After Escaping Marriage - Chapter 30
Chapter 30
An awkward silence fell between them.
The sound of Cheng Zhanxi's breathing, amplified by the quiet surroundings, echoed in Yu Qingtang's ears, merging with memories of that night.
Cheng Zhanxi, her toes brushing against the curb, hugged her trench coat tighter, as if embracing another body pressed close to hers. Licking her dry lips, she offered a somewhat unconvincing explanation. "I was running," she said, her voice slightly hoarse.
Yu Qingtang's lips moved. She had wanted to say, "I just got here," but in this context, it would only fuel speculation.
So, she refrained from asking why Cheng Zhanxi was running so late at night, ending the conversation with a noncommittal "Be careful." The call had ended in a way neither had predicted.
Listening to the dial tone, Cheng Zhanxi smiled to herself.
"I'm home."
"I'm almost there."
Did being in love make you think of suggestive things all the time? It had been a completely innocent conversation.
Yu Qingtang had been the one to overthink first. If Yu Qingtang hadn't suddenly fallen silent, Cheng Zhanxi wouldn't have interpreted it in that way.
Yu Qingtang was not only a tsundere, but she was also a walking contradiction, going from calm to anxious in seconds. So cute!
Cheng Zhanxi's heart melted, and she stood still for a while before continuing her run home. Reaching the entrance to her complex, she glanced back. Her apartment was located southeast of Sicheng No. 1 High School. It usually took twenty minutes by motorcycle, thirty during rush hour. Yu Qingtang went home for lunch every day, so she probably lived nearby. Her current location was inconvenient if she wanted to pursue Yu Qingtang.
There wasn't even a convenient opportunity to give her a ride home.
Should she find a new place?
Yu Jianxing had returned to the capital after completing her project. Cheng Zhanxi, unwilling to impose on Yu Jianxing's friends, opened a rental website and searched for apartments near Sicheng No. 1 High School.
The school was located only a couple of streets away from the city center. The transportation and facilities were better than where Cheng Zhanxi was currently living. She added a few listings to her favorites, planning to call a real estate agent.
After two hours in her studio, Cheng Zhanxi changed, cleaned the paint from her clothes, threw them in the washing machine, and took a shower. She hung up her clothes to dry and then went to bed.
Before sleeping, she texted Yu Qingtang: [Goodnight]
Yu Qingtang replied instantly: [Goodnight]
Cheng Zhanxi glanced at the time on her phone: after midnight.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Still awake?
[Yu Qingtang]: Preparing lessons.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Compared to you, I'm ashamed of my laziness.
[Yu Qingtang]: You're not even a teacher.
[System notification: Yu Qingtang has withdrawn a message.]
[Cheng Zhanxi]: I saw that. [Sulky emoji]
[Yu Qingtang]: That's not what I meant. I don't look down on PE teachers.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: You're so quick to respond now?
Yu Qingtang: "..."
Seeing the "typing…" indicator appear and disappear on her screen, Cheng Zhanxi typed, [Don't you know what to say?]
The "typing…" indicator disappeared, replaced by a reply:
[Yu Qingtang]: Mmm…
Cheng Zhanxi, initially leaning against her headboard, collapsed onto the bed, holding her phone, completely charmed by her imagined version of Yu Qingtang biting her lip, unsure how to respond.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: I drew you an emoji while I was in Florence.
Cheng Zhanxi had initially wanted to say she had drawn it because she missed Yu Qingtang, but that was too direct, too forward for their current, delicate stage of the relationship.
[Yu Qingtang]: What?
Cheng Zhanxi sent her the edited emoji.
[Ttang doesn't know, it's not Ttang's fault.gif]
It was a small animated figure, sitting upright and shaking its head, dressed in a black trench coat and black trousers, its expression a mix of indifference and cuteness, resembling Yu Qingtang.
Yu Qingtang: "..."
So cute.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: What do you think?
Yu Qingtang, receiving a custom-made emoji from a renowned artist, found it endearing and replied sincerely, [It's beautiful].
[Cheng Zhanxi]: If you don't know what to say, you can always send emojis. Do you have any ideas? I can draw it for you. This one was simple.
Yu Qingtang suddenly remembered the "Crying Cheng Zhanxi" and "Rolling on the floor crying" gifs Cheng Zhanxi had sent her. At the time, she had thought they were custom-made, but now she realized Cheng Zhanxi had drawn them herself. Reflecting on this, Yu Qingtang realized that appearances could be deceiving. Or perhaps, it was more accurate to say, appearances could be misleading when people were excessively talkative.
[Yu Qingtang]: I don't really use emojis. I'm sorry, but thank you.
Cheng Zhanxi's eyes widened.
What was with the formality?
Yu Qingtang withdrew her message and sent another.
