Xiang Ri massaged his right arm. He would have liked to rub his left arm as well, but unfortunately, the right one was wrapped up like a bear's paw, making such delicate motions feel rather unfeasible.
It was already the afternoon, the school day was over, yet the bruises on his arms had not yet faded.
Especially on his left arm, the bruises were much more severe than those on his right. Chu Chu, who liked to keep her nails long, had been careful when pinching him, using just enough force to avoid damaging her nails. However, his apprentice, Shi Qing, was a different story. She trained daily, and with nails that could hardly be considered long, she had no such concerns—her grip had been forceful, as though she had pinched him with all her strength.
Xiang Ri could only laugh bitterly, having barely made it through the school day before swiftly escaping. Now, he had to return to his noble duties as an educator.
At Villa No. 58 in the Zhenlong Estate...
"Teacher, you're here?" As soon as he stepped inside, he was greeted with warmth.
"Is your mother not home?" Xiang Ri eyed the cute girl before him with some curiosity, sensing that something was different from yesterday's encounter.
"She hasn't gotten off work yet, but it should be soon," the girl replied, glancing at the clock on the wall.
"Seems like you're more polite than yesterday?" Xiang Ri voiced his thought aloud. After all, with just the two of them here, there was no reason to keep up such an innocent façade.
The girl's response was more unexpected than he could have imagined: "Teacher, I was wrong yesterday. I apologize." As she spoke, she gave him a slight bow.
Xiang Ri's gaze turned wary, his guard rising immediately. This girl didn't strike him as one to show such reverence for a teacher. After all, she had a history—he vividly remembered the way she had tricked him the day before.
Seeing that Xiang Ri didn't speak, the girl didn't seem to mind. With a sweet smile, she exerted a little effort to bring over a soft chair. "Please, have a seat, Teacher."
Xiang Ri stepped back slightly, his unease growing as her behavior made him more suspicious.
There was definitely some sort of scheme here! Though he knew she had an agenda, as an adult, he couldn't let himself be outwitted by a mere girl. Cautiously, he accepted the chair she offered and, when she wasn't looking, discreetly checked it. No glue, no paint—only then did he feel at ease enough to sit down.
With him settled, the girl smiled even more brightly. "Teacher, would you like me to massage your legs?"
Xiang Ri, already on edge, immediately declined her "kindness." "No need."
Undeterred, she cheerfully persisted, "Then how about I give you a shoulder massage?"
"No need."
"What would you like to drink, Teacher?"
"I don't want anything."
"You're so handsome, Teacher."
"I... am not!"
"Teacher..."
"Enough with the flattery, just tell me what you want," Xiang Ri thought, suspecting there was some matter at hand that required his attention. Her relentless attempts to please him only confirmed that it was unlikely to be anything trivial.
The girl, however, wore a pitiful expression, her eyes almost on the verge of tears. "Teacher, I really regret what I did yesterday. I've already changed! Won't you forgive me?"
Her act was so convincing that it almost made him feel sorry for her—almost. But Xiang Ri was resolute, unmoved by her performance. "Stop pretending. Just tell me what you need. As long as it's not too troublesome, I might consider helping."
"Teacher..." The girl pouted, looking even more adorable, but her expression held a hint of frustration. "Do you really not believe me?"
Xiang Ri studied her for a moment, then, remembering that his tutoring job had been arranged by a female police officer who might be connected to this girl, he finally relented. "Alright, I believe you. But don't expect me to help with anything that's completely out of reach!"
"Thank you, Teacher!" The girl, despite the bluntness of his words, was overjoyed, practically jumping for joy. "By the way, Teacher, I still don't know your name."
"Shouldn't you introduce yourself first, before asking for someone else's name?"
"Ah, you're so smart, Teacher!" The girl exclaimed dramatically, though she didn't realize that her praise didn't quite match the situation. Nonetheless, she continued, unabashed: "My name is Hao Meng. I just started my first year of high school, I'm 16 years old, and two months and three days old."
