Chapter 1400: NO．16：Ailisuzhi is always sharp

NO．16：Ailisuzhi is always sharp.

Even three days ago, Aomo Lindun was still chatting with Yabulu and several officials of Boundary Gate District at the dinner table, and he had already heard the other party casually mention a few topics about horse racing.

He rather admired his own appearance, evidently intending to give himself some publicity; for him at that time, such things were already nothing surprising, because in the previous two‑odd months he had already experienced too much.

Some things ought to be accepted, while others need to be politely refused.

Sudden goodwill always comes with a price—either paid off unintentionally in the past, or repaid with interest in the future. Fortunately, for those who spend a lifetime unable to learn and are harmed by the skill of "refusing without making people feel awkward," Aomo Lindun has long studied it.

Its essence lies in tolerance, in retreating to advance, and in not clinging to the expectation of full repayment.

Only by acknowledging one's imperfection can one better pursue perfection; this choice fits the limits of carbon‑based life far better than trying to block everything with a perfect defense.

If a heavenly net always has a gap, one naturally hopes that gap is of one's own choosing.

However, this applies to all conversations, turning every talk into a basis for strategic contest; in private chats with friends and family, one naturally needs to lower its weight, even discard it entirely.

Like Xizaki Feng, who on one hand strives to keep a trainer's attitude as formulaic and duty‑bound as possible, while on the other hand must show relative kindness, goodwill and professionalism to lower the parents' resistance— in this regard a trainer is no different from a teacher.

When meeting students' parents, one should neither be too casual nor too cold.

Student parents can point out complaints, even request a class transfer for the student; likewise, horse‑girl parents can also demand interference in the two‑person three‑leg contract.

Of course, the parties' opinions matter just as much; this usually makes both sides unlikely to succeed, but the hassle is naturally something to avoid if possible.

Xizaki Feng is a high‑quality friend and a responsible senior; although I don't know what he's doing right now, whenever Aomo mentions staying at a horse‑girl's home, his word count spikes like a Zerg brute.

At least there are sections; otherwise the visual pressure would be excessive.

When a friend suddenly sends you a long string of undivided characters, regardless of their gender, it brings a dense panic.

Trainer Wangzi has probably done his homework on this; even this wall of text still sets up comfortable, readable sections.

Although somewhat overblown, it also conveys a sense of seeing true feelings in hardship, letting him bid thanks repeatedly before returning to reality—

Reality stands before the parents of Aimu Zhiji.

He wasn't just brushing off Xizaki Feng's message with a bathroom excuse; instead, he was using Jierbalisi's data to multitask, privately chatting while chatting with the horse‑girl parents.

He handles this with ease, since whether he's typing via brainwaves, multitasking, or contacting horse‑girl parents, it's not his first time.

Even during last year's summer vacation, Bopan's parents often video‑chatted with him, and inevitably had several online contacts with Chazuo's parents; moreover, Zhouri Ningjing seemed to interfere, apparently trying to scare her own parents.

That scene of filial uproar once made Aomo wonder if she had any conflict with her family, but Miss SS, being a hedgehog, cannot tolerate even the slightest probing—any hint makes her bristle and lash out, ultimately succeeding in letting him temporarily set aside his curiosity.

Naturally, only temporary.

Perhaps someday, not just during screen‑calls, a certain perpetually tense black cat guarding a secret will explode and charge out, for Aomo's ever‑watchful eyes will always catch the slightest sign.

Just as he now gazes at this gentle, kind couple before him, one can see from their faces and eye corners that they often smile, yet also frequently frown; they live earnestly but are often disturbed by unexpected mishaps.

Taking into account the existence of little sister Sang, and seeing the younger brother of the Aimu Zhiji household being played with by Karen in applause, this couple have likely already experienced life's greatest joys and sorrows, wishing only that thereafter everything go smoothly.

