Chapter 67: No Fate with Pink Slippers Tonight

During evening study hall, Shen Qing was summoned by Gu Ting to the small office.

"Mr. Gu." The girl stood in the doorway, her school uniform zipper pulled halfway up, revealing the white T-shirt underneath.

Gu Ting put down the test papers he was holding and pressed his temples. "Mm, come in."

Shen Qing glanced at the lounge chair, then took a seat on the stool beside it.

"Did you guess on the exam?"

Shen Qing caught sight of her answer sheet—all glaring red zeros.

"I thought about it," Shen Qing replied earnestly, not at all like she was lying.

Gu Ting paused, his eyes aching from the red crosses, and covered the answer sheet with the exam paper, his slender fingers pressing it down.

The atmosphere was stiff. After a while, he finally spoke. "Come here every night for self-study. I'll tutor you."

Shen Qing looked up at him, a hint of playful mischief in her eyes.

Gu Ting braced his hands on the desk, leaning forward. "Afraid I won’t teach well?"

"No."

"Alright, let’s start with Chinese." Gu Ting pulled out her Chinese test paper and answer sheet. How did she manage to pick option D from the three choices?

Thought about it? Not even random guessing.

The little girl’s mouth, tsk.

...

"Just follow my analysis and try again. I need to take a call." Gu Ting tapped Shen Qing’s shoulder.

"Okay." The girl lay over the desk, though it was unclear if she was really listening.

Gu Ting gave a helpless laugh, stepped outside to answer his phone, and when he returned, Shen Qing was still in the same posture, seeming quite focused.

"Let me see..." Gu Ting walked over and picked up what Shen Qing had written, instantly stunned.

On the scrap paper, she had sketched a simple human figure without a head. Judging by the clothes, it was probably him.

"Not bad," Gu Ting stared at it for several seconds, then put the paper down. "Do you like drawing?"

"It’s alright." Shen Qing pulled out a fresh sheet, waiting for Gu Ting to start teaching.

Gu Ting rubbed his temples and moved his stool closer to her. "Let me explain again."

"Flip it upside down, draw an auxiliary line at the midpoint here..."

*

As soon as the bell rang to end evening study hall, Shen Qing packed up her things.

"I’ll walk you back. Leave your stuff here; the office isn’t locked."

Shen Qing glanced at him. "Okay."

They left one after another. Gu Ting’s car was parked downstairs.

"Sir... Miss Shen, hello." Eleven saw Gu Ting and immediately got out of the car. Noticing Shen Qing behind him, he hurriedly greeted her.

With how close Sir was getting to Shen Qing, she might well become the young lady of the Gu family someday.

Shen Qing cast a cool glance at Eleven and nodded lightly.

Gu Ting opened the car door for her. "Eleven, go to Tianyuan."

"Yes, sir." Eleven dared not slack off. As soon as they were seated, he started the car.

"Have some of these." Gu Ting handed her a packet of gummy candies.

Shen Qing looked at them—the gummies were tiny, brightly colored, and rather attractive.

She picked one up and popped it in her mouth. A burst of sourness spread across her tongue, making her frown.

Seeing her reaction, Gu Ting took one himself, and was equally surprised by the sourness, his brows knotting together.

"Don’t eat them," Gu Ting managed to swallow, then reached out to Shen Qing’s lips, signaling her to spit it out.

Shen Qing glanced at the packet, reached out, and took it directly.

"I’ll keep this."

Gu Ting’s brows furrowed, his dark eyes narrowed, lost in thought.

Up front, Eleven listened to their exchange with an odd expression.

Was Shen Qing keeping the candies as a memento for Sir, even though she didn’t like them? It seemed Sir was making rapid progress.

The car stopped downstairs. Gu Ting followed Shen Qing into the elevator, and instinctively pressed the floor button.

Shen Qing looked at him, one foot poised at the elevator door.

Gu Ting noticed her movement and, sensing her gaze, let his eyes drift to the advertisement on the wall.

"Hey..." Suddenly, a strong force yanked his wrist. Before Gu Ting could steady himself, he was thrown out of the elevator.

The girl stepped back, as the elevator doors slowly closed, her delicate face gradually hidden from view.

Gu Ting chuckled, rubbing his wrist where a red mark was left.

The little girl was surprisingly strong.

He lingered a moment, then exited the building. Eleven sat in the car, busy on his phone, fingers flying across the screen, sometimes sending voice messages when he couldn't get his point across.

Gu Ting glanced at Eleven grinning foolishly at his phone, then slipped into the back seat.

"Sir, you’re back so soon?" Eleven hurriedly said goodbye to his buddies in the group chat and turned to Gu Ting.

Gu Ting's eyes darkened as he leaned back, his voice cool. "Just drive."