There’re Always Paranoid Thoughts to Monopolize Me - Chapter 41.1

As dinner ended, Huo Jingyan and Yan’an planned to catch a flight back to Sijiu City that night. The four of them said their goodbyes on the long street of Qian City.

Before getting into the car, Yan’an playfully “warned” Huo Jun. “Young Master Huo, Qin Ke and I hit it off immediately, she’s now considered my little sister. If I hear that you’ve mistreated her in any way…” She smiled, “A woman’s desire for revenge can be quite strong.”

“I can attest to that,” Huo Jingyan, who was opening the car door for Yan’an, looked back and said to Qin Ke, “Your Sister Yan’an’s desire for revenge is especially strong.”

“…”

Yan’an shot him a glare.

After two seconds, she waved her hand, “Fine, considering it’s your birthday today, I won’t hold it against you.”

After a few more jokes between them, Yan’an got into the car.

Huo Jingyan’s smile faded slightly, his eyes becoming a bit more serious as he looked at Huo Jun.

“You remember what you promised me, right?”

“?” Qin Ke was confused and also turned to look.

Huo Jun initially didn’t want to respond, but seeing the girl’s gaze fall on him, he perfunctorily met Huo Jingyan’s eyes, “I said I would do it, so I definitely will.”

Huo Jingyan was satisfied and glanced to the side.

“Qin Ke, Sijiu City is full of great universities and opportunities, with a bright future ahead—I’m waiting for you to test in and continue being my ‘student’.”

Qin Ke was moved and nodded sincerely.

“Teacher Huo, I won’t disappoint you.”

“…”

Huo Jun let out a low grunt beside her.

Like a fierce guard dog already impatiently scratching the ground, ready to chase away the guests.

Huo Jingyan glanced at him, getting into the car with a half-smile.

Before closing the car door, Huo Jingyan looked at Qin Ke.

“Remember to get your rabies shots regularly.”

Qin Ke was stunned.

A moment later, she came to her senses and helplessly held back the young man beside her, “Goodbye, Teacher. Goodbye, Sister Yan’an.”

“Mm, goodbye.”

The car drove off.

Its taillights quickly disappeared into the night of Qian City.

Qin Ke lowered her gaze. Just as she was about to withdraw her hand that had stopped Huo Jun, her fingertips tightened—he had grasped her hand in his palm.

Qin Ke wasn’t surprised at all. She looked up at the young man beside her, “It’s late, I need to go back. I have something early tomorrow morning.”

“…”

Huo Jun was about to say something, but hearing the last sentence, his gaze flickered. To Qin Ke’s surprise, he didn’t argue, but said directly, “Then I’ll walk you back.”

“I can go by myself,” Qin Ke raised her other free hand and pointed diagonally ahead, “I’ve moved out of Qin Yan’s house and now live in the student apartments next to the school, not far from here…”

“I’ll walk you,” Huo Jun lowered his eyes to look at her, his pupils dark and slightly shimmering, “I insist.”

“…”

Qin Ke resigned herself and nodded.

The way happened to pass through the back street of Qiande Middle School. The back street was slightly noisy on the weekend, bustling with people and quite lively.

As they approached the end of the street, passing by the sign of Hell Bar, Qin Ke’s steps faltered for a moment, as if some memory had been triggered.

Huo Jun naturally noticed this.

“Want to go in?”

“…”

Qin Ke looked at him in surprise, then shook her head, “No.”

Huo Jun: “Don’t like places like this?”

“…Mm,” Qin Ke hesitated for a moment, then told the truth, “I don’t really like noisy places.”

“Then why did you come that day?”

“…”

Qin Ke paused, quickly realizing Huo Jun was referring to that night before the summer break. She fell silent for a moment.

Huo Jun glanced at her, “You came to Hell solely to tell me I would be ambushed?”

Qin Ke hesitated, then slowly nodded.

The young man stared at her, not speaking.

The emotions churning in those pitch-black eyes vaguely set off alarm bells in Qin Ke’s heart. Just as she was about to step back, she was suddenly pulled by the wrist.

—

Huo Jun leaned down and quickly kissed the corner of the girl’s mouth.

The street was full of people’s shadows. Qin Ke was almost startled by him. When she came to her senses, she looked at Huo Jun with slight annoyance.

“Can you not suddenly… do this in public?”

“Do what?”

Huo Jun chuckled softly, unable to suppress the pleased and satisfied look in his eyes and brows.

“…” Qin Ke bit her lip, ignoring him and turning to walk ahead.

Huo Jun, still holding her hand, followed.

…

The student apartments were located in a very quiet back alley.

A few street lamps were like fireflies hidden among tree leaves, warm and soft. The leaves trembled in the night breeze, making the lights sway with the wind.

The back alley was peaceful and tranquil.

“It’s here.”

Qin Ke stopped outside the student apartments with lights on and doors open, turning to look at Huo Jun.

“You should go back too. But it’s so late, can you call a car?”

Huo Jun smiled, “If I can’t, would you let me sleep in your room?”

