Chapter 113: Rob Him!

Following the address provided by a certain policewoman, Xiang Ri arrived at the location where he was to begin his work. 

This family was evidently far from ordinary, as there was not a single resident in the Zhenlong Villa District whose wealth fell below the billionaire threshold. 

Indeed, Xiang Ri's tutoring assignment was at Zhenlong Villa No. 58—a number imbued with auspicious significance. 

After ringing the doorbell, the door was opened by a stunning woman whose exact age was indiscernible. She appeared to be in her early thirties, but Xiang Ri was certain she was older. 

Dressed casually in loose-fitting loungewear, she exuded a unique, languid charm. Upon seeing Xiang Ri at the door, she paused, seemingly taken aback. "And you are?" 

"I'm... here to provide tutoring," Xiang Ri explained, slightly awkward but direct. 

"Oh, so you're the English teacher Xiao Wan mentioned. Please, come in." Realizing his purpose, the woman showed neither disdain for his modest attire nor undue curiosity, though her eyes lingered briefly on the thick bandage wrapped around his right hand. She then graciously welcomed him inside, guiding him to a seat on the living room sofa. 

"Would you like something to drink?" the elegant woman asked politely. 

Feeling ill at ease due to the unfamiliar situation, Xiang Ri shook his head. "No, thank you. Shall we begin now?" 

Sensing his discomfort, she smiled gently. "There's no need to be so formal. Consider this your own home. By the way, may I know your surname? Judging by your age, you must still be a student." 

"My surname is Xiang, and yes, I'm a student." 

"Ah, that explains it. But don't your classes end quite early? My daughter Meng Meng hasn't returned home yet. You may have to wait a little while." 

"No problem, I can wait." Xiang Ri thought to himself that this was far more challenging than collecting protection fees. At least in the latter scenario, dissatisfaction could be resolved with force—a method he much preferred. 

"She should be back soon," the woman said after checking the time. Though Xiang Ri declined a drink, she still brought him a cup of fragrant tea, its aroma captivating and of evident quality. 

Taking a sip, Xiang Ri found the tea's flavor lingered pleasantly, though his lack of expertise prevented him from identifying its type. 

The woman observed his neutral reaction with mild surprise but maintained her warm smile. She asked casually, "Mr. Xiang, may I inquire about your connection to Xiao Wan..." 

At that moment, the front door opened silently, and a 15- or 16-year-old girl stepped inside, her features delicate and endearing. "Mom, I'm home." 

The elegant woman ceased her questioning and beckoned her daughter over. She introduced her to Xiang Ri, saying, "This is my daughter Meng Meng. She just started high school this year." Then, turning to her daughter, she said, "This is your new English tutor, Mr. Xiang. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask him." 

"Okay," Meng Meng responded softly, her shy demeanor making her lower her head almost to her chest. 

"Hello!" Xiang Ri greeted warmly, determined to appear approachable. Initially, he had braced himself for a spoiled, unruly child born into such a wealthy family, but he was relieved to find her far from his expectations. She seemed the kind of girl who would be easy to guide. 

"Hello, teacher," Meng Meng murmured, her voice so faint that Xiang Ri barely caught it. 

Sensing the growing awkwardness between the two, the elegant woman decided to excuse herself. "Well then, Mr. Xiang, if you're ready, you can start now. I have some matters to attend to and won't disturb you. Meng Meng, take the teacher to your room and remember to behave." 

"Okay," Meng Meng replied softly. She then turned to Xiang Ri, saying, "Teacher, please follow me." Leading the way upstairs, she kept her head lowered the entire time, as if searching for non-existent ants on the floor. 

The room they entered was a quintessential teenage girl's bedroom, dominated by shades of pink. From the furniture to the book covers, every detail reflected the occupant's deep fondness for the color. 

"Teacher, may I ask you a question?" Meng Meng suddenly spoke, her head now raised, catching Xiang Ri off guard. 

"Sure, go ahead," he replied, his attention still on the room's decor. Then, realizing something was amiss, he turned abruptly. 

The girl had spoken in fluent English, her tone polished and confident. Distracted, Xiang Ri had automatically replied in English as well. 

"What do you think would happen if I screamed right now and accused you of misconduct?" Meng Meng asked innocently, her large eyes gleaming with mischief. 

"..." Xiang Ri was momentarily petrified. Was this the same shy girl who had just entered the house? All traces of timidity were gone, replaced by an unnerving cleverness that seemed out of place for someone her age. 

"Well, teacher? You haven't answered my question," she pressed, her expression playful yet cunning. 

Regaining his composure, Xiang Ri couldn't help but laugh bitterly. This sharp-witted girl had completely outmaneuvered him. Her earlier shyness must have been an act, performed for her mother's benefit. 

Judging by her fluency, anyone doubting her proficiency in English would find themselves thoroughly mistaken. But if her English was this good, why did she need a tutor? Moreover, her mother seemed genuinely unaware of her daughter's capabilities. 

Smiling wryly, Xiang Ri said, "If you did that, your mother would probably come after me with a vengeance." 

"Good. As long as you understand." Meng Meng smirked triumphantly. "So, you'll do exactly as I say from now on, or you can guess the consequences." 

