Kidnapping the Female Teacher's Best Friend - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

The two were in that position, yet the child was still unrestrained, laughing and poking Mu Hanxi’s knee again with the toy gun, neither gently nor heavily. The child’s grandmother was right beside him, saying soothing words but making no move to stop the action.

Mo Zibei grew irritated at the sight. She glared at the little brat and scolded fiercely, “Stop messing around!”

The little rascal, who wanted to continue his antics, flinched at the sudden reprimand. After looking up and meeting Mo Zibei’s cold eyes, he involuntarily shrank his neck.

The old woman’s expression instantly turned displeased. She gave Mo Zibei a fierce look, pulled her grandson away, and muttered a few complaints under her breath.

Mu Hanxi glanced at the frowning Mo Zibei and gently stroked the back of the hand resting on her waist. Seeing Mo Zibei’s brow relax, she withdrew her hand. Realizing she was still being embraced, she wanted to speak up but bit her lip and held back…

A few seconds later, Mu Hanxi parted her lips and whispered, “We’ve arrived.”

“Mhm.” Mo Zibei’s face felt warm, and she slowly released her hands.

She should have let go earlier, but her hands seemed to have a will of their own and just couldn’t bear to let go. And since Mu Hanxi didn’t say anything, she brazenly held her for a little longer.

Exiting the elevator, the two walked side by side without speaking. As they approached the apartment door, Mu Hanxi glanced at her and said lightly, “You were very fierce just now.”

Mo Zibei’s eyelashes fluttered at the comment, and her face slightly flushed: “Not really.” Who told that brat to bully you.

A hint of a smile played in Mu Hanxi’s eyes. She didn’t say anything more, turned to take out the key to open the door and turn on the light.

“Come here,” Mu Hanxi bent down in the entryway to get her a pair of light blue and white slippers—they were new. “Try them on and see if they fit.”

Mo Zibei quite liked the color and pattern. She pursed her lips and, under Mu Hanxi’s gentle gaze, put them on: “The size is just right.”

Mu Hanxi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear: “These shoes suit you very well.”

Being praised like this made the heat on Mo Zibei’s face intensify even more.

“Do you like them?”

“Yes,” Mo Zibei suppressed her shyness. “I’m quite fond of this style.”

“That’s good,” Mu Hanxi led her inside and then explained, “My second older sister bought several pairs online. She brought a pair over for me this morning, and when I tried them on, they were a bit big.” She paused, a hint of embarrassment appearing on her face. “If you don’t mind…”

“I don’t mind!” Mo Zibei eagerly cut her off before she could finish.

Mu Hanxi was momentarily stunned, then couldn’t help but smile: she felt this person was quite cute.

Realizing her overly eager response, Mo Zibei’s face immediately flushed crimson. Her behavior just now was too impatient; how embarrassing.

“I… I need to use the restroom.”

Mu Hanxi hummed in acknowledgment.

Mo Zibei placed her backpack on the sofa and hurried into the restroom.

She splashed cold water on her face several times at the sink, stopping only when the heat on her face had completely subsided. When she came out, she ran right into Mu Hanxi, who was holding tomatoes and eggs.

“There’s a towel on the balcony,” Mu Hanxi pointed outside, noticing the water droplets still clinging to Mo Zibei’s face. “Go wipe your face.”

“Okay.” Mo Zibei shuffled over in the slippers.

Mu Hanxi smiled and went to the kitchen.

After drying her face, Mo Zibei sneaked to the kitchen. Her tall figure stood in the doorway, and she asked, “Is there anything I can help with?” She wasn’t good at kitchen tasks, but Mu Hanxi was busy for her, and she felt bad sitting around doing nothing. Plus, she really wanted to stay close to that person.

Mu Hanxi was cutting the blanched and peeled tomatoes. She stopped her movement and looked up at her: “Then help me whisk the eggs in a bowl.”

“I can do that.” This she should be able to do well. Mo Zibei began to whisk the egg mixture earnestly.

