After Escaping Marriage - Chapter 49
Chapter 49
Yu Qingtang's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. She pursed her lips uncomfortably and slightly turned her head away.
Cheng Zhanxi placed one hand on the counter in front of her, nearly trapping her in an embrace. Her face brushed almost imperceptibly against Yu Qingtang's cool, smooth cheek. Yu Qingtang couldn't help but tremble slightly, holding her breath.
"It's this button, just press it once." Cheng Zhanxi's chin almost rested on her shoulder, barely touching, her voice soft.
Yu Qingtang paused, hearing a soft chuckle beside her ear, before slowly pressing the power button she had already located.
The dishwasher started working.
The warmth behind her retreated, pulling back to a safe distance. A trace of disappointment welled up in Yu Qingtang's heart.
Cheng Zhanxi walked her back to 2101. Yu Qingtang needed to take a nap.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Yu."
"Good afternoon."
Cheng Zhanxi watched with a smile as she slowly closed the door. Halfway shut, Yu Qingtang suddenly stopped, glanced at her, then continued closing the door.
That glance held no complex meaning; it was simply a look.
Because she wanted to look, she looked.
The smile on Cheng Zhanxi's lips deepened. Her red lips parted, and she said again, incredibly gently, "Good afternoon." Baby.
Yu Qingtang replied softly, "Good afternoon."
The door to 2101 closed completely.
Yu Qingtang watched her through the peephole. Cheng Zhanxi hadn't left the doorway. Her hands were behind her back, her eyes curved into crescents as she gazed towards the peephole, as if she knew someone was watching her from inside.
Yu Qingtang's heart skipped half a beat. With a soft click, she quickly covered the peephole.
She leaned her back against the door, her heart pounding like a drum, yet a faint smile uncontrollably touched her lips before she quickly bit her lower lip.
After a moment, Yu Qingtang slowly exhaled, turned, and peeked through the peephole again.
The hallway was empty; Cheng Zhanxi had already left.
Yu Qingtang quietly watched the empty hallway for a while before slowly returning to her room.
Yu Qingtang didn't sleep well, but her mind was usually clear, making falling asleep generally easy. Today at noon, however, she couldn't fall asleep for a long time. Every time she closed her eyes, scenes from Cheng Zhanxi's home flooded her mind: the small wontons Cheng Zhanxi had wrapped herself, Cheng Zhanxi sitting opposite her eating porridge, the intimate proximity in the kitchen. Occasionally, memories of last night's intertwined breaths surfaced, the touch of fair, delicate fingertips on her skin, like waves washing over her.
Yu Qingtang took a deep breath and opened her eyes.
The afternoon bedroom was bathed in a hazy halo of light. The familiar ceiling seemed misty, swaying slightly in her vision.
"Ms. Yu."
Yu Qingtang thought she heard Cheng Zhanxi's voice, carrying a soft smile, like a warm breeze traveling thousands of miles across the sea to caress her cheek, making her want to linger.
Yu Qingtang pulled the blanket higher, forcefully closing her eyes.
1:30 PM.
The two met at the elevator entrance.
Yu Qingtang's already pale face looked even worse. She covered her mouth with her hand, yawning, looking listless.
"Didn't you rest well, Ms. Yu?" Cheng Zhanxi pressed the elevator button, asking with concern.
Yu Qingtang hummed, unable to resist another long yawn. Tears welled up around her eyes, moistening her lashes, making the tear mole at the corner of her eye look particularly poignant.
Before she could raise her hand, the corner of her eye was gently pressed by a thumb, softly wiping away the tears.
Cheng Zhanxi lowered her hand, the back of her fingers intentionally or unintentionally brushing against the tear mole.
...So this was what she looked like when she cried.
Cheng Zhanxi's eyes darkened; she withdrew her gaze.
Yu Qingtang's tense body relaxed after her hand left. She pinched the aching bridge of her nose with her fingertips.
