At three in the morning, a message from a student's mom jolted me awake: "Teacher, are you attending a family funeral?"

I was bewildered when I woke up: "What do you mean?"

She replied instantly: "Oh, so nothing happened to your family? I thought your mom got hit by a car or something, otherwise why would you be too busy to respond for an entire day!"

After sending that message, this mom stormed into the principal's office, accusing me of being irresponsible and demanding the leadership suspend me.

The leadership advised me to apologize and settle the issue quietly. I resigned without hesitation and joined a high-paying elite educational institution.

But a month later, this very mom came to me with a generous offer, pleading for me to tutor her son again.