Su Xi's family background

Ling Jiuzhe glanced at her slightly baby-faced face, fair and soft, with a faint flush spreading from her earlobes, like floating clouds tinged with the color of the evening sky, rosy and white, making her look especially youthful—more like a high school student than a university student.

Perhaps out of a sense of elderly affection, he suppressed the cold and harsh aura around him and instructed David to back off. He spoke softly, "You can get down now."

Su Xi first glanced back and then pretended to be calm as she let go and jumped down. As soon as her feet hit the ground, she quickly stood behind the man, avoiding eye contact with the dog, which was staring at her.

The man seemed to chuckle lightly and walked towards David. She watched his back and, in retrospect, realized how close she'd been to him earlier—so close that she could smell his faint cold fragrance, like mountain spring water on a chilly spring day, cold and crisp, with a subtle woody scent in the aftertone.

The man crouched down beside David, patted its neck, and spoke indifferently, "David generally doesn't attack people."

But Su Xi could detect an unusual implication in his words—was he implying she wasn't a good person?

She looked at the dog and realized it was a purebred adult German Shepherd, even taller and more robust than usual, quite intimidating.

She lowered her gaze and, imitating his indifferent tone, remarked, "Such familiar news of innocent bystanders getting bitten by dogs."

Ling Jiuzhe paused for a moment, then glanced at her with his dark eyes, letting out a soft sneer. "You're sharp-tongued at such a young age!"

Just as Su Xi was about to respond, Ling Yinuo ran down the stairs with a bright smile. "Su Xi, you're here!"

She wore delicate light makeup and greeted Su Xi enthusiastically. "My parents are not home, so it's usually quiet here. This is my second uncle, the one you met yesterday. You can just call him second uncle!"

Su Xi glanced at Ling Jiuzhe, who wore a look as if he had swallowed a fly. She pursed her lips and stayed silent.

Ling Jiuzhe seemed to remember the small grudge from earlier and looked at her with a faint disdain. "Isn't it customary to greet your elders? You don't even understand this basic courtesy. I really wonder if you can handle being a tutor."

Ling Yinuo, not understanding why Ling Jiuzhe was targeting Su Xi, shot him a meaningful glance, but he ignored it.

Su Xi took a deep breath and, with obvious reluctance, squeezed out two words from between her teeth, "Second… Uncle!"

Ling Jiuzhe gave a stiff acknowledgment, then took David to the sofa.

Watching the arrogant Ling Jiuzhe, Su Xi couldn't help but believe he really was a notorious bully in Jiangcheng in the past!

"Yihang is upstairs, I'll take you to see him." Ling Yinuo smiled brightly and led Su Xi upstairs.

As they walked across the wooden floor, Su Xi glanced down and noticed the man affectionately patting the German Shepherd's head. The man and the dog seemed to be in perfect harmony.

But suddenly, Su Xi felt a pang of sadness for Baoxi, who had never forgotten Ling Jiuzhe. Baoxi often lay outside his old study, listening for any sounds inside, hoping its master would be there. But Ling Jiuzhe had long since forgotten Baoxi, having "moved on" to a new companion.

Turning the corner at the stairs, Ling Yinuo apologized, "Sorry, Su Xi, I know this is awkward. You don't understand my second uncle. He's very protective, but if you call him second uncle today, he'll help you if you need anything!"

Su Xi thought to herself that she would never ask him for help!

Despite her thoughts, she smiled and said, "Thank you, Yinuo."

"No need to thank me. We weren't close in school, but I've always admired you and wanted to be friends."

Su Xi smiled gently. "We're already friends!"

Ling Yinuo smiled sweetly, reaching to hold Su Xi's hand. Su Xi's body tensed for a brief moment, but she didn't pull away.

Arriving at Ling Yihang's door, Ling Yinuo knocked, saying, "Yihang, I'm coming in!"

When there was no response, Ling Yinuo pushed the door open.

Inside was a small living area, with the bathroom to the right and the bedroom on the left. The décor was all in styles boys typically like—comics, space, realistic guns, all kinds of elements, yet not chaotic.

A boy, around ten years old, was slouched on the sofa, playing a game on his tablet. He didn't look up when he heard someone enter.

"Ling Yihang, this is your new tutor. She's my classmate, and you're not allowed to bully her!" Ling Yinuo pretended to be stern. "Got it?"

Ling Yihang glanced over briefly, muttered a disinterested "Oh," and then went back to his game.

