Scarlett had visited the Zhou residence six times, and aside from the first and last time, Lucius was nowhere to be seen. Yet, to the public, this was more than enough. In their minds, each hundred-minute visit by Scarlett to the Zhou household could have been spent tutoring anyone.
Scarlett didn't concern herself with others' opinions. In fact, she was so swamped these days that she barely had time to breathe. From the moment she received her first call from an admirer, to the first enthusiastic client at her company, her name had become a buzzword in local education circles. Tutoring requests flooded in, and her office was a hive of activity from dawn till dusk.
It used to be a fun game among the staff, guessing why each new client was there. But now, it was obvious. They were there for Scarlett. Shirley, once joked, "These days, no one cares about their child's weak subjects. Whatever Scarlett teaches, that's the subject they want to improve."
The number of clients specifically requesting Scarlett was so high that even Ryan expressed concern. "You're like a magnet, and they're all drawn to you. This isn't just disrupting the normal flow, it's completely overwhelming."
Scarlett, buried in a mountain of paperwork, just laughed it off. "Well, this one here is a budding swimming champion with a secret love for math. This one has a child just starting elementary school. And this one, he's supposedly looking for a tutor for his cousin's son. If they're so close, I wonder why the cousin isn't here."
Ryan couldn't help but laugh. Scarlett, once a nobody, had suddenly become the talk of the town, to the point where even Amelia had to grudgingly admit that Scarlett was a force to be reckoned with.
But popularity also attracts unwanted attention. Scarlett, being new to the job, didn't want to step on any toes. So, she generously shared her client list with her colleagues. After all, most of them were there because of Lucius Zhou. She didn't have a magic trick to keep them loyal to her.
That's not to say Scarlett was entirely selfless. After sorting out the less promising clients, she kept a few promising ones for herself. At the end of the day, business is business, and everyone has their own needs.
In addition to tutoring Jack, Scarlett also made time to meet other potential clients. Although these were supposed to be evaluation sessions for the clients, she used these opportunities to evaluate them as well. Soon, she signed trial contracts with two more clients.
Scarlett was ambitious but not greedy. She knew her limits and when to stop. She didn't want to take on more than she could handle. Among her clients, however, there was one that stood out – Young Song. He came not because of her reputation but her beauty.
From the moment he saw her, he was hooked. Scarlett sensed his intentions and tried to keep her distance, but he was persistent, showering her with flowers and gifts.
Finally, Scarlett had to address the issue. "I'm sorry, Mr. Song, but I'm not interested in dating anyone right now."
Unfazed, Young replied with a playful grin, "What if I told you that I can't help but want to date you the moment I see you?"
Scarlett, having been beautiful all her life, was used to such attention. As for the persistent ones like Young, she usually just ignored them until they got the hint.
On a Monday morning, just before ten, Scarlett left the Hart Building. She was used to seeing the Zhou family car waiting for her, so she decided to arrive a few minutes early.
However, the early bird doesn't always get the worm, sometimes it might encounter a snake.
Young parked his sports car by the roadside, approaching with an armful of striking red roses. Scarlett tried to leave, but it was too late, the man called out, "Scarlett!"
She pretended not to hear, quickening her pace. But the sound of footsteps closing in from behind was unmistakable. His next move was to reach out for her, but like a deer sensing danger, she abruptly halted and skillfully dodged his touch.
Young grasped at thin air and laughed it off, looking at her he asked, "Why run?"
Scarlett feigned surprise, "Mr. Song, what a coincidence."
The smile on Young's face widened as he held out the flowers to her. They were in a bustling business district with a crowd of onlookers. Scarlett didn't even lift a finger, politely but firmly declining, "Mr. Song, I've told you many times, I'm not interested in a relationship."
"Then don't think of these as roses," Young suggested.
Scarlett remained unfazed, causing Young to lower his voice, "With so many people watching, spare me some dignity."
In a similar soft tone, Scarlett replied, "There are several girls behind you who look quite excited, they seem to want these very much."
Upon hearing this, Young turned to spot a group of girls with their phones out. Truth be told, Young was a handsome man, the kind women would turn to look at in the streets. He asked them, "Do you want these?"
With the crowd growing larger, one brave girl replied, "Yes!"
Scarlett thought to herself that it would be best if Young gave up on her and instead gave the flowers to someone else. However, he called the girl to come and take them herself. As the girl approached, he whispered so only the three of them could hear, "Wanting something doesn't mean you deserve it. Are you as beautiful as she is?"
The girl froze, looking lost, staring at Scarlett. Scarlett sighed inwardly but before she could react, the girl had already turned and left. The bystanders were puzzled, not knowing what had transpired. Young chuckled, looking at Scarlett, "I only love you."
Scarlett's face hardened, she stared at him for a few seconds, then turned to leave without a word. Young followed her, grabbing her arm. She tried to shake him off but couldn't, she sternly demanded, "Let go."
He smirked, "I won't. If you're angry, yell. Let everyone in the street know that I'm pursuing you."
As Scarlett frowned, she noticed three men approaching rapidly from behind Young. She recognized the one in the lead as the Zhou family's driver, while the two stern-faced, muscular men behind him were obviously bodyguards.
Just as Young was reveling in his perceived triumph, he was suddenly restrained from behind. His arm went numb, and he instantly let go of Scarlett, dropping the flowers to the ground.
The driver asked anxiously, "Miss Li, are you alright?"
Scarlett shook her head. Young attempted to wrestle with the bodyguards, but with a swift joint-lock and trip, they swiftly laid him out on the ground. As the crowd of onlookers grew larger, Scarlett didn't want to escalate things. She quietly said to the driver, "Let him go."
The driver was composed, "No problem. You go ahead and get in the car, they'll handle this."
Scarlett left in the Bentley while the bodyguards released Young. He was embarrassed and quickly fled the scene in his sports car. He hadn't even left the street when his phone rang. He was annoyed at first but paused when he saw the caller ID read Jane Feng. After hesitating for a few seconds, he answered, "Hey, sis."
A woman's voice came through the phone, "How is the task I gave you coming along?"