Being a Tutor to a Rich, Psychopathic Young Lady - Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Xiao Dengqu had always been a good child. When her dad told her to apologize, she immediately apologized. When he told her to just study at home, she stayed at home and never made a fuss about going out. She was incredibly well-behaved.
Before she came, her dad called her and said, “Xiao Dengqu, you disappoint me. You’re too disobedient and not a good girl.”
Xiao Dengqu was very sad. She said, “I’m sorry. Mm-hmm, if that’s what you think, there’s nothing I can do. I was wrong, okay, Dad?”
Her dad got even angrier.
“Did you arrive this morning? Have you eaten yet?”
Shi Mingyue’s words brought her back to reality. Xiao Dengqu’s eyes moved to Shi Mingyue’s face. When she was on her way here, Yueyue asked her if what she was doing was “worth it.”
It was the first time Xiao Dengqu had ever heard such a question. Why did her quest for Shi Mingyue need to be “worth it”? She searched online. The online definition of “worth it” was whether your efforts were in vain and if you received an equal return.
Xiao Dengqu thought, “I don’t know.”
She came to find Shi Mingyue, but Shi Mingyue didn’t ask her to.
When her eyes landed on Shi Mingyue’s slightly sweaty forehead, and she saw the look of worry in Shi Mingyue’s eyes, she seemed to think, “It’s so worth it.”
Shi Mingyue still wanted to look at her leg and asked again, “How about we go to the hospital to get it checked?”
Xiao Dengqu remained silent. Shi Mingyue’s tone softened. “What if… what if there are long-term effects? It’s not good to wait too long…”
“Are you trying toå“„ (cajole/comfort) me?” Xiao Dengqu asked seriously.
Shi Mingyue first nodded, then said, “I’m worried about you.”
Xiao Dengqu felt much better. Her heart wasn’t so stuffy and uncomfortable anymore. She thought she was going to die of a heart disease.
Shi Mingyue guessed she would come, but she didn’t expect her to come so early. She was thinking about how to arrange things. With Xiao Dengqu here, she might not be able to take care of two sick people.
Xiao Dengqu ran away on her own. She just went to the airport on her way to find Xiao Chengyue.
The housekeeper naturally couldn’t let her come alone. The housekeeper arranged for Yueyue to come and take care of her. Yueyue appeared and nodded to Shi Mingyue.
Shi Mingyue was about to say something, but Yueyue said she would take Xiao Dengqu for an examination first and then come back to find her.
Yueyue pushed Xiao Dengqu away. Shi Mingyue followed a few steps and watched as Xiao Dengqu was lifted into the car. She had only one thought in her mind: “It must hurt a lot, right? Is it very serious?”
Shi Mingyue went to her aunt’s house to cook and then returned to the hospital. She waited under the camphor tree for a while. When she didn’t see Xiao Dengqu, she went upstairs.
Shi Mingyue stood by the window and looked down but still didn’t see anyone.
After a whole day, Zou Huiqin noticed her bad mood and asked her what was wrong. “Are you really okay? If something’s wrong, don’t worry about me. You can go and take care of your own business first.”
Shi Mingyue shook her head. Zou Huiqin said in a very low voice, “Mingyue, I’m holding you back.”
Shi Mingyue closed the window and poured her hot water to take her medicine.
She sat on the chair and sent a message: I’m sorry.
Xiao Dengqu: What are you sorry for, Teacher?
Shi Mingyue: I should have told you in person before I left.
Xiao Dengqu: Is that all?
Shi Mingyue thought for a moment: I should have called you after I left, too.
Xiao Dengqu held her phone and frowned. “So annoying. The teacher doesn’t know how to apologize at all. Shouldn’t she have said, ‘I’m sorry, Xiaoqu, I’ll never leave you again’? So stupid.”
Shi Mingyue: Are you reading this?
Yueyue brought her some food. Xiao Dengqu snorted, and Yueyue asked in confusion, “Why didn’t you go find the teacher today?”
Xiao Dengqu didn’t look at her. She lowered her head and continued to type: I’m waiting for you to say, ‘Xiaoqu, you can go back now.’
