Chapter 37: Chapter 36: The Significance of the Japanese Language
"Get up, you lazy bum!"
Just as Xiang Ri was lost in a pleasant dream, a sharp pain shot through his ear, yanking him back to reality.
"What are you doing, little girl?" Xiang Ri muttered, rubbing the painfully pinched spot.
"Time to rise and shine! We have class!" Chu Chu brandished a wooden spatula in one hand while playfully assaulting him with the other. "You're drooling in your sleep! Damn it! My pillow is ruined; you owe me!"
"Let me sleep a little longer. It's just a cartoon pillow, isn't it? When I have the time, I'll buy you a thousand—five hundred for you to hug and five hundred for you to toss around for fun, and then five hundred more… wait, that seems to be it…" Xiang Ri rolled over, intent on returning to slumber.
"You incorrigible jerk! If you don't get up, breakfast will be cold! Should I bring you ice water?"
Xiang Ri sprang upright, frantically clutching his head as if swarming with lice. "I hate going to class!"
"Brush your teeth! Wash your face! Go!" Chu Chu ordered.
"Ah—" Xiang Ri roared, jumping out of bed with a fierce expression, charging into the bathroom.
"You scared me!" Chu Chu exclaimed, patting her chest, initially thinking he was coming after her.
After his ablutions, Xiang Ri felt considerably more awake, reclining against the sofa with his feet propped up on the coffee table, lazily flipping through channels on the television. All that remained was to wait for the little girl to bring him breakfast. In truth, this lifestyle of having meals served to him had only begun a few days prior, but given his remarkable aptitude for laziness, he quickly adapted to what he considered an enviable habit.
"Another fried egg?" Xiang Ri grimaced at the golden-white eggs on the plate held by the little girl, as if he were swallowing a cockroach. Although her culinary skills could easily earn a "first-class" designation, anyone would grow weary of the same dish day after day.
"If you won't eat, I'll just toss it away," she threatened, lifting the plate as if to leave.
"Wait, wait, I'll eat!" Xiang Ri conceded, lowering his head in resignation. If he didn't finish it, he would likely incur her displeasure.
"You make it sound as if I'm feeding you poison. Don't you know? Fried eggs are the most nutritious," Chu Chu chided him.
"All I know is that eating raw eggs supposedly stimulates adrenal hormones, enhancing certain male functions," Xiang Ri chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Go to hell!" Chu Chu shot him a glare. "I'm off to class now. Don't even think about skipping; if you do, you'll regret it when I get back."
"Hey, aren't you going to wait for me?" Xiang Ri asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"Wait for you? As if! You just want to take advantage of me on the way; there are too many people around for that!" With that, Chu Chu grabbed her bag and dashed out the door.
"Didn't expect you to catch on so quickly; impressive!" Xiang Ri mused, chewing his food as thoughts raced through his mind. "Could it be due to my drool? If so, I should make good use of it; a clever woman isn't always a blessing!"
Dragging his feet, he arrived at school just as the first class ended. Faced with the full force of Chu Chu's tearful pleading, Xiang Ri ultimately surrendered, vowing never to be late again. In return, he had secured a delightful opportunity—she agreed to accompany him to school.
Just as he was about to savor this moment with her, Garlic Head rushed over, breathless. "Kui Ge, Shi Qing is looking for you."
"Xiao Qing? What brings her here?" Xiang Ri felt a wave of dread; could it be about the strength training issue again?
Garlic Head, overhearing this, was drenched in cold sweat. He thought, "Boss, you're incredible—calling another woman's name so openly and affectionately in front of your girlfriend! I admire you completely!" Expecting a volcanic eruption, he was stunned by the unfolding scene.
"Qing Jie must have something important; you should hurry!" Chu Chu admonished, swatting away his hand that had been resting on her waist.
"Wifey's command—can't disobey! If that's the case, I'm off," Xiang Ri said, but then turned back, ready to lay the groundwork for any potential truancy. "If something comes up and I'm delayed, it wouldn't count as skipping class, right?"
