After Escaping Marriage - Chapter 40
Chapter 40
Although she didn't know why Yu Qingtang had relayed the message through the agent, Cheng Zhanxi immediately replied, expressing her gratitude and asking when they could sign the contract.
She also sent Yu Qingtang a message: [Animated heart emoji]
Yu Qingtang didn't reply. The agent, however, sent another message: [Ms. Yu has a few conditions she wants to discuss beforehand.]
Cheng Zhanxi realized Yu Qingtang didn't want to negotiate directly, preferring to follow formal procedures, with the agent acting as intermediary.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: What conditions?
The agent immediately sent a long message, listing the conditions point by point, with proper grammar and punctuation. Only someone with eight arms, like an octopus, could type so many words so quickly. It was clearly a message forwarded directly from Yu Qingtang.
Cheng Zhanxi read through the conditions, which could be summarized in five words: Don't disturb her.
This included, but wasn't limited to, not making loud noises in the apartment or hallway, not knocking on her door frequently, not inviting her over for late-night snacks…
Cheng Zhanxi agreed to everything. Yu Qingtang might have a plan, but Cheng Zhanxi had her own ways of getting around the rules. Where there's a will, there's a way.
Cheng Zhanxi started typing: [So, when can we sign the contract?] Then, deleting the message before sending, she rephrased it: [Could you ask Ms. Yu when she's available to sign the contract?]
Since Yu Qingtang preferred formality, she would play along.
The agent replied after a few minutes, probably having consulted with Yu Qingtang. [Thursday, 5:30 p.m., at our office. Will that work for you, Ms. Cheng?]
Cheng Zhanxi replied "yes," and the agent, reminding her to bring the necessary documents, tactfully ended the conversation.
Cheng Zhanxi put down her phone and started tidying up the dining table, putting leftovers in the fridge, loading the dishwasher, then washing her hands. She checked her phone again and saw Yu Qingtang's reply: [Okay.]
Clearly not interested in further conversation, Cheng Zhanxi decided not to bother her.
She walked around her soon-to-be-former apartment, her hand on her chin, planning her move.
That evening, Cheng Zhanxi efficiently packed her clothes, sorting them by season and placing them in suitcases. She also gathered other items that needed to be packed, placing them all in one place.
Most importantly, she found a frame and carefully placed the paper with Yu Qingtang's handwritten lines of "Cheng Zhanxi" inside, replacing the photo of herself that had been on her bedside table.
She hoped that one day, the frame would hold a photo of her and Yu Qingtang together.
With that happy thought, Cheng Zhanxi turned off the lights, hugged a pillow, and drifted off to sleep, a smile on her face.
Yu Qingtang moved Cheng Mo's "Blizzard" from the living room to her bedroom, hanging it directly opposite her bed.
She had just made a potentially life-altering decision and had expected to toss and turn, unable to sleep. But the moment her head hit the pillow, she drifted off, the autumn breeze rustling the curtains, her sleep dreamless and peaceful.
Waking up the next morning, feeling refreshed and energized, she almost couldn't believe it. Both her mind and body felt unusually alert, so much so that she even considered making breakfast, or going outside for a run, something she rarely did.
She used the remote to open the curtains, revealing the floor-to-ceiling windows and the soft morning light streaming into the room, casting a warm glow on the dark wooden floor.
It was still early. Yu Qingtang, gazing out the window, lingered in bed for a while before finally getting up.
She washed up and went to the kitchen to make breakfast.
Cooking rice porridge required soaking the rice overnight and preparing side dishes, which Yu Qingtang rarely bothered with when she was alone. Her freezer was filled with frozen foods – dumplings, glutinous rice balls, wontons, steamed buns, etc. Her gaze fell on a package of frozen wontons, and she remembered Cheng Zhanxi's words.
Ms. Cheng had said she had made shepherd's purse, pork, and shrimp wontons, and had offered to bring some for Yu Qingtang to take home.
Yu Qingtang took out the package of wontons. The label said "pork filling." From what she remembered, the store-bought wontons were barely palatable, a stark contrast to Cheng Zhanxi's homemade ones.
Although Yu Qingtang hadn't actually tasted Cheng Zhanxi's cooking, she had an almost blind faith in her abilities, partly due to Cheng Zhanxi's constant boasting about her culinary skills.