Shi Mingyue wanted to say the same thing. She typed: I’m just worried about your leg. If it doesn’t affect you, you can come if you want.
Xiao Dengqu looked up and said to Yueyue, “This way, I’m allowed to stay.”
Shi Mingyue took care of Zou Huiqin and lay down on the narrow companion bed: Are you coming tomorrow?
Xiao Dengqu: I’m coming.
Xiao Dengqu said, “You don’t need to take care of me tomorrow.”
“Are you getting better too fast?” Yueyue said. “It’s easy to get exposed.”
Xiao Dengqu re-bandaged her leg, looking up guides online, and repeatedly bandaged it. She said, “It’s because you don’t need to take care of me.”
Afterward, the person in the wheelchair walked to the window and looked at the hospital building with lights on in the distance. Shi Mingyue looked at the courtyard 36 times today, each time for at least ten minutes.
Xiao Dengqu: Then do you miss me even a little bit?
Shi Mingyue was in the middle of typing for a long time.
She couldn’t say it. She just missed her.
She had to make the teacher say it.
…
At 6:30 in the morning, Shi Mingyue came out of the inpatient department. Xiao Dengqu was waiting for her with breakfast on her lap. Shi Mingyue sat on the edge of the flower bed and ate.
Xiao Dengqu said, “I bought a gift.”
“Hmm?”
Xiao Dengqu said, “For your mom. Didn’t your mom get sick?”
Shi Mingyue said it wasn’t necessary. Xiao Dengqu asked her, “Then how rude would that be? Teacher, do you think I’m a rude person?”
This sounded like she was implying that Shi Mingyue was a rude person for leaving without saying goodbye. Shi Mingyue opened her mouth to explain but finally said, “I have to go back and make lunch for my mom first.“
“I’ll wait for you here.”
Xiao Dengqu was alone. Shi Mingyue reached out and grabbed the wheelchair, pushing her forward. “You can come with me.”
The wind blew in their faces. Xiao Dengqu said, “It smells so good.”
She was talking about the fragrance of the blooming osmanthus trees.
The hospital and her aunt’s house were on the south side. They walked for more than ten minutes. But her aunt’s house was on the second floor. Xiao Dengqu said, “I can jump up.”
Shi Mingyue first opened the door, then came back down to help her. Xiao Dengqu opened her arms and said, “Teacher, hug me.”
Shi Mingyue reached out and put her arms around her waist, slowly helping her up the stairs. She knew that Xiao Dengqu couldn’t move her legs, but their bodies were pressed together, and her cheeks were burning hot.
Xiao Dengqu closed her eyes. She was so happy. It would be worth it even if she really became disabled.
When they got to the corner, she immediately put her in the wheelchair and helped her upstairs. Shi Mingyue turned on the TV for her and found some yogurt in the fridge for Xiao Dengqu to drink.
“Thank you,” Xiao Dengqu asked curiously. “Teacher, you can cook?”
Shi Mingyue: “Yes.”
Shi Mingyue made lunch as well. The thermos kept the food hot until noon. She would come out from time to time to check on Xiao Dengqu while she was cooking.
Xiao Dengqu was holding the straw, seriously watching SpongeBob SquarePants. When Shi Mingyue finished cooking, she asked her, “Do you want to eat?”
Xiao Dengqu’s bowl had steamed eggs with minced meat. She mixed it with a spoon. Shi Mingyue also added some shredded potatoes for her.
Xiao Dengqu tasted it carefully. It was delicious.
Shi Mingyue went to wash the dishes. Xiao Dengqu used her phone to type: [The teacher made me food. It’s so delicious.]
The other side didn’t reply. She continued: [Mm-hmm, there’s egg, potato, and loofah. I feel so good like this. I don’t know why it feels like we’re married. Dad, is this what it feels like to be married?]
Xiao Dengqu’s hair was a little messy, like a casually tied high ponytail. Shi Mingyue went to get a comb and tied her hair into two braids. She wanted to look at her leg, but Xiao Dengqu always refused.
