After Escaping Marriage - Chapter 61
Chapter 61
"I remember there weren't many dumplings wrapped this morning..." Fang Wenjiao muttered to herself as she left the kitchen, not doubting Yu Qingtang's words.
She was getting old; it was normal to misremember things. Besides, Yu Qingtang had no reason to deliberately hide them from them. Just a few dumplings, she could wrap them anytime she wanted. From any perspective, concealing the truth made no sense.
Yu Qingtang watched Fang Wenjiao's retreating back, her stiff spine imperceptibly relaxing, a hint of guilt arising.
I'll wrap some more for them next time I come back, she told herself inwardly.
Yu Qingtang turned her back to the kitchen door, picked up the kitchen knife, and continued slicing the green peppers on the cutting board.
For lunch, she made a few home-style dishes. Fang Wenjiao and her grandfather, still craving the morning dumplings, mentioned them during the meal, planning to ask the aunt to learn how to make them so she could steam dumplings for them in the future. Fang Wenjiao had always been frail, and now in her old age, she couldn't handle the time-consuming and laborious task of kneading dough and rolling wrappers. Before his fall, her grandfather could help out, but after the fall, he had completely bid farewell to the rolling pin. They could only buy ready-made dumpling and wonton wrappers from the market.
After her nap, Yu Qingtang went to the supermarket, bought fresh meat, returned home, and wrapped some more soup dumplings. This time, she didn't secretly hide any, leaving them all for the two elders.
The afternoon passed quickly in her busyness. The setting sun radiated its last warmth. Yu Qingtang watched the sun about to be pulled below the horizon, feeling both nervous and expectant. She closed the courtyard gate and went into the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Just past seven in the evening, her grandfather was watching the news in the living room. Fang Wenjiao heard footsteps coming down the stairs from the second floor.
Yu Qingtang had her bag slung over one shoulder, carrying something in her other hand. Because Yu Qingtang shielded it with her body, it was unclear what it was.
Fang Wenjiao: "Leaving so early?"
Yu Qingtang: "Mm."
Fang Wenjiao: "Be careful."
"Got it."
Yu Qingtang changed her shoes at the entrance, placed the black thermal lunchbox bag on the floor hidden by the shoe cabinet, changed her shoes, opened the main door, went out through the courtyard, and walked to the bus stop outside the alley.
The route was incredibly familiar, yet Yu Qingtang looked up at the station map at each stop, the number of stops to her destination decreasing.
The thermal lunchbox bag rested on her lap. Yu Qingtang gripped its handle.
"Good evening, Miss Yu." The slacker young lady at the front desk, having just started her shift, greeted her energetically.
Yu Qingtang glanced at her distractedly, holding the lunchbox as she walked towards the elevator entrance.
Slacker young lady: "???"
Ding—
The elevator arrived at the first floor. Yu Qingtang looked at the doors opening to both sides, hesitating to step inside.
The elevator doors automatically closed due to no response. Yu Qingtang quickly pressed the open button repeatedly, continuing to stand motionless, lost in thought.
The elevator doors opened and closed, closed and opened.
A resident needing to go down from a certain floor looked at the elevator stuck on the first floor: "???"
Who was being so inconsiderate?
Another tenant, also arriving at the first-floor elevator entrance, saw Yu Qingtang in front and consciously stood behind her, until he witnessed Yu Qingtang "playing" with the elevator.
The tenant: "..."
The joys of the rich are truly unimaginable.
The tenant cleared his throat and asked gently from behind her, "Miss Yu, may I go up?"
Yu Qingtang saw him, nodded slightly, and stepped aside.
The tenant walked in, pressed the open button, and politely asked, "Is Miss Yu coming up?"
Yu Qingtang gripped the bag strap tightly, her slender white knuckles tensing. Silently, she walked in and pressed the button for her floor after swiping her card.
The tenant got off on the 10th floor. The elevator continued upwards.
