Volume One: Our Own League Chapter 013: Enrolled in a Mathematics Tutoring Class

The sun was sinking in the west, dusk deepened, and the night was about to descend. Xu He, exhausted, cautiously pushed open his own front door, sneaking glances inside as if he were a thief. The moment his gaze landed on the dining room, his whole body shuddered, startled to the core.

There, his mother, Tang Qian, sat rigid and motionless, her face clouded with anger. Her very presence radiated a chilling coldness that made one's heart skip a beat.

Like a mouse confronted by a cat, Xu He wilted immediately, lowering his head submissively.

“Dearest Mother, I’m home,” he said meekly.

Bang!

Tang Qian slammed her palm on the dining table, making the whole room seem to tremble. Xu He was so frightened he nearly lost control of himself.

“You still know how to come home? Do you know what time it is?” At the sound of Xu He’s voice, Tang Qian was immediately incensed.

She was truly furious. Usually, Xu He might come home a bit late, but never as late as tonight. The sky was already dark, almost eight o’clock. If it hadn’t been for a child from the neighborhood—who attended school with Xu He—telling her that her son was still playing soccer at school, she would have called the police or gone out looking for him herself.

This child was simply too much!

Xu He could feel his mother’s anger and knew he was at fault for coming home so late. It hadn’t been his intention; he’d simply become too absorbed in extra shooting practice and lost track of time. By the time he realized it, it was already late. He had rushed back as fast as he could.

“I’m sorry, Mother. I was wrong. It won’t happen again,” Xu He quickly apologized, his tone both conciliatory and sincere.

Tang Qian was about to continue her tirade when Xu Tie, standing by, couldn’t bear to watch any longer and intervened.

“Alright, he knows he was wrong. It’s late—let him eat. He has school tomorrow,” Xu Tie said, giving Xu He a meaningful look. “Go wash your hands and get ready for dinner.”

Xu He was as if pardoned from execution, dashing into the kitchen to wash his hands.

Once in the kitchen, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness his father was at home; otherwise, he’d have been in real trouble tonight. His heart overflowed with gratitude for his father.

From the dining room, Tang Qian’s complaints drifted in: “You see? It’s your fault, always spoiling him. That’s why he’s getting more and more out of hand, coming home later and later. I bet he’s been playing soccer again. His math grades have dropped so much, and he’s not even worried…”

Hearing this barrage, Xu He shivered.

Xu Tie continued, “Alright, alright! He knows he was wrong. Let him eat first—he’ll fix it later.”

Tang Qian shot Xu Tie a glare, full of reproach.

Patting her comfortingly, Xu Tie said, “Xiao He is a smart, good boy. He understands after being told once; no need to keep repeating it. Besides, we have something important to discuss tonight. Let’s talk about that.”

Hearing this, Tang Qian glared at him, muttering, “He’s a good boy, but you’ve spoiled him!”

Xu Tie only chuckled.

Annoyed, Tang Qian pounded his chest with her fists like a flurry of rain, finally unable to suppress a laugh.

She shot him a playful look, her eyes full of affection.

Then she turned and called into the kitchen, “Xiao He, what are you doing in there? Come out and eat!”

Hiding in the kitchen, Xu He immediately responded and came out slowly.

Seeing his cautious demeanor, Tang Qian’s heart softened. She spoke gently, “You must be hungry. Come, eat. Don’t come home so late again, alright?”

Seeing the storm had passed, Xu He finally relaxed completely.

He answered sweetly, “Thank you, Mother,” and dove for the table, truly famished.

Watching him eat, Tang Qian’s heart ached. He must have been starving.

She said, “Slow down, don’t choke,” and placed a piece of his favorite braised pork in his bowl.

Xu He’s heart warmed. He was, after all, still his mother’s precious child.

He felt her deep love and silently resolved not to let his parents down.

Looking up with determination, he said, “Mother, you can rest assured. I’ll study hard and get into a key high school.”

Tang Qian was even more pleased, stroking his head lovingly. “You really are Mama’s good boy.”

Xu Tie, too, was satisfied, thinking his son was truly growing up.

Tang Qian glanced at Xu He and said, “Xiao He, I trust you. But your math has dropped a lot lately. Your father and I are still worried, so we’ve decided to enroll you in a math tutoring class to help you catch up. What do you think?”

Xu He’s eyes widened in alarm, his whole being resistant.

How could this be?

