The day of selling one's looks.
Xiaoxiao's classes weren't easy. She's in charge of six young children who needed extra care. Because Zhang Qiao and Li Bo had little experience with children, anything that's slightly tricky ended up on her plate.
Today, as luck would have it, trouble came in droves. Although the sky was clear at noon when Xiaoxiao stepped out, the weather shifted into a dreary drizzle by afternoon.
Rain in the mountains was different from the city—it seeped into the bones. The school building is old and dilapidated, with broken roof tiles scattered around. When it rained, everyone suffered.
Fortunately, the children were well-trained. As soon as the rain started, they didn't need Xiaoxiao to tell them what to do. They swiftly grabbed bowls, basins, and lunchboxes from their desks to catch the water dripping in.
Watching them work so skillfully and sensibly made Xiaoxiao feel both proud and heartbroken. She gathered them to sit near the podium, where the roof didn't leak, and they chatted as they listened to the rain.
The rhythmic "ding-dong" of rain hitting pots and pans accompanied their conversation. Xiaoxiao took off her jacket and draped it over Wenwen, the youngest and most delicate child.
The children weren't yet familiar with her and still felt a bit shy, especially Wenwen. She nestled awkwardly into Xiaoxiao's jacket, which smelled pleasantly fresh.
At just eight years old, Wenwen often helped out with farm work at home. She lived with her grandparents, barely scraping by above the poverty line. Her small hands were sun-darkened and rough, and she worried about dirtying her teacher's jacket.
Xiaoxiao smiled warmly. "It's been a long time since I've seen such beautiful scenery."
The mountains outside were shrouded in layers of mist, creating a dreamlike landscape.
In the city, life was always a rush. At this hour, Xiaoxiao's memories were filled with scenes of subway stations and buses, always rushing somewhere.
Her words sparked curiosity in one of the older boys. "Teacher, are the children in the city really like the ones on TV?"
Xiaoxiao looked at him gently. "What does the TV say?"
She expected them to mention how city kids were pampered like little emperors, surrounded by the best things money could buy, with parents who catered to their every whim.
The boy smiled innocently, full of longing. "I saw that their parents always hold them close, never letting them walk alone. Wherever they go, their parents are right behind them, and they pick them up after school every day."
Xiaoxiao froze for a moment. Another child rubbed his arms, shivering from the cold. "Do their parents not work?"
It had been six months since he'd seen his parents, and he missed them dearly. But he understood—if they didn't work far away, he wouldn't even be able to attend school.
Parental love was a yearning that ran deep in every child's heart.
Xiaoxiao gently ruffled the boy's hair. "That's why you have to study hard. Your parents are working so that, when you grow up and leave the mountains, you can live a life with more time for family."
Some truths were too cruel to tell.
Wenwen glanced up at Xiaoxiao with a soft voice. "Teacher, can you sing us a song?"
Xiaoxiao: ...
The other children chimed in enthusiastically. "Yeah, teacher! Sing us a song! We have all kinds of teachers here, but no music teacher."
Xiaoxiao: ...
Why are they doing this? She had just managed to break the ice with them. These children rarely saw outsiders and were usually timid. It had taken days to build this rapport.
Seeing their persistence, Xiaoxiao cleared her throat and gave in. She sang "The Little Mushroom Picker":
"The little girl picking mushrooms, carrying a big bamboo basket, walking barefoot early in the morning..."
This was a song she used to sing for the young miss she once cared for, who had listened with a face full of smiles. Xiaoxiao felt that while she might not be skilled at other songs, there was a charm in singing children's songs.
She sang with full dedication, not holding back just because they were children. Her eyes wandered to the distant mountains as she sang, and for a moment, she felt as if she were about to become a little mushroom herself, hidden among the forested hills.
When the song ended, the children responded with silence.
Xiaoxiao coughed. "What's wrong? Didn't you like it?"
Their faces twisted into expressions as if they had just swallowed a mouthful of vinegar. The oldest boy cautiously asked, "Teacher, was that a remix version?"
A girl next to him added eagerly, "I think so! My aunt told me that they remix children's songs now. What's this version called?" She thought hard, then said earnestly, "The DJ Remix!"
"Yeah, yeah! So trendy!" With that, the group burst into applause. "It's great! So different from what we've heard before!"
Xiaoxiao: ...
Everyone had put her on the spot, and Xiaoxiao felt quite embarrassed. Fortunately, she had a reliable trump card. After a moment of thought, she pulled out her phone and dialed the young miss.
