Chapter 336

Xiao Qi's urge to complain was down to only 20 percent when her dorm mates finally gathered together. There would be no evening self-study tonight and the dorm lights would not be turned off.

Since the lights were not being turned off, quite a few people were coming and going, further reducing Xiao Qi's desire to complain. Although she really wanted to say something, there were too many people coming and going, and she would be talking about Li Weijin and his classmates, which was too risky.

Li Weijin had many nicknames—Young Master, Baby, Handsome Guy, My Husband...

Having complaints that could not be uttered left her feeling pent up. She might as well go for a run.

Xiao Qi ran hard for a few laps, working up a sweat and feeling twice as refreshed. Going for a run made her body feel good, and at the same time her mind became exceptionally clear, allowing her to mentally review everything she had studied that day, which was like reviewing again. Repeated memory, very efficient.

After running, Xiao Qi still followed the moves her coach had taught, continuing the stretches. She herself had not noticed that the hunchbacked posture she used to have was now gone without a trace. Her sitting posture was straighter, more upright. She now walked with her head high and chest out, very spirited.

Her butt, which used to look flat from too much sitting, had also basically recovered, curvier and rounder than before. But Xiao Qi seldom paid attention to these things when looking in the mirror. She just felt that her physical condition had improved a lot, which was why she persisted.

She had agreed to the part-time job at the auction house. Anyway she had to go to Alliance Market tomorrow morning, so the afternoon worked out perfectly without having to run back and forth.

After warming up, a mechanical sound suddenly rang out in Xiao Qi's mind: "Host has learned to use skimming and scanning reading techniques to gain knowledge, enrich herself, and improve. Host is rewarded with a random skill learning card, which can be applied to the four books read today. Use it now?"

Xiao Qi: ...The system actually has lag?

"Use."

"Host randomly drew appraisal and dating skills for items. Learn?"

Xiao Qi: ...

Those four books were the most misleading. Reading them made her feel illiterate. There's actually such a direct skill?

"Learn."

"Host gains expertise in appraising and dating items."

A skill obtained out of the blue for no reason. Don't know what use it has.

Xiao Qi looked at the basketball stand in front of her. An idea suddenly popped into her mind—nine years old...

This basketball stand was manufactured nine years ago? Back at the dorm, Xiao Qi finally endured until lights out. With everyone in bed lying down, Xiao Qi still had 5 percent urge to gossip left. She still kind of wanted to gossip a little, but Wei Cheng had been too tired after working at the riding club today. As soon as she laid down, snoring sounds could be heard.

Xiao Qi: ...Feeling a little heartache for her, let's just sleep. Early next morning Xiao Qi set off. She had told Li Weijin her license plate number in advance this time, so she could drive right in.

Today Xiao Qi wore a black T-shirt and blue pants. Her legs looked very long. The bright blue paired with black was not at all dull and also not too flashy, quite spirited. Her plan today was to tutor English, a subject Li Weijin did not need to take make-up tests for. He did need make-ups for Applied Statistics, Accounting, and Calculus. Xiao Qi decided to also cover Applied Statistics and Accounting, giving a bit of a discount since they were classmates after all. She could extend the time a little.

Li Weijin had gotten up early today. He ate breakfast early without even eating his beloved fried bread sticks, worried about oiliness leading to pimples.

He wore a rather flamboyant blue short sleeve shirt today, Hermes, extremely blue—serene, pristine blue like the cleanest sky blue. The blue set off his even whiter skin. His pants were black utility pants, also Hermes. Brand new, just bought recently by his mother Gao Cuihua.

There were still creases on the short sleeve shirt.

Knowing Xiao Qi had arrived and guessing the time, he rushed out to receive her upon hearing a car, startling all the staff at home. He had rushed out wrongly twice, once for the auntie who came back from grocery shopping, once for his steward who came over.

The third time was Xiao Qi. He was even a little out of breath from the running. Seeing Xiao Qi get out of the car in blue pants and black T-shirt, Li Weijin felt a burst of joy in his heart. Their outfits seemed like couple clothes, such great tacit understanding.

Despite his elation, Li Weijin still kept a straight serious face, looking even more serious than usual. This left his unscrupulous secretly peeping parents very anxious.

Gao Cuihua: Just now when Baby ran out, he was bouncing around very cutely. But seeing his crush get out of the car, his expression instantly turned to that stern serious stone face. How can he win a girl's affection like this?

Li Qianmen: Baby takes after me. I clam up and can't say a word when seeing pretty girls too.

Suddenly feeling frosty beside him, he quickly added: "Remember when we first met, I couldn't get a word out and you asked if I was mute..."

Gao Cuihua: Oh you...!

On the other side, Li Tangsong, who staunchly opposed his younger brother's puppy love, was also watching nervously from his bedroom.

Seeing his stern faced younger brother, Li Tangsong also felt a little angry at his lack of boldness. Can this lead to early romance? Hidden crush at best. His brother was hopeless.

