Rebirth: Start to Save the Treasure Girl

"Xixi, how did you get the idea that she's strict with me?"

Xue Rui immediately pulled his feet out of the foot bath, ready to have a heart-to-heart talk with Lin Ruoxi.

This is a major issue affecting family harmony. The young girl and the girl have different values, and if he doesn't handle it in time, it could lead to even bigger conflicts.

"She...she doesn't listen to you, but you still have to listen to her, which undermines your confidence." Lin Ruoxi pouted, very dissatisfied.

Xue Rui said helplessly, "That's not true."

The girl is very respectful to him in front of outsiders, but she only acts tough at home, showing a bit of a bully at home.

But the real reason is that he bullied the girl too much outside, and he just vented his anger when he got home.

"Then...then why won't you let me praise you? You...you need to be more confident," Lin Ruoxi said, raising her chin.

Upon hearing this, Xue Rui was reminded of something: the little girl liked to praise herself in front of outsiders.

Once, Lin Ruoxi was chatting with a professor from Northwestern Polytechnical University. After being praised, Lin Ruoxi subconsciously attributed all the credit to him.

Xue Rui was about to take the two out to dinner when he heard Lin Ruoxi's words and chose to run away immediately, leaving Gu Muxue to receive them.

He was just a college student who was just getting by, but the young girl exaggerated his abilities and called him a "computer genius" and a "mathematics genius".

And those people firmly believed it.

Xue Rui looked at Lin Ruoxi seriously and said solemnly, "Xixi, I'm actually not as capable as you think."

In the past, it was one thing to brag to laymen, and they could still chat for a while. But what are you talking about now?
Loss function, neural network, algorithm optimization...

If someone asks him a question, he'll be exposed in an instant.

"No, you're the best," Lin Ruoxi retorted, pouting.

Xue Rui hesitated for a moment, then said in a mature tone, "Xi Xi, you've already completed your apprenticeship. You don't need to use my name to navigate the martial world anymore. You have to use your own name."

Lin Ruoxi pouted in dissatisfaction: "I...I just wanted to show you off to others."

"One should be humble, and as a teacher, I do not desire fame or fortune," Xue Rui patiently advised.

"But... but we still need the credits," Lin Ruoxi weakly argued.

Xue Rui was immediately startled, his eyes full of doubt as he asked, "Credits?"

As the first semester for freshmen came to an end, Lin Ruoxi's influence at the school diminished.
It could even be said that Lin Ruoxi is currently "transparent" at the University of Posts and Telecommunications, so where does the authority to give him extra credits come from?

"Well, I recently wrote a few SCI papers on large language models and applied mathematics."

"You're the second author, so you can get extra credits and even get a recommendation for graduate school."

After drying Xue Rui's feet, Lin Ruoxi gently rested her head on Xue Rui's knees, waiting for his praise.

Xue Rui's brow twitched violently. A second author?
What is this little girl doing? Academic fraud?

Using journal articles for academic credits? Isn't that a bit too extravagant...?

But the little girl was pitifully waiting for praise, and Xue Rui really couldn't bear to scold her. He gently placed his hand on the little girl's head and rubbed it helplessly.

Who would have thought that someone like him could become an academic Daji?

To be honest, the little girl usually has a high moral standard, but when it comes to him, she applies two different standards.

"Xi Xi, this is a one-time thing, don't do it again." Xue Rui couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"whee."

Lin Ruoxi smiled, her eyes crinkling, thinking to herself: I'll do it again next time.

Although she couldn't tutor Xue Rui like Gu Muxue, she could still help him earn extra credits.

"Get up! Today you're the King of Academics, how can you kneel before me?" Xue Rui pulled Lin Ruoxi up from the ground.

He actually wanted the little girl to learn the good qualities of the little girl, but he never succeeded.

The little girl and the young lady are two extremes.

One has too weak knees, and the other has too stiff a neck.

Lin Ruoxi's beautiful almond-shaped eyes were full of doubt at the unfamiliar term "academic King Zhou," but she was more concerned about the second half of the sentence. She stammered, "Um, I... I like kneeling."

Lin Ruoxi's evasive words were interpreted by Xue Rui as "I'm used to it."

Xue Rui gritted his teeth, the image of Lin Ruoxi's father flashing through his mind.

In traditional culture, kneeling is an extremely humiliating act, but Lin Ruoxi knelt before him time and time again.

Kneeling once or twice is a pleasure, but kneeling frequently is self-degradation...

Why does this little girl refuse to accept charity from others?

Xue Rui believes the problem must lie with that scumbag.

Xue Rui took a deep breath and said with heartache, "Xi Xi, before... who else have you knelt to?"

After returning from Huacun, Xue Rui became increasingly fascinated by Lin Ruoxi's past.