She put the frozen wontons back in the freezer and took out a package of frozen dumplings instead, filling a pot with cold water and setting it to boil.
Yu Qingtang locked her apartment door and walked towards the elevator, her gaze lingering on the closed door of 2102.
In a few days, when she returned from the old town on Sunday, someone would be moving in, someone who might change her life in ways she couldn't predict.
Ding—
The elevator doors opened. It was empty. Yu Qingtang stepped inside and pressed the button for the ground floor.
The building had 22 floors. Due to ongoing renovations, and her preference for quiet, Yu Qingtang had only rented out less than half the apartments. The building was usually quiet, and at 6:30 a.m., it was completely silent.
Lost in thought during the elevator ride, Yu Qingtang refocused as the elevator reached the ground floor, stepping out into the lobby.
The receptionist, who had been on duty all night, stifled a yawn as she heard footsteps approaching. Sitting up straight, she greeted Yu Qingtang politely, "Good morning, Ms. Yu."
"Good morning," Yu Qingtang replied, pausing briefly before walking towards the exit.
The receptionist watched her go, a look of envy in her eyes.
As a property manager, she knew Yu Qingtang owned the entire building! She was incredibly wealthy!
If she had a building in the city center, she would quit her job and live off the rental income, never working another day in her life. Unlike Ms. Yu, who left for work every morning at 6 a.m., dressed simply, with no designer bags or expensive jewelry. She looked like an ordinary office worker, albeit an exceptionally beautiful one.
It was one thing to be born into a different social class, but to see someone more beautiful and wealthier than you working so hard… it was hard to accept.
The receptionist sighed, then shrugged, returning to her leisurely browsing.
There was no point in comparing herself to someone like Ms. Yu. It was better to be happy and carefree.
Yu Qingtang quickened her pace as she approached the school gates, almost hearing the roar of a motorcycle engine, as if it were about to catch up to her.
Reaching the office, she found Cheng Zhanxi had already arrived.
"Good morning, Ms. Yu!" Cheng Zhanxi greeted her cheerfully, her voice bright and energetic, dispelling the morning gloom.
"Good morning," Yu Qingtang replied with a nod.
They were alone in the office. Cheng Zhanxi leaned closer, the subtle floral scent of her perfume filling the air.
Her shoulder brushed against Yu Qingtang's, the cool fabric of her ruffled sleeve grazing Yu Qingtang's hand, a warmth spreading slowly but surely through the thin material.
"Thank you for renting me your apartment, Jiejie," Cheng Zhanxi said, her voice soft and sweet, close to Yu Qingtang's ear.
Yu Qingtang's fingers tightened inside her pockets. Lowering her eyes, she murmured, "You're welcome."
"I'm planning to move in this weekend. Is that okay?" Cheng Zhanxi asked.
"Yes," Yu Qingtang replied, subtly creating some distance between them. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her lips pressing together. "But I won't be here this weekend," she said.
"I know. You're going home," Cheng Zhanxi said gently, her eyes following Yu Qingtang's slender fingers.
"Yes." Yu Qingtang confirmed, gesturing towards the door, feeling strangely self-conscious. "Then I should..."
"Go supervise morning reading. I know," Cheng Zhanxi finished her sentence.
"…Okay." Yu Qingtang said. "I'm going now."
"See you later, Ms. Yu."
Yu Qingtang nodded and left.
Cheng Zhanxi stood at the office door, watching her go.
Even after Yu Qingtang was out of sight, Cheng Zhanxi lingered at the doorway for a moment before finally returning to her desk, a smile on her face.
The first major exams since starting high school, the mid-term exams, lasted two and a half days, covering nine subjects, starting on Wednesday and ending on Friday morning. Classes resumed in the afternoon and evening, with evening self-study continuing as usual during the exam period.
The day before, the school had assigned invigilators for each exam room. Cheng Zhanxi had received her assignment, helping to supervise an exam, since it didn't require any special skills. The school utilized all available staff.
Teachers were assigned to different classes, usually not their own, to avoid any potential bias. Cheng Zhanxi, scanning the long list of assignments, was pleased to see she and Yu Qingtang were assigned to the same exam room: Class 12, Grade 1.
The first morning, the exams were math and biology.
The Class 12 students were either cramming, reviewing their notes, or arranging their stationery, trying to focus, while others kept glancing at the door, waiting for the invigilators.