The slight humming sound of the machinery echoed in the quiet space. The feeling of nearing home grew stronger. Yu Qingtang closed her eyes.
Ding—
The elevator stopped.
Yu Qingtang took a deep breath and walked out.
The door to 2102 in the corridor was wide open.
Then Cheng Zhanxi appeared at the doorway, leaning casually against the frame, dressed in smoky pink pajamas. Tall, slender-waisted, long-legged, gentle and languid, holding a mug printed with an oil painting.
"Good evening, Teacher Yu." Cheng Zhanxi greeted her with a smile as usual.
Yu Qingtang took several seconds to reply, "...Good evening."
She simultaneously lowered her eyelids.
Cheng Zhanxi straightened up from leaning against the doorframe, her left foot, which had been casually tapping in front of her right, returning to place. She keenly noticed something seemed off about Yu Qingtang.
"Teacher Yu?"
Yu Qingtang silently composed herself. After a moment, she lifted her eyelids again, calmly handing over the thermal lunchbox bag.
"This is..." Cheng Zhanxi took it and weighed it.
Yu Qingtang said, "My grandmother wrapped some dumplings, asked me to bring some for my colleagues to try."
Cheng Zhanxi smiled, "Thank Grandma for me."
Yu Qingtang said, "You're welcome."
"I'll eat them all."
"Mm."
Logically, Yu Qingtang should have said goodbye next, but she didn't speak, nor did she leave, just standing motionless in front of Cheng Zhanxi, her dark, deep eyes showing no emotion.
Cheng Zhanxi couldn't figure her out, tentatively asking, "Would Teacher Yu like to come in for a bit?"
Yu Qingtang said, "Not for now."
Cheng Zhanxi thought: Why add "for now"? Her way of speaking wasn't like this before.
"I..." Yu Qingtang's throat felt dry. She said, "I'm heading back first."
"Okay, goodnight, Teacher Yu." Cheng Zhanxi wore slippers, inconvenient for coming out. Besides, it was just across the corridor; escorting her seemed overly dramatic.
"Goodnight." Yu Qingtang said softly. Then, her lashes fluttered, she looked deeply into her face, her expression extremely serious, as if wanting to imprint her from her eyes all the way into her heart.
Cheng Zhanxi paused, the emotions deep within her surging and churning.
Yu Qingtang retracted her gaze, as if Cheng Zhanxi's momentary lapse was just an illusion.
Cheng Zhanxi came back to her senses. Yu Qingtang had already reached the opposite door. The black trench coat made her figure look slender and graceful. Her long hair draped behind her, blending with the color of her clothes. She opened the door. The sound of it closing echoed in the empty, quiet corridor.
Cheng Zhanxi pressed her hand against her heart. Yu Qingtang's glance just now, besides the stirring, seemed to carry other complex, indiscernible emotions.
She thoughtfully closed the door, returning inside, placing the lunchbox on the entryway cabinet.
After a while, she remembered to open it. Inside lay rows of exquisitely shaped soup dumplings.
Her fingertips poked one of the still-soft dumpling skins. She muttered to herself, "Was it Grandma who made these? Or was it you?"
Regardless of who made them, better to eat them by mistake than let them go to waste.
The soup dumplings weren't large. Cheng Zhanxi steamed half, which was four, picking them out of the pot and placing them on the dining table.
Yu Qingtang sat dazedly on the living room sofa.
...So this was what she looked like grown up.
Tall, fair, and thin, with long, straight legs. Chestnut long curly hair added a touch of mature charm, yet her personality retained a childlike innocence and sincerity. Sunny and cheerful, her smile prettier than all the butterflies combined.
Yu Qingtang had never thought she would meet the girl again, nor had she imagined what she would look like grown up. Yet at this moment, she felt nothing could be better.
She had changed so much, yet hadn't changed at all.
It was always her who brought warmth to her.
She had found her lost friend again, her only good friend.
