Chapter 18
Xi Shi was driving again today.
“Do you really think I’m your chauffeur?” Xi Shi glanced at the rearview mirror. Zhong Yuxiao was leaning against the back seat, holding an English book, flipping through the pages from time to time, looking exactly like an overbearing CEO busy with work even in the car.
And he was the CEO’s personal driver.
Zhong Yuxiao didn’t even look up. “You offered to come along.”
“But I didn’t ask you to sit in the back.”
Sitting in the passenger seat was fine, but sitting in the back made Xi Shi feel like a ride-hailing driver.
“Everyone says only boyfriends can sit in the passenger seat.” Zhong Yuxiao slowly gave his reason, then looked up, his gaze falling on Xi Shi’s hands. These hands were just trimming flower branches, and now they were holding the steering wheel, taking him to work.
“As if you haven’t sat there before.” Xi Shi muttered under his breath.
Last time on the mountain road, and last night on the way home, Zhong Yuxiao clearly sat in the passenger seat.
“What did you say?”
Xi Shi twitched the corners of his mouth, saying sarcastically, “Please sit tight, Mr. Zhong. Driver Xiao Xi is at your service.”
Zhong Yuxiao: “…”
Arriving at Lincheng University, Zhong Yuxiao asked Xi Shi to park outside the school gate.
Xi Shi didn’t move. “You really think I’m your chauffeur?”
Zhong Yuxiao looked at the time. “Driver Xiao Xi, please park the car quickly. If we’re late, I’ll file a complaint against you.”
“…”
The young master was so angry his nose was crooked. He still had a sullen face after parking, and Zhong Yuxiao ignored him. He had figured out Xi Shi’s temper. The more you pandered to him, the more energetic he became. Ignore him for a while, and the young master would cheer himself up.
As expected, by the time they reached the lecture hall, Xi Shi’s expression had softened considerably, and he asked awkwardly, “Are you a student here?”
The security guard checked Zhong Yuxiao’s ID when they entered, but he didn’t get a clear look. He figured it must be a student ID.
“After so many years of studying abroad, aren’t you tired of it yet?” Xi Shi wondered.
If it were him, he would have given up long ago. Zhong Yuxiao returned to China and was actually studying at Lincheng University again. He was truly a ruthless man.
“Who told you I’m here to study?” Zhong Yuxiao’s expression was subtle.
Did that even need to be said? He had eyes, he could see.
“Aren’t you here for class?”
He was here for class, but not the kind of class you think.
Zhong Yuxiao didn’t explain further. It would become clear once he was on the podium.
It wasn’t time for class yet, and students were arriving one after another. Zhong Yuxiao took Xi Shi into the classroom and sat in the last row.
“You said you were coming to class, but you’re actually here to pick someone up.” Xi Shi felt cheated. If he had known Zhong Yuxiao was here for class, he wouldn’t have rushed to be his driver. “I hate school the most. Listening to teachers is like listening to gibberish.”
Judging from Xi Shi’s appearance, he didn’t seem like the type to study hard. According to the information, the young master had spent a fortune to get a degree but hadn’t pursued further education.
“I didn’t say anything. You assumed it yourself.”
“You said you were here to see a lot of people.”
Zhong Yuxiao lowered his head to read. He hadn’t had time to prepare for class last night, but fortunately, he had already taught this lesson once, so reviewing it would refresh his memory.
“I am here to see a lot of people.” He looked up and frowned.
The large lecture hall was almost full, several times more students than in his last class. That shouldn’t be right. The number of students enrolled in the elective course on this campus was supposed to be smaller than before.
Did he go to the wrong classroom?
Zhong Yuxiao checked the classroom number.
No, this was the right place.
“What are you looking for?” Xi Shi followed his gaze, looking suspicious. “Don’t tell me you’re using class as an excuse to pick up people?”
“Do you think I’m like you?”
“…”
Xi Shi’s arrogance diminished slightly, and he rested his head on the table, fiddling with Zhong Yuxiao’s cufflinks.
They were sitting near the back door of the classroom, sunlight streaming in from outside. The cut diamonds on the cufflinks reflected dazzling light. Xi Shi squinted, the chattering students blurring into the background, only Zhong Yuxiao, reading with his head down, was clear and bright, reflected in the center of his pupils.
Like a colorless rainbow, bridging the gap between desire and reality.
“Excuse me, is this seat taken?”
A man and a woman stood in the aisle, pointing at the empty seats next to them.
“No.” Xi Shi sat up, noticing their intertwined hands, and rolled his eyes inwardly.
Holding hands even during class, so cheesy.
“You two don’t look like students. Are you also here to see the new teacher?”
Zhong Yuxiao looked up. “See the new teacher?”
“Yeah, I heard the teacher for this elective is super handsome. After his last class, there were more than a dozen confessions on the school’s confession wall. It’s a pity no one took any pictures. Everyone in the school knows that the Art Appreciation teacher is incredibly handsome, popular with both men and women!”
The girl’s face was full of excitement. The boy sitting next to her feigned annoyance and snorted. “Hey, hey, hey, you have a boyfriend, you’re not allowed to be infatuated with others.”
“Oh, I’m just curious.” The girl giggled. “The new teacher is definitely not as handsome as you. You’re the most handsome man in my heart!”
The boy was finally satisfied, a wide smile on his face.
The girl looked at Zhong Yuxiao, then at Xi Shi, her face full of appreciation. “You two are also very handsome.”
Zhong Yuxiao smiled politely. He now knew why so many people came. They were treating him like a monkey in a zoo, the kind you could see without paying for a ticket.
