After Escaping Marriage - Chapter 16
Chapter 16
"Ms. Yu!"
Yu Qingtang, leaving the infirmary, walked towards the office building without looking back.
While half a head shorter than Cheng Zhanxi, Yu Qingtang was still 168cm tall, with long legs and good proportions, her stride almost as long as Cheng Zhanxi's, despite the 5cm height difference.
"Ms. Yu!" Cheng Zhanxi jogged to catch up.
The atmosphere had become awkward after the nurse's "girlfriend" comment.
Cheng Zhanxi, secretly delighted, had immediately noticed Yu Qingtang's sudden coldness. Yu Qingtang's usual expression was impassive, yet Cheng Zhanxi somehow sensed her displeasure and immediately clarified to the nurse, "We're just colleagues."
The nurse, having seen it all before, simply smiled knowingly, her expression implying she didn't believe them. "Sure, 'colleagues'," she repeated, her tone dripping with innuendo. "I understand."
Yu Qingtang thanked the nurse herself, took the ointment from Cheng Zhanxi, and left the infirmary.
Which led to the current situation.
"Ms. Yu!" Cheng Zhanxi reached out and grasped Yu Qingtang's wrist.
"Let go," Yu Qingtang said coldly, looking at her.
Cheng Zhanxi stood facing her, changing her grip to a gentler hold. "It was a misunderstanding. I already explained to the nurse. Don't be mad at me, okay?" she said patiently.
Most people, if unjustly blamed, would retort defensively, escalating the conflict or leaving a lingering resentment even after a superficial reconciliation. But Cheng Zhanxi was easygoing by nature, not one to dwell on things. And facing the person she admired, she was overflowing with tenderness, leaving no room for anger.
Her voice softened as she spoke, her posture almost pleading, her clear, expressive eyes reflecting a hint of grievance, making her appear vulnerable and endearing.
As the saying goes, "A woman who acts spoiled gets what she wants." A beautiful woman who knew how to act spoiled might not always get her way, but at least she wouldn't make people angry.
Yu Qingtang wasn't actually angry. She was simply experiencing a surge of emotions she didn't know how to process and wanted to be alone. With Cheng Zhanxi's sincere apology, it would be unreasonable for her to continue being upset.
In her twenty-seven years of life, words like "unreasonable" and "angry" didn't exist in her vocabulary.
No one had ever indulged her emotions.
After a long pause, she finally spoke, her voice low. "I'm not angry."
"Really?" Cheng Zhanxi's eyes lit up.
"Yes." Yu Qingtang regained her composure, her gaze calm as she asked, "Can you let go now?"
Cheng Zhanxi released her hand.
Yu Qingtang nodded and offered a belated "Thank you."
"What for?" Cheng Zhanxi knew she was thanking her for accompanying her to the infirmary, but she asked anyway, noticing a flicker of awkwardness in Yu Qingtang's eyes.
Turning a simple statement into a question, Yu Qingtang fell silent, mentally rephrasing her thanks.
Cheng Zhanxi, observing her carefully, said considerately, "For going to the infirmary with you? You're welcome."
Yu Qingtang hummed in agreement.
Her pursed lips relaxed, and her posture eased. Cheng Zhanxi, noticing these subtle changes, was further convinced that Yu Qingtang disliked and wasn't used to interacting with others. Even with someone she might like, she would try to avoid unnecessary conversation.
This raised a question: why would a brilliant graduate from Jinghua University choose to return to Sicheng to become a high school teacher, a profession that required constant interaction with large groups of people?
With her qualifications, she could have pursued a PhD, worked in a research institute, and shut herself away from the world. Wouldn't that have been a better choice?
Was she challenging herself?
Cheng Zhanxi suppressed her curiosity, deciding to wait until they were better acquainted before asking.
The scratches on Yu Qingtang's arm looked alarming. When she returned to the office with the ointment, the teachers who hadn't been present earlier expressed their concern. "What happened, Ms. Yu?"
Cheng Zhanxi, acting as Yu Qingtang's spokesperson, explained, "She was scratched by a crazy parent. Those long nails, like the Nine Yin White Bone Claw!"
The other teachers offered their sympathy and shared their own experiences with difficult parents. The veteran homeroom teachers, in particular, had endless stories to tell.
Wen Zhihan was among them.
Instead of joining the lively discussion, Wen Zhihan quietly walked over to Yu Qingtang, looked at her arm, and asked softly, "Are you alright?"
Yu Qingtang shook her head.
"Did you get the medicine?"
Yu Qingtang nodded.
"Remember to apply it."
Yu Qingtang nodded again.
"Try to keep the wound dry."
Yu Qingtang nodded a third time.
Although Cheng Zhanxi was chatting with the other teachers, she was observing them from the corner of her eye, her ears perked.
Hearing their exchange, she almost burst out laughing. Wen Zhihan's game was weak. No wonder she hadn't made any progress after seven years.
