"To be honest, I really must thank you this time!" Outside the restaurant, Fang Yingying's face bore no trace of anger, only a sincere smile. Yet, what truly lingered in her heart was a mystery known only to herself.
"Thank me?" Xiang Ri looked at her in confusion. Had this female secretary lost her mind? Hmm, quite likely! After all, not only had he ruined her "happiness," but he had also disgraced her so thoroughly that she probably couldn't handle the shock and had short-circuited mentally!
On the side, Zeng Nan and Hao Meng, the two girls, stared in amazement at this woman whose audacious demeanor could frighten anyone. Their thoughts aligned with Xiang Ri's, albeit more direct—they simply concluded that this woman had gone mad!
However, Fang Yingying seemed oblivious to the vivid expressions on the faces of the "siblings" before her. Her smile grew even brighter. "Of course! If it weren't for you driving away that pesky fly, who knows if he would have continued pestering me in the future."
"You mean..." Xiang Ri's previously cheerful expression immediately turned bitter. "That guy wasn't your lover?" Damn it! So, instead of playing the hero, he had become the villain. No wonder this secretary was so composed.
"Disappointed, boss?" Fang Yingying's smile faded, though the vindictive delight in her eyes was impossible to conceal. "Honestly, I admire your resourcefulness in finding two such adorable girls to help you with your little act." Though her words professed admiration, her tone dripped with sarcasm.
Before Xiang Ri could respond, the two young girls erupted.
Zeng Nan raised her eyebrows sharply. "What does our cuteness have to do with you, you bad woman!"
Hao Meng pointed her small finger at her. "Exactly, bad woman!"
The two girls, perhaps still immersed in their roles from the earlier "hunt," scolded with conviction. Of course, it didn't hurt that their resentment towards Fang Yingying was amplified by their distaste for her and perhaps a longing for the promise of something as enticing as KFC.
"Bad woman?" Fang Yingying was momentarily taken aback. She knew these "innocent" girls must have been misled by some playboy, but she hadn't expected the poison to run so deep. To prevent these delicate flowers of the nation from falling victim to such a scoundrel, Fang Yingying put on what she believed was her warmest smile. "Little sisters, have you been deceived? How could I possibly be a bad woman?"
"Of course not! The teacher would never lie to me!" Hao Meng immediately retorted.
"Exactly! My big brother would never lie!" Zeng Nan chimed in.
Hearing this, Xiang Ri's eyes crinkled with delight. It seemed his efforts had paid off—that KFC meal was worth every penny!
"Teacher?" Fang Yingying caught onto a key word, her mind quickly piecing together a possibility.
Judging by the girls' ages, they were undoubtedly middle schoolers. Yet they referred to a certain playboy as "teacher." This could only mean that he had infiltrated a middle school as a teacher, his intentions self-evident.
He was undoubtedly preying on these innocent young girls, exploiting their age when they were both naive about love and deeply yearning for it. With his tricks, it wouldn't take much for him to win their affection. If that were the case, this scoundrel was truly despicable!
In the blink of an eye, her impression of Xiang Ri had escalated from "playboy" to the much more damning label of "depraved scoundrel."
Xiang Ri noticed the secretary's expression shift repeatedly upon hearing the title "teacher," and a sense of smug satisfaction filled him. "That's right, a teacher. So, what of it?"
"You despicable wretch!" The thought of this wolf in sheep's clothing ignited a fury in Fang Yingying's heart. She even forgot his status as the superior of her direct superior, cursing him with a darkened expression.
Originally, Xiang Ri had intended to let things slide after exacting revenge for his earlier humiliation, given that she wasn't just a pretty face but also competent at her job. However, her inexplicable hostility—behaving as though he had wronged her irreparably—only stoked his irritation. She had shown neither awe nor respect upon learning his identity, instead repeatedly speaking out of turn. If he weren't against hitting women, he would've dealt with her long ago.
"Secretary Fang, what's the meaning of this? Don't forget your position!" Xiang Ri's face darkened, reminding her to show the basic respect owed to a superior.
"I know, you're the boss, and I'm just an employee." Fang Yingying misunderstood his remark as a veiled threat, yet her face remained composed. "If you're dissatisfied, you're welcome to fire me at any time."
"Fire you? Oh no, that won't be necessary. With a secretary as capable and pleasing to the eye as you, how could I bear to let you go?" Xiang Ri replied with layered meaning. He disdained such petty methods, believing only narrow-minded fools resorted to them.
"If there's nothing else, boss, I'll take my leave now." Fang Yingying turned to leave after her curt farewell.
She had only chased after him to witness his embarrassment upon realizing that his ill intentions had inadvertently done her a great favor. But now, having confirmed him to be a despicable scoundrel, she could no longer endure staying in his presence. The mere thought of being near such a disgusting person made her feel nauseous, as if she might vomit everything she had just eaten.
"See that? This woman is clearly unhinged. Let's keep our distance from her in the future!" Xiang Ri cast a malicious glance at the secretary's figure, tightly wrapped in her professional skirt, and warned the two young girls beside him.
"Got it!" The two girls nodded earnestly, their expressions filled with disdain for the "bad woman." To them, anyone who cursed their beloved teacher-brother so hatefully was utterly detestable.
"Teacher, where are we going now? Oh, and what was it you wanted to ask me earlier?" Hao Meng suddenly remembered and asked curiously.
Instead of answering, Xiang Ri turned to the other girl, Zeng Nan. "Hey, it's getting late. Shouldn't you be heading home by now?" He had his own plans. Zeng Nan knew about Chu Chu and the policewoman, both of whom were his girlfriends. If she overheard him questioning Hao Meng about certain matters, it could jeopardize his schemes.
"Yeah, Zeng Nan, didn't you say your dad would scold you if you got home late? You should probably go now," Hao Meng chimed in, her face lighting up with joy at the prospect of monopolizing her teacher's attention.
"Fine, I'll head home." Smart as she was, Zeng Nan quickly deduced that her "big brother" wanted her out of the way so he could talk to that foolish girl alone.
Though she longed to stay and listen, she knew it wasn't an option. Not only would her father rain down scoldings if she were late, but she also had no face to remain after hearing what the foolish girl had said earlier. Reluctantly, she left but not without shooting a fierce glare at the foolish girl before departing.
Hao Meng, however, made a triumphant "V" gesture toward her rival and, once Zeng Nan was out of sight, turned back to Xiang Ri with a look of eager anticipation. "Teacher, do you have a secret to tell me, just me?"
"Indeed, I have a secret meant only for you," Xiang Ri replied mysteriously.
Hao Meng's smile grew even brighter. "Teacher, you're the best!"
"Actually, you shouldn't call me 'teacher.' You should call me 'uncle-in-law.'"