Chapter 296 – Matchmaking
Luo Cong’an will officially embark on the path of cultivation in seven years.
This was the system’s answer.
For the next period of time, apart from acquiring a white-haired loli at home, Chen An’s life didn’t change much. He would sometimes go to the private school to attend classes, and when he returned, he would bring some food for Luo Cong’an.
It might be the new pastries from the cake shop or candied hawthorns sold by street vendors.
The variety was random, the taste was random, purely depending on what he encountered on the road that day.
However, Luo Cong’an was not picky and always accepted whatever was offered.
In these past few days, Luo Cong’an’s emotions had gradually improved. Apart from refusing to leave Chen An’s side, she finally began to behave like a girl her age. She no longer called him “Master” all the time, nor did she try to kneel and apologize at the slightest provocation.
Even though many things were insignificant in Chen An’s eyes.
For example, if she accidentally scratched the new jacket Chen An bought her, Luo Cong’an would hide and be sad for a long time. If Chen An hadn’t stopped her in time, she would have cried to apologize again.
“Cong’an, did you remember the characters I taught you yesterday?”
In the hall of the old courtyard, Chen An lay on the bamboo chair as usual, covered with a thick blanket, and asked casually.
After this period of recuperation, Luo Cong’an’s complexion and skin were much better than when they first met.
Her small face visibly gained a little baby fat, and her skin had a faint rosy blush, making her look very lovely.
When life returned to normal, learning naturally followed.
No child could escape this.
Chen An began to slowly teach her to recognize characters and read books, and occasionally told her little stories about Blue Star as an after-class pastime.
Hearing his question, the little girl, who had been sitting on the doorstep staring blankly at her teacher, immediately put on a long face.
She whispered, “I… I remember.”
Her voice lacked confidence.
“You really remember?”
Chen An glanced at her.
Luo Cong’an immediately surrendered and admitted defeat. She carefully moved her feet to the bamboo chair, lowered her head with some self-blame.
“I’m sorry, teacher.”
Luo Cong’an hated herself for being so stupid. The teacher was teaching her diligently, but she could understand it at a glance and forget it as soon as she wrote it.
When the characters were in order, she could pronounce them, but when Chen An mixed them up, she was stumped.
How to write them, which one was which, she could only stare blankly, mumbling for a long time without being able to utter a word.
She wouldn’t be punished for not completing the teacher’s task, would she?
She couldn’t help but overthink. She remembered that when she was at her uncle’s house before, Luo Hua had also hired a teacher for his son, Luo Hao.
Although that teacher was unwilling to teach her, and everyone disliked her and did not allow her to go near the study room that served as a classroom.
But sometimes, when Luo Cong’an passed by the study room, she could occasionally hear the sound of reading from inside.
She remembered that once Luo Hao did not complete the homework assigned by the teacher, the teacher flew into a rage and spanked Luo Hao several times.
The little boy cried and wailed.
So now Luo Cong’an couldn’t help but wonder if she would also be spanked? Or some other punishment.
But the expected scolding did not come.
Chen An took Luo Cong’an’s little hand and gently kneaded it.
Then he nodded with satisfaction, “It seems this new jacket is indeed useful. Your hands are not as cold as before.”
When this was mentioned, Luo Cong’an’s eyes immediately turned red. She looked at the corner of the jacket with heartache.
There was a tiny tear in the fabric, so small that if you didn’t look closely, you wouldn’t notice it.
She rubbed her eyes, her expression dejected.
“Teacher, I’m useless.”
Chen An chuckled. He used his usual trick of stroking the girl’s hair. The texture was not as rough as the first time, but had a slightly silky feel.
“Why do you say you are useless? And you are already very good and hardworking.”
Luo Cong’an pursed her lips, tears welling up in her eyes.
“But you have taught me those characters so many times, and I still can’t remember them all…”
“It’s okay, then let’s do it again.”
Chen An smiled, showing no impatience on his face.
He said softly, “This is nothing. If one time doesn’t work, then two times. If two times don’t work, then three times.”
“Learning is a repetitive process.”
Hearing this, the little girl squirmed, and finally threw herself into the man’s embrace.
Her head rested on Chen An’s chest, and her voice was muffled.
“Teacher, why are you so good to me.”
This question stumped Chen An. He looked outside the door and thought for a long time before speaking slowly.
“In this world, there aren’t so many ‘why’.”
He suddenly came to his senses and cursed with a smile.
“Go to the study and get the textbook. You almost got away with it. I haven’t taught you today’s lesson yet.”
Luo Cong’an retorted in a small voice.
“No way…”
But she still obediently ran to the study to get the textbook.
However, when she returned with the textbook, she couldn’t find the teacher in the hall.
Luo Cong’an’s heart tightened. She quickly poked her head out the door. Fortunately, at the entrance of the small courtyard, she saw that familiar figure.
Beside the teacher stood a man wearing a black cloak and a snow hat.
The girl breathed a sigh of relief, and then became curious.
In these days, she rarely saw the teacher interact with others. Most of the time, they would only exchange a few greetings when they met on the street.
So, who was this man who came to visit?
Luo Cong’an was very curious, but she didn’t rush out to cause trouble.
Although, given how doting the teacher was on her now, even if she ran over to act spoiled and make a fuss, the teacher would probably not blame her.
But Luo Cong’an didn’t want to do that.
The teacher’s indulgence did not mean she could be truly unrestrained.
She didn’t have to wait long. A few minutes later, she saw Chen An and the man bow to each other and return to the courtyard.
He saw the girl hiding behind the hall door and smiled, “What’s wrong?”
Luo Cong’an walked up to him without a word, then hugged him. She extended a finger and pointed at the main gate.
Chen An understood and said, “His name is Li Ye, and he was my classmate.”
Luo Cong’an hummed and continued to look at him expectantly.
Seeing this, Chen An chuckled and said, “You can ask directly. You don’t need to be so indirect when interacting with me.”
The girl put her finger to her lips, a flicker of dilemma crossing her face, and finally shook her head.
The reason was that for her now, her teacher was the only one in her world.
Therefore, she couldn’t help but want to understand everything related to her teacher.
But Luo Cong’an now thought that it was not good for her to ask so many questions.
But Chen An had already spoken first, “It’s a bit funny. He’s here to arrange a marriage for me.”
*Clatter.*
The sound of the textbook falling to the ground.
(End of this chapter)