Qin Ke: “…”

Qin Ke’s face tightened slightly, “I’m not joking with you. There are spare rooms upstairs, we can ask the auntie…”

“No need.” Huo Jun looked back towards the end of the alley they had come from. As if to confirm his words, a car with its headlights on slowly came to a stop. He turned back, “There’s a car to pick me up.”

Qin Ke was stunned for a moment.

So their long walk through the streets to get here…

As if seeing through the girl’s thoughts, Huo Jun chuckled softly.

“I wish this road had no end, or that we could walk to the ends of the earth—I’d be fine even if we walked until we died.”

Qin Ke looked at him helplessly.

But Huo Jun’s gaze fell on the student apartments behind her, “Why aren’t you living at home anymore?”

“…”

This topic change was too sudden. Qin Ke paused for two seconds before coming back to her senses, saying softly, “Nothing much, just some conflicts. And living here is very convenient.”

Huo Jun frowned.

“The environment is too poor,” his gaze swept around, “And it’s not very safe.”

Qin Ke: “As long as I’m comfortable, it’s fine.”

“……”

Huo Jun gave her a deep look, but ultimately didn’t say anything.

“Then you should go in. Didn’t you say you have to get up early tomorrow?”

Qin Ke was about to nod when she suddenly froze, “How did you know I have to get up early tomorrow?”

“…” Huo Jun’s eyes flickered, a rare trace of awkwardness passing through them, but he quickly covered it up, “You just said you have something tomorrow.”

Qin Ke: “But I didn’t say I had to get up early?”

“Then I guessed.”

Huo Jun’s eyes fell on her as he said calmly.

Qin Ke felt a slight doubt in her heart, but ultimately didn’t say anything, just nodding, “Then… good night.”

“Mm, good night.”

The girl turned and entered the building.

Only after watching her greet the auntie on the first floor and disappear at the staircase did Huo Jun slowly turn and walk towards the alley entrance.

****

The next morning, Qin Ke got up very early.

—

This was her first day starting as a tutor, and she took the morning lessons very seriously—she had even prepared her lesson plan one more time before going to bed last night.

After eating a simple breakfast in the small cafeteria of the apartment, Qin Ke went to the nearest bus stop and took a bus towards the stop near the villa.

About an hour later, she finally reached her destination.

The security had apparently been notified in advance, and Qin Ke was let in without any trouble, entering the villa area.

The one who opened the door to greet her was still the middle-aged lady who looked very much like the school’s teaching director from last time.

“Miss Qin arrived very early.”

Perhaps because of the signed contract, Qin Ke felt that the other party’s attitude towards her was obviously no longer as distant and rigid as before, and even the smile on her face seemed to have softened a bit.

Qin Ke didn’t think much of it and nodded lightly to the other party.

“Good morning, you can just call me Qin Ke.”

“Alright, Miss Qin Ke, please follow me in.”

“…”

Qin Ke resigned herself, no longer trying to correct the other party’s form of address, and just silently followed her into the villa.

Qin Ke had thought the other party would lead her to the third-floor study to prepare for the lesson, but unexpectedly, after walking for a while, the middle-aged lady led her to the dining room.

On the wooden dining table with excellent color and light reflection, a set of exquisite and beautiful porcelain plates, bowls, and chopsticks were laid out, with containers filled with a rich breakfast of appealing color and aroma.

Qin Ke was stunned and looked up at the woman in front of her, “This is…?”

“This is the breakfast prepared for Miss Qin Ke. We have strictly considered the preferences and dietary restrictions you mentioned during your last visit. Miss Qin Ke can eat with peace of mind.”

“No,” Qin Ke was a bit at a loss whether to laugh or cry, “I’ve already had breakfast. And you don’t need to go to such trouble, I’m just here to tutor…”

“Ensuring Miss Qin Ke’s dietary health is crucial for ensuring teaching efficiency, we understand this clearly,” the middle-aged woman smiled apologetically, “We didn’t explain this clearly to Miss Qin Ke before, which was my oversight. From now on, when you come here for lessons, we will have your three meals prepared for you.”

“…”

Qin Ke was still in a state of shock.

The woman had already bowed slightly to her, “Please enjoy your meal, Miss Qin Ke. After breakfast, you can go directly to the study on the third floor. Your ‘student’ will be waiting for you there.”

After saying this, the woman nodded and bowed to Qin Ke again before turning and walking out.

It wasn’t until the middle-aged lady turned and left that Qin Ke finally came back to her senses.

She sat down at the dining table, puzzled.

If it weren’t for the contract she had signed with Gu Xinqing last time, which had gone smoothly and without worry, she would now be suspecting that they had ulterior motives.

——

After all, the saying “Unsolicited kindness is either a con or a theft” might sometimes be biased, but it holds true most of the time.

Moreover, she had originally thought the middle-aged woman was the madam of the house—at least last time, the woman had intentionally or unintentionally given her this preconceived notion before signing the contract. This time, however, the woman seemed to have demonstrated through her actions that she was more likely just serving in a role similar to a housekeeper.