Two sets of footsteps echoed in the hallway, distinct yet harmonious. The students who were still studying quickly hid their books and notes, sitting up straight and falling silent.
Two invigilators entered the classroom.
A gasp of surprise rippled through the class, the earlier silence shattered.
The first invigilator, in a black knee-length trench coat and black pants, her beautiful face cool and aloof, the tear mole at the corner of her eye accentuating her ethereal beauty.
The second, in a long white dress, the belted waist accentuating her slender figure, the hem flowing gracefully around her ankles, her chestnut curls cascading down her back, her face framed by delicate features, a gentle smile playing on her lips. She was approachable and welcoming.
Cheng Zhanxi usually wore pants to school, given her role as a PE teacher and her love of sports. But that didn't mean she didn't own dresses. She had chosen the white dress specifically to impress Yu Qingtang.
That morning, in the office, Yu Qingtang had stared at her, momentarily speechless, before finally responding to her greeting.
...
The Class 12 students were buzzing with excitement at the sight of the two beautiful invigilators. Yu Qingtang, walking to the podium, glanced down at them, her expression indifferent.
The whispers gradually subsided.
Cheng Zhanxi checked the attendance list while Yu Qingtang distributed scratch paper.
Ten minutes before the exam, they distributed the answer sheets and barcode stickers.
Cheng Zhanxi and Yu Qingtang walked around the classroom, reminding the students to write their names and class numbers in the designated areas, and to attach the barcode stickers correctly, checking each one individually.
Yu Qingtang's voice was low and cool, her expression impassive. Cheng Zhanxi's, on the other hand, was warm and gentle, her words soft and encouraging. The Class 12 students felt like they were experiencing both winter and spring at the same time. The contrast was stark.
Another bell rang, signaling five minutes before the exam. They distributed the test papers.
After confirming everything was in order, the final bell rang, and the exam officially began.
Cheng Zhanxi sat at the front of the classroom, while Yu Qingtang sat at the back, by the blackboard.
Since invigilators weren't allowed to engage in any non-invigilating activities, such as using their phones or talking, Cheng Zhanxi openly stared at Yu Qingtang, occasionally glancing at the students to make sure no one was cheating.
Students who had never stood on a podium probably didn't realize how easily teachers could observe their every move.
Yu Qingtang was more diligent, her eyes constantly scanning the room.
Occasionally, she would glance towards the podium, and Cheng Zhanxi would smile at her, a bright, radiant smile.
Not only that, but she also adopted a cute, girlish pose, resting her chin in her hand, her smile as sweet as honey.
A few students, looking up to stretch their necks, saw her and froze.
A boy in the second-to-last row, catching Yu Qingtang's eye, blushed furiously.
Cheng Zhanxi, seemingly oblivious, continued to stare at Yu Qingtang, her smile unwavering.
Yu Qingtang's eyes darkened slightly, and she looked down, then back up, gesturing towards the students.
Cheng Zhanxi, understanding the signal, put her hands down and walked around the classroom, pretending to check on the students.
Yu Qingtang also stood up and walked around the classroom from the other side, reaching the spot where Cheng Zhanxi had been sitting earlier.
Cheng Zhanxi, walking back towards the podium, stopped where Yu Qingtang had been sitting.
She was about to return to the front when Yu Qingtang gestured for her to sit at the back, by the blackboard. Yu Qingtang then took Cheng Zhanxi's place at the podium.
Cheng Zhanxi sat at the back of the classroom, watching Yu Qingtang, her stern expression a stark contrast to Cheng Zhanxi's earlier playfulness. A smile spread across Cheng Zhanxi's face. She seemed to understand something.
When the students weren't looking, Cheng Zhanxi raised her arms and made a large heart shape above her head, directed at Yu Qingtang.
Yu Qingtang's lips twitched, suppressing a smile.
Cheng Zhanxi, continuing her antics, sent another heart, then another, until Yu Qingtang couldn't help but cough, trying to hide her laughter, while also warning Cheng Zhanxi to stop.
Cheng Zhanxi's actions, however, had startled a few students, who looked up nervously.
As they walked around the classroom again, passing each other, Yu Qingtang whispered, "Be careful. The exam proctors might see you."
Cheng Zhanxi whispered back, "Are we not allowed to make heart shapes?"
Yu Qingtang: "..."
She had a feeling her life as Cheng Zhanxi's neighbor wouldn't be as peaceful as she had imagined. Was it too late to change her mind?
