The entire afternoon was spent entangled in passion with the policewoman. Naturally, Xiang Ri, seizing this rare opportunity, was unwilling to let it slip by. Not until the lady officer, utterly spent, pleaded for mercy did he reluctantly release her from his embrace.
By the time Xiang Ri returned home, night had already fallen. Chu Chu and Shi Qing were sitting on the couch, watching television, occasionally exchanging a few words. Their animated expressions made Xiang Ri wonder if the two had fallen under some strange spell.
"You're back?" Chu Chu glanced briefly at him upon hearing the door open, then turned her attention back to the screen.
Shi Qing, more observant and still holding a measure of respect for her so-called "beastly" teacher, stood up and greeted him. However, her gaze soon fell on the bulky bandage wrapped around his hand, prompting a shocked exclamation: "Teacher, your hand!"
"My hand? What about it?" Chu Chu, drawn by her alarm, turned to look at Xiang Ri as he approached. One glance was enough to send her springing to her feet, rushing to his side. "What happened to your hand? Why does it look like this?"
"It's nothing, just a little stumble," Xiang Ri said casually, trying to downplay the situation.
"Nothing? You're bleeding!" Chu Chu's voice trembled with concern, her eyes welling up with tears as she held his injured hand. "Why didn't you call us? You shouldn't have hidden this!"
"You two seemed to be having such a great time on your outing. I didn't want to spoil your mood," Xiang Ri replied, pulling his hand back gently. Only then did he notice the red stains seeping through the bandage—a result, no doubt, of their "vigorous" activities earlier.
Unintentionally, his offhand comment touched both women. Chu Chu nestled against him, her face radiating happiness as she murmured something under her breath. Even Shi Qing, clutching his sleeve, looked at him with a newfound, indescribable tenderness.
"Hmm?" Suddenly, Chu Chu lifted her head from his chest and sniffed the air. "Why do you smell so strongly of perfume?"
Xiang Ri's heart skipped a beat. Pretending to remember something, he slapped his forehead. "Oh, that! The nurse who stitched me up had doused herself in perfume. It was so overpowering I couldn't stop yawning."
Not only did this explanation account for the fragrance clinging to him, but it also emphasized the severity of his injury—serious enough to require stitching.
As expected, Chu Chu's momentary jealousy dissolved into deep concern. "Xiang Kui, how could you let yourself get hurt like this? Tell me everything!"
"It's just a scratch, really. I might've exaggerated a bit," Xiang Ri lied without batting an eye. "The doctor said it'll heal in a few days." Of course, "a few days" conveniently omitted the "ten" the doctor had actually mentioned.
"Really?" Though her tone was questioning, Chu Chu's face showed she had already taken him at his word—or, more precisely, the doctor's supposed advice.
"Really." Xiang Ri nodded firmly.
Relieved, Chu Chu's demeanor brightened. "Have you eaten yet?"
"Not yet." In truth, he had dined earlier with a certain policewoman, even personally cooking the meal. But honesty wasn't advisable at the moment.
"Wait here! I'll heat something for you—it'll be ready in no time!" Chu Chu said as she bounced cheerfully toward the kitchen.
Seated on the couch, Xiang Ri noticed his student's somewhat nervous expression. Recalling how animated the two had been when he entered, he asked, "By the way, Xiao Qing, you and Chu Chu seemed pretty engrossed earlier. What's got you both so excited?"
A simple question made Shi Qing blush furiously. "It's nothing... nothing at all."
"Really? Nothing at all?" Xiang Ri leaned in, suspicion growing. "Hmm?"
Flustered under his scrutiny, Shi Qing hesitated before stammering, "The TV... it mentioned that the Emperor Mall is having a sale tomorrow. Discounts."
"Well, that's good news," Xiang Ri remarked, puzzled by her embarrassment. "A sale's a sale. If there's something worthwhile, count me in tomorrow."
Shi Qing's face reddened even further. "Teacher, not everything is on sale. It's... it's lingerie."
"Lingerie?" Xiang Ri swallowed hard. That means the mall will be packed with beautiful women tomorrow, right?
But even so, why would his student act so bashful? After all, she had once gifted him a pair of thong underwear—albeit not without turning similarly crimson. Could it be that this lingerie sale offered something truly unique? Perhaps completely transparent designs?
Lost in thought, Xiang Ri suddenly froze, blurting out, "Could it be... lingerie with a seductive flair?"
"Teacher…" Shi Qing's voice was soft, tinged with shyness as her cheeks flushed crimson.
Xiang Ri was almost certain his guess was correct, which explained her awkwardness. Chuckling mischievously, he said, "Xiao Qing, it just occurred to me—I've never given you a proper gift. How about this? Tomorrow, I'll buy you a set of lingerie as a belated token of our first meeting."
"No… no need, Teacher. I can buy it myself…"
"Nonsense!" Xiang Ri interrupted her, feigning sternness. "This is a gift from me, and you cannot refuse. Of course, if you feel uncomfortable accepting it for free, you can give me something in return—say, a pair of your panties. Just make sure they're ones you've worn before."
Shi Qing was already startled by the audacity of his first statement, but the follow-up left her utterly mortified. *How could he be so shameless?*
Seeing her speechless, Xiang Ri continued speaking as if oblivious to her discomfort. "You agree? Good! How about this: I'll give you a brand-new set, and in exchange, you give me two pairs. One plain white, and one in black lace—preferably semi-transparent. Of course, if you have fully transparent ones, that would be even better."
"Teacher…" Shi Qing finally couldn't hold back as his demands grew increasingly outrageous.
"What is it? Are you thinking two pairs aren't enough and want to give me a third? Sigh, I wasn't planning to ask for more, but since you're so generous, I'll reluctantly accept. Ahem, why are you staring at me like that?"
"Teacher, can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead."
"Why… why do you like collecting these things?"
"That's a deeply intellectual question," Xiang Ri replied, adopting a pretentious air. "The reason I treasure—oh, I mean collect—such items is tied to a grand dream of mine: to design the most perfect pair of women's underwear in the world. It would be comfortable, breathable, and fit seamlessly while also offering innovative solutions for… physiological needs. To achieve this, I need to study as many pairs as possible, especially ones that have been worn, to observe how they change with use. By analyzing these changes, I can refine my design to achieve absolute perfection. Impressive, isn't it? Isn't my dream extraordinary?"
Shi Qing's mouth fell open in disbelief. Such words—only he could utter something so audacious. She couldn't deny it: her teacher was anything but ordinary.
Seeing her astonished expression, which he interpreted as admiration, Xiang Ri grew even more smug. To craft such a grandiose justification for his questionable hobby, he thought himself nothing less than a once-in-a-century genius.
"Teacher…"
"Well?" Xiang Ri, basking in his own brilliance, failed to notice the peculiar look on her face.
"I think…"
"Yes?"
"It's just that…"
"Hm?"
"I don't know how to say it…"
"Then don't beat around the bush!"
"Teacher, you're absolutely shameless!"