"..."
In two different timelines, two people were blushing at the same time. Ruan Mei never expected she had actually ordered her student to do such things. Connecting this to his later "transgression," a possibility flashed through her mind. She felt a terrible premonition.
She checked the memory sync progress. She had been immersed in the past for a long time, but only a moment had passed in reality. She suppressed her emotions and continued.
"Alright, that's enough," her past self said.
Qi Zhimu felt as if he had been granted a divine pardon. He carefully set her feet down and waited to be dismissed.
"Come here, Xiao Mu…"
"What else do you need, Teacher?"
He didn't think twice and leaned toward the head of the bed. Suddenly, Ruan Mei reached out and pulled him into her embrace, pressing his face against her chest. It was like a thunderclap in his mind. His brain turned to mush.
"Mmf… Teacher, you're… you're drunk…"
"I'm very sober."
"I… I can't breathe, Teacher!"
She loosened her grip slightly. Just as he caught his breath, he felt something soft against his face. His consciousness went blank. But this time, he snapped back to reality quickly because he saw his teacher—eyes misty and shimmering—leaning toward him, her moist red lips slightly parted, her breath warm.
"Xiao Mu is so good… Teacher will give you your reward now…"
"No, Teacher! Not here…!" He used all his willpower to push himself up, bracing his hands against her shoulders to stop her.
"Teacher says you can, so you can."
She irresistibly pulled his arms down and pinned him again. Without a word—hair entangled, lips locked. The towel slipped away.
By the time Qi Zhimu regained his breath, he didn't know how much time had passed. The night's events had caused a massive shock to his young heart. But Ruan Mei seemed completely unaware, patting his head.
"Alright, reward finished. Go complete your assignment."
"…Understood! Please rest well…" He fled. The teacher didn't care, a faint smile on her lips as she drifted into a dream.
"..."
Silence. Absolute silence.
The present Ruan Mei couldn't imagine that her drunk self was not only a total reversal of her usual self but also so incredibly bold. Many questions were answered, but two remained:
Why did her drunk self instinctively do those things to her student?
How did she get drunk in the first place?
She had finished half jars before without feeling a thing. A suspicion began to form, but she wasn't sure yet. She had to keep searching for the truth in his memories.
The next morning, Ruan Mei woke up and dressed as usual. She didn't find it strange that she wasn't wearing pajamas; she often slept that way. She walked into the hall and saw Qi Zhimu bringing out breakfast.
"…G-Good morning, Teacher."
She nodded and sat in her usual spot. "Is something wrong?"
"…Teacher… do you remember last night?"
She thought for a moment. Birthday ended, I bathed, then went to bed. "I remember everything. Why?"
"…It's nothing." A flash of helplessness crossed the boy's face. She didn't see it. She didn't know what "I remember everything" meant to him at that moment.
Over the next year, Ruan Mei grew fond of his Plum Blossom Brew and drank it often. The "event" didn't happen again, though she occasionally had him rub her shoulders or rest her feet in his lap. This continued until her next birthday.
Xiao Mu brought the jar to the table. "Teacher, this is four-year-old brew. Please… don't drink too much at once."
"I have never been drunk in my life."
The boy gave a helpless smile. Over the past year, she had been drunk many times, but he never said anything. You can't reason with a drunk person, and telling a sober one was too embarrassing.
More than half the jar disappeared. Her eyes grew misty. "Xiao Mu, come here…"
"Shoulders or feet, Teacher?"
"Both."
The subsequent events were 90% similar to the year before. But this time, the boy miscalculated. When he was pinned, things spiraled out of control.
"Teacher… you can't… you have to take responsibility for this…"
"Haven't I been responsible for you since the day I brought you home?"
"But we are—"
"Be good. Listen~"
"…Okay."
Trembling breaths, a surge of crimson. The night passed the third watch.
"This…"
The present Ruan Mei was shaken. she stumbled back, hitting the console and tearing the electrodes from her forehead. The memory sync cut off.
If this were anyone else's technology, that sudden disconnect would cause brain damage. But her program had failsafes. She didn't care about the risk, though. Her stolen memories and her own were merging. The scenes filtered out by her brain were returning in sync.
Everything was telling her: Those things actually happened.
After a long time, her hands trembling, she put the electrodes back on. She had to see the whole truth.
The next morning in the memory was normal. She ate breakfast. "What is this?"
"Plum-soaked soybean cake. A new recipe. What do you think, Teacher?"
"Very good." Her mood improved instantly. She didn't notice her own lips curving upward.
"Teacher, last night… do you remember?"
"Of course. You did well. I will reward you."
"…Mm."
Ruan Mei closed her eyes in the present, feeling weak.
Another year passed in the memory. "Three-year-old brew, Teacher. See if the flavor is different."
"It's not as thick. I prefer the three-year flavor."
"Then I'll brew the three-year version from now on."
"Mm. Come closer."
Qi Zhimu didn't think much of it and habitually reached for her delicate ankle.
Shock. Confusion. Realization. Anger. In two seconds, Ruan Mei's emotions shifted violently.
"Qi Zhimu, you have overstepped."
....
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