Rubbing his nose, Xiang Ri found himself unable to be angry. "Fine, I'll do as you wish. But can you tell me why you pretended your English wasn't good?"

Unexpectedly, the girl's expression turned cold upon hearing his question. "That's none of your business! Hmph! Just do as I say." 

"And what exactly do you want me to do?" 

"It's simple. Go out and tell my mom you suddenly remembered something urgent, then leave." 

"Hmm?" Xiang Ri was more confused than ever. 

"Don't worry, I'll make it worth your while." The girl pulled a thick stack of cash from her pink drawer and handed it to Xiang Ri. "Here's ten thousand. Consider it your compensation for the missed tutoring fee and a little hush money for keeping this between us." 

Xiang Ri stared at her in silence. 

"Actually, you should know, I don't even need to pay you this much. I didn't expect my mom to find a tutor so soon—I thought it would be tomorrow or the day after. Today is my classmate's birthday, and I need to attend. But if you're here, I can't find any excuse to leave. Now you understand, don't you?" 

Unconsciously, Xiang Ri nodded, though his mind was still trying to catch up. 

"All right, now you can go. But make sure to put the money away before you leave, or my mom might see it." 

After bidding farewell to the regretful-looking beautiful woman, Xiang Ri left the grand residence at No. 58. He decided he needed a drink at a bar to clear his mind—and perhaps check on another matter while he was at it. 

He called Miss Chu to "inform" her of a classmate's invitation, making it clear he wouldn't be home for dinner. Then, he hailed a cab and headed to a specific bar. 

"More drinks, everyone!" Monkey, a rowdy companion, shouted enthusiastically inside the bar. 

"More, my foot!" Xiang Ri cursed with a laugh. After several rounds of strong liquor, he was beginning to feel a bit tipsy. "Having one drink with you is already generous. Look at your beer—how dare you think you can compete with my whiskey? Scram!" 

Monkey's face flushed red with embarrassment as he sheepishly replied, "How could I ever match your drinking skills, boss? If we really went head-to-head, I'd have been down for the count long ago." 

"By the way, how's that task I assigned you?" 

"I've got it all figured out. Ninth People's Hospital, Room 107." 

"Did you attract any attention?" 

"No way, boss. I handled it personally. But honestly, your teacher… she's stunning. Only someone like you could—" 

"Watch your mouth! She's my teacher! And don't even think about trying anything funny, or I'll make sure you regret it!" 

"Understood, boss, understood…" Monkey nodded repeatedly. Although he had been tasked with tailing the most beautiful teacher at the university, he remained convinced Xiang Ri was romantically interested in her. He wouldn't dare harbor any thoughts of his own. 

"One more thing, Monkey. Find some guys from the university's circle. I need them to help me deal with some scum." 

"Oh? Who's the target, boss? When it comes to handling people, that's my specialty," chimed in a chubby man drinking nearby. 

"It's a teacher named Ma Rong. For this job, let the younger guys handle it. Fatty, you can tag along if you like, but don't kill him. As for… accidents, like a car crash, those tend to happen quite easily, don't they?" A cold gleam flashed in Xiang Ri's eyes. 

Fatty immediately grasped his meaning and chuckled knowingly. "Don't worry, boss. Consider it done. It'll look like pure coincidence." 

"Good." Xiang Ri nodded approvingly and handed him a completed check. "Here's five hundred thousand, Fatty. Make sure the guys are well-compensated. Divide it as you see fit." 

"Thank you, boss!" Fatty clutched the check with glee, while the underlings around him looked equally thrilled. Five hundred thousand—each cut would be substantial. Following someone like Xiang Ri was a dream; there was no need for risky jobs like collecting debts or fighting, yet the rewards were lavish. 

Monkey, however, looked slightly disheartened. Knowing his thoughts, Xiang Ri pulled out another check and handed it to him. "Monkey, stop looking like a ghost! Here's another five hundred thousand for your legwork today. Keep two hundred thousand for yourself and distribute the rest among the guys." 

"What? Thank you, boss!" Monkey exclaimed in delight. He hadn't expected to earn such a high reward just for running an errand. His earlier disappointment vanished in an instant. 

"All right, I'm heading out. Call me if anything comes up." 

As Xiang Ri left the bar, the cold night breeze sobered him slightly. Heading home in his current state would certainly provoke a certain someone's ire. He decided to walk instead, letting the chill wind dissipate the scent of alcohol on him. 

Under the neon lights, Xiang Ri strolled leisurely down the street. 

A group of teenagers approached from the opposite direction, their faces alight with excitement as if they'd taken something illicit. Their loud chatter was barely coherent. 

"Bro, it's your birthday. What exciting activity should we do tonight?" asked one boy walking side-by-side with another. 

"Something thrilling?" the so-called "bro" belched before replying. 

"The more thrilling, the better!" The first boy shouted, and the rest of the group echoed enthusiastically. 

"Let's rob someone," the leader suggested. 

"Rob someone?" The group gasped in shock, then immediately cheered in agreement. 

"So, who do we rob?" asked a soft female voice. 

"Whoever we see, of course. Look, there's someone coming right now. It's like fate is helping us out." 

"Let's get him!"