After Escaping Marriage - Chapter 31
Chapter 31
A heavy silence fell over the group.
But it lasted only a moment. Cheng Zhanxi, drawing on her maturity and experience, quickly masked her displeasure. The flicker of annoyance in her eyes was so fleeting that the students dismissed it as a trick of the shadows under the tree.
Lian Yabing's eyes, however, shone brightly. She was shipping them, no matter what.
The students stopped their idle chatter. Even the most oblivious among them could see that Cheng Zhanxi and Yu Qingtang were close, practically inseparable during the sports meet, more like a couple than colleagues. Badmouthing Yu Qingtang in front of Cheng Zhanxi was clearly not a wise move.
Cheng Zhanxi was warm and enthusiastic, while Yu Qingtang was cold and aloof. The students' perception of Yu Qingtang's indifference was, in part, amplified by Cheng Zhanxi's presence. Comparisons were inevitable. One teacher openly expressed her affection, her words full of praise and encouragement, while the other remained distant and uncaring, not even acknowledging their hard-won victory. The difference was stark.
They didn't expect Yu Qingtang to be as enthusiastic as Cheng Zhanxi. Even Wen Zhihan, who rarely appeared at school, was quiet and reserved, but her gaze, when she looked at them, held a certain warmth.
Yu Qingtang was different. She was like a pre-programmed robot, appearing at the classroom door at set times, catching latecomers, confiscating unauthorized books, calling students to the office for lectures. Whether they performed well or poorly, whether they excelled in competitions or not, her expression remained unchanged, their efforts deflating like punctured balloons.
Children were sensitive. They could feel whether they were liked or disliked, cared for or ignored.
And Ms. Yu…
They had initially liked her.
The girl who had made the comment lowered her head, silently sipping her milk tea, the others following suit.
Tong Feifei, trying to lighten the mood, asked, "What are the remaining events this afternoon?"
Another student mentioned the relay race finals, then turned to Cheng Zhanxi, her eyes hopeful. "Will you be watching our race, Ms. Cheng?" she asked.
Cheng Zhanxi smiled. "Of course," she replied.
The relay team members and the spectators cheered.
As the students resumed their chatter, Li Lan, sitting in a corner, looked up at Cheng Zhanxi, then quickly looked away, seemingly wanting to say something.
Cheng Zhanxi, noticing her glance, looked back, but Li Lan avoided her gaze.
As the morning's events drew to a close, Cheng Zhanxi felt someone approach. She turned and saw Li Lan.
Li Lan was wearing her blue and white school uniform, her hair tied back in a ponytail. The small mole on the tip of her nose accentuated her delicate features. She was a pretty girl.
Cheng Zhanxi led her to a quieter area and asked gently, "Do you have something to tell me?"
Li Lan nodded, biting her lip. "Will Ms. Yu be here this afternoon?" she asked quietly.
Cheng Zhanxi raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Did she say she wouldn't be?" she asked.
Li Lan shook her head.
Cheng Zhanxi thought for a moment. "Then she'll probably be here," she said.
"Thank you, Ms. Cheng." Li Lan bowed slightly and turned to leave.
"Wait a minute," Cheng Zhanxi called out, stopping her.
Li Lan turned back.
Cheng Zhanxi, her voice sincere, asked, "Why do you all seem so unhappy with Ms. Yu?"
Cheng Zhanxi remembered asking the same question during one of her first PE lessons with Class 7. At the time, Tong Feifei and the others had said they liked Ms. Yu, admiring her beauty and intelligence.
How had things changed so drastically in such a short time?
Li Lan didn't answer, her eyes welling up with tears. "I need to go watch the competition," she mumbled, and hurried away.
Cheng Zhanxi's heart sank.
She didn't seek out Tong Feifei for further information. Firstly, the girl was always running around, making her hard to find. Secondly, asking too many questions might seem like she was overstepping her boundaries as a PE teacher. And thirdly, she trusted Yu Qingtang to handle the situation. They hadn't even talked about it yet.
If Yu Qingtang couldn't resolve it, then she would help.
Teacher-student relationships were truly a complex subject. Cheng Zhanxi sighed inwardly.
That afternoon, Cheng Zhanxi found Yu Qingtang at their usual spot. Yu Qingtang was wearing a plain silk scarf tucked inside her trench coat, a look that emphasized her quiet, scholarly air.
