After Escaping Marriage - Chapter 11
Chapter 11
"Are you free later?"
Cheng Zhanxi's eyes widened slightly, her mind racing.
It was not yet four in the afternoon. If they left school now, they could catch a movie. What movies were playing? After the movie, they could have dinner. As the city lights came on, they could stroll along the riverbank, a perfect setting for a budding romance. The gentle river breeze would tangle their hair, and they would exchange a smile...
Imagining the scene, Cheng Zhanxi's heart fluttered, a smile playing on her lips.
A flicker of puzzlement crossed Yu Qingtang's face. Had Cheng, the medical report, spaced out?
She didn't interrupt her, waiting for her to return to reality.
When Cheng Zhanxi snapped back, she saw Yu Qingtang's indulgent expression, a wave of sweetness washing over her.
She replied softly, "Yes, I am."
Yu Qingtang furrowed her brows almost imperceptibly, ignoring the PE teacher's unusual behavior, and said in a businesslike tone, "I need to talk to you."
It was after-school hours. Students' laughter and chatter echoed from the hallway, and the teachers in the office were engaged in lively conversations. It was hardly a good time for a private chat.
Leaving together now would attract too much attention, so Cheng Zhanxi returned to her desk, less than two meters away from Yu Qingtang's. From her seat, she could clearly observe Yu Qingtang's expression, which was as impassive as ever.
This only made it seem more suspicious.
Cheng Zhanxi played along, reopening the book she had been reading earlier.
Looking down at her book, she felt Yu Qingtang's gaze linger on her for a moment before shifting away.
The bell for the third period rang. Most of the teachers left for their classes, while a few remained, continuing their conversations.
"Ms. Cheng," Yu Qingtang's voice called from beside her.
Cheng Zhanxi looked up, her gaze gentle. "Are we going now?"
Yu Qingtang asked, "Going where?"
"Didn't you say you wanted to talk to me?"
"We can talk here."
"Here?" Cheng Zhanxi lowered her voice, glancing at the three other teachers in the office.
"Yes." Unaware of Cheng Zhanxi's thoughts, Yu Qingtang pulled up a chair and sat facing her, their eyes meeting.
Cheng Zhanxi: "..."
W-was Ms. Yu always this bold?
Yu Qingtang: "I mainly..."
Cheng Zhanxi's inner monologue: Yes, I like you.
Yu Qingtang: "wanted to ask you..."
Cheng Zhanxi's inner monologue: To confess! I know! If you like me too, let's start dating right now!
Yu Qingtang: "...about the class."
Cheng Zhanxi's smile froze.
Yu Qingtang: "There are a few rather mischievous boys in my class. Did they cause any trouble during your lesson?"
Cheng Zhanxi looked down and noticed the notepad and pen on Yu Qingtang's lap, her posture that of someone diligently preparing to take notes.
Cheng Zhanxi's expression softened, and she replied casually, "No, they were all very well-behaved."
"Can you tell me more about it?"
Yu Qingtang, a conscientious new homeroom teacher, listened attentively as Cheng Zhanxi recounted the entire lesson, describing each student's behavior in detail. Yu Qingtang diligently took notes, occasionally looking up with a polite, focused expression.
At such close proximity, Cheng Zhanxi couldn't help but gaze into Yu Qingtang's eyes, the very eyes that had captivated her from the start.
Typically, as people age, their eye color lightens. Only children have eyes like dark, sparkling grapes. But Yu Qingtang's irises were still a deep, tranquil black, comparable only to the cool glow of the moon.
Cheng Zhanxi's mind wandered, a fleeting image of another pair of familiar eyes flashing in her memory, too quickly for her to grasp.
...
"Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Cheng," Yu Qingtang said, her formal tone and calm voice shattering any remaining romantic illusions Cheng Zhanxi might have harbored.
Cheng Zhanxi maintained her smile. "You're welcome. Is there anything else, Ms. Yu?"
"No, that's all." Yu Qingtang thanked her again.
"Aren't you going to treat me to dinner?" Cheng Zhanxi joked.
Yu Qingtang paused, then nodded. "How about tomorrow at noon? In the cafeteria?"
The food at Sicheng No. 1 was quite good, and teachers received meal subsidies, so most of them preferred to eat in the cafeteria. There were restaurants nearby, but they weren't as good, and going further afield would seem too formal.
Although inexperienced in relationships, Yu Qingtang had enough common sense to avoid any potentially misleading actions.
Cheng Zhanxi twirled her red pen, a smile playing on her lips. "Sure."
"Okay."
Yu Qingtang nodded politely and returned to her desk.
First-year students had evening self-study sessions. While it wasn't Yu Qingtang's turn to supervise tonight, as a new homeroom teacher, she had made it a habit to stay until the session ended, returning home with her students, in case of any incidents. Her apartment was in the city center, just across the street from the school, a convenient ten-minute walk away.