Cheng Zhanxi, assuming she had made a mistake, said, [I'm going to bed now. We have to wake up early tomorrow. You should get some sleep too].
Yu Qingtang replied with a "Goodnight" and put down her phone, rubbing her face, trying to calm her racing heart.
She felt like a starstruck fan, comfortable in Cheng Zhanxi's presence, but at a distance, she found herself placing Cheng Zhanxi on a pedestal, awestruck by her talent and the ease with which she reached out, even sharing a custom-made emoji…
Taking a few deep breaths, Yu Qingtang put the entire episode out of her mind and returned to watching the online teaching videos, diligently taking notes.
Yu Qingtang treated teaching as a job, but she wasn't careless. She strove for excellence in everything she did. As a student, she had been a top student, and now, as a teacher, she was dedicated to improving her students' academic performance.
After showering, her wet hair drying naturally, Yu Qingtang closed her computer, reviewed her notes, then went to bed.
Saturday was the second day of the sports meet.
The relay race and tug-of-war were the highlights of the morning, followed by the faculty's competition in the afternoon. The teachers' events focused mainly on participation, with only a few events such as 100m sprints, relay races, cycling, and long jumps. It was a chance for the students, who had been competing all day, to relax and see their teachers' athleticism, creating a sense of camaraderie.
The teachers met directly at the field, no need for classroom assembly. The competition started at 9 a.m. Yu Qingtang arrived around 8:50 a.m. and immediately spotted Cheng Zhanxi standing under a tree near the entrance.
Cheng Zhanxi, seeing her, beamed, and walked towards her.
Yu Qingtang blinked, momentarily taken aback.
Cheng Zhanxi was dressed in a stylish white-and-gold athletic outfit, her figure elegant and athletic, the sunlight catching her long lashes, illuminating her face. She looked gentle and kind.
As Cheng Zhanxi approached, she seemed to become shy, her steps slowing, her hands clasped behind her back, her lips lightly biting her lower lip before she finally spoke, her voice soft and sweet.
"Good morning," she said.
Yu Qingtang resisted the urge to clear her throat. "Good morning," she replied.
"Have you had breakfast?" Cheng Zhanxi asked.
"Yes, on the way," Yu Qingtang replied, looking around casually. "Where are the students?" she asked.
Cheng Zhanxi: "They're already at the competition field, ready to go."
Yu Qingtang, her expression natural, opened her water bottle and took a sip. "Do you want to watch them?" she asked.
Cheng Zhanxi, wanting to spend more time with Yu Qingtang, said, "Whatever you want. Do you want to go?"
Yu Qingtang: "I'll follow your lead."
"Then let's go later," Cheng Zhanxi said, leading her to a secluded spot on the bleachers, taking out a tissue, and placing it on the ground for Yu Qingtang to sit. The location was ideal, offering a good view of the field, allowing them to hear the students cheering without being overwhelmed by the noise, creating a romantic atmosphere in the midst of the lively competition. This was where she had been waiting.
Yu Qingtang, as usual, was quiet, and most of the talking was done by Cheng Zhanxi.
"Yang Li asked me to participate in the faculty's sports meet, but they said PE teachers have to be judges, not participants! Isn't that outrageous?" Cheng Zhanxi exclaimed.
Yu Qingtang glanced at Cheng Zhanxi's athletic outfit. So that's why, she thought.
Cheng Zhanxi continued, "Do PE teachers have no dignity? Why can't PE teachers compete against PE teachers? It's fair and perfectly reasonable! Do you know what our PE head said?"
Cheng Zhanxi paused for dramatic effect, her face radiating "ask me! ask me!" energy.
Yu Qingtang waited a moment, then asked, "What did he say?"
Cheng Zhanxi imitated the PE head's tone, sighing dramatically. "Xiaocheng," he said, "PE teachers can compete against PE teachers, but men and women can't compete together. We only have one female PE teacher in our school. How can you compete alone?"
Yu Qingtang: "..."
She smiled subtly, looking away.
Cheng Zhanxi said, "Ms. Yu, why don't you become a PE teacher? I'll let you win at the sports meet. You'll get first, and I'll get second. We'll take the top two spots," she said playfully.
Yu Qingtang refused. "No."
Cheng Zhanxi suddenly grabbed her wrist, using her thumb and index finger to measure Yu Qingtang's wrist. The warmth of her fingers against Yu Qingtang's cool skin sent a shiver down Yu Qingtang's spine. She froze, staring at Cheng Zhanxi.
Seeing Yu Qingtang's reaction, Cheng Zhanxi's heart softened. She really is like a cat, she thought.
Cheng Zhanxi held her slender wrist. "Ms. Yu, don't you think you need to exercise more? You're too thin. Look, my thumb sticks out a lot," she said.
Yu Qingtang said objectively, "Your fingers are just long."
Cheng Zhanxi glanced at her, her expression meaningful.
