The sudden pain from her butt stunned Jiang Ju for a few seconds. After Du Xi stopped, she felt angry and frustrated, and her entire body began to tremble uncontrollably. She felt so aggrieved that her eyes welled up with tears.
Jiang Ju had a reserved personality and didn't like to speak. When she was crying, she didn't make a sound either. She just lowered her head and pursed her lips with a pitiful look.
Du Xi stood in front of her and watched her cry for a while. Then, he smiled and scratched the tip of her nose. "Is it worth crying over? I haven't even cried yet, but you're already crying."
Jiang Ju held back her tears and looked up at him. After lowering her head again, her tears flowed even more profusely. The moment he entered, he kissed her forcefully and spanked her without explanation. He even said that she was overreacting. Of course she would have a reaction! It hurt so much! Her resentful gaze made Du Xi smile. This child was still so cute even after seven months apart.
He sat down on the brick bed and reached out to dust his pants. Then, he pulled the crying child into his arms.
Jiang Ju was still crying, but Du Xi's sudden action frightened her so much that her tears stopped and crystal tears hung on her fair face. Du Xi's rough fingers brushed away the tears on her face as he threatened in a low voice, "You're not allowed to cry. If you cry again, I'll do you."
Jiang Ju tried her best, but she couldn't hold back her tears and hiccuped. After stopping, she took a deep breath, and her eyes were filled with resentment.
Du Xi reached out and covered her eyes. His other hand, which was on her waist, scratched it. After making the child in his arms tremble, he smiled happily. "Did you miss me?"
"You heartless little thing. Back then, you ran away from home without saying a word. You definitely didn't miss me, but I missed you very much. I missed you every day and night…"
This was the first time Jiang Ju had heard such mushy words. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she hid in his arms. She didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
When he lowered his head and saw that her ears were red, Du Xi couldn't help but lower his head and bite her earlobe. He gritted his teeth and said, "When are you planning to go home? You've been in this lousy place for more than half a year. You're probably sick of this place now, right? If you don't go back, I'll tear down your lousy building."
Jiang Ju reached out her slender fingers and grabbed the corner of his shirt as she pleaded softly, "No, where will I live in the future if you tear it down?" Not only did she have nowhere to live, but she also lost her only source of income. If she wanted to survive in the future, she could only go out and work.
However, she didn't have a beautiful educational background or any professional skills. Even if she went out to find a job, which company would want her?
"I won't tear it down, but you have to tell me the exact time you'll go back, right?" Hearing that there was still room for negotiation, Jiang Ju bit her lip and looked up at him as she asked tentatively, "Can we wait another year?"
When he heard this, the smile on the man's face instantly disappeared and he frowned. Jiang Ju was so frightened that she quickly lowered her head and said, "If a year is too long, can it be half a year?"
She actually didn't plan to go back so quickly, but she didn't know how to reject him. From his attitude, she knew that she had no right to bargain. Seeing that the dissatisfied expression on his face still didn't show any signs of loosening, she hesitated for a moment and continued, "It's not that I don't want to go back as soon as possible, but when I came, I told the village chief that I would wait until the new teacher came."
Although the village chief couldn't stop her if she insisted on going back, she didn't want to go back on her word.
Du Xi sighed softly as he stared at the furry little head leaning on his chest. Then, he reached out and patted her head. "I don't know what to say to you. This place is so dilapidated, but you're actually prepared to stay here for another year before leaving."
In fact, it wasn't that he didn't know what to say. He just didn't want to ruin the child's enthusiasm. In his opinion, staying in the wilderness for a year was a foolish act.
Other than her, no sane person would want to come to this remote village. Therefore, there was no next teacher. It was probably just the village chief's excuse to keep her here.
However, what Du Xi really cared about wasn't the environment here, but that she was a young lady living alone in this unfamiliar place, so he was worried about her.