Chapter 21: Tutoring

Chapter 21: Tutoring

From the back door of the classroom, Yu Yang yelled.

"Who was it?! Who made grandpa miss out on the spa by ranking tenth from the last?!"

Chen Geng, who always ranked ninth from the last, cautiously poked his head out, "Sorry, I improved a bit this time."

Yu Yang's outcry drew a lot of attention. Ji Feifei, clutching Xie Chu's sleeve, exclaimed, "Oh my God, do you think Ye Lincheng is a genius? An icon is just an icon—barely studied and made such progress. Ahhh!"

Having witnessed Ye Lincheng's nightly intense study sessions with the tutor, Xie Chu's lips twitched. She wanted to vouch for the hardworking Ye Lincheng, but she feared shattering Ji Feifei's newfound image of him, so she could only nod in agreement.

Xie Chu glanced towards the back door of the classroom, finding no trace of Ye Lincheng.

He was also absent in the following period.

Perhaps it had been a long time since Ye skipped class. The teacher, Mr. He (referred to humorously as "Hippopotamus"), hesitated for a moment upon seeing the empty seat by the back door before booming, "Open your textbooks!"

Two periods passed, and it was now the extended break.

Feeling partly responsible for jinxing him, Xie Chu, with a mix of concern and curiosity, hopped over to the back door. Ye Lincheng's backpack was still on the chair.

Xie Chu asked Gu Sheng, "Where did he go?"

Gu Sheng, looking dejected, gestured towards the outside, "Perhaps the basketball court below. He seemed upset after seeing his grades."

A boy from the same row tilted his head, "Upset about that? I've replaced Yu Yang as the last rank now."

"That's because you didn't join our group chat." Yu Yang, now the second to last, grinned mischievously and said after laughing, "You won't understand the feeling of just falling short. It's like stripping down but not making it to home base."

Xie Chu: "..." He really didn't get it.

"Right, you've always been the top of the class. You wouldn't understand," said Yu Yang with a sigh. "I think he really wants to study hard this time. It's been a while since he played basketball with me, and he hasn't been gaming all night at the internet cafe either. Maybe he didn't meet his expectations. Perhaps, top student, you could encourage him?"

Xie Chu hopped a few steps in the hallway, and across the vast playground, he saw a tall and slender figure on the basketball court's cement floor, taking aimless shots.

He suddenly remembered Ye Lincheng's first day after transferring.

It was halfway through the first semester of their freshman year.

Ji Feifei, with his backpack on, hadn't even settled in when he excitedly exclaimed,

"Damn, I just saw a really handsome Alpha downstairs! Looks like he's new."

While engrossed in a reading comprehension exercise, Xie Chu casually engaged with him,

"How do you know he's a new transfer?"

Ji Feifei slapped his thigh, "Obviously! I've scanned every Alpha in this school. If someone this handsome existed, I'd have noticed way before today."

Xie Chu teased him, "How do you know he's an Alpha? What if he's a Beta, or some buff Barbie-like Omega?"

"Isn't it obvious? His height, that aura! When he stood at the bottom of the building asking for directions, a couple of Omegas immediately approached him to help," Ji Feifei animatedly explained, adding a mimicry for effect. "You know that annoyingly cutesy one from Class 5, the one who sounds like they're using a voice changer? She went up to him and was like... 'Mmm, let me show you the way, big bro~'. Absolutely hilarious, let me tell you."

Xie Chu couldn't hold back a chuckle at Ji Feifei's imitation.

While Ji Feifei was still in the midst of his performance, Cheng Fei walked in,

"We're getting a new transfer student in our class. The class leader will organize a short introduction later. Let him choose his own seat."

Ji Feifei's grip on Xie Chu's hand tightened suddenly, almost leaving a mark.

Cheng Fei continued, "He might find it challenging to adapt academically at first. Xie Chu, as the academic representative, make sure to support him if he needs any help."

Xie Chu nodded in acknowledgment of Cheng Fei's instruction.

After Cheng Fei left, whispers broke out among the students.

"Who does he think he is, choosing his own seat?"

"I thought our school doesn’t accept transfer students?"

"Well, he must be wealthy. I've heard he transferred from Haijing Private High School. Definitely a rich kid."

"There's a vacant spot at the last row. Poor Cheng Fei, our class average is going to drop again."