The sound of an incoming message pulled Yu Qingtang back to reality.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Finished the dumplings, they taste great.
Yu Qingtang typed: [Glad you like them.]
Before sending, she deleted it and re-edited.
[Yu Qingtang]: Mm
[Cheng Zhanxi]: What is Teacher Yu doing?
Yu Qingtang thought inwardly, Thinking of you. She lowered her head and typed on the keyboard.
[Yu Qingtang]: Thinking about when to shower.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Hahaha, do you have procrastination issues too?
Yu Qingtang's lips curved upwards as she typed: [No.]
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Then what are you doing while thinking?
[Yu Qingtang]: Spacing out.
The two exchanged a series of meaningless messages. Cheng Zhanxi finished the last bite of dumpling, scrolled back through their chat history, and let out a soft hiss.
What was wrong with Teacher Yu today? She was being so patient. Usually, she would have ended the conversation with an "Mm," "Going to shower," or "Busy, talk later," and then nothing.
[Yu Qingtang]: Going to shower now.
Just as Cheng Zhanxi was thinking this, Yu Qingtang sent the message as if reading her mind.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Me too.
Yu Qingtang put down her phone after sending the message, went to the bedroom to get her pajamas. Passing the painting "Blizzard" hanging on the wall, her peripheral vision swept over it. Without much thought, she lifted her leg and stepped into the bathroom.
The water temperature was just right. Yu Qingtang showered underneath, carefully washing her hair and body. After drying off, she changed into her pajamas, wrapped her hair in a towel, walked into the living room, picked up her phone left on the coffee table, and unlocked the screen.
[I'm done showering.]
Cheng Zhanxi, having not only showered but also blow-dried her hair, washed an apple for herself. Finishing it and washing her hands, she was about to head into the studio when she habitually checked her phone for messages and saw the one Yu Qingtang had actively sent.
Cheng Zhanxi: "!!!"
She typed three exclamation marks in the dialogue box, almost sending them directly.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Me too.
Cheng Zhanxi held her phone with both hands, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on the screen.
[Yu Qingtang]: Going to sleep now, goodnight.
A very Yu Qingtang-style reply. Cheng Zhanxi slightly retracted the shock in her heart, her expression softening as she typed: [Goodnight.]
[Goodnight.]
Cheng Zhanxi entered the studio.
Yu Qingtang dried her hair halfway in the living room, casually draped the towel over the sofa back, and walked into the bedroom.
Climbed into bed, turned off the lights, closed her eyes to sleep.
She thought of nothing, her expression relaxed as she entered dreamland.
In her dream, she heard that country folk song again. It was the sound of a flowing stream, the sound of ants moving house, the sound of cicadas chirping in the trees, a broom sweeping fallen leaves like a whirlwind, blue and white butterflies dancing around flowers, clusters of wildflowers growing in the roadside grass.
A night of wind blew, bringing good sleep until dawn.
Yu Qingtang lay in bed for a while, replaying the events of the past two days in her mind. She picked up her phone, checked her chat history with Cheng Zhanxi, confirming it matched her memory from before sleep.
Yu Qingtang's lips curved upwards. She lingered in bed for a while longer before getting up.
Just as she put on her slippers, her phone rang.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Good morning, Teacher Yu.
[Yu Qingtang]: Good morning.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Coming to my place for breakfast?
[Yu Qingtang]: Okay.
Cheng Zhanxi didn't expect Yu Qingtang to reply so quickly, nor did she expect her to agree so decisively. Her face blanked for a moment, unsure what expression to make.
She walked to the window, looked out through the floor-to-ceiling glass, her expression dazed. Which way did the sun rise today?
Dawn was breaking, the sun hadn't risen yet.
Ding dong ding dong—
The doorbell echoed in the living room.
So fast?
Cheng Zhanxi was startled. The dumplings were just put in the pot. She quickly turned down the heat and said, "Coming."
