Then he said it.
Soft.
Playful.
"Do you want another kiss?" 😉
For a moment, the classroom felt completely silent.
Lu's eyes narrowed.
"Excuse me?"
Ren pushed his glasses up with one finger, looking completely innocent — though the corner of his mouth betrayed him.
"I'm just asking," he said lightly. "You've been staring at my lips since you walked in."
Lu's jaw tightened instantly.
"I was not."
Ren chuckled.
"Oh?" His gaze dropped deliberately to Lu's mouth and back again. "Then maybe it's the other way around."
Lu took one slow step forward.
Now the distance between them was dangerously small.
"You talk like this to every student's guardian?" Lu asked coldly.
Ren didn't move.
Didn't step back.
If anything, the teasing in his eyes grew stronger.
"Only the interesting ones."
Lu scoffed quietly.
"You kissed a stranger in a club because of a dare," he said. "Now you're flirting with him in a classroom. Are you always this irresponsible, Teacher Ren?"
Ren hummed thoughtfully.
"Well… technically the kiss happened outside school grounds," he replied calmly. "So my professional record remains spotless."
Lu almost laughed.
Almost.
But then Ren straightened slightly and his tone softened — not serious, but a little more sincere.
"Relax, Mr. Lu," he said.
"I promise I won't corrupt your brother."
Lu folded his arms.
"You're already doing a poor job of convincing me you're trustworthy."
Ren grinned.
"Yet you're still standing here."
Before Lu could respond—
The classroom door suddenly slid open.
"Teacher Ren! I—"
Leo Ziyan froze mid-sentence.
His eyes moved between them.
His teacher.
His brother.
Standing way too close.
The silence stretched for three long seconds.
Then Leo slowly raised an eyebrow.
"…Why does it feel like I just interrupted something?"
Lu stepped back immediately.
Ren, however, looked completely unfazed.
In fact, he smiled.
"Perfect timing, Leo," Ren said smoothly. "Your brother and I were just discussing your grades."
Leo looked suspicious.
Very suspicious.
"…My grades?" he repeated slowly.
His gaze shifted to Lu again.
"…Ge."
"Yes."
"…Why are your ears red again?"
Lu closed his eyes for one second.
Ren turned away quickly—
Because he was very clearly trying not to laugh.
"Teacher Ren," Leo said slowly, dragging the words out as he stepped further into the classroom, "why does it feel like you and my brother already know each other?"
Lu opened his eyes immediately.
"We don't."
Ren spoke at the exact same time.
"We might."
The two answers overlapped.
Leo blinked.
Then he looked between them again, suspicion growing by the second.
"That wasn't confusing at all," he muttered.
Lu shot Ren a sharp look.
Ren simply adjusted his glasses again, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"Well," Ren said lightly, tapping the file on the desk, "your brother came to discuss your academic performance."
Leo groaned instantly. "Oh come on—"
"You skipped two assignments," Ren continued calmly.
Leo froze.
"…You told him that already?"
Lu's expression turned colder. "You skipped assignments?"
Leo looked betrayed. "Teacher Ren, you said we'd discuss this privately!"
Ren smiled pleasantly.
"We are."
Leo looked like he might actually faint.
Lu pinched the bridge of his nose.
For the first time in years, running a multi-billion company felt easier than standing in a classroom.
"Explain," Lu said.
Leo pointed dramatically at Ren. "He's exaggerating!"
Ren tilted his head.
"I brought evidence."
Leo gasped. "Traitor."
Lu exhaled slowly.
"Leo."
"Yes?"
"Why are your grades dropping?"
Leo opened his mouth—
Then suddenly squinted at Ren.
"…Wait."
His eyes narrowed.
"Teacher Ren… why are you smiling like that?"
Ren blinked innocently.
"Like what?"
"Like you're enjoying this."
Ren leaned back slightly against the desk, folding his arms.
"Watching siblings argue is educational."
Lu turned to him sharply. "This is not entertainment."
Ren met his gaze.
For a brief moment, that teasing spark returned to his eyes.
"Oh, I know," he said softly.
Then he added, just quietly enough that only Lu heard:
"But it's definitely interesting."
Lu felt his ears warm again.
Leo noticed instantly.
"…Ge," Leo said slowly.
Lu didn't respond.
"…Why are your ears red again?"
Ren coughed.
Very obviously hiding another laugh.
Ren coughed lightly, still clearly trying to hide his amusement.