After plating the sliced tomatoes, Mu Hanxi asked her, “Do you eat green onion and garlic?”

“Both. I’m not picky.”

“Mhm… very well-behaved.”

Mo Zibei’s ears burned. She stopped her motion and glanced at Mu Hanxi. Mu Hanxi seemed to sense it and turned to look.

Mo Zibei immediately switched back to her serious egg-whisking demeanor.

Mu Hanxi found it amusing: “That’s enough.” She had whisked it until it was frothy. If she continued, they could make a cake.

Mo Zibei stopped her hand, pursed her lips, and was about to speak, but Mu Hanxi, as if she were reading her mind, spoke first: “Help me peel a few cloves of garlic…”

Mo Zibei put down the whisk and bowl and immediately began peeling the garlic. A smile played on her lips; she felt that Mu Hanxi understood her so well.

After peeling the garlic cloves, she looked at Mu Hanxi again.

Mu Hanxi said gently, “That’s enough. I’ll take care of the rest. You can go to the living room to watch TV or to my bedroom to do your homework.” The apartment was two bedrooms and one living room. Besides the master bedroom, there was a guest room, but no dedicated study, and the guest room didn’t have suitable tables and chairs.

“Then… I’ll go out?” A hint of reluctance was evident in Mo Zibei’s little gaze, but Mu Hanxi was busy washing the vegetables and didn’t notice.

“Okay.”

Not only did she want to behave well in front of Mu Hanxi, but she also had homework to do, even at home.

She took her backpack from the sofa, pushed the door open, and went into Mu Hanxi’s bedroom.

The room had a faint, clean fragrance, and the furnishings were very simple: a wardrobe stood to the left of the bed, the thin blanket was neatly folded, and a pure white wooden desk was placed in the upper right corner of the bed, facing the window.

Mo Zibei walked in, hooking her shoulder strap, pulled out the rectangular soft cushion chair, and sat down at the desk. It was an overcast day, so she couldn’t see the moon. If the weather were good, she could admire the moving moonlight from here.

Mo Zibei let her thoughts wander for a while. Only when she heard approaching footsteps did she gather her focus and take out her English textbook, practice book, and answer key in turn.

Mu Hanxi knocked on the door. After Mo Zibei answered, she entered.

Mu Hanxi brought her a cup of warm water.

Mo Zibei took it and took a small sip.

Mu Hanxi didn’t look closely or say anything extra. She left after delivering the water.

Mo Zibei was very nervous when she came in. English was her least proficient subject… She was secretly relieved that Mu Hanxi hadn’t asked anything about her studies.

More than ten minutes later, Mu Hanxi knocked on the door again to call her for dinner this time.

When she went out, Mu Hanxi had already scooped the noodles and placed the bowls on the dining table: there were two bowls of noodles, one slightly more, and one slightly less, but even the smaller portion was half a bowl.

Mo Zibei was a little surprised. Mu Hanxi must have already eaten dinner with Teacher Lin. She must be eating with her just so she wouldn’t feel awkward.

A warm current suddenly surged in Mo Zibei’s heart, flowing comfortably through her veins.

“Sit down quickly,” Mu Hanxi smiled at her. “Taste it and see how it is.”

Mo Zibei sat down obediently, picked up her chopsticks, hesitated for two seconds, and quietly asked, “Um… can you give me some of the noodles from your bowl?”

The surprise on Mu Hanxi’s face flashed by, and then she asked, “Are you not getting enough to eat?”

Mo Zibei lowered her head, looking at the tabletop, and said quietly, “Mhm.” I’m worried you’ll overeat.

Mu Hanxi, after a moment’s thought, seemed to understand her intention. She didn’t expose her but played along, using the serving chopsticks to transfer some noodles to Mo Zibei’s bowl.

“Is that enough?”

Mo Zibei glanced at the noodles in Mu Hanxi’s bowl: “Put a little more over.”

Mu Hanxi’s eyes curved with a smile, and she teased, “Do you eat a lot?”

