Your Teacher I, am Hella Rich

Chapter 27 - Is Boss Yue Handsome?

In the silence of the night, Ji Xiaoli’s bedroom was lit up by a desk lamp. He huddled under the covers with his cell phone in both hands. The heart was like a pounding drum as he listened to the voice on the other end of the line. His consciousness gradually drifted away.

Suddenly, he came to his senses and realized he had fallen silent for a solid minute.

However, his disciple also stayed mum the entire time.

Ji Xiaoli immediately rebuked, “I’m not guessing!”

Milk Tea Small Crisp’s voice remained a pleasant timbre, as if he were a piper who compelled children to set foot in a marsh. He whispered, “You really won’t guess?”

Ji Xiaoli was a man with principle. He swallowed, indicating that he would not be enticed. “No… I won’t!”

Stop talking or I’ll actually do it.

“Okay, forget about it then.”

Ji Xiaoli: “…”

Couldn’t you have asked again?!

Ji Xiaoli sulked, feeling glum. He casually muttered, “Fine, I’ll guess.”

“Go ahead.”

Keep guessing?

Doesn’t that mean… 

Ji Xiaoli froze as he stared at the phone screen, his breath stuck in his throat. A Huashan swordsman stood under the starry sky with a white-clad Emei pressed up to him on the high-resolution screen. Because she hadn’t moved for a long time, the Emei automatically performed a star gazing system action.

The brows are like a distant diadem, serene and tranquil.

Ji Xiaoli’s mood suddenly improved, his tone turned cheerful. “What? This teacher isn’t guessing anymore. Whatever it is, I’m not doing it!”

His disciple gave a soft, melodious laugh.

Ji Xiaoli blushed slightly, snorted in his heart, and happily continued to set off fireworks with his disciple.

Ji Xiaoli and Milk Tea Small Crisp’s levels were getting increasingly higher, and their performance became a force to reckon with. They were no longer small fries of the guild that needed an expert to carry them through dungeons. They instead became the ones who brought smurf accounts to dungeon.

Meat Bun was typically the one who took care of such matters. He was the guild leader, and thus recruiting newcomers and assigning tasks were his responsibility. However, the peculiar thing that Ji Xiaoli discovered over time was that Meat Bun had never called for Milk Tea Small Crisp’s help to bring in newcomers. He always paged Ji Xiaoli, and after that, he would pretend to ask: 【Salute, is your disciple free? Have Boss Milk Tea come help too.】

Ji Xiaoli would call for his disciple, and he would bring people in without fail.

When he finally had time to idle, Ji Xiaoli DMed Meat Bun:【Why do you always ask for me? Can’t you just DM my disciple?】

Meat Bun was taken aback as he stammered:【Boss Milk Tea is ranked third on the leaderboard.】

Ji Xiaoli was no convinced:【And I’m ranked 28th on there!】

Meat Bun: “…”

You actually have the confidence to say that!

Ji Xiaoli also felt guilty. There was quite a big difference between third place and the 28th place. However, he had another reason up his sleeve:【You’re not polite at all when you address Jie Se and Pigeon. One is fifth, and the other is eighth.】 They weren’t much worse when compared to his disciple.

Meatbun stared meaningfully at Ji Xiaoli and murmured inexplicably:【You’ll find out soon enough.】

Ji Xiaoli: “???”

What the heck?

It was now half a month before Christmas. Nothing too unexpected happened. Everything had remained harmonious.

If there were any matters of interest to be brought up, it would be the time when Braised Pigeon took a stroll at Yue Lao Temple and happened to pass the Tree of Yearning while its leaves were shedding. She had casually picked up a leaf only to find that it belonged to her CP!

Braised Pigeon did not think too much into it as she joyfully read the words on it. And then… 

【Megaphone】Braised Pigeon: Braised Sea Cucumber with Shallots!!! I am divorcing you! Divorce! Divorce, I say!!!

【System】Man and wife were birds of the same forest, but flew their separate ways in the face of great difficulties. Player ‘Braised Pigeon’ has issued a letter of divorce and severed all ties with Player ‘Braised Sea Cucumber with Shallots’. ‘Braised Pigeon’ has sent 1 million copper coins. We wish both parties will one day have an indefinite reunion. We hope that this parting will engender feelings of relief and allow happiness to grow in your hearts.

