Li Cheng realized something terrifying the moment Teacher Yaling and Auntie Mei exchanged smiles.
It wasn't friendliness.
It was the kind of smile two apex predators gave each other before deciding who got to eat first.
He swallowed.
Sun Jing was curled on the couch like a frightened rabbit.
Chen Yuxi was standing behind a potted plant, silently evaluating which exit route had the lowest chance of death.
Teacher Yaling closed the front door behind her with a click.
Auntie Mei set her teacup down without looking away from the new intruder.
Yaling spoke first.
"Grandma Li told me you would be here."
Auntie Mei nodded.
"And Grandma Li told me you might come uninvited."
The temperature dropped five degrees.
Li Cheng inhaled slowly.
"…Please… nobody… fight."
Both women turned toward him at the same time.
He froze like an ant beneath two magnifying glasses.
Teacher Yaling walked past him and placed the medicine bag onto the table with controlled movements only teachers and serial killers had mastered.
"I brought vitamins. Your grandmother thinks you're growing too fast and might collapse."
Auntie Mei raised a brow.
"Oh? That's funny. Because she told me you'd probably give him medicine he doesn't need."
Yaling smiled politely.
"Did she say that? Or did you assume it?"
Auntie Mei smiled back.
"I don't assume. I know."
Li Cheng felt his soul leave his body again.
Sun Jing weakly whispered, "A-Are they fighting? Or flirting? I can't tell…"
Chen Yuxi whispered back, "You'll know the difference when one of them kills the other."
Li Cheng finally snapped out of paralysis and shot both hands up.
"STOP! Stop right now! Nobody is killing anyone in my house!"
The two women looked at him.
Then they both said, at the same time:
"Sit."
He sat.
Immediately.
Because arguing with either of them meant death.
Auntie Mei folded her arms.
"Cheng'er, you didn't answer your phone. That is irresponsible."
Teacher Yaling crossed her arms.
"He didn't answer my phone either. That is concerning."
Li Cheng nearly slammed his head onto the table.
"Maybe I was BUSY being buried in chocolate offers and surviving Qiao Ren—"
Sun Jing timidly raised her hand.
"Some of those chocolates… were from me…"
Chen Yuxi also raised her hand slightly.
"I received several business inquiries about you. It's affecting your reputation."
Teacher Yaling shook her head.
"His entire class wouldn't shut up about him. Even during math."
Auntie Mei's lips thinned.
"You see? You need supervision."
Li Cheng covered his face with both hands.
"How did my life turn into this?"
Charm Suppression: Immediate Failure
DING.
[Host. Charm Suppression buff remains active.]
[However, effectiveness has dropped to 3%.]
Li Cheng's hands dropped from his face.
"…Three percent? Three?? Why even activate it?!"
[Host is "surrounded" by high-level danger.]
[The buff is not "calibrated" for this.]
[Good luck.]
"System, please shut up forever."
Negotiations Turn Violent (But Politely)
Auntie Mei and Teacher Yaling sat across from each other like two generals preparing for war.
Sun Jing sat between them like a fragile civilian about to be sacrificed.
Chen Yuxi chose survival over pride and sat on the floor behind the sofa.
Auntie Mei clasped her hands elegantly.
"Teacher Yaling. What exactly is your relationship with our Cheng'er?"
Teacher Yaling didn't blink.
"I am his homeroom teacher."
"Mhm. And?"
"And I take responsibility for him while he's at school."
Auntie Mei lifted her chin slightly.
"And I take responsibility for him while he's alive."
Sun Jing squeaked.
Li Cheng slapped the table.
"STOP CLAIMING TERRITORY AROUND ME!"
Teacher Yaling ignored him.
"You changed his diaper. That was years ago. Irrelevant."
Auntie Mei leaned forward.
"Yes. And what did you change? His test scores?"
Li Cheng whispered to himself, "Please, one of you adopt me so I can move out…"
The Unexpected Alliance
A sudden realization passed between the two women.
A silent understanding.
A shared enemy.
Li Cheng.
Specifically—
He has a terrible Ability to avoid trouble.
Teacher Yaling spoke.
"His school life is too chaotic."
Auntie Mei nodded.
"And his home life is even worse."
Li Cheng choked.
"HEY! I didn't ASK for this chaos!"
Yaling pointed at him.
