“All members of the animal kingdom, from the simplest single-celled organisms to the most complex mammals, are constantly striving to reproduce their offspring, thereby driving the evolution of their entire species… The animal world possesses a myriad of bizarre courtship methods, but for most animals, the process of reproduction is accomplished through the act of physical union between two parties, known as ‘copulation’ or ‘mating’…”
On the projection screen in the audiovisual room, a “restricted” video was playing—but the stars were not sultry men and women, rather, a pair of chimpanzees going through the process from courtship to mating. Don’t get the wrong idea—this was merely a special segment from The Middle School Student’s Mental and Physical Health Curriculum, already shown in many schools’ AV rooms. But at Xiayang City No. 7 Middle School, this was the premiere screening, which sent many boys into a frenzy of excitement, thinking they might finally see the kind of “restricted” scenes they had long been waiting for.
Although many of them had secretly watched far more “explosive” films from Japan or the West, that had always been in secret. This was the first time they could openly watch such a thing, in a crowd of dozens, and even with female classmates present—a truly unprecedented experience.
It was now the blossoming month of April, but Xiayang’s sunlight was always strong, already carrying the feel of summer.
To ensure viewing quality, the curtains were drawn, cutting off air circulation and making the AV room feel stuffy. Three antique ceiling fans above spun at the lazy pace of an old donkey pulling a millstone—nowhere near enough to cool the place down. Before long, Qin Lang was sweating profusely.
He had just transferred to this national key high school that very morning. To his surprise, his very first class was to watch an educational film.
“Many female animals release a chemical scent called pheromones to attract mates. The release of this scent triggers specific behaviors in the opposite sex. Pheromones are often secreted by internal glands, or combined with other fluids, such as sweat…”
Sweat?
Hearing the narrator explain the role of pheromones, Qin Lang shook his head. To him, sweat only released body odor, never fragrance—something conclusively proven in the boys’ dormitory.
If sweating alone could attract women, you wouldn’t be human—you’d be a musk deer.
Just then, however, two unfamiliar scents drifted into his nostrils, like pebbles dropped into still water, sending ripples through his calm mind.
Thanks to the painstaking training of that “old poison” back in the day, Qin Lang’s sense of smell was now extremely sharp. He quickly pinpointed the source of one scent.
It was rich and alluring, mature yet refined—like the “mountain temple peach blossoms” in the poem When all the flowers have faded in April, peach blossoms bloom anew in the mountain temple. Beautiful without vulgarity, striking in its elegance.
Qin Lang’s eyes soon locked onto the source—and his heart skipped a beat.
It came from none other than his new biology teacher, Tao Ruoxiang!
Before coming to No. 7 Middle School, Qin Lang had already heard of her reputation—or rather, her fame for beauty. Just over twenty, Tao Ruoxiang was a vision of radiant youth, newly assigned to the school this year. She was instantly hailed as the most stunning teacher not only in No. 7 Middle, but in all of Xiayang City, easily outshining every female teacher from junior high to senior high.
Truly, “the name matches the shadow.” At the first sight of her, Qin Lang felt his parched heart and eyes nourished like never before, as if touched by the goddess of spring herself.
It seemed beauty could nourish both the eyes and the soul.
At the moment, Tao Ruoxiang stood to Qin Lang’s left, leaning lightly against the windowsill, one foot bent to rest against the wall, letting the breeze from the window cool her. The pose was casual, even lazy, yet brimming with charm. She wore a dark-gray skirt suit—the standard teacher’s uniform at No. 7 Middle—which should have looked strict and dull, but her full bust and hips, slim waist, and long legs turned the outfit into the embodiment of seductive “uniform temptation.”
Tao Ruoxiang was clearly hot; beads of sweat dotted her cheeks and neck, eventually merging into a tiny “stream” that traced past her slightly upturned red lips, down her delicate chin and fair neck, and finally into the deep, mysterious valley of her chest—where Qin Lang caught sight of a dark green tattoo. Who would have thought that this elegant, confident “uniform queen” teacher also had a rebellious side?
Qin Lang suddenly felt himself grow inexplicably hot. Just as his thoughts began to wander, something unexpected happened—
Buzz!
A mosquito, blowing its tiny trumpet, flew straight toward Tao Ruoxiang. Even worse, its target was her chest.
Beast!
Qin Lang cursed inwardly. How dare it invade such a forbidden domain!
Small it might be, but the insect was bold and skilled. Tao Ruoxiang’s chest was like towering peaks with deep valleys—landing there required masterful flying skills. A single tremor of her “twin peaks” could squash the mosquito into paste.
The lustful mosquito landed successfully.
Qin Lang panicked.
Before he himself had the chance, how could he allow anyone—or anything—to trespass there? Not even a mosquito! What’s more, Qin Lang knew this black-and-white-striped mosquito by its scientific name, Aedes albopictus—better known as the Asian tiger mosquito. Small but vicious, its bite could leave large red welts or even blisters and pus. It was also a dangerous disease carrier, capable of spreading Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, and dengue.
This mosquito was not only a master pilot but also adept at both blood-sucking and nectar-feeding. It silently found the perfect landing spot between the two peaks, buried its head in the valley, and twitched its proboscis in preparation for its lewd bloodsucking act.
Qin Lang knew he had to stop it!
At the exact moment the mosquito’s proboscis was about to pierce her skin, inspiration struck. He remembered the cold drink he had brought into class. Pretending to take a sip, he flicked the straw with his finger, sending a few drops of icy water toward her chest.
Two of them hit their mark, landing on her fair skin.
The sudden chill made Tao Ruoxiang shiver; her chest trembled with astonishing elasticity, dislodging the mosquito and drowning it in a stormy sea.
Qin Lang breathed a sigh of relief—only to see the mosquito escape the “storm” and fly straight toward him.
The Asian tiger mosquito truly lived up to its reputation, charging forward with a “no blood, no life” determination.
Qin Lang feigned ignorance, sipping his iced cola—not to fool the mosquito, but to avoid letting Tao Ruoxiang know he had been watching her.
The lustful mosquito landed lightly on Qin Lang’s face and pierced his skin with precision.
Its abdomen swelled bright red like a tiny lantern, while Qin Lang pretended not to notice.
Satisfied, the mosquito took off, but had barely flown from his face when it wobbled like a drunkard and collapsed onto the desk in front of him, motionless.
A “master pilot,” dead just like that.
“Serves you right.”
With the pride of a victor, Qin Lang glanced at the mosquito’s corpse from the corner of his eye and prepared to blow it off the desk. But just then, a gentle yet commanding voice spoke beside his ear:
“Qin Lang, is it? Since you’re not interested in the film, why don’t you step outside for some fresh air?”
