The moment the door opened, Yu Na was stunned as well.
She turned back in disbelief and asked Xiao Chen blankly, "You—"
Xiao Chen didn't expect this either, but he was calmer than her. He said casually, "Quite self-conceited."
Yu Na was so surprised that she couldn't speak. She had actually wanted to try Xiao Chen's birthday. But she thought, if it really was his birthday, he shouldn't be so mysterious about it.
So she tried her own birthday instead—940214. She didn't expect it to actually work.
Yu Na didn't dwell on his words. Her eyes were confused as she asked, "Why is it my birthday?"
Xiao Chen knocked on her head, "It's your home, not your birthday. Would it be my birthday?"
Your. Home.
Since when did he become so smooth with words.
Yu Na felt her heart racing. "......"
Xiao Chen brought his luggage in. "Stay here with peace of mind. I've arranged everything."
"Hmm?"
She followed him in, puzzled. Only then did she realize the feeling this time was completely different from last time.
Last time, the spacious one bedroom was empty and bare, interpreted minimalism to the extreme.
However this time, it was as if life had been breathed into the previously dreary space.
There were several plush toys on the living room sofa, including two very popular limited edition ones that were hard to grab.
There was also a rocking chair by the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The kitchen was no longer just for show like last time.
He had added new cookware and tableware, all neatly arranged.
The fridge was filled with ingredients—instant food, vegetables, beverages. The cupboards in the dining room were also filled with all kinds of snacks.
The open kitchen even had a mini bar counter with a few tall glasses on it.
There was a huge floor-to-ceiling window in the bedroom. Drawing the curtains open revealed the tightly packed high rises and the busy, fast-paced life below. The bedding had also been changed to a brand new set.
Yu Na was stunned. She felt honored and touched, "Did you buy all these new?"
"Yeah."
Xiao Chen walked to the living room with his hands in his pockets and sat in the rocking chair. He continued his previous words, "Just bring your luggage and check in. I'm quite easy-going, aren't I?"
"Actually—"
She wanted to say she could have bought these herself. But since he had already bought everything, what was the point in saying that now? She changed track and said, "How much was it? I'll pay you back."
"Tsk," Unlike his past "poor young master" demeanour, Xiao Chen acted very pretentiously and said, "This young master is now only left with money. I currently have little interest in that."
"......"
So cocky! So cocky!!
It was quite incredible that such words could come out of his mouth.
Yu Na asked, "So what are you interested in?"
Xiao Chen stared at her stubbornly for a moment, until the young lady became embarrassed. Only then did he retract his gaze. He coughed lightly with a fist over his mouth, "Qiao Rui's grades I guess."
"Ah, I know about that." Yu Na asked, "Starting this week?"
"What else?" Xiao Chen looked at the time, "Let's skip today. Give you time to settle down. Let's start tomorrow."
"Okay."
The next afternoon when Yu Na was packing up, she remembered that every time she went to Xiao Chen's place, he would come to pick her up.
But Huating No.1 was very near his place. She didn't want him to make the trip back and forth. It would be troublesome. So she sent Xiao Chen a WeChat message: 【I'll go over myself later. You don't have to come get me】
Xiao Chen had just put on his coat, ready to head out. Seeing the message, he stopped in his tracks.
His lips curved up slightly and he sat back down on the sofa.
It was just as well. They had all the time ahead of them. She would have to familiarize herself with the route sooner or later.
......
About three minutes later, Yu Na received Xiao Chen's reply—
1: 【?】
1:【When did I say I would pick you up?】
"......"
Yu Na's face turned red. She really wanted to scold him.
Couldn't he have just replied with a simple "okay"?!!
Xiao Chen sent another message:【I've informed the security guard. You just need to sign in and you can enter】
Following the map on her phone, Yu Na found Yunwan Mansion. After registering with the security guard, she smoothly entered the estate.
Xiao Chen was casually playing games on the sofa while poor Qiao Rui very miserably sat at the dining table studying.