Shi Mingyue had to go to the hospital to stay with her mom. Otherwise, she would have let her stay at her aunt’s house.
Downstairs, Shi Mingyue was about to help her get down. Xiao Dengqu leaned close to her ear and said, “Do you still want to hug me?”
It was as if Shi Mingyue was the one who wanted to hug her.
Shi Mingyue nodded ever so slightly. Xiao Dengqu leaned against her. Her body temperature rose, and her heart was pounding through their clothes.
Xiao Dengqu wasn’t looking at the road. She tilted her head and stared at Shi Mingyue’s ear.
When her dad said she was crazy, she thought he was joking. “Where? Where?” Now that they had met, she realized how crazy her longing had grown, and her heart was a leaky sieve. The three words “Shi Mingyue” pierced her heart. Her bl00d, flesh, and bones were all her.
“Oh, so I missed her this much.”
“I’m not a top student who loves to study either.”
Xiao Dengqu was lying on the handrail of the stairs. Someone passed by, and she smiled and said hello. “Hello.”
The August heat was rising layer by layer. Xiao Dengqu’s heart was hot. She was happy doing anything as long as she was with Shi Mingyue.
Shi Mingyue pushed her to the hospital. When they passed a bubble tea shop, Shi Mingyue waited in line to buy her a sweet and sour fruit tea. Xiao Dengqu inserted the straw, held up the fruit tea, and asked her, “Do you want to take the first sip?”
Shi Mingyue said, “You drink it. I’ll buy one for myself if I want one later.”
“Okay,” Xiao Dengqu continued to drink.
Shi Mingyue looked down at her. She thought Xiao Dengqu would make a scene and scold her, but they made up quickly.
Her temper was so good that it made Shi Mingyue feel a lot of guilt.
At the hospital, Shi Mingyue was about to get a bone doctor’s appointment for her. Xiao Dengqu said, “No need to be busy. Yueyue will be here soon. There’s a doctor coming with her. The medicine they prescribe here is different.”
That was true. This hospital was a Class 3B hospital. Her mom had to go to a Class 3A hospital in the city center for her surgery. Shi Mingyue wouldn’t be at ease if they looked at her here.
Shi Mingyue took her upstairs and pushed the door open. Zou Huiqin was watching a video and looked up at the door. She saw Xiao Dengqu coming in.
Xiao Dengqu smiled sweetly at her. “Hello, Auntie.”
Shi Mingyue briefly introduced Xiao Dengqu and said that she was her tutoring student and was here to visit. Zou Huiqin looked at her in confusion, not understanding why a rich young lady would come here. She looked at her leg with concern and asked her what kind of injury she had.
“I accidentally fell, Auntie,” Xiao Dengqu said.
“Is it serious?” Zou Huiqin asked.
Shi Mingyue also perked up her ears. Xiao Dengqu nodded and said, “It’s a little bit serious.”
Then she smiled. “But it will get better.”
Shi Mingyue let out a sigh of relief.
Xiao Dengqu said, “I brought a gift for Auntie.”
“Oh? That’s so kind of you. You don’t have to,” Zou Huiqin refused repeatedly.
Xiao Dengqu took a small box from the side pocket of the wheelchair. Shi Mingyue also quietly told her it wasn’t necessary. Xiao Dengqu said politely, “It is necessary. I’ll definitely be a bother to you when I’m here.”
She politely gave the box to Shi Mingyue. Shi Mingyue opened it and saw a gold bracelet inside. Xiao Dengqu said, “It’s a small gift, but it’s from my heart. Auntie, please don’t be offended.”
“No, no. You’ve been taking care of Mingyue. I should be the one giving you a gift,” Zou Huiqin said.
“Mmm~” Xiao Dengqu said. “Okay. Let the teacher give it to me on your behalf.”
Shi Mingyue poured water for Zou Huiqin and said softly, “She loves receiving gifts.” Then she whispered, “I’ll give it back to her later.” Zou Huiqin accepted it for now.
“Auntie, does it hurt to be sick?” Xiao Dengqu’s voice was sweet.