After just two pinches, her peripheral vision caught Cheng Zhanxi. Afraid she would offer to do it for her again, she saw Cheng Zhanxi standing quietly, her gaze fixed on the ascending elevator numbers.
Ding—
The elevator doors opened in front of them.
The two entered one after the other. Yu Qingtang wasn't fully awake, her steps unsteady. Cheng Zhanxi naturally supported her back from behind, preventing her from accidentally falling.
The heat from her palm could be clearly felt even through two layers of clothing. Yu Qingtang paused for half a second before continuing forward.
Yu Qingtang stood still and said softly, "Thank you."
Cheng Zhanxi smiled, "You're welcome."
She reached out and pressed the button for the 1st floor.
Yu Qingtang's gaze lightly swept over her well-defined fingers. Unsure where her thoughts wandered, a flash of annoyance crossed her expression. She lowered her eyes, looking at the reflective elevator floor.
"Miss Yu, Miss Cheng." The receptionist greeted the two women walking side by side.
Yu Qingtang nodded coolly, her steps steady.
Cheng Zhanxi stopped, placed her hand over her heart, gave a slight bow, and smiled, "Good afternoon."
The receptionist smiled so widely her eyes disappeared.
Yu Qingtang quickened her pace.
Cheng Zhanxi lowered her hand and followed.
Yu Qingtang didn't speak the entire way. Partly because she hadn't slept well and felt tired, lacking the desire to talk, and partly because she didn't know what to say. Fortunately, Cheng Zhanxi walked beside her without initiating conversation.
She was someone who always prioritized considering the other person's feelings.
What Yu Qingtang didn't realize was that she was increasingly focusing her attention on Cheng Zhanxi, habitually noticing her, almost instinctively.
A bad nap was worse than no nap at all. Yu Qingtang felt weak, lacking energy, her feet heavy as lead. Having come out under the peak afternoon sun, all she wanted now was to return to the office quickly, rest, close her eyes, and prepare for the afternoon's work.
She walked faster and faster, looking straight ahead. Suddenly, an arm wrapped around her waist, lifting her entirely, her back pressing against something soft.
A car whizzed past in front of her.
Cheng Zhanxi watched the receding car with lingering fear, then felt a surge of nameless anger. Just as she was about to lower her head to "educate" the "little friend" who wasn't watching the road, she saw Yu Qingtang staring blankly into the distance, as if she hadn't just been on the verge of danger.
Cheng Zhanxi swallowed the scolding words and reminded her gently, "Be careful."
Yu Qingtang's numb expression gradually faded, returning a bit of life to her face. She gave a low hum.
For the rest of the way, Cheng Zhanxi held her hand. Yu Qingtang walked half a step behind, making them look less like a couple and more like an adult leading a very small child.
Upon entering the school gates, Cheng Zhanxi intended to let go, but seeing Yu Qingtang had no reaction, she kept holding on, adjusting her breathing and mood to prevent her palms from sweating too much and alerting Yu Qingtang.
1:50 PM, the school was bustling with people coming and going.
The two, with their outstanding looks, walking hand-in-hand on campus, attracted many gazes.
Li Lan parked her bicycle and walked over from the shade on the other side of the road. Seeing this scene from afar, her eyes widened instantly.
Reaching the staircase, Cheng Zhanxi had to let go. Yu Qingtang calmly withdrew her hand, tucked it into her pocket, and started walking upstairs first.
Cheng Zhanxi pondered in place for two seconds, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. She frowned slightly and followed upstairs.
Cheng Zhanxi had rich experience with napping at school. She proactively lent her U-shaped pillow to Yu Qingtang. Yu Qingtang wore it around her neck, leaned back in the office chair, closed her eyes to rest, easing the throbbing ache in her temples.
She frowned uncomfortably.
Cheng Zhanxi sat in her seat, her brow tightly furrowed, a worried expression on her face. Only when Yu Qingtang's expression gradually calmed did her own brow relax, revealing a faint smile.
