Chapter 42 p1
“Teacher Zhong, I’m at the school gate.”
Seeing the message, a smile quickly flickered in Zhong Yuxiao’s eyes.
He looked up, his gaze sweeping across the students in the classroom. Time flew by, and this semester was coming to an end.
“Class, today is the last class of this semester. There’s no exam, but you need to write a short essay on art appreciation, at least 6,000 words, due next weekend. Your final grade will be based on this essay, so please take it seriously.”
A chorus of groans immediately filled the classroom. Some complained about the word count, others lamented that the elective course was ending too quickly.
Compared to compulsory courses, elective courses did end much earlier. After today’s class, Zhong Yuxiao was practically on winter break, only needing to handle some assignments and grades at home.
Lincheng University’s official winter break was still more than half a month away.
A student in the back row pleaded, “Tomorrow is Christmas, Teacher Zhong, can you bear to see us not even able to enjoy the holiday? Can you reduce the word count a little?”
“I can’t bear to.” Zhong Yuxiao pushed up his glasses. “That’s why I set the deadline for next weekend, so you can still enjoy the holiday tomorrow.”
Zhong Yuxiao left the classroom and quickened his pace towards the school gate.
He and Xi Shi hadn’t seen each other for quite a while.
Xi Shi went abroad on a business trip last week with Zhong Zhili and wasn’t supposed to return until the end of the month. Yesterday, he talked to Zhong Zhili, who complained that Xi Shi was a workaholic, pushing their partners to work overtime.
Zhong Yuxiao had a vague guess, and as expected, he received a surprise from the young master today.
The car was parked at the school gate. Xi Shi drove himself today.
Since dedicating himself to his career, the young master had become more and more like an elite, being chauffeured around, sometimes even reading documents and replying to work messages in the car. He was on track to surpass Zhong Zhili and become the next workaholic.
Plus, his hair had grown out this month, and he no longer looked like a playboy.
He still didn’t like wearing a tie with his shirt, always unbuttoning two buttons, claiming it was for style.
As soon as Zhong Yuxiao got into the car, he saw his exposed collarbone. “It’s almost freezing, still trying to look cool?”
Of course, he had to look cool when meeting his partner, when else would he do it?
“It’s not cold in the car.” Xi Shi held the steering wheel, a smug expression on his face. “I specifically brought the scarf you knitted for me, I’ll put it on when we get out of the car.”
Not only was there a scarf on the passenger seat, but also a coat, although the coat was casually thrown there, while the scarf was neatly folded.
Speaking of the hand-knitted scarf, there was a story behind it.
Xi Shi’s assistant wore a scarf to work, an ordinary gray one, and the young master, bored during the lesson, casually commented that the scarf was crooked and poorly made.
Then the assistant told him that it was an anniversary gift from her girlfriend, hand-knitted, and the crooked parts weren’t loose threads, but love.
Xi Shi was moved.
That night, after returning home, the young master started hinting that he wanted to celebrate their three-month wedding anniversary.
He had heard of wedding anniversaries, but not three-month anniversaries.
Zhong Yuxiao was puzzled but still prepared a gift – a pair of gold earrings he personally designed.
It was difficult to describe Xi Shi’s expression at the time, but Zhong Yuxiao never saw him wear those earrings.
Until the project with the Xu family officially launched, and Xu Linfeng hosted a celebratory dinner. Zhong Yuxiao went to the company to pick up Xi Shi and saw the assistant wearing the scarf even though it wasn’t cold. He casually mentioned it and was then informed by Xi Shi that it was a hand-knitted scarf from the assistant’s girlfriend, not worn because of the cold.
Only then did Zhong Yuxiao realize what the young master really wanted.
After preparing for more than half a month, on their four-month wedding anniversary, Xi Shi finally received a hand-knitted scarf from his partner.
The young master was so moved he was teary-eyed, laughing and crying just like when he was proposed to.
It happened to be the first snow of the year that day, and Zhong Yuxiao watched Xi Shi running downstairs, jumping around, not at all like a man about to turn thirty.
He hadn’t put on the scarf yet, holding it preciously in his arms. In the end, Zhong Yuxiao put it on for him.
