After Escaping Marriage - Chapter 25
Chapter 25
The sudden movement elicited gasps of surprise from the Class 7 students.
"Whoa!"
"Ahhh!"
A few girls' eyes widened, fixated on the scene, their gazes brighter than if they had used eye drops.
Lian Yabing, the math representative: My ship! It's sailing!
A cool breeze rustled the leaves overhead, sunlight filtering through the branches, illuminating the fine hairs on Cheng Zhanxi's face.
Yu Qingtang, looking into Cheng Zhanxi's beautiful hazel eyes, froze for a split second, then registered the warmth radiating from the hand pressed against her own, through the thin fabric of Cheng Zhanxi's shirt.
Women and men were inherently different. Men, with their naturally lower body fat percentage, often had clearly defined abdominal muscles – six-pack, eight-pack – hard as rocks. Women, however, were softer, their muscles less prominent, their lines more subtle and flowing.
But that softness wasn't weakness. There was a firmness, a tautness, the distinct feel of muscle, and beneath her fingertips, Yu Qingtang could sense a latent power, a potential for explosive strength.
It reminded Yu Qingtang of the descriptions of flexible swords in wuxia novels – "Bent like a hook with force, yet ringing like metal when released, then straightening like a bowstring." Soft as silk, yet capable of swiftly and decisively taking a life. Yielding like water, yet forged from steel.
Cheng Zhanxi shifted her grip, now holding Yu Qingtang's wrist, her breath shallow.
Yu Qingtang could feel the rise and fall of Cheng Zhanxi's abdomen beneath her palm, each breath a testament to her vitality. The lines of her abs, faintly visible, shifted gently with each inhale and exhale, a warmth emanating from her skin, enveloping Yu Qingtang's hand.
It was… a strange sensation.
Yu Qingtang had never been this physically close to anyone before, not even another woman.
People were different. The scent of fresh grass filled Yu Qingtang's nostrils, and a fleeting thought distracted her – Had Cheng Zhanxi changed her perfume? Or had the scent been carried by the wind on the field?
She had seen Cheng Zhanxi sweating from dancing. Why couldn't she smell it?
Cheng Zhanxi suddenly inhaled sharply, holding her breath.
The muscles beneath Yu Qingtang's palm tensed, the heat radiating from Cheng Zhanxi's skin intensifying. Yu Qingtang quickly withdrew her hand, taking a step back.
A faint sound echoed in her ears, the rhythmic thumping of her own heart, her eardrums throbbing.
Yu Qingtang's heart raced, her fingers twitching involuntarily. She took a moment to compose herself, masking her flustered expression with a calm facade as she looked at Cheng Zhanxi.
But beneath the surface, a flicker of annoyance at Cheng Zhanxi's deliberate teasing lingered.
Cheng Zhanxi smiled. "Well, Ms. Yu," she said, "after such a thorough examination, what do you think? Can you confirm it for my students?"
Yu Qingtang's eyes flickered. She suddenly realized, remembering her earlier distraction, that she had completely lost track of time and place. Had Cheng Zhanxi used this method to bring her back to reality? Was it her fault?
Ever self-reflective, Yu Qingtang immediately blamed herself.
Turning to her students, she said calmly, "Yes, she does have abs, and…" she had initially wanted to objectively describe how firm and toned they felt, but decided it wasn't appropriate for her students, so she rephrased her statement. "They're well-defined," she said.
The students erupted in a chorus of "Ahhh!!!"
So envious of their homeroom teacher!
Cheng Zhanxi smoothed her shirt, seemingly unfazed by the praise she was so used to receiving.
But inwardly, fireworks were exploding in her mind.
Actually, her initial intention had been to let Yu Qingtang touch her skin directly, which was why she had lifted her shirt. But firstly, with so many students watching, such a brazen act would be inappropriate, setting a bad example. As a teacher, she had to maintain a certain decorum. Secondly, Yu Qingtang was reserved and easily flustered. Too much too soon might backfire. This was just right. And thirdly, having just finished exercising, her stomach was still damp with sweat, not exactly ideal for Yu Qingtang's first intimate encounter with her.
