Helping My Ex-Wife Find Love Every Day - Chapter 41

No matter how soft the persimmon, it will eventually have a temper. Bai Mengzhao looked at Zhao Ma-lian  as if she were a stranger, finding it hard to believe that such a teacher existed in the world.

After all, they were once master and apprentice…

“Teacher Zhao, please mind your words and actions,” Bai Mengzhao reminded her in a cold voice.

These words were maliciously misinterpreted by Zhao Ma-lian. She took them as a declaration of war against her and responded with an insinuation: “How extraordinary to have a sugar daddy backing you up! You immediately swagger around, riding on his coattails! So, the timid and subservient way you were acting just now was all an act of feigning innocence, was it?”

Bai Mengzhao clenched her teeth, speaking clearly, word by word: “I respect you as a teacher. Please do not go too far.”

Zhao Ma-lian’s ‘horse-face’ stretched even longer. With her hands on her hips, she looked like a fighting rooster ruffling the feathers on its neck: “I don’t have a student like you—morally corrupt, refusing to repay debts, fighting, and, and, and…”

She spat onto the ground: “…and finding a sugar daddy to be kept. Not learning anything good at such a young age.”

Being kept?

That was a phrase Yao Xiangyi intensely disliked.

She raised her hand, motioning for Bai Mengzhao to step back. The sharp, unconcealed glare in her eyes, fixed on Zhao Ma-lian, seemed as if it would carve her up slice by slice. “If you utter one more word of nonsense—”

Zhao Ma-lian twisted her mouth, mimicking a person suffering from a stroke: “What? Going to sue me for slander? Go ahead. Even a three-year-old child knows that everyone is equal. Am I breaking the law by speaking the truth?”

Yao Xiangyi was already tall; in high heels, she towered a full head above the teacher. She crossed her arms and leaned in: “Before I sue you for slander, I’m going to rip your mouth open first.”

Her tone was light and level, yet it was enough to send a chill down Zhao Ma-lian’s spine.

“This is lawless!” Zhao Ma-lian stamped her foot. “Bai Mengzhao must apologize, or the school will expel her.”

Yao Xiangyi challenged: “Try to expel her.”

She then turned her gaze into a cold arrow, shooting it toward the ‘Aircraft-Head’ student (Feijitou).

“You certainly have a lot of guts. Did you forget the pain so quickly after getting beaten up?”

Aircraft-Head, of course, remembered Yao Xiangyi, but the person he remembered most vividly was Qiu Qingzhi (Qiu Qingchi), who had beaten him until he was scrambling to pick up his teeth from the floor.

He glanced around the hallway, making sure Qiu Qingzhi was not present. Feeling a sense of relief, his confidence bolstered a bit. He hitched up his ill-fitting trousers: “Civility for you, me, and everyone; society relies on all of us. This is a school. Do you really dare to hit me? I’ll call the police if you do.”

Yao Xiangyi chuckled, her manner gentle and elegant: “You understand civility?”

Aircraft-Head was momentarily flustered, but having mingled in the underworld for years, his skin was as thick as iron plate: “Teacher Zhao, you can’t let them gang up and bully me. No, I’m really going to call the police.”

Zhao Ma-lian grew anxious. She snatched the phone from Aircraft-Head and hid it behind her back.

Aircraft-Head tried to grab it back, but Zhao Ma-lian resisted, dodging and darting for a good while. She finally ran into the office and temporarily handed the phone over to a male counselor for safekeeping.

Aircraft-Head chased her relentlessly, shouting loudly, “Give it back! Give it back!”

Zhao Ma-lian smiled broadly as she pushed Aircraft-Head out. The other teachers in the office, curious about the commotion, peered out with their water cups in hand, quietly observing to pass the time.

Further ahead was the Student Union’s office area. Perhaps because a school activity was about to be held, there were many student officers, who also came running out.

“Isn’t that Bai Mengzhao? What’s going on?”

“I came out first and heard a few whispers. It seems Bai Mengzhao took advantage of being a big celebrity, borrowed money but refused to repay it, and even beat up the creditor. Now the creditor has come to the school.”

“Really? She’s a big celebrity; is she really short on money and needs to borrow?”

“Being famous for controversy counts as what kind of celebrity? She can’t even get an endorsement.”

“At least she’s stronger than us, right?”

Yao Xiangyi watched the stalemate between Zhao Ma-lian and Aircraft-Head, finding it amusing, like a monkey show.

Having seen enough, she told Bai Mengzhao: “Call the police.”