“Yes,” to sound convincing, Mo Zibei added, “I’m still growing right now.”

“Then I should make you something more nutritious.”

Mo Zibei immediately spoke up for her: “I think this is great. It’s not good to eat too much rich food at night. It’s hard to digest and also unhealthy.”

Mu Hanxi had never found Mo Zibei difficult to get along with. On the contrary, she felt this little one was quite thoughtful of others’ feelings.

Seeing that Mo Zibei’s bowl was nearly overflowing, Mu Hanxi was amused: “Is this okay now?”

She looked up. Mu Hanxi’s bowl didn’t have much noodle left now. She felt relieved: “Yes, that’s enough.”

The two began to eat their noodles with their heads down. To break the silence, Mo Zibei initiated a conversation: “You said the slippers were from your second older sister. Is she your biological sister?”

“No,” Mu Hanxi handed her a napkin. “She’s my second uncle’s daughter, two years older than me.”

“Mhm.” Mo Zibei took the napkin, wiped her mouth, and took a bite of the tender egg yolk.

“I’m the only child in my family.” Mu Hanxi took a sip of warm water.

Mo Zibei smiled faintly to herself: “Me too.”

Mu Hanxi rarely saw her smile and found that she looked quite lovely when she did. It was a completely different feeling from when she wasn’t smiling.

Halfway through the noodles, Mo Zibei couldn’t help but bring up the topic that was on her mind: “I heard Teacher Lin say you’ll be leaving after a few months here.”

“Mhm,” Mu Hanxi was a little surprised that Lin Xiaoran had told Mo Zibei this, but thought nothing of it. “A very good friend invested and started a company here, and I came to help out.”

“Oh.” Mo Zibei continued to eat her noodles in small bites.

Mo Zibei took a sip of the noodle soup and asked again, “Where are you from?”

Mu Hanxi deliberately teased her: “Did your Teacher Lin not tell you this?”

“No.” I haven’t even asked her yet, Mo Zibei thought to herself. Of course, compared to asking her, I prefer asking you directly.

Mu Hanxi felt there was nothing to hide: “City B, but my ancestral home is in City H.”

“Both are good places.”

“Have you been?”

“No.” But I will go there in the future.

Mo Zibei had never had a clear goal for which city to attend university, but now she had decided to take the entrance exam for a university in City B.

“Once you go to university, you’ll have more free time. You can travel to cities you like and see the world outside.”

Mo Zibei opened her mouth to say something but held back, finally only humming in agreement with her head down.

After finishing the noodles, Mo Zibei proactively volunteered to do the dishes, and Mu Hanxi let her.

By the time she finished, it was late, and it was time to pack her bag and go.

Mo Zibei was still wearing Mu Hanxi’s denim shirt. Logically, since she was already at the person’s home, it would be the perfect time to return it. However, she was very reluctant to part with it, so she resorted to a delay tactic: “I’ll wash this shirt, along with the T-shirt I was wearing earlier, and return them to you then.”

Mu Hanxi was about to say there was no need to go to such trouble, but seeing the earnestness in her eyes, she involuntarily changed her tune: “Okay.”

Hearing this, Mo Zibei looked like a successful little fox, a hint of cunningness fleetingly visible in her eyes. Then, she quickly composed her face, trying hard to maintain a normal expression.

But they were already at the door, and Mu Hanxi still hadn’t mentioned the slippers.

Mo Zibei gently pushed against her teeth with her tongue, blushing: “The slippers… are you giving them to me?” Mo Zibei wished she could bite her younger self, who had impulsively answered earlier. Now she had to bring it up brazenly.

Mu Hanxi hadn’t forgotten about the slippers; she had just felt like teasing her and seeing her reaction.

Catching a glimpse of her flushed face, Mu Hanxi felt a sense of pleasure: “I’m giving them to you. They fit you better than me.” She is truly adorable.

“Thank you… Mu Jie.” Mo Zibei barely whispered the three words “Mu Jie.”

A slight smile blossomed on Mu Hanxi’s lips.

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