Chapter 8: Who Do You Intend to Teach a Lesson To?

"How is it?"

Meeting Jiang Liwu’s clear and exquisite gaze, Wei Xifeng nodded repeatedly to express his approval of the milk tea.

Suddenly, two plump, chewy pearls slid into his mouth. Grasping the cup firmly, he stared straight at it, an unusual light flickering in his eyes.

Jiang Liwu smiled, “Your cup has extra ingredients.”

Chewing and swallowing the pearls, Wei Xifeng replied earnestly, “It’s delicious, and the drink is very good.” He wanted to experience everything his teacher liked, over and over again.

Suddenly, a family of three appeared in his field of vision, and his gaze was involuntarily drawn to them.

A father and mother stood on either side of a six-year-old boy; the three held hands, their faces radiating happiness.

The boy’s eyes lit up when he saw someone selling candied hawthorns by the street. “Mom, Dad, can I have a candied hawthorn? Please?”

The father immediately indulged him, “Sure.”

At the same time, the mother voiced a concern, “Sweetheart, eating candied hawthorns can upset your stomach, and they tend to cause cavities.”

Hearing this, the father instantly withdrew his consent and firmly agreed with her, “No, you can’t.”

“Ah…” The boy frowned, puffing out his cheeks in disappointment.

The mother gently ruffled his hair. “But it’s okay to have them occasionally.”

Upon hearing this, the boy revived with full energy and jumped excitedly. “Mom, can I have the candied hawthorn now? Thank you, Mom! I love you so much!” He planted a big kiss on her cheek.

The father quickly sought attention, “You love Mom more than Dad?”

The boy, fair and balanced, kissed him too. “I love Dad too, but I love Mom the most.” He smiled slyly at his mother because he knew she was the one in charge at home.

“Oh, you little rascal.” The father laughed, agreeing wholeheartedly with the boy’s words. He turned toward the candied hawthorn vendor, asking, “Which flavor do you want?”

The boy bounced happily behind him, “I want the green grape flavor.”

Such warmth and love within this family was something Wei Xifeng had never experienced.

---

Not only was kissing parents a rarity for him, even hugs were a luxury.

He gazed at the little boy, pierced by the other’s happiness, and a surge of jealousy mixed with longing and admiration rose within him.

Perhaps his gaze was too intense, for the boy noticed him.

The large and the small met each other’s eyes.

The boy tilted his head innocently, licking the candied hawthorn in his hand.

Wei Xifeng narrowed his eyes dangerously and took a sip through the straw, drinking his milk tea.

The boy bit into a grape with a crisp crunch and continued eating.

Suddenly, it seemed a silent competition began. Wei Xifeng started guzzling rapidly, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down as he finished his milk tea in no time.

The boy was stunned, nearly dropping the half-chewed grape.

Wei Xifeng’s expression turned a little proud over his “victory.”

What was so great about his parents buying candied hawthorns? He had milk tea from his teacher.

More than that, in his heart, the teacher had long since become his mother...

“Want to try candied hawthorn? How about strawberry flavor?” Jiang Liwu asked, having noticed the colorful fruit candied hawthorns nearby.

Wei Xifeng nodded. “Good.” He looked at the boy, this time with a slight smile.

Now he had not only milk tea but also candied hawthorn.

The boy looked at the big, red, heart-shaped strawberries but then glanced down at his own candied hawthorn, suddenly feeling it wasn’t quite as sweet anymore.

Jiang Liwu took two skewers of strawberry candied hawthorns and, scanning the QR code on her phone, focused on the payment.

Suddenly, the skewer in her left hand was snatched away fiercely. Jiang Liwu froze—this wasn’t a post-apocalyptic world; who would actually snatch candied hawthorn?

Another swift grab followed, this time targeting her milk tea. Realizing the attack was deliberate, Jiang Liwu stepped back a few paces to put some distance and get a clear look at the person.

---

It was a woman covered in large, elaborate tattoos, dressed in a counterculture style, her makeup outrageously dramatic.

At this moment, she glared fiercely, her demeanor domineering and aggressive.

She lunged forward wildly, her rainbow-colored hair flying as she charged, the fierce aura resembling a giant, possessed, multicolored cockroach—frightening indeed.

Fortunately, Jiang Liwu had faced all sorts of monsters during the apocalypse and remained calm.

She dodged several times and, seeing the woman wouldn’t relent, she opened the lid and swiftly splashed the cold milk tea onto her face.

The cold drink shocked Song Jinwei into a sharp scream, the ice hitting her face and forehead causing pain. Seeing her disheveled appearance, the milk tea dripping down, Song Jinwei grew more frantic. She stomped her foot hard. “You bitch! How dare you splash me!” She wiped the milk tea from her face roughly, fury blazing in her eyes.

Her heavy smoky eye makeup was now smeared, the thick black eyeliner streaking down her face like ink, false eyelashes askew and stuck messily to her skin.

“Wasn’t your intention to ruin this milk tea? I just helped you fulfill it,” Jiang Liwu said, tossing the empty cup accurately into a trash bin several meters away.

“You!!” Song Jinwei, provoked, made to snarl at Jiang Liwu again but was stopped by Fu Qinian who had just arrived.

Seeing Fu Qinian, Song Jinwei seemed to find her anchor. “Brother Qinian, this bad woman is bullying me! Look what she’s done to me! You have to help me give her a good lesson.”

“Who do you want to punish?” Wei Xifeng stepped out from behind Jiang Liwu. Though it was broad daylight, his presence was heavy and ominous, like a terrifying beast emerging from hell, his eyes cold and threatening.

Song Jinwei shrank back instinctively but still stiffened her neck and said, “Whoever plays the mistress or the substitute, stealing someone else’s man, that’s who should be punished.”

“Song Jinwei, who exactly do you call the mistress and the substitute?” Wei Xifeng’s face darkened, even more menacing.

Seeing that Wei Xifeng was someone familiar, Jiang Liwu’s attention sharpened.

Sensing the oppressive tension, Fu Qinian quickly spoke to ease the atmosphere. “Lord Wei, there must be some misunderstanding here. Weiwei, don’t make a fuss.” He turned to restrain Song Jinwei’s provocation.

Song Jinwei, displeased that Fu Qinian wasn’t siding with her, was used to being spoiled and acting tyrannically. Now facing Wei Xifeng, she was slightly afraid but still defiantly spoke up, “Am I wrong? Isn’t this woman the substitute you found? Is it a coincidence that she looks even a little like Yiran?”