Chapter 15: The Unexpected Home

Upon hearing the boy’s rather odd address of ‘teacher,’ Xia Zhiquiu couldn’t shake a peculiar feeling.

Yet, she couldn’t quite pinpoint what felt amiss, only offering the boy a sidelong glance as she spoke.

“Don’t just shout that out; I’m certainly not your teacher.”

Hearing this, Bai Hao insisted.

“How could you not be a teacher? A teacher isn’t merely a profession; anyone who can impart knowledge, instruct, and resolve doubts for others can be respectfully called a teacher.”

Of course, the knowledge and instruction the boy had in mind were not related to English, but rather to biology…

However, Xia Zhiquiu surely didn’t grasp the boy’s true thoughts and paid no mind to his form of address, instead picking up the English test paper to examine it.

“Which questions don’t you understand?”

Hearing her, Bai Hao honestly edged closer, and as the subtle fragrance of the woman wafted towards him, his mind couldn’t help but wander.

He had only just taken two deep breaths when he met Xia Zhiquiu’s meaningful gaze.

At this, Bai Hao cleared his throat twice before honestly admitting.

“Well, actually, I don’t understand any of them.”

Xia Zhiquiu froze, a dark line instantly appearing between her brows, and she promptly tossed the paper onto the boy’s head.

“Then what good is doing these questions? Go memorize vocabulary, quickly!”

Far from feeling any resistance from being hit by the paper, Bai Hao’s mind drifted to how much better it would be if this weren’t a test paper, but rather the exquisite feet of the woman before him.

Over the next two months, under Xia Zhiquiu’s somewhat lax supervision, the boy studied while recuperating from his injuries.

It was fortunate that Bai Hao was still in the first semester of his senior year of high school, affording him a little time; otherwise, even if he wanted to work hard, it would have been too late.

During this period, Xia Zhiquiu discovered that not only was the boy not struggling to learn, but he also possessed a remarkable talent for studying! It seemed he had simply squandered his time on leisure before.

Truth be told, seeing the boy gradually transform into a good student under her guidance filled Xia Zhiquiu with a deep sense of satisfaction.

***

The weather gradually turned colder, summer having long receded, and soon arrived the season that moved countless poets and scholars to melancholy: late autumn.

In the eyes of many, late autumn was a season inextricably linked with farewells, yet always some seeds of emotion would take root and sprout during this time.

On the day of his discharge from the hospital, Xia Zhiquiu simply helped Bai Hao pack his belongings and then inquired.

“Where’s your home? I’ll drive you back.”

Hearing this, Bai Hao feigned sadness.

“Alas, Teacher Sister, you’ve been my girlfriend for months, and you still don’t know where I live. This makes me feel like such a failure.”

Xia Zhiquiu, long accustomed to the boy’s occasional dramatic flair, merely rolled her eyes at him.

“Are you going to tell me or not? If not, you can go back by yourself. I have to work tonight, and during the day I still have to come teach you. I’m very tired.”

Seeing her resolve, Bai Hao dared not utter another word and immediately rattled off his home address.

Xia Zhiquiu was rather surprised upon hearing it, as the address the boy provided was clearly not a typical residential area, and indeed, it proved to be true.

When the two arrived before a villa situated in a secluded yet exceptionally scenic location, Xia Zhiquiu was utterly stunned.

This villa occupied an expansive area, complete with a garden, a swimming pool, and even a small forest behind it.

“This is your home?”

Bai Hao nodded, a faint smile gracing his lips.

“How is it, Teacher Sister? Not bad, right?”

Xia Zhiquiu’s expression grew complex. Instantly, she felt that even if the boy never bothered to study, he would still live a life of comfort and luxury in his next life.

Xia Zhiquiu then recalled the boy mentioning his parents weren’t around. In her mind, his parents were simply too busy with work to pay him much attention.

“Bai Hao, take your things inside yourself. I’ll head back now.”

Hearing this, Bai Hao paused, then quickly grasped her delicate hand.

“What are you saying, Teacher Sister? You’re my girlfriend. Where would you go?”

Xia Zhiquiu’s red lips parted slightly, but the words caught in her throat, and she allowed the boy to pull her towards the villa.

Upon reaching the main gate, Bai Hao initially thought to simply phase through it with his virtual body, but thankfully, he reacted in time, using his fingerprint to unlock it for the first time in a while.

As the grand gate swung open, a wave of luxurious ambiance washed over them. However, as Xia Zhiquiu gazed at the opulent and elegant decor inside, she also felt the house was far too vast and empty.

“Teacher Sister, please make yourself comfortable. I’ll go get you something to drink.”

Watching the boy’s retreating back, Xia Zhiquiu hesitantly made her way to the sofa in the reception area and sat down.

Soon, however, she noticed a faint layer of dust in many parts of the house. Logically, such a villa would typically employ people for regular cleaning, so such oversight shouldn’t occur.

This observation sparked a hint of confusion in Xia Zhiquiu’s mind.

Just then, the boy returned, placing a cup of hot water before Xia Zhiquiu before sitting beside her.

“My apologies, Teacher Sister, there’s no coffee or soda at home, so it’s just plain boiled water.”

Since Bai Hao currently had no need for human food or drink—though he technically could consume it, it held no meaning for him—the house had long been devoid of provisions, let alone beverages or coffee.

Xia Zhiquiu, however, didn’t mind. She picked up the cup and took a sip.

“Plain boiled water is perfectly fine. Too many sugary drinks aren’t healthy.”

Hearing this, Bai Hao chuckled.

“But Teacher Sister, you drink alcohol every day. Isn’t alcohol even less healthy?”

Xia Zhiquiu’s movement halted, a blush of embarrassment instantly coloring her pretty face. She then glared at the boy.

“Mind your own business!”

Bai Hao looked at the beautiful woman’s exasperated expression, finding her utterly adorable, a sight that stirred within him an irresistible, primal urge.

He then directly took her soft, delicate hand, changing the subject.

“Teacher Sister, let me give you a tour. This won’t just be my home anymore, you know.”

Over the past few months, the boy had frequently made small requests typical of a couple to Xia Zhiquiu. Though she was reluctant, she couldn’t show too much resistance, so she had agreed to something as simple as holding hands.

From then on, the boy would hold her hand at every opportunity. Since she had agreed to it herself, she naturally found it difficult to refuse.

Gradually, Xia Zhiquiu had even grown accustomed to the boy holding her hand. Sometimes, habit could be terrifyingly subtle, capable of silently reshaping a person’s very nature.

Hearing the boy’s words, Xia Zhiquiu remained unimpressed; she had already decided to break up with him. After all, this was merely an act, destined to have no real outcome.

Nevertheless, she didn’t refuse the boy’s invitation, and the two explored various parts of the villa: the home theater, the leisure rooftop, a wine cellar without any wine, a gym, and more.

During the tour, although Xia Zhiquiu gained a new appreciation for luxury homes, she still felt that something was amiss.

After completing the tour, only the boy’s bedroom remained. Bai Hao then spoke.

“Teacher Sister, didn’t you say you were tired? Why don’t you take a nap in my room?”