Became

Beside the flower bed, Xu Qing looked down from his height and pulled Qin Lin into an embrace.

"I know everything now. It's no use trying to hide it. Did Sister Xin talk to you? People think I'm slow-witted, but that's not true at all; I just don't go out of my way to overthink things."

"Teacher, you're truly cunning. You made it look like you stumbled into my world by accident, but you had this planned all along," Xu Qing said, his face pressed against hers, both of them feeling the warmth of the other.

"No, Xiao Qing, I..." Qin Lin's heart was in a chaotic flutter, and she wanted to explain.

"I know. You were afraid I'd mind the age gap, afraid I'd reject you," Xu Qing interrupted. "But you've been so good to me—how could I possibly not have felt it?"

Qin Lin opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but she didn't know where to begin.

"Now, you cunning Teacher Qin, congratulations. You've succeeded; you've made me fall into the web of love you so carefully wove for me," Xu Qing said, giving her back a light tap with his fist.

In his eyes, Qin Lin and Luo Feng were much the same.

Back in his first year of high school, Luo Feng had secretly watched Xu Xin for an entire year, leaving an indelible impression on her heart.

Later, whenever the two of them met, those feelings sprouted and grew rapidly.

As for Qin Lin, she had constantly and deliberately created opportunities to cross paths with him, leaving traces in his heart bit by bit—the same result achieved through different means.

It hadn't taken long for Xu Qing to realize it, and for his own feelings to take root.

"Teacher Qin, I think... I've fallen for you."

Hearing these words, Qin Lin's eyes widened, her pupils contracting slightly. She felt as though her entire being had been enveloped by a warm breeze.

Her dark hair drifted in the evening wind. Even though it was night, the scenery around her seemed as bright as day.

Although it was Qin Lin who had fallen first, it was Xu Qing who had taken the step to confess.

"Alright, Teacher Qin, let's head back," Xu Qing said, loosening his arms and jumping down from the edge of the flower bed.

He was completely relaxed. Even after confessing, he showed no signs of blushing or shyness—or perhaps the night light was simply too dim to tell.

Xu Qing walked away with small, measured steps. Only after he had gone some distance did he turn around and wave. "Hey, Teacher Qin, stop daydreaming. I'm not waiting for you!"

Qin Lin snapped back to reality, nearly fainting from the sudden impact of such happiness.

She never expected Xu Qing to confess at this moment; to her, this was the kind of perfect development that only existed in dreams.

Yet, this perfect development had truly manifested in reality.

"I'm coming!" Qin Lin's heart leaped with joy. Excited, she broke into a light jog to catch up.

Seeing her approach, Xu Qing continued walking forward.

"Xiao Qing, was what you said just now... true?" After catching up, Qin Lin asked, struggling to suppress the joy in her heart.

"Did I say something just now?" Xu Qing blinked, pretending to be oblivious.

Qin Lin wouldn't let it slide. "You said you liked me."

"Did I? I don't remember saying anything like that. Oh, I was just joking," Xu Qing said, teasing her.

"Impossible. You were serious. I heard you very clearly," Qin Lin said, growing anxious.

Seeing her flustered state, Xu Qing felt amused. She had kept things from him, so he had to make her sweat a little—otherwise, how could he justify her keeping him in the dark?

"Haha, alright, I'm serious. Teacher Qin, I like you, okay?" Xu Qing laughed and admitted it.

He spoke with grace and natural ease, showing no signs of embarrassment.

Xu Qing never lied to himself; he always faced his own heart with honesty. If he liked something, he liked it; if he didn't, he didn't. There was nothing to hide.

Regardless of how these feelings had come to be, it didn't matter. What mattered was not to run away, but to face them openly.

"Xiao Qing, be my boyfriend."

"Alright."

Just like that, Xu Qing and Qin Lin officially became a couple.

In the classroom, Xu Qing was his usual self: listening intently for half the class and "fishing" (slacking off) for the other half.

The only difference was that he was no longer being called to the office.

"Xiao Qing, Teacher Qin hasn't called you to the office lately. Did something happen?" Xu Xin asked, curious.

Xu Qing stretched, glanced at her sideways, and said, "Sister Xin, instead of that, shouldn't you be confessing something else to me?"

"Confessing? Me?" Xu Xin froze, then suddenly realized what he meant. "Xiao Qing, you... you knew?"

"Mhm, I know everything. Sister Xin, you were quite underhanded, keeping it from me with her. If I weren't so clever, who knows how long it would have taken me to figure it out," Xu Qing pouted.

"Cough, cough. Well... you can't really blame me. After all, no one can predict matters of the heart. I could only choose not to interfere and let things develop naturally," Xu Xin defended herself.

Just a few days ago, she had felt that Teacher Qin's progress was too slow; she hadn't expected things to move so quickly.

"So, Xiao Qing, what is the status between you and Teacher Qin?" Xu Xin pressed.

"Exactly what you were hoping for, Sister Xin," Xu Qing said, without stating it explicitly.

Hearing this, Xu Xin was a little surprised, but she felt happy for him.

Since Xu Qing had agreed to be with Qin Lin, it meant her initial choice had been correct—she had found a suitable girlfriend for him.

"Little Qing, look at how good a girlfriend Sister Xin has found for you. Shouldn't you thank me?" Xu Xin laughed.

"How about I find a boyfriend for you in return, Sister Xin? How is that guy named Luo Feng?" Xu Qing teased.

Xu Xin's pretty face flushed slightly. "You little brat, you actually dare to tease me now, huh?"

As she spoke, Xu Xin reached out to tickle him, and Xu Qing surrendered almost immediately.

"Little Qing, since you two are a couple now and living together, you need to be mindful of certain things. After all, you are a direct descendant of the Xu Family now; every move you make represents the face of the Xu Family, so you must be careful," Xu Xin reminded him.

"I know, Sister Xin," Xu Qing nodded.

"When the time is right, we will tell Grandfather and the others. Given Teacher Qin's status, I don't think there will be any issues," Xu Xin mused.

Qin Lin was a War-General level martial artist at the Limit Martial Arts Hall headquarters. Her status within the Xu Family would not be lower than those high-level War-Generals they hired, so the Xu Family would not object to her dating Xu Qing.

"By the way, Sister Xin, that young master of the Wang Family sent his butler to find me, but I sent him packing," Xu Qing told her.

"You did the right thing. Just ignore them; they wouldn't dare do anything to you," Xu Xin frowned. She had guessed that the Wang Family young master would try to get to them through Xu Qing.

"You know me. That Wang Family young master and his lackeys are all brainless. Just talking to them might make me stupid," Xu Qing quipped.

"Haha, did they say anything?" Xu Xin was amused.