Chapter 97: Little Fiancee Has Her Own Thoughts
Translator: Noodletown Translated Editor: Noodletown Translated
Hao Ren cultivated in Su Han’s office with his eyes closed until the vibration of his phone disturbed him at 6 o’clock.
“Where are you, Ren? Come for dinner at Hongji Square! I’m paying!” Zhao Jiayi cried out excitedly over the phone.
“I’ll pa.s.s. There’s something else I need to do,” Hao Ren said.
“d.a.m.n it, you!” Zhao Jiayi tried to convince him, but Hao Ren still said no. Therefore, he had to let it go.
“Time’s up. I’m out,” Hao Ren stood up and said to Su Han after he realized it was already six o’clock.
“Okay,” Su Han nodded.
Seeing that Su Han didn’t have anything else to say, Hao Ren left her office and took the bus to Zhao Yanzi’s place.
Today was the day her midterm results got released. Therefore, as her tutor as well as future husband, Hao Ren wanted to know as soon as possible.
Hao Ren knew that the dinner at Hongji Square with Zhao Jiayi wouldn’t end early, so he decided to pick Zhao Yanzi over the guys after some consideration.
The front door was half open for Hao Ren when he got there. He walked in and saw Zhao Hongyu putting several dishes on the dining table.
“Auntie!” Hao Ren greeted.
“Hehe, you are here. Zhao Guang went to pick Zi up, and they should be back soon as well,” Zhao Hongyu smiled lightly and said.
Hao Ren asked after a bit of hesitation, “Auntie, is it Zi’s birthday next month?”
“Um, yes. I thought she would tell you about it. Why? Are you preparing a gift for her?” Hao Hongyu asked casually as she laid out the plates in order.
“Will there be a lot of people that day? Is West Ocean coming as well? Aren’t East Ocean and West Ocean not getting along?” Hao Ren asked a few questions in a roll.
“Did Su Han tell you all this?” Zhao Hongyu laughed, “There’s no need to worry. You are already a part of our East Ocean, and we sure won’t let anyone hurt you.”
Zhao Hongyu rubbed his head as if he was Zi and said when she saw how worried Hao Ren was, “Don’t over-think; just act normal. If anything, Zi’s dad and I will take care of it.”
“Okay…” Hao Ren nodded. After Zhao Hongyu’s comforting words, there wasn’t much that Hao Ren could say. It seemed like there were indeed some conflicts between East Ocean and West Ocean. However, it was not an issue for Zhao Yanzi yet since her parents were dealing with all the pressure.
Pa! Zhao Yanzi opened the door and entered, holding Zhao Guang’s hand.
She pouted as soon as she saw Hao Ren in the room; she was still not over the fact that Hao Ren “bullied” her last night.
“Ok, go wash your hands, and let’s have dinner!” Zhao Hongyu said to both of them softly.
After the four of them had sat down at the table, Zhao Hongyu asked Hao Ren how his grandma was doing back home. Then, she asked if the tutoring for Zhao Yanzi got in the way of his own studies. She didn’t mention anything about the fight Hao Ren and Zhao Yanzi had last night on purpose.
Hao Ren answered each question politely while Zhao Yanzi made a cold face, ignoring him at the dinner table.
After that, Zhao Hongyu asked Zhao Guang about the invitations to Zi’s birthday party.
“I have already sorted out the list and asked Premier Xia to send the invitations out last time I went back to the Dragon Palace. So far, South Ocean, North Ocean, and West Ocean are all attending. A few River Dragon Kings who are located further will send their congratulating gifts. Several Lake Dragon Kings will show up as well,” Zhao Guang said.
“How many people from West Ocean are coming?” Zhao Hongyu asked.
“About 50 of them. And Old Zeng will be coming in person too,” Zhao Guang said as he picked up some vegetables with his chopstick.
“Isn’t he under his 100-year isolated cultivation? Why is he attending?” Zhao Hongyu asked.
“Hm, all because of this incident,” Zhao Guang said in disdain.
Zhao Hongyu slightly frowned and shook her head. “Though we are not afraid of him because Zhao Kuo is going to be there,” she said.
“That’s true. But the biggest problem is not Old Zeng. It’s the Inspectors from different regions. Su Han has a good relations.h.i.+p with us, and she never caused any trouble for East Ocean. But it’s hard to say if the other Inspectors will,” Zhao Guang said seriously.
Zhao Hongyu pointed at the dishes when she realized Hao Ren was listening carefully. “Eat first. We’ll talk about it later,” she said.
Hao Ren thought to himself, “Zhao Yanzi’s birthday is going to be a huge event. It looks like many powerful dragons are going to be present.”