Ling Yinuo took a deep breath, suppressing her frustration. She didn't want Su Xi to give up, so she quickly added, "My brother is hard to deal with. Please don't give up!"

"Don't worry!" Su Xi gave Ling Yinuo a reassuring look.

Since she had agreed, she would do her best. Though Ling Jiuzhe was unpleasant, Ling Yinuo had been very kind to her.

Ling Yinuo took Su Xi a few steps back towards the door, saved Ling Jiuzhe's phone number on Su Xi's phone, and whispered, "I've got plans, I'm leaving now. You two work things out. If he bullies you, you can always contact my second uncle!"

Su Xi figured even if Ling Yihang kicked her out of the Ling family, Ling Jiuzhe wouldn't care.

Ling Yinuo left, and Su Xi walked around the room for a bit before coming to the desk. Homework was spread out there, untouched.

She walked back to the sofa and sat next to Ling Yihang. She spoke in a calm tone, "You're not doing your homework, and you're causing trouble. Are you trying to get your parents' attention?"

As soon as their parents left, the tutor had quit, and he was clearly provoking them on purpose!

Ling Yihang paused his game, glanced at her, his eyes filled with a hostility beyond his years. "Mind your own business, or I'll make sure you can't stay here for even a day!"

Su Xi remained unfazed and continued, "Trying to get attention through rebellion is a childish behavior."

Ling Yihang clenched his tablet tightly, his face tense but silent.

Su Xi leaned in, looking at him, "Playing games? Why don't you do your homework first? Once you're done, I'll play with you."

Ling Yihang sneered, "You just mocked me for being childish, and now you're treating me like a child. Are all adults like this—double standards?"

Su Xi frowned, "Who's the adult? I'm still a kid, you know!"

Ling Yihang looked at her earnest face and couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Su Xi gave a helpless smile, took out her phone, and said, "Forget it, I'm not foolish enough to take on this impossible task. Since I'm here, I'll play a game with you for a bit before I leave."

Ling Yihang looked at her suspiciously.

Su Xi opened the game on her phone, lowering her eyelashes as she spoke lightly, "I'm serious. I didn't want to tutor you, but your sister felt sorry for me and insisted I come."

Ling Yihang furrowed his brow, "What does she feel sorry for you about?"

Su Xi pursed her lips, her voice growing quieter. "I grew up without parents. My grandfather raised me. He worked hard to make money so I could go to school. He's been sick recently, and I want to earn money to help him get treatment."

She choked up for a moment as she spoke.

Ling Yihang's brow furrowed deeper, and after a moment's hesitation, he put down his tablet. "So if you tutor me, you'll have money to treat your grandfather?"

Su Xi's heart leaped in triumph. She had guessed correctly—Ling Yinuo's parents were often away, and she had a closer bond with her grandparents. Hearing about someone else's grandfather being sick would naturally make her empathetic.

Su Xi turned, her eyes shiny with suppressed tears, pretending to be composed. "Yes, tutoring you pays more than teaching others, and it'll let me get the money for my grandfather's treatment faster."

Ling Yihang looked away, appearing unwilling but reluctantly said, "Fine, I'll let you stay, but it's only because of your grandfather."

Su Xi almost laughed. He didn't even know who her grandfather was, yet he claimed he was helping because of him!

She kept her expression neutral, appearing a bit troubled. "If I stay here, you'll need to cooperate with me. Get your homework done quickly. If I'm a useless tutor, your second uncle will kick me out fast. Rich families don't make money so easily!"

"How troublesome!" Ling Yihang muttered as he put down his tablet and walked to the desk. "Fine, write quickly! And don't forget what you said earlier—once the homework is done, you're playing with me!"

"Yes, sir!" Su Xi grinned and stood up.

...

Ling Jiuzhe had been downstairs for about an hour. As he passed by Ling Yihang's room on the second floor, he suddenly wanted to check if Su Xi could really handle tutoring Ling Yihang.

The door was half open. Before he got close, he overheard the commotion inside.

"I'm going to die!"

"Where are you? Hurry and save me!"

Ling Yinuo's frustrated voice was heard, "You rookie, what's the fuss? That's me!"

"Huh?"

Ling Jiuzhe pushed the door open, just as Su Xi looked up, still a bit dazed, likely still immersed in the game, wearing a confused and dazed expression.

"What are you two doing?" he asked with a stern face.