watched his father constantly seeking out Teacher Tang. At his young age, and with his defect, he didn't understand much, except that Tang Yi's appearance had taken away his deserved fatherly affection.
Therefore, he used his own way to protect his father's love.
Looking at Tang Yi, Mo Shao Xuan cursed, "You vixen, you're seducing my father."
Tang Yi already had a bad impression of Mr. Mo, and it was Mr. Mo who had been pestering her.
Now, after being cursed by Mo Shao Xuan, everyone was looking at Tang Yi with odd expressions.
Some female teachers even spoke sarcastically, "Congratulations, Teacher Tang, you're about to marry into wealth."
Such words made Tang Yi feel even more embarrassed. She wanted to explain, but no one listened to her.
Originally, in such a special school, everyone should have been united and friendly, without scheming and infighting.
However, because of Mr. Mo's attitude towards Tang Yi, those female teachers spoke to Tang Yi sarcastically, making Tang Yi feel very uncomfortable with the work environment.
The thought of having to work in such an environment for five years made Tang Yi feel utterly miserable.
Even the principal couldn't stand it anymore. One day after class, the principal called Tang Yi to his office.
Tang Yi had a faint sense of foreboding in her heart.
As expected, the principal reprimanded her.
"Teacher Tang, you haven't been at the school for long, but I hope you will be mindful of your image. You can date, but can you be a bit more low-key? Your actions are already affecting other teachers' classes and students' studies."
Tang Yi pursed her lips, looked at the principal, and didn't know what to say, only managing to apologize, "Principal, I'm sorry. I will be mindful of my image in the future."
Having said what he needed to say, the principal looked at Tang Yi, worried that she might complain to Mr. Mo. So, the principal changed the subject and said, "Teacher Tang, I hope you can understand. After all, as the principal, I must uphold discipline. This is a school, a place for children. It's not good to let them know about dating too early."
"Principal, I understand everything you're saying."
Although the principal didn't say it too directly, Tang Yi understood his meaning.
The principal found it difficult to delve too deep, especially since Teacher Tang was a new teacher, and a young woman. Most importantly, the principal wasn't yet sure what relationship Tang Yi and Mr. Mo had.
The principal feared that if he spoke too frankly, it might reach Mr. Mo's ears.