"He attracts trouble like a magnet."
Auntie Mei agreed.
"Girls swarm him too easily."
Sun Jing fainted.
Chen Yuxi sat straighter.
"Swarm? Who is swarming? I am not swarming. I am doing business—"
"Quiet," Yaling and Auntie Mei said in unison.
Chen Yuxi froze.
Li Cheng prayed for natural disasters.
The two women turned back to him.
"We have decided," Yaling said.
Auntie Mei continued.
"You require a supervisor."
Li Cheng stared blankly.
"A… what?"
Teacher Yaling nodded seriously.
"I will monitor his academic behavior."
Auntie Mei added.
"And I will monitor his domestic behavior."
Li Cheng slapped his own chest.
"WHAT ABOUT MY HUMAN RIGHTS?!"
Both women spoke:
"We will protect them."
Sun Jing whispered from the couch, "I feel like he's about to lose more than rights…"
The Night Gets Worse
After twenty more minutes of humiliation, Sun Jing finally gathered the courage to stand.
"I-I should leave before it gets dark… T-Thank you for eating my cooking…"
Auntie Mei sniffed the air.
"It was decent."
Sun Jing practically melted with joy.
"T-THANK YOU!"
She bowed eight times before running out the door.
Chen Yuxi gently closed her laptop.
"I will forward the finalized documents tomorrow morning. I should return as well."
She stood, then hesitated.
Looked at Li Cheng.
Then at Auntie Mei.
Then at Teacher Yaling.
Then, they decided survival was more important than business reputation.
"…Good night."
She left at record speed.
Now only two women remained.
Two Very Dangerous women.
Teacher Yaling put her hands on her hips.
"I should head home, too. Tomorrow is a school day."
Auntie Mei smiled.
"Should I accompany you out?"
Yaling smiled just as sweetly.
"No. I know the way."
Li Cheng escorted her to the door, mostly because he feared something might explode behind him if he didn't.
She paused before leaving.
"Li Cheng."
He looked at her.
"…Yes?"
"…Eat breakfast tomorrow."
He blinked.
"I—Ok?"
"And don't run in the hallways again."
"That was ONE TIME!"
She walked down the steps, waving lazily.
The Final Boss Remains
Li Cheng returned inside.
Only Auntie Mei remained.
She sat on the sofa, sipping tea like a mafia don.
"Come here," she said.
He sat immediately.
She inspected him from head to toe.
"You've grown handsome."
Li Cheng frowned.
"That's not my fault!"
"And your company is growing quickly."
He scratched his cheek.
"…Maybe a little."
"And your school life is… complicated."
He coughed.
"That's not my fault either."
Auntie Mei placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Cheng'er… you've become a man."
Li Cheng froze.
"…What kind of conversation is this—"
She continued softly.
"You are too honest. Too kind. Too soft-hearted. That is why girls chase you."
Li Cheng pointed to himself.
"SOFT-HEARTED?! Everyone calls me a demon king!"
"They call you handsome. That's different."
He sighed.
Auntie Mei stood and gently patted his head.
"I will stay in the city for a while. To help you."
"No."
"Yes."
"No!"
Auntie Mei looked at him.
He nodded immediately.
"Yes."
"Good boy."
He died inside.
The Next Morning: Charm Suppression Consequences
Li Cheng woke up exhausted.
But—
The buff was still active.
He checked the mirror.
"…Wow. I actually look normal."
No sparkle aura.
No angelic glow.
No accidental charm debuff makes people blush.
He breathed in relief.
"Maybe today… will be normal."
He opened his front door.
Three girls walking by looked at him.
All three frowned.
One whispered, "Who's that?"
He exhaled dramatically.
"Oh, thank god."
He headed for school, finally at peace.
Until—
"LI CHENG!!!"
Mengyu sprinted from the corner like a heat-seeking missile.
He panicked.
"WHAT DID I DO?!"
She skidded to a stop in front of him, grabbed his cheeks, and glared.
"Why. Didn't. You. Answer. ANY. Messages?"
He choked through squished lips.
"I was ambushed by womeeeen—"
She released him.
Narrowed her eyes.
"…Which women?"
Li Cheng froze.
"…Define 'which.'"
Mengyu's eyebrow twitched violently.
"I saw Chen Yuxi leaving your house last night."
His soul left his body for the 800th time.
