Xiang Ri was completely unaware that he had inadvertently become a subject of special protection. At this moment, he was leisurely engrossed in watching a certain type of explicit film.
Though he had suddenly parted with $7 billion, Xiang Ri didn't consider it a loss. After all, his initial expectations were modest, and acquiring that particular item had been nothing more than a fortuitous act of opportunism.
More importantly, he consoled himself with the thought that his $7 billion wasn't entirely in vain. At the very least, it would grant him a firmer footing when seeking help in the future, should any difficulties arise.
Lost in his thoughts while his eyes remained fixed on the computer screen, Xiang Ri had clearly lost track of time. It was already well past the end of the school day.
"Qing-jie, are you sure Xiang Kui wasn't home at noon?" Chu Chu asked once more as they approached the house.
"Yes," Shi Qing replied with a slight flush. "The teacher said he had an urgent matter to attend to and would return immediately after." Her face grew even redder as she recalled the indecent remarks the lecherous teacher had made before leaving earlier that morning. Could he really have meant what he said?
Before Shi Qing could further indulge her imagination, An Xin interrupted with palpable disdain. "Why bother talking about that guy? It's utterly pointless! I bet he just didn't want to go to class and came up with that pathetic excuse to skip."
"That's not true, An An! The teacher genuinely had something important to handle!" Shi Qing retorted, unwilling to let anyone tarnish the teacher's image—not even her former close friend.
Chu Chu, too, looked displeased as she turned to An Xin. "An An, don't speak about Xiang Kui like that, okay? He's actually a good person."
"Good?" An Xin's eyes filled with derision. Seeing the other two defend that scoundrel only fanned her inexplicable anger further. "That guy? Good? Don't make me laugh. He's nothing but a shameless, despicable rogue!"
"An An!" both Chu Chu and Shi Qing exclaimed in unison, their tempers flaring at her harsh words.
An Xin, however, seemed entirely unperturbed by their reactions. Instead, she quickened her pace, pulled out the house key, and flung the door open with exaggerated cheer. "Finally home! That was fast!"
Chu Chu and Shi Qing exchanged a look of shared exasperation. Neither could comprehend why An Xin harbored such strong prejudice against Xiang Kui. Was it because of her peculiar obsession? The two sighed and shook their heads in resignation before carrying the luggage they'd brought from Chu Chu's home into the house.
"Hmm? Qing Qing, why is your bedroom door open? Wait… What's that strange noise?" An Xin asked as soon as they entered the house, her sharp senses immediately picking up on something amiss. She turned to Shi Qing with a questioning look. "Didn't we shut it this morning before leaving?"
"Could it be…" Shi Qing covered her mouth in disbelief.
"Xiang Kui!" Chu Chu exclaimed, immediately voicing their collective suspicion before rushing towards the room without hesitation. Shi Qing and An Xin hurried after her, their thoughts aligning.
The three of them burst into the bedroom, only to see the very person who had been the subject of their earlier discussion sitting at a computer desk not far from the bed. Wearing headphones and completely absorbed in whatever was on the screen, Xiang Kui tapped his foot rhythmically against the floor, producing the peculiar noises they'd heard earlier.
Unfortunately, due to his seated position, they couldn't see what he was watching.
"Xiang—" Chu Chu began to call out, but An Xin, quick to react, clamped a hand over her mouth and gestured for silence. She then pointed towards the oblivious man seated at the desk.
The meaning was unmistakable—do not make a fuss yet; wait until they were close enough to give him a proper scare. Though Chu Chu was reluctant, An Xin's threatening glare, coupled with Shi Qing's lack of objection, left her with no choice but to go along.
"What's the teacher watching?" Shi Qing wasn't trying to avoid raising her voice; rather, she felt a deep sense of disappointment rising within her. Judging by the carefree demeanor of a certain lecherous teacher, it seemed he hadn't gone to attend to the matter he had mentioned that morning. Could it really be, as An Xin had suggested, just an excuse to skip class?
"Why don't we take a closer look and find out?" An Xin threw a triumphant glance at the two women beside her. See? See? Hadn't she said all along that this guy was just making excuses to ditch class? And now he was caught red-handed—hiding at home and surfing the internet. Thrilled by the prospect of being proven right, An Xin strode forward, her excitement mounting.
The trio crept silently behind the man, ready to make their move. But the scene unfolding on the computer screen rendered them speechless.
Chu Chu, for her part, immediately blushed despite her prior experiences in such matters. She quickly averted her gaze, unable to bring herself to look any longer.
Shi Qing's face also turned a deep shade of red. However, as she shifted her attention away, she couldn't resist a final glance. Her heart raced, and a strange feeling stirred within her.
An Xin, by contrast, reacted the most dramatically. After a brief moment of shock, she stormed forward, yanked the computer's power cord out, and spun around to yell at the man. "You shameless scoundrel! What on earth are you watching?"
Xiang Ri leaped to his feet in reflex, startled by the abrupt intrusion. His heart nearly skipped a beat at the sudden scare.
But when he realized it was An Xin standing before him, he relaxed slightly. "An Xin, you're back so soon? Where are Chu Chu and the others?"
"Humph! Chu Chu? Why don't you take a look behind you?" An Xin's gaze was sharp enough to pierce through steel.
Xiang Ri's heart sank as he turned around. Upon seeing the other two women, his words faltered. "Chu Chu… Shi Qing… You're back?"
As though remembering something, he hastily tried to explain, "The computer got a virus, and that… that screen popped up. I was just about to close it…"
Though Xiang Ri was usually thick-skinned, this situation left him utterly embarrassed. Honestly, if only one of them had seen it, he wouldn't have minded much and might even have teased them a little.
But to be caught by all three at once? Even someone as shameless as Xiang Ri couldn't help but feel thoroughly uncomfortable.
"A virus?" An Xin's voice dripped with sarcasm, her tone brimming with disbelief. "Funny, you looked like you were enjoying it quite a bit."
"I'll… I'll go prepare lunch in the kitchen," Xiang Ri blurted out. Without waiting for a reaction, he darted out of the room at lightning speed.