Kidnapping the Female Teacher's Best Friend - Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Around three o’clock on Sunday afternoon, Mo Zibei received a call from Zhou Ruoxin.

Over the phone, Zhou Ruoxin was cheerful and her voice was lively: “My mom is making dumplings, and she’s asking you and Uncle to come over for dinner tonight.”

Mo Zibei looked down at her homework problem, skillfully twirling her pen: “My dad might not want to go.”

“Just tell Uncle that my dad wants to have a drink with him.” Mo Father didn’t have many hobbies, but he did enjoy a little drink in the evening when he had nothing else to do.

Before Zhou Ruoxin’s family moved from the old city area to this neighborhood, if there was nothing planned on the weekend, Ruoxin’s father would often invite Mo Lin over for a couple of drinks. However, this get-together stopped mostly after they moved.

“Then I’ll try,” Mo Zibei put down her pen. “I’ll call you back in a bit.”

“Mhm.”

After hanging up, Mo Zibei got up and pushed the door open. Mo Father’s bedroom door was open, but no one was inside. Mo Zibei glanced at the study, where her father was likely practicing calligraphy. She knocked on the door three times with her knuckles.

“Come in,” Mo Father responded.

“Dad,” Mo Zibei walked in. “Ruoxin just called. Uncle Zhou wants to invite you over for a drink this afternoon.”

“Mhm.”

Mo Zibei rubbed the back of her head: “Does that mean you’re going?”

Mo Father nodded, looking pleased.

“Then I’ll go back to my room to do homework?”

“Go ahead.”

An hour before they were due to leave, Mo Father took a shower, tidied himself up, and changed into a comfortable, respectable light gown and trousers, looking very refreshed.

Mo Zibei hadn’t expected her father to care so much about the invitation. When it was time to leave, Mo Zibei asked, “Dad, how do you plan on getting there?”

Mo Father didn’t answer but asked in return: “Are you planning to cycle?”

“Yeah, I don’t like taking the bus.”

Mo Father nodded.

The father and daughter each rode a bicycle to the Zhou’s house, sweating a lot along the way.

As soon as they entered, Mo Father was pulled away by Zhou Father to play chess in the study. Mo Zibei went to Zhou Ruoxin’s bedroom, where Meng Yuanhao was also present.

The three ate some fruit and chatted idly for a few minutes. Mo Zibei excused herself to use the restroom, and sitting on the toilet, she sent a WeChat message to Mu Hanxi: Sister Mu, have you had dinner yet?

Two minutes later, a reply came: Not yet. I plan to cook something for myself later.

After flushing the toilet and washing her hands, Mo Zibei went to the kitchen: “Auntie, what filling did you use for the dumplings today?”

Zhou Mother was serving fish and smiled at the question: “They’re pickled cabbage and pork. I learned it from the next-door neighbor. I made them once before, and they tasted quite good.”

Mo Zibei looked down and thought for a few seconds: “The last time I went to an older sister’s place for tutoring, it got late, and I ended up eating at her house. I feel bad about it. Auntie, could you pack some dumplings for me to take to her as a thank you gift…?”

“Of course,” Zhou Mother said with a loving look. “They’ll be ready in two minutes. I’ll pack them for you later.”

“Thank you, Auntie.”

“Don’t be silly, child…”

Mo Zibei stood by, waiting for the dumplings to be cooked. At the same time, she edited a message on her phone: Sister Mu, don’t cook. I’ll bring you some dumplings later.

Mu Hanxi was still deciding what to eat when she received the message: Where did you get the dumplings? Did Uncle make them?

Mo Zibei curved her lips and smiled: My dad and I are crashing at someone else’s place for dinner, and I’m ‘crashing’ a few dumplings for you too.

The kid is quite humorous, Mu Hanxi thought, deleting and rewriting her message, finally asking: Wouldn’t that be inappropriate?

Mo Zibei first sent a cute emoji, then continued editing: No, the Auntie hopes her cooking will become famous far and wide.

Mu Hanxi was mindful that it was hot out and didn’t want Mo Zibei to go through the trouble, so she was reluctant to agree. But the kid seemed to know her thoughts, directly stating that she was only a few minutes away from Mu Hanxi’s place. In the end, Mu Hanxi couldn’t argue with her and allowed it.

