Chapter 44: Don’t Look, Don’t Touch

"Wait, there is one more thing."

As far as Li Xingming was concerned, his negotiations with Professor Ye were already concluded. Perhaps the specific operational details regarding Ye Sheng remaining in Maple Sugar City still needed some polishing, but those were minor issues that could be resolved slowly. What Professor Ye should do right now was go downstairs, hail a cab to the teleportation anchor point in downtown Maple Sugar City, and return to the capital to clean up the mess she had left behind.

Rumor had it that when Ye Sheng took off, she blew her family's backyard warehouse to absolute smithereens, heh.

However, Professor Ye chased after Li Xingming, her face flushed red as she asked.

"What is it?" Li Xingming's hand, which had already touched the doorknob, pulled back. He turned around to listen respectfully.

"You guys, uh... actually did it?"

Ah, she had finally voiced the doubt she was harboring in her heart... This was a matter she simply had to care about. Even though asking felt utterly absurd, given Professor Ye's desire for control, she had no choice but to ask.

Between her pride and her desire for control, she very honestly chose the latter.

"Auntie, you actually don't need to worry about this. Technology is very advanced these days, and information flows freely; even elementary school girls know about it," Li Xingming laughed. "Durex protection, all-out care!"

"!!!" Professor Ye's expression soured instantly.

"I'm kidding, of course we didn't do anything. Classmate Ye Sheng and I share a purely technical exchange relationship. Did she tell you something? She must have been trying to wind you up on purpose. Teenage girls, you know, when they get flustered, talking nonsense is completely normal."

"Hmph, speaking in such an old-fashioned tone... aren't you a teenage boy yourself?" Professor Ye retorted, though her retort lacked sufficient punch—this Li Xingming was truly shameless!

"That's true, we are both still in the prime of our youth."

Leaving behind a remark that sounded somewhat philosophical yet simultaneously like pretentious angst, Li Xingming made his escape.

No one witnessed how Professor Ye departed from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Maple Sugar Heavy Industries that night. Perhaps she used a magic spirit with an invisibility effect, it was hard to say.

In short, the farce was resolved with unexpected dullness. As for the matter of Ye Sheng auditing classes at Maple Sugar City No. 1 High School, that was the second wave of hot topics for discussion, currently still resting in the embryonic stage of communication studies.

The true ending of the story was this: Li Xingming went to the hospital ward to check on Ye Sheng, who was sleeping soundly. He slipped two packs of cigarettes to the police officer guarding the door, ordered several cups of milk tea for the night-shift nurses, and got everything settled. Then, carrying Jiang Qianqian—who was fast asleep on a stainless steel chair in the corridor—he stepped into the night, climbed into his twelve-year-old station wagon, and drove home.

As for Jiang Qianqian, she was drowsy and had no idea how long she had been asleep when she suddenly felt someone pulling down her tights.

Mhm.

She didn't even need to open her eyes to know it was A-Ming.

If anyone else approached her, Jiang Qianqian would wake up instantly—a conditioned reflex developed over the years. Cats, you see, were hyper-vigilant when sleeping, except when their most trusted owner drew near; only then would they subconsciously pretend to be groggy and completely defenseless, exposing their snow-white, fluffy, soft bellies and begging for pets.

"Awoo, A-Ming, why are you... taking off my tights?"

"I figured you were asleep. You can't possibly sleep in tights."

"Mhm-hmm~ Heehee~"

Jiang Qianqian displayed a moderate degree of shyness. She actually liked it when Li Xingming did things like this because it was said that the process of a girl taking off her tights held immense temptation in a man's eyes. She figured that maybe one day, Li Xingming would get to taste her temptation.

Yet, that was not the case.

Seeing that Jiang Qianqian was awake,