YABE - 24

Jiang Xu poured the milk into a glass and went to call her. He knocked on the door a few times, and heard a muffled “come in” from inside.

Suppressing a smile, he turned the handle and entered, only to see the young girl sitting in a small bundle at the edge of the bed, looking at him with unease.

“Why didn’t you come out?” Jiang Xu walked over and sat down beside her, speaking gently.

Wen Siyu looked up but hesitated to speak.

“What’s wrong?”

“Teacher Jiang.” Her gaze was worried. “Are you not allowed to date?”

Jiang Xu paused.

“Do you mean we can’t let Zhou Yi know you have a girlfriend? Will you get scolded?” Wen Siyu asked carefully.

The corner of Jiang Xu’s lips twitched. “Hmm, maybe.”

The girl’s expression became panicked. She abruptly lifted her head to look at him, then slowly lowered it again. “Teacher Jiang, I’ll stay quiet outside. I’ll pretend nothing happened and won’t cause trouble for you.” Wen Siyu bit her lip, her voice trembling, “So, could you…?”

She couldn’t finish, but he understood what she wanted to say.

Her head hung low, her lower lip marked with white imprints from biting it, her fingers gripping the edge of the bed tightly.

“Wen Siyu.” Jiang Xu called her name sternly.

Wen Siyu didn’t dare to look up.

Jiang Xu reached out to lift her chin, making her meet his gaze.

His deep brown eyes were lighter in the sunlight, with a beautiful sheen.

At that moment, those striking eyes locked onto hers, filled with seriousness and sincerity.

“Wen Siyu, I like you, and you like me, right?”

With her chin held by him, she nodded.

“Good,” Jiang Xu continued. “Right now, my only identity to you is your boyfriend. You’re dating someone named Jiang Xu. Whatever other girls do to be affectionate or playful with their boyfriends, you should do double that with me. You need to understand your position. Even if you announce to the whole world that I’m your boyfriend, it’s your right. You don’t need to hide or overthink things. As long as you’re happy, anything goes. Do you understand?”

His voice was deep and unhurried.

Wen Siyu’s mind was a chaotic mess, her eyes heating up. She could only nod messily as tears streamed down her face.

Jiang Xu was a little stunned. Sighing deeply, he pulled her into his arms. “Why are you crying, little one?”

“I feel so scared,” the girl sobbed against his shoulder. “How could Teacher Jiang possibly like me…?”

“There doesn’t need to be a reason,” Jiang Xu patted her back rhythmically. “I just do.”

Wen Siyu sniffled. “I’m so afraid… Afraid it’s all a dream. My heart feels so careful, so afraid of waking up.”

Her words made Jiang Xu feel as though something had crushed the tip of his heart.

He steadied her shoulders and pushed her back slightly to look at her.

The girl’s pale face was streaked with tears, her eyelashes glistening with droplets.

Jiang Xu closed his eyes and kissed her wet eyelids, wiping away her tears.

“Then don’t wake up,” he said.

“I’ll stay in this dream with you forever.”

When the two of them came out, the bread and milk had already gone cold. Zhou Yi was nibbling on a golden piece of toast, shaking his leg while glancing at them sideways.

Catching sight of the girl’s red, rabbit-like eyes, Zhou Yi let out an exaggerated “Oh!” and clicked his tongue. “Jiang Xu, you beast.”

Jiang Xu ignored him, heading into the kitchen to reheat the milk.

Wen Siyu walked over to the dining table and sat down, apologizing sincerely to Zhou Yi: “Brother Zhou Yi, I’m sorry. I won’t affect Teacher Jiang’s career.”

“No, no, no, absolutely not,” Zhou Yi panicked, terrified that the pot of milk in Jiang Xu’s hand might fly toward his head at any moment. He waved his hands frantically. “Please, go ahead and affect his career! I’ve waited for this day for ages. Finally, someone has tamed this demon. I want to buy a thousand-cracker firecracker to celebrate and spread the word. If he keeps tormenting me like this, I’ll age twenty years prematurely.”

“But why are you still calling him Teacher Jiang?” Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow after stuffing the last piece of toast into his mouth. “What kind of kinky game are you two playing?”

Wen Siyu’s ears turned red at his comment. Just then, Jiang Xu returned with the reheated milk and placed it in front of her. Without hesitation, he kicked the leg of Zhou Yi’s chair. “None of your business.”

Zhou Yi exaggeratedly gasped, turning to complain to Wen Siyu: “Sis-in-law, look at him flying high. He thinks he’s untouchable.” Then, turning back to Jiang Xu, he whined, “What about my milk? I want warm milk too.”

“Not happening. Want warm milk? Go heat it yourself in the bathroom,” Jiang Xu said coldly.

Zhou Yi: “... Are all of you who have girlfriends this nasty?”

Jiang Xu ignored him, focusing intently on watching his girlfriend drink her milk. Carefully, he asked her, “Do you want some sugar?”

Zhou Yi feigned being hurt for a second, then made a gagging face.

Breakfast ended around nine o’clock—not exactly early. Wen Siyu had class at ten-thirty, so Jiang Xu drove her to the school gate. With one hand on the steering wheel, he helped her unbuckle her seatbelt. “Go ahead.”

Seated in the passenger seat, Wen Siyu puffed up her cheeks, hesitating. Eventually, she leaned over and planted a quick kiss on the man’s cheek before darting back. “I’m leaving!” she declared, reaching for the car door.

