As dawn broke, Xin Yu woke up, not startled, but naturally…
Turning her head slightly, she saw Mu Yichuan lying on his side beside her, his arm casually draped over her waist.
This seemed to be the first time she had calmly looked at his sleeping face. His fair complexion was serene, his closed eyes concealing his cold and sharp features.
Last night…
He actually let her go!
But why did it feel like she had missed something?
"Awake? Feeling better?" Mu Yichuan's tone was languid, but his arm was wrapped tightly around her.
"Um—no!" Xin Yu almost gave herself away, quickly changing her expression.
"Still not?!" Mu Yichuan suddenly opened his hawk-like eyes, his gaze fixed coldly on Xin Yu. Was this woman lying?
She woke up at only six! And dared to say she wasn't feeling well?
"Ah..." Xin Yu whimpered, looking at Mu Yichuan in alarm at his... hand. "It's...it's time to get up. I have class this morning."
"It's still early..." Mu Yichuan said, igniting her desire until Xin Yu's face was flushed crimson. He breathed heavily against her neck, "Get well soon."
Huh...was he letting her off the hook again?
Xin Yu bit her lip tightly, afraid her disordered breathing would upset him. She wouldn't let go of this hard-won perk!
"It's time to get up. I have my advisor's class this morning—"
"You can't be late!" Mu Yichuan snorted, but remained lying down, inhaling her sweet scent to soothe himself.
"..." Knowing this, why don't you hurry up!
As if sensing Xin Yu's thoughts, Mu Yichuan got up briskly and headed for the bathroom.
*Whew…*
Before she could even finish catching her breath, the man turned around and said, "Have you thought this through? If not, I'll suffocate you, and you'll be living a life of celibacy!"
"Damn it!"
Xin Yu was practically petrified, taking a long time to recover!
Her final conclusion was: living a life of celibacy is better than being tormented by him, right?
Feeling refreshed, both physically and mentally, Xin Yu felt incredibly comfortable. A faint smile lingered in the classroom, attracting countless stares!
"Xin Yu!"
Startled by a rough voice, Xin Yu quickly turned around and froze at the classroom door.
It was… the acne-faced boy!
"Xin Yu, you're so beautiful!" the acne-faced boy praised without reservation, his eyes lecherously fixed on Xin Yu. "I heard you're Professor Donghua's last disciple, so smart and reliable—"
"Is there something you need?" Xin Yu quickly interrupted him, her whole body covered in goosebumps. "You can just say what you want."
"Someone as wonderful as you would definitely make a good wife!" "A good wife and mother, thrifty and hardworking!"
What's wrong with this boy?!
"I'm just a good student." Xin Yu said, quickly turning around to go into the classroom.
"Xin Yu, don't go!" The boy with acne grabbed Xin Yu. "I haven't finished asking yet!"
"Let go!" Xin Yu's face immediately turned cold. She couldn't be soft-hearted with this kind of person!
The boy with acne was startled by Xin Yu's sudden coldness and awkwardly withdrew his hand. "Xin Yu, I can tell you've never been in a relationship. You're the kind of innocent little girl. You're still a virgin, right?"
"Are you crazy?!" Xin Yu was furious, her dark eyes solemn.
How dare he ask her such a question so brazenly? Mu Yichuan hadn't even asked yet!
Gah…
Why did she think of Mu Yichuan?!
Okay, undeniably, Mu Yichuan was a whole universe above the person in front of her!
"How… how could you say that to me?!" "The acne-ridden boy's eyes reddened as he spoke, "I helped you yesterday, and you were even laughed at because of me. You have to take responsibility for me!"
Damn it!
Xin Yu almost spat out a mouthful of blood!
What was supposed to be a beautiful morning had turned into this disgusting person demanding she take responsibility!
And a boy at that…
"I already have a boyfriend!" Xin Yu blurted out quickly, afraid that if this continued, she would collapse and die.
"How could you… have a boyfriend?!" The acne-ridden boy was also devastated, his face filled with disbelief, as if the sky had fallen.
"Why can't she have a boyfriend!" Cheng Che strode over, exuding an air of refined elegance, "Didn't you just mention all her good qualities?" "
As Cheng Che stood protectively beside Xin Yu, she had an indescribable, strange feeling. Before she could delve into it, she heard the boy with acne scream and run away!
Oh my god!
What deity had Xin Yu offended? She had caused someone such a terrible, pig-like pain!
"Are you alright, Junior Sister?" Cheng Che asked gently, afraid that Xin Yu had been frightened.
"N-nothing," Xin Yu said awkwardly, blushing slightly. "Senior Brother, why are you at school? Don't you have to work?"
"Oh, someone promised me they'd teach traditional Chinese painting, but I haven't met any elementary school students yet!" Cheng Che joked, but his eyes couldn't leave Xin Yu's rosy cheeks.
"Hehe," Xin Yu chuckled dryly, scratching her head. She had indeed been putting it off for several days. "Then how about this afternoon? I have classes this morning."
"Okay!" Cheng Che said, stepping into the classroom first.
"You're not going to review what you've learned, are you, Senior Brother?" "I'll treat you to lunch, teacher." Cheng Che leaned closer to Xin Yu and whispered.
