Ye Qing couldn’t know about Ye Qiu being shameless, as he focused on tutoring students. His problem-solving method was clear, and his temperament was good, so the students were receptive, and the parents were visibly watching their children’s grades improve.

Initially, he only taught math, but later, due to strong demands from parents, he added a physics course, and that’s where Ye Qiu met He Xixian.

Ye Qiu didn’t have much feeling before; he only later realized that He Xixian loved asking him questions, even ones she knew. Gradually, Ye Qiu sensed something was amiss and deliberately kept his distance from her.

After school, He Xixian stopped Ye Qiu, staring at him with wide eyes: "Why are you ignoring me?"

Ye Qiu helplessly stopped in his tracks: "He, I’m not ignoring you."

"Yes, you are." He Xixian pouted.

"Then tell me how I’m ignoring you?"

"I..." He Xixian couldn’t explain, because Ye Qiu would still answer her questions, but she just intuitively felt he was deliberately neglecting her.

"He, could you please step aside; I need to go home after work." Ye Qiu smiled and then bypassed her, ready to leave.

"You can’t leave; I... I have something to tell you." As she spoke, her cheeks turned red, looking quite embarrassed.

Ye Qiu sighed lightly and couldn’t help but advise, "When the school starts, you’ll be a senior. You’re smart enough to know how important this year is. As your tutor, I feel it’s my responsibility to tell you that you should focus primarily on your studies right now and not think about other unrelated things."

However, as soon as he said this, He Xixian’s eyes brightened, and she happily responded, "You know, right? You said I should focus on my studies in my senior year, so does that mean after my exams, I can pursue you?"

Ye Qiu’s expression became even more helpless, and he chuckled: "Aren’t you as a girl supposed to be modest? Other girls wait for boys to pursue them."

"But you’re so good, if I don’t pursue you, someone else will snatch you away." He Xixian said confidently.

"That’s only your idealization of me; I’m not really that great."

"That’s not true!" He Xixian mumbled, "I clearly know in my heart if you’re good or not."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing." He Xixian looked up again and asked him, "You haven’t answered me yet; does that mean after my exams you’ll accept my pursuit?"

"No."

"Why not?" He Xixian asked disappointedly.

"The future is uncertain; I can’t promise you anything, and even if you finish your exams, there’s still university. Don’t think that entering university is the end."

"Then, this year, can you not get a girlfriend? I know it’s too much to ask, but I really like you, and you said that you still need to focus on studying in college, so can you focus on it during your freshman year?" He Xixian’s voice grew weaker as she spoke, finally lowering her head in dejection, "Forget it, just pretend you didn’t hear me say anything."

"If I agree to your request, you must also agree to mine." Ye Qiu chuckled lightly.

He Xixian looked at him in surprise, seemingly willing to agree no matter what he requested.

"Get into Q University or A University."

"Ah!" He Xixian’s mouth opened wide; those are the top two academies—can she make it?

"Lack confidence?" Ye Qiu sighed regretfully, "If that’s the case, even if I agree to your pursuit, wouldn’t we be long-distance dating? I’ve heard that long-distance relationships are most likely to end in breakup."

"I can do it, I certainly can." He Xixian’s big eyes brimmed with a smile, "This year, I will definitely focus on studying hard to get into the same school as you."

"Then let’s exchange WeChat?"

"Eh?" He Xixian blinked, still not fully processing it.

"If I’m not connected with you on WeChat, how can I tutor you when I’m at Q University? After all, I was the top scorer—not a minor achievement for tutoring you!"

"Exchange, exchange, right away." He Xixian hurriedly pulled out her phone, as if afraid Ye Qiu might regret it.

"Then hurry home, seriously complete the homework I assigned. Also, I know your level, so unless it’s something you genuinely can’t figure out, don’t ask me lightly."

"Hmm, hmm~" Now there was nothing He Xixian wouldn’t agree to—what she thought was a hopeless situation turned around unexpectedly, and she considered herself the happiest woman on earth to meet someone as good as Ye Qiu!

However, the conversation between her and Ye Qiu happened to be witnessed by Ye Qing. She became even more convinced that Ye Qiu was in a relationship and was certain it was He Xixian stirring things up, which led to Ye Qiu falling out with her recently.

Ye Qing believed that allowing such a woman into the family would certainly be a disaster, something she absolutely couldn’t allow.

But she knew well that if she forced Ye Qiu to separate now, it would just increase his resentment towards her. She waited though, until talks of marriage came up, planning that if the family wouldn’t provide a wedding house or dowry, that woman’s family would definitely not agree!

Ye Qing was silently plotting this, never realizing that some things weren’t under her control, and some people didn’t need that little support from the family. What she was even more unaware of was that after her marriage, the household was virtually emptied by her, leaving little to offer.

After summer vacation, Ye Qiu set off alone with his luggage for northern study journeys. Initially, the Ye Family didn’t feel much, but gradually became unaccustomed.

Mainly, when Ye Qiu was home, chores like washing dishes and mopping the floor were his responsibilities. After he left, those tasks naturally fell to Han Hui.

But Han Hui was a middle school teacher, especially this new year when the school assigned her as the head teacher, spending most of her time at school, leaving no time for chores.

So this burden fell on Ye Peilin, who doted on his daughter excessively, not wanting his beloved daughter to do any chores. But he faced cooking meals and cleaning up afterward, at first willing for two days, gradually losing patience.

Especially when he had to work overtime and came home to see the dirty kitchen, disordered coffee table, and even a forgotten open window leaving the floor and bed wet; he finally couldn’t bear it.

Nevertheless, he never blamed his daughter for slacking; he felt he and his wife hadn’t managed the household well. To tackle this problem, he discussed with Han Hui about hiring a maid.

"My monthly salary is fixed at that amount, & your annual salary, though considerable, isn’t enough with two grown kids who’ll need houses and cars when they get married. Over the years, our expenses are high without savings." Han Hui stated with concern.

"How could we not have saved anything?" Ye Peilin frowned.

"How would I know? A little here, a little there, we’re unknowingly spending it." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"From now on, let’s account for every expense. I want to see where the money is being spent."