Chapter Thirty-Seven: Everyone Has Their Eyes on Him!
Song Xingzhi was tidying up Zhong Xiaoxiao's homework when he was suddenly asked this question, and he paused in his work.
He looked up at Xiaoxiao with some surprise. Why was this little girl suddenly asking this?
He hesitated for a moment, and Zhang Chunxue's face, which was somewhat stubborn yet always radiated warmth, involuntarily appeared in his mind.
He smiled, his tone sincere: "Your mother... she's a very good person. She's incredibly warm-hearted, kind, and very capable."
When Xiaoxiao heard that Song Xingzhi had such a good impression of her mother, her eyes lit up instantly!
There's hope!
She quickly pressed her advantage: "Right? Right? I also think my mom is the best person in the world!"
The little girl leaned forward, lowered her voice, and said with a hint of mystery and anticipation, "Teacher Song, let me tell you, my mom is all alone now, and it's so hard for her. I actually... I really want my mom to find someone who cares about her and treats her well, so she can enjoy a better life."
Upon hearing this, Song Xingzhi immediately understood what this little girl was up to!
He felt both amused and somewhat exasperated.
This little guy, though small in stature, is quite cunning!
Looking at Zhong Xiaoxiao's serious expression, he deliberately put on a stern face and teased her, "Oh? You want to introduce your mother to me?"
He paused, raised an eyebrow, and said with a hint of mockery, "Didn't I tell you that Teacher Song already has someone she likes? Aren't you afraid that... what if I'm not good to your mother?"
When Song Xingzhi asked Zhong Xiaoxiao that question, her face turned red.
She chuckled awkwardly twice, as if someone had caught her red-handed, and scratched the back of her head somewhat embarrassedly.
"Teacher Song, you're such a kind person, you definitely wouldn't treat my mom badly!" The little girl said, her neck stiff, but her tone carried a hint of slyness.
“However…” Zhong Xiaoxiao sighed like a little adult and pouted, “Teacher Song, if you really can’t let go of that older sister who is already married, then… then there’s nothing I can do.”
But she still refused to give up: "But Teacher Song, I think my mom is really wonderful! Really!"
She leaned forward, gesturing with her little hands: "If you spend more time with my mom and get to know her better, maybe...maybe you'll realize that my mom is just as good as the person you like!"
He looked just like a peddler trying his best to promote his own treasure, as if afraid that Song Xingzhi would miss out on some great opportunity.
Song Xingzhi could barely control his expression.
Not content with that, Zhong Xiaoxiao lowered her voice and urged mysteriously, "Besides, Teacher Song, look, the person you like is already married! You've been single for so many years, you can't stay single forever, can you? People have to look forward! It's time...it's time for you to find your second spring!"
Song Xingzhi almost burst out laughing when he heard this little girl earnestly advising him to "find a second spring."
He suppressed a laugh, looking into Zhong Xiaoxiao's bright, expectant eyes, but his gaze involuntarily became somewhat distant.
He sighed softly, his tone carrying an undeniable seriousness: "Xiaoxiao, Teacher Song... I only have one spring. Where would a second spring come from?"
Zhong Xiaoxiao nodded repeatedly, like a chick pecking at rice: "Yes, yes, yes! Teacher Song, you've never been married, so you can't say it's a second spring! I used the wrong words, I used the wrong words!"
Then, her big, dark eyes lit up again, filled with unwavering anticipation as she stared intently at Song Xingzhi: "Then... then Teacher Song, could you just tell me the truth? What do you think of my mom? Should we... consider developing a relationship?"
This perseverance made Song Xingzhi both amused and moved.
He looked at the little girl's nervous yet expectant expression, smiled gently, and shook his head softly.
"Xiaoxiao, you can't ask me about this." He paused, then tossed the hot potato back to her: "You have to... ask your mother for her opinion first."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Xiaoxiao's face immediately fell, like a deflated balloon.
She shrank back sharply, playfully stuck out her tongue, and whispered in a voice barely above a whisper, "I...I wouldn't dare ask my mom. If I really dared to mention this to her, she...she'd skin me alive! That's why I wanted you, Teacher Song, to take the initiative!"
Looking at her timid yet adorable expression, Song Xingzhi couldn't help but chuckle.
He deliberately put on a stern face and teased her, "Oh? So you're not afraid that if I make the first move, your mother will come and beat me up?"
He secretly thought to himself that if Zhang Chunxue really beat him up for this, he would be laughing in his dreams.
That proves she has feelings for him and cares about him!
Even if you beat him up every day, he would still enjoy it.
Upon hearing this, Zhong Xiaoxiao shook her head vigorously, her little face full of certainty: "No way! Don't worry, Teacher Song! My mom, although she can be quite fierce sometimes, she... she seems to respect you, Teacher Song. She definitely won't hit you!"
"Respect..."
Upon hearing those two words, Song Xingzhi's smile froze for a moment. He felt as if a fine needle had gently pricked his heart, and a vague sense of loss welled up inside him.
Respect?
What he wanted was never Zhang Chunxue's cautious and distant respect!
This little girl is really...
He shook his head helplessly to himself, the romantic feelings that Xiaoxiao had just stirred up were suppressed by those two words.
Seeing that she couldn't get any accurate information from Song Xingzhi, Zhong Xiaoxiao realized that her little mission had failed halfway, and a hint of disappointment appeared on her face.
Teacher Song is indeed not easy to deal with! I heard from the villagers that he once famously rejected six matchmakers in one day.
But she also knew she couldn't bother Teacher Song anymore, since she had already asked all her questions about the lessons.
She obediently said goodbye to Song Xingzhi, picked up her slightly faded little cloth bag, and walked out of Song Xingzhi's courtyard, looking back every few steps.
Little did she know, just as she reached the alley entrance, before she could even turn onto the main road of the village, she bumped into one of the village's most notorious gossipy women.
The girls were huddled together, talking about something, when they looked up and saw Zhong Xiaoxiao coming out of the alley where Song Xingzhi's house was. Their eyes lit up instantly, like searchlights.
One of them, a chubby woman named Aunt Liu who always liked to take advantage of others, spoke first. Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone to hear: "Oh my, isn't this Xiaoxiao from Chunxue's family?"
Her small eyes darted around, her gaze sweeping over Xiaoxiao before finally settling on the alley leading to Song Xingzhi's house. Her tone was filled with a tacit understanding: "So... you just came from Secretary Song's house?"
Another tall, thin woman, Aunt Li, with prominent cheekbones, immediately chimed in. She glanced at Xiaoxiao out of the corner of her eye, curled her lips, and made a meaningful "tsk."
"At such a young age, you're already quite quick-witted."
After learning that Zhong Xiaoxiao had been commended by her superiors, these people's jealousy grew wildly, since they didn't have a daughter who was so good at studying.
"That's right!" Sister Liu slapped her thigh, her voice suddenly rising several decibels as if afraid others wouldn't hear her. "I've heard that Secretary Song's family is very well-off! His family members are high-ranking officials!"
She paused deliberately, her eyes piercing Xiaoxiao like needles: "Isn't this... that she's already going astray at such a young age, and has her eyes on Secretary Song?"
"Judging by this direction, it's probably him! Who can blame them when Secretary Song is so old and still unmarried! All sorts of people are eyeing him!"
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