Players in the World chat: “What the fuck?!”

Players of Emperor Pavilion: “What the fuck?!”

Ji Xiaoli: “What the fuck?!”

These cries were not without reason.

Braised Pigeon’s CP, Braised Sea Cucumber with Shallots, was ranked fourth on the Tianshan leaderboard and had high cultivation. The two had always been affectionate and harmonious. Braised Pigeon could be seen constantly picking on her husband for fun. It was said that they were in a relationship in real life and that she was simply waiting for Braised Sea Cucumber to return to China to end this long-distance courtship.

It was later when Meat Bun let Ji Xiaoli in on the truth.

It turned out that Braised Pigeon had picked up the acacia leaf that the two had inscribed when they first got married. Braised Sea Cucumber with Shallots had written——

『This old pigeon is so ill-tempered. Who else but me would want her? Aihh, today marks the first day of abuse.』

Ji Xiaoli: “…”

This counts for a divorce? It was just flirting!

And, just as Ji Xiaoli had guessed, Braised Sea Cucumber with Shallots had managed to coax his wife two days later. They were married again. This time Braised Sea Cucumber followed his wife’s teachings and faithfully wrote, ‘My wife is the best, the most stunning and the most generous woman in the world.’ on the red leaves. It was only then when Braised Pigeon let the matter rest.

【Braised Pigeon: You had better watch out. If I come back to the Tree of Yearning one day and find out that was not what you wrote… Hehe.】

【Braised Sea Cucumber with Shallots: … 】

After that incident, Ji Xiaoli was suddenly curious about what his disciple wrote on the leaf.

And he was someone as sharp as a bowl of jello. As long as a thought had come to mind, he would immediately ask his disciple.

【Teacher Orders a Salute: Disciple, what did you write on the acacia leaf when we got married? 】

【Milk Tea Small Crisp: … 】

【Milk Tea Small Crisp: Is this about Braised Pigeon’s matter?】

Ji Xiaoli: 【So you know about it? Disciple, hurry and tell me what you wrote. You didn’t say anything bad about me, did you?】

He might have said it nonchalantly, but Ji Xiaoli was pondering internally: My disciple did not write bad things about me, did he? I’m the best teacher in the world. To have a shifu like me is a blessing! 

【Milk Tea Small Crisp: Guess.】

Ji Xiaoli: “…”

Guess what? I’m not guessing!

There was no voice to accompany Milk Tea Small Crisp’s words this time. Ji Xiaoli was just not having it. He secretly resolved to go to Yue Lao Temple every day to see for himself. Perhaps he might one day be lucky enough to pick up the leaf his disciple had written.

Half a month later, Christmas had at long last arrived.

Early in the morning, Ji Xiaoli ate breakfast in a hurry and rushed to the train station. After arriving in Shanghai, he followed the address provided by Meat Bun and promptly found the hotel that Jie Se owned.

The hotel is located near Nanjing Road, with the property facing Huangpu River. Tourists came and went along either side of the path. Ji Xiaoli, a resident of Suzhou, whose home was close to Shanghai, was one of the earliest players to arrive. He was rather tense as he stood in front of the hotel not knowing who to look for.

That was when Meat Bun and Jie Se came out of the hotel and noticed a pale-skinned young man wearing a blue cotton-padded jacket. 

The man had a cell phone in his hand. He looked to be in his early twenties—youthful and delicate. His eyes darted around, seemingly overwhelmed and confused.

Meat Bun approached the man and asked vaguely, “Knight Errant Road, Emperor Pavilion?”

When Ji Xiaoli heard this, he nodded in delight. “That’s right! I’m here for the gathering.”

Meat Bun chortled and held out his hand. “For you to have come so early and have a Suzhou accent on top of that… Hm, let me guess. Salute?”

Ji Xiaoli was astonished by his deductive abilities. He shook the other party’s hand, pondered with his remaining brain cells, and reasoned, “You seem to be in your thirties, and you’re waiting for people at the door. Are you Meat Bun or Jie Se?” 

