Xia Yingluo's face burned crimson as she finished reading the rules.
Li Sitong, on the other hand, looked purely curious.
"Yingluo, why aren't you reading it out loud?"
Xia Yingluo opened her mouth. "I… I…"
Ye Chen watched her with a smile.
"Student Xia, class is serious business—read it aloud."
Xia Yingluo stared at him. "Serious? Did you write these classroom rules seriously?"
She bit her lip and finally began to read.
"Teacher Ye's Classroom Conduct Code."
"Rule One: You must listen carefully to Teacher Ye. If you're caught slacking, the punishment is a kiss."
Li Sitong froze for a second.
"Hold on—what did you just say? A kiss?"
Ye Chen answered solemnly, "Of course. If you don't pay attention, how will you learn or improve?"
Li Sitong was speechless. "That's not what I meant. A kiss as punishment—are you serious?"
Ye Chen nodded. "Dead serious. And I'll deliver it seriously too."
Li Sitong: "…"
Xia Yingluo: "…"
"Rule Two: If you answer a question incorrectly, first offense is a warning—take it back and call me 'hubby.' Second offense earns a spanking…"
Both girls' cheeks flamed scarlet.
Calling him hubby—and a spanking? Too mortifying.
Ye Chen said earnestly, "Punishments must be harsh to serve as deterrents!"
"This is devil-mode tutoring. If you can't handle it, you're free to quit."
Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo exchanged glances.
Then they clenched their teeth.
Li Sitong tried one last protest.
"You're obviously bullying us—this is way over the line."
Ye Chen replied, "Over the line? It's all so you can study better."
"Think about it—without strict rules, would you ever focus? These look harsh, but they keep you on track and lock knowledge in."
The two girls pondered.
What Ye Chen said actually made sense.
Every punishment would indeed stick in their memories.
Maybe Ye Chen really did design this to boost their grades—and to stay close to them.
Seeing the girls gradually convinced, Ye Chen's lips curved in a victorious smile.
Both girls were exceptionally bright.
But there's a saying: a girl in love is hopelessly silly… "Since neither of you objects, you've agreed. Let's begin." Ye Chen clapped once.
He pulled out a test paper and started the lesson.
As they listened, Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo pictured themselves calling him hubby and bending over the desk for Ye Chen's ruler… Their faces exploded in red.
"Student Li Sitong, which question was I just explaining?"
"I… I…"
Li Sitong was dumbstruck; her mind had been wandering among the punishments instead of the lecture.
She shot Xia Yingluo a pleading look for help.
Xia Yingluo gave a wry smile.
She hadn't been listening either—her thoughts mirrored Li Sitong's.
Ye Chen rose. "No rules, no order. A mistake demands punishment."
"Ahh!"
Both girls panicked.
"We really have to kiss you?" Xia Yingluo whispered, mortified.
Ye Chen nodded. "Own your mistakes. Who's first?"
The girls' faces were crimson.
Li Sitong suddenly stood. "Teacher Ye, I protest!"
"Protest?" Ye Chen frowned.
Li Sitong declared, "We both like you, so we each want your first kiss. Whoever goes first, the other will be upset."
Xia Yingluo nodded. "That's how I feel too, Teacher."
In seconds the girls had formed an alliance against Ye Chen.
To dodge the kiss, they'd openly admitted their feelings.
Seeing their triumphant little smiles, Ye Chen narrowed his eyes. "Fine, but there's still the rule: fail to answer, call me hubby. You can't wriggle out of that."
"That—!"
Pink tinged their cheeks again.
Ye Chen grinned. "Say it."
Li Sitong bit her lip and murmured, "Hubby!"
Blushing furiously, Xia Yingluo added in a voice like a mosquito, "Hubby…"
Outside the door, Mother Ye, holding a fruit plate, had just reached for the handle.
She froze at the sound of two girls calling her son hubby.
Her hand jerked, then she spun and hurried toward the living room.
"Old Ye, something's wrong—guess what I just heard?"
Father Ye stayed calm. "Stop overreacting. The three of them must be studying; they can't possibly be dating in that tiny room."
Mother Ye forced a laugh. "Your son is capable of anything. I just heard both girls call Xiaochen hubby together."
"What?!"
Father Ye spat out his mouthful of water. "That little rascal's already outdoing his old man."
Mother Ye asked, "What do we do? Should we guide them? Two wives aren't allowed under national law."
Father Ye waved it off. "Stay calm. They're probably just joking."
Mother Ye sighed. "Kids these days—unbelievable!"
…Back in the study, Ye Chen resumed the lesson.
"This next problem's tricky—listen carefully."
After walking them through it he asked, "Got it?"
Both girls nodded.
Ye Chen continued, "Then try this variation to test your understanding."
He scribbled a new question and set the paper before them.
Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo stared—stunned.
This didn't look like the example he'd just taught.
Ye Chen smirked at their bewilderment. "Stuck?"
Li Sitong protested, "Ye Chen, this is completely different from what you explained."
Xia Yingluo chimed in, "Yeah, you're obviously setting us up."
Ye Chen's smile widened. "If it's the same, do you accept the penalty?"
Both girls clutched their lower bodies, faces scarlet.
They'd already slipped once; the next punishment was a spanking… Li Sitong gritted her teeth. "Fine! This is definitely not the same problem."
Xia Yingluo nodded firmly.
Ye Chen chuckled and swiftly wrote out the solution.
Watching his steps, Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo were dumbfounded.
It was the exact same problem—only solved in reverse.
Ye Chen picked up the ruler and taunted, "Any last words?"
"Um—"
"Can we skip it?" Xia Yingluo begged pitifully.
Ye Chen's grin turned wicked. "Not a chance."
"Change the spot?" Li Sitong bit her lip, trying to bargain.
Ye Chen shook his head resolutely.
Faces blazing, Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo bent over the desk side by side, their graceful figures forming perfect arcs.