Chapter Twenty

"But speaking of which, Xingyue, didn't you use a bit too much makeup?" Riko Yanagi questioned Yu Xingyue while settling the score. When she was applying makeup for him earlier, she felt the container had become significantly lighter. She suspected he had used an excessive amount, and although she knew he needed to wear it, this was clearly over the top.

"I didn't mean to, Teacher. I'm still a novice and don't know how to apply it properly, so I used a lot by accident." Yu Xingyue explained. His explanation was genuine, and Riko nodded with satisfaction. Yu Xingyue wasn't lying; as a teacher, she wanted to see a good student, and that was exactly what she saw.

"I'll let it slide this time since you admitted your mistake. But only this once. If I see it half-empty again next time, I’m really going to lose my temper." Yu Xingyue didn't feel a hint of threat in Riko's warning; instead, it sounded almost doting. Coming from a twenty-four-year-old teacher, it didn't feel awkward at all—though if it had come from someone in their thirties, that would be a different story.

"Hurry and go downstairs now. If we stay up here too long, won't Yumei Xiaqin misunderstand us?"

Riko laughed, "Then get going. Don't keep her waiting. You go down first; I need to rest a bit before I head down."

"Alright." Yu Xingyue went downstairs and sat back down next to Yumei Xiaqin. However, Yumei’s gaze remained fixed on him, making him feel incredibly uncomfortable. She didn't say a word, just stared at him—did she have something to say?

Yu Xingyue couldn't take it anymore. "Tell me, Yumei, why do you keep staring at me? Is there something strange on my face?"

"No, I just think you're a bit strange," Yumei replied.

"Strange? How am I strange?" Yu Xingyue asked.

"If I had to put it into words, it's that you as a person are strange. I can't quite put my finger on it, but you just feel different from everyone else. I keep feeling like I've met you somewhere before, but I just can't remember your name."

Yu Xingyue was startled. She claimed to know him but couldn't name him? He replied, "Are you secretly crushing on someone and think I look like them?"

"Don't talk nonsense." Yumei blushed. "I don't have a crush on anyone. I just think you’re strange, so stop thinking things."

The tactic worked. Suggesting someone has a crush is highly likely to make them shy and deny everything. *Aren't Japanese people supposed to be very open? Why hide it if you like someone?* Yu Xingyue wondered to himself.

"I didn't expect such a big reaction. I guess I hit the mark." Yu Xingyue looked at her with a smirk, but he didn't hold it for long. He wouldn't copy her habit of staring at people—that was something she had taught him.

"You two seem to be chatting quite intently. Mind if I join?" Riko came down from upstairs with a smile.

"Well, Ri... Boss, don't give us a hard time. You might not believe this, but she likes me." Of course, he was joking, but Yumei, sitting next to him, didn't look too happy.

"Is that so? Congratulations, congratulations." Riko clapped.

"No, Boss, you're overthinking it. It’s not like that, he’s just talking nonsense." Yumei hurried to explain, but the more she tried to clarify, the more confusing it became.

"I'm just teasing you, don't get worked up," Riko said lightly. "The only person who can make you this anxious is Victor. And I noticed you even said more than twenty words just now—is this really you?"

Riko was telling the truth. She had long been secretly observing the changes in Yumei's speech. Yumei, who never spoke more than twenty words at a time, was being forced to talk this much by Yu Xingyue. But what could be done? No one can control their own speech, and you can't count words while you're talking.

Yumei also noticed she had been talking a bit too much and glared at Yu Xingyue with resentment. Yu Xingyue feigned innocence, but his eyes betrayed him, seemingly saying, "Try and hit me if you can, hahaha."

Seeing that look, Yumei was furious but couldn't do anything in front of Riko. Yu Xingyue’s expression suggested he loved seeing her unable to retaliate. As long as Riko was there, he felt emboldened.

After Yu Xingyue coughed a few times and Riko left, not wanting to disturb their "intimacy," Yumei looked at him maliciously. "You were pretty arrogant just now, weren't you? Now it's my turn!"

"Hey, I didn't mean anything by it! You were the one sitting there with such a stiff face that it made me uncomfortable. I just wanted to see if you had any other expressions. As for that look, don't take it to heart, hahaha."

"You say it so easily," Yumei said, clenching her fists. "If I don't teach you a lesson, you'll never learn." No sooner had she spoken than she threw a punch at him. With his quick reflexes, Yu Xingyue caught her hand.

"Whoa, whoa! You're trying to leave me heirless!" He was joking, of course. For some reason, he really wanted to see Yumei angry. It was an indescribable feeling—even when she was angry, she was so helpless and endearing.

"Let go! If you don't let go, I won't let you off!"

"That's exactly why I can't let go! If I let go, you'll probably beat me to death."

"Ahem, that's enough, you two. Holding hands in public." Riko had returned to the counter and was watching them. Both of them hurriedly pulled their hands away, embarrassed.

Riko patted her head, ignoring Yu Xingyue and addressing Yumei instead. "Yumei, you're still a bit too young for romance. You should wait until you're more mature to solve those kinds of mysteries. Since someone like Victor, who is precocious, has already experienced those things, why are you being so shy?"

Yu Xingyue was truly floored by Riko. What on earth was she talking about? *Experienced those things?* Yu Xingyue wasn't thinking along those lines—he was thinking in a warped way about her and Lin Zimo doing "that." He hurriedly explained, "What are you talking about, Boss? I haven't experienced any such thing, don't talk nonsense. I'm very pure."

Riko realized he had misunderstood. "I know you're a virgin, but is it really appropriate to talk about that with so many people around? Besides, look at the person next to you." Riko pointed at Yumei.

Yu Xingyue looked at Yumei. She was bowing her head, her hands clenched tightly. Sensing that things were going south, Yu Xingyue slowly stood up to leave, but was grabbed by Yumei.

"If you make it back alive, I'll give you a raise. I'm off." Riko left him with those words and went upstairs. Yu Xingyue was left to face Yumei's wrath. The reason for her anger was simple: the word "virgin." Yumei thought that if he were a virgin, it meant he would want to do "that" with her. Just thinking about it made her angry; she completely viewed Yu Xingyue as a pervert.

When it was time to close up and everyone had left the internet cafe, only poor Yu Xingyue remained, lying on the floor. In those few hours, he had been "tortured" by Yumei—though "torture" was an understatement; it was a life-or-death struggle. He had almost lost his life.

Riko helped him up. "Cheer up. One failure doesn't mean you're a failure in everything. As long as you work hard, you'll be able to beat her."

Yu Xingyue held his face, which had turned purple from Yumei's beating. "I know, Riko, but I'm a guy—how could I lose to her? And why didn't you tell me she was this strong?"

"You didn't ask, so why would I tell you?"

Yu Xingyue was speechless. He headed up to his room on the second floor. It was a night he would never forget; he had gained a new perspective on Yumei Xiaqin. She wasn't some delicate little girl—she was a total tomboy.

Before going to sleep, Yu Xingyue opened QQ to chat with others. Since no one was chatting, he took the initiative to send a message.

QQ Chat:

Yu Xingyue: "I'm telling you, this is too hard. It's rare for me to be off work and chat with you guys, and no one is here [Vomiting blood]"

Ten minutes later...

Lin Zimo: "I'm here! I'm here!"

Zhang Yi: "Xingyue, where are you working that you get off so late? I want to experience it too [Dog head]"

Yu Xingyue: "Forget it, man. I'm exhausted. The pressure in Japan is just too much."