Yang Li looked up, saw this, smiled, and lowered her head again.
Yu Qingtang thought she had only dozed off for a moment, but she was woken by the bell signaling the end of the first class. Her mind was clear, no longer groggy. As soon as she opened her eyes, she heard a gentle greeting from her side, "Feeling better, Ms. Yu?"
"Much better." Yu Qingtang took off the U-shaped pillow, walked over, and returned it to her. "Thank you, Ms. Cheng."
Cheng Zhanxi beckoned to her from behind the desk, "Come."
Puzzled, Yu Qingtang obediently went over.
Cheng Zhanxi stood up, letting her sit in the chair. She stood behind the chair herself, gently placing both hands on Yu Qingtang's shoulders, saying softly, "Let me give you a massage."
Yu Qingtang had just uttered the word "No," when Cheng Zhanxi skillfully applied pressure, massaging the acupoints on her shoulders and neck.
The first second was painful, followed by an indescribable soreness that instantly swept through every cell in her body, almost making her involuntarily let out a comfortable sigh.
Yu Qingtang's lips moved; she silently swallowed the "need" that should have followed "No."
Yu Qingtang involuntarily relaxed, her eyelids half-closed, experiencing Cheng Zhanxi's acupressure massage, which was no less skilled than her techniques in bed.
Ge Jing came in after class, staggered by the overwhelming scent of public display of affection, placed her books on the desk near the door, and went to whisper with Yang Li.
Ge Jing: "Ms. Yang, did I miss some plot development?"
Yang Li, looking experienced, waved her hand casually, "Ah, young people are like that. Look away for a moment, and things heat up."
Ge Jing, single for thirty years, asked curiously, "Were you like this when you were dating?"
Yang Li blushed, changing the subject, "Ahem, I haven't finished grading my papers yet."
Ge Jing sat in her seat, basking daily in the atmosphere of love, unable to resist a flicker of longing. She looked around the office. There were no eligible young men; the youngest were married male teachers over forty. Young women like Ms. Cheng and Ms. Yu were out of the question. The elusive Ms. Wen? Ms. Wen's heart was set on the moon, unable to illuminate her ditch, and besides, according to Ms. Yang, Ms. Wen planned to continue her studies and wouldn't stay at the school long. Not suitable.
Looking further, other offices...
Ge Jing's gaze suddenly shifted to the hallway outside, her eyes brightening.
A young male teacher was pacing outside the door.
Dressed like a typical science/engineering male teacher: striped plaid shirt tucked into dark jeans, leather shoes.
Tall and thin, fair-skinned.
Could it be that heaven heard her prayers and sent her a handsome guy?
The handsome guy looked quite young, around twenty-five or twenty-six, and seemed somewhat familiar.
Ge Jing sat up straighter.
The young male teacher looked inside, his gaze meeting Ge Jing's, who was watching him from the doorway.
He said, "Hello, Ms. Ge."
Cupid's arrow shot towards Ge Jing.
Ge Jing smiled demurely, "Hello, do you know me?"
The male teacher's expression immediately became a bit awkward. "We're both in the biology department," he said.
Ge Jing also felt awkward, murmuring "Oh, oh" to brush it off.
The male teacher politely asked, "Excuse me, is Teacher Cheng... Zhanxi... in this office?"
The inner corner was dim. Cheng Zhanxi was leaning down talking to Yu Qingtang, conveniently obscured. He had walked around twice without getting a clear view. He had asked several teachers before finding Cheng Zhanxi's office. Ever since meeting her during the mid-term exam invigilation at the exam affairs office, he had developed feelings for Cheng Zhanxi.
Cupid's arrow missed. Ge Jing suppressed the faint thought of developing something and asked seriously, "Do you need something from Ms. Cheng?"
The male teacher stammered, "...No."
Understanding flashed in Ge Jing's eyes. She glanced inside and raised an eyebrow, "Why don't you call her yourself?"
The male teacher hesitated for a moment, then said, "No need, I'll come back next time." He glanced inside again before leaving reluctantly.
