"It's none of your business."

Koda Kaoru looked up, neither sad nor angry; instead, she smiled.

"Why are you standing there? Didn't you come here for a drink? Sit down, I'll drink with you."

Jiang Chen pursed his lips, held onto the table and sat down, "Don't overthink it, let's communicate properly after both parties have calmed down."

"It seems like I'm the teacher here."

Koda Kaoru picked up half a cup, raised her elegant neck, and drank it down.

Jiang Chen could only take a sip.

The remote control had been smashed, scattered on the floor, even the batteries fell out. Watching a romance film in such a mood certainly wasn't suitable, but there was no way to switch channels.

"Teacher Xiang Tian, it's getting late..."

Boss Jiang wanted to leave.

After all, this kind of atmosphere wasn't suitable for further interruptions.

"It's not even midnight yet, are you in such a hurry to leave, is someone waiting for you?"

If not for the special situation tonight, Koda Kaoru might still be at work now.

"No..."

The Taoist nun sister had probably already fallen asleep, Jiang Chen was contemplating an excuse.

"Stay with me for a while."

Koda Kaoru whispered, picking up the bottle and pouring herself a drink.

The roles had reversed.

Such a small request; not just Jiang Chen, but any man would likely find it hard to refuse. Jiang Chen could only temporarily suppress the urge to leave and advised, "Drink a little less, getting drunk won't solve any problems."

"It won't solve them, but alcohol can make people sober."

Alcohol makes you sober?

What kind of logic is this?

"He's eight years older than me."

Eight years.

Not an overly dramatic difference.

Many women like older men; perhaps older people can provide a stronger sense of security.

"How did Teacher Xiang Tian and he meet?"

Jiang Chen could only keep the conversation going. If it were before, he might have joked if he was also a client; but now, such words wouldn't be humorous but rather spiteful.

"How we met... I forgot, but it was a very ordinary encounter, nothing like the movies."

"Movies are movies, life is life."

Koda Kaoru laughed, nodded and said, "I know life is life, so I never hope for anything too grandiose; simplicity is a kind of beauty."

Jiang Chen's eyes moved slightly, looking at that flower-like face.

A woman like Koda Kaoru actually had this kind of clarity?

"Though I've never met him, if he's someone Teacher Xiang Tian is interested in, he must be an outstanding person."

"That's what I thought at first. But people always change."

Jiang Chen's lips moved, ready to speak, but then Koda Kaoru said, "I'm not feeling sorry for myself, I'm feeling sorry for him, someone who was clearly so good, but has now become this: irritable, impatient..."

"Did he hit you?"

Jiang Chen frowned.

Arguments and quarrels are normal among couples, but getting physical crosses the line.

Koda Kaoru shook her head, "Hitting someone is a crime."

If not for Boss Jiang's strong self-control, he might have really lost it.

He worked hard to suppress his emotions and asked calmly, "A person can't change so drastically without reason, right?"

"It's all because of gambling. He got hooked on gambling, started owing huge gambling debts outside, and changed completely because of it."

No wonder.

Gambling and drugs, no matter which country, are social cancers.

"I've persuaded him many times, every time he promised to change, but ultimately broke those promises. Even if we owe a lot, if we work hard together, there would eventually be a day when it's all paid off, but he just wants to win it back, and the debts only get bigger."

"Did he come to you for money tonight?"

Jiang Chen picked up on the implication.

Koda Kaoru said nothing, lifted her elegant wrist again, and drank.

"Teacher Xiang Tian works at a bubble bath salon, could it be just to help him pay off his gambling debts?"

"It has nothing to do with anyone, it's my own choice."

Though Koda Kaoru decisively denied it, the answer was evident.

Although she doesn't have the tear-jerking backstory of some technicians, her background story is equally moving.

"Teacher Xiang Tian, from an outsider's perspective, there might be something I need to tell you."

Boss Jiang said, "People with a gambling addiction are almost incurable, just like drug addicts."

It's true that one should advise reconciliation rather than separation, but it depends on the situation.

Even if it's an acquaintance or a stranger, one wouldn't advise them to get tangled with a gambling addict.

