Сhарter 6: You’re Теsting My Рatienсе
Whеn Wеn Yао arrivеd, shе quiсklу glancеd around to makе surе therе wеrе nо fаmiliar fасеs beforе hurriеdly gеtting into the cаr.
“Like а thief?”
Wen Yaо had just run оver, hеr fаce still flushеd. She caught hеr brеаth аnd whisperеd, “Му rоommatе saw уou yеsterdaу.”
Xie Zоngxun raised аn еуebrоw, аs if waiting for her tо cоntinuе.
“I can сome bаck bу mуsеlf from nоw on.”
“Hmm.”
Wеn Yao thоught hе wаs quite reasonable, but then she hеаrd the car’s enginе stаrt up, mixing with his voiсе.
“Twenty kilometers. Walk it yourself.”
“Every time after we do it, walk back on your own.”
The area where Xie Zongxun lived had no public transportation.
Wen Yao suddenly remembered that she had taken a taxi there yesterday, and it was very, very expensive.
Her resolve immediately softened, and she wanted to negotiate with him again.
“I still want to ride in your car.”
Xie Zongxun ignored her and kept driving.
Wen Yao turned her face toward the window as her phone chimed twice.
Pei Zhaolan: 【This tutoring group is very reliable. I’ve already taken on a tutoring job myself.】
Pei Zhaolan: 【Group link】
Wen Yao: 【Thank you!】
Pei Zhaolan and Wen Yao had attended the same high school—one ranked first in the science class, the other first in the liberal arts class.
They sometimes exchanged study tips for major subjects, and both ended up getting into Jing University, so they were relatively familiar.
Pei Zhaolan then explained the process to Wen Yao in super detail.
Wen Yao: 【Once I succeed in the trial lesson, I’ll treat you to a meal.】
Pei Zhaolan: 【You’ll succeed. Looking forward to your good news.】
Wen Yao had arranged a trial English lesson with a high school freshman girl for the next day.
She was so happy at the moment that she completely forgot what kind of person was sitting beside her.
Out of the corner of his eye, Xie Zongxun noticed the girl’s smiling face as she looked at her phone screen. He pursed his lips and said nothing, failing to notice a red light in time to brake, stopping right on the crosswalk.
Wen Yao was startled by the sudden brake but didn’t say anything.
Xie Zongxun frowned, his knuckles tapping rhythmically on the steering wheel. When the light turned green, he stepped on the accelerator and spoke, “I’ve already contacted your grandmother’s side. She can have the surgery in a while.”
Wen Yao glanced at him upon hearing this and said gently, “Can it be during the National Day holiday? I want to go home and stay with Grandma.”
Xie Zongxun gave a soft “hmm.”
Wen Yao clasped her hands together. She needed to work hard to earn money over the next half month—to buy Grandma those delicious pastries from the shop in the east of the city and buy new clothes for Wen Shu. Her sister was already in high school, an age where she cared about her appearance, and Wen Yao didn’t want her to have to endure it either.
Just thinking about it made Wen Yao so, so happy.
Xie Zongxun glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, the corners of his lips lifting almost imperceptibly.
When the car arrived at their destination, Wen Yao was a bit confused—it wasn’t Xie Zongxun’s home.
Noticing the confusion in Wen Yao’s eyes, Xie Zongxun said calmly, “I don’t always want to do it with you.”
“Let’s eat first.”
Wen Yao’s eyes lit up, and she followed behind Xie Zongxun after getting out of the car.
Xie Zongxun was quite picky about food. Yuanshan Restaurant had survived countless rounds of his taste tests before making the cut.
After the dishes were served.
The two ate quietly, and Wen Yao’s eyes would light up with each bite.
How could it be so delicious!
“It’s really delicious!”
She blurted out her thoughts, then instinctively covered her mouth.
Xie Zongxun continued eating, unfazed.After eating, she was driven back to school and dropped off at a rarely used side gate.
As Wen Yao got out of the car, she asked, “Can I ride with you again next time?”
“I really don’t want to walk back on my own.”
She also didn’t have enough money for a taxi anymore.
Xie Zongxun watched her flustered expression, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. “Depends on your performance in bed next time.”
