Worlds Apart | Chapter 1 | The First Lesson | Novela.app

Jiang Tong stared blankly at the wall clock. Six-thirty. In thirty minutes, his first Chinese lesson would be over. Yet the student was still nowhere to be found. The setting was a spacious, hexagonal study. The room was decorated in a style both classical and magnificent, fresh yet elegant—the kind of space that could be photographed directly for a home decor magazine as a model room. Jiang Tong sat facing a large bay window. Outside, the grass was a lush, carpet-like green, and the tree canopies were thick and dense. Someone seemed to be talking beneath the trees, though their voices were muffled by the two-story distance. Far off, the sea shimmered—a cerulean boundary glinting with gold under the setting sun. Looking down at the grounds, Jiang Tong thought indifferently that perhaps his student was hiding somewhere within that deep shade. Jiang Tong was a top student in the Biology Department at the National University of Singapore. He often took private tutoring jobs, teaching physics, chemistry, and biology to the children of middle-class families. However, for a prominent, wealthy household like the Xiaos, tutors were usually subjected to layers of rigorous screening. If the intended tutor hadn't been in a sudden car accident, the opportunity to "misguide" such a pupil would never have fallen to him. At six-forty, Jiang Tong sighed and opened WeChat: "Your student still hasn't shown up." Lu She replied instantly: "Normal. It’s a good day if you get twenty minutes of actual lesson time. I told you, this job is a breeze to fake your way through." Jiang Tong let out a short laugh. "Five thousand SGD an hour for tutoring—doesn't your conscience prick you even a little?" Lu She sent two smirking emojis: "Not at all, feels great. This kid is an absolute brat; he’s already driven away eight teachers. I’m giving him a pass so we can both be happy. It’s what they call 'giving a rose and keeping the fragrance,' you know?" Jiang Tong had only heard Lu She mention a part-time tutoring gig that was easy work for high pay; he had no idea the student he had yet to meet was such a holy terror. A faint sense of unease stirred within him; he felt he had been swindled by Lu She. "To be honest, did you actually clear your temporary leave with his father?" "Don't worry!" Lu She replied, followed by two more smiley faces. Alarm bells rang in Jiang Tong’s head, though he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong. Whenever Lu She felt guilty, he became even more talkative than usual. At ten minutes to seven, assuming the young master wouldn't appear, Jiang Tong sighed in resignation and began packing his bag. Suddenly, the study door swung open with a loud *bang*. Eight or nine teenagers crowded into the room, laughing and joking. Caught off guard by his presence, their laughter died in their throats. They stared at him with wide eyes, sizing him up in silence. The group stood in a cluster at the doorway, creating an invisible standoff with Jiang Tong. "Who are you?" a boy in the crowd asked loudly. He spoke in English. After a moment's thought, Jiang Tong replied in English as well: "Is Kenneth here? I'm his substitute Chinese tutor." The boy snorted. "I'm so sorry for you." Like Moses parting the Red Sea, the teenagers instinctively moved aside to reveal the other protagonist of today’s farce. To be fair, this "Young Master Moses" was exceptionally handsome—fair-skinned with refined, elegant features. Even among a group of peers born into wealth and luxury, he stood out like a crane among chickens. From Jiang Tong’s perspective, however, his expression was far too aloof and arrogant. He was beautiful, certainly, but it was a beauty that kept people at a distance. Young Master Xiao crossed his arms, scanning Jiang Tong from head to toe. Jiang Tong kept his back straight, meeting his gaze calmly. After a silent test of wills, the youth stepped out from the crowd, walked right past Jiang Tong toward the huanghuali wood desk, and pulled open a drawer to rummage through some papers. "Chinese class is over. You can go." Singaporean English is world-renowned for its unique Southeast Asian accent, yet he spoke with a perfect British accent—articulating every word fully, slowly, and clearly. It made him sound all the more haughty and cold. The other boys stayed where they were, watching Jiang Tong with mocking smiles, whispering and exchanging derisive looks. Jiang Tong didn't budge. "There are still ten minutes left today. We can start with a small quiz to see where your level is." The youth lowered his head and let out a soft chuckle. "How much is Lu She giving you? Three thousand SGD?" He pulled a checkbook from the drawer, scribbled a few lines, tore off a leaf, and held it out to Jiang Tong. "Here is six thousand. You're dismissed." Jiang Tong didn't move; he simply stared at Kenneth’s hand. It was a beautiful hand—pale skin, long fingers, and nails trimmed neatly into rounded shapes, like a sculpture. The check was held between his fingertips, fluttering slightly in the air like a small white flag. The world was truly unfair. Why were some people born so noble and wealthy that even their acts of insult and condescension appeared more graceful than those of ordinary people? Countless thoughts flashed through Jiang Tong’s mind in an instant. In the end, however, he simply leaned down and pulled a stack of A4 papers from the laptop bag beside his chair. "Lu She showed me your previous exam papers. Your level is honestly quite poor. Before your school exams next week, find some time to work through these problems. I can't promise a high score, but there's hope for a passing grade." The youth’s arm dropped. His smile slowly froze, and his gaze turned icy. Jiang Tong ignored him, slung his laptop bag over his shoulder, and walked steadily toward the door under the complicated gazes of the boys. He opened the door, paused, and turned back. "Please be on time for class next week," he said calmly in Chinese. "As for the tuition, your father’s offer is already very generous. While I am not wealthy, I haven't reached the point where I need to steal a little kid's pocket money." He placed a deliberate emphasis on the words "little kid." Hearing a burst of stifled laughter behind him, he didn't look back and simply walked away. ***