A Heartless, Cheating Scumbag in a Female-Dominated World (5)

When Jiang Xuefu came in, a flicker of delight crossed Xie Jinhua's pale gray phoenix eyes. "Fufu, you're here. Have a seat first. I'll have my assistant make you a cup of tea."

This again. Every time he called her over, he said he had something to discuss, but when she arrived, he would have her sit down first, then take his sweet time and wait ten-odd minutes before telling her what it was.

That was the one bad thing about having a man for a boss: he dawdled far too much and wasn't decisive like a woman at all.

Today was no different. Only when the tea in Jiang Xuefu's hands had nearly gone cold did Xie Jinhua finally tell her why he had called her over.

"Fufu, Xiao Ning has been failing advanced mathematics at university. Neither makeup exams nor retaking the course has helped, so I was wondering if you could tutor him."

Xie Ning was Xie Jinhua's son. He had only started university last year, and Jiang Xuefu had heard Xie Jinhua mention him, but she had yet to meet him.

*?* A giant question mark appeared in Jiang Xuefu's mind. Sure enough, there was something at least a little wrong with every man's brain.

There were so many tutoring agencies out there. With the Xie family's wealth, could they really not find a good teacher?

Besides, she was doing perfectly well at the company. She would have to be sick in the head to go teach some little brat advanced mathematics.

"Of course, I'm not asking you to do it for free." Perhaps sensing that something was off with Jiang Xuefu's expression, Xie Jinhua curled a hand into a fist and gave a slightly guilty cough. "Once a week will do, for a tutoring fee of one million a month."

One million a month meant more than ten million a year.

Jiang Xuefu wasn't short of money now, but who ever complained about having too much? And it was only once a week. Wasn't that practically handing her money?

"Sure. Should we start this week, President Xie?"

Seeing Jiang Xuefu nod in agreement, Xie Jinhua quietly breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, he couldn't help feeling a surge of delight. This way, he would have time alone with Fufu every week.

Xie Jinhua said, "Yes. I'll prepare the teaching materials, so you can just come over when it's time."

"All right. If there's nothing else, President Xie, I'll get back to work."

"Mm, go ahead."

Though Xie Jinhua was reluctant to see her leave, he had no reason to keep her there now. All he could do was silently watch the woman's retreating figure.

His gentle eyes held traces of infatuation, but as he watched her, they were overtaken by a sudden sense of inadequacy.

I'm already thirty-seven, a full ten years older than Fufu. How could I possibly be worthy of her?

The man who could strategize and command in his career couldn't help feeling a wave of panic at this moment. If only he had been born ten years later...

Jiang Xuefu walked through the Xie family estate, carrying a small cake she had specially prepared. The butler led the way ahead of her.

The Xies were indeed a wealthy family with over a century of heritage. The estate alone occupied more than a hundred mu in City A, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, to say nothing of its luxurious decor. It wasn't Jiang Xuefu's first visit, but she was astonished every time she came.

The butler stopped in front of the main house. "We're here, Miss Jiang. Sir is waiting for you inside."

Jiang Xuefu nodded and carried the cake inside.

The exterior was grand and luxurious, while the interior was decorated in a simple, cozy style, with a distinctly personal touch.

Since it was the weekend and he was at home, Xie Jinhua wore a thin, light blue sweatshirt that set off his slender figure. He had casually run his hands through his short hair a couple of times, giving him an even gentler, more homely air.

"Fufu." Xie Jinhua's eyes lit up at the sight of Jiang Xuefu, especially when he saw the cake she was carrying.

"This cake..."

Hearing him mention it, Jiang Xuefu raised the four-inch strawberry and white chocolate cake in her hand and smiled. "I bought it especially for Xiao Ning. Don't little boys all like this kind of thing?"

She bought it for Xiao Ning... Xie Jinhua was a little disappointed. He had thought she had brought it for him.

He liked cake a lot too.