Bai Mengzhao, hiding behind her, wiped away tears she was ashamed of and asked blankly, “Call the police?”

Yao Xiangyi was utterly confident: “Listen to me.”

Yao Xiangyi had been there every time Bai Mengzhao was in trouble. Bai Mengzhao had never met a woman like this—young, accomplished, principled, and righteous, always calm and unruffled, giving her an inexplicable sense of security.

“Alright,” she replied.

She took off her backpack, pulled out her phone, and dialed 110: “Hello, I want to report a crime.”

Aircraft-Head was afraid of nothing except having a chat with the police.

He immediately panicked, rushing towards Bai Mengzhao at a hundred-meter sprint speed, creating a gust of wind.

He imitated Zhao Ma-lian, snatched the phone, and politely said to the police officer on the other end, “Thank you for your hard work. Bye-bye.”

Then, his eyes wide as copper bells, he glared at Bai Mengzhao.

Yao Xiangyi raised an eyebrow at Bai Mengzhao, her look suggesting, ‘See? A rogue, even in a different skin, is ultimately a rogue. They’re terrified deep down.’

This was a classic paper tiger.

Aircraft-Head cursed: “You crazy, surnamed Bai!”

The moment the words left his tongue, Yao Xiangyi gripped the back of his neck firmly. His face went duang against the yellowish wall for a close encounter.

Aircraft-Head couldn’t keep up the act anymore: “Fck you, Motherfcker! Attacking me by surprise, damn it!”

He propped himself up with both palms on the wall, then twisted his body abruptly. Unexpectedly, Yao Xiangyi grabbed the back of his collar and pulled hard, causing him to lose his balance and stumble backward. His buttocks slammed heavily onto the hard floor.

“Aah! Aah! Aah!”

The pain was heartbreaking. He guessed his tailbone had split into eight pieces.

Yao Xiangyi did not advocate violence. She stepped back to Bai Mengzhao’s side, surveyed the crowd watching the drama as if looking down on all living beings, and said in a deep voice: “Are you all very idle?”

The crowd dispersed, returning whence they came, not forgetting to close the doors and windows as they left. Whispers drifted during this process.

“My gosh, that person looks like the wife of Movie Queen Qiu, Yao Xiangyi.”

“It’s not ‘looks like,’ it is her! That aura, that demeanor—you can’t find a second person like her in all of China! Absolutely stunning!”

“She scared me to death! I was just taking a video. She glanced over. She must have seen me filming her. I’m so scared. Will she find someone to deal with me?”

“Then hurry up and delete it! Don’t leave any evidence.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll delete it right now.”

Zhao Ma-lian listened vaguely, her heart sinking.

Her particular brand of bullying involved picking on the weak and fearing the powerful. She looked down on the merely wealthy and only respected those with authority and influence. People who keep minor celebrities usually only have a few stinking dollars; she didn’t put them in her eyes at all… Just a small sugar daddy, one of many in the entertainment industry.

Insignificant.

She never expected the person in front of her to be not a sugar daddy, but a supreme overlord!

And her surname was Yao, given name Xiangyi, a name that resounded like thunder.

She tugged at her clothes, shrinking back, and stammered, “CEO Yao, I’m sorry. I was a bit emotional earlier.”

Yao Xiangyi retorted, “Just a bit emotional?”

Zhao Ma-lian quickly corrected herself: “No, no, no, I… I…”

She stuttered a string of “I’s” but couldn’t come up with a coherent thought, probably unable to save face in broad daylight.

Yao Xiangyi, out of sight, out of mind, turned her head, looking out at the students pouring out of the classrooms in the opposite teaching building with the ringing of the bell.

Zhao Ma-lian pleaded with Bai Mengzhao in a whisper: “Student Bai, please say a few words for me.”

Bai Mengzhao took a step back, clearly resistant. She lowered her head, her index finger tracing the injury on her brow.

Zhao Ma-lian understood the hint. Her bow legs straightened rigidly, and she bowed ninety degrees towards Yao Xiangyi: “I apologize, CEO Yao. I hope you can be magnanimous and forgive my petty mistake.”

Yao Xiangyi looked up, noticing a bird’s nest hanging in the corner of the ceiling. She clicked her tongue softly twice, a sound that revealed no emotion.

Zhao Ma-lian slapped herself across the face. The sound was crisp.

Bai Mengzhao was astonished. This teacher, who usually gave orders imperiously, also had moments of utter humility, like a fierce, evil wolf that suddenly withdrew its greedy fangs and groveled on the ground, only begging for a shred of mercy.