Qiao Rui said he wanted to study in his room but Xiao Chen insisted that he study under his watch.
Fortunately he knew Yu Na was coming to tutor him. He kept glancing at the time, wondering why she still hadn't arrived yet.
Having that expressionless face of his cousin behind him was truly depressing!
So when Yu Na finally came, Qiao Rui was overjoyed and quickly went to welcome her.
He took out a new pair of women's slippers from the shoe cabinet, "Miss Yu, please."
Seeing the new slippers, Yu Na's eyes revealed a hint of surprise.
Qiao Rui pointed towards Xiao Chen's direction and whispered, "My brother specifically bought them for you!"
Yu Na followed his direction to look towards the living room. Xiao Chen's attention was fully absorbed in his game without a care about them.
Of course Qiao Rui had heard about the sensational news from that Friday.
As soon as he sat down at the dining table, he couldn't wait to ask for confirmation, "Miss Yu, I heard there was an extremely handsome driver in an ultra cool Rolls Royce waiting for you at the school gates last Friday! I even saw the photos!"
Yu Na: "............"
Qiao Rui excitedly asked, "Teacher, you— Dammit!"
Before he could finish speaking, his head hurt from a sudden blow, followed by the dizzying sensation of the world spinning around him.
Xiao Chen still held the book in his hand. His gaze was icy cold. The entire room seemed to emit oppressive cold air.
He leaned against the table, expressionless as he warned Qiao Rui, "I went through so much trouble to get your teacher to come. It's for you to study, not for you to gossip about other people's private affairs."
Qiao Rui painfully clutched his head. He wanted to explain but seeing Xiao Chen's murderous look, he immediately changed his attitude. "Alright alright. I won't ask. It's just a Rolls Royce. My brother has one too."
"......"
"But I'm just curious about the two people who got out of the car!"
Not wanting people to know too much about her, Yu Na vaguely explained, "Ah...they are my dad's employees. Nothing much to be curious about."
"Damn! So it's true?"
"What is?"
"Everyone says you are from an affluent family. I mean, with your family being that rich, why bother working as a teacher? It's tiring and the pay can't compare to your allowance. You might as well go back and inherit the family business."
Xiao Chen's voice suddenly came from behind, "What's it to you?"
Yu Na pressed her lips together, "Just an ordinary well-off family. Not that exaggerated."
Having said that, she turned her head, looking to Xiao Chen for help with pleading eyes.
The latter quickly caught on. He knocked on Qiao Rui's head with the book again. "Study. Don't make me repeat myself again."
"......"
Qiao Rui looked back with dissatisfaction, "Bro, you are really annoying."
......
Fortunately with Xiao Chen around, Qiao Rui didn't dare gossip too much.
When they finished, he enthusiastically invited, "Miss Yu, have dinner at our place."
Yu Na awkwardly scratched her head, "No need. I'm not very hungry." Xiao Chen immediately stopped himself from going to the kitchen to cook.
He looked up, "You sure?"
Yu Na glanced at him. "Yeah." Her voice was very soft.
She simply tidied up her things then got up. "I'll get going first then." She pointed at Qiao Rui seriously warning him, "If you're late again tomorrow, I'll make you do classroom duties."
Xiao Chen picked up his coat from the side. "I'll walk you back."
"No need. I—"
"I need to go downstairs to buy stuff."
Qiao Rui squinted, giving the two people meaningfully pushing each other back and forth a snicker in his heart.
As a token effort, Xiao Chen bought a bottle of water from a convenience store outside the estate.
When they reached Huating No.1, a gust of wind suddenly blew. Yu Na couldn't help but shiver.
The estates were so near she hadn't zipped up her jacket.
Seeing that, Xiao Chen handed her the mineral water bottle. "Hold this."
"Hmm?" Yu Na took it, puzzled.
The next second, Xiao Chen raised his hand, pinching the zipper of her clothes and zipping it up for her. His fingers inadvertently grazed her chin in the process.
The warm touch came and went in a flash.