Yu Qingtang adjusted her expression at the door, lightly cleared her throat, tidied her collar, stood straight, like a groom about to enter the wedding ceremony.
The door in front of her opened. Cheng Zhanxi's figure, wearing an apron, appeared in her sight. Tall figure, fair skin, lazy long curly hair, bright clear eyes, straight nose bridge, rosy thin lips, merging with the blurry shadow from childhood.
Yu Qingtang barely restrained the upward curve of her lips, trying to sound calm, "Teacher Cheng."
Cheng Zhanxi paused inexplicably for a moment before stepping aside, "Please come in."
She supported herself on the entryway cabinet with one hand, bent down to get slippers from the shoe cabinet, feeling a gaze fixed on her.
Cheng Zhanxi's movements stiffened slightly.
When she straightened up, that gaze was gone.
"I'll go cook the dumplings first. Teacher Yu, make yourself at home." Cheng Zhanxi watched her change into slippers. Her light gray loungewear matched the slippers, looking as if she lived here.
"Teacher Cheng, go ahead."
Cheng Zhanxi walked towards the kitchen, glanced back midway, finding Yu Qingtang standing still, carefully examining the place like her first visit, full of novelty and exploration.
Cheng Zhanxi: "..."
She felt a bit panicked now.
Cheng Zhanxi, who dabbled in everything, thought of a possibility, instantly feeling chills run down her spine.
Could Yu Qingtang have been possessed by someone?
"Teacher Yu!"
Yu Qingtang's thoughts were interrupted. She turned her cool gaze towards her, indicating confusion.
Cheng Zhanxi swallowed, "H-how did you sleep last night?"
Yu Qingtang replied without any discernible emotion, "Alright."
It was the best sleep she had had in recent years. She couldn't remember the last time she slept so soundly.
Cheng Zhanxi breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "Play around then."
Yu Qingtang replied concisely, "Okay."
Cheng Zhanxi closed the kitchen door. The sound of the range hood faintly drifted out from the kitchen.
Yu Qingtang sat down on the living room sofa, reached out to gently touch the lily petals in the vase on the coffee table, her fingertips feeling the moist, crystal water droplets.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, the pale white sky held a few dim stars. The city was hazy, shrouded in a light veil-like mist.
Ding ding dong dong, the distant sound of bicycle bells seemed to echo. Early risers in the city bustled about for their livelihoods.
Students in various school uniforms chased and played on the roads, their laughter clear, rushing towards school.
The city was full of vibrant energy.
Cheng Zhanxi brought out two bowls of dumplings. Yu Qingtang sat properly on the sofa, hands resting on her knees, looking sideways towards the floor-to-ceiling window. Her profile lines were exquisite and beautiful, carrying a rare softness.
Cheng Zhanxi gently placed the bowls down, quietly watched her for a while, then softly called out, "Teacher Yu, breakfast is ready."
Yu Qingtang turned around and nodded to her.
Cheng Zhanxi used the broth frozen in the fridge from last time to cook the dumplings. The dumplings were also made by her, corn and pork filling. The corn was sweet, the pork fresh, the skin-to-filling ratio just right. They tasted light and refreshing, not oily or greasy.
Yu Qingtang held her spoon in one hand, chopsticks in the other, eating Cheng Zhanxi's handmade dumplings unhurriedly.
She was so mischievous as a child, yet grew up to have such good cooking skills.
"Teacher Yu."
A voice sounded from opposite. Yu Qingtang hid the smile in her eyes, looking up coolly, "What's wrong?"
Cheng Zhanxi asked hesitantly, "Did you... encounter some great happy event when you went home this time?"
Just now, Yu Qingtang was eating dumplings and smiling! She saw it with her own eyes! Definitely not her illusion!
Yu Qingtang stirred the soup base with her spoon, saying, "Sort of."
Cheng Zhanxi imagined it related to her parents. Their relationship wasn't close enough yet, so she didn't pursue it.
