After Escaping Marriage - Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Cheng Zhanxi was slightly taller than Yu Qingtang. As she held Yu Qingtang, her lips brushed against her ear, hidden by Yu Qingtang's hair, her delicate, snow-white earlobe faintly visible.
Cheng Zhanxi, exercising restraint, shifted her gaze, her eyes falling on the faint tear mole at the corner of Yu Qingtang's left eye.
Yu Qingtang's eyelids were lowered, her tear mole, usually accentuating her cold, aloof aura, now softened, her eyelashes trembling slightly. It seemed to hold a world of unspoken emotions, a fragile beauty.
Cheng Zhanxi thought of Van Gogh's "The Starry Night."
To her, Yu Qingtang was like the mysterious night sky in Van Gogh's painting, a swirling canvas of colors, a moon emerging from an eclipse.
A fantastical dream, yet also a tangible reality.
Facing this "night sky," Cheng Zhanxi was always cautious and gentle, yearning to understand her, to follow the path of the brushstrokes, yet also lost in the dazzling nebula, captivated and enthralled.
Enveloped in the familiar warmth of Cheng Zhanxi's embrace, Yu Qingtang looked down at the hand encircling her waist, her mind briefly blank. Then, gently, she pulled away.
"Thank you," she murmured.
"You're welcome," Cheng Zhanxi replied, her eyes bright, a smile playing on her lips.
Yu Qingtang, meeting her gaze, quickly looked away, flustered.
Cheng Zhanxi, composing herself, cleared her throat. "Why are you here alone?" she asked softly.
Yu Qingtang, still not quite used to Cheng Zhanxi's true identity as an artist, simply replied with a quiet "hmm," avoiding eye contact.
Cheng Zhanxi laughed. "Hmm what? I asked why, not what," she teased.
Yu Qingtang: "..."
Cheng Zhanxi: "Hmm?"
After a long pause, Yu Qingtang finally managed a response. "It's quiet up here," she said.
Cheng Zhanxi hummed thoughtfully. "Are you saying I'm too loud? Why are you moving further and further away from me every time we talk?" she asked.
Yu Qingtang, looking at the three steps that now separated them, silently closed the distance.
"Cheng Mo," she began.
"Cheng Zhanxi," Cheng Zhanxi corrected her. "That's my stage name."
"Cheng… Zhanxi." Yu Qingtang seemed to struggle with the pronunciation of the last two syllables, her voice soft, like a feather brushing against Cheng Zhanxi's heart.
Cheng Zhanxi resisted the urge to clear her throat and simply replied, her voice slightly hoarse, "Yes?"
"Ms. Cheng," Yu Qingtang said, reverting to the more formal address.
Cheng Zhanxi responded with another "yes."
They exchanged a brief glance, then quickly looked away.
Cheng Zhanxi's gaze fell on the lively competition below, while Yu Qingtang looked around the empty bleachers.
The wind blew across the stands, ruffling their hair.
"Aren't you going to watch the competition? Wu Peng just won first place in the 100m finals," Cheng Zhanxi said, breaking the silence, one hand smoothing her hair.
Yu Qingtang didn't reply.
Cheng Zhanxi, tactfully deciding not to press the issue, took a tissue from her pocket, wiped one of the seats clean, then smoothed Yu Qingtang's trench coat before sitting down, leaning back against the seat, a relaxed expression on her face.
"We have a great view from here. We can see the entire field," she said.
Yu Qingtang sat down beside her, a hint of melancholy in her expression.
Cheng Zhanxi's brow furrowed slightly.
A few minutes later.
"Ms. Yu."
"Yes?"
"Isn't it a bit windy up here?"
"…" Yu Qingtang looked at her. "Are you cold?" she asked.
Cheng Zhanxi nodded, and as if on cue, a gust of wind blew past, making her shiver slightly.
Yu Qingtang: "…Then let's go down."
Cheng Zhanxi's eyes widened slightly, surprised.
She had thought she would have to resort to her usual tactics, feigning helplessness, to get Yu Qingtang to go down to the field with her. She hadn't expected Yu Qingtang to be so proactive.
The stands and the competition field were separated, creating a sense of detachment. The cheers from the bleachers felt distant and impersonal. But standing by the track, watching the students running and cheering for their classmates, the starting pistol firing, the figures on the track shooting forward like arrows, sweat flying – the atmosphere was completely different, the youthful energy infectious.
Students lined the track, shouting at the top of their lungs, their faces red with exertion.