Ge Jing watched his retreating figure, found the new teacher added this semester in the biology department group chat—named Lu Yubin. His Moments had photos; he looked decent, but far inferior to Yu Qingtang.
Ms. Cheng was already taken.
Ge Jing locked her phone screen.
Yang Li, being closer to the door, asked, "Who were you talking to, Ms. Ge?"
Ge Jing said, "Just a passerby."
Yang Li said, "Okay."
As for Cheng Zhanxi, her heart and eyes were full of Yu Qingtang; she hadn't noticed anything happening outside at all.
Yu Qingtang, almost melting into a puddle in the chair from her massage, quickly slipped out from under her hands, straightened up, and said, "That's enough, thank you, Ms. Cheng."
Just as she was about to leave, Cheng Zhanxi sat down, patted her own shoulder, leaned back lazily, a smile playing on her lips, and said, "Reciprocity. You're comfortable now, and you're just leaving me? I want one too."
Yu Qingtang: "..."
Ge Jing, unexpectedly hit in the face by the exhaust fumes: "!!!"
Did she just suddenly accelerate onto the highway?!
Ge Jing quickly signaled Yang Li with her eyes. Yang Li, looking unfazed, gestured with her palm downwards, telling her to calm down.
Ge Jing clicked her tongue inwardly.
How many "trains" had Ms. Cheng and Ms. Yu driven in the office without her knowing?
Yu Qingtang hesitated, about to place her hand on Cheng Zhanxi's shoulder. Just then, the class bell rang. Cheng Zhanxi stood up, saying, "I need to go to class." As she passed Yu Qingtang, she raised her hand, her fingertips intimately landing on Yu Qingtang's small ear, stroking it gently. Leaning close to her ear, she whispered, "Save it for next time."
Yu Qingtang's skin was sensitive. Her fair ear instantly turned red from the touch, the earlobe crimson as if about to bleed.
Cheng Zhanxi's eyes darkened. She resisted the urge to lean in and kiss her. Her fingers moved back, smoothly running through Yu Qingtang's cool, dark hair, carrying its fresh scent as she left the office.
Leaving Yu Qingtang alone, stunned, one ear feeling like it was on fire.
Class 7 PE class.
Free activity time.
A circle of girls surrounded Cheng Zhanxi, more impressive than ever before, their eyes all sparkling as they looked at her.
Cheng Zhanxi: "?"
She smiled, "What's going on?"
She still didn't know that the explosive news "Ms. Cheng and Ms. Yu holding hands, suspected relationship" had spread throughout the class from Li Lan.
Li Lan was the class monitor and needed to maintain her calm persona. She looked at the shipping representative, Lian Yabing. Lian Yabing, being very timid, signaled Tong Feifei with her eyes.
Tong Feifei, fearing nothing, gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and asked with a mischievous grin, "Ms. Cheng, did you come to school with Ms. Yu at noon?"
Cheng Zhanxi hummed, dropping a bombshell casually, "We come to school together every noon."
Lian Yabing let out a silent "Ah!", closed her eyes peacefully, and fell into Li Lan's arms. Li Lan let her rest her head on her lap and patted her head like a puppy.
Cheng Zhanxi added, "We're neighbors, living opposite each other."
Tong Feifei: "Someone saw you holding hands at school." To protect the monitor's reputation, she chose to obscure the source.
Cheng Zhanxi rubbed her chin, a little surprised, "You saw that too?"
She had only held hands once today. Were these kids equipped with telescopic vision and microscopes?
Tong Feifei subtly glanced at Li Lan, thought for a moment, and said deliberately, "If you don't want others to know, don't do it."
The Chinese representative beside her looked like her face was cracking. She couldn't help interrupting, "Classmate Tong Feifei, please stop using idioms, I'm seriously going crazy!"
Cheng Zhanxi and the students laughed together.
After laughing.