"What exactly happened?" Wen Zhihan finally asked the key question.
Yu Qingtang pursed her lips, seemingly reluctant to answer, but out of courtesy and a sense of obligation, she frowned slightly and decided to explain.
At that moment, Cheng Zhanxi walked over and smoothly interjected, "Ms. Yu is the injured party. I'll explain. I was there the whole time, and I was the one who took her to the infirmary."
Yu Qingtang, the "injured party" with a few scratches: "..."
Wen Zhihan, recognizing the challenge in Cheng Zhanxi's tone: "..."
She suddenly didn't want to hear the story anymore.
Cheng Zhanxi, ignoring Wen Zhihan's feelings, lowered her voice and recounted the events, emphasizing Yu Qingtang's dedication to her students, her composure under pressure, and Cheng Zhanxi's own heroism, quick thinking, and resourcefulness in rescuing her.
Yu Qingtang and Wen Zhihan: "..."
This woman was wasted as a teacher. She should be a storyteller.
Yu Qingtang, thankfully, didn't have to say a word.
Wen Zhihan, feeling dejected, returned to her desk.
Her desk had a prime location directly opposite Yu Qingtang's. All she had to do was look up to see her. But Yu Qingtang never looked at her directly, except when discussing work or settling accounts.
There was a saying about not oversharing with casual acquaintances. With Yu Qingtang, it was the opposite. They had a deep but superficial relationship – if the depth of a relationship could be measured by time.
Wen Zhihan had heard about the math prodigy in her freshman year. The student who always kept to herself, had the highest GPA, and consistently topped the rankings in competitions. It was no easy feat to stand out among such a talented group of students, especially for a woman, and even more so for the undisputed beauty of the math department.
Wen Zhihan had been curious about this exceptional person.
But they were in different departments. Wen Zhihan wasn't very sociable, and Yu Qingtang always kept to herself, so there hadn't been an opportunity to meet.
Wen Zhihan had imagined Yu Qingtang to be aloof and arrogant, her aura setting her apart from the crowd, a natural-born leader.
This image was shattered when she finally met Yu Qingtang in person.
It was early in the second semester of her freshman year. The lingering chill of winter still hung in the air, the trees bare, the air biting cold.
Wen Zhihan and her roommate were leaving the lab, heading to the cafeteria. While queuing at the food counter, her roommate nudged her and said, smiling, "Zhihan, weren't you always curious about the math prodigy? There she is. Do you want to meet her?"
Wen Zhihan followed her gaze.
Five or six students were queuing at the braised pork counter. Wen Zhihan scanned the line, her eyes settling on a slender girl.
A black knee-length coat, a black turtleneck sweater, black jeans, the only touch of color a bamboo green scarf. Her long black hair was tucked behind her ears, revealing her delicate earlobes. Her aura was understated, almost blending into the crowd. If it hadn't been for her roommate's pointing, Wen Zhihan wouldn't have noticed her.
"That's her?" Wen Zhihan asked incredulously.
"Yes," her roommate confirmed. "I've seen her before. I'm not mistaken."
Her roommate chuckled. "She's quite pretty. You can wait until she turns around."
Same-sex marriage wasn't legal yet during Wen Zhihan's university years, though it had been proposed and discussed several times, and rainbow flags were everywhere. It was only a matter of time. University campuses were generally open-minded, and many people were open about their sexual orientation. Her roommate, knowing Wen Zhihan was interested in women, smiled knowingly.
Wen Zhihan warned softly, "Don't jump to conclusions."
She glanced at Yu Qingtang's back again and swiped her card to pay for her meal.
Coincidentally, as they found a quiet corner to discuss their lab results, Yu Qingtang sat down at the next table.
Alone.
With a simple meal of one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and a bowl of soup.
Yu Qingtang slowly unwound her bamboo green scarf, placed it on the adjacent chair, and took a quiet sip of soup.
Wen Zhihan discreetly observed her.
Her face was unusually pale, her thin lips the only touch of color, her features delicate. Her aura was cold, not the arrogant coldness Wen Zhihan had expected, but rather a sense of calm detachment, an indifference to worldly concerns.
As Yu Qingtang finished her meal, Wen Zhihan, mustering her courage, finally spoke. "Hello, are you Yu Qingtang?"
Yu Qingtang paused, her spoon hovering over her bowl, and slowly looked up.
Only then did Wen Zhihan notice her deep double eyelids and beautiful, dark eyes, as captivating as the moonlight.
"Yes," Yu Qingtang replied, her voice cool and low.
She looked away again, seemingly dismissing the interruption.
Wen Zhihan, slightly embarrassed, didn't know how to continue. Her roommate, seeing her hesitation, stepped in. "We're from the physics department, your year. I'm Shu Yuan, and this is Wen Zhihan, Zhihan as in 'knowing a virtuous person's bones are unaffected by heat or cold.' Nice to meet you."