"Go! Go! Go!"
The passionate energy was contagious.
There weren't any Class 7 students on the track at the moment. Cheng Zhanxi cupped her hands around her mouth, using her height advantage to shout, "Go!"
Yu Qingtang: "..."
Some homeroom teachers stood at the finish line, their expressions serious, their fists clenched, ready to offer water and words of encouragement to their students as they crossed the finish line.
Not far away, at the long jump pit, a large crowd of students had gathered, obscuring the athletes. Only the occasional burst of excited chatter could be heard.
The judge, his neck adorned with a whistle and a stopwatch, his short-sleeved shirt damp with sweat, was fanning himself with a notebook, trying to maintain order. "Step back! Step back! If you keep pushing forward, you'll be the ones jumping!" he shouted.
The students briefly retreated, then, as the competition intensified, they surged forward again.
Despite the bright sunny day, the sky above the long jump pit was dark with a sea of heads.
Cheng Zhanxi, leading Yu Qingtang over, saw the judge waving his arms in the crowd and called out, "Mr. Wu!"
The judges were all PE teachers, with a few students assisting.
Mr. Wu looked up, his face lighting up. "Ms. Cheng!" he exclaimed. "Come and help me maintain order!"
"Coming!" Cheng Zhanxi replied.
Taking Yu Qingtang's wrist, she shielded her with her body and pushed through the crowd.
"Excuse me, excuse me."
Yu Qingtang, her eyes on Cheng Zhanxi's feet, felt the curious gazes of the students around her and self-consciously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
There was an empty table near the sandpit, for Mr. Wu to rest. Cheng Zhanxi, without hesitation, had Yu Qingtang sit down, then went to maintain order, preventing the students from crowding the edge of the pit.
Two student assistants, having measured the previous jump, reported to Mr. Wu, "2.08 meters."
Mr. Wu recorded the result, glanced at the list, and announced, "Next up, Yu Zhou!"
He looked at Yu Qingtang. "Your student, Ms. Yu," he said pointedly.
Yu Qingtang nodded.
Mr. Wu's smile faltered. Aren't you going to watch her jump? he wondered.
Just then, Cheng Zhanxi called out, "Ms. Yu!"
Yu Qingtang pointed at herself.
Cheng Zhanxi waved to her.
Yu Qingtang: "..."
She stood up and walked over to Cheng Zhanxi.
Cheng Zhanxi said, "It's Yu Zhou's turn. Let's go cheer her on."
Yu Qingtang: "..."
Yu Zhou came over from the waiting area. Seeing Yu Qingtang's impassive face at the edge of the sandpit, her heart sank. Then, she saw Cheng Zhanxi, who had returned from her trip, and her palms started to sweat.
Cheng Zhanxi smiled encouragingly at her.
Yu Zhou closed her eyes, took a deep breath, opened her eyes, mentally adjusted her target mark, and focused on the line in the sand.
Mr. Wu stepped back. "Ready," he called out.
Yu Zhou bent her knees, crouched down, swung her arms, and pushed off the ground, her slender figure arcing gracefully through the air…
Yu Qingtang's eyes followed her, her fingers curling around the fabric of her trench coat.
The students watching held their breath.
Yu Zhou landed steadily, her jump clearly longer than the previous one.
The two student assistants pulled out the measuring tape. "2.28 meters," they announced.
The students gasped.
Mr. Wu: "Another jump?"
Yu Zhou: "Yes, I'd like to try again."
They had two attempts for the standing long jump, the better score counting.
On her second attempt, Yu Zhou jumped 2.35 meters, the highest score so far.
Yu Zhou, her cheeks slightly flushed, walked towards Cheng Zhanxi and Yu Qingtang.
Cheng Zhanxi gave her a thumbs-up, praising her and asking, "Any other events today?"
Yu Zhou shook her head.
She had only signed up for the long jump.
Cheng Zhanxi: "Did the class monitor tell you I'm treating everyone to dinner after the competition?"
Yu Zhou nodded.
Yu Qingtang glanced at Cheng Zhanxi, her look clearly saying she hadn't been informed.
Cheng Zhanxi frowned slightly. "Where's the class monitor?" she asked Yu Zhou.
Yu Zhou looked around. "She has the 50m and 100m finals this afternoon. I don't know if she's finished yet. Maybe she's still on the track. Should I go look for her?" she offered.
Cheng Zhanxi: "We'll go ourselves later. You go have fun."
"Okay." Yu Zhou went to join her friends.