Bai Mengzhao felt an unusual wave of disgust, her stomach churning.

Deep down, she also developed a sense of worship and… envy for Yao Xiangyi.

She envied Yao Xiangyi’s power and longed to be like her one day.

Zhao Ma-lian continued to slap her face—once, twice, thrice.

No one pitied her.

Yao Xiangyi found her too noisy: “Enough.”

Zhao Ma-lian felt like she had been granted a reprieve, and thanked her profusely.

After one night of love, Qiu Qingzhi couldn’t stop thinking of Yao Xiangyi’s virtues. She counted them on her fingers: First, good temper; second, good looks; third, good family background; fourth, good skills in bed… and she was super gentle, super thoughtful, and super generous!

Then she started to feel heartache over the large sums of Renminbi she had spent recklessly a few days ago.

Sigh, too impulsive!

She must not do that in the future. She needed to take on more acting roles, earn more money for the company, and repay her Overlord’s (Yao Xiangyi’s) love.

Fortunately, Yao Xiangyi not only didn’t blame her but also wanted to send her a yacht and a private jet. She had to send a gift in return to show her resolve. After much thought, she decided that since Yao Xiangyi had immense wealth and could buy anything she wanted, a return gift would seem insubstantial.

A flash of inspiration!

She thought: Why not use my personal strength and cook a good meal?

Yao Xiangyi loved her cooking the most.

She rushed home and spent the entire morning busy in the kitchen, completing the meal by eleven o’clock. Qiu Fugui (her father), sniffing the aroma, sneaked in to steal a bite. Qiu Qingzhi stood in front of the door and said sternly, “No! I made this specifically for Xiangyi.”

Qiu Fugui tried to reason with her. Qiu Qingzhi, out of consideration for him being her biological father, used chopsticks to pick up one shrimp and fed it into his mouth.

“Just one more,” Qiu Fugui pressed his luck.

Qiu Qingzhi resolutely refused.

Qiu Fugui was heartbroken, dragging his heavy steps away, turning back three times.

Pang Toutuo (The dog) lay by the floor-to-ceiling window, rolling onto its belly to sunbathe, and turned its head at a twisted angle to stick out its tongue at him.

It was like a cold, heartless mockery.

Qiu Qingzhi, meanwhile, picked up two exquisite large lunch boxes, started her beloved little sports car, and rushed into the embrace of love.

Near the intersection leading to Jinghong Tower, she used the stoplight waiting time to check if the finger tao (finger sheath/condom) was in her bag. Hmm, it’s still there. They had used mint flavor last night; for the office play today, she needed to switch to a fruit flavor.

However, Qin Chun (Yao Xiangyi’s assistant) told her that Yao Xiangyi was not in the company.

Qiu Qingzhi’s office play dream was shattered!

A feeling of disappointment welled up. She sat down on the CEO’s office sofa, clutching the large lunch boxes, her plump, pink little mouth pouting high.

Qin Chun, who brought in tea, thought: Aah, aah, aah, Madam is so adorable!!! I’m going to become a ‘Mom Fan’!!

Who the heck can resist a noble, aloof beauty suddenly acting cute!!

Could this be the ultimate secret to making CEO Yao love her to death!!

Qiu Qingzhi asked, “Did Xiangyi say where she went?”

Qin Chun replied with starry, lovesick eyes: “No.”

Qiu Qingzhi slammed the armrest in frustration. Hmph, she didn’t care. Yao Xiangyi had to come back and eat all the food she had painstakingly cooked!

After eating, they would have office play!

She lit up her phone screen and dialed the number…

No answer.

No answer?

No answer!

Yao Xiangyi had set a special ringtone for her, and she always picked up instantly.

Qiu Qingzhi dialed again.

After three long rings, Yao Xiangyi’s gentle inquiry came through: “Hello, Baby, miss me?”

Qiu Qingzhi felt relieved and replied sweetly, “I miss you so much. Where are you?”

“I’m at the company.”

Qiu Qingzhi’s eyes narrowed dangerously. She thought she had misheard and confirmed: “Where? I didn’t hear clearly.”

Yao Xiangyi was completely unguarded: “The company. I can’t talk right now. I have a few documents to look at. I love you.”

The air froze.

Qiu Qingzhi slowly put down her phone.

Her expression became extremely grim.

A deep, inscrutable light flashed in her eyes.

Qin Chun smelled… a tiny bit… of unusual gunpowder… in the air…

Had someone’s gunpowder barrel just had its lid blown off?