For a moment, both of us froze.
The next second, I shot up and pulled up my pants as fast as lightning, without any hesitation.
Aunt Liu’s face was full of panic too. If Yang Yaxue found out about this—her mother, hiding in a room doing this with her classmate—the consequences would be unimaginable.
Just the thought of it was already horrifying.
But soon, Yang Yaxue’s voice called out again from outside the door.
"You guys keep chatting, I’ll just head to the bathroom."
It wasn’t until her footsteps grew distant that Aunt Liu and I both let out a long sigh of relief.
But after being scared like that, I’d completely lost any sort of mood for it, and Aunt Liu was even more flustered and at a loss.
So, we hurriedly tidied ourselves up and went out.
"Mom, Xu Tian, what were you two talking about in there for so long?"
When we came out, Yang Yaxue had already returned from the restroom.
"N-nothing... I just had some soreness in my shoulders, so Xiao Xu helped me massage them a bit."
Aunt Liu tried her best to stay calm, to make herself appear natural.
Yang Yaxue gave me a suspicious look, her expression grim as she said, "Are the massages finished? If not, go ahead and finish them."
"Just don’t take too long, though, ’cause I still need Xu Tian to teach me about TCM massage."
Hearing that, Aunt Liu froze.
Yang Yaxue’s words were a veiled way of claiming her stake, poking at Aunt Liu’s most shameful nerve.
For a mother like her to fight her own daughter for a man?
It was utterly unacceptable.
"It’s fine; I don’t need the massage anymore."
Aunt Liu smiled bitterly and glanced at me, her eyes harboring a hint of lingering emotion.
After saying that, she didn’t speak further and turned back toward her room.
Watching her desolate figure, I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable inside, but didn’t know what to say.
I bore some responsibility for the strain in their mother-daughter relationship.
After heading to Yang Yaxue’s room, we chatted for a while but didn’t do much else.
When it was time to leave, it was Aunt Liu who saw me out.
As we parted ways, we exchanged a few words. I told her I’d give her some money to make their lives easier and help provide Yaxue with a better environment.
At first, Aunt Liu refused, but when I explained that I had a lot of money, she eventually agreed.
After returning, I learned from Mr. Wang that Liu Anqi had fully recovered.
To be honest, whenever I thought about that ferocious woman, I still felt guilty.
What I did that day was truly a bit over the line.
But it was all in the past, and since we likely wouldn’t encounter each other again, I didn’t think much of it.
Little did I know, fate would ensure our paths crossed once more.
That day, just as I was wrapping up and about to rest, a familiar silhouette walked in.
When I took a closer look, I couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on.
It was none other than Liu Anqi.
She carried the same cat I treated before in her arms, her face icy cold.
"My cat’s sick again. Weren’t you the one who treated it last time? Take another look."
Liu Anqi didn’t even bother to glance at me, her tone laced with irritation.
"Alright, hand it over."
I managed an awkward smile and took the British Shorthair from her arms.
While I examined the cat, Liu Anqi sat there, her face as steely as ever, like a perpetual ice mountain.
After hesitating for a moment, I finally gathered the courage to speak: "Um... Miss Liu, about that day, I’m really sorry, I..."
"Sorry, what? You’ve already done the deed. If an apology could fix everything, wouldn’t that be far too easy?" She let out a cold laugh, shooting back without holding back.
"I truly, sincerely apologize."
"Sincerely? Don’t make me laugh. You men are all the same, spewing lies left and right."
"Uh... do you have time now? How about I treat you to a meal to make it up to you?" I grinned sheepishly.
"Have a meal with you? You broke loser, can you even afford it?" Liu Anqi rolled her eyes and, as if struck by a sudden thought, her tone shifted. "Sure, but I’ll decide where to eat."
"Alright, alright." I let out a sigh of relief, agreeing without hesitation.