"The beauty curls the pearl curtain, sitting deeply with furrowed brows. One can only see the tear stains, yet who knows whose heart she laments?"
Xiang Ri shot a disgruntled glance at the two graceful figures ahead, happily whispering to each other, while he was helplessly trailing behind. The only person he could engage with was the garlic-headed man beside him, but unfortunately, he wasn't a beauty. In fact, he was rather creatively unattractive, and after just a few words, Xiang Ri found himself fighting off drowsiness.
"Boss, you're in quite the mood this morning, composing lewd poetry so early," the garlic-head grinned lecherously.
"Your head is lewd! Don't think I don't know the filthy thoughts in your mind. Damn it, just go away!" Xiang Ri angrily flashed him the middle finger.
"Did you have a fight with the two sisters-in-law?" Seeing the displeasure on Xiang Ri's face, and noting that the two beauties ahead paid no attention to them, the garlic-head ventured a bold guess.
"Do we look like we're fighting? Idiot!" Xiang Ri slapped his shoulder, sending him stumbling.
In truth, Xiang Ri was indeed in a foul mood. His apprentice's tactics were becoming increasingly ruthless.
Just last night, after Chu Chu finished her shower, his apprentice, using the excuse of being afraid of the dark, "borrowed" Chu Chu away. Who knew why she chose that particular moment to suddenly be afraid of the dark, when she was never scared at any other time? As a result, Xiang Ri spent the entire night tossing and turning in bed, consumed by restless desires.
The garlic-head, unaware of the storm brewing in Xiang Ri's mind, exaggerated his shoulder rub, yelping, "Ow, Boss, don't you know how strong your hands are? I'm weak, don't slap me to death!"
His loud cry caught the attention of the two women ahead, who glanced back momentarily. However, upon seeing nothing of importance, they returned to their conversation.
"Why are you yelling so loudly?" Xiang Ri scolded. "You know you're weak, so why don't you exercise more? You wake up early every day to ogle beauties. You'd better be careful, or when you get to bed later, your girlfriend might kick you out!"
The garlic-head, possibly stung by Xiang Ri's last remark, immediately blushed, darted aside, and quickly ran off.
Xiang Ri, however, didn't believe for a moment that the man had gone off to work on his fitness, as he noticed the direction he had fled—toward the school gate. Most likely, he was going to meet his little "Hui" girl again.
Quickly catching up with the two beauties ahead, Xiang Ri, in his usual flirtatious manner, asked, "What are you two talking about? Perhaps I'm lucky enough to overhear?"
"Not at all!" Both ladies replied in unison, exchanging a glance and then bursting into laughter.
"No way, only one night, and you two are already this in sync?" Xiang Ri widened his eyes, his mind beginning to churn with speculation about what they might have done the previous night. Especially when he caught the glint of scheming triumph in his apprentice Shi Qing's eyes, he couldn't help but feel a shiver of unease.
"So, what if we are? Our sisterly bond is deep!" Chu Chu said matter-of-factly, then winked at Shi Qing. "Isn't that right, Qingjie?"
"Exactly." Shi Qing nodded in agreement, giving Xiang Ri a slightly eerie glance. "Chu Chu, I remember someone promised this morning to keep a distance of 20 steps from us, yet here you are, so close. What's going on?" She didn't need to finish the sentence—the implication was crystal clear.
Sure enough, Chu Chu's tone immediately turned sharp, and her eyes bore a menacing glare. "Xiang Kui, what's going on? You promised, didn't you?"
Xiang Ri shook his head, forcing a wry smile. This morning, his apprentice had suggested that they maintain a 20-step distance while on campus, a proposal that Chu Chu had wholeheartedly supported. The reason she had been swayed was simple: to avoid unnecessary trouble. As Shi Qing had put it, they were just too eye-catching, and if they were seen with him, a mere ordinary student, it would only invite more gossip. So, it seemed, his discomfort was the price to pay for a little peace.