The murmurs ceased once Ye Lincheng stood at the podium.

Xie Chu looked up from his writing and studied the boy on the platform, realizing that Ji Feifei might not have exaggerated when using the terms "damn" and "handsome".

He really is quite attractive.

The kind of attractiveness that's unabashedly eye-catching. A mere glance would suffice to capture attention, no need for a second look. Not refined, not restrained, just straightforwardly handsome.

After introducing himself, the tall and good-looking boy chose a seat right by the classroom's back door. Xie Chu thought that since Cheng Fei had given instructions, and as the academic representative, he should assist the new student. He grabbed his notebooks for each subject and headed towards the back door.

He had barely taken a few steps when he heard laughter echoing from the back of the classroom.

Someone commented, "The last row is where the slackers sit. If you want to study properly, you might want to move up front."

A laid-back voice responded, "Perfect. I'm just here to catch some sleep."

"Are you planning to take the college entrance exam in the future?" the boy who started the conversation asked.

Ye Licheng chuckled, "Not taking it. Probably going abroad."

Xie Chu turned his head and settled back in his seat.

Up to this point.

Reckless, without any real skills, attracting trouble.

Essentially, that was Xie Chu's first impression of Ye Licheng.

From a distance, silhouettes were shooting baskets. Xie Chu leaned against the hallway, watching for a while, feeling a bittersweet sensation welling up.

The person who once didn't take classes seriously now seemed upset over a minor test. Ye Licheng appeared different than Xie Chu had initially thought.

Having given him a bottle of 'True. Poisonous milk', Xie Chu suddenly felt a twinge of guilt.

After school, when they returned to the villa, Aunt Zhang was busy preparing dinner.

Ye Licheng was already back to his carefree self, squatting beside Ye Wangwang with a slight smile tugging at his lips.

Xie Weizhou hadn't arrived yet. Xie Chu sat on the small sofa, clutching his backpack and waiting, with his suitcase standing by the front door.

The scene looked almost like two large dogs waiting by the door for their owner to leave.

The atmosphere turned slightly awkward. Xie Chu broke the silence, "You know... you've actually made significant progress. Building a foundation is the hardest step."

Without missing a beat, Ye Licheng petted the dog, "Hmm, thanks to you."

Xie Chu: "..."

Even though he knew it was just Ye Licheng's usual playful remark, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.

"Do you want me to tutor you tonight?"

Silence ensued.

After asking the question, Xie Chu himself was momentarily stunned.

Although he was the class study representative, and he tried his best to address the questions from classmates, he never took the initiative to offer private tutoring or act as a home tutor unless specifically asked by the teacher.

Just dealing with the daily barrage of queries meant that Xie Chu's breaks and after-school time were significantly limited. He had his own studies to tend to, and never contemplated actively helping anyone boost their grades.

Ye Wangwang 2.0, squatting by the door, also paused for a split second.

Ye Licheng genuinely hadn't planned on troubling Xie Chu. Having had everything go his way for years as a young master, he believed there was nothing he couldn't handle. If he encountered a challenge, he felt he could always work through it.

However, improving grades isn't achieved overnight. His foundation from middle and high school was severely lacking. Even if he crammed every night, the beginning stages are the most challenging, much like the Great Wall's initial construction.

The young master Ye, having pushed himself hard for half a month, encountered his first real setback.

He had, indeed, approached the situation with a hint of Alpha pride, not wishing to bother Xie Chu. But now that Xie Chu had offered, especially at this critical moment, a thought stirred in Ye Licheng's heart. Yet he responded teasingly, "You want to be my home tutor?"

What does he mean by "want"?

Xie Chu arched an eyebrow and stammered, "No... it's the duty of the class representative to care about your studies." He paused, adding, "If you're struggling with your studies... I can come over in the evenings and tutor you for an hour. That's what I'm here for."

A gleam flashed across Ye Licheng's eyes before dimming. He smiled and declined, "No need. With your leg... moving around in the evening would be too taxing. I'll figure things out slowly. If not, I can hire a few postgraduates, even Ph.D. candidates. I think my father's company employs several academicians..."

Losing a few more hairs wouldn't hurt.

Once they're all used up, perhaps I could get into Tsinghua University.

His intentions got lost in translation; the top student he offered himself as was seemingly rejected.

