After Escaping Marriage - Chapter 7
Chapter 7
"Get out of the way!"
As the man in the Hawaiian shirt impatiently growled, Cheng Zhanxi rushed forward, catching the woman he'd shoved just as she was about to fall.
The files the woman had been carrying scattered on the ground.
"Are you alright?" Cheng Zhanxi steadied her, quickly scooped up the fallen papers, and handed them back.
"I'm fine, thank you," a calm female voice replied.
Cheng Zhanxi had already turned to resume her pursuit, sprinting several meters, when something struck her. She abruptly looked back, her eyes falling on a familiar, slender figure.
Cheng Zhanxi's pupils constricted.
Could it be her?
The thief was nearing the corner, about to disappear. Cheng Zhanxi hesitated for a split second, then abandoned her attempt to confirm her suspicions and continued chasing the thief.
Yu Qingtang instinctively glanced back, but the street was as usual, people coming and going. The person who had helped her was gone.
Only a faint, lingering fragrance remained, a scent she seemed to recognize from somewhere.
...
The thief was apprehended and taken to the police station. The victim profusely thanked Cheng Zhanxi, and the female officer taking her statement joked that Cheng Zhanxi deserved a "Good Samaritan" award. The victim, considering the suggestion, seriously contemplated ordering a banner to present to Cheng Zhanxi.
Cheng Zhanxi quickly declined the offer.
After giving her statement, she left the police station and walked back along the street, pausing where she'd encountered Yu Qingtang.
—"Are you alright?"
—"I'm fine, thank you."
Cheng Zhanxi closed her eyes, replaying the brief encounter in her mind.
She had steadied the woman, and she had picked up something for her.
A light blue cover with writing on it.
In a fleeting glance, she'd seen elegant handwriting: Class 7, Grade 1. On the cover itself, printed in block letters, was the name of a high school.
Cheng Zhanxi opened her eyes, looked at the traffic light turning from red to green, and smiled.
A week later.
She got confirmation from Yu Jianxing.
"She's a high school math teacher at Sicheng No. 1 High School, homeroom teacher of Class 7, Grade 1. A recent graduate, just started this year."
Cheng Zhanxi held the phone in one hand, the other sketching idly with colored pencils on a sheet of paper.
Yu Jianxing, unable to contain her curiosity, asked, "How did you know?"
She had so many connections. While not exactly conducting a full-scale search, it was still more efficient than Cheng Zhanxi's blind luck.
Cheng Zhanxi finished sketching a woman's figure, seen from behind, shrouded in mist at the end of a rainbow, and chuckled. "Like you said, fate will bring us together."
Yu Jianxing: "..."
She'd just been making conversation. Only a fool would take that seriously.
Hearing the amusement in Cheng Zhanxi's voice, Yu Jianxing asked, "Are you serious?"
"Why would I lie to you?" Cheng Zhanxi briefly recounted the encounter while chasing the thief. Yu Jianxing expressed her amazement, then joked that perhaps she should try catching a thief herself, in case she stumbled upon a girlfriend.
Cheng Zhanxi ruthlessly punctured her fantasy. "With your stamina, you'd be lucky to keep up with a snail, let alone a thief. And if you did catch up, would you be the one beating him up, or the other way around?"
Yu Jianxing hung up angrily.
Cheng Zhanxi finished her sketch, washed her hands, and called her assistant.
"Cheng Mo."
"Please cancel my flight next week. I'm staying in Sicheng a while longer."
"Alright."
Cheng Zhanxi hadn't planned to stay in Sicheng long. Her temporary residence was meant to be for a month or two, extended only because Yu Jianxing had complained of being bored. In the past six months, Cheng Zhanxi had explored all the places she wanted to see in Sicheng. If it weren't for the one-night stand with Yu Qingtang, she would have left already.
The convenience store, the bar, and now this chance encounter. Third time's the charm. This was clearly a sign from the heavens, telling her to seize this fate.
Standing by the large window, gazing at the view, Cheng Zhanxi held a cup of tea, a bright smile on her face.
Yu Qingtang.
She took a sip of tea, returned to her desk, and opened the Sicheng No. 1 High School website.
Mid-September, 6:30 a.m.
The sun peeked through the clouds, casting a pale golden light.
The gates of Sicheng No. 1 High School, a prestigious institution, had been renovated two years prior. The imposing dark gray structure befitted its status.