Of course, there was an additional condition attached: he was forbidden from keeping a distance of less than twenty steps from any other woman—ugly women excluded.
Xiang Ri shot a furious glare at his apprentice, whose face betrayed no emotion, yet his eyes gleamed with suppressed laughter. What nonsense about provoking gossip? Hadn't it always been like this? This was clearly a ploy to suffocate him—ruthless, absolutely cruel!
This was naked, unbridled revenge! And yet, despite knowing full well that his apprentice was scheming against him, Xiang Ri could do nothing to resolve the situation. How could he tell the truth? To confess that, one fateful night, he almost... well, things had almost gone much further with his apprentice in the bathroom? If he dared say that, Chu Chu would surely fly into a rage.
He could only blame his own impulsiveness that night. If he had been more restrained, none of this would have happened. But then again, he would bet that, if faced with the same situation again, he'd repeat the same passionate folly with his apprentice. Though the consequence would be a lonely night, Xiang Ri had already made plans. One day, he would have his way with her, and "punish" her properly. Then, he would see if she still felt so smug.
Just the thought of that enchanting night stirred his senses once again.
Shi Qing, walking ahead, suddenly felt a chill creep over her, as if some ill omen was about to descend upon her. She turned her head and caught Xiang Ri's eyes—those of a beast, full of mischief and intrigue—now trained directly on her. Her unease mingled with the look in his eyes, and she immediately linked them together.
Though she had no idea why Xiang Ri was looking at her so intently, she was certain it couldn't be for anything good. With a soft hum, she shot him a warning glance, signaling for him to keep his distance, and then turned away.
Xiang Ri couldn't help but stroke his chin, captivated by the look in his apprentice's eyes. The way she turned, that subtle movement, those seductive glances—was she perhaps hinting that after midnight, he might find her waiting in her room? My heavens, if that were true, it would be such a delightful surprise!
But just as Xiang Ri's mind began to wander into delicious fantasies, a voice suddenly broke his reverie. "You're done for, kid!"
"What?" Still in a daze, Xiang Ri turned around, and upon recognizing the voice, his eyes widened in shock. "You?"
"It's me," came the chilling reply, the voice dripping with malice, as though the speaker wanted to devour Xiang Ri whole.
Anxin's purpose that day was simple: she had come to find Shi Qing and learn the whereabouts of the man who had insulted her. She had never been humiliated so thoroughly in her life, especially by a man she despised. So, she had risen early, determined to find him, cut him down with a single blow. What a stroke of luck! As soon as she entered the school grounds, she had spotted her target, as though the heavens themselves had guided her.
Anxin had prepared well for the confrontation. To deal with this formidable crippled man, she had called upon another strong man—Kim Shin Min, a champion taekwondo fighter from Korea. This man had been relentlessly pursuing her since their first meeting at a private gathering, but she had paid him no attention. However, now, since she despised both men equally, she didn't mind using him. The crippled man, though strong, had only one hand, and thus, the odds of him losing were high. As for Kim, well, if he won, she could always fabricate some excuse to dismiss him.
The best-case scenario would be for them to both end up injured, thus sparing her the effort.
Seeing the two beauties approaching, Xiang Ri lowered his voice and taunted, "Hey, Anxin, can't forget the taste of that night, can you? Back again for more kisses?"
As he spoke, he casually glanced at the man standing beside her. About 1.8 meters tall, with a solid, muscular build—clearly the result of years of rigorous training. However, Xiang Ri failed to notice the malicious flicker in the man's eyes as he spoke.
"You bastard!" Anxin clenched her fists, remembering how her first kiss had been stolen by the very man standing before her. She seethed, "I swear, you won't get away with this today!"
"Is that so?" Xiang Ri sneered, his disdain clear. This clueless woman had not brought a bodyguard, and yet she thought her muscle-bound companion could intimidate him? How laughable.