The girl in the Louvre

Zhi walked a couple of blocks before hailing a cab that was going her way. She could have commuted by the train, but she probably would have only been able to get to her new student's place by twelve O'clock due to the excessive amount of people trying to board the trains each day.

Even if she was fortunate enough to be able to squeeze through thousands of people, Zhi Rou would still have to deal with the gross molesters trying to feel her up the entire way. If it was an open space Zhi Rou could deal with them, but in such a confined space with people pressed against one another, she might not even know who was touching her.

His house wasn't that far and within thirty minutes the taxi driver slowed down to a stop in front of a metal gate with a security guard at his post and announced, "we are here miss."

Frowning slightly at the high gate Zhi Rou looked slightly confused. 'Since when did I know anyone that could afford a place in this area?' Even though she saw the address, Zhi Rou didn't actually realise where she was being driven to until she had already arrived in the neighbourhood.

Passing the driver his money, Zhi Rou got out and slowly walked up to the guard. With the cab driving away, the street became almost empty. The towering gate and wall that spanned the whole street cast shadows along the pavement.

As Zhi Rou drew closer, the tall guard walked out from his little gatehouse and opened the small side door. "Are you the tutor for the Zhang family?" His face was stern and uninviting as he stared as Zhi Rou intently.

"Yes I am, but I don't really know where I am supposed to go. When I got hired, the address given to me did not specify that it was a compound." Slightly affronted by the guard's aggressive behaviour, Zhi Rou stepped back a step.

Nodding, the guard stepped out of the way and cleared her confusion. "The Zhangs house is number four, it is just down the road. Please do not leave the path or trespass onto anyone's property."

As she walked past the guard and started down the street, Zhi Rou could feel his gaze on her back. Even though the street was filled with beautiful flowers and trees, Zhi Rou could still spot hidden cameras from several inconspicuous positions. Walking a bit faster she proceeded to the fourth mansion.

When she got to the mansion, Zhi Rou lightly let out a breath of air and walked up the path to ring the bell on the front door. After reaching out her hand and pushing the doorbell, Zhi Rou pulled back her hand and tucked her hair behind her ear nervously.

What followed was a brief period of silence, where all she could hear was her blood pulsing in her veins. The tips of her fingers and toes tingled as she waited. Just beyond to door light footsteps sounded amidst the silence. As the footsteps got closer Zhi Rou's heart started to beat slightly faster and her instinct to run away as fast as she almost surpassed her rational judgement telling her that nothing was wrong.

With a light click, the door was unlocked and pulled ajar. Out from the other side of the door poked the head of someone that was not much older than Zhi Rou. After a short pause, the teenager pulled the door fully open with a simile. "Welcome! I wasn't sure if you would come today, you just got back to the country after all." As he was talking he stepped outside with his hand outstretched. "My name is Zhang Wie. I don't think I have ever had the pleasure of meeting you but I have heard of your brilliant artwork from some juniors."

Nodding her head slightly, Zhi Rou gently reached out her hand clasped his. Unlike his warm exterior, Zhang Wie's hand was cool to the touch. His fingers lightly wrapped around hers in an icy embrace. "Yes, I don't think that we have ever met either. Are you in the arts?" Feeling slightly awkward from the long handshake, Zhi Rou tried to shift the conversation as she pulled back her hand.

"No, but I dabble." Smiling once again, Zhang Wie led her forward. As they passed by the front hall he asked. "Would you like anything to drink or eat before we get started? I can't cook myself but my grandma is an excellent chef."

Quietly shaking her head, Zhi Rou refused. Looking at the large, handmade rugs covering the tiled floors and the various expensive furniture she became slightly more reserved. Her hands nervously curled by her side and unlike her usual cheery smile, she kept on a rather forced expression of interest as Zhang Wei proceeded to explain the background of his family house and how it came to be.

Her family was considered well off and her dad owned a medium-sized construction company but compared to this, they were miles away. Therefore it was really weird that he would choose her as his tutor. With his wealth, he could easily have a group of experienced artists teaching him.