As soon as the dumplings were cooked and packed, Mo Zibei couldn’t wait to leave: “Auntie, I’m off! When the food is ready, please eat first and don’t wait for me.” Even in her haste, she didn’t forget to pack side dishes and dipping sauce for Mu Hanxi.

“Slow down, and be careful on the road.”

“I know,” Mo Zibei responded and opened the door to leave. Mu Hanxi and Zhou Ruoxin’s families both lived in the New City area, and Mu Hanxi’s apartment was in the complex right next to Zhou Ruoxin’s, so it wasn’t far at all.

Zhou Ruoxin argued with Meng Yuanhao in the bedroom for a while. When she realized Mo Zibei hadn’t returned, she got restless.

She went out and looked around, but couldn’t find her: “Mom, have you seen Zibei?”

“Oh, she just left,” Zhou Mother was plating the dumplings. “Help me take the rest to the table. It’s almost time for dinner.”

Zhou Ruoxin carried the dumplings as instructed, with Meng Yuanhao following right behind her and helping out.

“Where did she go?”

Zhou Mother turned to grab bowls and chopsticks: “Go call your dad and Uncle Mo from the study. Tell them to come wash up and eat.”

Zhou Ruoxin didn’t go to the study but anxiously followed Zhou Mother to the cupboard, bending down to ask, “Mom, you still haven’t told me where Zibei went.”

“I told you to go call them from the study, why are you following me?” Zhou Mother looked up at Meng Yuanhao, who had also followed them, and instructed, “Yuanhao, you go call the two uncles.”

Yuanhao nodded and obediently scurried off.

Zhou Mother took the bowls and chopsticks and saw her daughter still staring at her anxiously. She finally replied: “She said she was going to deliver dumplings to an older sister. She had a meal at her place when she was tutoring there and wanted to return the favor.”

Zhou Ruoxin immediately pressed: “Did she say which sister? What’s her name?”

“How should I know all that?” Zhou Mother bypassed her. “You are such a child, why are you asking so many questions?”

Zhou Ruoxin ignored Zhou Mother’s questioning. She was wondering who Mo Zibei had been getting tutoring from and why she hadn’t heard her mention it.

Five or six minutes later, Mo Zibei arrived at Mu Hanxi’s apartment and rang the doorbell.

Mu Hanxi came to open the door, chastising gently: “I really can’t do anything with you. I told you not to bother with the delivery.”

Mo Zibei grinned, showing her rarely seen small canine teeth: “It’s a very short distance, and Auntie Zhou said these pickled cabbage and pork dumplings taste great. I wanted you to try them.”

It was only when she was teaching Mo Zibei phonetic pronunciation that Mu Hanxi noticed her two small, pointed canine teeth. When she grinned like this, she looked quite adorable.

Mu Hanxi unconsciously curved her lips: “Come in quickly.”

Mo Zibei looked down to change her shoes, carrying the dumplings, side dishes, and dipping sauce, following Mu Hanxi inside.

Mu Hanxi took a plate from the cabinet. Mo Zibei carefully poured the dumplings onto the plate and arranged the dipping sauce and side dishes one by one.

“This is the sauce Auntie made herself. I’ve had it before and think it’s really good.”

Mu Hanxi inwardly praised her thoughtfulness but didn’t say anything, worried the girl might feel embarrassed.

“Hurry up and try it,” Mo Zibei’s eyes were bright and full of anticipation. Her expression made it seem like she had made the sauce and dumplings herself.

“You sit too.” Mu Hanxi intentionally took out an extra pair of chopsticks when she got the cutlery.

Mo Zibei rubbed the bridge of her nose with the back of her hand and sat down beside her.

Mu Hanxi handed her a pair of chopsticks: “Let’s try them together.” This girl probably hadn’t eaten either.

Mo Zibei felt herself heating up, and her palms were sweaty… She curled her fingers before gently accepting the chopsticks. They shared the same dipping sauce.

“Delicious,” Mu Hanxi praised after dipping a dumpling and taking a bite. “Auntie’s craftsmanship is exquisite.”

“Mhm.” Hearing this, ripples spread across the surface of Mo Zibei’s heart.

Mo Zibei only ate one dumpling before putting down her chopsticks. She didn’t know Mu Hanxi’s appetite and worried there wouldn’t be enough for her.

