You're my wife, don't doubt it!

This is a very ordinary residential area, with one side of the building wall covered by green vines.

The teacher's home was on the sixth floor, the top floor, but there was no elevator. However, the flush toilet and the pristine white bathtub were, in Xiao Yao's view, the luxuries of the upper class.

The house was decorated somewhat old and simply, but it was spotless, with bright and clean windows. There was an indescribable smell in the air, but it wasn't unpleasant.

"Hey, Xiao Yao, right? You're wearing these slippers." Teacher Yao's wife greeted him warmly.

The woman had neat short hair, a generous smile, and was quite tall. She wore a plain long dress and barefoot in plastic slippers.

"Thank you, Madam." Xiao Yao nodded reservedly.

"Qianshui, what did you make today? It smells so good." Teacher Yao put down her bag and ran to the kitchen to see.

A wedding photo of the two hangs in the living room. Judging from the photo, Teacher Yao is actually younger.

Perhaps time has reserved its gentleness for my teacher's wife, leaving few marks on her face; even her rounded cheeks are exactly the same as in the photos.

Her fair skin, beautiful double eyelids, and large, expressive eyes all told Xiao Yao that when Qian Shui was fifteen or sixteen years old, even beauties like Shen Jie and Yu Luying were probably evenly matched and it was hard to tell who was better.

For a moment, Xiao Yao felt a pang of jealousy towards Teacher Yao.

"Your wife is truly beautiful," he praised sincerely.

"This child has such a sweet tongue," Qian Shui said with a smile.

Dinner consisted of a standard four-dish meal with a soup, and an extra bagged braised chicken was specially prepared to entertain Xiao Yao.

"The teacher's wife has excellent cooking skills."

This was the truth. Yu Luying had a light palate, but Qianshui cooked dishes with the rich, dark sauces typical of Shanghai people. Therefore, in Xiao Yao's eyes, her cooking skills were far superior to Yu Luying's.

"Eat more if you like it." Qian Shui smiled and put a piece of food on Xiao Yao's plate.

“They can use it themselves.” Teacher Yao rolled her eyes.

"Teacher Yao, you don't have children yet?" Xiao Yao asked curiously.

"Eat your food, why are you talking so much?" Teacher Yao deliberately frowned: "Taking care of you bunch of brats every day is enough for me, how can I have the energy to raise another one."

"Don't push the blame onto the students for your own problems," Qian Shui said with a smile.

“You can’t talk nonsense. What problem could I possibly have?” Teacher Yao straightened her back. “I was just joking with him.”

“Oh, right, Teacher Yao,” Xiao Yao suddenly remembered something, “Thank you for the shirt… How much was it? I’ll return it to you tomorrow.”

Unexpectedly, Teacher Yao's expression changed: "Clothes? What clothes?"

Xiao Yao was taken aback, noticing the fleeting change on Qian Shui's face, and then realized what was happening.

"Oh," Teacher Yao slapped her forehead, "You're talking about the new school uniform? How silly of you!"

"Oh right, it's a school uniform, it's a school uniform."

"Alright," Qian Shui said with a smile, "you two stop this back-and-forth. This shirt isn't a school uniform; the tags aren't even completely removed yet."

As she spoke, she reached out and pulled the half-broken plastic string hanging from Xiao Yao's collar: "Old Yao has told me about your family's situation. You don't need to give this money. Being able to upgrade smoothly is enough to repay your teacher, Teacher Yao."

"Madam is right."

"Teacher Yao, Mrs. Yao..." Xiao Yao was about to continue declining when his phone rang.

He hurriedly took it out to look at it, and when he saw that it was a text message notification from the telecommunications company, he showed a disappointed expression.

You promised to call after school!

"So you secretly bring your phone to school too," Teacher Yao said meaningfully.

"No, no," Xiao Yao quickly said, "I always put it in my schoolbag at school and don't take it out. It's mainly because my grandma is afraid she won't be able to contact me."

Grandma, I'm so sorry, you'll have to take the blame again.

"What's the rush? I'm not going to confiscate your things," Teacher Yao said with a smile. "Be careful at school, and don't let the principal or the head of the grade see you."

As Xiao Yao agreed, he typed a text message: "Is school over?"

I thought about it, then deleted it and didn't post it.

I'd like to see when you'll come looking for me if I don't.

"Will she text you again?" Teacher Yao asked again.

