An Wen possessed a singular quality: whenever he found himself uncertain, he would always confide in his father. He knew that although his father appeared to be the stereotypical brawny, simple-minded type, his heart was more meticulous than anyone else's.
However, upon mentioning the matter, his father's voice became unexpectedly thunderous: "What! You're telling me Xin Xin is living with that man?"
"Yes, Father!" An Wen, unsure of his father's thoughts, dared not say more.
Though already in his fifties, An Quan still appeared to be in his forties, with a robust build and an aura of indomitable strength emanating from him.
Despite his fierce demeanor, An Quan bore the visage of a delicate young man, resembling a charming, fair-faced boy. Clearly, An wen had inherited his father's fine genes, as it was no surprise that he had become the prince charming in the hearts of young women. Yet, unlike his son, An Quan carried a certain worldly weariness, a true femme fatale in every sense.
When An Quan heard that his daughter was cohabiting with a man, a fleeting moment of joy crossed his heart, but it was quickly replaced with intense anger.
He had invested much of his energy in her over the years. Each time he introduced a promising young man to her, she either left him bruised or terrified by her reputation.
He was aware of her peculiar tastes, and the reason he had arranged for her to meet these young men was to guide her, hoping she would alter her preferences. Yet, every effort had ended in failure.
Now, hearing that her sexual orientation had seemingly normalized, and that she was living with a man—while keeping it hidden from him—he felt a surge of resentment. Had it not been for the incident with the man, would she have continued to keep him in the dark?
An Quan's frustration grew. His daughter was truly a creature of the outside world; once she had a husband, she had forgotten even her father.
"Dad, aren't you worried?" An Wen, unlike his father, wasn't as at ease. In his mind, it was the man living with his sister, with his hidden intentions, who was the true source of concern.
"What's there to worry about? This is a good thing!" An Quan's eyes widened, but he didn't completely dismiss his son's worries. "But you're right, since that young man has such influence yet keeps it from Xinxin, we can't be too cautious. Have someone investigate his background. If he poses any threat to Xinxin, I'll have him brought in. He'll regret ever being born into this world!" His eyes gleamed with cold menace as he spoke.
An wen shared his father's concerns, but was also thinking of other factors: "But what if he's using our An family to target someone, or simply wants to connect with us..."
An Quan's eyes narrowed. "If that's the case, I might spare him, perhaps even lend him a hand. But only if he truly cares for Xin xin. If not, I wouldn't hesitate to show him what happens when you cross me!"
With a dismissive wave, An Quan added, "Alright, go now. The West District is bustling these days. Keep things under control—don't cause any trouble. If it draws the attention of higher-ups, I won't be able to protect you."
"Yes, Father. I understand," An Wen replied, nodding as he turned to leave the room.
An Quan called after him, "By the way, arrange a time soon to bring that young man to see me."
Anwen halted momentarily, nodded, and then continued his way out.
Xiang Ri did not return to school. After calling Chuchu to assure her of his safety, he retreated to his home to sleep.
This wasn't entirely his fault. Ever since stepping off the plane, he hadn't had a proper rest. Coupled with a hectic morning and nonstop activity until now, even a body of iron would falter. So, the moment he lay down, it took less than a minute for him to fall deeply asleep.
When he woke, the sky outside was already cloaked in darkness, and the distant streetlights had long since flickered on. From his bedroom, Xiang Ri could vaguely hear the noise of the television in the living room.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Xiang Ri climbed out of bed. Feeling naturally refreshed, his energy was fully restored—though his stomach was growling in protest. Quickly slipping into his clothes, he strode out of the room.
In the living room, three women were seated on the sofa, watching television. An Xin sat in the middle, her left arm around Chu Chu and her right arm linked with Shi Qing, occasionally engaging in suggestive little gestures that left the other two blushing furiously. An Xin, on the other hand, seemed utterly content, basking in her mischievous antics.
Meanwhile, three pairs of delicate, adorable feet were playfully bumping against each other on the coffee table, as if they couldn't find a moment's peace.
Xiang Ri cleared his throat lightly, a signal to remind them of his presence so they wouldn't engage in anything too outlandish.
"Ah—" Chu Chu was the first to notice him, letting out a startled cry. Upon realizing it was Xiang Ri standing behind her, her face flushed an even deeper shade of red. "Xiang Kui, you're awake?"
"Yes, Chu Chu, and I'm starving. Is there anything to eat?" Xiang Ri replied nonchalantly, his gaze briefly flicking to her delicate hand, which was held captive by An Xin.
Noticing his glance, Chu Chu quickly withdrew her hand, leaping to her feet in embarrassment. "There's food in the kitchen. I'll heat something up for you," she said hastily, disappearing into the kitchen before he could respond.
Deprived of one potential target for teasing, An Xin scowled and glared at him. "Xiang Kui, what's the matter with you? Sleeping so late and then shamelessly asking someone to make you food! Do you even know what time it is? It's almost nine o'clock—you're such a pig!"
