"You're back?" Catching sight of the familiar figure approaching, Chu Chu, who had been waiting at the school gate, hurried forward to greet him.
"Mm." Xiang Ri nodded and pulled her into his arms as her delicate frame flung itself toward him. His eyes softened with emotion. "You've been waiting for me a long time, haven't you?"
"No, not really," Chu Chu replied, avoiding his gaze as she instinctively nestled deeper into his embrace. "It's only been a little while."
"Silly girl." Xiang Ri gently stroked her hair, saying no more. He knew full well that she had been anxious about him, likely lingering by the school gate ever since he left.
"Did you handle everything just now?" Chu Chu suddenly asked, her voice laced with unconcealed worry. The urgency on his face when he had departed earlier still lingered in her mind.
"It's taken care of," Xiang Ri replied, a trace of relief in his tone. If he hadn't arrived in time, a certain "beast of a professor" might have already emptied the safe and relocated the item. Fortunately, he hadn't been late.
"That's good," Chu Chu exhaled deeply, her heart finally at ease. She didn't pry into what he had been doing—she didn't want to know. All that mattered was his safe return.
Noticing her lack of questioning, Xiang Ri breathed a quiet sigh of relief. "Where's Xiao Qing? I haven't seen her."
"Sister Qing is in class," Chu Chu replied softly. Then, with a tone that was half-plea and half-hopeful, she asked, "Xiang Kui, do you think the three of us could live together forever?"
"Hmm?" Xiang Ri's heart stirred slightly, a faint premonition rising within him. It seemed Chu Chu wasn't entirely oblivious to the situation between him and his apprentice. Yet, for now, all he could offer was a vague response. "Of course. Xiao Qing will always be with us."
"Mm!" Chu Chu nodded firmly, but in the depths of her eyes, unseen by him, a flicker of complexity flashed.
By the time they entered the classroom, the lecture was already halfway through. However, the elderly professor at the podium didn't appear displeased. Instead, he unexpectedly called out to Xiang Ri, his expression kindly. "Your homeroom teacher would like to see you."
The image of a kind-hearted middle-aged woman instantly surfaced in Xiang Ri's mind. After bidding a hasty farewell to Chu Chu, he turned and headed toward the homeroom teacher's office.
"Ms. Chen, were you looking for me?" Xiang Ri lightly pushed the door open, catching sight of his homeroom teacher—whose gentle demeanor reminded him of his mother—lowering her head as she wrote something at her desk. To his surprise, seated beside her was none other than Ren Jun, the haughty "bamboo pole" heiress he had accidentally bumped into earlier.
"Ah, Xiang, you're here?" Chen Xiaofen raised her head, her expression immediately brightening at the sight of her prized student. "Come in, have a seat. Don't just stand there—it feels like I'm scolding you!"
"Thank you, teacher." Since the office was private and equipped with a sofa for receiving guests, Xiang Ri didn't stand on ceremony. He walked over and sat down, but not before casting a puzzled glance at the so-called bamboo pole. Shouldn't she be in class? Yet here she was, glaring daggers at him.
"Xiang, I heard from Jun Jun that you haven't been feeling well these past few days?" Chen Xiaofen asked with concern once he was seated, completely oblivious to the silent exchange of animosity between her daughter and her student.
"This…" Xiang Ri couldn't help but glance at Ren Jun again, his surprise now tinged with disbelief. When had this girl ever spoken up for him?
It was only then that Xiang Ri remembered he had once promised Ms. Chen he would visit her home over the weekend. However, those plans had been delayed due to his trip abroad.
Although he had clearly told the "bamboo pole" girl that he had gone abroad, somehow in her account, it had transformed into an excuse about being unwell. Xiang Ri quickly deduced the reason. Reflecting on her stubborn disbelief that morning, he realized she likely found the notion of going abroad too far-fetched and assumed he was making excuses. To convince her mother otherwise, she had likely concocted another pretext on his behalf.
A faint sense of gratitude welled up in Xiang Ri's heart, but he knew he couldn't accept her well-intentioned fabrication this time. After all, he had no desire to deceive the homeroom teacher who had once stood firmly by his side during the "expulsion incident." Ignoring the warning glare from the bamboo pole girl, he spoke the truth: "Ms. Chen, I wasn't unwell—I went abroad."
"Abroad?" Chen Xiaofen asked in surprise, her gaze shifting to her daughter with a trace of suspicion. Noticing no unusual reaction from her, she relaxed and asked, "Was there a specific reason for your trip?"
"Well, Ms. Chen," Xiang Ri cleared his throat and cast a quick glance at the bamboo pole girl, whose clenched fists had turned pale. Since she had gone out of her way to help him, he didn't want to embarrass her. Playing along with her fabricated excuse, he explained, "I accidentally injured my right hand again. The injury was severe, and the doctor said there was a risk of permanent disability. They recommended a minor surgery in France, so…"
"And how is your hand now?" Chen Xiaofen interrupted anxiously before he could finish. This was her ideal son-in-law—nothing could be allowed to happen to him.
"Oh, the surgery was a success! No risk of disability," Xiang Ri quickly added, shaking his freshly rebandaged right hand to reassure her.
"That's a relief!" Chen Xiaofen sighed in relief before admonishing him gently. "Xiang, you shouldn't be moving around so much with your injury. The school is crowded, and it's not safe. Let me grant you a week's leave to rest at home. Come back when your hand is better."
"That might not be ideal," Xiang Ri hesitated. It wasn't that he was particularly eager to attend school—in truth, he was delighted by the suggestion. However, with Chu Chu and Xiao Qing both at school, staying home alone would be unbearably dull. Without the distraction of school, the days would become truly monotonous.
He glanced at the bamboo pole girl, hoping she might say something to downplay the severity of his injury. But to his disappointment, she merely glanced at him briefly before looking away, clearly indicating she had no intention of getting involved.
Noticing the hesitation on his face and his frequent glances toward her daughter, Chen Xiaofen misinterpreted the situation. Believing the two were deeply attached and unwilling to be apart, she said with a knowing smile, "Xiang, don't worry. Jun Jun doesn't have any important classes these days. I'll have her accompany you so you won't feel lonely at home."
"Mom…" Before Xiang Ri could respond, Ren Jun protested, pouting at her mother in dissatisfaction.
But to Chen Xiaofen, her daughter's reaction only seemed like bashfulness in front of her "boyfriend." With a playful scolding tone, she said, "You're not a child anymore—stop acting coy. Aren't you embarrassed? Xiang's right hand is injured. Isn't it only natural for you to look after him? If he needs help with anything, you'll be there."
"But…"
"No buts! Are you going to defy me now?" Chen Xiaofen interrupted sternly.
"…Fine, I understand," Ren Jun replied reluctantly, lowering her head in defeat under her mother's authoritative gaze.
Watching this unfold, Xiang Ri could only smile wryly. It seemed the misunderstanding was only growing deeper! He wanted to explain, but the sight of Chen Xiaofen's warm, motherly gaze stopped him. The words caught in his throat and were swallowed back down.
"Ms. Chen, are you there? I have a matter I'd like your help with." At that moment, a low, slightly husky female voice came from outside. To Xiang Ri's surprise, the speaker was speaking in French!