Chapter 24: The Teacher’s Wife Who Likes Children

This woman, who looks so young she could be the Old Man’s daughter, is actually his Wife!?

The Old Man looks at least forty, if not fifty, but this woman looks no different from a girl in her early twenties, full of youthful charm!

So, the Old Man married a Wife twenty years younger than himself!? Just imagine a scene where the Old Man, in his twenties, marries a child only a few years old…

That’s just too much! Too depraved! Too enviable… ahem.

My heart surged with a thousand waves, so much so that I stood there flailing my arms, my expression turning extremely odd.

“Eh, who are these little guests…?” The woman was attracted by my strange behavior and asked.

“Oh, disciples I picked up on the journey.” The Old Man replied offhandedly.

“Eh~~ really?” For some reason, the woman looked quite pleased. She narrowed her eyes and showed a smile that could make even the coldest person instinctively smile back, gazing at me.

“What’s this child’s name?”

“He’s called Xiao Qing, a silly boy who likes to act like an adult.”

What do you mean by ‘likes to act like an adult,’ and what’s ‘silly boy’…? This is called being mature, okay? Do you even know what sophistication means?

While I was silently protesting in my heart, the woman, after the Old Man introduced me, leaned in close and stared at me intently.

Because her stunningly beautiful face, carrying a faint floral fragrance, suddenly moved close to mine, I instantly became nervous and, in my panic, blurted out, “G-greetings, Mistress. Compared to the Old Man, Mistress, you’re really, really young.”

Even though I’d never called the Old Man ‘Master’ before, I called the woman ‘Mistress’ without hesitation. And since I just called him old, the Old Man looked a bit annoyed.

“Your Mistress is only three years younger than me!”

But Mistress simply touched her face with one hand and smiled, “Ah, it’s rare for a child to think I’m young, don’t spoil it.”

“Eh!?” Damn, are you serious!?

Because I was too shocked, I spoke without thinking, “But you really do look so young!!”

“My, my, this child is such a flatterer. Mistress is very happy.” The woman looked delighted, bending down a little to gently pat my head. She looked like a young girl, but her manner was mature and steady, with none of the awkwardness you’d expect.

I really wasn’t trying to flatter her, it’s just the truth…

“What a sensible boy.”

“And what lovely Sisters.” The woman turned to pat Bing Qiao and Leng Yu’s little heads, smiling.

“What a cute girl.” Then she patted Zhao Yun’s head, smiling again.

“What a beautiful… woman.” After Zhao Yun, the woman subconsciously raised her hand to continue, but suddenly realized that standing next to Zhao Yun was Yun’s Mother. Though she kept smiling, I could clearly feel that this smile was nothing like the one she gave us a moment ago.

You hesitated just now when you said “woman,” didn’t you!

“Husband.” Without turning around, the woman stared intently at the somewhat awkward Yun’s Mother, her voice sweet.

“Wh-what is it?”

“This beautiful woman is…?” The woman emphasized her tone.

“Yun’er’s mother. See, that’s the girl.” The Old Man awkwardly scratched his head and pointed at Zhao Yun. Even he didn’t believe his own words—taking in a disciple and her mother is unheard of… even if it’s the truth.

“Y-you even have a child?” The woman instantly changed her expression, collapsed to the ground, and, using her long sleeves to wipe her tears, cried out, “I can’t believe it. You were gone for a year, no news at all. Now you finally come back, and you bring home a Wife and child?”

“N-no… it’s not…” The always strict Old Man was actually flustered for once, which made me smile and secretly gloat.

Now I finally understood why the always decisive Old Man hesitated when I mentioned Yun’s Mother.

The simple Yun’s Mother couldn’t handle this kind of chaos. Her face turned red with embarrassment as she hurriedly explained, “M-madam, you misunderstood. I only followed because I was worried about Yun’er. If I’ve upset you, I’ll leave right away.”

After speaking, she turned to leave, but was stopped by the woman, who had stood up at some point.

“Don’t take it seriously, I was only joking. Don’t mind it.” The woman had completely dropped the act of crying and was once again wearing her flower-like smile.

To be honest, I already knew the woman wasn’t serious. Since she was the Old Man’s Wife, she should know his temperament—he’d never do such a thing. And she should also see that the simple Yun’s Mother would never act that way.

Mistress was kind-hearted, and couldn’t bear to let Yun’s Mother leave like that. After explaining and persuading her to stay, the matter was finally settled.

In the blink of an eye, she looked at us again, her eyes full of anticipation. As I was struck by a bad premonition, the woman suddenly jumped in front of me.

“Can I hug you? Is that okay? Mhm, it’s okay!” Before I could answer, the woman answered for me, like a child, and reached out to hug me. Before I could react, I was pulled into her floral-scented embrace and thoroughly squeezed, nearly making me suffocate. “Ahh, so cute, children are just too cute.”

After a while, she finally let go of me and turned her gaze to Leng Yu, who was staring at her in shock.

Yeah, I can understand why she’s shocked, because I feel exactly the same way—this woman is totally different from the elegant presence she showed in the flower garden just now!

Leng Yu sensed her gaze and quickly tried to hide behind her Sister, but the woman appeared behind her in a flash, hugged her, and rubbed her soft cheeks with her own fair face. “So cute, so cute, so cute! Be my daughter, okay? You will, right? Good, it’s settled!”

Even a girl like Leng Yu, who always keeps a straight face, now looked troubled and glanced at me, hoping I’d save her.

But I quietly turned my head away.

Don’t look at me, I don’t dare move.

Still, it was rare to see Leng Yu react like that—it was quite entertaining…

Seeing the woman like this, Zhao Yun was so scared she immediately hid behind Yun’s Mother, and Bing Qiao also took a few steps back, but neither could escape the woman’s clutches and both were pulled into her arms for a round of affectionate squeezing.

Bing Qiao was fine, obedient and quiet, not resisting. But the shy and bashful Zhao Yun didn’t have it so easy; she was nearly overwhelmed by the woman’s enthusiasm.

After a while, the woman reluctantly let go of the last victim, Zhao Yun, and sighed contentedly. Then, as if thinking of something, a hint of regret flashed in her beautiful eyes. “If only I had a child, then I could be your older brother or sister… and take good care of you all.”

Her voice was soft, but everyone heard it. Except for the Old Man, no one understood.

The Old Man’s body trembled, but he only turned his back, saying nothing.

“Next, shall we have a little celebration?” Suddenly, the woman’s gloom vanished, and she was once again as innocent as a child. “Since you are Husband’s disciples, you’re no different from my own children. By the way, after traveling so far, are you tired? Hungry? I’ll go cook something for you all. How about tasting Mistress’s cooking?”

The woman rambled on, then turned and headed for the house, not caring whether we answered or not.

The moment she brushed past the Old Man, though it was subtle, I clearly saw her lips move, and then… she smiled, just like when we first met, her face made even more enchanting by the flowers.

“Husband, thank you.”

For a moment, the Old Man’s face showed a smile I’d never seen before. That smile was full of tenderness and satisfaction… probably even he didn’t realize it.

“Really, still just like a child.”