Cheng Zhanxi waved to her, walked over, and showed her her phone screen.
Yu Qingtang glanced at the list of drinks: Iced coffee, mango sago pomelo, cheese foam jasmine tea, bubble tea…
Yu Qingtang: "?"
Cheng Zhanxi: "I treated the students to bubble tea this morning. You weren't there, so this is for you."
Yu Qingtang said calmly, "I don't like bubble tea."
Cheng Zhanxi, as if expecting this, said, "I'll drink yours, then. You choose one for me."
Yu Qingtang: "..."
She tried to follow Cheng Zhanxi's logic, but there wasn't any. Were all artists this eccentric?
The "artist filter" made everything seem reasonable and acceptable.
Yu Qingtang asked, "Are there any you don't like?"
Cheng Zhanxi, her eyes full of undisguised affection, said softly, "No."
Yu Qingtang, sensing her gaze, looked up. Cheng Zhanxi had already composed herself, a smile playing on her lips.
Yu Qingtang tapped the screen. "This one," she said. "Cheese foam jasmine tea." The combination of words sounded delicious.
"Okay," Cheng Zhanxi replied, placing the order and adding a note to request an extra straw. She put her phone away and they started walking towards the field.
"What did you have for lunch, Ms. Yu?"
"Shaxian Delicacies," Yu Qingtang replied.
"…" Cheng Zhanxi said, "You don't seem to like cooking?"
"No," Yu Qingtang agreed.
She still wore her usual impassive expression, but Cheng Zhanxi sensed her mood wasn't as good as it had been that morning. "Are you feeling better?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Yes," Yu Qingtang replied.
"Can I touch your forehead?"
"…" Yu Qingtang stopped and turned to face Cheng Zhanxi.
Just as Cheng Zhanxi was expecting a refusal, Yu Qingtang lowered her head slightly and closed her eyes. Cheng Zhanxi gently placed her hand on Yu Qingtang's forehead.
Yu Qingtang's skin was cool to the touch, yet a subtle warmth radiated from beneath the surface, a warmth that could only be felt with such close contact.
Yu Qingtang, opening her eyes, looked at Cheng Zhanxi, her long lashes casting shadows on her cheeks, Cheng Zhanxi's reflection shimmering in her dark eyes.
Cheng Zhanxi's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly withdrew her hand.
"No fever," she said.
"Okay," Yu Qingtang replied.
Cheng Zhanxi slipped her right hand into her pocket, the lingering warmth of Yu Qingtang's skin sending a jolt of electricity through her fingertips, her entire palm tingling.
Taking a sip of water from her bottle, she looked away, avoiding eye contact.
They walked in silence.
The last day of the sports meet included the 5000m race, javelin throw, boys' and girls' relay race finals, and the faculty sports meet.
The 5000m race had already started. With such a long distance, there were no designated lanes. The runners crowded the starting line, and at the sound of the starting pistol, they surged forward, their pace slow and steady, conserving energy for the final sprint.
As the race progressed, the gap between the first and last runners widened to a full lap.
The 5000m race was challenging, even for trained athletes. Class 7 excelled at short-distance running, but their long-distance runners were lacking. Only one student had signed up for the 5000m – a quiet boy, less than 170cm tall, thin and unremarkable.
He maintained a steady pace, neither too fast nor too slow, staying in the middle of the pack.
Halfway through the race, he was still keeping up with the leading runners, seemingly with energy to spare.
Cheng Zhanxi, holding Yu Qingtang's hand, watched as the boy, Shen Ming, ran past. "Shen Ming is surprisingly good," she commented, turning her head to follow his progress. "I didn't know he had such stamina. He seems like he's trained for long-distance running."
Turning to Yu Qingtang, she noticed Yu Qingtang was looking at the opposite side of the track, a puzzled look on her face.
"Ms. Yu?"
"What?"
"Do you…" Cheng Zhanxi suddenly had an unsettling thought. "Do you know Shen Ming?" she asked.
Yu Qingtang, her expression unchanged, replied, "Yes. He's in my class." His name was on the student roster.
Another lap passed.
Cheng Zhanxi pointed to a thin boy running past. "That's not Shen Ming," she said. "His footwork is wrong. He's going to tire himself out."
