Tao Ruoxiang could have waited outside the classroom for Qin Lang to come out, but instead she chose to say those words right by his seat — clearly with the intent of making him the target of everyone’s arrows.
Qin Lang hadn’t expected Teacher Tao’s sense of revenge to be so strong, and for her to achieve her aim so quietly and effortlessly. Truly, her methods were impressive.
Feeling the hostile stares from all around him, Qin Lang didn’t care. For a man, if you want to avoid jealousy, you’d have to marry a dinosaur. A beauty is a bringer of trouble — if you want to court one, you have to be prepared for the trouble that comes with it, even destruction of a city or nation.
“I’m quite free,” Qin Lang said calmly, rising to his feet with a smile. “Willing to help Teacher Tao with your… unspeakable problem.”
Tao Ruoxiang understood what this rascal was hinting at, and she cursed him silently in her heart. But she was also smart — with a quick turn of thought, she smiled sweetly and said, “Qin Lang, your mother just called me and asked me, as your aunt, to take good care of you. Since school’s over, as your elder I’ll take you out for a good meal and also tell you about some of the rules at No. 7 High.”
Her words killed two birds with one stone — in an instant, she’d made herself his elder, and also avoided giving others reason to gossip.
Qin Lang inwardly praised her cleverness. Though at Tao Ruoxiang’s age she could at best be his older sister, since she insisted on being his elder, he’d go along with it. “Alright then, I’ll trouble… Aunt Tao.”
He deliberately emphasized “Aunt Tao.”
Tao Ruoxiang decided to let Qin Lang off for now — there would be plenty of chances to deal with him later — so she smiled and walked out of the classroom with him.
The others all assumed Qin Lang and Tao Ruoxiang were really related, and so suspected nothing.
After leaving the teaching building, Qin Lang couldn’t help but ask, “Aunt Tao, where are we going?”
“My dormitory,” Tao Ruoxiang thought, Consider yourself lucky, brat.
Dormitory? Isn’t that Teacher Tao’s boudoir? Qin Lang suddenly perked up like he’d been injected with chicken blood.
Seeing his excited expression, Tao Ruoxiang knew he was thinking nothing good. Still, she kindly reminded him, “Qin Lang, did you already offend someone your first day here at No. 7 High?”
As they had been coming downstairs, she’d noticed a few boys giving Qin Lang openly hostile looks.
“Teacher Tao, that’s a question you shouldn’t be asking me — you should be asking yourself,” Qin Lang sighed theatrically. “That’s the trouble with being around a beauty — how could I not offend people?”
Tao Ruoxiang gave a dissatisfied snort. This brat had no respect for elders at all — he clearly didn’t see her as either an elder or a teacher. But unwilling to see him get beaten up, she reminded him again, “Be careful. Those boys are all troublemakers.”
“No problem. Aunt Tao, you might not know, but back in kindergarten, I was already a ‘troublemaker toddler.’” Qin Lang looked entirely unconcerned. And it wasn’t even an exaggeration — in kindergarten, he’d nearly been expelled for an “attempted kiss” on a little girl.
Seeing that he wouldn’t listen, Tao Ruoxiang gave up reminding him. She figured a bit of physical suffering might do him good.
As they walked through the school, Qin Lang was always half a step behind her. At first, Tao Ruoxiang didn’t think much of it — but soon she noticed his gaze was… wrong. It kept lingering on her waist, hips, and legs. That was blatant visual harassment!
“Qin Lang, walk in front,” Tao Ruoxiang ordered.
“I don’t know the way,” he said shamelessly.
“Even if you don’t, walk in front!” Unreasonable demands are a woman’s prerogative.
Qin Lang could only comply. Soon, a fork in the path appeared. “Aunt Tao, which way?”
“Left.”
“…”
Tao Ruoxiang was temporarily living in an old teachers’ dormitory. The building was old, but once inside her room, one would be struck by how bright, clean, and fresh it was.