“I’m Jie Se.” A young man with closely cropped hair who was in a puffer jacket approached with a grin, revealing a row of white teeth. “Amitabha, don’t mistake this monk for someone else.”

Ji Xiaoli stared at Meat Bun, who wore glasses. “Then, you must be Meat Bun!”

“Hahaha, my wife is Meat Bun. I am Protect Our Meat Bun. Let’s go. Quite a few people arrived last night and are already inside.”

Ji Xiaoli nodded repeatedly, and as he entered the hotel he thought aloud, “By the way, is my disciple here yet?”

Jie Se: “Your disciple? Milk Tea Small Crisp?”

Meat Bun: “Chun… ahem, your disciple is not here yet. I’ll let you know once he arrives.”

Ji Xiaoli’s eyes lit up.

Meat Bun doesn’t know about his bet with his disciple, and his disciple would not be able to hide his identity from Meat Bun. When Meat Bun called for him, wouldn’t he find out who his disciple is?

Ji Xiaoli: “Okay! I’ll wait inside.”

With wishful thinking, Ji Xiaoli gleefully entered the hotel and was led by an attendant to a large private room on the first floor.

Once inside, he was surrounded by players in the room.

There were eight people inside—three men and five women. Everyone introduced themselves to each other. Ji Xiaoli was a tad apprehensive at first, but everyone was welcoming. Once IGN’s for declared, Ji Xiaoli immediately felt a sense of familiarity.

“I am Teacher Orders a Salute.”

At that, a tall girl with short hair stood up. “Salute!”

Ji Xiaoli smiled, a small dimple forming. “Pigeon!”

Everyone chatted.

No one knew who proposed they play the game, but the nine started a team and went to dungeon together.

Braised Pigeon lamented, “I didn’t think I would have to bring players to dungeon at this gathering.”

Ji Xiaoli maneuvered his Huashan avatar to fight a BOSS and absolutely had no time to talk. As time passed, more and more people arrived.

Meat Bun and Jie Se returned to the private room at noon.

Meat Bun muttered helplessly, “A few people had their flights delayed. They won’t make it in time for lunch. We’ll have to catch up with them at dinner. Let’s get started. Everyone has acquainted themselves?”

A girl couldn’t help but ask, “Guild master, has Boss Yue’s flight also been delayed?”

Meat Bun: “No, ChunHe is stuck in traffic. He’s from Shanghai. I was just speaking to him on the phone. He’s caught on the highway. He’ll be here soon.”

Ji Xiaoli could barely catch his breath at the sound of YueJian ChunHe’s name. But he quickly calmed down and asked, “What about my disciple?”

Meat Bun gave Ji Xiaoli an odd look. “Milk Tea…should also be here soon.”

Braised Pigeon: “I’m not waiting for them. Lao Wan is also stuck on the highway. I did tell him to take the high-speed rail from Wuxi, but he insisted on driving. Look where he is now. Stuck in traffic. Let’s eat. I’m starving.”

Meat Bun laughed. “Yup, Boss Yue also told me the same thing. Let’s begin. He said he’ll come to settle the bill later.”

There was a blaze in Jie Se’s eyes. “ChunHe’s treat? Come, come, feel free to order whatever you want. The most expensive item on the menu is the Boston lobster. Is the tricolor terrine…good? Why should you care whether it’s good or not? Is it really that important? Since Boss Yue is treating us, we should all eat more!”

Jie Se, the local tyrant, grabbed the menu and unceremoniously ordered two tables worth of dishes. If it was expensive, that was what he ordered.

Half an hour later, the party was in full swing as everybody feasted and drank to their heart’s content. However, Ji Xiaoli was not in the mood to partake in the food. He only had two bites of his meal as he felt inexplicably distracted and couldn’t help but fish out his cellphone to ask his disciple where he was. Yet, for some reason, his disciple had not answered.

Ji Xiaoli ruminated. Perhaps he hadn’t noticed because he was driving?

Oh yeah, disciple seemed to also be from Shanghai. He also mentioned he was driving here.

That was when Meat Bun received a call halfway through his meal. Everyone stopped and looked at him curiously.

