This feeling of being stared at... Shi Nian instantly blushed, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into. So, she had no choice but to deeply lower her head and tightly hold onto her backpack.
Luckily, he spoke up in time, helping her out of the situation.
"Ahem, so it looks like we have a new student in our class."
Shi Nian immediately looked up.
He stood on the podium, turned slightly towards her, with his elbow leisurely resting on the desk, his eyes deep as an ancient well.
"Wouldn’t you introduce yourself?"
He even wanted her to introduce herself!
Shi Nian had no choice but to endure it, stand up, and recite her fabricated background information once again. The recitation was mechanical, and she didn’t even know if she said anything wrong in her disordered state.
It’s not like she hadn’t done her homework in advance, but it was all because—he kept staring at her so intently, making it hard for her to breathe.
After finally struggling through this most difficult start, he turned to face all the students: "Well, today’s theme is—’Those Forbidden Loves’."
This topic... everyone began to whisper among themselves, along with some winking and nudging.
Shi Nian felt even more shaken inside—of all topics, why did he choose this one?
Was it just a coincidence?
He pretended not to see, proceeding to press the computer button, playing a TV show on the projection screen. The Western students showed no expression, but Spicy Girl and Shi Nian immediately widened their eyes.
’Autumn in My Heart’!
Following that was a more iconic Japanese drama: ’Family Game’ starring Momoe Yamaguchi and Tomokazu Miura.
After a few classic scenes, Tang Yanqing paused the playback and looked up at the students: "Who can tell me what the most iconic words are in these scenes?"
A Western student smiled, raised their hand, and answered: "Brother, sister."
All the students laughed, Tang Yanqing shrugged: "That’s right. Brother, sister. It’s a cliché that has been overused in Korean and Japanese dramas. The male and female protagonists often find out at the height of their love—oh, you’re my brother; ah, you’re my sister!"
Shi Nian and Spicy Girl exchanged an embarrassed glance, while the Western students wore amused smiles.
After glancing around at everyone’s faces, Tang Yanqing spread his hands: "Well, as everyone must have noticed from this phenomenon, people in the East like to explore love stories from forbidden relationships."
He turned back to the blackboard and swiftly drew a few lines: "Besides kinship relations like those between siblings, the scope of forbidden relationships in Eastern culture is quite broad. It’s not limited to kinship but rather bound by the ’rules’ set by cultural ideals. For example, teacher-student, a friend’s spouse, the friend of a parent/child."
With a flourish, he finished writing on the board, turned back to the direction of Shi Nian, and his deep gaze swept over her face.
"See, these taboos unrelated to kinship are not illegal per se, and even seem trivial from a Western perspective. Yet, traditional Easterners hold them as inviolable." Updates are released by novｅlfire.net
"For example, there’s a saying in the East: A friend’s spouse should not be coveted." As he said this, his gaze again, subtly or not, slid over Shi Nian’s face.
Shi Nian was so startled that she quickly ducked her head, hearing him continue: "The origin of this saying is that Easterners view a wife married into a family as the husband’s private property, henceforth stripped of individual rights. This phrase serves to warn those who might covet her. Even if the wife and husband are not in love, regardless of whether the marriage was arranged, she’s expected to abandon her independence and refrain from pursuing her own happiness and love."
"This example is meant to show everyone the rigid hierarchies and moral principles in Eastern culture and mindset. Easterners’ reverence for and adherence to them over the years surpass even the law. It’s a robust cultural and ethical tradition, with a profound impact on Eastern personality and behavior."
Tang Yanqing talked a lot more on this topic, citing many historical examples from the East. The students were very interested and participated eagerly.
But Shi Nian felt somewhat burdened.
She couldn’t immerse herself in the discussion with the Western students with easy objectivity, as a detached observer. She grew up in such a context, and she was fully aware of the power of those societal norms. Coupled with her current relationship with Xiang Yuan... she just couldn’t bring herself to smile.
Mark also withdrew from the discussion, looking at her from outside, softly asking: "Nian, are you alright?"
Shi Nian shook her head.
Mark gently said: "After all, you’re Chinese, and such an atmosphere for discussion might feel unfamiliar. Take it slow, don’t pressure yourself."
Feeling grateful, Shi Nian looked up at him with a smile: "Mm. I’m fine, thank you."
She didn’t notice that Tang Yanqing’s gaze was quietly directed her way.
Suddenly, Queen S raised her hand, "Professor, we are also teacher and student, but I just want to shout out loud—I love you!"