Xie Chu ruffled his short hair, causing a few strands to stick out. He looked like a chick with a couple of plucked feathers and chuckled, "If it gets late, I can stay here."

"Stay put, and spend quality time with your father," Ye Licheng advised as he petted Ye Wangwang.

Although his interactions with Xie Chu weren't lengthy, Ye Licheng sensed that Xie Chu genuinely yearned to be with his parents.

Even though Ye Tian and Xu Xu seldom spent time with him now, they had lived together as a family until he was fourteen or fifteen. Xie Chu probably felt the absence of a family member much earlier. Now that Xie Weizhou is willing to return, it's comforting for him. A chance to bond with his father, a way to make up for lost time.

As a morally upright, albeit academically underachieving individual, he didn't want to come between a heartwarming father-son bond.

"What if I said I need to stay here?"

Suddenly, Ye Wangwang, feeling like he was about to be petted bald, let out a bark, swiftly swiping away the hand that transitioned from petting to pulling at his fur.

Ye Licheng frowned, "You... need to stay here?"

Xie Chu touched his nose, "Mhm, during my last check-up, the doctor said that continuing to stay here would help alleviate my glandular allergy faster."

Ye Licheng's eyes brightened a bit, "Why?"

Xie Chu hugged one of his knees and looked away, "Well... our compatibility is rather... high. She said your pheromones are beneficial for me... something like that." He paused, pursing his lips softly,

"I'll also tutor you on the side, as a way to thank you."

Although he's "forced" to tutor him at night, the latter reason seems to be much more appealing to the young master Ye.

Ye Licheng tilted his chin slightly, his eyes softening with a hint of amusement, "Oh? How high is this compatibility? And how exactly are my pheromones beneficial?"

After swiftly bidding farewell to the melancholy watchdog at the door, he walked over to Xie Chu, took a seat across from him on the coffee table, and raised an eyebrow with a playful smirk,

"Does it mean we can't be too far apart, or our superpowers might get nullified?"

Xie Chu shot him a deadpan look, "You've been watching too many movies."

To Xie Chu's surprise, Ye Licheng seemed a tad disappointed.

Xie Chu's ears turned a shade of red, "Just... being here from time to time will do. When I come over, I can tutor you. Is that okay?"

"Sure," Ye Licheng agreed promptly, "What time will you come every day? I'll pick you up and drop you off in the morning."

Xie Chu blinked, pausing for a moment before saying calmly,

"I'll come every Friday." Some people die, but they aren't truly gone…

After an endless unconsciousness, Shi Yu jolted upright in bed.

He took deep breaths of fresh air, his chest heaving.

Confusion, bewilderment, a whirlwind of emotions flooded him.

Where is this?

Then, instinctively surveying his surroundings, Shi Yu grew even more perplexed.

A single room dormitory?

Even if he had been successfully rescued, he should be in a hospital ward right now.

And his body... How is it that there's not a single injury?

With confusion, Shi Yu's gaze quickly swept across the room, eventually settling on a mirror by the bed.

The mirror reflected his current appearance—around seventeen or eighteen years old, and quite handsome.

His past self was a dashing young man in his twenties, having been employed for some time.

But now, at a glance, he seemed to be of high school age...

This transformation left Shi Yu dumbstruck for a long time.

Please don't tell him the surgery was a success...

Both his body and face had changed; this wasn't a matter of surgery but rather, some form of magic.

He seemed to have turned into an entirely different person!

Could it be... he had traveled through time?

Besides the ill-placed mirror near the bed that seemed to defy feng shui principles, Shi Yu also spotted three books beside it.

Picking one up for a closer look, the title rendered him speechless.

"Essential Beast Taming Manual for Beginners"

"Postnatal Care for Pet Beasts"

"A Guide to Evaluating Beast-Eared Girls of Different Species"

Shi Yu:

The first two book titles sound reasonable, but what's the deal with the last one?

Ahem.

Shi Yu's gaze hardened as he reached out his hand, but his arm stiffened almost immediately.

Just as he was about to open the third book, curious about its contents, a sharp pain pierced through his brain and a flood of memories surged forth.

Ice Plains City.

Pet Beast Breeding Base.

Intern Beast Keeper. The website is shutting down soon; download the AiYue app for the tales of the deceitful Omega by the great author ZhiZhiZhi.

Beast Master?