He wanted to learn more about Lin Ruoxi, this little girl who was so humble in front of him.

Even if Lin Ruoxi hadn't said anything, Xue Rui probably already had a guess in his heart. It must have been the little girl's scumbag father who made her kneel down and be beaten when she was young, which is why she developed such muscle memory.

Because whenever he speaks loudly, the little girl will unconsciously kneel down.

"Hmm, I've only ever knelt before you," Lin Ruoxi said softly.

"Am I the only one?" Xue Rui asked again.

"It's just you." Lin Ruoxi's gaze was firm.

For a moment, Xue Rui was speechless.

Your behavior is too easy for people to misunderstand.

This little girl truly is a "genius at shifting blame," even the dead have to take the blame for her actions...

"Then why did you kneel before me?" Xue Rui couldn't help but ask back.

The little girl acted nimbly, without any psychological burden whatsoever.

"Hmm, I like it." Lin Ruoxi blinked blankly.

Xue Rui: ……

In fact, Lin Ruoxi didn't think that kneeling down to someone she liked was a shameful thing.

Conversely, Lin Ruoxi discovered that kneeling down could quickly appease Xue Rui's anger.
If you kneel and don't get up, you can get a hug from Xue Rui and soft, sweet words...

Lin Ruoxi was not the only one who was being disciplined.

Upon closer inspection, Xue Rui noticed a hint of secret delight in Lin Ruoxi's eyes as she lay in his arms.

He chuckled and said nothing more. As long as Lin Ruoxi was willing, that was fine; he wouldn't lose out anyway.

Moreover, when the little girl knelt before him, looking at him with admiration, he would always feel a strange sense of satisfaction and a feeling of dominance...

Xue Rui knew very well that this was unhealthy, but it seemed like he couldn't quit.

Thinking of this, he pinched Lin Ruoxi's cheek and said, "Xixi, you're getting more and more cunning."

"Um, no, Grandma always says I'm a bit slow," Lin Ruoxi said blankly.

Xue Rui shook his head, thinking to himself, "You've used all the tricks you have on me."

The two leaned affectionately against the sofa when Xiao Bu suddenly popped out from the side and walked along the edge of the sofa with a cat-like gait.

Lin Ruoxi frowned, stood up, picked up Xiao Bu by the neck, and put Xiao Bu back into the cage, which was met with a series of soft meows.

Xue Rui's lips twitched as he watched. Lin Ruoxi didn't like Xiao Bu and often "competed with Xiao Bu for attention".

"Xi Xi, don't be so stingy. It just wants to play with me for a while," Xue Rui gently persuaded. If Xiao Bu were replaced by Gu Muxue, Lin Ruoxi's behavior would be quite terrifying…

Xue Rui needs to nip this trend in the bud.

Lin Ruoxi pouted and continued to lie on Xue Rui, enjoying the rare time alone with him.

Because in a few days, Gu Muxue will be returning to Hedong.

What if Gu Muxue changes her mind and wants to spend the New Year at Xue Rui's house?
Lin Ruoxi was very worried.

"XiXi, Valentine's Day is the day after tomorrow. Where do you want to go?" Xue Rui asked.

The little girl is a homebody and clingy; she stays close to him whenever she has free time.

Moreover, her hobbies are different from most girls'.

Lin Ruoxi would be happy to snag discounted eggs or to buy a 9.9 yuan T-shirt with free shipping online.

Although the young girl had a large sum of money, the only things that made her happy were "finding bargains".

Last Christmas, Xue Rui gave each of the two girls a bottle of perfume. After checking the price, Lin Ruoxi gave her own bottle of perfume to Ren Qunfang.

Therefore, Xue Rui found it very difficult to celebrate the holiday with Lin Ruoxi.

Creating a little ritual can make your little girl happy.

But the little girl does the opposite; she'll calculate the cost in her mind and then secretly feel the pinch.

For example, the opera machine that Gu Muxue gave to the old lady made her very happy.

But the little girl just felt that the girl had been cheated by a shady merchant.

"Hmm, I don't celebrate Valentine's Day." Lin Ruoxi shook her head.

She's been happy every day lately; she doesn't need holidays to brighten her and Xue Rui's lives.

"Why?" Xue Rui asked with a strange expression.

The little girl used to look forward to holidays and would prepare lots of delicious food for them.

Lin Ruoxi sat up, looking into Xue Rui's eyes with a smile: "Because... I want to pass for you."

Xue Rui stared blankly, as if he could understand something.

The little girl enjoys the process of giving more than how much she receives.

But I still have to give a gift...

The gift doesn't necessarily have to be very valuable, but it must be something the little girl likes.

Hmm, should I go home and get some of my own "snacks"?
For example, the photos from junior high school are blank pages in Lin Ruoxi's collection.

"Xixi, let's go visit Muxue's house tomorrow."