On the other side, Qin Yi was staring at the rain, lost in thought. After ending a call with Su Qiuyun, her heart was in turmoil. She kept thinking about Xiaoxiao, with a heartache too deep to put into words. She wanted desperately to heal Xiaoxiao's wounded heart but didn't know where to begin.
When she answered the call, the young miss took a deep breath and reined in her emotions. "Hello?"
Xiaoxiao's cheerful voice came through. "Hey, young miss! Could you sing us a song?"
She pressed a finger to her lips, gesturing for the children to keep quiet. Several little heads huddled close, their big eyes brimming with anticipation.
Lowering her voice, Xiaoxiao whispered, "It's raining here, and the kids are all gathered together. Please, just this once?"
She was genuinely worried the young lady might respond with a curt "Get lost" or "Do you want to die?"—which would certainly terrify the children.
After a moment of silence, the young more blinked slowly and asked in a calm voice, "Mu Xiaoxiao, do you know who I am?"
A shiver ran down Xiaoxiao's spine. "Yes..."
The young miss was a legendary figure in the music industry, someone whom everyone greeted with a respectful "Teacher Qin."
"And do you know how much people pay to hear me sing?"
Xiaoxiao chuckled dryly. "Ah, come on, I'll make it up to you when I get back, okay?"
She had no money, but she could compensate in other ways.
The young miss' lips curled upward involuntarily. Just hearing Xiaoxiao's voice made her happy.
She gazed at the distant overlapping mountains, imagining Xiaoxiao's expression, and softly began to hum:
"Should I lay down the heavy shell,
And search for a sky so blue?
As the breeze gently blows,
The wounds no longer ache...
Step by step, I'll climb,
Waiting for the sun to show its face..."
She sang "Snail"—a song that, while not a children's tune, perfectly fit the children's situation.
Each of them was like a little snail, small in stature but carrying heavy burdens. Yet, if they persevered and worked hard, they would eventually find a better life.
Qin Yi's angelic voice, as clear as jade, was mesmerizing even through the phone. Her slow and tender delivery resonated deeply with the children. As she sang the line, "One day, I'll have a sky of my own," tears rolled down their cheeks.
When the song ended, the children burst into applause. Their excitement was so loud that it attracted the attention of teachers from nearby classrooms.
When Teacher Zhang heard that Mu Xiaoxiao had enlisted the help of her partner to sing for the children, envy twisted her face. "Ahh! I want to hear Sister Qin sing too!"
The children from the other classes stared at the principal expectantly. They didn't know who this Sister Qin was, but they dearly wished they had a music teacher too.
The principal awkwardly rubbed his nose. "Alright, alright, everyone, go back and stay out of the rain. If the weather clears, head home early, okay?"
The school did have an old, nearly broken-down piano. The keys were so worn that playing it felt like they might fall off. It had been abandoned for ages, gathering a thick layer of dust.
The principal knew who Qin Yi was. Her identity and status were such that even regional leaders would hesitate to bother her, let alone a school principal. Some things were simply beyond his reach.
The rain continued to drizzle, and the children huddled together for warmth.
The students from Mu Xiaoxiao and Zhang Qiao's classes merged, and the two teachers picked up pencil cases, using them as makeshift clappers for a comedic skit. The children laughed and played, full of joy.
As the principal watched this heartwarming scene, someone arrived at the school. Liu Fang, holding a dark green umbrella, walked straight up to him and saluted.
The principal: ...
They moved to the office.
With little to offer, the principal poured Liu Fang a cup of tea and wiped the water off his hands. "Sorry, the place is a mess. I don't have much to offer—please have some tea."
Liu Fang sat upright, smiling slightly. "No need to trouble yourself. I'm here on someone's behalf."
Just moments earlier... After hanging up the phone, Qin Yi had spent a long time thinking. She searched online for ways to heal her lover's emotional wounds, but none of the advice seemed reliable.
- Heal what? If she's your lover, isn't it obvious? Kiss her! Hold her! Make her collapse with joy and call it a day.
- A cozy bed is the best remedy.
- Use your lips to heal her, your body to comfort her, and build a beautiful tomorrow together.
Qin Yi's frown deepened as her face flushed. She turned off her phone.
These internet users are unreliable.
Sitting quietly in her wheelchair, she allowed herself a moment of calm, reflecting on the past.
When it came to psychological treatment, the young miss could be considered half an expert. She had met almost every well-known therapist in the field, but none had truly lived up to their reputation.