Cars lined the street, dropping off students. Some students, bags in hand, bid farewell to their parents inside. Bicycle bells rang as others skillfully weaved through the traffic, plastic bags of breakfast hanging from their handlebars, before entering the school gates, their oversized uniforms billowing in the wind.
School had been in session for half a month, and the students had mostly adjusted to the routine. But in the early morning, the students in their uniforms still seemed somewhat sluggish, their youthful faces carrying a mix of sleepiness and energy as they walked in groups towards the school gates.
Snippets of conversation drifted through the air—
"What homework did we have again? Math and physics worksheets, an English essay... anything else?"
"Chemistry workbook, Chapter 1, Section 2."
"Oh no! I forgot! Can I copy yours later?"
"We have an English dictation today. Did you memorize the vocabulary?"
"Oh crap, I'm dead!"
"You can memorize them during morning reading. English class isn't until third period. We have time."
"No time! I'm going to run to class!"
"Wait for us—"
Just then, a deep, rumbling engine roared from behind them. The student who had forgotten his homework turned around.
A flash of silver, like lightning streaking across the sky, suddenly appeared, speeding past before he could get a clear look, ruffling his hair. He instinctively closed his eyes.
By the time the sudden gust had subsided and his classmates caught up, his mouth was still hanging open in an "o" shape.
—What the heck just flew past?
The silver heavy motorcycle sped towards the school gates, drawing stares and gasps of astonishment, and came to a flamboyant stop.
Or rather, it was stopped by the head disciplinarian, who was monitoring the school entrance.
"Stop! What do you think you're doing?! Which class are you in?! Take off your helmet!" the disciplinarian barked, his face livid as he glared at the unruly "student."
The boys and girls at the gate stopped and whispered amongst themselves, wondering which unlucky soul had been caught.
The motorcyclist removed her helmet, shaking out her long chestnut curls. Holding the helmet in one arm, she pulled out her ID card.
"I'm not a student," Cheng Zhanxi said with a smile. "I'm the new PE teacher."
Under the clear blue sky, the tall, beautiful woman, straddling her sleek silver motorcycle, her long legs resting comfortably on the ground, her chestnut hair flowing in the wind, looked like a scene from a movie.
Gasps and exclamations erupted from all directions.
The students stared, mesmerized.
The disciplinarian took Cheng Zhanxi's ID, checked the name and photo several times, then waved her through.
Cheng Zhanxi put her helmet back on, revved the engine, and rode into the school grounds, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
The students were still in a daze.
The disciplinarian put his hands on his hips and said sternly, "Class is about to start. Hurry up and get inside."
The students scattered.
The disciplinarian continued his patrol.
"Why aren't you wearing your ID card? Which class are you in?"
"Zip up your jacket and wear your ID card on the outside."
"Young man, your hair is too long. Do you need me to cut it for you?"
"The bell has rung! Stop dawdling and run! Quickly!"
In the first-year teachers' office.
Yu Qingtang sat at her desk, scrolling through the electronic files of her Class 7 students, pausing for several seconds on each name and photo.
Other teachers watered plants, made tea, prepared lessons, or graded papers. The quiet room was punctuated by occasional snippets of conversation.
A knock came at the door.
The teachers instinctively looked up.
Yu Qingtang did too, but only after finishing the page she was reading, a couple of seconds behind the others.
Ms. Sun from the administration office... Yu Qingtang, who had slight prosopagnosia, thought, that must be Ms. Sun, right?
Short hair, black-rimmed glasses, a little over 1.6 meters tall... Matching these characteristics with the person before her, Yu Qingtang confirmed it was indeed Ms. Sun.
Having identified one person, she turned her attention to the unfamiliar woman beside her.
Long chestnut hair, no glasses, clearly over 1.7 meters tall, dressed in white and black, a pretty face...
Before she could search her memory, Ms. Sun introduced the woman with a smile. "This is Cheng Zhanxi, our new PE teacher."
Cheng Zhanxi's smiling gaze fell on Yu Qingtang's face, expecting to see some flicker of recognition, but instead, she saw the same familiar blankness.
The smile slowly faded from Cheng Zhanxi's lips.
She didn't recognize her again???
First step in pursuing my wife: Make my face-blind wife remember my face.
Cheng Zhanxi: My life is so hard.jpg
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