But it didn't stop Cheng Zhanxi from being happy for her. She went to pour two glasses of milk, raised her glass in celebration.
The glass rims touched with a crisp "ding."
"Cheers," Cheng Zhanxi said.
Yu Qingtang smiled very faintly, lowered her head, and took a sip of milk.
Cheng Zhanxi beamed.
After a very pleasant breakfast, Yu Qingtang proactively said, "I'll wash the dishes."
Cheng Zhanxi looked at her with a smile, "Okay, go ahead."
Having entered the kitchen once, Yu Qingtang easily found the dishwasher, placed the bowls, chopsticks, and spoons inside, pressed the switch, and the dishwasher started working.
She turned to leave and bumped into Cheng Zhanxi leaning against the doorway.
2102's decoration followed Yu Qingtang's preferences. She disliked cooking, so the kitchen area wasn't made very large. If she took two more steps forward, she would bump into Cheng Zhanxi's arms, or Cheng Zhanxi could proactively open her arms and embrace her.
The two looked at each other.
The timing and feeling were right. Cheng Zhanxi proactively stepped forward, pulling Yu Qingtang into her embrace, her arms gently circling her.
The woman's warm body temperature enveloped her.
Yu Qingtang trembled slightly, blood flowing from her heart to her limbs. The sun rose from the horizon. The thick cocoon built up over years opened layer by layer. Sunlight shone in without obstruction. Glaciers melted, deep winter warmed, the lost was found, the missing filled. The person floating on the sea grasped her driftwood.
The very first piece of driftwood.
Separated by twenty years of time.
Yu Qingtang's knuckles curled, gripping the fabric on Cheng Zhanxi's back, forcefully returning the hug.
Cheng Zhanxi was overwhelmed by favor, her heart beating uncontrollably fast, her arms involuntarily tightening. Yu Qingtang hugged her back even tighter.
This encouraged Cheng Zhanxi. One hand still rested on Yu Qingtang's back, the other moved to her delicate white ear, her thumb repeatedly stroking it. She wanted to pull back slightly to see Yu Qingtang's expression, perhaps... Her throat moved, maybe she could kiss her.
So she gently pushed Yu Qingtang's shoulder, but couldn't move her.
Cheng Zhanxi: "..."
Cheng Zhanxi quickly realized the current posture wasn't quite right.
She felt like a telephone pole, only able to stand straight, unable to bend or move. And Yu Qingtang held her tightly, also like hugging a telephone pole, not letting her move.
Cheng Zhanxi: "...Teacher Yu."
Yu Qingtang buried her face in her neck, seemingly not hearing.
Cheng Zhanxi sighed silently in her heart, raised her voice, "Yu Qingtang."
From her perspective, she saw Yu Qingtang's dark hair move slightly, like a fluffy little animal.
"Yu Qingtang." Her heart softened, calling again.
Yu Qingtang straightened up from her embrace, her expression as calm as ever, her pupils like washed in clear water, dark and bright, clear and innocent.
Cheng Zhanxi looked at those eyes and didn't know what to think anymore. Never mind asking, asking meant being a beast.
Cheng Zhanxi subtly took a breath, released her. Yu Qingtang also let go of her clothes. The smooth fabric on her back was wrinkled by her grip.
Cheng Zhanxi saw it as she turned to leave the kitchen. Thinking faster than acting, her hand reached up to smooth it.
Cheng Zhanxi reacted intensely, almost jumping.
She was alone at home, wearing only thin pajamas. Cheng Zhanxi was currently in her rainy season. Yu Qingtang's sudden touch like this, the stimulation was imaginable.
Yu Qingtang blankly lowered her head, looked at her own hand.
"Is there static electricity?" Yu Qingtang lifted her head, thought of a possibility, and asked seriously.
Cheng Zhanxi, whose legs felt weak, found the sofa and sat down, saying seriously, "Mm, I accidentally got shocked."
This shock wasn't that shock, no problem.