“I’m much better now.”
Zou Huiqin also said, “Mingyue has a sister. When she comes back, you two should be able to get along well.”
“Okay.”
Xiao Dengqu’s words were sweet, and it was easy to win the hearts of adults. Not to mention that Xiao Dengqu was Shi Mingyue’s tutoring student. Zou Huiqin liked Xiao Dengqu very much.
Shi Mingyue pushed Xiao Dengqu to the side of the chair and opened the thermos to get food for Zou Huiqin.
“This place is quite small. Is it still fun?” Zou Huiqin thought she had come with Shi Mingyue, but Shi Mingyue didn’t tell her.
“It smells so good here,” Xiao Dengqu replied.
“The osmanthus fragrance, right?” Zou Huiqin said. “The osmanthus flowers have started to bloom one after another.”
“Yes.”
“When I’m better, I’ll make you some cold jelly. I used to make this often at the night market.”
Shi Mingyue’s movements paused slightly. When she left, she also smelled the osmanthus fragrance.
Staying with a patient was a boring thing. Before, Shi Mingyue would just sit there all day. Now that someone had come, Zou Huiqin kept telling Shi Mingyue to go out and walk around with Xiao Dengqu. Shi Mingyue said, “It’s too sunny outside.”
Zou Huiqin looked at Xiao Dengqu’s delicate skin and soft body, and her spoiled appearance, then looked at Shi Mingyue’s faded jeans. She lowered her eyes, feeling guilty after all.
During the afternoon nap, Xiao Dengqu was on her phone and looked at Shi Mingyue, tugging on her clothes.
“Hmm?” Shi Mingyue looked at her.
“I’m sleepy,” Xiao Dengqu’s tone was lazy.
Zou Huiqin originally wanted her to sleep on the companion bed, but Shi Mingyue moved closer to her, leaning against her wheelchair. Shi Mingyue whispered something in her ear, and Xiao Dengqu shook her head and leaned on her shoulder.
Xiao Dengqu didn’t close her eyes immediately. She looked at Zou Huiqin on the bed. She seemed to be in a daze for a while. Shi Mingyue’s hand went around and put a headphone in her ear, patting her on the shoulder. She closed her eyes and went to sleep.
Shi Mingyue’s hand returned and held the headphone case.
Zou Huiqin couldn’t fall asleep and was awake for a long time. An hour passed before she fell into a shallow sleep.
Shi Mingyue only napped for half an hour. No one came to switch places, so she couldn’t leave the ward. A nurse came to change the IV drip and looked at Xiao Dengqu sitting in the wheelchair leaning on Shi Mingyue. She said, “Won’t her leg get twisted like that?”
Shi Mingyue immediately looked at Xiao Dengqu’s leg. The leg that had been hidden under her dress was now stretched out. Xiao Dengqu, who had been dozing, instantly woke up and said in an aggressive tone, “Don’t look!”
Xiao Dengqu pulled her hand and covered her leg with her dress.
Shi Mingyue felt that she was a little sensitive. She asked, “What’s wrong?”
Xiao Dengqu kept her lips pursed until the nurse left. She let out a small snort. “Are you going to laugh at me?”
“Hmph, you think I look ugly like this, don’t you?”
“No,” Shi Mingyue tugged on her dress, completely covering her leg. “She was just worried about you.”
“I’m not going to be like this forever. I’ll be able to stand up.” Xiao Dengqu said.
“Yes.”
Xiao Dengqu pouted. She looked very wronged and leaned into Shi Mingyue’s arms. Zou Huiqin was still there. Shi Mingyue was very embarrassed. This kind of interaction was too intimate, but Xiao Dengqu was very sad. She patted Xiao Dengqu’s back and said, “It’s okay now.”
Zou Huiqin first felt that something was wrong, but then Xiao Dengqu’s big eyes looked at her, and they were so watery that her heart softened.
Shi Mingyue took a tissue and wiped Xiao Dengqu’s face. Zou Huiqin said to Shi Mingyue, “Why don’t you go buy something to eat? It must be so boring for her sitting there.”