Xi Shi accepted the compliment about his handsomeness, curling his lips. “So, who do you think is more handsome, me or your boyfriend?”
He didn’t know how handsome the legendary elective teacher was, or how he compared to him.
The boy immediately became anxious, hugging the girl and staring at Xi Shi warily. “Dude, what do you mean?”
“Oh, don’t be nervous, he’s taken.” The girl patted his hand, smiling sweetly. “Look, they’re wearing rings. They’re married, their relationship is much closer than ours.”
“It’s just a ring, I can buy you one too! We can get married too!”
“I know, I know.”
“You can’t just say ‘I know,’ you have to say ‘I do.'”
…
The young couple bickered playfully, and Xi Shi felt goosebumps all over. He couldn’t stand this kind of innocent love. “Hey, why are you wearing a ring?”
“Aren’t you wearing one too?”
“That’s different.”
Zhong Yuxiao was here to pick up people. How could he do that with a ring on? Was he pursuing the thrill of infidelity?
Zhong Yuxiao knew what he was thinking and was both amused and exasperated. “I’m not here to pick up people. Do you think everyone is like you, with their mind full of worldly desires?”
He stood up, didn’t even look at Xi Shi, and walked onto the podium with his book.
Just in time.
As the bell rang, Zhong Yuxiao tapped the podium, and the classroom immediately quieted down. “Hello everyone, I’m your Art Appreciation teacher, Zhong Yuxiao. You can call me Teacher Zhong.”
The young couple in the last row looked shocked, and beside them, Xi Shi stared wide-eyed in disbelief. What the fuck?!
Zhong Yuxiao was here to teach!
“That’s all for today’s class.”
Zhong Yuxiao packed his books, pushed up his glasses, his gaze sweeping across the classroom from behind the lenses. He leaned against the podium and coughed lightly.
Many people came to see him. The classroom was full, and some people were even crowded in the aisles.
“I didn’t take attendance today. It seems everyone who should be here and shouldn’t be here are all here.”
There were scattered boos from the classroom, and someone boldly shouted, “We’re all here to admire Teacher Zhong’s handsome face!”
Zhong Yuxiao raised his eyebrows. “I’m not dead yet, you can admire me in a few decades.”
The classroom erupted in laughter. Zhong Yuxiao looked towards the back row, his gaze accurately finding Xi Shi. Their eyes met, and Xi Shi slowly lowered his head.
Zhong Yuxiao scanned the room, choosing Xi Shi as his example to make a point. “The male student in the back row by the door, wearing a floral shirt, with very unique taste.”
Xi Shi: “…”
He had a bad feeling.
Countless gazes from all directions fell on him, and Xi Shi felt suffocated. Others could hide their faces behind books, but he could only use his hands.
It was useless!
His damn floral shirt was eye-catching and distinctive, so unique that there wasn’t a second one in the entire classroom. Almost as soon as Zhong Yuxiao spoke, he became the center of attention.
This scene was somewhat familiar, like the banquet last night. Zhong Yuxiao was usually quiet and unassuming, but with a few words or actions, he could easily embarrass him.
“Sir, are you also here to see the teacher?”
Xi Shi pretended not to hear. The girl beside him, her eyes shining, said enthusiastically, “Teacher Zhong, he’s here to accompany his partner to class.”
Xi Shi: “…”
Fuck.
“Accompanying your partner to class?”
“Teacher Zhong, I’m not here for class, I’m here to catch a cheater.” Xi Shi went all out. “My partner lied to me about cheating, so I came here specifically to see what the adulterer looks like, so I can hire someone to get rid of them both.”
The boy next to him looked at him with admiration. “A true role model.”
The girl elbowed him. “What do you know? This is called roleplaying, teacher-student play!”
…Roleplaying my ass!
Xi Shi cursed inwardly.
“Next time you come to my class to catch a cheater, remember to bring a book. If you don’t catch them, you can at least learn something.” Zhong Yuxiao joked. “I think my lectures are quite good.”
The students played along. “Very good!”
I’ll never come again, I swear. Whoever comes is a dog!
Xi Shi muttered to himself.
He had never liked listening to teachers since he was a child. Although Zhong Yuxiao’s lectures weren’t preachy, he really couldn’t appreciate art appreciation. He was now even afraid of Zhong Yuxiao.
“It’s fine to attend class, and it’s also fine to catch a cheater, but forget about just looking at the teacher. Have you all taken your sneaky pictures? From now on, the teacher will rely on his talent to make a living, no more photos.” Zhong Yuxiao shifted the topic back to Xi Shi. “I hope everyone will learn from this student’s experience. Don’t come to my class without a book in the future. Listen to the lecture, don’t fill your minds with worldly desires.”
Xi Shi: “…”
Thank you, I no longer have any worldly desires.
“Alright, class dismissed.” Zhong Yuxiao paused. “The student with unique taste, please stay behind.”
The students filed out, each glancing at Xi Shi as they passed the back door, making the thick-skinned young master feel embarrassed. As soon as everyone left, he exploded. “Zhong Yuxiao, what do you mean?!”
“Student, where did you get that idea?”
Xi Shi stormed to the podium, slamming his hand on the table and roaring, “You tricked me on purpose!”
“I didn’t trick you. I’m here to teach. You saw all those students just now. Tell me, which part did I lie about?”
Xi Shi was speechless.
Zhong Yuxiao leaned closer. “Student Xi, the teacher told you before, don’t be so naive.”
His phone buzzed a few times. It was a message from Zhong Zhili.
Zhong Yuxiao glanced at it briefly. It was about the Xu family and some other matters. “If I really wanted to cheat, I wouldn’t let you catch me. It’s you, young master, is there something wrong with your company?”