Yu Qingtang, choosing to ignore the implication, said casually, "I don't like exercising."
Cheng Zhanxi smiled. "Then do you like to lie down?" she asked.
Yu Qingtang shook her head.
Cheng Zhanxi continued, "If you don't like exercising or lying down, do you like to stand still?"
"…" Yu Qingtang's lips curved upwards, then quickly flattened again.
She gently pulled her hand away, her gaze downcast. Her tear mole, usually hidden, was now clearly visible in the sunlight.
Cheng Zhanxi, exercising restraint, picked up her water bottle and took a sip.
She couldn't hug her, couldn't kiss her, so to avoid any unwanted thoughts, Cheng Zhanxi kept talking, chattering incessantly, regardless of whether Yu Qingtang responded.
Crack.
A crack appeared in Yu Qingtang's idealized image of Cheng Zhanxi.
"Ms. Cheng," Yu Qingtang said, her voice soft, interrupting Cheng Zhanxi's latest gossip.
Cheng Zhanxi stopped talking immediately. "Yes?" she said.
"Let's go watch the competition," Yu Qingtang said.
"Okay."
Cheng Zhanxi stood up first, bending slightly as she reached out to help Yu Qingtang up. Yu Qingtang, pretending not to see her outstretched hand, stood up on her own to avoid another close embrace.
Cheng Zhanxi picked up Yu Qingtang's water bottle.
"Ms. Cheng."
"Yes?"
"My water bottle."
"Let me carry it for you. It's no trouble at all."
"I'll do it myself."
"Then take mine instead."
Yu Qingtang looked at the orange sports water bottle in her hand: "???"
Cheng Zhanxi looked utterly reasonable. "We'll be together anyway. Just call me when you're thirsty," she said with a smile.
Yu Qingtang: "..."
She decided to let it go.
They watched the high jump and shot put events and returned to the track just in time for the Grade 1 boys' 4x100m relay race. Six classes were competing in each heat. Class 7 was in the second heat, with Wu Peng, Xiang Tianyou, and the other tall boys from the back rows selected. They took off their jackets, revealing their athletic shorts and t-shirts. The girls were on standby, holding their jackets and unopened water bottles.
Cheng Zhanxi approached the boys, asking, "How are you feeling?"
The boys, slightly shy in front of the now even more radiant Ms. Cheng, looked at each other and pushed Wu Peng forward.
Wu Peng replied for everyone, "Great!"
"Confident about winning the heat?"
"Absolutely!"
Cheng Zhanxi patted Wu Peng's shoulder and took Yu Qingtang aside to watch the race.
"Heat B, Classes 7 to 12, athletes ready…" the announcer called out.
"On your marks, get set…"
The starting gun fired.
"Bang!"
The athletes surged forward, their movements blurring. Each leg of the relay race covered 100 meters, testing their speed and agility. The boys sprinted as fast as they could, their powerful movements eliciting cheers from the crowd.
"Class 7! Go! Class 7! Go!"
"Class 10! Go! Class 10! Go!"
The cheers were loud and passionate, each class determined to win. The atmosphere between the supporters was intense.
Yu Qingtang could hear the cheers from every direction, but she found herself focusing only on the shouts for Class 7.
Wu Peng, the 100m champion, his leg muscles clearly defined, took the lead, passing the baton to his teammate, the advantage now slim. The third runner, the weakest of the team, fell behind the other runners, dropping to third place, yet the Class 7 supporters didn't give up, chanting his name even louder.
"Lai Xin! Lai Xin! Lai Xin!"
Cheng Zhanxi, her face flushed, was yelling with them: "Lai Xin! Lai Xin! Lai Xin!"
Watching Lai Xin fall further behind, yet still running with determination, Yu Qingtang found her heart pounding.
Xiang Tianyou, his gaze focused on the runner approaching him, prepared to receive the baton. Lai Xin arrived, and Xiang Tianyou swiftly took the baton and sprinted forward, like a bullet.
After the baton exchange, Class 7 was in fifth place, second from last, trailing significantly behind the first-place team.
The competition was reaching a fever pitch.
"Class 7! Class 7! Class 7!" The shouts were deafening.
Xiang Tianyou's short hair was blown wildly by the wind, his facial muscles tense from exertion. His eyes were fixed on the track ahead, his gaze unwavering.
Faster! Faster! Fastest!
Give it your all!
He felt like he was flying, his feet moving without conscious effort. He was aware only of his forward momentum, of other figures flashing past.
He overtook the first runner.
Yu Qingtang's eyes were fixed on him, her gaze unwavering.
He overtook the second runner.
Yu Qingtang's fingers tightened around Cheng Zhanxi's water bottle.
He overtook the third runner.
Yu Qingtang held her breath.
He overtook the fourth runner.
