"Teacher, what exactly have you done to An An?" Shi Qing's expression darkened dramatically. She could not believe his excuse, and the beastly teacher's words made her mind jump to an even more horrifying possibility.
Shi Qing was well aware of the mutual animosity between her teacher and her best friend. The two were like mortal enemies, clashing fiercely every time they crossed paths, nearly coming to blows on multiple occasions.
And yet, now she had seen him leaving her best friend's room so early in the morning—a clear sign he had spent the night there. Given their bitter hostility, such a scenario was utterly unthinkable. Unless... unless the beastly teacher had forced himself on her!
"I did no such thing," Xiang Ri replied hastily, feigning innocence, though he was oblivious to the image his disciple now held of him: a scoundrel who preyed on women. Nervously, he studied her, puzzled by her seething anger. Could she be jealous? No, that didn't seem right—he knew her temperament too well. Such jealousy-driven rage didn't align with her personality.
"No?" Shi Qing's suspicion deepened despite his vehement denial. After all, hadn't he once made dubious remarks about her best friend? Such actions might even have been driven by some twisted sense of revenge. And then there was the look of panic on his face when he first opened the door and saw her—exactly the kind of expression someone would wear when caught red-handed in the midst of wrongdoing.
Her mind raced, and without sparing the "beastly teacher" another glance, Shi Qing stormed into her friend's bedroom, silently praying her worst fears would not be confirmed.
Xiang Ri let out a bitter laugh and rubbed his nose. He had pieced together her misunderstanding—this wasn't jealousy. If it were, she would have confronted him directly, berating or even physically punishing him. Instead, she had rushed straight into An Xiao Niu's room, clearly consumed by an even graver concern: whether he had forced himself upon her friend.
Following behind, Xiang Ri stepped into the bedroom and swiftly locked the door to prevent further unwanted attention. He could manage to explain things to his disciple, but the thought of facing Chu Chu—who had returned from France—made him uneasy. Perhaps it was because she was his "first wife," he mused, feeling an inexplicable sense of guilt rather than fear.
"An An…" Shi Qing called anxiously as she approached the bed, her voice rising in urgency. However, the young lady remained motionless, cocooned under her blanket, ignoring her entirely.
An Xin was fully aware of the commotion outside. In fact, she had seen Shi Qing the moment the door opened. Panicked, she had immediately dived under the covers. She had gone to such lengths to keep this secret, only to have it exposed by the last person she wanted to know. Now, she felt like dying from the humiliation.
It wasn't just guilt over stealing her best friend's man that gnawed at her. What truly crushed her was the shame of betraying Shi Qing's trust. She knew how deeply Shi Qing despised men, yet she had secretly "entangled" herself with one. How could she possibly face her friend again?
"An An…" Shi Qing's patience snapped as she saw no reaction. Reaching out, she tried to pull the blanket away, but An Xin held onto it tightly, her desperation mounting until she burst into tears.
Hearing her sobs, Shi Qing's face turned icy as she fixed a cold gaze on the man standing nearby. In her heart, there was no longer any doubt: he had indeed forced himself upon her friend.
"Teacher, how could you do such a thing to An An?!"
Although Xiang Ri had anticipated what was coming, hearing his disciple voice it aloud still left him with an indescribable sense of unease. Was his character truly so deplorable that even his closest disciple doubted him?
"Shi Qing, this isn't what you think. Let me explain…" Xiang Ri began, but he faltered, unsure where to even start. Helplessly, he tugged at the blanket on the bed. "An Xin, perhaps you should explain this yourself."
"No—!" An Xin shrieked, her voice tinged with despair. She wriggled beneath the covers before falling silent once more, unwilling to face anyone.
"Teacher! What are you trying to do?!" Shi Qing exclaimed, stepping protectively between the bed and the man. Her imagination ran wild as she connected the dots: her friend's terrified screams and the man's earlier behavior. Clearly, whatever had happened the night before was far from amicable—perhaps even violent. How else could her typically strong-willed friend be reduced to such a state?
"Xiang Kui, I was so wrong about you. I never imagined you could be this kind of person…" Tears welled up in Shi Qing's eyes as she spoke, her voice trembling with disappointment. She had even abandoned the respectful title of "teacher," an unmistakable sign of her disillusionment.
Xiang Ri could only manage a bitter smile, knowing there was nothing he could do to convince her. The only one who could clear his name now was An Xiao Niu. "An Xin, if you don't come out soon, I'm doomed because of you!"
Sensing the tension outside, An Xin finally peeked out from under the blanket, her flushed face half-visible. Seeing her friend's tear-streaked face, she panicked. "Qing Qing, what's wrong?"
In truth, An Xin feared rejection most of all. Watching her best friend cry, she assumed it was because Shi Qing had discovered some inappropriate behavior on Xiang Ri's part. This only deepened her anxiety.
"An An, I'm so sorry…" Shi Qing exclaimed, throwing herself into her friend's arms as soon as she saw her face. Despite believing the blame lay squarely with her "beastly teacher," a lingering sense of guilt gnawed at her heart. After all, she had already accepted him as a part of her life.
But what her friend said next left Shi Qing utterly bewildered: "No, Qing Qing, I'm the one who owes you an apology!"
Shi Qing froze. For the first time, she noticed that An Xin's expression wasn't one of shame or rage, emotions one might expect from someone who had suffered such indignities. Instead, it was an embarrassed shyness—like someone caught in a guilty act.
Her heart skipped a beat. Could she have misunderstood? Perhaps An Xin truly was afraid of the dark, and Xiang Ri had stayed to comfort her. But if that were the case, why not come to her instead? This question remained unanswered.
What An Xin said next shattered all of Shi Qing's thoughts. "Qing Qing, I also like Xiang Kui. Could you share him with me?" Her voice was soft yet resolute, her eyes pleading as she looked at her friend.
Shi Qing stared at the two of them in disbelief, her gaze darting back and forth as she mumbled incoherently, "You… both of you…"
No matter how she looked at it, the reality before her was incomprehensible. She knew her friend's character and her teacher's personality well. By all logic, the two were completely incompatible. Yet here they were, forcing her to confront the undeniable truth.
And then there was An Xin's pitiful expression—a look Shi Qing had never seen before. Shocked beyond words, she began to wonder if she was experiencing some kind of early-morning hallucination.
Xiang Ri's voice interrupted her spiraling thoughts. "Shi Qing, I told you it was a misunderstanding, but you wouldn't believe me. See? The truth is out now. Do you really think my character is that terrible?"
"I… I didn't mean to… Teacher…" Shi Qing stammered, her face flushing crimson. His words made it clear he had known all along about her misunderstanding, and now it was her turn to feel humiliated. His teasing tone only added to her embarrassment, making her wish she could vanish on the spot. She realized she had not only misjudged him but also played the role of an unwelcome intruder. After all, their feelings for each other were mutual—she had no business meddling.
"I didn't see anything," Shi Qing muttered hastily before turning to leave.
But Xiang Ri had been watching her closely and grabbed her before she could escape. A mischievous grin spread across his face. "You think you can just walk away after saying that? Not so fast! Oh, and earlier, what did you call me? You actually used my name? Hmph! Do you think you can disregard me as your teacher? Now I'm going to punish you thoroughly!"
"Ah—!" Shi Qing let out a sharp cry, her face blooming with color. "Teacher, I was wrong! Please forgive me!" Her plea, however, only served to ignite the fire he had been suppressing all night.