What about that night, you ask? That night didn't count. Even at her most unrestrained, Yu Qingtang had only wrapped her arms tightly around Cheng Zhanxi's shoulders.
So, in the end, Cheng Zhanxi had only rolled up the hem of her shirt, straightened it, and let Yu Qingtang touch her through the fabric.
Yu Qingtang nodded slightly towards Cheng Zhanxi. "Ms. Cheng, please continue your lesson. I'll…"
Cheng Zhanxi interrupted her, feigning concern. "Is there something urgent you need to attend to, Ms. Yu? Did I interrupt you?" she asked.
"...No," Yu Qingtang replied.
She had simply come to observe Cheng Zhanxi's class, and hadn't expected to be dragged into verifying her abs.
Yu Qingtang paused, then, glancing at the Class 7 students sitting on the mats, said seriously, "I came to check on their class participation." Mainly, to check on their participation in Cheng Zhanxi's class.
The Class 7 students exchanged glances, their faces falling.
No! Why wouldn't she leave them alone, even during PE class? They were still children!
Cheng Zhanxi's heart soared.
No need for further explanations! She knew Yu Qingtang had used her students as an excuse to see her! She couldn't bear to be apart for even a short while!
Such a tsundere! So cute!
Cheng Zhanxi's affection for Yu Qingtang intensified.
Struggling to suppress her smile, she offered Yu Qingtang her small folding stool. "Please have a seat, Ms. Yu," she said.
Yu Qingtang declined politely. "No, thank you. I'll stand," she said.
"I'm not going to sit anyway. It's just going to waste. You might as well use it." Cheng Zhanxi, facing Yu Qingtang, placed her hands on Yu Qingtang's shoulders and gently pushed her down onto the stool, her voice soft and coaxing, like she was talking to a child. "Sit down and stay put," she said.
Yu Qingtang: "..."
Strangely, she obediently sat down and didn't move.
A gasp echoed from the students.
Ms. Cheng had tamed their homeroom teacher! As expected of the coolest teacher at No. 1 High!
Lian Yabing squealed silently, collapsing against her deskmate.
This was true love! Her ship was real!
Her deskmate patted her head, signaling for her to calm down in front of the "main characters."
Lian Yabing looked up and saw Yu Qingtang's calm, dark eyes on her, and quickly sat up straight, looking forward.
The break ended, and Cheng Zhanxi resumed the dance lesson.
Yu Qingtang watched for a while, then said goodbye to Cheng Zhanxi and left.
Cheng Zhanxi watched her go, craning her neck, her gaze unwavering. If a flood came, she would turn into a "Wang Fu Stone," forever waiting for her beloved's return. [Note: "Wang Fu Stone" (望夫石) refers to a rock formation said to resemble a woman waiting for her husband's return.]
When Yu Qingtang was finally out of sight, Cheng Zhanxi turned back and heard a few students giggling.
Among them was Tong Feifei, always at the forefront of gossip.
Tong Feifei asked, "Teacher, do you have a partner?"
Alarm bells went off in Cheng Zhanxi's mind. "Why do you ask?" she said cautiously.
Tong Feifei grinned. "The way you were looking at Ms. Yu just now… you looked like you liked her," she said.
Cheng Zhanxi looked at her without speaking, her expression turning serious.
Tong Feifei lowered her head.
The other students, sensing the shift in atmosphere, stopped smiling and looked down.
Cheng Zhanxi, deciding she had made her point, softened her tone. "Alright," she said, clapping her hands. "We have ten minutes left. Let's do two more rounds."
Before the end of class, Cheng Zhanxi announced some bad news.
"I have some personal matters to attend to, so I'll be taking two weeks off. Another teacher will be covering my classes. Please be respectful to the substitute teacher."
The class groaned, their shoulders slumping. "We'll miss you, Teacher," they wailed.
"I'll miss you too. I'll be back as soon as I'm done," Cheng Zhanxi said.
"But the sports meet is at the end of the month. Will you be back before then?" Tong Feifei asked anxiously.
"I'll try my best." Cheng Zhanxi thought she should be able to make it, but plans could change. If her schedule for the art exhibition suddenly changed, it wasn't impossible she might be delayed. She wouldn't make promises she couldn't keep.