Cheng Zhanxi, a mischievous glint in her eyes, smiled happily.
She decided to stop teasing Yu Qingtang, knowing when to stop. Too much of a good thing could be bad.
Cheng Zhanxi glanced at her watch. "Fifteen minutes left," she announced gently. "Please manage your time accordingly."
Five minutes later, Yu Qingtang's calm voice echoed through the classroom. "Five minutes left. If you haven't filled out your answer sheets, please do so now," she reminded them.
The bell rang.
Yu Qingtang's voice was stern. "Time's up," she announced.
Cheng Zhanxi continued, "Everyone, please stand up and put down your pens."
A student was still writing furiously. Yu Qingtang's voice was sharp. "The student in the second-to-last row, first column, put down your pen. Otherwise, you'll be penalized for cheating," she warned.
Cheng Zhanxi, who was standing nearby, quickly confiscated the student's pen.
Seeing the student was filling out their answer sheet, she lowered her voice. "Remember this lesson," she said gently. "You won't get any extra time during the college entrance exams."
The two beautiful invigilators collected the answer sheets and left the classroom, one after the other, as they had come.
The Class 12 students, silent during the exam, erupted in excited chatter as soon as the invigilators left.
"They're so beautiful!"
"Seriously! I've been here for two months and I've never seen them before! Are they teachers for the upperclassmen?"
"No, no! I recognize the one in the white dress! That's Ms. Cheng! The motorcycle-riding PE teacher! She teaches Class 7 and Class 17! She looks even better in a dress! I'm dying!"
"What about the other one? The one in the trench coat?"
"I think she's the homeroom teacher for Class 7. Ms. Yu, I think? I'm not sure."
"That's Yu Qingtang? The one Class 7 petitioned against? If I had a teacher that beautiful, I'd study until 2 a.m. every night! I'd study myself to death! Class 7 doesn't know how lucky they are!"
The students all agreed.
"Wait, so Class 7 has two beautiful teachers? Our physics teacher is pretty good-looking, but still…"
Another voice chimed in, "I think Ms. Wen also teaches Class 7..."
The Class 12 students groaned collectively.
"Didn't you notice something about those two teachers just now?" one student asked.
"Huh?"
"I was sitting in the last row," the student explained. "When I dropped my pen, I saw Ms. Cheng making a heart shape towards the teacher at the podium." He demonstrated, his arms raised above his head, forming a large heart.
"Ahhh! I wish I had seen that!!!"
...
Cheng Zhanxi and Yu Qingtang delivered the completed exams to the exam committee, where the teachers collected the next set of exam papers and headed to their assigned classrooms.
As a PE teacher, Cheng Zhanxi didn't have any grading responsibilities. Yu Qingtang, however, spent her free time grading papers on the office computer. Cheng Zhanxi sat at her desk, sketching – the objects on her desk, the falling leaves outside the window, the woman sitting across from her.
Yu Qingtang, taking a sip of water from her thermos, looked up.
The late afternoon sun streamed through the window, casting a golden glow on Cheng Zhanxi's face.
Her head tilted slightly, her lips pursed in concentration, her slender fingers holding a pencil as she sketched in her notebook.
The scene was beautiful and serene, like a gentle breeze.
Yu Qingtang, lost in thought, stared at her.
Thursday, after the history exam, at 5:10 p.m., Cheng Zhanxi handed in her completed papers and waited for Yu Qingtang at the exam committee office, then they went to the real estate agency together.
Cheng Zhanxi was wearing a light blue dress, which softened her usual sharp features. As she waited in the hallway, teachers who didn't know her stared openly, some even turning back for a second look. Those who did know her teased, "Going on a date, Ms. Cheng? You look lovely!"
Cheng Zhanxi simply smiled, not replying.
She saw Yu Qingtang and another teacher approaching, and her eyes lit up. She quickly glanced down at her own outfit, then clasped her hands behind her back, her fingers fidgeting slightly. She bit her lip, a mix of nervousness and anticipation in her eyes, as she waited for Yu Qingtang.
The other teacher was a young man, a new teacher like Yu Qingtang.
Tall and thin, rather handsome, and usually quite confident, he assumed Cheng Zhanxi's gaze was directed at him, and his heart skipped a beat. He straightened his back, a confident smile on his face.