What made Xiaoxiao different—what allowed her to enter her heart—was her calm attitude. No matter what the young miss said or did, even if she told her to get lost, Xiaoxiao wouldn't take it personally.
Her silent companionship, day after day...
Companionship. Such a small word, but so essential to people.
Gradually, an idea took shape in Qin Yi's mind. She summoned Liu Fang and gave her instructions.
This was Liu Fang's first time handling a task from the young miss independently, and she approached it with great seriousness. "I heard your school lacks a music teacher," she said.
"Yes, we do." The principal shifted some exam papers aside and placed a bowl under a leak from the ceiling. He wanted to say that the school lacked not only a music teacher but pretty much everything.
Hearing this, Liu Fang immediately pulled a folder from her bag and handed it over. "This is our young miss' resume. She is interested in becoming your school's music teacher."
The principal: ???
President Qin Yi's resume?!
The principal was too stunned to take the document, his eyes wide in disbelief. "This... this..."
Even if Qin Yi wanted to come, he couldn't afford to hire her. His small school had no budget for such a renowned figure.
Liu Fang smiled. "The young miss said it would be voluntary. She doesn't need a salary. However, she does have one small request."
The principal: ...
Qin Yi, asking him for a favor? His anxiety spiked. Where are his blood pressure pills?
Meanwhile, Teacher Mu was chatting with the children until her mouth went dry when the principal called her to the office.
She was quite familiar with the principal, as they worked and ate together every day, with no sense of a generation gap between them.
Relaxed, she sat down in the chair and asked with a smile, "What's up, Principal?"
The principal looked at her. "I heard from Professor Wang that you brought your partner along this time."
Mu Xiaoxiao: ...
Damn it.
What is Professor Wang planning? And what is the principal up to, looking at her like that? What are these two scheming?
Being an expert in psychology, Teacher Mu decided to act first. "Yes, my partner is here. But she's also in charge of this charity project for Shenglan and has a lot of responsibilities every day."
The principal slapped his thigh, startling Xiaoxiao. "I knew it would be hard to ask, which is why I need your help, Teacher Mu!"
Mu Xiaoxiao: ...
The principal took a sip from his tea cup. "I heard you became quite the hit today with your little 'DJ Mushroom' act in class."
Mu Xiaoxiao: ...
Rumors can be dangerous.
"If you, Teacher Mu, can do so much for the children, why not try even harder to get this opportunity for them?"
The principal's expression showed guilt. He was under a lot of pressure. This task needed to be done, even if it required "persuasion" or some coercion on his part.
Qin Yi had only been in the village for a few days, yet the village chief had already visited him multiple times. He said this could be the village's chance, unlike previous charity projects that barely made a difference. Shenglan wasn't here just for publicity—no journalists or media had been invited, and they actively kept reporters away.
Recently, Mr. Lu had been exploring the village with the chief, looking for ways to foster sustainable development. He told the chief, "Our boss Qin is committed to helping this area for the long term, so don't worry, brother."
The chief wiped the sweat from his forehead. "It won't be easy... We've had projects before that gave us hope, only to leave us with nothing in the end."
He wasn't afraid of hard work or trouble. What he feared was giving the villagers hope, only to see it crushed again.
Adjusting his glasses, Mr. Lu responded with a calm smile. "What you don't know is that in addition to Shenglan, Qin Yi owns a major entertainment company. In this era of online influence, we have countless artists at our disposal. Just one livestream or endorsement from them could bring instant attention. What we're focusing on now is sustainable development for the future."
"Recently, the young miss contacted a friend in the government, hoping to expedite a project to repair the roads here," Mr. Lu added.
The chief knew all too well how difficult poverty alleviation was. Hearing this, he was taken aback. "But what about funding...?"
He had tried multiple times to secure funding, but there were too many impoverished villages, and the available resources were limited. It wasn't a matter of unwillingness to help, there were simply too many hands stretched out for assistance.
Mr. Lu clasped his hands behind his back, glancing around. "Don't worry about the money."
Qin Yi instructed that it was better to teach a man to fish than to give him fish. The goal wasn't just to bring temporary prosperity to the village, it's essential to attract investment, not only to draw outsiders in but also to encourage the village's young people to stay and form a sustainable workforce.
Tourism was just the beginning. The local specialty, Maojian tea, had a decent yield, but due to transportation issues, buyers only made long journeys to purchase it once a year. This led to monopolies and severe price cutting.
