Chapter 25 - 025, Fighting while walking the dog is still okay.

Whether by design or coincidence, Ye Jiuliang reached the classroom door just as the bell rang for the end of class.

She hooked her lips into a small smile and turned to head to the cafeteria.

She hadn’t taken two steps before someone walking towards her blocked her path.

She looked up and met Wei Bei’s smiling eyes.

"Miss Ye."

Ye Jiuliang tugged at the corner of her mouth, "Is something the matter?"

"Miss Ye, are you heading to the cafeteria?" Wei Bei asked with a smile, internally remarking that his master’s predictions were indeed spot-on.

She truly had timed her return to school perfectly.

She asked, "Is there an issue?"

Wei Bei said, "It’s like this, my master heard Miss Ye had returned to class and asked me to invite you over."

Instinctively feeling that it was nothing good, Ye Jiuliang rejected, "I’m going to have lunch now, I don’t have time." She walked around him and left.

Arriving at the cafeteria in high spirits, Ye Jiuliang made a beeline for the takoyaki window.

"Auntie Lin, one serving of takoyaki, please."

She had often come here for takoyaki, and over time became quite familiar with Auntie Lin.

Recognizing her, Auntie Lin at the window said cheerfully, "Young lady, you’re late today, the takoyaki has already sold out."

"Sold out?" Ye Jiuliang was slightly surprised.

Usually, at this time, there were still plenty left.

"Yes, I don’t know what happened today, but Li Mohan bought all the takoyaki and distributed a serving to every student in the school," Auntie Lin said with a laugh.

Li Mohan?

Ye Jiuliang bared her teeth.

So it was Li Mochan playing tricks again, wasn’t it?

Remembering the bottle of wine from last night, she suddenly regretted it.

...

The spacious office was filled with the subtle scent of sandalwood.

The pen scratched on the paper, occasionally making a faint sound.

Li Mohan closed the file, his eyes shimmering with a faint luster, "Do you plan to stand outside the whole time?"

At his words, the ajar door opened.

Li Mohan leaned back, looked up, and met the girl’s black eyes, dark as the night; his thin lips suppressed a smile.

"Have you finished copying the house rules?" he teased heavily.

Ye Jiuliang casually pulled over a chair and sat across from him, "I should also thank Li Mohan for that, otherwise, I might still be grounded at home."

"Thank me?" he raised an eyebrow.

Still playing dumb, Ye Jiuliang hummed lightly.

She rested her clasped hands on the desk, leaned forward, and stared at him with a mock-serious smile, "I heard Li Mohan had a whim today and gave out takoyaki to every student in school?"

Li Mohan said, "You’re quite well-informed."

"I heard that every student got one, so I assume Li Mohan wouldn’t exclude me from this act of generosity, right?" Ye Jiuliang smiled playfully.

He countered lightly, "What do you think?"

"If Li Mohan didn’t save one for me, it’s no big deal. Sometimes a change of taste is not a bad idea," Ye Jiuliang said to herself.

"I think the fish in the Beisen Ornamental Fish Pond would taste quite good if grilled."

Li Mohan, "..."

This little wolf cub surely had a wealth of sly ideas.

A smile he hadn’t noticed crossed his eyes, and he gestured with his gaze towards the coffee table behind her, "The last one."

Ye Jiuliang turned her head, following his gaze, and her eyes landed on a package on the coffee table, making her burst into joy.

With a whoosh, she had already settled herself on the sofa.

Li Mohan stood up and sat opposite her.

"Is it really that delicious?" Watching the girl eat with relish, Li Mohan asked offhandedly.

Ye Jiuliang looked up with a light chuckle, "Want a taste?"

Li Mohan shook his head, and Ye Jiuliang didn’t insist, to each their own.

Suddenly, a twisted-open bottle of juice was handed to her face.

"Take it slow."

Ye Jiuliang took it and thanked him.

After taking a sip of juice, she looked up at him, "I heard Beisen just issued a new regulation, saying anyone who flunks the upcoming exam will have to leave Beisen?"

Li Mochan gave her a deep look, his thin lips parted slightly, "I remember someone also said that they’d make sure to pass the next exam."

"..."

Was she just outmaneuvered?

How frustrating.

After finishing a box of little round rice cakes, Ye Jiuliang wiped her mouth and prepared to slip away.

"Thank you for the lunch, I won’t disturb your work anymore."

"Wait a minute."

Li Mochan called out to her.

Her movement to stand halted, and from the corner of her eye, she saw the test papers in his hand, her mouth twitching.

Was he a devil?

"Do the test paper." With that, he handed her a set of questions and a pen.

Ye Jiuliang slipped down smoothly, settling onto the soft carpet, her face clearly showing "resistance."

"Can I not write it?"

Li Mochan gave her a glance, then neatly placed the test paper and the pen on the table, "Stay here and write, or go to the classroom for lessons, choose one."

The man’s voice was low and magnetic, and Ye Jiuliang, fighting the urge to tear up the test paper, picked up the pen, "I’ll write, okay?"

Going to the classroom to listen to "sermons," she’d rather stay here for some peace and quiet.

Li Mochan hooked his lips in satisfaction.

...

Even with an extra person, the office remained quiet.

Neither of them were talkative, each busy with their own work, quite enjoying the solitude.

Having nearly finished the test paper, Ye Jiuliang dropped the pen, glanced sideways, and her lips lightly curled.

She grabbed the test paper and stood up.

The faint sound of her footsteps reached his ears clearly, Li Mochan’s hand holding the pen paused slightly, his eyes sparkling with light.

"I’m done, can I leave now?"

Li Mochan lifted his eyelids to meet the girl’s clear and bright eyes, "Where to?"

Standing was tiring, so Ye Jiuliang plopped herself down comfortably, "Just wandering around, I don’t have class this afternoon."

"What about your elective courses?"

"Boring, didn’t choose any."

Hearing this, Li Mochan put down his pen, his gaze sweeping over the test paper on the table, his tone light, "Then what’s not boring?"

Ye Jiuliang cracked a smile, "Playing games, racing motorcycles."

It would be perfect if she could annoy him; maybe then he would stop keeping an eye on her.

Remembering the speed she raced her motorcycle last time, Li Mochan frowned, "Is that all?"

Ye Jiuliang nodded with a grin, then self-deprecatingly added, "I can’t do music, chess, calligraphy, painting, but I can fight and walk dogs."

The upright and distinguished Master Li should despise her kind of profligate, surely he’ll let her go soon.

After a while, the man suddenly said, "Want a challenge?"

Her thoughts racing, Ye Jiuliang was taken aback, "Huh?"

"Playing games." He explained, "Choose any type of game you like."

Coming to her senses, she chuckled, resting her chin in her hands as she looked at him, not forgetting to secure a benefit for herself first, "What do I get if I win?"

"If you win, whether you come to Beisen or take exams is up to you, and you’ll get your diploma either way." Li Mochan rhythmically tapped his fingertips on the table, speaking at an even pace, "If I win, you’ll come here for tutoring every afternoon, excluding holidays, and you’re not allowed to miss it."

Ye Jiuliang’s voice was tinged with amusement, "The first part of what you said sounds better to me."

Let’s have the challenge, who’s afraid of who.

Ye Jiuliang took the iPad he handed over, remembering the horror game Ji Mingqian had mentioned a few days earlier, and she immediately started downloading it.

Before long, the sounds of game combat filled the office.