"What!" Xiang Ri stared at her in disbelief. "Xiao Qing, are you suggesting we live together... Oh, don't misunderstand me, I don't mean that. What I meant was, are you sure you want to stay with me? Sleep under the same roof?" If we could share the same bed, that would be even better, ha ha.
"Yes, teacher!" Shi Qing's face turned slightly red.
"Well... you know, I don't live alone right now. I'd have to check with Chu Chu first! Or... I could buy a place for you, and you could stay there... um, I'll visit you during the day, and return to stay with Chu Chu at night..." Xiang Ri thought of a clever plan, unable to suppress the gulp in his throat.
"Teacher—" Shi Qing said softly, her voice stretching, tinged with dissatisfaction.
"What is it?" Xiang Ri wiped his mouth.
"You're really bad!" Shi Qing murmured, her face now fully crimson. The idea of her teacher having such improper thoughts left her feelings conflicted, but above all, she felt a deep sense of shyness.
"Bad? How am I bad? I'll spend the day with you training, and return home at night to watch TV with Chu Chu. Is that bad? Do you want me to stay with you both day and night? How could you be so selfish?" Xiang Ri proclaimed with righteous indignation.
"Ah, teacher, I'm sorry, I misunderstood you!" Shi Qing lowered her head in embarrassment, once again misinterpreting her teacher's intentions, wishing she could just disappear into the ground.
"Misunderstood? What did you misunderstand?" Xiang Ri asked knowingly.
"Nothing, nothing..." Shi Qing shook her head vigorously, unwilling to voice her true thoughts, lest she lose all face.
"Really?" Xiang Ri took a step closer.
"Ah, teacher, I just remembered something I need to do. I'll leave first." Shi Qing was startled, turning to make a quick escape.
Xiang Ri grabbed the corner of her skirt, and with a sudden movement, nearly lifted the entire skirt.
"Ah!" Shi Qing shrieked, quickly lowering the hem of her skirt, her eyes misting over. "Teacher, how could you do that?" Though she didn't mind him tugging at her skirt, it had been so sudden that she couldn't quite accept it.
"Oh, Xiao Qing, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to!" Xiang Ri hurriedly rubbed his hands together, expressing his apology. But secretly, he was quite pleased with what he had seen, it looked white...
"Teacher..." Shi Qing gazed up at him with eyes glistening with tears, biting her lip without continuing.
Xiang Ri, knowing how to handle her, decided to use his trump card. Their days together had made him realize that Shi Qing had an inexplicable trust in the word "teacher." "Xiao Qing, think about it carefully, how could a teacher ever bully their own student?" Sure enough, those words were effective. Shi Qing's gaze softened noticeably, and Xiang Ri let out a long breath. He placed his hand gently on her shoulder. "Xiao Qing, you said you wanted to live with me, but I can't agree without asking Chu Chu first. I'll call her out, and you can ask her yourself."
"What!" Chu Chu's voice was full of astonishment, exactly like Xiang Ri's when he first heard it. "Qing Jie, you mean you want to live with us?"
"Yes, that's right." Shi Qing looked at her expectantly.
"That's great!" Chu Chu immediately stepped forward to hug her, completely forgetting about someone else, "Qing Jie, I've always wanted to sleep with you. Your skin is so beautiful, it must be so nice to cuddle with you at night." Indeed, while Shi Qing was passionate about martial arts, her skin was as soft and smooth as if it could be squeezed for water, likely inherited from her exceptional maternal lineage.
"Chu Chu, I want to move in with you now," Shi Qing gently stroked her ponytail.
"Of course! Let's go right now. By the way, Qing Jie, do you have a lot of stuff? I'll have Xiang Kui help carry it!" Chu Chu shot a glance at the man standing nearby.
"Skipping class again? That's not a good idea," Xiang Ri hesitated, "Am I being treated as a moving laborer? This is inhumane."
"Hmph, forget it! You go to class alone, I'm going with Qing Jie," Chu Chu snapped.
"Who said that? Such a meaningful task, how could I miss out? Let's go together, let's go together." Without giving her a chance to argue, Xiang Ri put one arm around each of them and led them out of the school.
"How infuriating! You're taking advantage of Qing Jie again."
"What nonsense, she's my student. This is what you call a deep teacher-student bond."
"If I didn't know better, I'd have kicked you, pervert."
"..."
Just as the three of them stepped out of the school gate, they encountered the fierce and determined Tie Wan.
"Xiang Kui, I need to talk to you!" The female officer's words carried an undeniable authority.
But the three of them were unfazed, especially Chu Chu. Seeing such a stunning woman approach and try to take away her boyfriend, any woman with a hint of jealousy in her would feel uneasy.