Caught off guard by her sudden move, Jiang Xu froze for a moment. When he finally processed what happened, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back, pressing his lips to hers and teasing her tongue with his.

Wen Siyu melted under his kiss, her small hands pushing weakly against his chest.

Her eyes were rimmed red, her breath shallow, her lips bright and glistening.

Jiang Xu narrowed his eyes, unsatisfied. “Didn’t I tell you not to seduce an older man?”

“But we’re not in bed right now!” Wen Siyu retorted.

“Oh—” Jiang Xu drawled, his tone suggestive. “The car can be dangerous too.”

His words carried a hidden meaning, causing Wen Siyu to avert her gaze.

Jiang Xu chuckled, ruffling her hair before returning his attention to the steering wheel. “Go ahead. Pay attention in class.”

Wen Siyu gave a soft “Oh,” but didn’t move.

Jiang Xu raised an eyebrow at her.

The girl reached out and grabbed his large hand resting on the steering wheel, leaning her head closer. “Pat my head again.”

Her voice was soft, like a kitten seeking affection.

Jiang Xu’s heart softened, though another part of him hardened.

Looking at her flushed lips, he wanted to kiss her again.

Women truly were terrifying creatures.

He raised his hand and lightly tapped her forehead. “Hurry up and go.”

Wen Siyu clutched her head, pouting pitifully at him before opening the car door and stepping out.

After walking a few steps, she turned back, running up to the car window.

Jiang Xu rolled down the window, amused by her antics.

Wen Siyu smiled brightly, her eyes crinkling. “Teacher Jiang.”

“Hmm?”

“I really, really like you.”

Jiang Xu was momentarily stunned.

Before he could respond, she spun around and ran off.

Her small figure bounced as her long hair swayed with her movements.

By the time Jiang Xu realized it, he found himself grinning uncontrollably.

Women were truly terrifying.

Wen Siyu spent the entire day smiling like an idiot.

Resting her chin on her hands, she giggled ceaselessly at her teacher, alarming her roommate.

Qu Xiawan pressed her palm against Wen Siyu’s head, turning her around and looking at her sternly.

Wen Siyu giggled, “Hehehehehe, Xiawan, what’s wrong, hehehehe.”

Qu Xiawan: “...”

Terrified, she scooted her chair farther away, staring at Wen Siyu seriously. “What did you do last night?”

Wen Siyu stopped laughing.

“I’m asking you!”

Wen Siyu thought for a moment. “I stayed at a friend’s place.”

“Pfft.” Qu Xiawan dismissed her excuse with disdain. “How come I’ve never heard of you having a friend here in the past two years?”

Wen Siyu gave a soft “Oh.” “It was my boyfriend.”

Qu Xiawan assumed she was joking and didn’t take it seriously. “Senior Yuan came looking for you yesterday.”

Wen Siyu’s smile faltered.

“He said he’d come find you again today.”

Wen Siyu felt like she was choking on her saliva.

Wen Siyu: “Oh.”

Five seconds after her “Oh,” she started giggling uncontrollably again.

Qu Xiawan: “...”

She couldn’t stop smiling all day, overwhelmed with happiness. Unable to resist, Wen Siyu took out her phone and posted a Weibo update.

No picture, just three words and a period:

[Koi Fairy Fourth Guard: Hehehe.]

After dropping her off, Jiang Xu returned home to find Zhou Yi lounging on the couch, flipping through a magazine with his legs crossed.

Seeing Jiang Xu enter, he glanced up lazily and snorted, “Finished being all lovey-dovey?”

Jiang Xu maintained his usual poker face, but his brows and eyes betrayed his obvious joy, looking like a child who had just eaten candy. Watching him, Zhou Yi couldn’t help but shake his head in amazement.

Jiang Xu flopped onto the couch, pulling out his phone. “Where’s the script?”

“Do you think I’m God? You want something, and poof, it appears?” Zhou Yi snapped, unable to hold back. “You insist on taking this role even though you suck at singing. Are you insane? Give me one good reason!”

“She mentioned it before during her livestreams.”

Zhou Yi blinked, confused. “What?”

Jiang Xu’s finger, scrolling through his phone, paused. Slowly, a smirk crept onto his lips.

Zhou Yi grew more puzzled. “What?!”

Suddenly, the man stood up and walked into the bedroom, his voice trailing off behind the closing door: “Likes men who sing folk songs.”

Zhou Yi: “...”

Unbelievable.

Five minutes later, a notification pinged on Zhou Yi’s phone—a verification code.

A crack opened in the bedroom door, and Jiang Xu’s deep voice drifted out: “Zhou Yi, the verification code.”

Without thinking, Zhou Yi read it aloud before realizing what he had done. Rushing over, he complained as he walked, “What’s going on? Did you use my phone to register on some shady site? Jiang Xu, are you even human?” Entering the bedroom, he saw Jiang Xu sitting in front of the computer.

Zhou Yi leaned over to peek. What he saw was a clean, brand-new Weibo interface.

The ID belonged to a fan of Fourth Guard.

At that moment, this fan was diligently typing 【Koi Fairy Fourth Guard】 into the search bar, following the account.

Then, clicking into the first tweet, which contained just three characters: Hehehe.

Jiang Xu scrolled down, smirking as he viewed the comments from bewildered and curious fans. Feeling satisfied, he proudly clicked the like button, wearing a childish grin as if showing off.