Yu Qingtang apologized, "Sorry."
Cheng Zhanxi smiled, "It's okay."
Yu Qingtang said, "I'm going back to change clothes. Shall we meet at the elevator entrance later?"
Cheng Zhanxi stood up, "I'll walk you."
Yu Qingtang nodded.
Cheng Zhanxi watched Yu Qingtang enter the opposite apartment, then touched her own back with her hand. It was sweaty, sticky, and uncomfortable. She went to take a shower, afraid Yu Qingtang would smell something, didn't dare satisfy herself.
She wondered how Yu Qingtang's nose grew. Generally, people with sensory impairments have heightened abilities in other areas, right? Hmm, Yu Qingtang was face-blind, relying on smell to recognize people, so her nose was particularly sensitive. What about her vision? Didn't people with hearing impairments usually have excellent vision? But her hearing was fine too. Maybe she was just gifted...
Cheng Zhanxi thought randomly while showering, forgetting as soon as she thought.
Coming out dressed, it was just a few minutes before 6:30.
6:30 AM, punctually leaving.
Elevator descending. Yu Qingtang quietly observed her own state in the reflective car wall—full of energy, not a trace of listlessness.
Yu Qingtang's eyes flashed with an imperceptible annoyance. If only she had insomnia last night.
Sleeping in the elevator, Cheng Zhanxi would hug her from the front.
Yu Qingtang gently bit her lower lip, several times opening her mouth, lifting her hand halfway before dropping it.
She made up her mind, her mouth slightly widening, about to form a yawn.
Ding—
1st floor arrived.
Yu Qingtang stared fixedly at the display number, her gaze exceptionally cold.
"Teacher Yu?" Cheng Zhanxi put away the tissue she had half taken out from her pocket and called out.
She thought Yu Qingtang was about to sneeze, but nothing happened.
"It's nothing." Yu Qingtang retracted her gaze, her expression cool, "Let's go."
She took the lead out of the elevator.
The slacker young lady at the front desk saw the two approaching side by side, smiled sweetly, "Miss Yu, Miss Cheng, good morning."
"Good morning." The two replied in unison, one lazy, one cool, their voices intertwining, exceptionally harmonious.
The slacker young lady's jaw dropped.
Cheng Zhanxi glanced sideways at Yu Qingtang in surprise.
The slacker young lady lifted her hand to close her jaw, watched the two disappear behind the glass door, stunned for a long while.
Was this the power of love?
She looked down at her phone in a daze, subconsciously slacking off.
She didn't know if love had power, but slacking off every day would definitely kill her.
Plane tree leaves fluttered down from the roadside trees, swirling.
Unlike the north, where winter meant bare branches and desolation, Sicheng's winter leaves didn't fall all at once. They fell from autumn into winter, like golden butterflies dancing day after day in the sunlight.
Today, Yu Qingtang still wore her black trench coat, the cinched waist highlighting her slender figure. Both hands were tucked into her pockets, the collar folded down, revealing a section of delicate white neck, her jawline exquisite.
Cheng Zhanxi blinked.
Not lowering her head anymore?
Cheng Zhanxi smiled, silently thanking the great happy event Yu Qingtang encountered.
Yu Qingtang's eyes looked straight ahead, but her mind wandered. She hesitated whether to take her hands out.
Just taking them out was much easier than pretending to be sleepy, but she hadn't held hands with Cheng Zhanxi recently; it seemed a bit deliberate.
"Teacher Yu!"
Yu Qingtang only heard Cheng Zhanxi's voice, then her whole body was pulled sideways, falling diagonally into her embrace.
Yu Qingtang's face brushed past a tree trunk.
"Watch where you're going." Cheng Zhanxi reminded gently beside her ear.
Yu Qingtang steadied herself with her hand, whispered thanks. Starting again, her hands naturally hung by her sides. After a few seconds, as expected, Cheng Zhanxi held her hand.
Comments
Post a Comment