Xin Yu smiled slightly, fell silent, and began to concentrate on her book. However, Cheng Che had been distracted almost all morning, the faint fragrance emanating from Xin Yu constantly wafting into his nostrils…
"Junior sister, let's eat together. I'll need your help to smooth things over later!"
Smooth things over? Xin Yu was a little confused by Cheng Che's words, but at least she had a chance to eat with her mentor, and she didn't want to miss it.
"Teacher, are you… less angry?" Cheng Che poured Dong Hua a cup of tea, getting straight to the point.
Oh, so it's about this again!
Xin Yu couldn't help but wonder, how could someone as emotionally intelligent and cheerful as Cheng Che have offended Dong Hua?
The mentor had been angry for so many days!
"I told you, it's not over!" Dong Hua snorted rudely, like a child.
"Teacher, you can't be angry!" "It's bad for your health. If your senior brother or anyone else does something wrong and offends you, just give them a good beating!" Xin Yu flattered with a smile.
Cheng Che, upon hearing this, touched his nose, both amused and exasperated. "Hitting them is out of the question. It's Master's wife who offended Teacher."
Pfft…
Xin Yu spat out a mouthful of tea, staring blankly at the two people opposite her…
Her face was as red as a monkey's bottom!
This… damn it, she absolutely, positively must never say anything carelessly again!
Undoubtedly, this is a period of bad luck!
"Haha! Look at this girl!" Donghua, looking at Xin Yu's appearance, actually laughed heartily. "Taking you as my last disciple was absolutely the right decision. You're truly my source of joy!"
No way?
Xin Yu really wanted to find a mirror to take a good look at herself. Donghua's words completely overturned her self-perception over the years!
She had always been a bitter and resentful person, living a very proper life. When did she become someone else's source of joy?!
"I'll let your Master's wife meet you tomorrow. She'll definitely like you!" "Ah!"
This time, Cheng Che was dumbfounded!
Xin Yu resolved the conflict with just one sentence...
"Thank you so much! Junior Sister, not only did you solve the problem with the teacher, but you also took the time to help tutor my little nephew!"
"Senior Brother, please don't say that, it makes me feel so embarrassed!" Xin Yu ate the whole meal in a daze. The problem seemed to be solved, but she had no idea what the problem was!
"Let me tell you first, my little nephew is a bit aloof, so please bear with him if anything happens later." Cheng Che said politely and easily.
"Don't worry, I'm very popular with kids... Do you live in Huajing Villa?" Upon arriving at the location, Xin Yu noticed that it was adjacent to Nanlong Villa, a place she had been passing by frequently recently.
"What? Do you know someone here?"
"Ah!" Xin Yu quickly denied it, feeling it was better not to mention Mu Yichuan and Cheng Che.
Seeing Xin Yu's expression, Cheng Che's blue eyes flickered, but he didn't ask further.
"Little Yuanzi?!" Entering the villa, before even having a chance to look around, Xin Yu's eyes widened again. Wasn't this little boy Qiu Ze she'd seen at Ya Wen Hua?
"Sister Xin Yu?" Little Yuanzi darted over, his big, round eyes wide open, his chubby little face making one want to take a bite.
"Really? You two know each other?" Cheng Che smiled, looking at Xin Yu. "No wonder you... you really do know someone! That saves me the trouble of introducing you."
"You're my new traditional Chinese painting teacher? My name is Qiu Ze, Cheng Qiu Ze!" The little guy was completely unhappy about being given a nickname.
"Qiu Ze, hello! I'm Teacher Xin." Xin Yu crouched down and squeezed his soft little hand.
Cheng Qiuzhe didn't reply, but familiarly led Xin Yu to his study.
"We're really destined to meet!" Xin Yu looked at the little adult before her. "Should we go straight to class, or talk about something else first? Poetry, songs, cartoons—I know a little bit about all of those."
"Call me Qiuzhe, let's get straight to class."
Xin Yu pouted, quite aloof indeed!
The class went relatively smoothly. "You're only five years old and you already have such drawing skills, really amazing! But..."
Cheng Qiuzhe, who was packing up his art supplies, turned around, his rosy little face full of seriousness, waiting for what he would say next.
"I think I can paint a little more freely." Xin Yu smiled faintly, her bright eyes curving. "Traditional Chinese painting emphasizes expressing feelings and ideas; to put it bluntly, it's about painting freely." Cheng Qiuzhe gave Xin Yu a deep look, a hint of hurt flashing in his eyes.
Xin Yu pursed her lips. Had she been too direct?
"Although I haven't taught many students, you are truly the most outstanding little painter I've ever seen." She quickly corrected herself, squatting down to his eye level. "When I was five, I couldn't even draw a straight line!"
"Heh..." Cheng Qiuzhe's lips twitched, neither crying nor laughing. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Sister Xin Yu, can you take me to see Baimu Mountain?"
"Baimu Mountain? The one in the western suburbs?"
Seeing Cheng Qiuzhe nod vigorously, Xin Yu smiled and nodded as well. "Sure, I was planning to visit the capital!"
"Really?" He seemed unconvinced.
Xin Yu nodded seriously, certain he was hiding something. She prepared to go downstairs to ask Cheng Che, but she froze halfway down the stairs.