Tong Feifei asked, "Are you two dating?" She quickly added before Cheng Zhanxi could speak, "I know you'll say adults' business is not for kids to gossip about. We're just curious. It's okay if you don't say."
Cheng Zhanxi went along with it, smiling, "Thank you for your consideration. Then I won't say."
Tong Feifei: "..." Others: "..."
Was it too late now for Tong Feifei to take back what she said?
Actually, it wasn't that Cheng Zhanxi refused to say, but that she didn't have the official title yet. Once she rightfully became Yu Qingtang's girlfriend, why would she hide it? Not only would she say it, but she'd make sure everyone at school knew, to ward off anyone coveting Yu Qingtang.
Cheng Zhanxi brushed off the question and asked the crestfallen Tong Feifei, "Last Friday's class meeting, did Ms. Yu tell you about her face blindness?"
Tong Feifei perked up again, nodding, "She did."
Just then, Lian Yabing's soft inquiry came from the crowd, "Ms. Cheng, did you know about Ms. Yu's face blindness early on?"
Cheng Zhanxi caught the direction of the voice but didn't turn her head, answering directly, "A little earlier than you."
Lian Yabing was so mesmerized by the ship that she fell down stiffly.
Cheng Zhanxi asked, "And after she finished speaking?"
Tong Feifei reported everything in detail. When she mentioned Yu Qingtang seriously explaining from the podium that she had face blindness, not cancer, because the girls below were crying, Cheng Zhanxi almost laughed until she cried.
So cute!
She wished she could rush back to the office immediately, hold her, and cuddle her a few times.
During the break after the second period, Yu Qingtang had been absentminded ever since the bell rang, her gaze drifting towards the doorway from time to time.
Teacher after teacher came in, student after student also came in after reporting.
Suddenly, Yu Qingtang's fingers tightened around her pen. She quickly pretended to be seriously preparing lessons, lowering her head to focus on the teaching materials.
Cheng Zhanxi's footsteps grew closer. One hand habitually rested on the desk within her lowered field of vision, long and fair.
Yu Qingtang's heartbeat fluttered slightly. She looked up naturally, politely meeting Cheng Zhanxi's gaze, saying coolly, "Ms. Cheng."
Cheng Zhanxi bent down, resting both elbows on her desk, maintaining eye level with her. She tilted her head slightly, watching her without blinking.
Yu Qingtang found it increasingly difficult to maintain an unchanging expression in front of her. She forced a calm tone, asking, "What is it?"
Cheng Zhanxi looked at her teasingly for a moment, then straightened up, "Nothing, just heard something." A hint of amusement entered her smile, "Very interesting."
Yu Qingtang remained silent, waiting for her to elaborate on this "interesting thing," but Cheng Zhanxi showed no intention of explaining, walking back to her own seat with a smile on her lips.
Yu Qingtang: "..."
Fine, don't say it then.
She drew a meaningless straight line on the blank draft paper beside her with her pen.
The official bell for the third period rang. Cheng Zhanxi locked her drawer, walked to Yu Qingtang's desk, bent her knuckles, and tapped her desktop. Yu Qingtang deliberately waited two seconds before looking up, her expression cool.
Cheng Zhanxi: "Ms. Yu, I'm heading home first."
Yu Qingtang's eyes questioned.
Cheng Zhanxi said, "I scheduled workers to install the hanging chair."
Yu Qingtang nodded.
Cheng Zhanxi tested the waters, "Come to my place for dinner tonight? I'll stop by the supermarket for groceries on the way."
Yu Qingtang politely declined, "No, thank you. I'll grab something on the way home from work."
Cheng Zhanxi raised an eyebrow unsurprised, smiling, "Okay, see you later."
"See you later."
Cheng Zhanxi reached out her finger, playfully tapped her chin, withdrew her hand with a gentle smile, and left the office.
Yu Qingtang didn't snap back to reality until her figure disappeared completely.
...