Shi Mingyue nodded. That’s what she was thinking.
Shi Mingyue told Xiao Dengqu that she was going out of the ward. She sent a message to the housekeeper, saying that Xiao Dengqu was with her and asked if she wanted to take her for a check-up. In the ward, it was just Zou Huiqin and Xiao Dengqu. Zou Huiqin took the initiative to talk to Xiao Dengqu, asking her if she was tired and if she wanted to go out and play.
Xiao Dengqu pushed the wheelchair to the side of the bed. “I’m not tired.” It was so tiring and sore to stay in one position for so long. Her butt was almost numb. She secretly stretched her feet under the bed where Zou Huiqin couldn’t see.
Zou Huiqin looked at her and smiled. She always thought she was cute and asked her how old she was. She also asked her about Shi Mingyue, how she was doing at school, and if she was eating well.
There was a supermarket near the hospital. Shi Mingyue went to buy some cookies and saw some ultra-light clay that kids played with. She bought a box to take back for Xiao Dengqu.
She also called Shi Fanxing to ask her when she was coming back. Now, it might be too much for her to take care of two people, so they could take turns.
Shi Fanxing had gotten her wages. She would arrive on Thursday. School would start on Monday morning, and classes would begin in the afternoon.
Shi Mingyue said, “Call me when you get there, and I’ll go pick you up.”
“Oh, you’re home? Okay!” Shi Fanxing guessed that Xiao Dengqu was also there, and her voice became more cheerful.
Cookies and clay were placed on the table, along with a bowl of sweet osmanthus cold jelly.
Shi Mingyue put things away, went downstairs, and came back again, holding a glass jar with a lot of osmanthus flowers in it.
It smelled so good.
Xiao Dengqu unscrewed the lid and sniffed. She loved it.
They were all picked by Shi Mingyue one by one and put in a candy jar. They were yellow and orange, just like stars in a wishing bottle.
Shi Mingyue’s hair still had a few osmanthus flowers on it.
When she went to the supermarket again at night, Shi Mingyue bought some paint. Xiao Dengqu found a tutorial and made a lot of flowers. Zou Huiqin said to Shi Mingyue in surprise, “Her hands are so clever. She just looked at the video and kneaded and kneaded, and she made so many little things. Now she’s making little people.”
Shi Mingyue went over to look and saw that it was true.
It was difficult at night. Shi Mingyue had to take care of two people by herself, and the companion bed could only fit one person.
Shi Mingyue was in a hurry when the ward door was pushed open. Yueyue was standing at the door and said, “Hello, Teacher Shi.”
Yueyue came at the right time. Shi Mingyue thought it was perfect and could have her take Xiao Dengqu to a hotel to rest.
Yueyue said, “Teacher Shi, you’ve had a hard day. You must be tired. I’ll help you take care of Auntie.”
Taking care of a sick person was not easy. Shi Mingyue had been here for two days. Yueyue said she would switch with her.
She also whispered, “Teacher Shi, taking care of Auntie isn’t the tiring part. The young lady’s personality is moody after she hurt her leg. Thank you for your trouble.”
Shi Mingyue thought for a moment and nodded.
…
Xiao Dengqu was still highly curious about everything. For example, she really wanted to go to Shi Mingyue’s house. Shi Mingyue felt that her house was too small and was embarrassed, so she had never taken her there.
Shi Mingyue called her aunt, and her aunt sent a voice message back, scolding her, saying that her brain was finally working. She didn’t know what was so good about staying in that broken place. She reminded her to turn on the air conditioner when she slept and that the remote was in the drawer.
“Your aunt is so fierce,” Xiao Dengqu frowned. “She called you stupid.”
“My aunt has a good heart,” Shi Mingyue said.
When she was a child, Shi Mingyue was very envious of her sister. Shi Fanxing grew up with her grandmother and spent most of her time with her aunt. Her aunt would often chase her, scold her, and tell her to study hard. Her hand was always raised high but brought down low.