Cheng Zhanxi waited until school ended, retrieved her motorcycle from the staff parking lot, and headed home.
The school speed limit for motor vehicles was 20 km/h. Cheng Zhanxi, wearing her helmet, rode her flashy white Ducati at a snail's pace through the campus.
Under the students' watchful eyes, she rode out of the school gates, revved her engine, and merged into the traffic, disappearing in a cloud of dust.
The students at the gate, watching her go, were momentarily stunned before erupting in excitement.
"Whoa! That bike is so cool!"
"Damn! A Ducati Diavel! The Ferrari of motorcycles! Is He Wenhong riding it?" (Note: He Wenhong is a school bully's name)
"Are you blind? That's clearly a woman! She has long hair!"
"Hey, I heard the school has a new PE teacher. Is that her?"
"I haven't heard anything about it. Tell us more!"
Cheng Zhanxi became famous on her first day. Photos taken by students at the school gate that evening appeared on the online forum – a tall, slender woman leaning over her motorcycle, the sleek silver Ducati gleaming like a shooting star against the backdrop of the setting sun.
With photographic evidence, the forum exploded with activity.
The photo, reminiscent of a nostalgic romance movie, quickly went viral.
According to a student from Class 7, Ms. Cheng was not only beautiful and cool but also super nice.
Students from other classes formed groups, determined to catch a glimpse of the new teacher.
Ms. Cheng was on her way to becoming a school celebrity, completely oblivious to her newfound fame.
Cheng Zhanxi was currently staying at a friend of Yu Jianxing's, a bit far from the school. During rush hour, the commute took at least half an hour. Today, unfortunately, she was stuck in traffic. By the time she got home, the last rays of sunset had faded, replaced by a dark sky dotted with stars.
Cheng Zhanxi parked her motorcycle, took the elevator upstairs, and entered the apartment. She rinsed rice, started cooking dinner, and took out ingredients from the refrigerator, preparing two dishes.
Her years of studying abroad had honed her culinary skills. She even found time to artfully arrange the food on the plates.
For her, life was meant to be enjoyed. Every moment was precious, even those spent idly.
Yu Jianxing called just as Cheng Zhanxi had finished showering. Sitting at her desk, she answered the phone.
"What are you doing?"
"Reading."
"What are you reading?"
Cheng Zhanxi checked the cover of her book. "Educational Psychology," she replied.
Yu Jianxing almost choked.
"Are you changing careers?"
"No," Cheng Zhanxi said, returning to the page she was reading. "I'm a teacher now, so I'm doing some extra studying."
Beside her lay a stack of books: Exercise Physiology, Sports Psychology, Sports Training, and so on. Cheng Zhanxi was an athlete herself, having acquired numerous certifications in her more adventurous days, even venturing into the rainforest alone to paint. But those skills and knowledge were for her personal pursuits. Now that she was teaching students, she needed to be properly prepared.
"Seriously? You're really planning to be a teacher?" Yu Jianxing asked incredulously.
"I am a teacher," Cheng Zhanxi said, her voice firm.
"...I understand."
As Cheng Zhanxi's close friend, Yu Jianxing knew her well. She was strict with herself and lenient with others. If she was a teacher, even just a PE teacher, a subject not counted in the college entrance exams, she would hold herself to the highest standards.
Being friends with Cheng Zhanxi was always a pleasant and comfortable experience.
Yu Jianxing tried to pry into her friend's love life, but with no real leads, she quickly lost interest and ended the call.
Cheng Zhanxi finished reading, jotted down a few notes, practiced her basic drawing techniques in her studio, checked her email, and confirmed the dates for an upcoming art exhibition in Italy next month with her former teacher who had invited her.
After finishing everything, she turned off the lights and went to bed.
Yu Qingtang got home around 10 p.m. There was bread in the refrigerator. She checked the expiration date – one day left. She ate it with some milk that still had two days left before expiring.
She glanced at "Blizzard" hanging on the living room wall and went to take a shower.
After her shower, she towel-dried her hair, then stood by the bedroom window, lost in thought for a long time. Her hair still damp, she didn't bother drying it further, simply lay down on her pillow and fell asleep, her brows furrowed in her sleep.
Having learned from her students that Yu Qingtang arrived at Class 7's door at 6:50 a.m., Cheng Zhanxi moved her morning exercise routine an hour earlier, arriving at school at 6:30 a.m.
Apart from homeroom teachers, few teachers arrived so early.
The hallway outside the first-year teachers' office was deserted. Cheng Zhanxi, carrying breakfast for two and a stack of books, was about to enter the office when she heard voices inside.
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