The students looked at her expectantly.
Cheng Zhanxi repeated, "I'll try my best." She smiled. "Even if I can't make it back in time, you should still do your best in the competition. I'll be waiting to see your medals. Who has signed up so far? And for which events?"
The students replied listlessly.
Cheng Zhanxi clapped her hands. "Cheer up! It's not like I'm not coming back. A teacher's going on a trip. Don't you have any well wishes for me?"
"Have a safe trip!"
"Stay safe!"
"All the best!"
Amidst the chorus of well wishes, someone cheekily said, "May you live a long and prosperous life!" Cheng Zhanxi raised an eyebrow. "Who said that?" she asked, amused. "I'm not old enough to need wishes for longevity yet. I'll tell your Chinese teacher to make you write the definition of 'longevity' a hundred times."
The class ended in laughter.
Once Thursday afternoon arrived, the rest of the week flew by.
Before the end of school on Friday, Cheng Zhanxi confirmed the restaurant for their lunch date with Yu Qingtang: Yunmeng Restaurant. It was a traditional-style restaurant, with a tranquil, elegant ambiance, located in a quiet area with small bridges and flowing water, evoking the charm of a classic Jiangnan water town. It was considered mid-range in terms of pricing.
Yu Qingtang looked up the restaurant's location online. As expected, it was quite far from the old town where her grandparents lived.
She went out into the hallway to call Fang Wenjiao and tell her she wouldn't be home until Saturday.
Cheng Zhanxi, resting her chin in her hand, watched Yu Qingtang from the window. As usual, Yu Qingtang's expression was calm and composed, giving no indication that she was talking to her family.
Of course, Cheng Zhanxi was just assuming it was a family member. It might not be.
When Yu Qingtang returned to the office, Cheng Zhanxi casually asked, "Did you talk to your family?"
Yu Qingtang simply replied, "Yes," and sat down at her desk.
Cheng Zhanxi, covering her mouth with her hand to hide her surprise, was shocked. It really had been a family member.
Last Mid-Autumn Festival, Yu Qingtang had also taken the late-night bus back. Cheng Zhanxi was still unsure about Yu Qingtang's family background. Her clothes were ordinary, yet she had booked a presidential suite that night without hesitation. But as a Sicheng native, she should have a car.
Why hadn't anyone driven her home so late, leaving her to take the bus alone?
Were her family relationships strained? Or…
Yu Qingtang looked up at her. Cheng Zhanxi smiled and looked away, a sigh escaping her lips.
She hoped it wasn't what she was thinking.
When Yu Qingtang got home that night, she checked the Sicheng Art Museum's website again, and was surprised to see its location.
She hadn't been to the art museum in a long time. When she had looked up the restaurant earlier, she hadn't noticed it was in the same district as the museum, just a few hundred meters away.
She added another item to her weekend plan: Visit the art exhibition after lunch.
The weather was perfect that weekend – a cool, refreshing autumn breeze, the temperature just right, the sky a boundless blue. A perfect season for romance.
Cheng Zhanxi, having carefully chosen her outfit, arrived at Yunmeng Restaurant half an hour early.
As she waited, she imagined what Yu Qingtang would be wearing. Would she be in one of those elegant, flowing dresses she'd worn to the bar?
Ten minutes before their scheduled meeting time, Yu Qingtang appeared.
A black knee-length trench coat, black jeans hugging her long, slender legs, and Doc Martens. Her beautiful face was cold and aloof, her aura radiating a "don't come near me" vibe. Led by a server, she walked across the small bridge, a picture of cool elegance.
Cheng Zhanxi stood up with a smile, walked around to Yu Qingtang's side, and pulled out her chair like a gentleman.
"Thank you," Yu Qingtang said, nodding politely.
Cheng Zhanxi returned to her seat and handed Yu Qingtang the menu. "What would you like to eat?" she asked.
Yu Qingtang didn't take the menu. "I'm treating you," she said.
Cheng Zhanxi smiled. "It's practically the same thing," she said.
The server brought another menu from a nearby table. "We have another menu here. You can share," he said.
Cheng Zhanxi: "..."
So talkative.
Cheng Zhanxi tapped the menu in front of her. "What are your signature dishes?" she asked.