“Sister Mu, take your time,” she pushed the dipping sauce and side dishes toward Mu Hanxi. “I need to head back now.”

“Mhm.” Mu Hanxi put down her chopsticks, intending to see her out.

Mo Zibei knew what she meant: “Don’t see me off. Keep eating, or they’ll get cold.”

Such thoughtful words made Mu Hanxi feel comfortable: “Alright, then be careful on your way.”

“I know,” Mo Zibei got up. “Sister Mu, see you next week.”

Mu Hanxi smiled gently: “See you next week.”

On the way back, Mo Zibei felt quite cheerful and hummed an unknown tune, only stopping as she neared the Zhou’s house.

Zhou Ruoxin opened the door for her. As soon as she entered, the people at the dinner table all beckoned her to sit down quickly.

Mo Zibei acknowledged them and sat down beside Zhou Ruoxin.

Meng Yuanhao next to her tilted his head and quietly asked: “Where did you go?”

“A little errand.” Mo Zibei didn’t elaborate.

Meng Yuanhao didn’t ask further.

Zhou Ruoxin strained her ears to listen to their conversation but didn’t catch any useful information.

Zhou Father offered a few polite words and called for everyone to raise their glasses. The men held baijiu (white liquor), and the women and children held fruit juice.

Everyone clinked glasses, and dinner officially began.

The meal lasted quite a long time. Zhou Father and Mo Father continued to drink slowly over the dishes and dumplings. Mo Zibei and the other two had to return to school for evening study hall, so the three of them grabbed their backpacks and cycled back to school around six o’clock.

Zhou Ruoxin felt awkward the whole way, wanting to ask Mo Zibei about the tutoring, but Meng Yuanhao kept buzzing like a bee, and Zhou Ruoxin never found the right moment.

At the moment of parting, Zhou Ruoxin angrily stomped on Meng Yuanhao’s foot.

Meng Yuanhao hopped and howled, not knowing what he had done to provoke this young madam again.

As Mo Zibei entered the back door of the classroom, she saw that her cup had been filled with water. Du Chenxing at the next desk hadn’t arrived yet, so it must have been Qu Junzhi.

“You filled my water?”

“Mhm,” Qu Junzhi stepped aside to let her in and looked up at her. “Did you eat garlic tonight?”

Mo Zibei was startled and asked, “Does it smell that much?” The dipping sauce Auntie made didn’t have much garlic, but Meng Yuanhao insisted that dumplings and garlic were the perfect combination. The more garlic, the more satisfying the dumplings. He went to the kitchen and got a head of garlic. He would bite a piece of garlic and then eat a dumpling. Not only did he do this, but he also persuaded Mo Zibei to join him.

Qu Junzhi pretended to fan her nose in distaste: “It smells awful.”

Mo Zibei moved to sit farther away from her.

Qu Junzhi found it amusing: “Why? Afraid of stinking me up?”

Mo Zibei gave an awkward laugh.

After a while, Qu Junzhi deliberately dragged her stool closer to Mo Zibei, sitting right next to her. When Du Chenxing arrived, Mo Zibei couldn’t move any further.

Being close was one thing, but Qu Junzhi kept asking her math questions at that moment. Mo Zibei couldn’t refuse to explain, so to maintain her image, Mo Zibei had to cover her mouth while explaining the problems.

Qu Junzhi listened and laughed, and continued to ask her to explain while laughing. People nearby turned their heads to look in confusion.

After evening study hall ended and Mo Zibei got her phone, she couldn’t wait to send a WeChat message to Mu Hanxi, describing the embarrassing incident of the day.

Mu Hanxi had just finished calling her family. Seeing the message, she couldn’t help but smile and replied: Cute.

After editing her message, Mo Zibei was walking down the stairs, hooking her backpack strap over her shoulder. Hearing the notification sound, she quickly went to the corner of the stairwell to check her phone. Seeing Mu Hanxi’s reply, Mo Zibei bit the back of her finger and sent a question: Sister Mu, who are you calling cute?

Mu Hanxi replied with just one word: You.

Whether it was the you who was persuaded to eat garlic, or the you who covered her mouth while explaining a problem to your deskmate, you are very cute.

Mo Zibei stared at the single word, and her face instantly turned red, uncontrollably starting to feel hot.

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