"Who are you?" Chu Chu asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
"I'm a police officer, I need his cooperation on a matter!" Tie Wan, having been in a rush earlier, had failed to notice the two beautiful girls by Xiang Ri's side. Now, seeing one she recognized and the other a stranger, she realized their close proximity suggested a deep relationship. They could both be his girlfriends. The man's flirting skills were impressive. Realizing this, Tie Wan cast a knowing look at the man, enjoying his 'harem.'
"Police?" Chu Chu relaxed a little, but then immediately grew suspicious again. "You police officers better not make any mistakes. He's my boyfriend, and apart from doing good things, he doesn't do anything else."
Upon hearing this, Xiang Ri tightened his embrace, offering her a reassuring look. He felt touched and deeply moved. Although she sometimes spoke harshly, her concern for him was undeniable. He turned his attention back to the female officer. "You need something from me?"
"Not bad!"
"Is it that important?" Xiang Ri could detect some clues from the female officer's expression.
"I need you to come with me immediately!"
"Alright..."
"Xiang Kui—"
"Teacher—"
"It's fine, you two go ahead. Just make sure to cook dinner when you're done, and wait for me to come back!"
"Okay!"
"Understood, teacher!"
This time, Tie Wan did not take him to the police station but led him back to her home, a white apartment building almost entirely covered in lush greenery. She left Xiang Ri in the living room while she went to the kitchen to pour him a glass of water. Then, she slowly spoke, "Have you been keeping up with the news lately?"
"Are you referring to the recent series of robberies?" Xiang Ri quickly grasped what the female officer was referring to.
"Yes, can you help me find where the robbers are hiding?"
"Is your police force really that understaffed? Are you really resorting to exploiting the labor of a law-abiding citizen like me?" Although Xiang Ri was not particularly concerned with current events, he was well aware of the robbery spree, as it had been broadcast daily on the news.
"You should know that there are some things the police can't handle, but people like you—local thugs and ruffians—can." Tie Wan spoke impatiently.
"I can't say I disagree," Xiang Ri mused, unfazed by her calling him a thug. He held the glass, examining the room's minimalist decor. There was hardly any furniture, just a few simple, functional items. It was typical of a police officer's lifestyle—no energy wasted on anything unnecessary.
"So..."
"So, I refuse to take on such a dangerous job," Xiang Ri drained his glass.
"Are you even a man?" Tie Wan was infuriated, having expected him to agree. Instead, she felt as if she had been tricked.
"Apologies, but discussing my masculinity here in the living room seems a bit inappropriate. Don't you think we should move to a quieter spot?"
"Bastard! You listen carefully—if you keep talking like that... don't think I won't arrest you!"
"If your approach to asking for help is like this, then I suggest you give up. Besides, what obligation do I have to assist you? Foolish people take on things with no benefits."
"Who said there are no benefits! There's a reward, and we'll also give you a certificate of appreciation from the police department, and your achievement will be announced citywide."
"I don't know how much the reward is, but it better be over a million. Let me make it clear, only something at that level would catch my interest. As for the citywide announcement, you're practically sending me to my grave! That's just a way to point the robbers' accomplices in my direction!"
"So, what do you want?"
"I don't want anything. I just remembered how nice someone's backside is. If only...," Xiang Ri said with a nostalgic, yearning look.
"Fine! I'll agree. As long as you help me find those robbers, I'll let you touch it. That should be enough, right?"
"What! Just once? Do you think your backside is made of diamonds? Even if it were diamonds..."
"Ten times!" Tie Wan interrupted coldly.
"Not bad, ten times. You seem to be quite sincere. Alright, I won't ask for more... I'll settle for fifty times."
"Deal!" The female officer didn't hesitate. Xiang Ri cursed himself for not asking for five hundred times, but then again, he worried that she might try to back out later. Luckily, he wasn't that easily deceived.
"How do I know you're not just issuing an empty promise? At least a deposit should be made first. Start with ten touches, and then we'll talk."
"You—"
"Fine, forget it. I'm not doing this dangerous job anyway," Xiang Ri stood up as if preparing to leave.
"I agree!" Tie Wan took a deep breath.
"Now that's more like it!" Xiang Ri squinted, a triumphant look on his face. "Right here, or should we find somewhere else?"
"I warn you, if you touch me anywhere other than there, I'll kill you!"
"Such a nag! Can we get started now?"
"Whatever."
"Here I come..."
"Bastard, where are you touching?"
"Is something wrong?"
"Damn it! Look where your hand is!"
"Oh, sorry, sorry, my hand slipped!" Xiang Ri pulled his hand away from her waist, his tone becoming uncertain. "Your pants are too thick. I can hardly feel anything..."
"Those aren't pants!" the female officer said, flustered.
"Ah?" Xiang Ri blinked in confusion. Then he froze for a moment. "Did your period start today?"