Farmers worked hard all year round, barely managing to make ends meet.
Gradually, apart from the elderly who remained, very few young people were willing to engage in such thankless work.
The road ahead was long. Qin Yi had emphasized that there was no need to rush, progress would come in time.
Mr. Lu had initially felt conflicted, thinking such a project was thankless, but since the young miss had once done him a favor, he felt compelled to give it his all, no matter the obstacles.
Qin Yi believed that, although the journey was tough, as long as the direction was correct, speed didn't matter.
She even envisioned that years from now, she would return to this place with Xiaoxiao. By then, life in the mountains would surely not resemble the current situation. Wide highways would lead into the village, surrounded by lush tea fields, with the scent of tea carried by the wind. She could walk hand in hand with Xiaoxiao to see the children.
Having done such a big favor for the village, how could she not ask the principal for a small one?
In the end, the principal held Mu Xiaoxiao's hand and said, "Teacher Mu, the beautiful future that the children aspire to in music is all dependent on you."
Mu Xiaoxiao: ...
She truly felt overwhelmed.
As she headed back, Mu Xiaoxiao shared with Zhang Qiao what the principal had entrusted her with.
Zhang was unbothered and said, "Isn't this simple? You two are practically a couple now, what's there that you can't say? Why are you still acting so timid like before?"
Mu Xiaoxiao shot a glare at Zhang Qiao. "You know her personality, she doesn't like meeting new people."
"Come on," Zhang Qiao raised an eyebrow. "She doesn't like strangers, but she still met me for you, and also met mither Su and Qiuqiu, and even came to the mountains."
Mu Xiaoxiao: ...
Zhang Qiao patted her shoulder earnestly. "For you, that precious darling, Qin Yi would do anything."
Mu Xiaoxiao sighed, "I just don't want her to feel forced."
"That's not being forced. For a loved one, it's a willing contribution. Is there anything you do for your young miss that feels forced?"
Zhang Qiao was particularly sharp at this moment. Mu Xiaoxiao quickly shook her head. "Of course not. Everything I do for her is out of my own will."
Zhang Qiao looked into her eyes. "Then how do you know she won't want to do this for you?"
Mu Xiaoxiao: ...
So annoying.
Recently, Teacher Zhang had completely been won over by the young miss and was no longer the same person who used to be on the same wavelength as her.
Teacher Zhang had recently become obsessed with making vlogs. She told Mu Xiaoxiao that among newcomers, her popularity was quite good, at least good enough to earn money as long as people remembered her.
Aside from appearing herself, she would pixelate the faces of others or replace them with cartoon heads.
She pulled Mu Xiaoxiao over and said, "Xiaoxiao, look! There's a challenge here that involves unbuttoning your partner's clothes and seeing how many seconds she can hold out."
Mu Xiaoxiao glared at her fiercely. "Stop causing trouble for me!"
Zhang Qiao feigned innocence, "I'm not asking you to record it, I'm just adding some spice to your relationship with Sister Qin Yi. You see, you're busy all day, don't neglect her."
Mu Xiaoxiao replied, "You should focus on your own life. At your age, you should be seriously dating."
Zhang Qiao scoffed, "Just yesterday, a guy from the neighboring village came to deliver flowers and wanted to win me over."
Mu Xiaoxiao teased, "Then you better hurry up. When you get married, I'll bring three boxes of farm eggs as your dowry with the young miss."
Zhang Qiao retorted, "...Goodbye!"
Mu Xiaoxiao found her really annoying and decided not to walk with her anymore.
Finally shaking off the chatty Teacher Zhang, Mu Xiaoxiao walked for a while and spotted an old acquaintance, Xiaohua, dragging a large pile of firewood and talking to someone from a house.
The woman on the other side waved her hand, somewhat regretfully ruffled Xiaohua's hair. Xiaohua didn't say anything, she just bowed and wiped her sweat before continuing to drag the firewood to the next house.
It seemed she was trying to sell the firewood, but today's sales weren't good.
Mu Xiaoxiao watched Xiaohua thoughtfully. This child is of school age and, according to the young miss, the child is quite clever. She couldn't let her fall behind like this. In the next few days, she needed to find an opportunity to ask the village chief if there was any way to help her.
Speaking of helping others...
Mu Xiaoxiao took out her phone and checked her balance.
One thousand two hundred forty yuan...
It was truly disheartening.
