Chen Xiaofen couldn't bear to watch any longer. She decided it was time to knock some sense into that seemingly honest student. Earlier, when they were engrossed in their flirtations, she refrained from interrupting. But now that their mischief had subsided, it seemed they were scribbling something on the desk. Judging by her daughter's displeased expression, glaring indignantly at him, had he done something inappropriate?
Or perhaps his actions had exceeded her daughter's limits of tolerance? With this thought in mind, Chen Xiaofen decisively called out the young man's name. This served not only as a subtle reprimand but also as a small way to vent her daughter's frustration—a classic two-birds-with-one-stone approach.
Her original intention was merely to make things difficult for him, to remind him that studies should come first, with everything else taking a backseat.
However, the student's response utterly surprised her. His mastery of English grammar was so flawless that even Chen Xiaofen, an esteemed professor, felt humbled. And his English, spoken in an impeccable London accent, left her genuinely impressed.
As a nationally renowned professor of foreign languages, Chen Xiaofen had received numerous lucrative offers from prestigious universities across the country, including several from the neighboring Finance University. Yet, she had turned them all down.
Gaoda was her alma mater, the institution that had nurtured her success. Her attachment to it ran deep, and she firmly believed that here, she would one day encounter a student as gifted in languages as she had once been.
Now, that student stood before her! Moreover, she couldn't ignore the possibility that their relationship might deepen beyond that of teacher and student in the future.
She was thoroughly satisfied—ecstatic, even. Judging by his fluency, passing the highest English proficiency exams would be a mere formality for him. In contrast, her daughter, despite being a year ahead of him, had only just cleared Level Six.
Smiling approvingly, Chen Xiaofen gestured for him to sit down. Whatever displeasure he might have caused her daughter moments ago was now entirely forgotten. Suppressing her excitement, she continued the lesson.
The atmosphere in the classroom grew noticeably quieter. Even the students who had been whispering earlier ceased their chatter. When they glanced at the boy in the back row, their eyes held a newfound respect. So, he wasn't entirely hopeless after all! At least his English was as polished as a native speaker's.
Dashuantou's expression was a spectacle to behold. At first, he looked as though he had seen a ghost. Then, almost immediately, his face returned to normal, his rapid change of expression rivaling the theatrics of a seasoned actor.
Ren Yun's eyes widened in shock, staring at the boy with a mixture of disbelief and awe.
Feeling her gaze, Xiang Ri smirked playfully and quipped, "Why are you looking at me like that? Don't tell me you're falling for me!"
"You…" Ren Yun's face darkened. "I'd rather die than like you, especially since you're shorter than me!"
The comment struck a nerve, the one aspect of his appearance that Xiang Ri truly resented. Just as he was about to retort, he paused, suppressing his annoyance, and let out a mischievous chuckle. "What's the use of height? It's all about capability! Sure, I'm a bit shorter than you, but my skills are unmatched. Even ten of you wouldn't stand a chance against me!"
Though she couldn't quite decipher the deeper implications of his words, Ren Yun could tell from his suggestive grin that they were far from wholesome. Blushing furiously, she muttered, "Pervert!"
"Pervert?" Xiang Ri feigned contemplation. "Speaking of that, it reminds me of something. Didn't someone promise I could touch a certain part of her body? Now, would that count as indecent?" He punctuated his words with a few exaggerated gestures in the air.
Ren Yun's face turned crimson in an instant. Embarrassed and indignant, she stammered, "I said it would take time!"
"Don't worry," Xiang Ri replied magnanimously. "I can wait."
"Scoundrel!" Ren Yun ground her teeth in frustration, vowing not to speak to him again. Even the concern she had earlier about his injured hand—whether it had improved—was now cast aside in anger.
The two classes passed in an atmosphere laced with an odd mix of tension and ambiguity. Throughout the session, Dashuantou didn't dare cross a certain boundary. Not even during the break did he muster the courage to walk past her, intimidated by a single menacing glare from Xiang Ri.
By now, he was utterly miserable. His bladder, strained from two cartons of milk earlier that morning, was close to bursting. Yet, Ren Yun showed no intention of leaving her seat, leaving Dashuantou in silent agony.
"Oh, heavens, save me!" he silently prayed.
As if in response to his plea, a divine intervention seemed to occur.