Faced with such a household, what appearance should one present? He actually has no such problem; mentioning it merely sparks, in the classic brain‑running‑a‑train, curiosity about the senior's deeds.

He spoke gently and softly about Aimu Zhiji's school performance—picking out the obedient remarks, while the ever‑present 'Make me train the horse‑girl!' meme needs no elaboration; occasional training conflicts are worth mentioning, letting Aizhi naturally join the complaint dialogue while emphasizing the trainer's duties.

Just as a homeroom teacher, during a formal home visit, though not directly dismantling the student's desk, will also mention minor indirect conflicts the student has been involved in.

This essentially is a rap that stresses distance and hierarchy, used to put the brakes on when the warm, kind family shows too much closeness.

Although everyone wishes for a teacher as close as an elder, in truth a successful educator should not be too near to students and their families.

From afar it's indistinct; up close it's equally indistinct.

It will become a flaw in one's career and does nothing to help students become self‑reliant.

You may temporarily step in to solve their life problems, but you must also plan to keep distance afterward—unless you intend to continue caring for them as before.

That exactly proves the person is special to you, for you lack the energy to treat every student this way—unless your private life is extremely deprived, leaving you ample leisure to attend to them beyond the norm.

The demon that constantly rises and falls in life's busyness knows this well; sadly, the trainer's bond with the horse‑girl is far tighter than an ordinary teacher‑student relationship, especially for a trainer who tries to maintain the horse‑girl's spirit.

Thus his rap comes across as especially tactful—far from chilling the conversation, it merely shifts the topic's atmosphere a little away from the casual 'friendly neighbour kid dropping by' vibe and back toward the initial meeting's grateful tone.

Naturally, that restraint was mutual, after all Aizhi suddenly seemed three years younger, her middle‑school look made her elementary‑school younger brother laugh happily, and it left the two parents dazed.

There was no shortage of explanations and guarantees, and it still took considerable time to adjust, so that they no longer regarded Aomo and Suzi with strange looks.

But looking at things now, a sudden brake‑appears again.

"Brother, you're too awful—you should also talk about how Ayabe‑chan looks on the field, Uncle and Aunt must be curious too? And brother, you decided to help Ayabe‑chan for what reason~"

That's right.

In this home visit, you mustn't forget that there's still a problem child you taught present.

Regarding "Umastar", its past has always been buried; Aizhi obviously never told her family when she first met the trainer, but this mischievous little sister directly sparked curiosity in several people with a single remark, and even the thick‑skirted Ailisuzhi who came along raised an eyebrow.

As for Umastar's past, she can't say she knows nothing, yet she also doesn't know the details; gossip spreads easily, and it first made Aizhi cough twice.

"What's there to talk about? I've watched the recordings over and over."

"This guy is just a meddling do‑good‑er with no other motive."

"Zhiji! How can you speak to the trainer like that!"

Out of breath?

Catching Aizhi's furtive glance at Zhenjiling, I had thought these two roommates big and small intended to cooperate from the start, or perhaps Aomo was giving Zhenjiling a chance to grapple; seeing this, I almost sighed.

Such behavior—selling out teammates to create opportunities for oneself—is not what a good kid should do; where did you learn it?

Surely not you, right?

But if it were you, you shouldn't act so immature; after that remark you let Aizhi start explaining and arguing, saying the probe was rash, saying the action cared more about head than rear—how could that be?

"Hey, you say something too!"

Faced with the family's reproach, Aizhi, who found it hard to resist, ran over to whisper to him; this unintended display of intimacy made the parents and younger brother widen their eyes, caused Aomo to subtly shift his head, and made Ailisuzhi want to speak but hold back, almost lunging to uncover the guinea pig.

She ended up holding back; in front of other people's parents and the younger brother, she couldn't act willfully as at school, or the guinea pig would be hard to manage.

After holding back, she immediately turned her gaze to the ever‑smiling gray‑haired little girl.

She felt something was off, and it was also clearly obvious where the problem was.