The long jump competition ended. Cheng Zhanxi and Yu Qingtang walked towards the track, Cheng Zhanxi's eyes forward, but her question directed at Yu Qingtang. "Are you and Li Lan having a disagreement?" she asked.
Yu Qingtang gave a quiet "hmm" in response.
As the sun began to set, the sky turning gray, the wind on the field picked up. Cheng Zhanxi, sensing the direction of the wind, moved to Yu Qingtang's other side, shielding her slightly. "What happened?" she asked.
Yu Qingtang looked down at the ground, hesitated, and then said, "I don't know."
"Have you asked her?"
"No."
"I'm planning to talk to her after the sports meet," Yu Qingtang said.
"Okay." Cheng Zhanxi replied.
The cheers from the track and field events grew louder, the tense atmosphere palpable.
"Ms. Yu."
"Yes?"
"Why didn't you congratulate Yu Zhou?"
"You already did," Yu Qingtang replied without thinking.
The students liked Cheng Zhanxi. With Cheng Zhanxi there, Yu Qingtang felt her own presence was unnecessary.
Cheng Zhanxi stopped walking and looked at Yu Qingtang, surprise and joy flickering in her eyes. "You…" she began.
Yu Qingtang: "???"
Cheng Zhanxi's heart soared. This was practically an admission of their close relationship! But she still said, her voice fair and impartial, "I understand what you mean, but I'm not you. You're their homeroom teacher. You spend much more time with them than I do. A homeroom teacher's responsibilities are also much greater than a PE teacher's. You hold a different position in their hearts."
Yu Qingtang pursed her lips. "I understand," she said.
But Li Lan hadn't seemed happy even when she had praised her.
The 50m and 100m finals for the girls' division were over. Li Lan had won first place in one and third place in the other. Just from what Cheng Zhanxi knew, Li Lan had already won four medals. She turned to Yu Qingtang, a sense of pride swelling within her. "Our class is doing so well in the sports meet. If we keep this up, we might even place in the top three overall," she said.
Yu Qingtang, remembering their synchronized dance performance, said, "They probably just want your approval."
Cheng Zhanxi countered, "Why not yours? I want your approval, Ms. Yu."
Yu Qingtang: "..."
Cheng Zhanxi chuckled. "Just kidding," she said. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. They're doing well because they're pushing themselves, proving themselves. It doesn't really have anything to do with us."
Yu Qingtang glanced at her and continued walking.
Cheng Zhanxi smiled and caught up.
The school radio announced the winners of the various events. Cheng Zhanxi spotted Li Lan sitting under a tree, a box of bottled water beside her, surrounded by a few other girls from Class 7, who were busy writing, one girl acting as a runner, delivering messages and collecting supplies.
"Ms. Yu, Ms. Cheng," the students greeted, their voices a mix of greetings and respect.
Cheng Zhanxi: "Don't mind us. Carry on with your work."
Li Lan took two bottles of water from the box and offered them to Cheng Zhanxi and Yu Qingtang.
Cheng Zhanxi took one. Yu Qingtang declined, and Li Lan put the bottle back.
Cheng Zhanxi, observing the interaction, noticed a subtle tension emanating from Li Lan.
Cheng Zhanxi thought for a moment, then said, "Ms. Yu and I have decided to treat everyone to dinner tonight. Have you told them already? And where are we meeting?"
Li Lan replied, "Under this tree," glancing at Yu Qingtang with a suspicious look.
Yu Qingtang said, "Ms. Cheng is treating everyone. I'm just tagging along."
Cheng Zhanxi: "..."
Just moments ago, they had been practically inseparable, and now Yu Qingtang was drawing such a clear line between them? Couldn't she see Cheng Zhanxi was trying to build rapport?
Li Lan's lips curved into a slight, self-deprecating smile.
Cheng Zhanxi, like a seasoned player carrying a team of newbies, took the students to a street food stall for barbecue. Yu Qingtang only spoke once at the beginning, a simple "Good work today, everyone," then remained silent throughout the meal, like a robot devoid of emotion.
Observing her interaction with her students at close range, Cheng Zhanxi finally understood Li Lan's earlier comment: "Her gaze is completely devoid of warmth. I feel like she doesn't even see us as human."
Yu Qingtang seemed emotionally detached from her students, perhaps deliberately suppressing her feelings.