Chu Chu entered the classroom, chatting and laughing with Shi Qing. The moment she spotted the striking woman seated beside Xiang Ri, her focus shifted entirely. Abandoning her conversation, she strode briskly toward the back row, with Shi Qing following closely, a glimmer of wariness in his eyes.
"Xiang Kui!" Before she even reached them, Chu Chu had already called out. At the same moment, the garlic-headed boy seized the opportunity while Ren Yun was distracted and quickly slipped away.
Xiang Ri, surprised to see Chu Chu's return, remarked, "Chu Chu, you're back? Weren't you attending Xiao Qing's class?"
"I did attend, but it was boring, so I came back," Chu Chu replied with a sweet smile, then suddenly feigned a moment of surprise, as if just noticing a familiar face nearby. "Sister Yun is here too?"
"Yes, I didn't have class during the first two periods, so I came by to listen. I also wanted to invite Xiang Xue-di to join the school basketball team," Ren Yun responded, half-teasing, half-truthful, as she noticed the wariness in Chu Chu's eyes.
Chu Chu felt a sense of relief, for she knew Ren Yun, the manager of the school basketball team, was indeed quite passionate about the sport. She also understood well the complicated feelings surrounding her own friendship with someone who shared the same obsession with basketball.
After seeing Xiang Kui's impressive basketball skills, it was only natural for her to feel a bit impatient, wasn't it? With this in mind, Chu Chu dismissed her earlier doubts and smiled brightly, asking, "So, has Xiang Kui agreed?"
In the midst of speaking, she casually glanced at the man beside her.
Ren Yun sighed in a somewhat dejected manner, responding ambiguously, "He said he needs to think about it."
"Why would he say that?" Chu Chu, now completely at ease, feigned indignation, giving Xiang Ri a mock scolding look. "Why didn't you agree to the senior's invitation? This is a great opportunity!"
Xiang Ri inwardly chuckled at the irony. He had clearly seen the subtle threat in the girl's gaze. Did she really want him to agree? Perhaps she was speaking the opposite of what she meant? With a helpless shrug, he pretended to focus on his book, avoiding any further conversation.
Though Ren Yun didn't catch on to the subtle undercurrents between the two, she could sense an unease settling in her own chest. Adding to her discomfort was the silent gaze of her friend, Shi Qing, who seemed to scrutinize her every move. Unable to bear the tension any longer, Ren Yun stood up to leave.
Shi Qing, feeling somewhat guilty, realized that she had not properly acknowledged her old friend. She had known Ren Yun since childhood, and to not greet her properly felt off. Now that she was about to leave, failing to say something would make her feel even worse.
"Yun Yun, are you leaving already? Won't you stay a little longer?" Despite her resolve to have an earnest conversation, Shi Qing couldn't suppress her feeling of awkwardness.
"No, I still have classes in the third and fourth periods. Alright, I'm leaving now—class starts soon," Ren Yun replied, giving her a surprised look. Her friend's behavior seemed unusual, carrying an unfamiliar expression that she couldn't quite place.
Ren Yun eventually left, despite the group's efforts to persuade her to stay.
"Xiang Kui," Chu Chu said as she took a seat beside Xiang Ri on his right.
"Teacher," Shi Qing sat on his left.
"You two…" Xiang Ri sighed, feeling utterly speechless. It felt like he was about to be sentenced to the gallows.
"It's fine!" Chu Chu said with a bright smile, pinching his right arm playfully. "I just wanted to ask—are you very close with Sister Yun?"
"Of course not! If we were close, I would have agreed to join the team already," Xiang Ri exaggerated, clearly amused.
"Teacher, you didn't agree, but you did say you were considering it," Shi Qing interjected helpfully.
Chu Chu's smile widened even further, and her grip on his arm tightened. "Yes, then you'd better think it over carefully."
Xiang Ri could already feel the weight of his earlier impulsive actions sinking in. That one moment had turned his once gentle and docile disciple into a cunning little woman with a devilish side. Enduring the playful assault on his right arm, Xiang Ri absentmindedly placed his left hand on the thigh of his disciple, hidden beneath her long skirt.
Just as he was about to exact a little revenge for her "betrayal," he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his left arm. It was far more intense than the discomfort in his right arm!
Good heavens! What is Xiao Qing doing? Since when did she learn this move?