Upon arriving home, it was precisely half past nine. Strangely, the two young ladies who would normally be seated on the sofa watching television at this hour were nowhere to be found. Had it not been for the still-lit lamp in the living room, Xiang Ri would have almost believed they had gone out shopping and had yet to return.
However, the sounds drifting from the bathroom soon revealed the reason for their absence from the television.
A quick glance at his apprentice's room, the door slightly ajar, revealed a faint light spilling out—she was likely reviewing her lessons. Meanwhile, the bedroom shared with Chu Chu was enveloped in darkness, which clearly indicated who occupied the bathroom.
Though the two had already shared intimate moments, Xiang Ri, preparing for his first covert approach, still felt a surge of excitement. The thought of embracing her soft, delicate form and hearing her shrill cries sent a wave of impulse rushing through him.
After quickly tossing aside his shoes, he moved stealthily towards the bathroom. Quietly, he pushed the door open, and the sound of water suddenly intensified in his ears.
Xiang Ri swallowed hard.
The semi-transparent curtain veiled the enchanting scene, revealing only the faint silhouette of a graceful figure holding the showerhead, rinsing herself.
Unable to contain himself any longer, Xiang Ri swiftly pulled open the curtain and lunged forward.
"Ah!" A piercing scream echoed, shaking the air.
Xiang Ri's body jerked suddenly, for he discerned something unusual in the sound emanating from her lips. Just as he was about to scrutinize further, a sharp pang in his chest and abdomen made him pause—a slender elbow had already collided with him.
Without needing to look closely, Xiang Ri knew; the little one was too slow to react, and her agility was hardly to be mentioned. The only plausible explanation was his obedient apprentice.
To prevent her from alerting the little one, Xiang Ri had no choice but to free one hand to pull her close, stifling her attempts to continue screaming by pressing his lips firmly against hers.
Unluckily, as his right hand was injured and immobile, and his left hand was preoccupied with restraining his apprentice, he had no chance to silence her with his hands. Thus, the task fell to his own lips, reluctantly fulfilling the difficult duty.
In such circumstances, people often refer to it as a forced kiss.
Shi Qing's eyes widened in shock as recognition dawned upon her. Her mind went blank, and even her frantic struggles ceased in an instant.
The soft yet chilling sensation, so exquisitely delightful, caused Xiang Ri to forget his initial purpose of silencing her. He became like a ravenous predator, relentlessly claiming his apprentice's lips, even daring to probe her mouth with his tongue.
Shi Qing finally regained her senses. She tried to resist, but her body felt limp and unresponsive, leaving her at the mercy of the man before her.
Xiang Ri gently nudged her forward, guiding her against the bathroom wall to prevent her from slipping, making it easier for him to continue his conquest.
"Mm..." Shi Qing's body trembled uncontrollably.
When both peaks had been conquered, Xiang Ri's hands slowly descended, tracing the delicate waist, the soft, yielding abdomen, and finally venturing into the untouched, darkened forest and its quiet, hidden glade...
Suddenly, an unexpected surge of strength coursed through Shi Qing, and she abruptly broke free from the man's embrace, delivering a resounding slap!
"Slap!" The sharp sound echoed through the room.
Xiang Ri stood frozen, as did Shi Qing, both in stunned silence.
A soft, pitiful sob escaped from Shi Qing's trembling lips.
Xiang Ri felt a deep, almost unbearable regret, wishing he could slap himself twice. As he watched his apprentice, crouching on the floor, her body quivering with sorrow, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow in his chest. "Xiao Qing, I'm sorry, I didn't... I didn't mean to." But explanations seemed futile now; words felt hollow, unable to fill the emptiness of the moment.
Shi Qing appeared not to hear him, continuing to weep in silence.
Just then, a voice from outside the bathroom broke the tension. "Qing Jie, what happened? I think I just heard you scream?"
Xiang Ri was immediately drenched in cold sweat, his nerves frayed, completely at a loss. Of all times, Chu Chu had to arrive now. As he silently cursed his bad luck, Shi Qing, at the right moment, lifted her head, suppressing the hurt in her heart. "No... nothing happened, I just slipped."
"Oh, did you get hurt? Do you want me to come in and check?" The sound of footsteps approaching reached Xiang Ri's ears.
"No, no, it's fine!" Shi Qing quickly interjected, halting her. "I'm fine, just startled. Please, don't come in!"
"Alright, I won't come in," Chu Chu responded with a hint of complaint. "But Qing Jie, why are you always so shy? We're both women; it wouldn't be a big deal if you showed me. I even wanted to see how you look in that lingerie we bought today."
"Then wait until I go out, and I'll put it on for you to see."
"Really?" One could hear the joy in Chu Chu's voice. "Alright, you've promised. Make sure to change and show me later. Well, take your time washing, I'll go to your room and read." Her footsteps receded, growing fainter until they disappeared.
The man and woman in the bathroom both exhaled in unison, and upon meeting each other's gaze, suddenly became aware of the awkwardness of the moment. Shi Qing softly murmured, her voice almost as faint as a mosquito's buzz: "Teacher, could you turn your body around?"
Uncertain of what to do, Xiang Ri immediately complied and turned away at her request.
