Having known each other for so many years, this had always been his style of teaching.
Those who accomplish great things don’t fuss over minor details.
So, it’s essential to stay calm.
Lin Zhexia counseled herself internally, quickly adjusting her emotions: “You’re going to such trouble, actually willing to move your noble fingers to leave your priceless handwriting on my homework. I’m extremely, extremely touched.”
Chi Yao tossed down the pen, completely ignoring her approach.
Lin Zhexia followed the steps he provided to correct her previous answers.
Chi Yao often explained problems to her.
So often that Lin Zhexia took it for granted.
As she erased and corrected her original answers, she chatted with Chi Yao about his recent visit to a relative in the neighboring city: “By the way, which relative did you visit these past few days?”
“In the neighboring city.”
Chi Yao said, “A relative’s child was having their first birthday celebration.”
While continuing to make corrections, Lin Zhexia said, “Did they have the tradition where the baby picks objects? When I was little, I picked…”
Before she could finish her sentence.
Chi Yao completed it for her: “You grabbed the tablecloth.”
“Did I mention that before?” Lin Zhexia couldn’t remember, after all, with so many conversations between her and Chi Yao every day, it was hard to recall what had or hadn’t been said, “You have such a good memory.”
Chi Yao spoke with a hint of mockery: “Oh, this has nothing to do with memory. Anyone would remember if a person repeated the stupid things they’ve done more than three times.”
“…”
Lin Zhexia appropriately changed the subject: “What did you pick when you were little? You probably didn’t pick anything, right?”
Indeed, Chi Yao hadn’t picked anything.
“It wasn’t held,” he said.
“Wasn’t held?”
“The first birthday celebration,” Chi Yao said indifferently, “that year, the family business was too busy.”
Lin Zhexia recalled Chi Yao’s mother’s somewhat cold, imposing face. She had heard from Lin He a long time ago that Chi Yao’s mother had returned to work soon after giving birth. For such a strong career woman, not holding a first birthday celebration wasn’t surprising at all.
After a moment, Lin Zhexia said, “So you didn’t pick anything.”
“…?”
She continued, enunciating each word: “No wonder now, you’re so, not a thing.”
After Chi Yao returned, Lin Zhexia’s homework found a home.
Starting from the second day after Chi Yao came back.
Lin Zhexia frequently brought her homework to Chi Yao’s place.
“Mom,” Lin Zhexia said hurriedly as she rushed out one day, “I’m going to Chi Yao’s house. I might not come back for lunch, don’t wait for me.”
Sometimes Lin He would voice some concerns: “You’re a young lady now, don’t keep running to someone else’s house all the time like you did when you were little.”
Lin Zhexia: “It’s fine. In Chi Yao’s eyes, I don’t count as female. If I can barely qualify as a primate of the human species, that’s already pretty good.”
But besides Lin He, there was another person who had some objections.
When Lin Zhexia knocked on Chi Yao’s door with her homework, Chi Yao saw her and wanted to close the door.
Lin Zhexia, holding her homework, freed one hand to press against the door, trying to squeeze through the gap: “I’ve come to do my homework.”
Chi Yao spoke to her in a “you’re sick” tone: “Do you have a disease where you can’t do homework if you’re more than half a step away from my house?”
Lin Zhexia said, “The questions are a bit difficult…”
Chi Yao: “Changing locations probably won’t help; you might need to change your brain.”
Lin Zhexia continued to push: “Just consider it your good deed for the day.”
The door, which had been in a constant push-pull, suddenly stopped moving after she finished this sentence.
Chi Yao’s hand remained on the doorknob, no longer exerting force.
So the half-open door seemed like it was stuck.
Through that gap, she could just see half of Chi Yao’s face.
Lin Zhexia saw his bangs hanging in front of his eyes, his lean jaw, and the sudden smile that appeared.
His entire being gave off too much of a distant feeling; even when smiling, that cold, arrogant aura still lingered.
“Sorry.”
“I never do good deeds,” Chi Yao said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, “because I am not a thing.”
Lin Zhexia: “…”
Lin Zhexia suspected he was simply taking the opportunity for revenge.
That day she had just!