Chapter 235 - Chapter 235: Sister Lin, Uncle Li

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“Just run fast and catch up,” said Li Zexin as he quickened his pace.

In the villa, Auntie Huang was preparing the dishes. They were right on time.

Li Zexin shouted before he even entered through the door, “Ms. Lin! Grandma

Huang!”

Auntie Huang walked out of the kitchen when she heard the commotion. “Welcome Xinxin, these must be your roommates. Come. Come in!” Li Zexin’s friends greeted Auntie Huang warmly.

Chubby Jiang narrowed his eyes and sniffed. “Grandma, the food smells so good! My stomach is growling.”

“It’s almost done. Xinxin, there are fruits over there for your classmates. There’s also soup. I’ll call you when the food is ready.” Auntie Huang turned around and went back into the kitchen.

“Wash your hands.” Li Zexin took the lead and washed his hands in the corner of the courtyard.

“The decoration here is so soothing. Very Zen-like, I must say.” Big Mouth admired the place.

“It’s just the courtyard. How do you figure it to be Zen-like from here?” said Li Zexin. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Big Mouth pointed at the bronze lampshades at the door. “That one looks simple yet majestic.”

“And this wooden fence! Look at that chandelier on the porch!”

Preserved Egg patted Big Mouth’s shoulder. “Not bad! You know you could pursue the arts? You have got the eye for it.”

“Have some fruit.” Li Zexin led them inside.

He had barely eaten the grapes when two headlights shone outside in the courtyard.

“It must be Ms. Lin!” Li Zexin said as he got up. He couldn’t help smiling in excitement.

His three friends followed suit. They had never seen Lin Wan in person. They had only ever heard Li Zexin talk about her.

The car stopped at the entrance. Li Yanchen and Lin Wan got out of the car at the same time.

“Ms. Lin!” said Li Zexin happily. “Mr. Li!”

Lin Wan was wearing a light blue dress with a white cardigan over it. Her hair was undone. It draped over her shoulders. Li Yanchen wore a white T-shirt, black jeans, and a baseball jacket.

“Is this sister Lin Wan?” Li Zexin’s three friends looked at Lin Wan in awe.

“Sister, you are so beautiful! You are even more pretty than in the livestream.

Even our school belle isn’t as pretty as you!”

Lin Wan looked at the children. “Thank you! Are you Xinxin’s friends?”

“I will introduce you,” said Li Zexin. “He turned to his friends. “This is Ms. Lin.

And Ms. Lin, these are my friends, Preserved Egg, Big Mouth, and Chubby Jiang.”

“Hello to you all,” said Lin Wan politely.

“Sister, Xinxin always talks about you in the dormitory,” said Preserved Egg. “He says you are beautiful, kind, and especially good at English. Sister, can we also come and learn English from you?”

“We are not very good at English. We would be very grateful. We can pay for you for tutoring us too!”

Before Lin Wan could say anything, Li Zexin interrupted. “That won’t do. How can she tutor all four of us?”

“Oh, please. Don’t be like this,” said Preserved Egg. “Happiness should be shared. It’s enough if we can just listen in. If we can’t get top grades, how will we go to the same high school? Chubby Jiang, Big Mouth, back me up. What do you two say?”

“Yes, sister, we’ll just listen.”

Chubby Jiang turned to Li Yanchen. “Uncle Li, you know my father. If you can give him your account number, he will transfer the fee for the tutoring. I will ask him to wire the money. The third year of junior high has been so hectic. We desperately need help. I lost 20 pounds because of stress. I don’t have meat left anymore.”

Li Zexin shielded Lin Wan. “Chubby Jiang, you should lose weight. It’s good for you. Besides, Ms. Lin is very busy. Don’t push your luck. Otherwise, I will kick you all out right now.”

Li Zexin felt an internal crisis. What was going on? He had wanted to spend more time with Lin Wan, so he asked her to tutor him. Now, his good friends, who were here for a free meal, were trying to snatch her away.

“Uncle Li, the food at school is so bad. My dad is in construction. He has to supervise and oversee construction sites. My mother has to go with him to take care of him. I have no one to take care of me. I also wanted to get into a good high school.” Preserved Egg almost squeezed out some tears from his eyes.

Li Yanchen couldn’t even hear their ramblings. All he heard were the words “Sister Lin”, and “Uncle Li”.

‘What the hell?! Why am I an uncle while Lin Wan is a sister?’

“Xinxin’s friends, this is Auntie Lin, not Sister Lin.” Li Yanchen corrected them.

“But she is so young,” said Preserved Egg. “She doesn’t look older than the girls in my class. She looks like an older sister. Uncle Li, that is not important for now. Just tell me if I can come here for English lessons.”

Li Yanchen cursed inwardly. ‘Bunch of naughty kids…’

“Well, ask your sister yourself if you can come,” said Li Yanchen. “I will go put the luggage inside.”

Li Yanchen chastised himself for caring about some children’s silly words. But he still felt displeased. Did he really look that old?

“Sir, you’re back.” Auntie Huang was just setting the table. “Dinner is ready. I will call the children.’

“Alright.”

The three children were still trying to convince Lin Wan. Li Zexin pulled at Preserved Egg’s hands. “Just go back to school if you want to continue with this nonsense. You don’t need to ever come back here!”

“You’re so petty.” Preserved Egg rolled his eyes at Li Zexin.

“Come in and eat. Dinner is ready.” Auntie Huang appeared at the door.

The three children followed Li Zexin into the house. They saw Li Yanchen seated at the head of the table. He looked very serious. Preserved Egg didn’t dare sit near him. Instead, he hid behind Li Zexin. Lin Wan scooped some rice into the bowls of the children.

“Why are you hiding?” said Li Zexin to his friend. “Just sit down.”

The three of them looked at Li Yanchen from the corner of their eyes, as though asking for his permission.

“You can sit anywhere you want,” he said.

The three children cautiously sat down on the chairs furthest from him.

Auntie Huang served the dishes.

Lin Wan nudged Li Yanchen with her foot under the table and gave him a stern look. Li Yanchen understood that he was being too serious and scaring the children.

He tried to smile. “Everyone, please enjoy the food! If you can’t get to the food, you can stand to take it or even ask for help.”

Li Zexin passed the food around to his friends. Chubby Jiang loved food and he kept complimenting Auntie Huang.

The four of them wolfed down their food and finished their dinner in minutes. Then, it was time for Li Zexin’s lessons.

Lin Wan drank a bowl of soup.

“Why don’t we skip today?” Li Yanchen’s heart ached a little. She hadn’t even gotten the time to eat properly.

“It’s alright. Xinxin, go get your books, ” said Lin Wan.

“Can we just join and listen for today?” asked Preserved Egg.

Lin Wan nodded. “Come then, we’ll get started.”

Onlv Li Yanchen and Auntie Huang were left in the dining room. Without Lin

Wan, he felt like he had no appetite.

“Auntie, I will wait for Lin Wan and eat later when she’s done,” he said, as he put down his chopsticks.

In the study, Li Zexin and Lin Wan sat side by side, while the three children sat a little distance away.

Lin Wan flipped the textbook. She had a pen in her right hand with which she jotted down notes. She explained everything step by step..