Chapter 178 -

Chapter 178: Chapter

Outside in the courtyard of Grandmaster Zhang residence , the bright morning sun had fully risen, beginning to melt the thin layer of pale snow resting atop the roof tiles and garden stones.

Bai Kang sat quietly at a small wooden desk under the covered pavilion, dipping his ink brush and carefully writing down the passages Zhengyu had assigned him. Across the courtyard, Ah Cheng and Zhengyu were standing near the stone bench.

Curious, Bai Kang paused his brush mid-stroke and looked over, only for his eyes to widen in complete shock.

Zhengyu was attempting to stand.

Ah Cheng held onto Zhengyu’s arm, supporting his weight as Zhengyu gritted his teeth, his jaw tight with pure effort. His weak, long-unused leg muscles trembled violently under the strain. For a brief, incredible breath of three seconds, Zhengyu stood upright on his own two feet.

Then, his trembling knees buckled, and he collapsed heavily back onto the wooden seat of his wheelchair.

"Dammit!" Zhengyu growled under his breath, pounding his fist against the armrest in frustration. "New Year’s Eve is in four days! How am I going to walk five steps if I can barely stand without falling?"

Ah Cheng let out a tired sigh, shaking his hands to relieve the strain in his wrists. "The Empire wasn’t built in a day, Zhengyu. The medicinal balm from last night worked on your nerves, but your muscles are still recovering. Forcing it will only tear your tendons."

Hearing their conversation, Bai Kang immediately set down his ink brush, left his seat, and hurried across the snowy courtyard toward them.

"B-Brother Zhengyu—I mean, Master!" Bai Kang stammered, staring at Zhengyu’s legs in absolute disbelief. "Are you really able to stand? Your legs... your legs are healing?"

Ah Cheng laughed softly at the boy’s bewildered face, crossing his arms over his chest. "He’s learning. His nerves are alive again. Give him a little more time and proper treatment, and he’ll be walking around just fine."

Zhengyu’s head snapped up, his sharp eyes narrowing as he glared directly at Bai Kang.

"Listen to me carefully, Bai Kang," Zhengyu warned in a low, dangerous voice, his tone dead serious. "Not a single word about this leaves your mouth. If a single rumor gets back to the main estate, I will immediately stop tutoring you and I will assign Yimei to be your tutor instead."

Bai Kang shivered, a cold sweat breaking out across the back of his neck as he pictured Yimei’s sweet yet terrifying smile.

"I-I swear! My lips are sealed!" Bai Kang blurted out instantly, raising three fingers to the sky. "I didn’t see anything! I don’t know anything!"

Zhengyu scoffed, though the corner of his lips twitched with slight satisfaction. "Good. Now get back to your desk and finish writing those twenty lines."

Zhengyu stared down at his own lap, his fingers awkwardly twisting the fabric of his dark robes. For a man who usually commanded a room with a cold gaze and sharp words, he looked completely flustered, his ears burning a bright, fierce red. He couldn’t even bring himself to look Ah Cheng in the eye.

"So..." Zhengyu began in a low, muffled voice, clearing his throat stiffly. "About... what we talked about before."

Ah Cheng, who had been organizing a tray of acupuncture needles, paused and slowly turned around. A slow, wicked grin spread across his face as he leaned against the wooden pillar of the pavilion.

"What about it?" Ah Cheng asked, practically purring with amusement. "Did you try the advice I gave you?"

Zhengyu’s jaw tightened, his face flushing even deeper. "I... I tried what you suggested. About taking control and kissing her... by force."

Ah Cheng instantly burst out laughing, clapping his hands together. "You actually tried to kiss her by force? You? The man who blushes when she just tilts her head at you?"

"Shut up!" Zhengyu snapped, glaring at the floor in pure embarrassment. "It didn’t work out properly! I wasn’t really... good at it. She just laughed at me, ran her thumb over my lip, and called me precious!"

From across the courtyard, Bai Kang paused his ink brush mid-sentence, his ears perking up as he tried desperately to pretend he wasn’t eavesdropping on his strict new tutor’s deep personal humiliation.

Zhengyu swallowed his pride, finally raising his eyes to look at Ah Cheng, his expression dead serious despite his red face. "I need better tips. Real ones, Ah Cheng. Not some grand speech. How do I actually catch her off guard? She acts like nothing gets to her."

Ah Cheng stopped laughing, wiping a tear from his eye as he pulled a wooden stool right in front of Zhengyu’s wheelchair. He leaned in, his tone dropping into practical, conspiratorial instructions.

"Alright, listen closely," Ah Cheng whispered. "Forget the whole aggressive hero act. Here are three actual tactics that will shatter her composure."

Zhengyu leaned forward slightly, listening as if analyzing battlefield intelligence.

"First," Ah Cheng said, holding up a finger, "use her physical proximity against her. When she leans in close to tease you which she always does, don’t shrink back or blush. Hold your ground, look directly at her lips, then up to her eyes, and lower your voice by one octave. Women like Yimei thrive on you reacting nervously. If you stay completely steady and change your eye focus, you instantly flip the tension onto her."

Zhengyu nodded slowly, mentally taking notes. "Direct eye contact, lower voice. What else?"

"Second, physical surprise without force," Ah Cheng held up a second finger. "When she hands you something or gets within reach, don’t grab her wrists. Gently take her hand, slip your thumb over her wrist pulse, and hold it for three seconds longer than necessary while continuing whatever mundane conversation you were having. That subtle contact will drive her crazy trying to figure out what you’re playing at."

"And third?" Zhengyu asked, his dark eyes intent.

"The takeaway," Ah Cheng smirked, leaning back slightly. "After you pull off a smooth move or say something flirty, immediately turn away and act busy with something else, read a book, adjust your robes, or talk to Bai Kang. Don’t sit there waiting for her reaction. Leave her lingering. The moment she realizes she didn’t get to control the end of the interaction, she will be the one flustered."

Zhengyu sat silently for a long moment, running each step through his head like a calculated military ambush. A faint, sharp glint appeared in his dark eyes.

"Direct focus, subtle prolonged touch, immediate indifference," Zhengyu murmured quietly to himself.

"Exactly," Ah Cheng grinned, patting Zhengyu’s shoulder. "Try those three instead of trying to pin her down, and let’s see if she still calls you ’precious’."

Zhengyu stared at Ah Cheng for a long moment, his eyes narrowing as he took in his friend’s smug, confident expression. A sudden thought crossed his mind, making his eyebrows draw together in deep suspicion.

"Wait," Zhengyu said, leaning back slightly in his wheelchair as he eyed Ah Cheng up and down. "How on earth do you know all this? You don’t even have a woman."

Ah Cheng’s smile only widened, practically beaming with pride as he crossed his arms and puffed out his chest.

"I have a lot of friends who do," Ah Cheng declared triumphantly, winking at Zhengyu. "And I read books, too! High-romance novels, poetry, you name it. Theory, my dear friend, is just as powerful as practice!"

Zhengyu let out a long, heavy sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose as his head began to ache. "I’m listening to advice from a man whose total romantic experience comes from gossip and storybooks.