Yu Qingtang followed her gaze and hummed in agreement.
Just then, the real Shen Ming ran past, but Yu Qingtang had already looked away, not even glancing at him.
Cheng Zhanxi: "..."
Had Yu Qingtang still not learned all her students' names and faces?
With 1000 meters left, Shen Ming started to pick up his pace, gradually catching up to the leading runners. During the final lap, the runners who had been conserving their energy began their final sprint. Shen Ming was the fastest, overtaking one runner after another, spurred on by the cheers of his classmates. He crossed the finish line in second place.
Sweating profusely, his face flushed, he collapsed onto the track, closing his eyes and gasping for air.
Yu Qingtang started to leave, but Cheng Zhanxi held her wrist, preventing her from going.
Cheng Zhanxi didn't drag her forward. Instead, she watched as Shen Ming's classmates helped him up. The boys opened a large bottle of water and poured it over his head. The water streamed down his face and into his shirt. "Refreshing!" he exclaimed, shaking his head like a wet dog, spraying water everywhere. The girls shrieked and scattered, the boys laughing, and the girls retaliated, playfully hitting the boys on their arms.
Cheng Zhanxi turned to Yu Qingtang, raising an eyebrow. "Don't you think they're adorable?" she asked.
Yu Qingtang looked at her impassively.
Cheng Zhanxi, changing tactics, asked, "Are they more adorable, or am I?"
Yu Qingtang's expression faltered.
Cheng Zhanxi chuckled.
Just then, her phone rang. She answered, said, "Okay, I'll be right there," and hung up, taking Yu Qingtang's hand and leading her away. "The bubble tea's here. I'll go get it," she said.
Yu Qingtang, looking down at Cheng Zhanxi's hand holding hers, frowned slightly.
"Ms. Cheng."
Cheng Zhanxi stopped.
Yu Qingtang looked at their joined hands.
Cheng Zhanxi quickly let go. "I'm sorry. I forgot," she said sincerely, her expression so apologetic that Yu Qingtang couldn't be angry.
Cheng Zhanxi walked over to the fence and retrieved their bubble tea. Opening the cheese foam jasmine tea, she offered it to Yu Qingtang. "Want to try some?" she asked, already anticipating a refusal.
Yu Qingtang shook her head.
"Just one sip?" Cheng Zhanxi coaxed.
Yu Qingtang shook her head again, taking a step back.
"Ms. Yuuu," Cheng Zhanxi whined, drawing out the last syllable.
Yu Qingtang froze.
"Jiejiieee," Cheng Zhanxi continued, her voice sweet and pleading, stamping her foot slightly.
A student passing by stared at them, shocked.
Yu Qingtang's entire body broke out in goosebumps, and she almost turned and ran. Cheng Zhanxi put an arm around her shoulders, holding the cup steady, and continued her relentless coaxing. "Just one sip! Just one sip! What's the point of drinking bubble tea alone? Jiejie, Jiejie, Jiejie…"
Yu Qingtang: "..."
She closed her eyes briefly and said, "Stand still. And be quiet."
Cheng Zhanxi obediently stood still, holding the cup towards Yu Qingtang.
Yu Qingtang took a sip, the cool tea, a mix of jasmine, milk, and a hint of cheese, soothing her parched throat.
Watching Yu Qingtang's throat move as she swallowed, Cheng Zhanxi felt her own mouth go dry.
"That's enough," Yu Qingtang said, pulling away, her tone indicating the completion of a task.
Cheng Zhanxi scooped a bit of cheese foam with a straw and offered it to Yu Qingtang, trying her luck again. First time shy, second time bold. Yu Qingtang didn't refuse, taking a bite. A bit of white cream stuck to the corner of her lips. Unwilling to lick it off in front of Cheng Zhanxi, she reached for a tissue. A hand holding a tissue appeared in her line of sight, gently wiping the cream from her lips.
Yu Qingtang's heart fluttered as she watched Cheng Zhanxi. She felt her breath catch in her throat.
"M-Ms. Cheng," she stammered.
Cheng Zhanxi wiped away the last bit of cream, her finger lingering on Yu Qingtang's lips for a fraction of a second before withdrawing it, smiling casually. "Chengcheng, is that my new nickname? Close friends call me Xixi," she said.