The door to 2102 was practically non-existent. As soon as Yu Qingtang stepped out of the elevator, she smelled the aroma of food from the opposite apartment, filling the entire hallway.
Braised pork, stir-fried shrimp, stewed chicken soup, braised eggplant...
Yu Qingtang was glad she had deliberately eaten a full dinner. Now, smelling the aroma only slowed her steps, instead of making her follow the scent next door. After the "baptism" of the bone broth wontons, Yu Qingtang's resistance to Chef Cheng's skills had plummeted. There might be no free lunch in the world, but there were chef-special free meals three times a day, the fragrance constantly wafting into her nose—who could resist?
Yu Qingtang had another thought: why would she cook so many dishes just for herself? Could she finish it all?
Another voice emerged in her mind, coldly saying: If she can't finish, are you thinking of going in to help her eat?
Yu Qingtang shook her head, quickly walking towards the door of 2101.
Thanks to her dallying in the hallway, Cheng Zhanxi, who came out late, caught her just in time.
"Ms. Yu." A surprised voice sounded from behind.
Yu Qingtang turned back, preemptively saying coolly, "I've eaten, I'm full."
Cheng Zhanxi said, "I know. I wanted you to come see the newly installed hanging chair." Without waiting for a reply, she took Yu Qingtang's hand and led her into the apartment.
First time hesitant, second time familiar, third time...
Yu Qingtang didn't know what to say. By the time she reacted, she had already changed into slippers and was standing in front of the pink hanging chair.
Yu Qingtang: "..."
A deep worry arose within her: If this continued, would she walk into the wrong apartment next time she came home?
Cheng Zhanxi tilted her chin towards the hanging chair, "Try it?"
Yu Qingtang examined the hanging chair. She hadn't expected someone with Cheng Zhanxi's personality to like pink, especially romantic princess pink, adorned with white feathers, pink and white intertwined. Hmm... the flamboyant style did suit her.
The hanging chair was large, able to accommodate two people. The cushion on it looked very soft. Lying on it, the chair gently swaying—just imagining it felt extremely comfortable.
Yu Qingtang had sat on a swing before when she studied at the special education school. It was an ordinary one; you had to grip the hanging iron chains tightly, otherwise, you'd worry about falling. Before and after that, she had never played on one again. That quiet, silent period, though brief, was the only part of her student days she missed.
"I want to wash my hands." Yu Qingtang pursed her lips, looking at Cheng Zhanxi.
Cheng Zhanxi: "Follow me."
This apartment had two bathrooms in total. Cheng Zhanxi really wanted to lie that the faucet outside was broken and lead her directly into the bedroom, but the excuse was too clumsy and might backfire. Besides, there was the third option of the kitchen. She had no choice but to honestly take her to the outer bathroom.
The bathroom had meticulously placed aromatherapy; not a trace of odor could be smelled.
Cheng Zhanxi turned on the faucet for her, waited for the hot water, adjusted it to a slightly higher temperature than before, pointed out the location of the hand soap, and then retreated to the doorway to wait for her.
Lathering the hand soap, Yu Qingtang carefully rinsed her fingers under the warm water, washed them clean, dried her hands. The fragrance floating in the air was rose-scented.
Yu Qingtang was almost curious about what kind of family could raise someone as special as Cheng Zhanxi.
She took a deep look at Cheng Zhanxi, who stood at the doorway with her back to her.
Cheng Zhanxi sensed it, turned around, and asked her, "Finished washing?"
Yu Qingtang hummed.
Cheng Zhanxi led her to the hanging chair and said softly, "Sit."
Yu Qingtang held the edge of the hanging chair and sat down. Cheng Zhanxi lent a hand. Once Yu Qingtang was seated steadily, she gave it a small push, and the hanging chair began to sway gently.
Author's note:
Short skit:
Later, Cheng Zhanxi led Yu Qingtang to the hanging chair and said softly, "Do it?"
Yu Qingtang blushed and whispered softly, "Mm."
...
After a short while, the hanging chair began to sway gently.
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