Then, as he walked past Cheng Zhanxi, he realized her eyes were focused on someone behind him.
"Ms. Yu," Cheng Zhanxi's voice, soft and sweet, like a gentle stream, reached Yu Qingtang's ears.
Yu Qingtang, carrying the collected answer sheets, stopped before Cheng Zhanxi. "Have you been waiting long, Ms. Cheng?" she asked.
Cheng Zhanxi: "Not at all. I just arrived."
Yu Qingtang adjusted the strap of her bag, her hands tucked inside her pockets. "Shall we go?" she asked.
Cheng Zhanxi's eyes lingered on Yu Qingtang's arm, wanting to link arms with her, but she was too tall, so she reluctantly gave up.
When will Yu Qingtang link arms with me? she wondered.
They walked side by side, Cheng Zhanxi matching Yu Qingtang's pace.
The male teacher emerged from the exam room, catching only a glimpse of their retreating figures. He turned to a nearby female teacher and asked, "Excuse me, who was that woman in the blue dress?"
The female teacher shook her head, saying she didn't know.
The male teacher, not giving up, asked several other teachers, finally learning that she was a PE teacher, also in Grade 1.
Yu Qingtang had included all her "don't disturb me" conditions in the rental contract, making it official.
With the agent acting as witness, they signed the contract, each receiving a copy.
Cheng Zhanxi, holding the freshly signed contract, looked at Yu Qingtang with a smile. "From this moment on," she said, "we're officially…" she paused for dramatic effect, then extended her hand. "Landlord and tenant! I look forward to our future interactions!"
Yu Qingtang shook her hand politely.
As long as you don't "interact" with me too much, she thought.
The agent, perceptive as always, had remained unobtrusive throughout the process. After collecting the contract and the agency fee, he beamed, happily escorting them out.
Cheng Zhanxi and Yu Qingtang had dinner together at a nearby restaurant, then Cheng Zhanxi took a taxi home.
Saturday evening, Cheng Zhanxi had moved all her belongings to the new apartment, even setting up her art studio.
She video-called her mother, giving her a tour of the apartment as requested, explaining what was what.
Cheng's mother was quite satisfied with the new apartment. Although a bit small, it was acceptable. "Don't feel like you have to settle for less just because you're living alone," she said. "I don't want you to suffer. Even though you don't care about material things, I still worry about you."
Cheng Zhanxi nodded obediently, like a child. "I know, Mom. I'll take good care of myself."
Cheng's mother: "Where's your new apartment? What's the name of the complex? Send me the location."
Cheng Zhanxi sent her the location.
Cheng's mother, looking at the address, said, "Yusong Mingmen Estate? That name sounds familiar…"
"Yusong?" Cheng Yuanxi, her brother, who had been reading financial news on his tablet, looked up, his brow furrowing slightly. "You're living in a Yusong property?" he asked.
Cheng's mother: "Whose company is Yusong again?"
Cheng Yuanxi smiled. "The Wei family," he said.
Cheng's mother: "..."
Lowering her voice, she said to Cheng Yuanxi, "Do you think the Wei family is trying to trap Zhanxi? Setting her up?"
Cheng Yuanxi sighed. "Mom, this is a society ruled by law," he said.
Cheng's mother frowned. "You never know. That Wei Tingyu… last time, when I tried to talk to him about breaking off the engagement…"
Cheng Zhanxi, only hearing snippets of their conversation, pouted. "Mom! Are you even listening to me?" she whined.
Her mother immediately turned her attention back to her precious daughter.
After ending the call, Cheng Zhanxi took a picture of her newly decorated living room and sent it to Yu Qingtang.
[Successfully moved in!]
[I’ll definitely cherish this place! [Cheng mode heart.jpg]]
Yu Qingtang, gazing at the moon outside her window, sighed softly.
Sunday, after dinner, having spent some time with her grandparents, Yu Qingtang took the bus back to Mingmen Estate.
As she rode the elevator, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag, a nervous flutter in her stomach, she watched the numbers light up, one after another.
Ding—
The elevator reached the 21st floor, and as the doors opened, Yu Qingtang saw the door of 2102 slightly ajar, the aroma of pork rib soup wafting into the hallway, a comforting, homey scent, as if it had been simmering for hours.
Cheng Zhanxi, wearing an apron, appeared at the doorway, a surprised look on her face.
Why would someone rate something this good a three star???
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