The Trial of Su Wanli

“Yuxin, the environment here is quite nice. Does every household have such a large private space?”

As they walked along the road, Ye Feng curiously observed the exterior of the standalone villas. Apart from their unique decorations, they also featured private garages, swimming pools, gardens, and even some households growing their own vegetables.

“Yes, each house is designed this way. My mother and I sometimes grow fruits and vegetables in our spare time,” Su Yuxin replied, subtly closing the distance between herself and Ye Feng. While Ye Feng was looking around, her gaze remained fixed on him.

“It’s really nice.”

“Brother Ye Feng, do you like this kind of life too?”

“I think anyone would like this kind of life—carefree, relaxed, and leisurely.”

“Actually... if Brother Ye Feng is willing, you could live with me...”

Su Yuxin’s voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

“Yuxin, what did you say? Sorry, your voice was too quiet.”

“N-nothing! I was just saying we’ve arrived. Look, the house up ahead is my home~”

Su Yuxin stepped forward and placed her finger on the fingerprint scanner by the gate. A camera window popped up on the screen, scanned her face, and with a crisp “click,” the gate unlocked.

“Brother Ye Feng, please come in. This is my home~”

“Thank you, Yuxin...”

Following Su Yuxin’s lead, Ye Feng stepped inside. Standing on the doormat in the entryway, he cautiously asked,

“Yuxin, do I need to put on shoe covers?”

“Hmm, it seems we’re out of shoe covers~”

Su Yuxin took off her black leather boots, revealing a pair of white silk ankle socks. Through the socks, the rounded, rosy tips of her toes were faintly visible.

After slipping on her slippers, Su Yuxin glanced at the shoe cabinet and suddenly kicked a plastic bag hidden behind it out of sight. Relieved that Ye Feng hadn’t noticed, she turned back to him.

“Looks like we really don’t have any. Brother Ye Feng, you can wear these new slippers. My mother and I got them as a gift when we went shopping.”

“This... this doesn’t seem appropriate.”

“Why not? They’re just slippers. Please don’t be so formal.”

“Well... then I’ll take the liberty.”

Ye Feng took off his boots, neatly placed them by the door, and then put on the slippers before following Su Yuxin inside.

“Brother Ye Feng, have a seat on the sofa for a moment. I’ll make you a cup of tea~”

As the hostess, Su Yuxin immediately invited Ye Feng to sit down as soon as he entered. Without waiting for his polite refusal, she dashed off to the kitchen with quick, lively steps.

“Yuxin...”

Feeling a bit awkward, Ye Feng stood still and surveyed his surroundings. Although Su Yuxin’s home was a luxurious villa, the interior was surprisingly simple and modest. Apart from some beautiful porcelain and wood carvings, it looked no different from an ordinary home.

This simplicity aligned with Su Wanli’s unassuming personality. The more status and wealth someone had, the more low-key they seemed—it was truly baffling.

Just as Ye Feng was about to sit on the sofa in the living room, he suddenly felt an intense, somewhat hostile gaze directed at him.

Who was it? Was there someone else in the house?

Following his instincts, Ye Feng turned his head and saw a man sitting on the sofa, legs crossed, glaring at him with a fierce expression.

“Mr. Su... Su Wanli?”

“Kid, you’ve got some nerve.”

The man was indeed Su Yuxin’s father, Su Wanli.

Su Wanli’s burly frame seemed a bit cramped on the sofa. Seeing Ye Feng’s surprised but composed expression, his hostility lessened slightly.

“No wonder Yuxin was so insistent on going shopping with her mother yesterday. Turns out it was all to buy slippers for you.”

“Buy slippers for me?”

“Exactly. Early this morning, she secretly stuffed the shoe covers into a crevice. Who else could that be for?”

“......”

“Brother Ye Feng! I’ve made you some of my father’s treasured tea. Huh? Why aren’t you moving? Are you looking at...”

At that moment, Su Yuxin hurried over with a teacup. When she followed Ye Feng’s gaze, she saw her father sitting on the sofa.

“Wh-what?! Father! Didn’t you go to the company? Why are you here?”

Su Yuxin was so startled she almost dropped the teacup. She began to stammer, realizing that her father had overheard everything she and Ye Feng had said since they entered the house.

“Yuxin, you’ve never made tea for me in all these years. I see now that you were rushing me and your mother out this morning just for this.”

“I... I... um...”

“Alright, Ye Feng, let’s get started with Yuxin’s lesson. I’m only here today to verify whether your teaching skills are as good as Old Li claims. But let me make this clear—if your teaching doesn’t meet my expectations, you won’t be allowed back in this house.”

“Father!”

Su Yuxin immediately became anxious and tried to say something, but Su Wanli cut her off.

“Yuxin, go get your textbooks. This is non-negotiable. Giving Ye Feng this chance is already the most lenient I’ll be with you.”

“Hmph...”

Su Yuxin stomped off angrily to her room upstairs.

After Su Yuxin left, Su Wanli gestured for Ye Feng to sit down, his tone softening slightly.

“Kid, I hope you don’t disappoint me. Yuxin is my pride and joy. I expect you to focus on your role as a tutor.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Su. I have no ulterior motives. I’m here solely as a tutor.”

“Good.”

Su Wanli nodded and said nothing more, though he winced slightly as he noticed Ye Feng sipping his treasured tea.

After a while, Su Yuxin returned with her textbooks, pouting. Just as she was about to sit next to Ye Feng, Su Wanli stopped her, forcing her to sit across from him instead.

“Miss Su, shall we begin?”

“Yuxin!”

“Uh... alright, Yuxin...”

For the next two hours, Ye Feng used his knowledge and teaching experience to explain the material in the textbook. Su Yuxin was clearly engaged, and by the end of the session, Su Wanli’s last reservations were completely dispelled.

He had to admit, this kid was a genius. Whether it was his knowledge or teaching methods, he far surpassed any of the tutors Su Wanli had hired for Yuxin in the past. Old Li hadn’t lied!

Just as Ye Feng finished explaining a concept and was about to take a sip of tea, Su Wanli spoke up.

“Alright, that’s enough for today.”