Jiang Luxi placed her bike in the yard, brushing her hands on her jeans nervously, and followed Cheng Wen into the living room.
"Uncle, Aunt, this is the tutor Little Xing hired," Cheng Wen said with a polite smile.
Cheng Chuan and Deng Ying turned to look at the young girl standing timidly near the door. She seemed barely sixteen or seventeen. The couple exchanged puzzled glances.
"This is the tutor Little Xing picked?" Deng Ying asked, her tone full of surprise.
"Yes," Cheng Wen replied confidently.
The couple's expressions darkened slightly as they looked at each other. They didn't need to say it out loud to know what the other was thinking.
She's too young.
Deng Ying voiced what they were both thinking. "Isn't she a bit too young?"
"Aunt, I helped Little Xing find this tutor. Don't let her age fool you," Cheng Wen said. "When it comes to tutoring, I doubt there's anyone better in all of Ancheng."
"How can that be?" Cheng Chuan's interest piqued despite his initial doubts.
"Uncle, Aunt, you might not know this, but Jiang Luxi is a senior at No. 1 High School. She's not only the top student in her grade but was also the top scorer in Ancheng's high school entrance examination," Cheng Wen explained with pride, as if Jiang Luxi's achievements were his own.
Hearing this, Cheng Chuan and Deng Ying looked at each other again. Their initial dissatisfaction didn't completely fade, but it did waver.
Standing awkwardly near the door, Jiang Luxi hesitated before stepping forward.
"Uncle, Aunt, please give me a chance. I promise I will do my best to teach your child."
Her voice was soft, but there was a quiet determination in it.
"And if you're worried about cost," she added quickly, "I will only charge ten yuan an hour, no matter the grade—elementary, middle, or high school."
This surprised the couple. Cheng Chuan raised an eyebrow, and Deng Ying tilted her head slightly, uncertain how to respond.
Cheng Wen, however, leaned closer to Deng Ying and whispered something into her ear.
Deng Ying's expression changed visibly. She stood abruptly, her tone shifting to one of warmth.
"Alright, child, with grades like yours, ten yuans an hour is far too little."
She took Jiang Luxi's hand and gently pulled her toward the sofa.
"Wenwen, what's the reasonable hourly rate for someone like her?"
Cheng Chuan sighed, setting down his teacup. He knew that look on his wife's face—Deng Ying had already made up her mind.
"For someone with grades like hers, a hundred yuans an hour would be fair," Cheng Wen said matter-of-factly. "When I used to tutor students, I only charged forty yuans an hour, and I wasn't as outstanding as her. That was years ago. Considering inflation and her top-notch achievements, a hundred yuans is reasonable."
Before anyone could say more, Jiang Luxi shook her head fervently.
"A hundred yuans is too much! I'm not worth that much."
She turned to Cheng Xing's parents, a mix of hope and fear in her eyes.
"Uncle, Aunt, have I passed the interview?"
"You've passed! How could someone with grades like yours not pass?" Deng Ying said with a beaming smile.
Cheng Chuan, however, wasn't so quick to agree.
"Your grades are excellent, but Cheng Xing is a handful. You might not be able to manage him."
"Uncle," Jiang Luxi said earnestly, "I'll do my best. Please trust me just this once."
"To dwell among the virtuous is to be enveloped in a fragrant embrace, much like entering a room filled with orchids: one gradually becomes imbued with their delicate perfume." If Cheng Xing spends time with someone like you, he might improve just by being in your presence!" Deng Ying chuckled.
"Well, we'll see," Cheng Chuan muttered, still doubtful but unable to resist his wife's enthusiasm.
"Given your qualifications, a hundred yuans an hour seems fair," Deng Ying said. "Our Little Xing has fallen behind on many subjects. This will be a long-term arrangement. If you're interested, we can formalize it with a contract."
Jiang Luxi's eyes widened.
"Uncle, Aunt, a hundred yuans is really too much. I have a fixed rate—twenty yuans an hour for high school students."
The room fell silent. Deng Ying and Cheng Chuan stared at her in disbelief, and even Cheng Wen looked surprised. Who negotiated their rate down instead of up?
"No, twenty yuan an hour is far too little," Deng Ying said, shaking her head. "You're the top student in the city! How can you charge so little?"
Jiang Luxi bit her lip and looked down.
"Then… I'm sorry, Uncle, Aunt. I can't accept this job. Thank you for considering me."
She bowed deeply, tears threatening to spill from her eyes, and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Cheng Chuan called out. "You said twenty yuans an hour. Fine. But you need to understand—Cheng Xing has a lot to catch up on. On weekends, you'll need to tutor him for eight hours a day. Can you handle that?"
"Yes, I can!" Jiang Luxi's voice trembled with hope. "If it's that many hours, I can even offer a discount—"
"Stop right there!" Deng Ying cut her off, her tone sharp. "You said twenty yuan. Don't go back on your word now. If you're going to keep changing your terms, then we won't hire you. If you want to leave, go ahead."
Deng Ying also lost her temper.
Jiang Luxi froze, her face pale. "Twenty yuans" she whispered.
"Good," Cheng Chuan said firmly. "That's 1280 yuans per month for eight-hour sessions on weekends. If we need extra sessions during holidays, we'll pay for those separately. Let's start with a one-semester contract. Monthly payment, or daily, whichever you prefer."
"Monthly," Jiang Luxi said softly, relief evident in her voice.
"Alright. I'll have someone draft the contract."
The contract arrived soon after. Jiang Luxi read it carefully, her lips moving slightly as she absorbed each word. When she found no issues, she signed.
Cheng Chuan exchanged a glance with Deng Ying. While he still had reservations about her ability to handle Cheng Xing, there was no denying the girl's sincerity.
Perhaps this young girl, with her unwavering determination, was exactly what their son needed.