"MENGYU LISTEN—"
She crossed her arms.
"And I saw Sun Jing holding a bento box."
He waved his arms like a drowning man.
"MENGYU, I SWEAR—"
"And Teacher Yaling was heading down your street."
He fell to his knees.
"Mengyu… please… let me explain…"
She leaned forward.
"Explain what?"
Li Cheng broke.
"No girl entered my house willingly! They were ALL SENT BY GRANDMA!"
A pause.
Mengyu blinked.
"…What kind of monster is your grandmother?"
Li Cheng whispered, "A loving one… but also an absolute demon…"
She sighed, shoulders relaxing slightly.
But then—
She sniffed the air.
"…Why do you smell like women's perfume?"
Li Cheng screamed internally.
"It's AUNTIE MEI'S FAULT!"
Mengyu stared.
"…Who is Auntie Mei?"
"A second grandmother!"
Mengyu patted his head calmly.
"Your family is terrifying."
He nodded sadly.
"Yes."
Charm Suppression Fails AGAIN
They reached school.
The moment they stepped inside—
The charm suppression buff malfunctioned.
A group of girls ran past, ignoring him completely.
Li Cheng sighed in relief.
Another group walked past.
Ignored him.
Li Cheng nearly cried tears of joy.
Then—
A boy walked past and said:
"…Li Cheng? You look kind of… average today."
He smiled proudly.
"Yes. Yes, I do."
Then Qiao Ren appeared.
Stared at him.
Squinted.
Walked around him.
Poked his cheek.
"…Who are you and what did you do with Li Cheng?"
Li Cheng smacked his hand away.
"Qiao Ren, go away before I throw you into a locker again."
Qiao Ren flinched and backpedaled like a scared dog.
"Y-YES SIR!"
Li Cheng cracked his knuckles.
"Oh? You're obeying orders now?"
Qiao Ren raised both hands in surrender.
"You're less handsome but still terrifying! Please don't hurt me!"
Li Cheng smirked.
"I should lose my charm more often."
Mengyu rolled her eyes.
"Don't get too proud. It's temporary."
He sighed.
"Yeah. The system is punishing me."
Face-Slapping Moment Begins
They reached the classroom.
And inside—
A random, arrogant playboy from the business department leaned against the wall, sunglasses on, indoors.
Classic red flag.
He flipped his hair and smiled at Mengyu.
"Good morning, beautiful. I've been waiting for you."
Li Cheng froze.
Mengyu frowned.
"Do I know you?"
The guy smirked.
"No. But you will."
He pointed a thumb at himself.
"I'm Zhao Ruitian—second-year business genius. My dad owns ten dealerships. I drive a sports car. And I'm the future president of the student business association."
Li Cheng whispered, "Oh lord… a clown…"
Zhao Ruitian winked at Mengyu.
"I saw you yesterday talking with that… average-looking boy."
Mengyu blinked.
"…Average?"
Zhao nodded.
"Yeah. Black hair, tired eyes, permanently confused expression—"
Li Cheng stepped forward.
"That's ME."
Zhao looked him up and down.
"Oh. Sorry, bro. I didn't recognize you without your… sparkle."
Li Cheng inhaled.
Mengyu stepped aside.
Zhao smoothed his hair.
"Anyway, beauty… I came to ask you out. You deserve a real man, not some random guy."
Li Cheng cracked his neck.
Then his fingers.
Then his jaw.
Zhao laughed.
"Oh? You want to fight? With THAT face?"
Li Cheng smiled calmly.
"Zhao Ruitian."
"Yeah?"
"You're wearing your sunglasses upside down."
Zhao froze.
He grabbed his sunglasses.
He stared at them.
They were indeed upside down.
Everyone laughed.
But Li Cheng wasn't done.
"And your shirt is inside-out."
Zhao panicked and checked.
It was.
The entire class burst into laughter.
Mengyu covered her mouth, trying not to smile.
Zhao's face turned red.
"YOU—YOU DID THIS!"
Li Cheng shrugged.
"You did it yourself. Maybe try a mirror next time."
Zhao ran out of the room screaming:
"THIS ISN'T OVER!!"
Li Cheng dusted his hands.
"Next."
Mengyu smirked.
"…Welcome back to normal school life."
Li Cheng sighed with relief.
"Thank god."