The server expertly described the dishes, and Cheng Zhanxi, leaning forward slightly, her voice soft, asked Yu Qingtang if she had any dietary restrictions. Yu Qingtang shook her head. She wasn't a picky eater, usually making do with whatever was available.
Cheng Zhanxi said, "I'm not picky either."
Yu Qingtang didn't understand why Cheng Zhanxi had suddenly looked at her while saying that, but she responded with a noncommittal "hmm."
A slightly surprising thought crossed her mind: A pampered heiress like her, and she's not a picky eater?
Yu Qingtang had given up on trying to take control of the situation. She would simply pay the bill at the counter and consider it her treat.
After ordering their dishes, they still needed to choose a staple food.
Cheng Zhanxi scanned the menu and asked Yu Qingtang, the local, "Which one do you recommend?"
Yu Qingtang, without hesitation, said, "Wumifan."
Wumifan, a glutinous rice dish cooked with herbs, was a local specialty. Cheng Zhanxi hadn't tried it before. When it arrived, she took a small bowl, and tasted it. It was soft, chewy, and slightly sweet.
"How is it made?" she asked Yu Qingtang.
Yu Qingtang, having never made it herself, was stumped. "...I don't know." Seeing Cheng Zhanxi's curious expression, she wanted to answer, but her mind blanked. "It's steamed with wumi, I think," she said.
Cheng Zhanxi was silent.
Yu Qingtang also fell silent.
Then Cheng Zhanxi burst out laughing. "Hahaha!" She put down her chopsticks, covered her mouth with a napkin, and, her eyes crinkling at the corners, said, "I'm sorry."
Yu Qingtang felt slightly embarrassed. "...It's fine," she said.
Cheng Zhanxi, tactfully trying to salvage the situation, asked, "What is wumi? Can you buy it at the supermarket?"
Yu Qingtang said, "I think they sell it in vacuum-sealed packages."
"I'll buy some later and try making it myself." Cheng Zhanxi said.
"You cook?" Yu Qingtang asked, surprised.
"Is that so surprising?" Cheng Zhanxi asked, amused.
"...No." Yu Qingtang pursed her lips, her impression of the heiress shifting slightly again. "Cooking is a lot of work," she said.
"I don't like the prep work – washing and chopping vegetables – but I enjoy the cooking process. Watching the ingredients transform into something I envisioned is very rewarding, like creating art. Life is full of interesting things. Sometimes, we just need to look closer to see them." Cheng Zhanxi, the inspirational speaker, had arrived.
Yu Qingtang tilted her head slightly. "What if you're not a good cook?" she asked.
Cheng Zhanxi was speechless.
Her frustrated expression was so amusing that Yu Qingtang couldn't help but smile, quickly looking down and taking a sip of soup to hide it.
"Yu Qingtang."
Cheng Zhanxi called her by her full name, her voice a mix of playful complaint and effortless aegyo, sweet and gentle.
Yu Qingtang's breath hitched, her heart skipping a beat. Her fingers tightened around her spoon. Slowly, she looked up at Cheng Zhanxi, her gaze questioning.
Cheng Zhanxi quickly smiled. "Nothing. Just calling your name," she said.
"Please call me Ms. Yu," Yu Qingtang said after a brief pause.
Cheng Zhanxi blinked. "Why?" she asked.
Yu Qingtang: "I'm used to it."
"But we're not at school. Isn't it weird to keep calling each other 'teacher'?"
"No, it's not." Yu Qingtang insisted.
"Then I'll call you by your name, and you can call me by my name or Ms. Cheng."
"…" Yu Qingtang couldn't exactly object to Cheng Zhanxi calling her by her name, so she acquiesced.
Ms. Cheng was not only multi-talented, but also a master of pushing boundaries.
Yu Qingtang couldn't do anything about it. She just hoped lunch would end soon.
Cheng Zhanxi finished her wumifan, not leaving a single grain behind, clearly enjoying it. Yu Qingtang refilled her teacup, and after Cheng Zhanxi had finished drinking, she waited a moment, then went to pay the bill.
