After school, Evan Lin packed up his bag.
Victor Feng and his crew didn't come looking for trouble, which spared them a beating.
Once he'd packed up, Evan walked out of the classroom and ran into Lily Zhong, who was already waiting at the stairwell corner.
Lily waved when she saw Evan. "I was worried you'd run off, so I waited here just for you. Come on, you're coming home with me tonight—I'll tutor you."
Lily's appearance made a few Class 7 students behind Evan snicker.
"Bet Evan didn't do his homework again and got caught by the bio teacher," one boy sneered.
"Why does he even bother coming to school? He's a total bottom-feeder, and still acts so cocky." A few girls from the same class looked on, all delighted to see him in trouble.
Mia Chen stepped out of the crowd, glanced at Evan being stopped by Lily, and frowned slightly.
Evan happened to see her too, but Mia didn't react at all. She simply left with her backpack.
"You seem pretty badly ostracized, huh?"
As they walked side by side and the hallway emptied, Lily tilted her head and asked Evan quietly.
Up until now, Lily had only thought Evan’s grades were bad and his personality a little withdrawn. She’d never paid attention to his standing in the class.
She’d overheard what those students just said too.
"It's so-so."
Seeing Evan’s indifferent look, Lily felt a flicker of maternal concern.
She thought to herself, "Evan must be embarrassed to admit it. Maybe deep down he feels pretty lost, but as a guy he doesn’t want to show weakness to others."
With that thought, Lily’s gaze grew even softer as she looked at Evan.
"If you ever run into any trouble, you can come to me. I’m only a few years older—you can treat me as a friend."
Hearing Lily’s words, Evan realized she’d misunderstood, but he couldn’t be bothered to explain.
Lily’s place wasn’t far from Brightsea No. 2 High—just a ten-minute walk. The neighborhood was quiet but a bit old.
Following Lily upstairs, Evan arrived at a six-story building and went up to her place.
Lily lived on the sixth floor. When she opened the door, a faint fragrance filled the room.
It was a two-bedroom apartment with a decent layout. The walls were covered in wallpaper, making the place look bright and tidy.
"We'll study in the living room. Go ahead and put your stuff down—I'll wash an apple for you."
Lily headed into the kitchen. Evan set his bag on the table and took out his biology textbook.
Soon Lily came out with the apples, handed one to Evan, and said, "Have some fruit first."
"Miss Zhong, do you live alone?"
Evan’s instincts told him Lily wasn’t the only one living here.
"Yeah, I have a friend too. She’s probably still at work right now."
"You’ve got five minutes to eat your apple. When you’re done, we’ll start studying. I’m going to change clothes first."
With that, Lily went into the bedroom. Soon she came out in a set of comfy cotton homewear—a long-sleeved T-shirt and loose white pants.
"Alright, let’s start from the beginning…"
Lily flipped through the biology textbook, knowing Evan’s basics were weak, so she started from the top.
Evan listened intently, looking at Lily with a thirst for knowledge.
In reality, Evan had already memorized all these textbook theories ages ago.
"Where does spiritual qi actually come from?"
Evan’s gaze swept up and down Lily, searching for the source of spiritual qi, but found nothing.
No, wait—spiritual qi…
Evan sensed something and his eyes narrowed, focusing on Lily.
Something seemed different there.
But any further was blocked by that cotton long-sleeved T-shirt.
"Did you get that?" Lily finished explaining a point and looked up, only to find Evan staring at her with an intensity that seemed a bit much.
Following Evan's gaze, Lily glanced down and realized he was staring straight at her, unblinking.
Lily's face flushed red, a little angry.
With a loud smack, she slapped her biology textbook onto the table.
I brought you here and spent time tutoring you so you could do better in school.
And this is how you repay me?
Lily's expression turned cold. Evan’s heart skipped a beat—he could tell she was not happy.
"Evan Lin, tell me what I just explained to you." Lily stared at him, snapping his biology book shut so he couldn’t peek.
"Uh…" Evan snapped back to reality.
"If you can't answer, then when you get home tonight, copy the entire biology textbook by hand!" Lily was already angry.
Copying textbooks by hand—now that was an old-school punishment.
Evan smiled slightly. "Just now, Miss Zhong explained about the elements and compounds that make up cells."