Xiang Tianyou crossed the finish line in first place, maintaining his lead.
He passed Yu Qingtang, his wheat-colored skin, determined eyes, clenched jaw, and bulging veins visible. He was like a wild horse thundering across the plains.
As he crossed the finish line, Xiang Tianyou yelled in triumph, the Class 7 supporters erupting in cheers. The victorious athletes were surrounded, their happiness infectious.
Yu Qingtang released the water bottle, a faint smile appearing in her eyes.
Cheng Zhanxi, turning around, saw it, and beamed, revealing her teeth.
Yu Qingtang, unable to control herself, smiled.
She quickly looked away, embarrassed.
Cheng Zhanxi had been separated from Yu Qingtang while cheering, about to look for her when she heard a student call out, "Ms. Cheng!"
While Cheng Zhanxi was greeting the student, Yu Qingtang had disappeared.
Smiling and politely refusing the students' greetings, Cheng Zhanxi scanned the crowd, searching for Yu Qingtang.
Yu Qingtang wasn't far. Cheng Zhanxi, spotting her, quickly approached and said, "Ms. Yu!"
Yu Qingtang turned around, her expression calm and impassive. "What?" she asked.
Cheng Zhanxi: "Why did you run off?"
Yu Qingtang: "It was too noisy."
Cheng Zhanxi: "You should have told us."
Yu Qingtang remained silent.
"Okay," Cheng Zhanxi said, her voice soft. "At least you should have said something before leaving. I almost panicked."
A strange feeling welled up inside Yu Qingtang.
Cheng Zhanxi touched her face. "Is something on my face?" she asked.
"No."
"Then why were you staring at me?" Cheng Zhanxi asked. She had been blushing slightly from her earlier exertion, and she didn't want Yu Qingtang to see.
"…" Yu Qingtang thought: Was I?
After a three-second silence, Cheng Zhanxi asked, "The tug-of-war is next. Do you want to watch?"
Yu Qingtang: "No. I'm going home to rest."
Going home so early?
Cheng Zhanxi noticed Yu Qingtang's pale complexion. "Are you feeling unwell?" she asked.
Yu Qingtang lied, "A little."
"I'll take you home," Cheng Zhanxi said.
"No, thank you," Yu Qingtang insisted.
"I'll walk you to the school gates, then," Cheng Zhanxi said.
Yu Qingtang nodded.
At the school gates.
Cheng Zhanxi fastened Yu Qingtang's trench coat, smoothing her collar. "Watch out for cars, especially at crosswalks. Walk on the sidewalks…" she said gently.
Yu Qingtang, her eyes fixed on Cheng Zhanxi, listened attentively.
Cheng Zhanxi, mid-sentence, chuckled. "Okay. Be careful getting home. Call me when you arrive," she said.
Yu Qingtang nodded obediently, her sharp chin hidden within the high collar of her trench coat, her small face, already delicate, appearing even more so. Her pale complexion made her seem almost ethereal.
She looked like a small child, and Cheng Zhanxi couldn't help but wonder if all children had the chance to be so obedient. Some never even had the opportunity to say "Okay."
Cheng Zhanxi watched Yu Qingtang cross the street, her slender figure gradually fading from view.
Fifteen minutes later.
She received a text message from Yu Qingtang: [Safe]
Cheng Zhanxi: [Animated heart emoji]
Cheng Zhanxi returned to the field. The tug-of-war was underway, and she decided to join in the encouragement.
Each class had five girls and ten boys. After several rounds, Class 7 lost, finishing fourth.
The Class 7 students looked disappointed, but Cheng Zhanxi clapped and said, "That's still a great performance! We beat…" She paused, unsure of the exact number.
The Class 7 students burst into laughter.
The PE teacher's mathematical skills were questionable.
Cheng Zhanxi asked Lian Yabing to count the number of students, then ordered bubble tea. The drinks were passed through the fence to the students, who sipped their tea while whispering about Cheng Zhanxi's background.
"Ms. Cheng's a rich girl, right?"
"Definitely. Just look at this bubble tea order." A student spread out her fingers. "Five hundred yuan!"
"I checked her motorcycle online last night. A top-of-the-line model. Hundreds of thousands of yuan."
"Wow."
"Why would she become a teacher?"
"Maybe she loves teaching? Maybe she's trying to reform PE education?"
"Hahaha."
"I wish Ms. Cheng was our homeroom teacher. She really likes us, unlike Ms. Yu," one girl said, taking a sip of tea. Sensing the side-eyes from her classmates, her expression turned awkward.
A shadow fell upon her, and Cheng Zhanxi stood behind her, her expression severe.
Lian Yabing, the gossip queen: I'm shipping them! So cute! So cute!
Doesn't this amazing couple deserve a comment? If you don't know what to say, just "Ahhh!" [Animated heart emoji]
Comments
Post a Comment