“Oh, I met Zi’s Cla.s.s Advisor when I picked her up today,” Zhao Guang said all of a sudden.
“Oh, I was just about to ask. How was it? Zi’s midterm result should be out, right?” Zhao Hongyu was suddenly excited.
“It’s out, but her Cla.s.s Advisor didn’t tell me about it. She said that the report cards would be distributed during the Parent-Teacher Meeting tomorrow evening,” Zhao Guang said.
When her parents were talking about her grades, Zhao Yanzi was eating with her head down, pretending she didn’t hear them at all. However, Hao Ren a.s.sumed she did terrible from her reaction.
“Tomorrow evening? What a rush. I have been working on a design lately and won’t be able to make time for it tomorrow. Can you go instead?” Zhao Hongyu asked.
“I know you are busy these days, but I have been arranging things for Zi’s birthday event, and I have to pay a visit to Elder Mu from the Breeze Forest. You know people like him wouldn’t even come if I am not delivering the invitation myself. Once I’m there, he would insist on playing chess and having a chat. I don’t even know when I will be able to get back,” Zhao Guang was replied.
Zhao Hongyu sighed, “Tomorrow is the deadline for submitting the blueprint for Beijing’s New Times Square, and I really want to get the bid. There are only eight architectural design studios from all over the world that got the opportunity to bid for it.”
“Alright! Alright! It’s ok if you can’t come!” Zhao Yanzi shouted, dissatisfied.
Seeing their daughter throwing a tantrum, Zhao Hongyu and Zhao Guang looked at each other helplessly.
Just when Zhao Hongyu was about to give up her plan on bidding for the design, Hao Ren said, “I could go on your behalf.”
Zhao Guang and Zhao Hongyu looked at Hao Ren at the same time. Then, they looked at each other and nodded.
“That’s good. There shouldn’t be any important matters for this meeting besides the release of the report card,” Zhao Hongyu nodded at Hao Ren and said, “Then, please go on our behalf this time, Ren.”
“The Parent-Teacher Meeting starts at six O’clock tomorrow afternoon, and Zi is in Grade 8 Cla.s.s 2. Please don’t be late,” Zhao Guang said.
By saying this, he agreed to the idea of Hao Ren attending the meeting for them as well.
Hao Ren suddenly thought of Zhao Yanzi’s Third Uncle. But then, he remembered that man’s temper; it would be a miracle for him not to offend the teachers. Zhao Guang would not dare to let him go to the Parent-Teacher Meeting at all. His bad temper would explode if the teachers said something bad about Zhao Yanzi, and he did have the ability to destroy the school with an easy blow.
After the matter had been settled, they chitchatted for a little while before dinner was finished.
Hao Ren followed Zi upstairs to get started with tutoring. At the same time, Zhao Guang and Zhao Hongyu stayed downstairs to discuss a few more things.
Zhao Yanzi’s pouted her mouth as soon as they got into her room.
Having ignored her att.i.tude, Hao Ren took the books out and said, “We are still focusing on English today, and you will learn the difference between ‘to’ and ‘for’ and when they should be used.”
Zhao Yanzi rested her arms on the desk and her chin on her hand, not focused at all; she didn’t look energetic in her blue uniform.
Hao Ren figured that this must be her usual position in cla.s.s since her grades were so bad.
“Listen carefully because this is very important and useful on tests,” Hao Ren knocked on the desk with his finger.
Zhao Yanzi was still not cooperating; her little mouth was puffing, and she was absent-minded today.
“What is this face? You are not going to pay attention anymore because the exams are over?” Hao Ren asked.
“My foot is still hurting from your grab yesterday!” Zhou Yanzi suddenly shouted at him.
“Is it? Well, your bite marks are still on my arm too,” Hao Ren rolled up his sleeve and showed her.
“You deserved that,” Zhao Yanzi growled.
“Oh, so I should just let you kick me and do nothing about it?” Hao Ren asked.
“Well, last night you…” her face blushed as she stopped mid-sentence.
Hao Ren remembered last night and looked down at her feet. She was wearing white student socks, and her lower legs showed a slight curve. It wasn’t showy, but the shape of her legs was pretty.
Seeing Hao Ren’s eyes moving down, Zhao Yanzi screamed out loud again, “You are still looking!”
“Aren’t you wearing it for people to look at?” Hao Ren asked.
“Pervert!” Zhao Yanzi threw her fist at Hao Ren.
He caught her little fist and laughed, “Alright, I won’t mess with you anymore. Let’s start.”
However, Zhao Yanzi stared at him and said, “You apologize first!”
Hao Ren kept on laughing with her fist in his hand.
