Chapter 331: Private Tutor
Zhang Yi remarked, “Teacher Liang, with your skills, you could have had an easier life. I didn’t expect you to be struggling so much… Truly a fine example of a People’s Teacher!”
Zhang Yi praised her with a smile.
Liang Yue frowned slightly, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
Though Zhang Yi’s words seemed complimentary, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was calling her foolish, as if only an idiot would be this self-sacrificing.
Without disputing this, she slowly sat down on the sofa.
The warm room and soft cushions eased her tension significantly.
Yang Siyah walked over, carrying two steaming cups of coffee, and placed one in front of Liang Yue with a smile.
“Please, have some.”
“Thank you!”
Liang Yue lifted the cup, feeling a rush of warmth at the rising steam.
Seeing the foam on top, she realized it was a cappuccino, a drink she normally avoided for the sake of keeping fit, preferring espresso instead. But now wasn’t the time to be picky, so she took a big sip.
Sweet! It must have at least two lumps of sugar!
Liang Yue thought to herself.
For the first time, she didn’t find the sweetness revolting; instead, it made her feel almost tearfully grateful.
Taking a slow sip of coffee, Zhang Yi finally asked, “So, what brings you here?”
Holding her coffee cup, Liang Yue looked at Zhang Yi intently and said, “We agreed before that I’d help you retake West Hill Base, and in return, you’d provide shelter and food for me and my students.”
“Now that West Hill Base is wiped out, and we have shelter ready in Xu Family Town, I’d like you to supply us with more food.”
She sighed slightly and added, “You know, most of my students have been pampered all their lives. It’s going to take them time to learn to forage or catch fish in the Lu River.”
Zhang Yi immediately countered, “So they didn’t suffer enough hardship at West Hill Base, huh?”
Liang Yue paused, shaking her head. “Let’s not get into that. I just need enough food to get them through this rough patch. I’ll figure out the rest.”
Zhang Yi nodded, “Of course.”
Right in front of her, he opened the Dimensional Gate.
And then—
“Whoosh—”
A mountain of food cascaded onto the floor, piling up over a meter high!
Bread, bags of steamed buns, spicy sticks, chicken feet…
Zhang Yi’s Spatial Storage held plenty of things he’d once grabbed without much thought, including many foods he didn’t particularly enjoy himself.
Picking out a portion, he set it aside for Liang Yue.
Pointing to the pile, Zhang Yi said, “This should be enough for you and those dozen students for half a month. Take it; this is part of our agreement.”
Seeing the mountain of food, Liang Yue’s face lit up with joy. “Thank you, Zhang Yi!”
“It’s what you’re owed.”
Zhang Yi took a sip of coffee and smiled, his expression gentlemanly.
Liang Yue breathed a sigh of relief.
She had been anxious coming here, fearing Zhang Yi might renege on their deal.
After all, with West Hill Base gone, she had no leverage over him.
Zhang Yi honoring his word so freely filled her with a sense of appreciation toward him.
Zhang Yi grabbed a few travel bags, asking Yang Siyah to help pack the food.
Liang Yue had initially intended to stay a bit longer and enjoy the warm, sweet coffee, but staying too long felt awkward, like she was taking advantage of the warmth.
So, she knelt to pack the food into the bags.
Watching her, Zhang Yi suddenly asked, “Must be hard for a woman to take care of so many teenagers alone, huh?”
Liang Yue paused mid-motion.
He had struck a chord.
Since the apocalypse began, she had poured her heart and strength into protecting her students.
To them, she was a pillar of support. But who had ever cared if she was holding up well?
In truth, she was just a young woman in her twenties who, at times, also needed comfort.
Looking up, Liang Yue gave Zhang Yi a grateful smile.
“Thank you! But I can’t abandon those students. If I did, they’d never survive in this world.”
Liang Yue sighed softly, “I couldn’t forgive myself for that.”
Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow.
He understood the undertone of her words.
Liang Yue’s effort in protecting her students wasn’t necessarily because she cherished them all.
What she truly upheld was her duty as a warrior and as a teacher.
People could die for their beliefs.
Once one betrays those beliefs without justifying it to themselves, living can feel worse than death.
A thought flashed through Zhang Yi’s mind.
If I could somehow get rid of her students in a way that seemed natural, she’d probably be overjoyed.
Yes, she’d outwardly grieve, but deep down, she’d finally feel at peace, able to move on to a new life.