"This hardly concerns you, does it?" Xiang Ri ignored her fiery gaze, casually taking Chu Chu's spot on the sofa.
"Stay away from me!" An Xin, irked by his casual tone, reached out to shove him away.
Unexpectedly, Xiang Ri leaned in closer, eliminating all distance between them. His nonchalant demeanor remained as he called out, "Shi Qing, come sit next to me." He patted the small space beside him.
"Oh." Startled by the sudden appearance of her beastly teacher, Shi Qing instinctively stood, ready to comply.
"Qing Qing, don't go!" An Xin cried, wrapping her arms tightly around Shi Qing's waist in a desperate bid to stop her.
It wasn't just about losing the last person she could tease; it was also a matter of pride. If even her longtime friend chose to side with this idiot of a man, wouldn't it mean she was inferior to him? That was something An Xin would never admit, no matter what!
But Shi Qing, unfortunately, failed her expectations. "An An, I'm sorry," she said softly. Prising An Xin's arms from her waist, she walked over and sat beside Xiang Ri.
Given the already limited space, Shi Qing's addition made things even tighter. Without hesitation, Xiang Ri used brute force to nudge the obstacle next to him further aside, creating a more comfortable space for Shi Qing while conveniently wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Xiang—Kui—" An Xin gritted her teeth, practically growling in anger as she glared at him, wishing she could pounce and tear him apart.
"If there's nothing urgent, don't call me," Xiang Ri retorted, turning his head to show her the back of it. Tightening his hold, he pulled Shi Qing closer, his gaze dropping to her loose, comfortable sleepwear. "Mmm, you smell so nice, Xiao Qing. Did you just take a bath?"
"Mm..." This was the first time her beastly teacher had acted so intimately in front of others, and Shi Qing couldn't help but blush furiously.
"No wonder," Xiang Ri murmured, leaning in further until he was nearly pressed against her chest. Taking a deep breath, he declared, "Just one whiff, and I feel completely reinvigorated!"
An Xin, witnessing this, felt her jealousy, frustration, and indignation erupt all at once. Without a second thought, she kicked out, sending Xiang Ri's head plunging straight into her friend's chest. "Smell away! Let's see if you choke on it!"
Caught off guard, Xiang Ri found himself buried in Shi Qing's soft warmth, his face enveloped by her smooth skin and delicate fragrance. For a moment, he had no desire to lift his head.
Shi Qing, equally flustered by the sudden turn of events, instinctively pushed his head away, her voice tinged with embarrassment. "Teacher..."
Xiang Ri had no idea that he hadn't been pushed but rather kicked.
Shi Qing, of course, had seen everything clearly. She didn't harbor any real anger toward her beastly teacher; her coquettish tone was merely a façade to mask her embarrassment. However, the oblivious teacher failed to catch on and instead began to explain himself with utmost seriousness, leaving her feeling even more mortified.
Breaking free from the man's embrace, Shi Qing hurried toward the kitchen. "I'll go help Chu Chu..." Before she could finish her sentence, she had already disappeared through the kitchen door.
"Look what you've done!" Xiang Ri turned his head and glared indignantly at Miss An, lamenting the fact that he hadn't taken full advantage of his time with his apprentice—a truly regrettable loss.
"Hmph!" An Xin let out a couple of cold chuckles. Though she inexplicably felt a sense of relief when her friend left, Xiang Ri's accusatory tone reignited her simmering anger. "Xiang Kui, you ungrateful scoundrel!"
"What do you mean by that?" Xiang Ri asked, momentarily stunned by her outburst.
"Don't play dumb! Who was it that bailed you out of the police station this afternoon?" An Xin's voice grew louder and more fervent as she continued. "If I'd known you'd be this ungrateful, I wouldn't have lifted a finger to help! Heartless ingrate!"
"Oh, you're talking about that?" Xiang Ri couldn't help but chuckle wryly. He recalled the incident vividly, though it wasn't a pleasant memory—especially the image of that arrogant man in white.
Still, he couldn't very well tell her the harsh truth: *Even without your help, I could've gotten out on my own. You were just meddling unnecessarily.*
Such an audacious statement would surely invite divine retribution, and Xiang Ri was all too familiar with An Xin's fiery personality. She might very well try to fight him on the spot. So, suppressing his true feelings, he adopted a solemn tone and said, "An Xin, I truly appreciate what you did this afternoon. Thank you."
The man's sudden change of demeanor left An Xin momentarily stunned. Soon, however, a triumphant smile crept onto her face, convinced that her "great favor" had humbled him. "Good that you understand. You'd better treat me well from now on!" Perhaps realizing that her words sounded too tender and vulnerable, Miss An quickly barked, "Did you hear me?"
"Yes, yes, I heard you loud and clear..." Xiang Ri replied, digging a finger into his ear to feign annoyance at her volume. Suddenly, he added a remark that made Miss An nearly explode on the spot: "But how are we settling the matter of you flirting with my two wives just now?"