"What's wrong, President Xie? Is there a problem?" Jiang Xuefu asked in puzzlement when Xie Jinhua didn't speak for a long moment.

"It's nothing. I'll take you upstairs first."

The man's expression didn't change; he still looked as gentle and warm as ever. Yet only Xie Jinhua himself knew that he had actually begun to feel jealous of his own son.

Why did she call him President Xie, but call Xie Ning Xiao Ning?

On the second floor, a bedroom door stood wide open, with a pile of plush dolls heaped at the entrance. A look inside revealed even more chaos: clothes, books, figurines, snacks, and the like had all been tossed carelessly onto the bed or the floor by their owner. The place was a complete mess.

This is Xie Ning's room? If I didn't know better, I'd think this was the room of some luxurious homeless person...

Jiang Xuefu stayed at the doorway rather than going in, but she still couldn't help frowning. She hadn't even met Xie Ning yet, and her impression of him had already plunged to rock bottom.

Xie Jinhua couldn't help feeling a surge of anger at the sight either. He walked to the bed and pulled back the covers, revealing the soundly sleeping young man beneath. From Jiang Xuefu's angle, all she could see was a fluffy head.

"Xie Ning, what happened to your room? Didn't I just have someone clean it yesterday?"

Sure enough, even the gentlest person couldn't help losing their temper in front of a brat.

"Mmm, Dad, don't bother me. I stayed up all night and only fell asleep this morning." Xie Ning blearily opened his eyes, then fell asleep again as soon as he had finished speaking.

He had read a gripping novel last night, and when he reached the ending that morning, it had put him through the wringer and left him crying for quite a while. Right now, he really didn't have the energy to meet that tutor, whoever they were.

Xie Jinhua held himself back. He was his son, after all; he couldn't very well kill him.

Helplessly, he pulled the covers back over him and looked apologetically at the woman by the door. "Sorry you came all this way for nothing."

"It's fine. I can just come back tomorrow." Jiang Xuefu waved a hand dismissively. She could overlook something like this when he was paying her so much.

As they spoke, the two had already stepped outside the room. Neither of them saw the tip of the ear of the young man who had been asleep on the bed twitch. The next second, he suddenly sat up and called rudely after Jiang Xuefu, "Hey, auntie, wait a second."

Hearing him, Jiang Xuefu turned and looked in surprise at Xie Ning on the bed. Puzzled, she asked, "Are you talking to me?"

He actually called me auntie? Is he blind? Can I call the police?

"Who else?" Xie Ning had intended to call her back because he was a voice enthusiast, and the woman's voice had sounded so lovely just now that he couldn't help being drawn to it while half asleep.

After the woman turned around, Xie Ning got a clear look at Jiang Xuefu's face. A suspicious blush appeared on his handsome face, and his heart began to flutter unnaturally. Even so, he folded his arms and asked the question in a deliberately calm, disdainful tone.

"Xiao Ning." Xie Jinhua gave him a gentle, disapproving scolding. "Since you're awake, get dressed and go to the study for your lesson in a bit."

Only when Xie Jinhua reminded him did Xie Ning realize that he had worn a loose, sleeveless tank top to bed last night. His clothes were still a little rumpled now that he had just gotten up, and the front of the neckline had somehow been pulled partway down, exposing his delicate, beautiful collarbones. Even a little of what lay farther below was faintly visible...

Xie Ning's face instantly turned scarlet. He widened his eyes at Jiang Xuefu. "You're still looking! Why haven't you left yet?"

Strictly speaking, he hadn't actually exposed much, but for some reason, the thought that Jiang Xuefu was standing in front of him made Xie Ning feel uncomfortable all over. He buried himself completely under the covers, so shy he looked ready to burst into steam.

Jiang Xuefu hadn't expected such a strong reaction either. What was there to see on a little brat? He had no chest and no ass.

Xie Jinhua was also a little embarrassed now. He hadn't thought this through.

"Ahem, let's go downstairs and have something to drink first."

"Okay."