Zou Huiqin sent Shi Fanxing to her grandmother’s house to be raised. Her aunt would also say some unpleasant things, saying, “You’ll definitely break Mingyue’s heart this way. Whoever you live with is unlucky. Get a divorce, work in Guangdong for two years, and it’ll be better than anything. I’ll take one of your children, and the little one can be with her grandmother.”
After staying at her aunt’s house, Shi Mingyue went to clean the bathroom and the bedroom. She mopped the floor and put the bedsheets and duvet cover in the washing machine. She was about to kneel on the floor to scrub it to a shine.
Xiao Dengqu sat on the sofa and wrote seriously: I’m sorry, Dad. I shouldn’t have thrown a tantrum like that and shouldn’t have broken your door. But I thought you sent the teacher away. I was already stupid and not smart at studying. I finally became smart and could bring honor to Dad. Dad, please don’t be angry with me. I know Dad is doing this for my own good. Thank you, Dad, for being so tolerant of me. I will try my best to listen to Dad. I will never do that again. I will always love you, Dad.
She checked for typos, looked for what was missing, and added more. Her words were sincere, she actively admitted her mistake, expressed her love, and was well-behaved and sensible.
Xiao Chengyue: You’ll never be like that again? What kind of new way are you going to use to make me angry?
Xiao Dengqu: Dad and I are the closest people in the world. Without Dad, I can’t live. Dad, I love you.
The “typing” status on the other side flashed and disappeared, and no message was sent. Xiao Dengqu added another sentence: Dad, you’ve worked hard. Don’t be too tired. I’ll bring you a gift when I get back.
After she sent it, she went back to the chat interface.
Shi Mingyue came out of the bathroom.
“Am I going to take a bath by myself?” Xiao Dengqu looked down at her leg. “Teacher, what if I fall into the bathtub and drown?”
Shi Mingyue said, “My aunt’s house doesn’t have a bathtub.”
They rarely used bathtubs. They always felt it wasted water and was easy to get dirty. Bathtubs were very troublesome to clean.
“You’re going to take a shower?” Xiao Dengqu said. “Then do I have to be naked sitting on a chair?”
Shi Mingyue didn’t say anything. She pushed her into the bathroom and adjusted things inside. Xiao Dengqu waited quietly. When there was nothing left to adjust, Shi Mingyue said, “The water temperature is good.”
Xiao Dengqu nodded. “I almost fell yesterday when I took a shower by myself.”
Shi Mingyue took a deep breath and went to get the shower gel. It was also hot in Hubei Province, and she had sweated a lot today.
Shi Mingyue said softly next to her, “Then… take off your clothes. Just take off your clothes first.”
“The zipper is on the back,” Xiao Dengqu said.
Shi Mingyue walked behind her and reached out to pull her zipper. She touched her skin, and her fingers felt hot. She said, “…Then how did you put it on?”
“I put it on, and Yueyue zipped it up for me,” Xiao Dengqu said pitifully. “I guess I really am useless now.”
She looked at Shi Mingyue. “Otherwise, I could do it myself.”
Xiao Dengqu was very beautiful. With a little bit of pity, she could easily win someone’s heart.
People are always pursuing beautiful qualities. The more beautiful they are, the easier it is to be loved.
If they are beautiful and pitiful, they are incomparably beautiful.
Shi Mingyue couldn’t do anything about the injured Xiao Dengqu.
Shi Mingyue could imagine the way she would throw a tantrum. The young lady was arrogant after all, and she would be sad if someone saw her in a helpless state.
The zipper slid down her spine, like peeling a grape. Inside was a white bra. Shi Mingyue easily unhooked it and took it off.
Xiao Dengqu said, “And my underwear, Teacher.”
Shi Mingyue stood behind her, unable to imagine what kind of posture she should use to walk in front of her, then squat down to help her take off her skirt, and still…
Xiao Dengqu tugged at her skirt twice herself. “It hurts. It’s touching my leg.” She said to the person behind her, that was what happened yesterday. She didn’t let Yueyue help her take off her clothes, and she fell on the floor and almost killed herself.
Shi Mingyue stiffly walked in front of her and slightly squatted down.