章節 4: The Unlikely Savior

Aron was in unbearable pain, so intense that he couldn't even recognize his own family. He yelled, "Who's the fool who doesn't realize they're stirring up a hornet's nest?"

Before his words had fully escaped his lips, Lucius swiftly seized Aron's hair at the nape of his neck, yanked it back, and then thrust it forward. A chilling sound of impact and shattering echoed, both dull and sharp. This brutal act made Scarlett, standing nearby, feel a sudden drop in her heart, as if she had just had a profound realization.

Aron moaned, now utterly unable to utter another sound. Lucius, repulsed, gripped the man's collar instead, and murmured, "I've never met anyone more audacious than myself."

Aron mechanically turned his head, his face bloody and bruised, seemingly trying to get a clear look at Lucius. Lucius met his gaze with icy indifference, and after a moment, slammed his head into the glass wall again, snarling, "You're a disgrace."

A feeble sound emerged from Aron's throat, unclear whether it was a plea for mercy or a cry for help. Scarlett watched from a distance, a thought surfacing in her mind: If one wishes to condemn someone, they can always find a reason.

Just as Aron had tormented her, and just as Lucius had chosen to retaliate. The uproar had already drawn the attention of the manager and Madame Song, who, recognizing Lucius, didn't dare to intervene. Instead, they directed the staff to encourage the curious spectators emerging from their private rooms to return, swiftly isolating the scene.

Lucius appeared to be in a foul mood tonight, and Aron had unfortunately become the target of his ire. In no time at all, Aron was left in a pitiful state.

Scarlett remained motionless, observing the unfolding chaos. It was only when someone suddenly touched her that she jumped and turned to see Madame Song draping a coat over her shoulders. With pleading eyes, Madame Song whispered, "Please, try to pacify Mr. Zhou. We can't afford a fatality."

Scarlett's face remained impassive, revealing nothing. Didn't her life matter? What if Lucius hadn't intervened? If she had perished that night, no one would have stood up for her.

Madame Song's gaze was a blend of desperation and anxiety, as if she had been startled by Scarlett's response. At that moment, Lucius, still seething, glanced at Scarlett and ordered, "Go change your clothes and meet me downstairs."

Everyone present looked at Scarlett with a mix of curiosity and apprehension, wondering about her relationship with Lucius and why he had personally stepped in for her.

Unperturbed by the attention, Scarlett turned and walked away.

Uncertain of Lucius' intentions, Scarlett left the scene to change her clothes. To her surprise, he was waiting for her in the lounge area downstairs when she returned. She approached him, stopping a few steps away, and nodded her head in gratitude. "Thank you for intervening."

Lucius' expression remained unreadable as he lit a cigarette and commanded, "Sit."

Scarlett held her ground, not moving. Lucius exhaled a puff of smoke, then looked at her through the haze and said, "Miss Li, please sit."

Her eyes flickered with surprise and caution. Lucius saw right through her thoughts and said bluntly, "Finding a woman is easy for me; I don't need to manipulate or entice anyone. Some people, however, try to exploit me through their connections as tutors. There are too many people with ill intentions these days, so I have to be vigilant."

Scarlett quickly assessed the situation. His explanation made sense, and it was unlikely that he was captivated by her charm at first sight. Realizing this, she quickly transitioned from her initial shock to a sheepish expression. Smiling, she apologized, "I see... I'm sorry, Mr. Zhou. I misunderstood. Please don't take it personally."

Lucius seemed indifferent to her swift change in demeanor and the sincerity of her smile. He offered her an easy way out with a slight smile. Scarlett wasted no time accepting his gesture. She took out her prepared resume and politely placed it in front of him, but he didn't even glance at it. "No need to look at that. I'll give you a one-month trial period. If you can teach, you set your price."

Scarlett smiled and asked, "I've heard that your household changes tutors frequently. If I may ask, is it more often due to the parents or the children?"

Lucius raised an eyebrow, looking at her and counter-questioning, "Is it my right as a parent to conduct interviews, or should I be blamed if they don't pass?"

Scarlett tried not to think about his 'interview' process and replied with a smile, "Of course not. You're the most 'visionary' and responsible parent I've ever met."

Changing the subject, she asked, "Can we talk about your child?"

Mentioning his child, Lucius' eyes filled with a sense of resignation. "He's a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy, an age when even dogs find them annoying. In my son's case, dogs don't mind him, but people do. Whether you can handle him depends on your abilities."

Scarlett diplomatically replied, "Being mischievous is a child's nature, and their right."

Lucius said, "I'm hiring you to teach, not to be his playmate or nanny."

A clever person would have sensed danger at this point, but Scarlett remained calm, saying, "Of course, I wouldn't charge this much for being a nanny."

Lucius glanced at her and said indifferently, "I hope you'll be a better teacher than you appear."

Tonight had been a whirlwind, and Scarlett couldn't describe her interview experience as either smooth or rough. But the result was what she hoped for, a new opportunity.

In reality, her conversation with Lucius was brief, lasting only about five minutes. He was a man of few words. After exchanging contact information and scheduling her to start on Monday, he offered her a ride. Scarlett stood up and declined, saying, "Thank you, but my boyfriend is picking me up."

A faint look of disdain crossed Lucius' eyes, likely due to her still being on guard. He didn't take it personally and didn't bother saying anything more. As they left the building, Scarlett received a call on her phone, informing the caller she had finished and was on her way out.

Once outside, Lucius' driver pulled up in a Bentley. Scarlett bid him farewell and walked toward the curb. Lucius glanced over and saw a man in a police uniform approaching Scarlett, speaking to her before they both got into a private car.