"Mmm." Lin Ruoxi nodded obediently.

……

The twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Lin Ruoxi, dressed in a business suit and with her hair tied in a high ponytail, followed behind Xue Rui like a professional secretary, carrying a large pile of gift boxes.

Xue Rui turned around and winked at Lin Ruoxi: "Xixi, keep your distance later."

Taking his girlfriend to visit another girlfriend's parents gave Xue Rui a thrilling, thieving feeling.

If this gets discovered, Old Gu will probably break his legs.

"Hmm." Lin Ruoxi was very nervous.

Although she had met Gu Muxue's parents during the National Day holiday, the situation was different then; at that time, she was Gu Muxue's classmate.

But today, she is visiting as Xue Rui's secretary.

Because he had called ahead, Xue Rui was greeted as soon as he entered the door.

Xue Rui bypassed the nanny and cheerfully wished Gu Qingshan and Zhao Lizhen a Happy New Year: "Uncle Gu, Aunt Zhao, I've come to wish you a Happy New Year in advance."

"You're here, why bring so much stuff?" Zhao Lizhen's joy was evident in her eyes.

Xue Rui dressed up specially before arriving, looking exceptionally energetic, and showed them great respect.

"Looks all smug," Gu Qingshan muttered irritably, then picked up another book and began to read it intently.

"Hello, Uncle and Aunt, I've put the things down." Lin Ruoxi bowed respectfully.

Zhao Lizhen glanced at Lin Ruoxi and smiled politely: "Please sit down. I'll have Xiao Rui take the gift upstairs."

Xue Rui's heart skipped a beat. Zhao Lizhen was noticeably more polite to Lin Ruoxi today, unlike how she would treat her own daughter's classmate. Moreover, she hinted that he should have a private talk with her.

"Xi Xi, wait for me outside." Xue Rui smiled and sent Lin Ruoxi away.

At this moment, Zhao Lizhen was like a little girl who had caught him red-handed, with an attitude of "I know everything, but let's see how you perform."

Oh no, they've already caught us red-handed?
Xue Rui hunched his shoulders, picked up the gift, and followed them upstairs.

After going upstairs and putting the gifts away as instructed by Zhao Lizhen, I suddenly heard Zhao Lizhen sigh behind me:
"Look, this is a photo of her taken during Chinese New Year when she was a child. She was smiling so happily back then."

Xue Rui leaned forward for a look and said with a smile, "Even now, Mu Xue is happy every day."

Zhao Lizhen was hinting at him, saying that Gu Muxue became unhappy after being with him.

"Xiao Rui, please close the drawer for me."

Zhao Lizhen put down the photo and turned to check the gift Xue Rui had brought.

Xue Rui nervously swallowed and did as Zhao Lizhen asked.

He put Gu Muxue's photo back.

Suddenly, a familiar face appeared in Yu Guangzhong's mind.

Xue Rui's pupils suddenly contracted. The photo showed him walking with his arm around Lin Ruoxi. Judging from their clothes, it must have been taken not long after winter began.

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Xue Rui's temple. He nervously swallowed and slowly closed the drawer.

Zhao Lizhen had suspected him and Lin Ruoxi during the National Day holiday, and afterwards even sent someone to follow and investigate them...

Xue Rui could only think of the worst-case scenario: Zhao Lizhen had already discovered that he, Lin Ruoxi, and Gu Muxue were living together.

"Xiao Rui, you have a good eye for gifts. They're all things that your uncle and I like," Zhao Lizhen said with a smile.

"Mu Xue asked me to buy it, so it will definitely suit your taste. After all, she's the one who makes the decisions at home."

Xue Rui adopted a very humble attitude, and his words also implied another meaning: Gu Muxue allowed me to be with Lin Ruoxi.

She truly is a strong woman. If it were someone else's mother, she probably would have already laid a hand on him. How can she still hold back now?

"Oh? Did Mu Xue ask you to buy it?" Zhao Lizhen asked with a smile.

"Yes." Xue Rui nodded hurriedly.

When it comes to Xiao Nizi's mother, only Xiao Nizi's words carry weight.

"Mu Xue has been very stingy since she was a child. She never shares her toys with others. Once, her father gave Mu Xue's toys to a friend's child. When I found out, I bought her an identical one to make up for it."

As a result, after she found out, she threw away the new toy and ignored me for several days. I said I wanted the old one back, but she wouldn't take it.

Zhao Lizhen's tone was full of helplessness.

Perhaps Xue Rui is that special case, the one who can make her daughter bow down.

At this moment, Xue Rui understood that Zhao Lizhen did not intend to break off relations with him, but only wanted to use this matter to give him a hard lesson and make him feel guilty towards Gu Muxue.

The final decision rests with Gu Muxue. (End of Chapter)