“You sneaked a peek at my legs yesterday. Apologize for it!” Zhao Yanzi went on; she looked just like a sa.s.sy girlfriend.
“Ok, ok, ok, I shouldn’t have checked your legs out,” Hao Ren said.
“Are you sorry?” Zhao Yanzi wasn’t ready to let it slide.
Hao Ren sighed, “I am sorry.”
“That’s more like it!” Zhao Yanzi took her fist back, but she still squinted her eyes in anger.
Hao Ren couldn’t help but laugh at this little girl who had been upset about it all day.
“I’ll just check out your smooth legs…later on…” Hao Ren stopped his thoughts right there. It would make him a pervert if he kept on thinking about it.
“The lesson for today is the difference between prepositions ‘to’ and ‘for’ and when they are used with a subject,” Hao Ren opened his book and carried on with the lesson.
However, Zhao Yanzi stood up all of a sudden and ran out of the room.
“What is this girl doing? She is trying to p.i.s.s me off on purpose…” Hao Ren was a bit mad because she interrupted him twice in a roll.
Zhao Yanzi rushed back into the room just when Hao Ren was about to go out to find her; she almost ran into his arms.
“What are you doing?” Hao Ren asked as he sat back at the desk after Zhao Yanzi.
“Here!” she threw something in front of Hao Ren.
Hao Ren took a look and realized it was a band-aid. He asked in confusion, “What are you giving me this for?”
“For your wound, stupid!” Zhao Yanzi said rudely.
“I have your bite marks everywhere, and there is only one band-aid,” Hao Ren glimpsed at her.
“It’s for this!” Zhao Yanzi sounded even more upset as she pointed at Hao Ren’s left elbow.
Hao Ren lifted his arm but didn’t see the injury. He touched where he couldn’t see with his right hand and felt the pain.
“There is indeed a wound here…” Hao Ren thought, “Not sure if I got injured during rock climbing or got scratched while I was playing basketball today.”
He looked down at the band-aid on the desk and said to Zhao Yanzi, “Thanks.”
She turned her head away as her little pigtails wiggled, “Humph!”
Hao Ren laughed again. He ripped open the band-aid and tried to put it on his wound.
However, it was not easy to put it on precisely at such a blind spot. He tried to stick it on with his right hand while bending the left elbow. Since he couldn’t see anything, he could only rely on his touch. Hao Ren failed after a few times, looking like a gorilla that was scratching itself.
“Stupid!” Zhao Yanzi couldn’t stand it anymore. She took the band-aid and put it on his wound in no time.
“Could have offered the help a long time ago,” Hao Ren thought to himself.
However, he was still a little touch by the band-aid she got for him; she brought it over as soon as she noticed the wound.
The only problem was the cartoon pattern on this pink band-aid. He decided not to bother since it would be hidden under his sleeve.
“Now, we are going to talk about the prepositions ‘to’ and…” Hao Ren continued with his cla.s.s, and Zhao Yanzi finally calmed down and started taking notes.
Her grades were terrible, but her handwriting was pretty nice to look at.
After an hour, Zhao Guang came in to get Hao Ren and ask how it was going. Since Zhao Hongyu was working on her design in the attic, Zhao Guang led Hao Ren into the next room; the smell of bug repellent was gone.
Zhao Guang asked him some details regarding his cultivation.
Hao Ren’s proficiency in practicing the Spirit Concentration Scroll had become better and better. However, breaking through was not just a matter of proficiency.
Zhao Guang took some time to answer Hao Ren’s questions on cultivation. After having gotten Zhao Guang, Premier Xia, and Su Han’s instructions as well as Lu Qing’s caring advice, Hao Ren was able to grasp more and more critical points in cultivating the Spirit Concentration Scroll. He could gather ideas from all of them and have them support each other.
Not just anyone could have the opportunity to get help from these four masters; especially when it was only on a basic technique like this. Hao Ren’s sincere eagerness to learn was one of the reasons why they were all willing to teach him everything they knew.
It was almost nine o’clock after Zhao Guang’s tutoring section, and Hao Ren’s comprehension towards the Spirit Concentration Scroll reached another level.
He went back into Zhao Yanzi’s room and found her doing her homework. She had already changed into her pajamas, which made her look pretty cute.
Hao Ren picked up the books and asked her, “You…did badly on the exams?”
He wanted to ask her this question for a long time, but he held it back until he was leaving.
“If I did badly, then you must be a bad teacher,” she lifted her head and said.
Hao Ren shook his head and smiled as he left her room. Hao Ren didn’t want Zhao Guang to give him a ride to school; instead, he insisted on taking the bus.
“If she did well, then it must have been her own hard work. I’m doing such a thankless task,” Hao Ren thought.