Xiao Qi was rather used to Li Weijin's stern face by now. It'd be weird if he smiled one day.

The girls all called this face the abstinent face. So handsome.

Somewhat strangely, she didn't see his parents today either. But rich people were all like this probably?

Random fanciful thoughts flashed through her mind—rich parents were very busy. She'd heard he had an especially outstanding older brother. With Li Weijin like this, father doesn't dote, mother doesn't love? So he has no romantic ability??

There was a lot of gossip among the girls about Li Weijin. Summarizing it, this was probably the gist.

Thinking of how she still hadn't seen Li Weijin's parents or brother yesterday, only the steward and auntie, and looking at Li Weijin's stern face now, Xiao Qi's eyes inadvertently softened a bit. Yeah, also feeling a bit sympathetic.

A girl's emotions acted up. A girl earning eighty yuan a month would unconsciously sympathize with a boy earning eighty million a month...

Of course, just a fleeting moment. Xiao Qi still remembered she was here as a tutor, earning side money. Similarly working a side job for money, running into such a pleasing, good-looking student could also be counted as a gain.

Xiao Qi's face was also stern as she followed Li Weijin inside.

Inside the study, she discovered the two oil paintings on the wall were changed. No longer the red baby diapers...replaced by two chaotic sketches, she couldn't tell what was drawn, like a child's doodles. Xiao Qi curiously glanced once, then couldn't help but glance again, then yet again couldn't help but glance several more times. She directly walked up and studied them carefully for a good while.

A flock of grass mud horses ran through her mind... F*ck, what she initially thought were chaotic doodles turned out to be Picasso sketches... Judging by the size, conservatively each one was worth several hundred thousand US dollars at least... Rich people really were frightening... Considering her four million plus, it couldn't buy a single sketch like this. She felt even more humble now.

Thanks to Xiao Qi's habit of often going to the library to read random books, Picasso's paintings, art investments etc, she had read all kinds of messy books. Otherwise she really wouldn't know such chaotic sketches were so valuable... Really convincing.

Oh well, stay cool.

Might as well start today's work. Xiao Qi's small face was even more stern now, determined to properly tutor student Li Weijin, absolutely no going easy... She was definitely not hating the rich, just somewhat sour that's all.

Whereas the stern faced Li Weijin's collarbone started burning again. Xiao Qi kept staring at the paintings on the wall with quite disappointed and sad expressions. Could it be she actually preferred seeing my childhood drawings? But those were really too embarrassing, he had moved them back to his bedroom. If Xiao Qi really wanted to see them that much, he could at worst invite her to his bedroom to see them next time... Just thinking about it made him shy again though.

"Let's start. I'll tutor you in English first today. Your English level doesn't seem bad. First take a test." Xiao Qi's crisp voice said.

As a professional tutor, Xiao Qi had taught seven or eight young girls over the holidays, so dealing with Li Weijin would be quite easy.

When Li Weijin heard that there would actually be a test...so early in the morning, he really...since he was the one who had asked for a tutor, even if he had to kneel he would learn it all, let alone it being Xiao Qi.

He obediently took the test, but looked up at Xiao Qi after finishing each question.

Xiao Qi: ...

"Why are you looking at me? Focus on the test. I'm preparing tests for you in the other two subjects you need to retake. I'm quite accurate at predicting test content, so I guarantee you'll pass. I won't waste your money." Xiao Qi waved her hand for Student Li Weijin to continue with the test paper.

Li Weijin obediently kept doing the questions.

Xiao Qi was also preparing the other tests for him, and would occasionally glance at Li Weijin. After all, teachers do keep an eye on their students to prevent slacking off. Seeing Li Weijin diligently doing the questions, Xiao Qi thought to herself, even if he really was unloved by his parents, could she afford to raise him?

From head to toe, Student Li Weijin was exquisitely groomed, even the socks on his feet were brightly colored.

After returning home last night, she had even looked some things up, because the touch of crimson Li Weijin had worn yesterday morning had left too deep an impression. How could someone wear something so flashy yet look so good? Xiao Qi had even Googled it, and the price that came up, Hermès...that one pajama top was actually over 30,000 RMB...

Xiao Qi tapped her own forehead with her pen, what was she randomly daydreaming about? Her mind had wandered off again!!

She should continue preparing the test questions.

The English test paper was actually quite simple for Li Weijin. Though he hadn't passed the IELTS exam the last few times partly out of rebellion towards his parents, his English was truly quite good. But now he was worried that if he did too well, Xiao Qi would stop tutoring him. Should he intentionally get some questions wrong?

Both of them had things on their minds, yet were both guessing at what the other was thinking. But the atmosphere in the study was strangely good, with an inexplicably sweet scent.

In the air, the fragrance of chamomile lingered, blending with the elegant traces of jasmine, hints of vanilla and pine, a subtle touch of sandalwood, very faint, like a landscape captured in perfume, eventually turning into memories, frame by frame.

Time slowly progressed, then flowed backwards, repeating.