"The elements that make up cells are divided into basic, major, and essential elements."
"The compounds that make up cells are divided into organic and inorganic compounds."
"Organic compounds include sugars, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids—the last of which carry genetic information."
"Inorganic compounds include water and mineral salts."
Evan rattled off all the key points Lily had just covered. Only then did her expression finally soften a bit. "When I’m tutoring you, you need to pay attention and not space out—especially don’t…"
At that, Lily blushed again, her heart beating a little faster, but she covered it up well.
"Don’t what?" Evan asked innocently, a sly glint in his eyes.
"Don’t keep staring at your teacher. Look at your textbook." Lily glared at Evan, but noticed his gaze was clear and pure, without any hint of impropriety.
Did she misjudge him?
That thought flashed through Lily’s mind.
Knock knock knock.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door.
"Is your roommate home?" Evan glanced at Lily, who looked puzzled. "No way, she’s still at work."
"I’ll go see who it is."
Lily got up and walked to the door, pulling it open.
"Miss Zhong, I’d like to invite you to dinner."
Seeing Jack Zhang smiling at her outside the door, Lily was startled. Her face quickly grew cold. "Sorry, Mr. Zhang, I don’t know how you found my place, but I’m busy tonight."
"Busy? How could you be? It’s after work, you must be free. Come on, let’s eat and then catch a movie."
Jack Zhang refused to give up, his eyes burning as he stared at Lily.
Jack secretly swallowed, almost drooling.
'If I die under the peony, at least it’s a romantic death.'
Jack was getting restless.
"Sorry, Mr. Zhang, I really don’t have time. And I don’t like movies."
"If there’s nothing else, please leave."
As she spoke, Lily started to close the door.
Smack.
Before Lily could close the door, Jack Zhang’s palm shot out and pressed against it.
"Miss Zhong, no need to be in such a rush to shut the door."
"We’re colleagues, you shouldn’t embarrass me like this, right?"
Jack looked at Lily, his smile eager. "And as far as I know, Miss Zhong, you don’t have a boyfriend yet."
"You’ve been single so long—aren’t you bored?"
Jack’s tone grew more and more presumptuous.
His eyes burned as he looked Lily up and down.
"Mr. Zhang, how can you say something like that! Whether I’m bored or not is my business—it’s none of yours!" Lily’s face turned cold. She was running out of patience.
"I don’t want to meddle, I’m just showing concern—colleague to colleague."
Jack grinned lewdly and stepped forward, wedging his shoe in the door so Lily couldn’t close it.
"What do you think you’re doing?!"
Lily was starting to panic.
When water is too clear, there are no fish; when a person is shameless enough, nothing can stop him.
Jack had completely abandoned any sense of shame.
"Nothing much, just want to discuss some teaching experience with you."
Jack chuckled. "Miss Zhong, believe me, I’m sincere. From the moment you joined the school, I knew I’d fallen for you."
As Jack spoke, his eyes flashed and he stepped forward, trying to get inside.
Lily struggled to close the door, but it was no use.
Jack’s strength was far beyond what Lily could resist.
"Stop pretending, Miss Zhong. I know you’re bored. Come on, feel my heartbeat—my heart beats for you!"
Jack licked his lips, ready to lunge forward.
At that moment—
Bang.
Ah!
Crash.
Jack felt a tremendous force hit his chest. He was sent flying uncontrollably out the door, tumbling down the stairwell. His head banged against the steps again and again, leaving him dizzy and dazed.
He immediately heard the sound of the door slamming shut.
What just happened?
Jack, rubbing his aching head, stared dumbfounded at the closed door.
"Damn, what the hell was that?!"
Jack got to his feet, grimacing from the pain of the impact.
No way, I can’t just leave like this.
"Miss Zhong, wait for me!"
Driven by lust, Jack started climbing the stairs again.
Inside the room, Lily stared wide-eyed at Evan. "How did you do that?"
Just a moment ago, Evan had slapped Jack in the chest, sending him flying out the door and then shutting it in one swift motion.
It was so fast, it was almost impossible to see.
Lily hadn’t even had time to react.
"Just like swatting a fly."
Evan explained, sneaking a glance at Lily out of the corner of his eye.
There really was something unusual about him.