It was indeed a woman’s boudoir — neat, comfortable, and airy.
Qin Lang made himself right at home, plopping down on her sofa without the slightest sign of restraint, as if this were his own territory.
Tao Ruoxiang didn’t even know why, but just seeing this brat made her angry.
If it weren’t for the need to treat the boil on her… delicate area, she would never have brought him here — it was like inviting a wolf into her home! But this was too private a matter to discuss in an office or public place. What if someone overheard?
“Qin Lang, do you want some water?” Tao Ruoxiang asked politely.
“No need — treating the illness is more important.” When he’d entered, he hadn’t seen any disposable cups, so he tactfully refused.
She had only been being polite anyway. She definitely didn’t want her cups contaminated by this brat’s saliva. If he used one, she’d secretly throw it away.
“Qin Lang, earlier you said I was poisoned. What exactly did you mean?” Tao Ruoxiang asked, standing.
“A boil like this is caused by fire toxin invading, the evil heat congesting in the skin; or by the organs accumulating heat and the toxin erupting from within—”
“Alright, alright, enough with the classical Chinese,” she interrupted. “Speak simply!”
“Caused by fire toxin.” This time he was succinct.
“So how do we treat it?” That was what she cared about.
“Three methods,” Qin Lang said. “I’ll tell you the first two. The first — use a white leech, place it on the affected spot, let it suck out the pus and toxin; it’ll be cured overnight—”
“Leech!” Tao Ruoxiang recoiled — the very thought was disgusting, let alone putting one on her… She quickly said, “That sounds gross, and where would I even get one right now?”
“I brought one.” Qin Lang reached into a pocket at his waist and, like performing magic, produced a white leech. “It’s a green, eco-friendly therapy. How about it?”
“Ah!” Tao Ruoxiang yelped, jumping back. “Get that thing away! Just tell me the second method—”
“The second — use my family’s ancestral ‘Hundred-Poison Wound Ointment’ and apply it to the area; it’ll heal completely. I think Aunt Tao could accept that one, right?”
“What about the third method?” Curiosity got the better of her.
“The third… better not say.” Qin Lang shook his head.
“Say it!”
“Better not.”
“Say it!”
“Alright, but you can’t get mad.”
“I won’t.” She looked calm.
“The third method is… I touch the affected spot—”
“Shameless!” Her almond eyes widened in fury — she almost struck him. In just one afternoon, she’d had the urge to hit him twice — both times because of the same person.
“Teacher Tao, you asked me to say it!” Qin Lang looked wronged.
“Who told you to spout nonsense!” She lowered her raised hand.
“I wasn’t! I meant I’d touch it and then use a silver needle to prick it, squeeze out the pus — basically a minor surgery.”
Seeing his serious look, Tao Ruoxiang thought maybe she’d misunderstood him. But no matter what, she wasn’t letting him touch her. “Then why didn’t you just say there were only two methods!”
“Medicine is a serious matter.”
“Enough. Just give me your… whatever ointment. Let’s hope it works.” She was growing impatient — the boil on her backside was hurting again.
“It’s not ‘whatever ointment,’ it’s ‘Hundred-Poison Wound Ointment,’” he corrected.
“Hundred-Poison? Does that mean it’s made from poisons?”
“That’s right — fight poison with poison. Aunt Tao’s heard of that, right?” Qin Lang smiled. “Or… want to try the eco-friendly method?”
“No, ointment it is.” She weighed her options — the third method was out of the question, the first too horrifying, so the second seemed best.
“Alright.” Qin Lang, clearly prepared, pulled out a small black sandalwood box. When it opened, a strange but pleasant medicinal fragrance filled the room.
“So fragrant!” Tao Ruoxiang couldn’t help praising. She’d never imagined an ointment could smell better than perfume — her confidence in it immediately grew.
“Aunt Tao, should I apply it for you, or will you do it yourself?” Qin Lang asked innocently.
