Chapter 2059: How to Tame the Rebellious Boy 08

The low pressure continued all the way to Guan Yun Yuan.

After entering the courtyard gate, Ji Lai zhi eagerly pulled his hand away, standing three chi from Jin Chen, he lowered his head and rubbed his reddened ear roots, then glared over, fierce and stern.

"When are you leaving? Remember to restore the young master's Guan Yun Yuan to its original state, and take all that messy stuff with you!"

Jin Chen sat down at the stone table under the weeping crabapple tree, hearing this he furrowed his brows, "When did I ever say I would leave?"

"You sneaked out to play, and you still dare to turn the tables?"

A string suddenly tightened in Ji Lai zhi's mind, and he muttered to himself, "Today you saw Ji Yuan Shan, heard what he said, you're definitely going to leave."

Jin Chen looked at him, let out a soft sigh, and tapped his fingers on the stone table.

"Come over and sit."

"..."

Ji Lai zhi hesitated, moved his feet, and sat beside Jin Chen.

"Ji Yuan Shan said some beastly talk."

Jin Chen said softly, "But I said from the first day that disciplining you is my responsibility; others' words don't count—where did you hear this?"

Ji Lai zhi understood the meaning of those words, his eyes brightened, emitting an amber glow.

"You… you're not leaving? … What I mean is, you can still leave now, otherwise…"

He spoke somewhat haltingly, not wanting to be too obvious, finally clenching his fists with a ferocious expression, "Otherwise, if you ever try to leave later, I will definitely kill you!"

Thud!

In response, Jin Chen gave his forehead a sharp knock.

Jin Chen: "Impudent."

Ji Lai zhi, however, was not angry; he leaned in, closely watching Jin Chen's brows and eyes, confirming there was truly no trace of rejection or fear, then sat up straight and rubbed his forehead.

"Can you relax now?" Jin Chen asked.

Ji Lai zhi averted his gaze, his eyes clear, "... Mm."

"Alright, let's settle today's accounts." Jin Chen said, his tone again deep with meaning.

Ji Lai zhi: "..."

Ji Lai zhi: "!!!!"

His eyes kept searching under the stone table, afraid there might be another ruler or hemp rope down there.

But Jin Chen raised his hand and only touched the top of his head.

Ji Lai zhi startled for a moment, then lifted his eyes to meet his.

He wondered, "You're not going to hit me?"

Actually, what Ji Lai zhi really wanted to ask was, "You don't care about me?"

But as the Young Master, he couldn't bring himself to say such soft words.

Jin Chen's hand brushed his dirty cheek, his tone also indulgent, "You've been wronged today; aside from skipping class, you haven't done anything wrong—at most… you were just a bit impulsive."

"I never said I'd use force to discipline you, yet you're rushing to be punished?"

Ji Lai zhi made an acknowledging sound, nodded uncomfortably, "No way, who let you always do that?"

He urgently wanted to do something to distract himself, he bit into the green fruit on the plate, so sour he squinted his eyes, saliva uncontrollably secreting.

Sour!!!!

Who put this here?! Is this even edible?!

"Spit it out."

Ji Lai zhi's tears were practically squeezed out by the sourness; hearing Jin Chen's command-like tone, he instinctively obeyed.

After spitting it out, it took a moment before he could open his eyes; Ji Lai zhi licked the corner of his lips, his gaze moving from the palm where Jin Chen had caught it with a handkerchief up to his face full of helplessness.

"You're quick-mouthed." Jin Chen folded the handkerchief and tossed it back into the basket, pinching Ji Lai zhi's cheek flesh, "This is what I had Da Hui pick this morning for you to use in training."

Ji Lai zhi suddenly burst out laughing, showing a little half of a tiger tooth through his mouth, for no reason—he was just genuinely happy from the bottom of his heart.

Jin Chen really had no intention of leaving; before going to see Ji Yuan Shan in the morning, he had also prepared training materials for him.

Afternoon.

"Jin Chen!!! You bastard!!"

Ji Lai zhi basked in the sun, holding his right leg up over his head to touch his ear, while the left foot controlling balance only stepped on a single green fruit, toes pointed straight.

Jin Chen took the ruler and lightly tapped Ji Lai zhi's back, "Keep your back straight."

"What's the use of practicing this?! I'm not a little kid anymore!"

Not even allowed to use inner strength—pure torture!

Ji Lai zhi glared at Jin Chen, his face full of "you're unreasonable," gritting his teeth in anger at him.

"It's precisely because your foundation wasn't solid when you were little that you need to practice control."

Jin Chen said, pointing the ruler at several force points on Ji Lai zhi's upright body, "From now on, you must stand for half a shichen each day, continuing until your legs no longer sway."

Hearing the explanation, Ji Lai zhi's sweat-soaked eyelashes twitched; in a daze, he recalled the scene of practicing martial arts as a child.

He had talent, so the master taught him little, only pressing Ji Si Yao to practice morning and evening each day, at most offering two pointers when he made serious mistakes.

Back then, the young Ji Lai zhi was coaxed and praised openly, also thinking he was probably so talented that even the master couldn't teach him anything.

But people always have their own thoughts.

Even without a year, just a few months he realized something was wrong—from basic fundamentals to the entry of the Qing Yun Sword Method, everything was off.

If Ji Si Yao learned the proper basics, Ji Lai zhi was like someone who crashed into a detour, splitting his head open and bleeding, then worked out his own twisted theory, yet still managed to stumble into the gate.

Finally, half a shichen passed.

Jin Chen waited for Ji Lai zhi to stand steady, then pressed his fingers against the outer thigh.

"Tired?"

Compared to his usual training, it's much easier, just hard to endure.

Ji Lai zhi just wanted to shake his head, but seeing Jin Chen's caring tone, he inexplicably nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"A little."

But his guilt is really too obvious.

Jin Chen curled his lips, "Such coquettish behavior is fine, but lying is not."

Ji Lai zhi: "……"

Who acted coquettish!

He never knew what acting coquettish was!

Ji Lai zhi had a wooden face, "Don't talk nonsense all day."

Jin Chen half-narrowed his smiling eyes, like a fox waiting for prey to bite, "Well then, when you get tired from training one day, I'll prepare an after-class reward."

Ji Lai zhi silently blinked, "Reward?"

It's an existence that cannot be sought, just like a gift!

Ji Lai zhi would at most give himself a little reward, but the feeling is optional, really unlike what Ji Si yao has received.

Yes, even though he is unwilling to admit it, the person he has envied and been jealous of since childhood is Ji Si yao, who lacks martial arts talent.

Jin Chen's tone was relaxed and scattered, he tapped Ji Lai zhi's forehead, "Only kids who tell the truth get rewards."

Ji Lai zhi's arrogant aura died down, he bit his tongue, his voice so small it could easily be blown away by a breeze.

"I'm not tired, but just now when you asked, I already have a little."

Jin Chen smiled at him, his fingertips lightly pinching his earlobe from the side of his face, "Good child."

Ji Lai zhi suddenly froze, the heat of his earlobe scattering like sparks, but its impact couldn't compare to the seemingly offhand praise, he couldn't tell where this throbbing came from.

His heart raced so fast he even felt dizzy, he lowered his head and let out a random sound, pinching his fingertips to calm down.

"The gift is in the study." Jin Chen said again.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +5, total 13!】

This time, Ji Lai zhi received the reward: a well-fitting training uniform, two sets of light and thin long shirts convenient for movement, and a beautiful hairband used to tie hair.

He hugged them all back to the side room and hid them, not even letting Da Hui touch them, specifically instructing that when cleaning the room later, avoid that storage cabinet.