Meat Bun spoke for a while before giving everyone a cryptic look. “I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear？“

I Am Meat Bun kicked her husband with no hesitation. “Both! Stop keeping us guessing!”

With his wife pressuring him, Meat Bun confessed, “Fine. The good news is that Boss Yue has finally arrived. I’m going out to pick him up.”

There was a rush of commotion among the players. Someone asked, “What’s the bad news?”

Meat Bun’s tone turned grim. “Oh, the bad news is that Lao Wan has also arrived and happened to have already met up with Boss Yue. I have to pick him up on the way. You can guess which one is Boss Yue and which one is Lao Wan later. You won’t get a prize for guessing. It’s all about the participation.”

Meat Bun then scurried out. The players were all becoming inquisitive and started to discuss.

Besides Meat Bun, Braised Pigeon and Jie Se were the only ones who have met YueJian ChunHe in person. Thus, they scrambled to ask the duo to describe Boss Yue’s appearance.

“Is Boss Yue handsome? How old is he? I’ve heard some people say he’s 17. But others say he’s 40.”

Jie Se: “Amitabha, this poor monk shall not speak. What if Boss Yue changes his mind about treating us if this monk exposes his identity.”

Braised Pigeon was far more direct with her words. “No comment. We’ll see who hits the jackpot today. ChunHe and Lao Wan coming together. Tsk, the both of them look completely different with contrasting visual impacts.”

Everyone’s curiosity was instantly piqued.

Five minutes later, soft knocks could be heard from the private room door. Everyone craned their necks and stared at the door inquisitively.

Ji Xiaoli’s heart thudded in his chest like drums.

YueJian ChunHe was just beyond the door…

He suddenly felt particularly insecure and couldn’t help but fish out his phone again to send a WeChat message to his disciple: 【Disciple, when are you arriving?】

Just after sending it, a crisp notification alert sounded outside the door. Ji Xiaoli froze and looked up.

The door opened, and the first person to enter was Meat Bun. He hemmed and hawed sheepishly as the crowd booed him without giving face.

Meat Bun: “Well, here they are. Take a guess. Which one is Boss Yue and which one is Lao Wan?”

With that said, Meat Bun entered the private room and stepped aside to give way. The first to walk in was a well-built man with fierce features. Even his cotton-padded jacket could not hide his rugged figure.

The girls all spoke without a second thought, “He’s definitely Lao Wan. There’s no way this person is Boss Yue!”

Some of the male players were displeased. “Why can’t he be Boss Yue? I think he could be him.”

Lao Wan was unaware of the bet between Meat Bun and the players. He rubbed his head, confused. “Should I not have come in? Shall I go?” He turned away in mock disappointment, appearing hurt.

Everyone was about to protest for him to stay, only to see someone obstructing Lao Wan’s path.

The man was baffled, having not expected Lao Wan to suddenly turn around and leave. He stood in the doorway with his eyebrows knitted. His inky pupils sized Lao Wan up, neither entering nor retreating. He was silent for a moment before asking, “Are you not going in?”

The room was dead silent.

Ji Xiaoli’s eyes widened as he stared at the man in the doorway in dismay. A scene instantly came to mind.

The legendary senior brother who was admired and respected by his juniors in a university of golden leaves. He was so pleasing to the eyes that people wouldn’t immediately associate him with those impressive academic achievements. He also had a cool temperament. At that time, Ji Xiaoli could tell that even though the other party smiled when he looked at him, he didn’t have any ill will towards him. He was simply smiling politely.

“Boss… Boss Yue?” A player asked incredulously.

Jie Se smacked the table. “ChunHe, you said you’d be the one to settle the bill! Don’t go back on your word!”

YueJian ChunHe walked in, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings before finally landing on Ji Xiaoli.

Ji Xiaoli promptly straightened his back and then realized something was off, so he hurriedly lowered his head.

YueJian ChunHe gave a faint, polite smile that seemed more like a perfunctory performance. Yet it still managed to cause short cries of surprise to resound from within the room.

“Mn, it’s my treat.”

“Boss Yue is righteous!!!”

Ji Xiaoli wanted to bury his head under the table.

…Oh motherfucker, why is Ruan Fenghe YueJian ChunHe?!?!