According to Xi Shi, it wasn’t just a scarf, but fragments of his heart.
Every little thing he did for Xi Shi, every gift he gave, was considered a fragment of his heart. The young master didn’t say it out loud, but he remembered them all.
Over time, these fragments would form a warm and beating heart.
This heart came from someone who was generally considered coldhearted.
Zhong Yuxiao never considered himself a sentimental person, but in Xi Shi’s descriptions, he was perfect, as if he was the most devoted man in the world.
So, after being married for a few months, high society knew that Second Young Master Zhong was the most devoted man in Lincheng, even Xu Linfeng, who knew the real Zhong Yuxiao, agreed.
“It’s just a scarf, you’re too easily coaxed.”
Zhong Yuxiao said this, but the smile in his eyes deepened, clearly satisfied.
He had knitted it himself. If the young master didn’t show it off, it would be a waste of his effort.
In other words, blatant showing off was also showing off.
Today was Christmas Eve, there was a lot of traffic, and the road to the suburbs was even more congested. They had been driving for almost an hour.
During the journey, Zhong Yuxiao, having been abroad for seven years, wasn’t as familiar with Lincheng as Xi Shi. To ensure good food and fun, Xi Shi planned the activities, and Zhong Yuxiao was in charge of the surprises.
Division of labor, creating a romantic life together.
Occasionally, Zhong Yuxiao would take the lead and arrange a spontaneous date.
But not often. Firstly, they didn’t have much free time, and secondly, whenever Zhong Yuxiao took the lead, Xi Shi would rack his brains to find a gift.
In this aspect, the young master had a giving complex. If he received something, he had to reciprocate with even more.
Zhong Yuxiao tried to explain that there was no need for reciprocation, but Xi Shi retorted with his previous words about “reciprocation.” The young master insisted that no one could stop him from expressing his love.
Often, the reciprocation of love, besides gifts, included exciting nightlife. Zhong Yuxiao compromised after trying it once.
There was such a good deal?
More, more, more!!!
To achieve grazing freedom, Zhong Yuxiao would find opportunities to take Xi Shi out on dates, then ask for gifts in return. Who knew that after asking repeatedly, he actually cured the young master of his giving complex, and Xi Shi no longer mentioned reciprocation.
Zhong Yuxiao, the divine doctor who cured psychological barriers.
“Driving so far just for a meal?”
Zhong Yuxiao’s eyes were fervent.
They hadn’t seen each other for almost a week, and they were like dry wood meeting a raging fire, a single spark could ignite them.
Longing was truly a mysterious thing, and only after meeting a specific person would you know how true this saying was.
Xi Shi’s ears felt hot, and he glanced at him. “Did you notice the name of this restaurant?”
He hadn’t paid much attention, it seemed to be called something like “Hot Spring Leisure Club.”
Some leisure clubs had better food than restaurants, and they had been to such places before.
Zhong Yuxiao raised his eyebrows. “Hot spring?”
Xi Shi nodded. “There’s Lincheng’s largest hot spring resort nearby.”
“Lincheng has a hot spring resort?”
He had never heard of it.
Xi Shi put down his knife and fork, giving a standard successful person’s smile, and said confidently, “It’s my first investment project, almost completed, about to start trial operations. I’m inviting Teacher Zhong to be the first guest.”
They rarely talked about work. Work was annoying enough, who would want to continue discussing work-related topics after getting off work? Therefore, this was the first time Zhong Yuxiao heard Xi Shi mention this project.
First project, first guest.
Adding “first” to anything instantly gave it a different meaning.
Zhong Yuxiao’s interest in Xi Shi gradually transformed into a desire to possess all the “firsts” in the young master’s life. “Then why didn’t we go there directly?”
“Because we need to fill our stomachs first, so we have the energy to experience it.” Xi Shi said meaningfully. “There’s no one else at the resort, and no food.”
“How can there be no one?”
Since it was about to open, all the facilities should be ready, and the staff should be in place.
Xi Shi looked at him with a playful smile. “What do you think?”
No one, of course, was for their convenience, for a more in-depth experience.
“So Teacher Zhong can also be foolish sometimes.”
Zhong Yuxiao understood.
