Capítulo 23: Call Him Dad

Scarlett had changed her clothes and climbed into the Zhou family's car. As the vehicle pulled up to a nearby hospital, she gingerly stepped out, wincing at the searing pain in her right knee. She discreetly leaned on the car door for support before gritting her teeth and standing upright.

In the emergency room, Jack sat on a bed, his face bruised from the night's events. A doctor stood by his side, while Lucius and Scarlett were a short distance away.

As the doctor examined Jack's visible injuries, he asked routinely, "How did you get hurt?"

Jack remained silent, and Lucius didn't speak either. Their matching indifferent expressions forced Scarlett to speak up. "He was helping me. He got hurt because he was protecting me from some thugs."

The doctor looked surprised, then praised, "Well done, young man. You're brave for your age, playing the knight in shining armor."

Jack frowned. "Are we done here? If there's nothing else, I'd like to leave."

The doctor said, "Take off your clothes. I need to check if there are injuries elsewhere."

Without a second thought, Jack denied, "There aren't any."

Lucius interjected, "Listen to the doctor." His tone wasn't stern, but it left no room for argument.

Jack frowned, clearly unwilling, but he didn't argue. Knowing his aversion to doctors, Scarlett quickly tried to smooth things over. "Please, for my sake, let the doctor check you over, okay?"

Jack looked up, visibly unhappy. But seeing Scarlett's pleading face, as if she would bear a great guilt if he refused, he hesitated for a few seconds before saying, "You two, leave."

Scarlett paused, then realized he had agreed. She quickly turned and walked out.

In the hospital corridor, Scarlett stood a few steps away from Lucius, breaking the silence after a moment. "Mr. Zhou, I'm truly sorry about tonight. I know no amount of apologies can make up for it. Whatever you decide to do, I'll cooperate."

Lucius, holding an unlit cigarette despite the 'No Smoking' sign on the wall, surprisingly didn't lose his temper. Instead, he replied calmly, "He chose to help you and to bear the consequences. No one forced him."

Scarlett felt a pang of guilt at his words. After a pause, she said softly, "He's a good kid."

She didn't look at Lucius as she spoke, but after a few seconds, she heard his familiar voice. "Isn't that because of good parenting?"

Scarlett looked up to find Lucius watching her. Before she could respond, he continued, "You've apologized to me three times and thanked Jack four times, but you've never thanked me. Apologies and gratitude are not the same thing. As a teacher, you should understand this simple principle."

Meeting Lucius's gaze, Scarlett was momentarily at a loss, unable to discern his mood. She quickly composed herself and replied seriously, "You're right, I overlooked that. I owe you a thank you."

"Thank you for stepping in to help." Scarlett nodded sincerely at Lucius.

Lucius remained impassive. "I heard you took care of Jack during the day. Let's call it even."

Scarlett paused before speaking, "Mr. Zhou, there's something I feel compelled to say. You may not want to hear it, but in light of today's events, I believe it needs to be said."

Lucius didn't respond, so Scarlett continued, "As educators, we often study child and adolescent psychology. A child's character and moral compass are indeed shaped by their teachers at school, but more importantly, they are influenced by their family environment. Family members are irreplaceable teachers in a child's life."

"You've taught Jack to be brave, and he will stand up for what's right, regardless of whether he's facing adults or peers. But bravery doesn't mean recklessness. There's a clear difference between self-defense and excessive force... I know my words might upset you, especially since Jack was defending me. But Jack is still a child. Today he used a vase, but what about next time? I don't want him to blur the lines between kindness and justice, or lose faith in society because of his bravery."

After listening to her, Lucius replied, "So, you're saying the apple doesn't fall far from the tree?"

Scarlett met his gaze steadily and after a moment, replied, "Yes."

Even as she agreed, she berated herself internally. She had barely started her new job and was already risking it all. She knew what kind of man Lucius was...

As expected, Lucius's voice dropped a few degrees, carrying a hint of danger, "Be clear about this. I hired you to teach my son, not to lecture me on how to live."

Scarlett, stubborn as ever, met Lucius's gaze unflinchingly. "You're my client, but I don't see Jack as a task. I'm not qualified to teach you how to live, but I hope you can be a good father. I want Jack to have a healthy and happy childhood."

Even as she spoke, Scarlett had already mentally prepared herself for the worst. She knew how protective parents could be of their children, and she had just criticized Lucius directly.

Before coming to Deep City, Issac had talked to her for four hours, specifically reminding her to keep her emotions in check. She understood, but she couldn't help but let her feelings get the best of her.

Scarlett was ready for Lucius to tell her to leave, to go as far away as possible. He was silent for a long time, long enough for her to worry that he might not only fire her but also take action against her.

"You don't see Jack as a task, so what do you see him as?"

Lucius's voice was still low. Scarlett, having decided to be straightforward, replied, "If I say I see him as a little brother, he might not be happy. But maybe he'd begrudgingly accept me as a friend."

Lucius asked, "You've only known each other for a few days?"

Scarlett replied, "Based on his actions today, I'll always remember his kindness."

Lucius said, "The one who ultimately saved you both was me."

Scarlett paused again. Lucius looked at her and continued, "If you see him as a little brother and I'm his elder, what will you call me?"

What would she call him?

Lucius was Jack's father and she saw Jack as a little brother, then she would have to call Lucius... Dad?

The 'Call me Dad' joke was a common one among couples, and while Scarlett was familiar with it, she never imagined the first person to tease her with it would be Lucius Zhou.

She wasn't someone who was easily flustered, nor was she unfamiliar with handsome men, but for some reason, she felt her cheeks heat up in his presence.

She quickly tried to clarify, "Mr. Zhou, please don't misunderstand. I didn't mean to impose on you!"