Today’s practice match had made him fully aware of his shortcomings. He was eager to intensify his training and improve his shooting technique as quickly as possible. He barely had enough time to practice as it was—how could he fit in math tutoring?

He protested anxiously, “No, Mother! I don’t want to go to math tutoring!”

Tang Qian’s brow furrowed, a sign she was about to lose her temper.

She said, “Have you seen your math grades lately? How can you not go to tutoring?”

Xu He was intimidated by her glare but raised his head and insisted, “Mother, I just did badly on the last math test. My grades haven’t really dropped; I don’t need tutoring!”

Tang Qian was furious. How had her once obedient child become so argumentative, denying the obvious?

She glared at him angrily.

Xu He pleaded, “Mom, I swear! The last test was just a mistake!”

Tang Qian retorted, “How can you guarantee that?”

“I’ll do well on the next test—” Xu He began.

“You—” Tang Qian interrupted angrily, but Xu Tie quickly stepped in.

“Dear, I believe Xiao He. I think you should trust him too.”

Tang Qian, livid, turned her head and glared at Xu Tie.

He smiled wryly and continued, “Since he’s said so, why not give him another chance? Let’s see how he does on the next math test. If his grades are still low, we can sign him up for tutoring then.”

Though she found his reasoning sound, Tang Qian still glared at him.

Xu Tie signaled gently for her to give their son a chance.

Xu He looked at his mother with pleading eyes, silently begging for a chance.

Tang Qian was not made of stone. Faced with those two pairs of hopeful eyes, she couldn’t maintain her sternness. She sighed, “Ah, having the two of you must be punishment for my past life! Fine, I’ll give you another chance, Xiao He.”

Xu He exclaimed, “Thank you, thank you, Mom! Thank you, dearest Mother!”

Tang Qian warned, “Don’t be too happy yet. If your next math test is still bad, just wait and see what I’ll do with you!”

“Don’t worry, Mother! I’ll do well next time, I promise!” Xu He replied.

At that, Tang Qian’s expression finally softened. “I hope so,” she said, waving him off to wash up and get ready for bed.

Xu He, feeling as if granted amnesty, dashed into the bathroom.

At last, he had survived the ordeal. He was deeply grateful to his father; without his help, he would have ended up in math tutoring for sure. Then he’d have no time left to play soccer or practice shooting.

“Thanks, Dad!” Xu He thought.

At the same time, he resolved to work hard at math and score well next time, or he’d still end up in that tutoring class.

Cheering himself on, he told himself, “Come on, Xu He, you can do it!”

Just as Xu He darted into the bathroom, Tang Qian turned to glare fiercely at Xu Tie. “You just spoil him! He’ll be ruined because of you!”

Xu Tie smiled gently, pulling her into his arms. “I’m not spoiling him,” he said softly.

Tang Qian snapped, “You’re not?”

He continued, “What if we didn’t do this, and he kept refusing to go to tutoring?”

“He wouldn’t dare!” she retorted.

“But what if he really insisted?” Xu Tie pressed.

Tang Qian frowned, anger rising in her heart.

Xu Tie went on, “Would you hit him? And even if you did, what if he still refused? What then?”

Tang Qian was momentarily at a loss—something she hadn’t considered.

She turned to Xu Tie, puzzled.

He said, “He’s growing up now, has his own ideas. Forcing him like we did in primary school might not work anymore—it could even backfire.”

Tang Qian regarded him thoughtfully, a trace of surprise in her eyes. She hadn’t realized this side of her husband before; it left a deep impression.

Xu Tie continued, “Remember, Xiao He is entering his rebellious teens now.”

Startled, Tang Qian asked, “Oh, what should we do?”

Prompted by her husband, she suddenly realized that Xu He was no longer a little boy—he was an adolescent. The thought made her uneasy.

Xu Tie spoke gently, “No need to be so anxious. Xiao He is still a good, obedient child. We just shouldn’t push him too hard, or it might have the opposite effect.”

Tang Qian nodded in agreement.

Then Xu Tie grew serious: “Of course, if he ever does something really wrong, we’ll have to be strict with him.”

At this, Tang Qian glared at him. “What are you saying? Our Xiao He is so good—he’d never act like that!”

Xu Tie just chuckled, gazing at her.

Under his gaze, Tang Qian felt embarrassed and snapped, “What are you looking at? It’s late—aren’t you going to bed?”

With that, she ignored him, stood up, and called toward the bathroom, “Xiao He, are you finished? Go to bed!”

“I’m done washing, I’ll go to sleep now!” Xu He replied at once.