Yu Qingtang's mind instinctively repeated the nickname. Then, realizing it was a needless exercise, she shook her head slightly. "You can drink it yourself," she said. "I don't like it."
Cheng Zhanxi replied, "Alright," switching the cup to her other hand and taking a long sip through her own straw. "You have good taste, Ms. Yu," she said. "This is the best bubble tea I've ever had from this shop."
"…"
"The relay race finals are about to start. Shall we go?" Cheng Zhanxi asked.
Yu Qingtang, this time, walked ahead of Cheng Zhanxi.
Cheng Zhanxi, her eyes on Yu Qingtang's back, smiled and discreetly turned the cup again, her lips touching the spot where Yu Qingtang's lips had been.
Class 7's boys' 4x100 relay team finished first in their heat, placing third overall.
As in the qualifying round, Wu Peng ran the first leg, Guo Fang the second, Lai Xin the third, and Xiang Tianyou the anchor leg. Xiang Tianyou's speed was comparable to Wu Peng's, but his strength lay in maintaining composure under pressure, making him the ideal choice for the final sprint. This was a decision they had made after several practice runs.
The starting pistol fired.
The runners sprinted, each striving to overtake the other. The stadium roared with cheers and shouts.
Xiang Tianyou, in the end, lost to Class 3 by a hair's breadth, finishing second overall.
As he crossed the finish line, he kicked the grass in frustration, letting out a yell.
Lai Xin, the third runner, blamed himself. "It's my fault. If I had been faster, Xiang Tianyou could have won," he said.
Guo Fang also took the blame, and Wu Peng, scratching his head, said, "Then it's my fault too. I wasn't as fast this afternoon as I was this morning."
The girls, who had been preparing to celebrate, looked at each other, unsure how to comfort the dejected athletes.
Just then, they heard a clap.
Cheng Zhanxi approached, giving them a thumbs-up and clapping. "What are you all so gloomy about?" she said. "Why aren't you cheering? Shouldn't you be celebrating our second-place victory?"
Everyone started clapping.
Cheng Zhanxi: "That's more like it!" She walked over to the boys. "Good work, everyone. Have some water and rest up. Let's go cheer on the girls' team!"
The girls' team placed fourth, missing a medal by one spot. They were even more disappointed.
Cheng Zhanxi consoled them. "It's still a great result! Making it to the finals is already an achievement," she said, reaching for her phone, about to treat them again. Li Lan and the others quickly stopped her. It was just a sports meet, there was no need to spend so much money, they said. The students, quick to forget their earlier disappointment, turned their attention to the faculty's competition. Cheng Zhanxi walked over to Yu Qingtang, who was standing alone, and said, looking at the teachers gathering on the field, "Our class did well today. I think we might finish second or third overall."
Yu Qingtang gave a quiet "hmm."
"Ms. Yu."
"Yes?"
"I've signed up for the slow cycling race. Do you want to watch?" It was the only event with no restrictions on subject or department, the one Cheng Zhanxi had initially dismissed as not challenging enough to showcase her athletic prowess. She had later changed her mind.
Yu Qingtang looked up in surprise, blinking, her long lashes like tiny, golden fans.
Cheng Zhanxi stared at her, mesmerized.
"When does it start?" Yu Qingtang asked, snapping Cheng Zhanxi out of her trance.
"It's the last event. It'll be a while. Some of the other teachers are participating in the running and long jump events. Would you like to watch those?" Cheng Zhanxi asked.
"No," Yu Qingtang replied.
Cheng Zhanxi's lips curved into a smile. I knew it. You only want to watch me.
The slow cycling race, as the name suggested, tested the participants' ability to ride a bicycle as slowly as possible. The 30-meter track needed to be completed in the longest time possible.
When Cheng Zhanxi walked onto the track with her bicycle, the stadium erupted in cheers and screams, the other teachers joining in the excitement.
Ms. Cheng, the coolest teacher at No. 1 High School, lived up to her reputation.
Cheng Zhanxi, holding the sides of her trench coat, her skirt billowing slightly, curtsied towards Yu Qingtang in the stands.
The students and teachers roared with laughter and applause.
Yu Qingtang smiled, covering her mouth with her hand.
