The Calculated Confrontation

Scarlett held her ground, her focus entirely on Easton. "Thank you for your kindness," she said, "but we're not close. I can pay for myself."

Easton chuckled, "What's the criteria for closeness? Like what you have with Mr. Zhou?"

Scarlett neither confirmed nor denied. Easton continued, "You know, we could also be 'close', as close as you want."

His words were laced with flirtation, but Scarlett responded with a cool demeanor, "I'm not particularly close with Mr. Zhou either. I'm just a tutor hired by the Zhou family."

At this, Easton seemed surprised, "You're a teacher?"

He paused, then asked, "Do you teach art or dance?"

"Math and Physics," Scarlett replied.

A man who was drinking almost choked on his beverage, prompting laughter from Easton. "Is Mr. Zhou planning to go back to university?" he joked.

"I teach Jack Zhou, not Lucius Zhou," Scarlett clarified.