"Her? Who?" Xiao Yao was stunned for a moment, then realized, "No, no, I'm not waiting for news from her."

"Oh?" Teacher Yao raised her eyebrows, but didn't press the matter further: "Just eat properly."

After the meal, Xiao Yao insisted on helping to clear the table and remove the dishes. Although Qian Shui kept saying, "Leave it to me, go study," Xiao Yao still carried a stack of dishes towards the kitchen.

at this time.

Without any warning, he was slapped across the face.

The slap wasn't very hard, but it wasn't light either; it stunned him completely.

Before the reflex arc could even finish, Xiao Yao felt a sharp pain in his arm.

The excruciating pain... felt like when I was a child, and my father would hit me with a slipper.

"Ouch!" Accompanied by the sound of dishes shattering on the ground, Xiao Yao hugged his arm and hopped on one foot.

"How could you be so careless, child?" Qian Shui ran over. "Did you hurt your hand?"

"What's wrong? What's going on?" Teacher Yao ran out of the study with a cigarette in her mouth.

"Oh no, Teacher Yao," Xiao Yao was still grimacing, "Yu Luying is in trouble!"

Chapter 26 Domestic Violence

Half an hour later.

"Slow down!" As soon as Teacher Yao's light motorcycle arrived at the entrance of Yu Luying's alley, Xiao Yao jumped off the back seat.

He lost his balance, stumbled, and had to grab onto the wall to keep from falling.

He casually replied to the teacher that it was nothing and then took off running.

He jogged to the wooden door downstairs from Yu Luying's building and knocked.

Knock knock knock, knock knock knock! No one answered the door, but my phone vibrated.

Yu Luying's phone, which had been unanswered for a long time, suddenly rang back.

"You'd better leave quickly," the girl said urgently in a low voice, "My mother will be even angrier if she sees you!"

"Are you alright?" Xiao Yao asked. "Teacher Yao is here."

"I'm fine, you should go quickly." Yu Luying said and then hung up the phone.

Xiao Yao was taken aback, unsure whether to continue knocking, when Teacher Yao behind him also rushed over.

Just then, the wooden door in front of them creaked open.

"Oh, Teacher Yao!" The short-haired woman smiled, casually pushed Xiao Yao aside, and went to greet Teacher Yao: "Teacher Yao, what brings you here? You didn't even say you were coming."

"Ah, well..." Teacher Yao looked a little embarrassed: "Xiao Yao said that Yu Luying might have run into some problems and insisted on coming over to check on her. I was worried about him wandering around so late at night, so I brought him over."

"Oh dear, don't stand here and talk, please come upstairs!" Yu's mother said as if she had just seen Xiao Yao: "Xiao Yao, right? You come along too."

"No, no..." Xiao Yao waved his hands: "As long as Yu Luying is alright, I'll go back now."

Yu's mother clearly had no intention of keeping him. Teacher Yao told Xiao Yao to go home early and remember to do his homework before going upstairs, leaving Xiao Yao alone. He stared blankly at the closed wooden door and the lit glass window upstairs for a while.

So, it turns out there was a domestic violence incident?

Xiao Yao recalled the cruel memory of being beaten by a mixed-gender team of boys and girls when he was a child because he was naughty and didn't do his homework.

But what about Yu Luying, this good student, this obedient girl...? Besides, wasn't the attack a bit too harsh?

On his way home, Xiao Yao called Shen Jie.

"You promised to call me after school!" Xiao Yao had intended to complain in a half-joking tone, but as soon as he said it, he realized that his tone had gone astray.

Shen Jie remained silent on the other end of the phone.

"I'm sorry," Xiao Yao softened his tone, "I didn't—"

“I called, I called right after the karate club meeting ended,” Shen Jie said quietly. “I called several times, but they were all busy.”

Xiao Yao was taken aback, then remembered that he had been calling Yu Luying on the way here.

"I'm sorry, I didn't keep calling continuously and failed to meet your expectations. I will definitely pay attention next time."

Shen Jie's words sounded sarcastic, but her tone was so serious that it seemed genuine.

"No..." Xiao Yao sighed, "Are you angry?"

"I dare not," Shen Jie said.

That means he's angry, Xiao Yao thought.

"Okay, don't be angry anymore..."

"Where's Shen Tianyun?" Shen Jie casually changed the subject.

"I don't know, I'm not home yet," Xiao Yao said.