Cheng Zhanxi understood Li Lan's dissatisfaction. As one of the class representatives who interacted with Yu Qingtang the most, she would be acutely aware of Yu Qingtang's aloofness. Parents were like a child's sky at home, and teachers held a similar position at school. At that age, children craved recognition and attention. Even adults, after entering society, constantly sought validation and a sense of purpose. Li Lan, with her proactive and enthusiastic personality, was constantly met with indifference, and over time, her enthusiasm had waned, replaced by resentment.
Cheng Zhanxi hadn't been a homeroom teacher herself, but from her recent research and theoretical understanding, she knew that this situation between Yu Qingtang and Li Lan couldn't continue. She hoped they would be able to talk things out after the sports meet.
But Cheng Zhanxi didn't anticipate how drastically things would change.
"Goodbye, teachers."
"Goodbye, teachers."
"Goodbye, everyone. Don't linger outside. Remember to message me when you get home safe," Cheng Zhanxi said.
After the students had left, only Cheng Zhanxi and Yu Qingtang remained at the barbecue stall.
Cheng Zhanxi suggested, "Want to take a walk?"
Yu Qingtang nodded.
The dim streetlights cast long shadows behind them.
Yu Qingtang seemed lost in thought, while Cheng Zhanxi, a smile playing on her lips, contentedly watched her.
Their shadows on the ground, hand in hand, their longing for each other growing with each step.
Cheng Zhanxi, resting her chin in her hand, her gaze becoming increasingly bold, wondered how long it would take Yu Qingtang to notice.
Yu Qingtang finally snapped out of her reverie and looked at Cheng Zhanxi, who, her expression innocent and composed, asked, "What's wrong?"
Yu Qingtang simply replied, "Nothing."
She tilted her head slightly, a subtle gesture easily missed, as if confirming whether the gaze she had felt had been real or just her imagination. The movement made her usually aloof face seem endearingly expressive.
Cheng Zhanxi smiled.
She suddenly remembered a ragdoll cat she had owned as a child, a lazy creature whose only hobby was sleeping on top of a low cabinet. Cheng Zhanxi would poke it playfully, and it would open its clear, blue eyes, tilt its head lazily, then bury its face in its paws and resume its nap.
Cheng Zhanxi suddenly wished she could have seen Yu Qingtang sleeping that night.
They had walked quite a distance without realizing it.
Cheng Zhanxi glanced at her watch. "Where do you live, Ms. Yu? I can give you a ride," she offered.
"No, thank you. I'll take a taxi," Yu Qingtang replied.
"Then call me when you get home," Cheng Zhanxi said.
"Okay." Yu Qingtang agreed.
Only after getting into the taxi Cheng Zhanxi hailed for her did Yu Qingtang realize Cheng Zhanxi had asked her to "call," not "message."
"See you tomorrow," Cheng Zhanxi said, closing the car door for her.
The back window, as before, slowly rolled down.
Yu Qingtang began, "You…"
Cheng Zhanxi, anticipating her question, quickly replied, "I'm Cheng Mo."
Yu Qingtang: "..."
Suppressing a smile, a hint of playful reproach in her eyes, she said, "I was going to say, 'Be careful.' See you tomorrow."
Cheng Zhanxi smiled. "Bye," she said.
"Yes," Yu Qingtang responded.
Yu Qingtang rolled up the window and gave the driver her address.
Cheng Zhanxi straightened up and watched as the taxi disappeared into the night.
It wasn't far from her apartment. She could run home in twenty minutes. Tying her hair back in a ponytail, she draped her trench coat over her arm and started running along the road.
The taxi, much faster than Cheng Zhanxi, reached Yu Qingtang's apartment first. Halfway there, Cheng Zhanxi's phone rang. It was Yu Qingtang.
"I'm home," Yu Qingtang said, her voice cool and echoing slightly because she was in her living room.
Cheng Zhanxi, slightly breathless, replied, "I'm almost there."
Yu Qingtang: "..."
Cheng Zhanxi: "..."
Such awkward conversation.
Having shared an intimate night, neither of them often dwelled on the memory. Yu Qingtang was indifferent to physical intimacy, having never even explored it on her own, and Cheng Zhanxi, prioritizing emotional connection, currently had much stronger emotional needs than physical ones.
But it had happened. Memories, like unexpected guests, would occasionally resurface, adding a touch of surprise to their lives.
Cheng Zhanxi stood in the cool night breeze, a utility pole beside her, glancing at the few pedestrians nearby, and touched her burning cheeks, using the back of her hand to cool them down.
Yu Qingtang looked down, her dark hair falling forward, concealing her slightly flushed ears.
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