This is a haunted house.

You'd get bad karma.

"I've thought it through now, so I just suggested breaking up."

Fortunately, she wasn't completely naive.

"He's certainly not going to give up easily. Teacher Xiang Tian can take a break, go out for a bit."

Koda Kaoru's eyes flickered, and she gazed at the man across from her with whom she shared a wonderful fate.

Logically speaking.

We probably shouldn't have the chance to meet again in this life.

"Shouldn't you be laughing at me?"

"You're my teacher."

Jiang Chen replied simply, not with sweet words, but calmly and sincerely.

In this kind of situation, what might be needed is not grandiose words, but ordinary language, which often touches the heart more.

"Didn't expect anyone to care about me."

Koda Kaoru laughed self-mockingly.

"It was just a wrong choice for the moment. Teacher Xiang Tian is still young; it's not too late to correct it."

The previous tension dissipated.

Koda Kaoru picked up the glass, "Thank you for your kind words."

"Clink."

The glasses collided, making a crisp sound.

Then the two chatted about movies, literature, ideals... The haunted house ceased to be haunted, instead filled with laughter.

Koda Kaoru's alcohol tolerance was as good as always, unaffected by her emotions, staying sober even when Jiang Chen again offered his farewell.

Unconsciously, it was almost two in the morning.

Time to leave for real.

As he was about to leave, Jiang Chen wanted to help tidy up the table.

"Enough with the fake courtesy."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen didn't insist.

"I'll see you off."

Koda Kaoru supported herself against the table as she stood up. Despite being clear-headed, the alcohol had made an impression, and when she got up, her full chest pressed against and bounced off the table edge.

Boss Jiang had four empty sights and a mind as calm as water.

Koda Kaoru followed half a step behind, seeing him off at the door.

Just as Jiang Chen was about to open the door, suddenly, a sensation of collision hit from behind, accompanied by a warm body temperature.

Immediately,

His waist was hugged.

"One minute, just a minute."

Koda Kaoru rested her head on his back and murmured softly.

"..."

Boss Jiang stood still, neither moving nor leaving.

Can't blame him.

If it were any other man, they would definitely struggle with the decision right now.

Koda Kaoru's jade-like arms clutched so tightly that Jiang Chen's waist even felt the constriction.

Indeed.

No matter how strong a woman is, there are always moments of vulnerability.

Shouldn't be taking advantage of the situation, right?

Boss Jiang's moral integrity was beyond doubt; even though he had every opportunity to take advantage, he stood like a sculpture, motionless.

In an age where a bedroll means nothing, this level of contact really isn't much—especially considering they had both just emerged from the bubble bath salon.

But this embrace felt vastly different on a spiritual level.

She said a minute, but it was surely more than that.

Exactly how long is unclear, since no one was timing, but it was until Jiang Chen moved a bit, that Koda Kaoru released her hold.

"Thank you."

The warmth dissipated.

"I'm leaving now."

Jiang Chen pushed the door.

"Wait a moment."

Koda Kaoru stepped forward, came in front of Jiang Chen from behind, not meeting his gaze, she tidied his clothes like a wife sending her husband off.

"All done."

Koda Kaoru looked up; the smile on her face was no longer enchanting but rather unique in its purity.

"Goodbye, Mr. Jiang Chen."

The long-lost address.

Jiang Chen said nothing, took off his slippers.

Who knew Koda Kaoru would immediately squat and help him change his shoes,

Tonight, he spent a million yen, yet didn't enjoy such service.

Money's power, sometimes enemies some strengths.

Koda Kaoru crouched down to help put his shoes on, Jiang Chen remained silent.

Perhaps in Dongying's familial concepts, such behavior is common, but Jiang Chen truly experienced it for the first time.

Koda Kaoru stood up.

"Good night."

Didn't mention staying the night; after all, it's late, and there are several rooms, Jiang Chen opened the door to leave, brushed past Koda Kaoru.

"Creak..."

He opened the front metal door, glanced back.

Only to see Koda Kaoru still standing there, smiling.

Jiang Chen withdrew his gaze, stepped through the metal door.

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