Wen Zhihan almost glared daggers at her roommate.
Yu Qingtang didn't even look up this time.
"Yes," she simply replied.
On their way back to the dorm, Shu Yuan said to Wen Zhihan, "Does the prodigy look down on us? She didn't even bother saying 'nice to meet you too.'"
Wen Zhihan, Yu Qingtang's solitary figure as she left the cafeteria still fresh in her mind, instinctively defended her. "Don't be ridiculous," she said softly.
Shu Yuan drew out her "oh," a playful smile on her face. "You say you don't like her, but it looks like love at first sight to me. Tsk tsk, love at first sight is all about lust. If I liked girls, I'd like the prodigy too. Conquering an ice queen is the most interesting challenge."
Wen Zhihan, lost in thought, didn't deny it.
Debating whether it was love at first sight was pointless.
Yu Qingtang had no friends, and Wen Zhihan wanted to be her friend.
Yu Qingtang's schedule was predictable: dorm, classroom, cafeteria, library. Wen Zhihan spent a semester figuring out her daily routine, her favorite study spot in the library, and then started engineering "chance" encounters.
It took her a whole year to get Yu Qingtang's WeChat contact information.
And that was as far as she got.
Yu Qingtang's life revolved around her studies, nothing else.
She wasn't unfriendly, not in a hostile or aggressive way, but her perpetually calm gaze made it difficult to engage her in conversation. She was like a pool of stagnant water, alive but lacking vitality.
Her only hobby, if it could be called that, was visiting art exhibitions.
She appreciated art but didn't seem to have a favorite artist. When asked, she simply replied, "None." Wen Zhihan had finally learned she admired a painter named Cheng Mo and had gathered a lot of information about her. Cheng Mo, a graduate of the Paris Academy of Fine Arts, around their age, was known for her abstract painting, Caelus, which she had completed during her university years. Her subsequent "Cross" series had become a favorite among collectors and a frequent highlight at auctions.
Wen Zhihan, lacking any artistic inclination, forced herself to read books on art appreciation, even consulting with experts, memorizing their analyses of Cheng Mo's work so she could discuss them with Yu Qingtang.
At one exhibition, Wen Zhihan, eager to discuss Cheng Mo, was cut off by Yu Qingtang, who, gazing at a painting, said indifferently, "I'm not interested."
Wen Zhihan had even used her family connections to acquire a Cheng Mo painting at a high price, only to have it politely declined.
What surprised Wen Zhihan the most was that Yu Qingtang, with her excellent academic record and a recommendation from her professors to study abroad, had even received offers, but had chosen to return to Sicheng after graduating with her master's degree to become an ordinary high school teacher.
Wen Zhihan didn't look down on the teaching profession, but she thought: Yu Qingtang's life shouldn't be like this.
She could have had a brilliant career. Why settle for an ordinary life without complaint?
Did she really have no complaints?
The hallway outside the office gradually became more lively as students came to submit their homework.
The math class representative for Class 7 handed Yu Qingtang the homework, reporting that two students hadn't submitted theirs, their names written on sticky notes attached to the top of the stack. Yu Qingtang nodded, her voice emotionless. "Thank you," she said.
The student, slightly intimidated by her, quickly replied, "It was no trouble at all."
She glanced at Wen Zhihan, who was looking at them, and greeted her politely. "Hello, Ms. Wen."
Wen Zhihan nodded back with a smile.
A cheerful voice suddenly called out from behind her, "Lian Yabing."
Lian Yabing, the math class representative, turned around and saw Cheng Zhanxi, her face just visible behind her computer monitor, and exclaimed, "Ms. Cheng!" she said. "You're here too?"
Cheng Zhanxi feigned annoyance. "Don't treat your PE teacher like she's not a teacher! I teach math too!" [Note: This is a reference to the internet meme "My math teacher is my PE teacher."]
Lian Yabing couldn't help but laugh.
Seeing her homeroom teacher's stern face, she quickly suppressed her laughter, clearly struggling.
Cheng Zhanxi took out a chocolate and offered it to her, smiling. "Here, this is for you."
Lian Yabing took the chocolate and happily returned to her classroom.
Cheng Zhanxi then took out another, ball-shaped chocolate, pulled back her chair, stood up, and placed it on Yu Qingtang's desk, her expression serious. "Ms. Yu, this is your appearance fee. Please accept it," she said solemnly.
Who wouldn't say Ms. Cheng is smooth after seeing this?
Short skit:
Wen Zhihan: I gave her a Cheng Mo painting, but she refused it.
Cheng Zhanxi: Giving someone a fish is not as good as teaching them how to fish. I am Cheng Mo, so I gave myself to her, and she accepted. (*/w＼*)
Later, in bed:
Cheng Zhanxi, crying and begging: I don't want it anymore...
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