“If there’s ever a chance, getting rid of those hangers-on wouldn’t be a bad idea,” Zhang Yi mused to himself.
He disliked Liang Yue’s students primarily because of Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran.
Back at Tianqing Academy, those kids had used violence against Yang and Lu.
To Zhang Yi, they were no good, a waste of food and potential risks for the future.
Finding a way to eliminate them would be best.
Looking at Liang Yue, Zhang Yi understood that it wasn’t time to act against those students just yet.
He didn’t want her to resent him.
He wanted this strong, innocent teacher to be his.
“You’re too indulgent with them. They’re mostly adults now, aren’t they? Yet they’re still clinging to you like babies.”
“Liang Yue, what will you do when this food runs out? Are you going to support them all by yourself?”
Liang Yue felt her head throbbing from Zhang Yi’s words.
Those students had always been spoiled.
She had thought their suffering at West Hill Base would teach them self-sufficiency.
But when sent to chip ice and fish in Lu River, they cut their hands open.
When asked to patch up the snow huts, they somehow managed to make big holes in the walls.
Not only that, they complained that the clothes and blankets left by the villagers were worn by the dead, calling them unlucky and filthy, refusing to wear them.
After three months of the apocalypse, who had the luxury to wash clothes and blankets?
Liang Yue’s brow furrowed, unsure of what to do.
She could only hope they would mature one day, lightening her load.
Watching her, Zhang Yi suddenly spoke gently, “Liang Yue, you’re working too hard. Why don’t I help you?”
Liang Yue’s eyes widened in surprise, staring at Zhang Yi in disbelief.
“What… What did you just say?”
She had to ask again to confirm.
Zhang Yi smiled, “I said, I can supply food for you all.”
“Everyone knows by now that I’ve got plenty of supplies. Food is the least of my worries, even with a dozen more mouths to feed.”
Zhang Yi sighed.
“Seeing you struggle like this, I just can’t sit by and watch—I’m too kind for that!”
Liang Yue felt a flash of joy but quickly grew cautious.
She knew Zhang Yi’s character well enough to be wary of any favors from him.
“Let me ask first: If you help us, do you expect us to do something for you?”
A mysterious smile appeared on Zhang Yi’s face.
“You’re mistaken. I’m not helping ‘you all.’ I’m helping you. And I’ll need a fair exchange for the food.”
Liang Yue relaxed; this was the Zhang Yi she knew.
“Go ahead, tell me what you need from me!”
Zhang Yi chuckled and pointed his finger at her with a mischievous grin.
“I want you.”
Liang Yue froze, and then, a deep blush spread across her face as she jumped to her feet, backing up several steps.
“You… You’re going too far!”
She was trembling with anger, pointing at Zhang Yi in both shame and fury.
Nearby, Yang Siyah noticed the commotion and couldn’t help but look over.
“Does Zhang Yi have feelings for Teacher Liang too?”
A surge of anxiety filled Yang Siyah’s heart.
Liang Yue pointed at Zhang Yi, gritting her teeth as she enunciated, “I would never sell my body!”
Zhang Yi’s mouth curled into a wicked grin.
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Watching her reaction, almost like an angry little kitten, gave him immense satisfaction.
He leaned back on the sofa, looking at her with a confused expression. “I only wanted to ask you to be my tutor and teach me martial arts. How is that indecent?”
“Huh?”
Liang Yue froze, stunned.
A private tutor?
Zhang Yi smacked his forehead, exclaiming in realization, “Oh! So you thought I meant something else!”
“Oh, what’s going on in that head of yours? You’re a People’s Teacher, remember?”
His face was full of mock exasperation, though he was laughing inside.
Sure enough, Liang Yue was left speechless by his teasing.
Realizing she might have misunderstood, she blushed and stammered, “I… I’m sorry. I misunderstood you.”
Zhang Yi feigned anger. “Do you really think I’m that kind of person, Liang Yue? You underestimate me!”
“Fine, be my tutor if you want. If not, no big deal. You can go.”
Zhang Yi waved dismissively, signaling for her to leave.
But Liang Yue was flustered.
This was an opportunity she didn’t want to miss.
If she could earn food just by teaching Zhang Yi martial arts, of course, she was more than willing.
“No, no, I… I’ll do it!”
Seeing Liang Yue’s flustered expression, Zhang Yi laughed internally.
This powerful yet adorably earnest teacher—she was his, without a doubt.