"Stop standing there like a fool. Come inside and dry off before you catch a cold," Cheng Xing said, walking over to push her bicycle in and parking it by the side.
It was late September, just days away from the Mid-Autumn Festival. In Ancheng, autumn came swiftly, and with the rain, summer had clearly ended.
Jiang Luxi stepped inside, her gaze sweeping across the yard.
The decor hadn't changed since her last visit. Everything looked exactly the same. She finally confirmed she was in the right place.
"Can I leave?" Jiang Luxi asked abruptly.
"You signed a contract," Cheng Xing replied evenly.
Jiang Luxi fell silent.
"I don't want any interaction with you," she said, lifting her chin.
"I know," Cheng Xing responded, his tone calm. "But don't overthink it. I have no ulterior motives. I didn't even know my cousin hired you as my tutor. Over the past two weeks, you've seen the change in me. I genuinely want to study hard, which is why I asked my parents to find a tutor. I'm determined to use this year to catch up and aim for a good university next year."
He paused, then added with a faint smile, "Of course, I know you dislike me. Good students like you probably can't stand someone like me. So, if you want out of the contract, I'll tell my father. You can leave right now. But I suggest waiting until the rain stops."
Without waiting for her reply, Cheng Xing dashed into the living room and returned with the contract.
"If you want to leave, take this and tear it up." He extended the document to her.
Jiang Luxi stared at the contract, hesitating. Finally, she said coldly, "Since I've signed it, I'll honor the agreement."
"Are you sure? This isn't a one- or two-day arrangement. If you don't leave now, there won't be another chance to back out. I've fallen behind in a lot of subjects, and I can't afford to waste time finding a new tutor," Cheng Xing said seriously.
"Just pay me," Jiang Luxi replied flatly.
"As long as you teach well, you'll be paid generously," Cheng Xing assured her.
"Good." Jiang Luxi nodded.
Cheng Xing smiled. He realized he had made the right bet.
No matter how much Jiang Luxi disliked or avoided him, she wouldn't break the contract impulsively. And even if she did, it wouldn't matter much.
Jiang Luxi wiped the rain off her face. "When do we start?"
"No rush. In a bit," Cheng Xing replied. "Let's discuss the weekend schedule. It's not in the contract, so if anything feels off, suggest changes now."
"Saturdays and Sundays will be eight hours of tutoring each day—8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. You'll need to plan the curriculum," he explained.
"Does that work for you? Any adjustments?"
"I'll teach seriously, but your results are your responsibility. I can't guarantee your grades," Jiang Luxi responded.
"Of course," Cheng Xing nodded.
"Anything else?" Jiang Luxi asked.
"One thing—don't hit me if you're angry," she added seriously.
"If you hit me out of anger, you'll have to compensate me," Jiang Luxi said firmly.
Cheng Xing frowned. "I don't hit people."
Jiang Luxi pursed her lips.
Who would believe that?
"And don't bully me either," she continued.
"You already said that," Cheng Xing reminded her.
"No," she shook her head. "I mean, no inappropriate touching during tutoring."
Given Cheng Xing's past behavior, she felt it best to set boundaries.
"I'm not a pervert," Cheng Xing said, exasperated.
"One more thing—you're not allowed to like me or pursue a relationship," Jiang Luxi added.
This was her greatest fear.
"Relax. I have no such intentions. I just want to be friends," Cheng Xing replied, his tone sincere.
Romance wasn't on his agenda. His focus was on catching up with his studies, repaying Jiang Luxi's kindness, and rewriting the story of Ancheng to correct past regrets and earn money. He also hoped to prevent Jiang Luxi from walking away from everything to become a nun at the peak of her career.
But changing her mind wasn't something he could control.
Jiang Luxi ignored him, lips pressed tightly together.
She didn't want to be friends with someone involved in shady dealings. If he got caught, she didn't want to be implicated.
"Is that all?" Cheng Xing asked.
"Yes," Jiang Luxi nodded.
"Alright." He glanced at his watch. "You don't need to come this early. Just arrive by 8 a.m. If it rains or you have something at home, come later."
It was only 7:40 now. He didn't want her coming too early, especially in bad weather.
"I won't be late," Jiang Luxi stated.
"Fine, whatever you say," Cheng Xing sighed. She was stubborn. Since he couldn't convince her, he dropped it.
"When do we start?" she asked again.
"At 8," Cheng Xing replied. "You really want to start that badly?"
"No matter how much I dislike you or hate being here, I'll do my job well," Jiang Luxi said coldly.
Cheng Xing fell silent.