Since coming here, she and Zhang Qiao had helped the school purchase quite a few things. Due to the long distance, logistics were troublesome, and the cost of manual delivery was exorbitant. They had specifically contacted a big truck from a neighboring village to transport daily necessities for the school, especially the children's books and some basic building materials. The school was in terrible shape, and if the village's strong labor force couldn't afford it, so the young teachers decided to help out.
Transporting everything was no easy task. She and Zhang Qiao had put in all their savings just to move a bit more. Teacher Zhang had tearfully said, "I've never felt that money was this important in my entire life." Now she somewhat understood why Xiaoxiao worked day and night.
But now, Mu Xiaoxiao's money is running low... With this little amount, how could they afford to hire a big shot like the young miss?
Mu Xiaoxiao sighed deeply three times, feeling a pang in her heart as she touched her face. Who would have thought there would come a day when she would have to sell her looks? Apart from her stunning beauty, Mu Xiaoxiao felt that she truly had nothing else to offer.
Liu Fang had prepared the meal in advance. It was unclear whether the young miss had lost her appetite or if something else was bothering her, but she put down her chopsticks after just a few bites and kept staring at the door.
Liu Fang knew she was waiting for Xiaoxiao, so as soon as Mu Xiaoxiao returned, Liu Fang went out to take care of tasks the young miss had assigned her.
Once she got home, Mu Xiaoxiao was particularly attentive. She first washed up, changed into a beautiful light pink nightgown that highlighted her snow-white skin, and even spritzed a bit of perfume behind her ears and on her wrists.
Qin Yi sat in her wheelchair, staring at her. She wrinkled her nose, sniffing the fragrance in the air, a slight smile appearing at the corners of her lips.
Mu Xiaoxiao was checking herself out in the mirror, having even put on some lipstick, admiring her youthful beauty.
She couldn't help but think: Wow, which family's girl is this? So lovely, with a beautiful face and a great figure—she is truly too hot.
Just as Mu Xiaoxiao finished her little moment of vanity and turned around, the young miss' expression had returned to normal. She's holding a book and looking at her quietly.
The young miss is wearing a light green long dress, the kind that flowed in the wind, with her long hair cascading down. Holding a book in her hand, she exuded an air reminiscent of ancient scholars.
Seeing the young miss so serious made Mu Xiaoxiao feel like a seductress trying to entice a fragile scholar. She imagined various scenarios, mentally hyping herself up for the moment.
This time, to ensure everything went perfectly, she even locked the door and messaged Zhang Qiao: "Stop bothering me."
Everything is ready.
Mu Xiaoxiao began her plan.
This was her first time attempting to seduce someone by flaunting her looks. She didn't quite know what it should be like. She just recalled the many moments when patients had tried to charm her over the years and looked up some relevant materials.
Mu Xiaoxiao deliberately chose not to wear the slippers she usually donned after a shower and instead slipped into a pair of the young miss' high heels.
She imagined it would go well.
It was that kind of moment, when the wind blew...
As her hair floated in the air, her sexy nightgown fluttered along with it, revealing everything that was meant to be shown. Then, with a shy and affected demeanor, she leaped into the young miss' embrace, speaking to her in a voice as if she had just stepped on a foot, and finally, with a little fist, she playfully punched the young miss presenting her ultimate request: for her to become a music teacher.
But imagination is always lush, while reality is often stark.
On that day, Mu Xiaoxiao experienced the most painful defeat of her life.
The main issue was that she was far too confident in herself, she had chosen the young miss' heels, which were nearly twenty centimeters high.
When she stepped out in those high heels, she felt like she was walking on stilts. Forget about strutting, just taking a few steps forward had her wobbling and stumbling. "Hey, hey, hey, hey—"
Mu Xiaoxiao twisted and turned, stretching out her hands to maintain her balance. "Young Miss... Young Miss!!!"
She was about to twist her ankle. Surely, the young miss would catch her, right? She could fall into her lap and act spoiled instead!
But when the young miss saw Mu Xiaoxiao staggering towards her like a zombie, she quickly turned her wheelchair and pulled back a couple of steps, afraid that Mu Xiaoxiao would crash into her.
Mu Xiaoxiao ended up falling hard, landing squarely on her rear. A sharp pain shot up her spine, and she grimaced in pain. Now, her sexy nightgown was dirty, her hair was a mess, and her carefully crafted look was completely ruined.
Rubbing her sore bottom, she looked back at the young miss with a pained expression.
The young miss was incredibly quick to react, the book in her hands had vanished, replaced by a long broom without anyone noticing.
Mu Xiaoxiao: ...