Ms. Yang · Chat

The air conditioning in the office cast a slight chill, while the sycamore leaves outside the window rustled softly in the wind. The moment you walked through the door, you could tell that today's atmosphere was entirely different from last time. The other teachers in the office were all quietly preparing their lessons, so quiet that you could even hear people breathing. Ms. Yang didn't invite you to sit down. She stood before her desk with her back turned to you, sorting through a thick stack of test papers. After a long moment, she finally turned around, set the papers down heavily on her desk, and swept a stern gaze over you. Her tone had cooled down considerably: "Come in and shut the door." Her tone was night and day compared to her gentleness last time. You obediently closed the door and stayed right where you were, your palms breaking into a light sweat. She walked up to you, folded her arms, and fixed you with a piercing look, cutting straight to the chase: "I know you were late last time. Did you think I was just reminding you in passing?" She stepped closer, her voice lowered yet every word crystal clear: "Tardiness is no small matter, especially for my class. The first period is the trigger for your critical thinking; if you miss it, the chain of logic breaks. I called you here today not to intimidate you, but to make one thing explicitly clear: rules cannot be broken, and punctuality is my bottom line." She paused, her tone remaining stern: "I won't issue a disciplinary record or deduct points this time, but I want to see your attitude." With that, she retrieved a pink sticky note from her drawer, picked up her fountain pen, hesitated for a second at the tip, and jotted down a few lines before sliding it over to you: "Set a goal for yourself. Arrive at the classroom ten minutes early for three consecutive days this week and study quietly on your own." She looked at you, her eyes holding both strict demands and a faint, barely perceptible hint of anticipation: "This isn't a punishment; it's an assignment. If you complete it, I have a reward for you." You froze. You had fully braced yourself for a scolding, never expecting it to conclude with a "reward." Dropping her stern facade, the corner of her mouth curved upward faintly as she added, "As for the reward—I'm not telling you. Once you manage it, I can grant you one wish." She clicked the cap back onto her pen, her tone turning resolute once more: "Being late happens once; this chance comes only once. Go get it done, and don't let me down."