"Hao Meng? That's a pleasant name!" However, seeing how clever you are, it doesn't quite fit; such brilliance is being wasted, Xiang Ri thought to himself with a touch of malice.
"And what about you, Teacher?" Upon hearing the compliment, Hao Meng smiled, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons.
"Xiang Kui," Xiang Ri responded succinctly, without hesitation.
"Hmm? Your name is nice too. If you added a character in the middle, it would become something quite flowery," Hao Meng mused.
Xiang Ri shuddered inwardly. "Could you please refrain from adding that 'yo' at the end? It's giving me goosebumps."
"How could you say that? It's just a customary expression. Teacher, you're so domineering!" The little girl put on a pout, her face full of feigned grievance.
Xiang Ri was at a loss for words. "Fine, do as you wish. But..." He was about to continue when the doorbell rang.
"Ah, Mom's home!" Hao Meng exclaimed excitedly, skipping towards the door.
However, the person who entered left her stunned. "Sis, why are you the one back?"
The woman at the door let out a soft "Hm" before stepping inside.
Xiang Ri's eyes widened in surprise. It was as if the person entering wasn't a mere individual, but something radiant, glowing.
A beautiful woman, bearing a striking resemblance to Hao Meng but far more mature, walked in. She was tall and graceful, dressed in a professional, no-nonsense style. Her hair was neatly styled, and a pair of white-framed glasses perched on her nose, lending her an air of intellectual elegance.
However, the beauty that would have easily charmed anyone was marred by the coldness of her expression. Her sharp gaze, coupled with tightly pressed lips, completely shattered the impression she might have made, giving off an air of aloofness as though she were keeping the world at arm's length.
The "Ice Queen" seemed to take little notice of the unfamiliar face in the living room. Upon entering, she gave only a cursory glance, her eyes devoid of interest, as though she had glanced at some unpleasant object by the side of the road. A faint look of distaste flickered across her eyes. After briefly inquiring whether her mother was home and receiving an answer, she ascended the stairs with an expression as impassive as ever.
Xiang Ri couldn't help but scratch his nose. He had seen her cold demeanor clearly.
Originally, he had intended to greet the young girl's family politely, but upon seeing the woman's haughty expression, he quickly abandoned the idea. There was no need to press his warm face against her cold one—despite the fact that her "cold" happened to belong to a stunning beauty, Xiang Ri didn't consider himself quite so shameless.
After seeing her sister disappear up the stairs, Hao Meng stuck out her tongue, clearly pleased with herself. "Well? Isn't my sister beautiful?"
"She's alright," Xiang Ri replied nonchalantly. She was indeed beautiful, but unfortunately, her arrogance ruined it.
Hao Meng was displeased. "Just 'alright'? My sister is a total beauty!" Her eyes suddenly twinkled mischievously. "Is it because she didn't greet you earlier, Teacher? Are you feeling a bit annoyed?"
"Do I look like the kind of person who gets bothered by something so trivial?" Xiang Ri countered, though inwardly, he was beginning to understand just how shrewd this little girl was.
"Not really," Hao Meng paused, a sly gleam flashing in her eyes. "But I think you totally are!"
Xiang Ri couldn't help but smile wryly. He wanted to tell the girl that one should never be so blunt and should learn to speak with a bit more tact.
Hao Meng, however, seemed to pay no attention to his wry smile. Instead, she suddenly asked, her voice turning mysterious, "By the way, Teacher, do you have a girlfriend?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Do you want to chase my sister?"
"Eh?"
"I can help you!"
Just then, a furious voice echoed from upstairs: "Xiao Meng, have you been touching my stuff again?" The sound of hurried footsteps followed.
Hao Meng's face fell in an instant, her expression filled with panic. She swiftly darted behind Xiang Ri, her voice filled with urgency. "Teacher, please cover for me for a moment. I'll make it up to you later!"
The "Ice Queen" had already approached, and upon seeing her younger sister hiding behind the unfamiliar man, she shot a cold, piercing gaze at him. "Move aside!"