Leo crossed his arms, glaring at both of them.
"I feel like everyone is talking except the person whose grades are actually being discussed."
Lu straightened slightly. "Then explain why your assignments are missing."
Leo scratched the back of his neck. "…I forgot."
Ren raised an eyebrow.
"You forgot… twice?"
Leo shifted awkwardly. "Okay maybe three times."
Lu's expression darkened.
Before he could say anything, Ren suddenly spoke.
"Actually," he said calmly, flipping through Leo's file, "Leo isn't struggling with the material. His test scores are good."
Leo looked relieved instantly. "See?"
Ren continued, ignoring him.
"He just lacks discipline."
Leo's relief vanished.
Lu folded his arms. "Then fix it."
Ren closed the file and tapped it lightly against the desk.
"There is a solution."
Both Lu and Leo looked at him.
Ren adjusted his glasses and said casually,
"I can tutor him after school."
Leo blinked.
"…Tutor me?"
Ren nodded. "Extra study sessions. Two or three times a week."
Leo looked horrified.
"Teacher Ren… you're volunteering to give yourself more work."
Ren shrugged lightly.
"I prefer solving problems early."
Lu studied him carefully.
"You're offering your personal time."
Ren met his gaze without hesitation.
"Well," he said smoothly, "your brother is an interesting student."
His eyes glinted slightly.
"And I'd like to make sure he stays on track."
Leo suddenly narrowed his eyes.
"…Why do I feel like I'm not the real reason for this?"
Ren smiled.
"You're overthinking."
Lu watched him silently.
Because something about Ren's expression told him—
Leo really might not be the main reason.
Leo groaned loudly.
"Great. Now I have extra school."
Ren clapped his hands once, satisfied.
"Perfect. Then it's settled."
Lu spoke again, voice calm but firm.
"You'll be paid for the extra hours."
Ren shook his head immediately.
"No need."
Lu frowned slightly.
"I don't accept free favors."
Ren's smile returned — slow and teasing.
"Oh, don't worry, Mr. Lu."
His eyes flicked toward him.
"I'm sure I'll find another way to be… compensated."
Lu felt that familiar, dangerous heat rise to his ears again.
Leo looked between them.
"…Why do I feel like I just agreed to something weird?"
Ren patted his shoulder lightly.
"Don't worry, Leo."
Then he glanced at Lu again.
"You'll benefit from this too."
Lu's gaze narrowed.
"I doubt that."
Ren smiled wider.
"We'll see."
Lu's eyes narrowed slightly.
For a second, neither of them spoke.
Then Lu said calmly,
"If you're tutoring him…"
He gestured lightly toward Leo.
"…then tutor my son as well."
The room went quiet.
Leo blinked.
"…Your son?"
Ren's eyebrows lifted in genuine surprise for the first time.
"You have a son?"
Lu didn't react to the surprise. His expression remained perfectly composed.
"Yes."
Ren tilted his head slightly, studying him.
"That's interesting," he said slowly. "Leo never mentioned that."
Leo immediately protested.
"Because I didn't know either!"
Lu ignored him.
Ren's lips curved again, a little more intrigued now.
"So you want me to tutor both of them?"
"Yes."
Ren tapped his finger lightly against the desk as if considering it.
"That would mean more time… more work… and a lot more patience."
Lu met his gaze steadily.
"You said you prefer solving problems early."
Ren chuckled softly.
"Fair point."
He straightened, adjusting the sleeves of his white shirt.
"Alright then," he said.
"I'll tutor both of them."
Leo groaned immediately.
"This is the worst day of my life."
Ren patted his shoulder.
"Think of it as character development."
Then Ren's gaze returned to Lu.
There was that teasing spark again.
"But Mr. Lu," he added calmly,
"If I'm tutoring two students from the same family…"
His eyes glinted slightly.
"…I might end up visiting your house quite often."
Lu held his gaze.
"That won't be a problem."
Ren's smile deepened.
"Good."
Because something about his tone made it sound less like a tutoring agreement—
…and more like the beginning of a very interesting arrangement.
Leo looked between them again.
"…Why do I feel like I'm the only one here who doesn't understand what's happening?"
Ren laughed quietly.
"You'll figure it out eventually."
Lu turned toward the door.
"School first. Drama later."
But as he walked out—
Ren watched him go with a small, thoughtful smile.
Because tutoring Leo might help the boy.
But spending time around Xian Lu…
That was the part Ren was actually curious about.