A rustling sound came from behind him, and Xiang Ri knew that his apprentice was changing clothes. He had to fight the urge to peek, not out of fear of another slap, but because he dreaded seeing the sorrowful tears in her eyes once more.
"Teacher, it's done!" The rustling ceased, replaced by his apprentice's slightly bashful voice.
Xiang Ri eagerly turned around, and the sight that met his eyes made them widen in astonishment.
Her long, flawless figure dazzled him, so much so that Xiang Ri found it almost impossible to keep his eyes open. Her exquisitely perfect face left him nearly entranced.
Yet, even these captivating features were not the most striking. What truly made his blood rush was the simple, almost scant lingerie she wore.
It was just enough to hint at what lay beneath, sparking an overwhelming desire to uncover more. But the more he longed to see, the less he was able to.
Xiang Ri felt a parched dryness in his mouth, unable to ignore the genius behind the design of such lingerie. It not only captured the innate vanity of women but also stirred the deepest, most hidden desires of a man's heart.
No wonder so many men are fond of lingerie; this is where its true allure lies!
"Xiao Qing, you are simply breathtaking!" Xiang Ri exclaimed in awe.
Had it not been for his disciple's exaggerated reaction earlier, he would have rushed over and embraced her without hesitation.
"Really, is that so?" Shi Qing's voice was filled with astonishment, as if the grievances she had just suffered vanished with this compliment. Yet, her face flushed a deep crimson, as if stained by blood.
"Truly! This is nothing short of a masterpiece by the heavens!" Xiang Ri offered his praise without reservation.
"Thank you!" Shi Qing replied shyly, a glimmer of subtle mischief flickering in her eyes. "Teacher, I'm heading out now. You'll be here alone."
"You're leaving now?" Upon hearing this, a wave of profound disappointment surged within Xiang Ri.
"Yes, Teacher." Seeing the unmistakable reluctance on his face, Shi Qing felt a slight satisfaction in her heart. This was her small act of revenge for his earlier surprise attack—let's see if he dares to do it again.
As she was about to step out, an unexpected thought crossed her mind. She turned back, "Teacher, tomorrow, I will give you this outfit I'm wearing now!" With that, she wrapped herself in the towel and left the bathroom.
Xiang Ri stood dazed, pondering, When did my disciple become so captivating?
The next day, during class, Xiang Ri noticed that the way people looked at him had changed once again.
However, this time, the expressions directed at him were not filled with disdain or contempt, but rather tinged with fear and trepidation, even a touch of reverence. When they looked his way, they did so with furtive glances, too afraid to meet his gaze directly.
Yet, these changes had nothing to do with Xiang Ri. In his eyes, these people had long since become numb, and there was no need for him to concern himself with their perception of him.
His mind was still lingering on the memory of that morning when his disciple, taking advantage of the absence of the young woman, had slipped him a set of blue lingerie. She had whispered in his ear, and it was those words that had fueled his lingering impulses ever since.
"Teacher, I wore this all night. Now, it belongs to you."
Heavens! If this continues, someone is bound to get hurt!
Xiang Ri had an inkling that this was his disciple's way of seeking retribution for his forceful actions the previous night, but could he truly be considered deliberate in his actions? At best, it had been an accidental assault.
He could see it, but could not partake in it. This, he realized, was his disciple's protest against him. Sigh.
"Boss, that's the 27th time you've sighed this morning," Garlic Head remarked dramatically.
Xiang Ri was jolted back to reality by Garlic Head's comment. He looked around, finding only the garlic-headed individual beside him.
Today, even Chu Chu wasn't by his side. As soon as he entered the school, his disciple had pulled him away to her class. Xiang Ri couldn't help but marvel at her vindictive nature. She was cutting off his "supply"—how ruthless! Sigh.
"Wow, that's the 28th time!" Garlic Head continued.
Annoyed, Xiang Ri responded, "Stop being so tedious, will you? Wasting prime study time just to count my sighs—aren't you ashamed?"
Garlic Head was taken aback. Since when had the boss started speaking like a "normal" person? But that wasn't his main concern now. Something else was far more intriguing. "By the way, Boss, how did you handle that situation? I heard that the man named Ma was kicked out, and even had his teaching credentials revoked."
"I don't know," Xiang Ri replied flatly.
"No way, Boss! Just tell me! You're killing me with suspense here. I just want to know—how did the school suddenly turn things around, saying that Ma was harassing Teacher Song, while you ended up being the hero who saved the beauty?"
"Because that's the truth, you idiot!" Xiang Ri snapped, then went back to sighing.
"It doesn't add up! Even if it's true, the principal is Ma's uncle—there's no way he'd side against him!" Garlic Head paused, his eyes suddenly gleaming with even more curiosity. "I know, Boss! Your background isn't simple, is it? Could you reveal a little? Everyone at school is guessing—some say you're a rich heir who likes to play humble, while others say you're the illegitimate son of some high-ranking official."
Garlic Head rambled on, but Xiang Ri muttered to himself, "Revenge."
"Excuse me, may I sit here?" A pleasant female voice interrupted their conversation.
Garlic Head's eyes went wide when he saw who it was. "Of course, of course!"