Cheng Zhanxi had only learned to ride a motorcycle after becoming an adult. But she had been a skilled cyclist as a child. At the judge's signal, she lifted her long legs, placed her feet on the pedals, her gaze fixed on the ground ahead, her hands firmly gripping the handlebars, and slowly, precariously, began moving forward.
"Ms. Cheng! Go! Ms. Cheng! Go!"
Cheng Zhanxi, not wanting to lose face in front of Yu Qingtang, focused intently, her brow furrowing with concentration, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
Yu Qingtang, standing near the middle of the track, watched as Cheng Zhanxi rode past, her usually smiling face now serious and determined, her lips pressed into a thin line.
Her black t-shirt clung to her body, revealing the lines of her back muscles, her arms toned and powerful, a perfect blend of strength and grace.
Her physique was clearly the result of years of dedicated training, honed in gyms and under the sun, a testament to her discipline and perseverance.
In that moment, Yu Qingtang saw everything clearly – her pale skin, the faint blue veins on her temples, the beads of sweat trickling down her cheeks, her long, slender fingers, her neatly trimmed nails.
Yu Qingtang heard gasps around her.
She glanced at the students nearby, many of them covering their mouths, their eyes wide with admiration as they watched Cheng Zhanxi.
Even though their gazes held no lust, just pure appreciation, Yu Qingtang still frowned.
Cheng Zhanxi, by a hair's breadth, beat her formidable opponent, the fifty-year-old politics teacher, finishing first in her heat.
She didn't know her overall ranking, but she had won in front of Yu Qingtang, and that was all that mattered.
Yu Qingtang handed Cheng Zhanxi her jacket, but Cheng Zhanxi, still warm from the exertion, much more tiring than it looked, simply draped it over her arm.
Yu Qingtang, looking at her, said casually, "Aren't you cold, Ms. Cheng?"
Ms. Cheng was actually fine, but she was perceptive. Sensing Yu Qingtang's slight displeasure, she quickly put on her jacket and zipped it up. "It is a little chilly," she said, feeling the breeze. "Thank you for reminding me, Ms. Yu."
"You're welcome," Yu Qingtang replied.
"Can you ride a bicycle, Ms. Yu?" Cheng Zhanxi asked.
"No," Yu Qingtang replied.
Cheng Zhanxi's eyes widened slightly, then she smiled. "I can teach you," she offered.
Yu Qingtang, about to refuse, changed her mind. "Maybe later," she said, looking away.
Cheng Zhanxi: "Do you want to ride a motorcycle?"
Yu Qingtang's eyes flickered, but she didn't reply.
Cheng Zhanxi stepped in front of her, smiling. "I can teach you that too," she said, "but it's a little more complicated. You'd need to get a license."
Yu Qingtang looked at her intently.
Cheng Zhanxi, her voice soft, asked, "What is it?"
Yu Qingtang simply replied, "Nothing," her eyes downcast, the earlier intimacy between them gone.
She had almost imagined a future with Cheng Zhanxi, a future where they could do such ordinary things together, hence the "maybe later."
"Maybe later," Yu Qingtang repeated, the same words now carrying a different weight.
With the last event over, the sky darkening, and the wind picking up on the field, dark storm clouds gathering, the closing ceremony was brief and perfunctory. The sports meet awards would be distributed by the homeroom teachers during their Friday class meetings. The school radio urged the students to go home quickly.
"Do you have an umbrella, Ms. Yu?"
A clap of thunder drowned out Cheng Zhanxi's voice. Yu Qingtang turned to look at her. "What did you say?" she asked.
Students were running and scattering, seeking shelter. The field was a chaotic scene. Cheng Zhanxi repeated her question, louder this time, but Yu Qingtang was staring at her lips, completely absorbed, not even blinking.
Cheng Zhanxi: "..."
At a time like this, seriously? Why was she doing this to her? If she had the guts, why didn't she just kiss her?
Cheng Zhanxi's cheeks flushed red under the dim lights of the school grounds.
Yu Qingtang, her eyes finally leaving Cheng Zhanxi's lips, said, "No, I don't."
Cheng Zhanxi replied, "I don't have one either."
Yu Qingtang raised an eyebrow.
So?
Cheng Zhanxi suggested, "Why don't we find somewhere to wait out the rain? And have dinner together?"
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