With electronic payments being the norm, Yu Qingtang scanned the QR code with her phone, took the receipt, and left the restaurant with Cheng Zhanxi, who was standing behind her.
At the entrance, Yu Qingtang politely said, "Ms. Cheng, I'll see you…"
Cheng Zhanxi interrupted her. "I'm a little full. Would you mind walking with me for a bit, Ms. Yu? Just ten minutes, to help me digest. Then we can go our separate ways," she said.
Yu Qingtang: "Where's your car?"
"It's being repaired. I didn't ride it yesterday. Didn't you notice?" Cheng Zhanxi asked.
"…"
"…"
Cheng Zhanxi had taken a taxi to school the previous day, just for this scenario. But seeing Yu Qingtang's blank look, she knew it had been a wasted effort. Yu Qingtang clearly hadn't noticed.
It was hard to say who was more embarrassed.
Cheng Zhanxi broke the silence. "If you're busy, it's fine," she said. She could always "run into" Yu Qingtang at the art museum.
Yu Qingtang didn't reply.
Cheng Zhanxi smiled, then, suppressing the smile before it fully formed, nodded in farewell and walked away.
Mentally, she started counting down.
3, 2…
At 0.45, she heard footsteps behind her.
Yu Qingtang hadn't called out to her, but she had followed.
Out of professional courtesy, Yu Qingtang felt it would be too heartless to refuse, potentially damaging her relationship with her colleagues. But being too accommodating would only encourage Cheng Zhanxi's talkativeness. Lunch had been a constant barrage of Cheng Zhanxi's voice, a 360-degree surround sound experience. She just wanted some peace and quiet.
Halfway there, Yu Qingtang suddenly realized they were walking towards the Sicheng Art Museum.
"Ms. Cheng," Yu Qingtang said, stopping, "let's part ways here."
Cheng Zhanxi: "Huh?"
Yu Qingtang pointed to a bus stop nearby. "I'm taking the bus home from here," she said, her expression unchanged.
Cheng Zhanxi, feigning obliviousness, smiled. "Okay. Thank you for lunch. I'll be going home too. Let me know when you get home safe," she said.
"Okay." Yu Qingtang replied.
Yu Qingtang walked to the bus stop and watched as Cheng Zhanxi's figure gradually disappeared from view.
Half an hour later.
Yu Qingtang stood before the Sicheng Art Museum.
It was a weekend, and the museum was crowded with visitors. A banner hung outside, still looking new, announcing the Cheng Mo exhibition. Colorful flower baskets lined the entrance, and a large signboard displayed information about the artist. Some parents were reading the information aloud to their children, while groups of university students, identifiable by their backpacks, were also looking at the sign.
Yu Qingtang walked past them, joined the queue, and entered the museum.
The air inside was cool. Yu Qingtang found Cheng Mo's exhibition hall on the first-floor map and went straight there.
Yu Qingtang had underestimated Cheng Mo's popularity, or perhaps she had chosen the wrong time to visit. It was the week before the exhibition ended, and many people, like her, were there to see it before it closed. Every painting had a small crowd of admirers. Thankfully, the exhibition hall was quiet, and even those who were discussing the art kept their voices low.
Yu Qingtang started at the entrance, moving from one painting to the next as the crowds shifted.
After looking at four or five paintings, Yu Qingtang was ready to move on to the next one, but the person beside her didn't budge. She waited patiently for a while, but they remained motionless.
Yu Qingtang turned to look.
The person was standing with one arm crossed, the other hand supporting their chin, their gaze fixed intently on the painting.
That wasn't the surprising part. The surprising part was that it was Cheng Zhanxi, who had just parted ways with her half an hour ago.
Yu Qingtang: "!!!"
Hadn't she said she was going home???
Cheng Zhanxi, noticing her stare, turned around, frowning slightly. Seeing Yu Qingtang, her eyes widened in surprise. "Ms. Yu?" she exclaimed. "Weren't you going home?"
Short skit:
Cheng Zhanxi: As long as my mouth is fast enough, the problems won't catch up to me.
Yu Qingtang: I hope your mouth is as fast in real action.
Cheng Zhanxi: I'm not only fast but also flexible, so don't cry about it later.
Yu Qingtang: (*/w＼*)
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