"Hmph, I'll be asking Qing Jie about it later. If it's legitimate, then it's fine; but if not, you'll face the consequences!" Chu Chu warned ominously.
"Understood," Xiang Ri replied with a sly smile. With such a well-behaved apprentice, he could easily concoct a plausible excuse—simple enough!
Stepping out of the classroom, I indeed saw my obedient disciple, dressed in a flowing gown, standing with her back to me at a distance. The gentle breeze playfully stirred the hem of her skirt, and her graceful silhouette stirred within me some rather inappropriate thoughts.
"Xiaoqing, are you looking for me?" Xiang Ri asked, feigning ignorance.
"Teacher, I'm sorry to trouble you again," Shi Qing replied, bowing slightly.
"Not at all! You're my obedient disciple; there's no need to feel embarrassed," Xiang Ri responded with an ambiguous tone.
"Actually, teacher, could you accompany me to a certain place?" Shi Qing said, her cheeks tinged with shyness.
"Where to?" Xiang Ri felt a stir of excitement at the sight of her blushing face, momentarily envisioning the door number of a hotel room.
"You'll find out once we get there," Shi Qing said, crossing her arms over her abdomen and bending slightly.
"Hmm? Xiaoqing, that's not quite right. Being so evasive with your teacher seems a bit disrespectful," Xiang Ri chided.
"Ah, I'm sorry, teacher, I didn't mean to," Shi Qing hurriedly apologized with another bow.
"Ha ha, I was just joking; I didn't mean to scold you," Xiang Ri was pleased with her response, though she had bowed at least three times already. It reminded him of a certain island nation's intricate customs; could it be that Xiaoqing... her father was the mayor, so she couldn't possibly be from that nation—perhaps it was her mother?
"Xiaoqing, may I ask you a question?"
"Of course, teacher."
"Is your mother Japanese?"
"Yes, teacher. How did you know?" Shi Qing replied, surprised, as this wasn't exactly a secret, yet few were aware.
"Ah, I see! Ha ha, it was your excessive politeness that made me suspicious. By the way, does your mother usually teach you?" Xiang Ri felt a surge of excitement, realizing his obedient disciple indeed embodied the traditions of Japanese women—a significant boon for him.
"Yes, teacher!"
"Do you speak Japanese?"
"No, my mother didn't teach me, and my father won't let me learn," Shi Qing said, slightly furrowing her brow at the topic, prompting Xiang Ri to gulp, finding her utterly tempting.
"So, you don't know what 'Ami De' means, then?" he asked with a mischievous intent.
"Ami... is that Japanese? What does it mean, teacher?" Shi Qing's eyes gleamed with curiosity, intrigued by her teacher's apparent omniscience.
"Well, 'Ami De' essentially means something akin to 'I'm willing.' So, if I ever need you to do something, just respond with 'Ami De,'" he distorted the truth, recalling his past days in college watching adult films with friends, where women passionately exclaimed "Ami De." The thought of his innocent disciple doing the same would surely be exquisite.
"Ami De, Ami De... does that mean I'm willing? I understand now, thank you, teacher!" Shi Qing bowed once more respectfully.
Xiang Ri nearly burst into laughter; her voice, usually cool and distant, carried an unexpected allure when she uttered those three words. "Xiaoqing, where do you intend to take me?"
"I'm sorry, teacher. I shouldn't have kept this from you, but my father said I couldn't reveal it until you were here," Shi Qing apologized again.
"I see, so we're heading to your home," Xiang Ri discovered, somewhat "sorrowfully," that he hadn't even known whether his disciple hailed from Mars or Pluto—how adorably naive. Although she hadn't directly told him the destination, certain key details had inadvertently revealed it.
"Teacher, how did you know?" Indeed, Shi Qing exclaimed in surprise, covering her mouth—could it be that her teacher was truly omnipotent?