NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19 - Using His Daughter as a Tool! The Calculated Hero Rescues the Beauty
Chapter 19: Using His Daughter as a Tool! The Calculated Hero Rescues the Beauty
“Ah?”
Hearing the activity teacher’s words, Xu Shiqing and Xu Huayi were stunned.
Since the teacher started looking at their painting, they had noticed her unusual expression, followed by exaggerated gestures.
And now, she outright declared them the first-place winners…
Wasn’t this too hasty?
Hadn’t the other contestants even submitted their works yet?
Before they could react, the activity teacher turned to them with a solemn expression.
“Your work this time is exceptional. It exceeds the standards of our school. I want to seek your permission to submit this painting for the national competition.”
Buzz, buzz, buzz…
The sisters’ minds went blank.
They had casually painted something—wasn’t this reaction a bit much?
The national competition? Really?
It couldn’t be that serious.
Still in a daze, they nodded unconsciously.
The teacher, thrilled by their agreement, immediately took out her phone and hurriedly walked out of the office, making calls.
It was evident she was arranging matters for the national competition.
“Big Sis, look at this…”
Feeling puzzled, Xu Huayi glanced at the painting out of curiosity. As soon as she did, she froze in shock.
She pointed at the painting, eyes wide, signaling for her sister Xu Shiqing to take a look.
Both stood there, stunned and speechless.
The sunset was still the same sunset. The river remained the same river.
But the emotions the painting evoked were entirely different now.
“Sis, what… what’s going on? We clearly painted this…”
Xu Shiqing turned to her equally shocked sister.
Xu Huayi’s face was full of confusion.
Then, as if recalling something, her expression shifted drastically. She inhaled deeply before speaking in disbelief.
“Last night, after dinner, I saw him standing in front of the drawing board for a long time…”
“Who?”
Xu Shiqing asked, perplexed.
Xu Huayi rolled her eyes.
“Who else but Xu Hao?”
“Wait, what…? That’s impossible!”
Xu Shiqing’s eyes widened, her tone full of doubt.
She admitted that Xu Hao was talented in business, but painting?
They had never seen him draw before, nor were there any art tools in his room.
And the level of skill in this painting—no one could achieve it without decades of experience.
“Then tell me, if not him, who else could it be?”
For a moment, the sisters were both lost in thought, sinking into a heavy silence.
At Noon
Xu Hao picked up Wang Xueying and brought her to a private restaurant.
While driving, he noticed a tail following him.
He didn’t need to guess—it was Chen Mo, the so-called protagonist.
Xu Hao didn’t pay it much mind.
Let him follow. It might even provide an opportunity to gain something…
In the Taxi
The taxi driver glanced sympathetically at Chen Mo in the front seat.
The young man was metaphorically “wearing a green hat,” and the driver found it pitiful.
With a sigh, he patted Chen Mo’s shoulder and offered comfort.
“Young man, don’t take it too hard. Life’s tough, and sometimes you just have to accept the green.”
Chen Mo’s face darkened at the comment.
Oddly, the driver’s words made him feel an even heavier sense of betrayal.
Although his connection to Wang Xueying was shallow—today marked their first meeting in three years—he had already come to view the beautiful, kind, and elegant teacher as his woman.
With a grim face, Chen Mo paid the fare and followed without looking back.
System Notification:
[Ding… Chen Mo feels dejected. Emotional value +423…]
Xu Hao smiled politely. “Xueying, please feel at ease. No need to stand on ceremony.”
At the Dining Table
Once the waiter served all the dishes, Xu Hao gestured for Wang Xueying to start.
After a friendly conversation, their way of addressing each other had shifted from the formal “Ms. Wang” to the more intimate “Xueying.”
Wang Xueying smiled shyly.
After spending some time together, she no longer felt as tense around Xu Hao, the influential figure.
“Xueying, since you’re Shiqing and Huayi’s counselor, you should know a lot about their lives, right?” Xu Hao asked while eating, casually bringing up the topic of his daughters.
“I’d like to know if anyone has been bothering them at school.”
Though he had already asked his daughters in the morning, he wanted to confirm with their counselor to be certain.
It was during their earlier conversation that he learned Wang Xueying was not only their teacher but also their professional advisor.
Wang Xueying was momentarily surprised, but she quickly understood.
Clearly, Xu Hao was worried about his daughters being deceived by others.
After thinking it over carefully, Wang Xueying shook her head.
“They’re both school beauties, and they do have many admirers, but they’ve turned them all down.”
Hearing this, Xu Hao felt completely at ease.
“That’s good. Still, Xueying, I’d appreciate it if you could keep an eye on them for me. At their age, I’m worried they might get tricked…”
He paused for a moment and added half-jokingly, “That goes for you too. If anyone at school bothers you, let me know—I’ll deal with them for you.”
Wang Xueying’s face lit up with a radiant smile as she nodded.
Xu Hao truly lived up to his reputation of being courteous and approachable, unlike some other big bosses who flaunted their status.
Later
The two continued their meal, using his daughters as conversational anchors to keep the atmosphere lively and pleasant.
From time to time, Xu Hao noticed system notifications of Chen Mo’s rising emotional frustration, but he merely smiled and ignored them.
After the meal, they walked out of the private restaurant.
Xu Hao spotted a slope with stone steps ahead.
An idea struck him, and he casually started a conversation to draw Wang Xueying’s attention.
“By the way, Xueying…”
“Hmm?”
Wang Xueying turned her head, looking at him curiously.
“Because of my work, I’ve had some misunderstandings with my daughters. I’m trying to make it up to them now, and I hope you can help me say some good things on my behalf.”
Getting their teacher to speak positively about him in front of his daughters seemed like a good strategy.
“Oh, that’s what this is about? Sure, no problem.”
“Managing such a large company must take so much of your time. I think they’ll understand… Ah—!”
Before she could finish her sentence, Wang Xueying suddenly felt her foot slip. She lost her balance and started to tumble forward.
In a panic, she saw the sharp edges of the steps ahead, her face turning pale with fear.
If she hit those steps, disfigurement would be the least of her worries—a head injury could be fatal.
As she closed her eyes, bracing for the inevitable, she felt a firm grip around her waist.
Her body was pulled backward uncontrollably and finally landed in a broad, warm embrace.