371. Tutoring【21/99】
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On Saturday, Lin Nan bumped into Li Na.
Even though there was a make-up class that afternoon, Lin Nan didn’t want to give up on an opportunity to earn money, especially after having already arranged it with her parents. In today’s economy, finding a job—whether washing dishes or serving tables—is tougher than ever, with most brick-and-mortar stores teetering on the brink of closure. Even if they haven’t closed yet, they’re not exactly eager to hire unstable part-time help.
“It’s a hundred bucks an hour, for two hours a day, and you get paid weekly,” Lin Nan listened in silence as Li Na rambled on about the tutoring gig while walking through the bustling city center.
“That parent is a single male boss. If you play your cards right, you could snag him and coast for life!” Li Na continued, her tone teasing.
Lin Nan rolled her eyes. “As if! Our Chen Yao is also a restaurant owner, thank you very much!”
Though she studied and lived in this city, Lin Nan rarely ventured to the heart of it. Curiously, she gawked at the distant overpass and the clusters of skyscrapers, feeling a tad out of place in such a flashy environment.
Compared to the tech park where Wu Guodong lived, this place was obviously much more vibrant.
“That kid is a sophomore in high school. I tutored him in math and Chinese before, and he should be manageable now. We didn’t have time for English, so that’s where you come in.”
“What’s the kid like? And the parent?” Lin Nan asked, recalling some tutoring tips she’d seen online and genuinely concerned about these two questions.
Li Na thought for a moment and replied, “He’s your typical spoiled brat, but after I knocked some sense into him, he should be fine.”
“……”
“The parent isn’t home much. Just keep an eye on the kid.”
Technically, the ‘kid’ was sixteen—just two years younger than Lin Nan—so they were practically in the same age group. This realization made Lin Nan a bit anxious; she didn’t have Li Na’s knack for violence and was afraid of losing control.
Turning into a sprawling community with tight security, Lin Nan and Li Na had their temperatures checked and filled out forms. The security guard then called the family to confirm their visit before letting them in.
This community was clearly for the wealthy—lush gardens filled most of the space, and the apartments were scattered in a way that made it hard to tell east from west.
However, with property prices in the city center exceeding seventy thousand per square meter, even if the buildings were relics from the last century, they must still be worth a pretty penny.
After about ten minutes, Lin Nan, following Li Na, arrived at the student’s front door.
The door was already ajar. Peeking inside, she saw a tanned, elderly-looking man sitting in a massive living room. Next to him was a tall student, likely around 180 cm, sporting a bowl cut and clad in a school uniform.
Is this kid really sixteen? Lin Nan thought, bewildered, considering he looked older than Chen Yao!
As for the parent Li Na mentioned, Lin Nan had expected a portly guy in a suit, yet the man before her looked as lean as a regular worker.
Suddenly, the seemingly disorganized Li Na transformed into a picture of composure upon entering the house. The parent stood up with a smile, “Teacher Li! Why aren’t you tutoring anymore? If it weren’t for your help with Chinese and math, my kid wouldn’t have scored over a hundred last semester!”
“I found a new job, but I have someone to take over,” Li Na said, pulling Lin Nan forward with a cheerful grin. “This is Lin Nan, who I mentioned online. She may be a little soft-spoken, but she’s a whiz at teaching English! Last year, she turned a student’s thirty points into over ninety!”
Did I? When did I teach anyone?
Lin Nan’s eyes were wide with confusion.
“If she’s soft-spoken, my kid…” the parent looked a bit uneasy.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be there for the first class. If Lin Nan can’t handle him, well, we’ll just see how it goes.”
With Li Na’s reassurance, the parent seemed at ease, although he couldn’t help but worry as he caught a glimpse of Lin Nan’s unsure demeanor. After some small talk, his concern only deepened.
“My kid is Pan Maoxin,” he introduced Lin Nan.
Finally looking at the tall sophomore, Lin Nan noticed Pan Maoxin was engrossed in his phone, his hands shaking slightly.
Li Na approached him warmly, and Pan Maoxin quickly set his phone down, glancing up suspiciously, “What do you want? You’re not my teacher anymore.”
“Don’t bully the new teacher, or you’ll get a serious smackdown,” Li Na joked playfully.
The parent nodded enthusiastically, “Yes! Smack him around! If anything goes wrong, I’ll take the blame! Even if you have to knock him out!”
Pan Maoxin glanced up at Lin Nan, taking in her soft and cute appearance, nearly burst out laughing. He quickly said, “You guys go ahead; I’m off to learn some foreign languages with the new teacher.”
Just as he finished, Li Na kicked him playfully, leaving Lin Nan still puzzled by the interaction.
After chatting a bit, Pan Maoxin led both of them into his chaotic bedroom, which reeked of smoke. Lin Nan hesitantly stepped inside, gagging from the odor, but Li Na strolled in without missing a beat, shutting the door and leaving Lin Nan stranded outside.
Hey, I’m the teacher here!
Lin Nan stared at the closed door, contemplating entering, when suddenly a chorus of chaos erupted from inside. Completely bewildered, she turned to the parent, only to see him nodding in satisfaction.
He thought to himself, “A teacher who can take down my kid and still keep up the teaching? A hundred bucks an hour? What a steal!”
“That kid has feared nothing since he was little, except teacher Li,” the parent chuckled, sensing Lin Nan’s confusion. “A good whack is just what he needs!”
Really?
When it came to combat skills, Lin Nan wasn’t weak either, especially with her magical hand that was as elusive as a ghost—normal people wouldn’t stand a chance.
A few moments later, the room fell silent. Li Na emerged, brushing dust off her clothes, a big grin on her face. “You can start the class now. I’ll chat with his dad outside.”
“Sure,” Lin Nan nodded nervously, braving the heavy smoke as she walked into the bedroom. She saw Pan Maoxin sprawled on the bed, feigning d*ath and moaning softly.
“Is it bad he got hit?” Lin Nan turned back to Li Na.
“Nah, I’ve got the force under control. It hurts, but he’ll be fine,” Li Na assured her, closing the door behind her. “Good luck!”
Okay, then…
Lin Nan sighed and approached the bed. “Shall we start the class?”
Pan Maoxin ignored her, and as soon as he saw Li Na leaving, he dropped the act, pulled out his phone, and dove back into his game. Clearly, he only behaved when Li Na was around.
“It’s class time!” Lin Nan tried to project some authority. Frowning, she searched through the messy desk and finally found the English textbook.
Pan Maoxin glanced at her, uninterested, and turned back to his phone, diving right back into the game.
“What’s your English level? Should we start from scratch, or from the high school textbook?” Lin Nan asked, gritting her teeth at his rudeness.
But he wouldn’t budge, reclining back, propping his leg up casually, pulling out a smoke and lighter, and even asked, “Wanna smoke?”
Lin Nan couldn’t hold back anymore, recalling Li Na’s methods. With a serious expression, she stepped up and, channeling her magic, threw a punch straight at him.
