Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Domineering

By the time Lu Xiao and Ares came out after choosing their room, the villa staff had already delivered the ingredients they needed.

Just as Teacher Ai Li had said, all the ingredients were pre-prepped and clean.

This would save them a lot of time.

Even so, Lu Xiao prepared the hotpot soup base and barbecue seasonings herself. She was worried the ones provided by the villa would taste strange.

After all, she’d eaten plenty of strange-tasting food in her life and had no desire to try any more.

While Lu Xiao was busy, Ares helped at her side. Seeing this, the others also pitched in where they could, and the atmosphere quickly grew lively.

Besides, the whole point of a cookout like this was to have fun doing things yourself.

An awning was set up in the yard, so as they sat down to eat, they didn’t have to worry about a sudden downpour.

Since the ingredients were already prepped and cleaned, they didn’t have to do much work, and the preparation was over in no time.

Once everyone was seated, John Ke poured them each a glass of wine, and they all thanked him.

The main husbands of the other three teachers, in particular, couldn’t stop smiling.

In truth, they rarely had opportunities like this to go out for a meal with their wives.

Even when they did have get-togethers, they were always held at home.

They were all thrilled to have been brought along to join their wives’ friends this time.

Of course, they all knew they owed this special privilege to Lu Xiao.

If not for her habit of taking Ares everywhere, they would never have had this chance.

They were envious of Ares and grateful to Lu Xiao.

“The broth is about ready. We can start eating,” Lu Xiao said, being the first to add ingredients to her pot. Ares, worried she might burn herself, was right there to help.

They each had their own small, personal hotpot, which was clean, convenient, and meant no one had to wait on anyone else.

However, Lu Xiao was the only one eating a spicy broth; the others had either a clear or a tomato-based one.

Teacher Ai Li sat next to her, looking at the red chili oil floating in Lu Xiao’s pot. She hadn’t even tasted it, but it already looked incredibly spicy.

She couldn’t handle that kind of spice, yet Lu Xiao was savoring every bite.

Watching her made Teacher Ai Li want to try a little herself.

As if noticing Teacher Ai Li’s curiosity, Lu Xiao smiled and offered, “Want to try some?”

Teacher Ai Li hesitated, but Lu Xiao was making it look so delicious that she nodded and plucked a piece of meat from Lu Xiao’s broth.

At first, it just tasted savory, but soon the numbing spice washed over her tongue. It felt like the meat was starting a war in her mouth.

“Oof, so spicy!” Teacher Ai Li couldn’t take it, clapping a hand over her mouth. Seeing this, John Ke quickly handed her a glass of water.

Lu Xiao chuckled. “Quite a kick, isn’t it, Teacher Ai Li?”

With tears in her eyes, Teacher Ai Li looked at her. “More than a kick! How can you handle it?”

’One bite nearly killed me, but you’re just eating away happily. You’re amazing!’

“I’m used to it. This level of spice is just right for me.”

Teacher Ai Li was at a loss for words and simply gave her a thumbs-up.

Just as they were eating and drinking, a commotion suddenly erupted from the villa next door.

“Is this how your villa treats its guests? I’m asking you to serve me personally. That’s an honor, so don’t be ungrateful!” a shrill female voice carried over, silencing the atmosphere at Lu Xiao’s table.

Teacher Sherry was the first to speak. “What’s going on over there?”

Teacher Ai Li stood up. “Let’s go take a look.”

If there was drama unfolding, they certainly weren’t going to miss it.

Lu Xiao was curious too, and besides, they were pretty much finished with their meal.

The group got up and went to the fence, which offered a clear view of the events unfolding at the cabin next door.

They saw a female in a floral dress and a wide-brimmed sun hat pointing a finger at a slender male, demanding he provide her with “service.”

“Hey, isn’t that the male who delivered our ingredients earlier?” Teacher Sherry was the first to recognize him. A moment later, as if realizing something, she scoffed. “She’s just trying to get her hands on him because he’s good-looking, isn’t she? Demanding he ’serve’ her… Honestly…”

Teacher Sherry trailed off, rolling her eyes in exasperation.

In fact, she was right. Just after she spoke, they heard the female’s voice rise sharply. “What’s wrong with serving me? If you make me happy, I might even let you become my husband.”

Hearing this, Teacher Sherry let out another cold laugh, her expression screaming, ’See? What did I tell you?’

This was the first time Lu Xiao had ever witnessed such domineering behavior from a female firsthand.

She had only heard stories before; she’d never actually seen it with her own eyes.

’So this is how brazen it can be.’

“I apologize, Ma’am, but I don’t wish to be anyone’s husband. I’m just an ordinary staff member here. If you require *that* kind of service, we can help you arrange it,” the slender male said, standing his ground. There was a fresh slap mark on his face, but his tone was neither servile nor defiant.

Lu Xiao felt a strange sense of déjà vu, as if she were watching a villain trying to abduct a helpless maiden on the street—only the genders were reversed.

“What kind of person do you take me for?! That’s slander! I can report you to the Female Protection Association for insulting me!”

The slender male’s colleague quickly tried to de-escalate. “He didn’t mean it like that! I’ll have him apologize to you. Hurry up and apologize to the lady!”

The slender male remained silent, clearly unwilling to apologize.

“Heh, you’ve got some nerve. I’ve seen plenty of stubborn men like you. Let’s see how long that backbone of yours lasts!” The female was clearly about to teach him a lesson, her finger already hovering over her terminal.

Just then, Teacher Sherry’s voice cut through the air. “Well, well, listen to the audacity on that one! We can hear you all the way over here, and it’s getting unbearable. May I ask what powerful family you come from that gives you the right to spout such nonsense? You’re going to report him to the Female Protection Association? For what? For refusing to provide you with sexual services? Oh, that’s hilarious! The sun hasn’t even set yet. Just how desperate are you?”

Teacher Sherry delivered the entire tirade in a rapid-fire burst, seemingly without pausing for a single breath.

Her words were laced with sarcasm and innuendo—the kind of verbal attack that could infuriate someone to death.

Lu Xiao looked at Teacher Sherry, who stood tall as she righted the injustice, her eyes filled with admiration. She gave her a big thumbs-up.

She truly thought Teacher Sherry was so cool for being willing to step in.

The female next door clearly hadn’t expected anyone to meddle in her affairs.

She stared over in shock, only then realizing that a whole group of people was standing in the neighboring yard. She had no idea how long they’d been watching the spectacle.

She was instantly furious. “Who the hell are you people? Have you no decency, sticking your noses in other people’s business? Or what, have you taken a fancy to him too?”

The slender male, who was still being pointed at, also seemed stunned that someone had stood up for him—and a female, at that.

For a moment, he was too stunned to react.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep