After seeing Xin An’an enter her community, Xu Zhilu and Shen Siyan headed home.

Xu Zhilu watched him move from the front passenger seat to the back and was puzzled. “Why did you switch seats?”

Shen Siyan glanced at her. “Have you ever heard of this saying?”

Xu Zhilu looked at him in confusion.

Shen Siyan paused, then leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “In a car accident, the front passenger seat is the second most dangerous place after the driver’s seat.”

His voice was very low, and he leaned so close that his warm breath tickled her ear, making it slightly itchy.

Xu Zhilu’s body stiffened, and she instinctively moved back a little.

Shen Siyan noticed her movement. “Why are you backing away?”

Xu Zhilu felt her ears burning. She looked at him under the flickering light from outside and said angrily, “Who backed away? You were too close, and it was too hot.”

She gave him a disdainful look. “Open the window a bit.”

Shen Siyan glanced at the tightly closed window on her side and, with a good temper, didn’t argue and opened the window on his side.

The cool evening breeze came in unobstructed, making the air inside the car more comfortable and cooling down Xu Zhilu’s ears a bit.

She turned away, not looking at Shen Siyan anymore.

Under the dim light, Shen Siyan gazed at her.

Xu Zhilu was very beautiful, not in a striking or ostentatious way, but she had a slightly round face, full of collagen, bright eyes, white teeth, and rosy skin.

She looked vibrant and full of energy, a kind of beauty that was infectious.

Perhaps because of her childhood environment, she didn’t have any spoiled behavior.

She was gentle and didn’t like to argue with people.

Shen Siyan watched her for a long time. When he finally looked away, he inadvertently met the driver’s gaze.

He smiled, then nonchalantly looked away.

–

The two got out of the car at the entrance of their community. Xu Zhilu hurriedly walked towards home.

As they neared the door, they ran into Shen’s mother and Xu’s mother.

Xu’s mother looked at Xu Zhilu, about to scold her, but Shen Siyan spoke first. “Mom, Auntie, are you out for a walk?”

Shen’s mother glared at him. “Yes, where did you take Zhilu?”

Shen Siyan smiled and explained, “I’ve been out of school recently, so I asked her to help tutor me.”

Hearing this, Shen’s mother nodded, then turned to Xu’s mother. “Oh, I’m so envious of you. Jiajia is talented in various arts, and Zhilu has excellent grades. Unlike my son, who knows nothing, always ranks last in exams, and constantly causes trouble at school.”

Xu’s mother forced a smile. “Yes.”

Shen’s mother looked at Shen Siyan, annoyed. “Sister Pei, if you don’t mind, can we ask Zhilu to tutor Shen Siyan?”

Xu’s mother was taken aback. “How could that work? What can she tutor?”

Shen’s mother disagreed. “Why not? Zhilu has been first in her grade every year, not just because of the teacher’s praise.”

She continued, “Shen Siyan doesn’t like strangers at home, nor does he like having a tutor around. I think Zhilu would be great.”

Xu’s mother was silent.

She glared at Xu Zhilu, then thought for a moment and said, “It depends on whether Shen Siyan is willing.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Siyan immediately said, “Auntie, I have no problem with it. It’s up to Xu Zhilu if she wants to. I’m quite hard to teach.”

Hearing this, Xu’s mother didn’t hesitate. “If you’re willing, she should be honored to be chosen.”

Shen Siyan frowned slightly, his lips moved as if he wanted to retort, but Shen’s mother gave him a warning look.

Xu Zhilu listened to the conversation and roughly understood their intentions.

She pressed her lips together and looked at Shen’s mother. “Auntie, I’m not really suitable for this.”

“Why not?”

Shen’s mother took her hand. “I think you’re perfect for it. Just say yes or no.”

Before Xu Zhilu could respond, Xu’s mother interjected, “Of course she can.”

She continued, “It’s not a problem. After school, Zhilu can tutor Shen Siyan.”

Shen’s mother smiled. “Alright. Zhilu, is that okay? Just after school and on weekends, at our place.”

Faced with her caring look, Xu Zhilu silently nodded.

And that was that.

As they finished talking, they reached home.

After Xu Zhilu and her mother went inside, Shen’s mother couldn’t help but pinch Shen Siyan’s arm. “You brat.”

Shen Siyan: “Mom.”

Shen’s mother glared at him. “Do you know what I was doing when you asked me to invite Zhilu’s mom for a walk?”

Shen Siyan followed her words. “What were you doing?”

“I was on a video call with your dad!” Shen’s mother said. “He finally had some free time to call me, and you interrupted.”

Shen Siyan rubbed his nose and didn’t dare to speak.

Shen’s mother snorted proudly. “Behave yourself for a while. If you cause trouble again, I’ll settle both old and new scores with you.”

Shen Siyan: “Okay.”

The two walked inside, one after the other.

Once inside, Shen’s mother looked at him. “Zhilu won’t have any issues getting home at this time, right?”

Shen Siyan lay down on the sofa, playing games on his phone. “I’ll ask.”

His mother responded with a hum, muttering, “I don’t understand what they’re thinking. They came from the same womb, but just because they weren’t raised together, they get treated so differently.”

Shen Siyan remained silent. This was something he wanted to understand too.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed. It was a message from Xu Zhilu. Just two words—”Thank you.”

Shen Siyan: That’s it?

Xu Zhilu: ?

Shen Siyan: Just a verbal thank you?

After sending that, Shen Siyan regretted it. He was about to hit delete when he saw that she was typing…

About a minute later, a new message came through.

Xu Zhilu: I’ll give you a more substantial thank you tomorrow. If I remember correctly, you scored eight points on your last math test, right? *smile*