Wen Yao’s face flushed with shame and anger. She held her breath for a moment before letting it out, then opened the car door to leave.
“Take the clothes from the back seat. Don’t wear those ugly things anymore.”
“Looking at them kills the mood.”
Wen Yao glanced down at her outfit—a T-shirt and jeans. She didn’t see anything wrong with it; she had been wearing the same thing when she went to rescue him.
Not daring to argue further, she opened the back door.
Inside were the clothes he had picked out for her yesterday.
Bright, flashy colors—she didn’t want to wear any of them. They made her look like a gaudy butterfly.
Angrily grabbing the clothes, she slammed the car door shut and ran off.
Xie Zongxun clicked his tongue lightly, watching Wen Yao jog away with the bag in hand.
He had always been open and straightforward in everything he did. Even if he were keeping a woman, he wouldn’t bother hiding it. But with her acting like this, it felt like some cheap affair, which inexplicably irritated him.
He still had classes in the afternoon, so he drove into the school.
When Wen Yao returned to the dorm, Xu Chao casually asked where she had been.
Wen Yao explained that Mrs. Xie had invited her out for a meal and given her some clothes.
Xu Chao came over to take a look and, seeing the brand on the packaging, clapped her hands in excitement. “So luxurious! This brand is insanely expensive.”
“As expected of a wealthy lady, she has such great taste. These colors would look amazing on you!”
Wen Yao forced a smile. “R-Really?”
Xu Chao nodded in agreement. “Yeah, your skin is so fair. Wearing these colors would make you look like a flower—absolutely stunning.”
After exchanging a few more casual words, Wen Yao returned to her desk to prepare for her trial tutoring session the next day.
She liked to prepare thoroughly before doing anything, even if it took time. It gave her peace of mind.
Before she knew it, she had spent the entire afternoon preparing. She still had evening classes to attend.
By bedtime, she felt completely exhausted and fell asleep as soon as she closed her eyes.
The next day was packed with classes from morning until six in the evening. Wen Yao’s tutoring session was scheduled from 7:30 to 9:30.
Two hours for five hundred yuan—twice a week. With her heavy course load, this arrangement worked perfectly.
The trial session went smoothly. Both the parents and the student were satisfied with her, which came as a great relief and encouragement to Wen Yao.
On her way back, she couldn’t help but smile to herself on the subway.
The commute took over an hour, and Wen Yao’s dorm had an 11 p.m. curfew. She might just make it in time.
But fate always had a way of dampening one’s joy. As soon as Wen Yao stepped out of the subway station, a heavy downpour began.
It was late, and no one was selling umbrellas anymore. Her bag was filled with the student’s study materials.
Taking a deep breath, Wen Yao clutched her backpack and dashed out into the rain. She had calculated that it would take about fifteen minutes to run from the subway station back to her dorm.
The ground was slippery, and the heavy raindrops stung her face. In her rush as she neared the dorm, Wen Yao missed a step and stumbled, twisting her ankle. It still hurt, but she could still walk.
By the time she reached the dorm, the main gate was already closed, and the dorm supervisors had gone to rest. Wen Yao planned to privately message one of them in the dorm group chat to open the door.
Just as her screen lit up, she accidentally answered a call. Xie Zongxun’s cold voice came through from the other end.”Wen Yao, you’re testing my patience.”
Wen Yao’s lips trembled. “I—I just got to the dorm, the door is locked. I’ll talk to you once I get inside.”
The call was disconnected. Xie Zongxun frowned as a sudden clap of thunder roared outside.
The sound of rain on the other end of the line had been clear—it didn’t sound like she was indoors.
As soon as Wen Yao hung up, her phone died and shut off completely.
Outside, torrential rain poured down, accompanied by rumbling thunder, creating a chaotic and noisy environment.
Even if she knocked, the dorm supervisor wouldn’t be able to hear her.
Resigned, she sat down against the wall, rainwater splashing onto her from the ground.
Wen Yao placed her backpack behind her, hugged her knees, and sat quietly.
Even though she kept reassuring herself in her heart—it’s okay, it’s just one night—
the tip of her nose still couldn’t help but sting with tears.