After Escaping Marriage - Chapter 74
Chapter 74
Cheng Zhanxi had clearly shown off, and returned to the office completely satisfied.
Yu Qingtang saw that her coat buttons were fastened properly and breathed a sigh of relief, unaware that a good show was waiting for her later.
In the afternoon, Class 7 had her class. Yu Qingtang wanted to talk to the class monitor alone and also had something to discuss with Xiang Tianyou, so she arrived at the classroom early.
It had been a month since the mid-term exams, and the monthly exams were coming up soon. The little brats were consciously reviewing during breaks, not chasing or playing around. Only a few girls went to the restroom hand-in-hand. Yu Qingtang felt a bit of gratification and pride. She didn't deliberately suppress this emotion, letting it wash over her heart, a soft feeling.
Coincidentally, Yu Qingtang bumped into Xing Bailu and He Shuangjiang returning from the restroom, holding hands.
Before morning reading, Yu Qingtang's glance had made the two think they had been exposed. Now, seeing Yu Qingtang was like a mouse seeing a cat. They panicked, not daring to look at her, burying their heads and rushing into the classroom.
He Shuangjiang was better, composed and steady, her expression normal. She even wanted to pull Xing Bailu to greet Yu Qingtang. Xing Bailu had her emotions written all over her face, unable to pretend, forcefully dragging He Shuangjiang inside, away from Yu Qingtang.
It couldn't have been more obvious.
Like Cheng Zhanxi said: Guilty conscience.
Heart thieves.
Yu Qingtang suddenly felt like laughing. Her lips curved upwards slightly as she walked into the classroom.
The classroom instantly fell silent, the already quiet atmosphere gaining a hint of tension.
The students looked up at Yu Qingtang, then quickly lowered their heads, doing homework, reviewing books, wishing they could bury their faces in their books.
Yu Qingtang walked straight to the back row.
Xiang Tianyou was sleeping with his head on his desk.
The chair next to him was empty. The student wasn't there. Yu Qingtang gently moved the chair over, sat down, her expression neither stern nor loving, just focused on Xiang Tianyou's sleeping face nestled in his arms.
Class 7 students: "..."
If they were Xiang Tianyou, seeing the homeroom teacher upon waking, they'd probably be scared to death.
Lai Xin and Guo Fang, who had just entered the classroom, dared not make a sound, tiptoeing quietly to their seats on the other side of Xiang Tianyou, silently lighting a row of candles for Brother Xiang in their hearts.
Students often have a premonition. Xiang Tianyou, sleeping groggily, felt a gaze on him, its presence strong.
His lashes moved, his eyes slowly opening a crack, seeing the woman's face in the hazy white light.
The classroom was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Crash—
A loud sound of desks and chairs moving violently, followed by a thud. Xiang Tianyou, along with his chair, flipped onto the floor. One hand supported the ground as he instinctively retreated, his expression filled with panic and fear.
Xiang Tianyou's pupils dilated. Compared to seeing the male homeroom teacher ghost standing outside the classroom door in the haunted house, this was just as terrifying.
"Brother Xiang!"
"Brother Xiang, are you okay?"
Lai Xin and Guo Fang whispered, reaching out to help him up.
Yu Qingtang straightened the desk Xiang Tianyou's foot had hooked and tilted, saying, "Sit down, I have something to ask you."
Xiang Tianyou clutched his overly frightened heart, sat back down, and asked, "Teacher Yu, did I violate discipline?"
"No."
"Is resting allowed during breaks?"
"Allowed."
Xiang Tianyou looked wronged, "Then why did you scare me?"
After the haunted house trip, his perception of this seemingly gentle but actually fearless homeroom teacher had changed. Unlike Teacher Cheng, who looked sunny and athletic but screamed the loudest when scared by ghosts, a mere facade. Not to belittle Teacher Cheng, Xiang Tianyou just felt they were a good match, a couple, a family.
"Not scaring you, just said I have something to ask you." Yu Qingtang remained expressionless.
"Ask."
"Did you finish the math paper from the weekend? Did you understand everything I explained on the phone?"
Xiang Tianyou let out an "Uh," saying, "Understood."
On Saturday night, Cheng Zhanxi had urged Xiang Tianyou to do his homework. He scratched his head and ears, pulling an all-nighter. If he didn't know something, he used Xiao Yuan Sou Ti1. If he still didn't know, he hesitated all Sunday morning before sending it to Yu Qingtang. Yu Qingtang immediately called him back for one-on-one tutoring, scaring Xiang Tianyou quite a bit, accepting Yu Qingtang's individual lesson with fear and trepidation.
Yu Qingtang seemed to be in the kitchen, the sounds of pots and pans clanging, sounding very domestic, which invisibly eased some of Xiang Tianyou's pressure.
That was actually Yu Qingtang making a birthday cake for Cheng Zhanxi.
Yu Qingtang said, "Let me see the paper."
Xiang Tianyou rummaged through his desk drawer and pulled out a crumpled math paper.
Yu Qingtang glanced at him.
Xiang Tianyou unconsciously smoothed the corner of the paper with his hand.
Yu Qingtang took the paper, only saying lightly, "Paper is a precious resource, protect the environment, everyone is responsible. Don't do this next time."
Her serious tone delivering humorous words made the nearby students who overheard chuckle softly. Xiang Tianyou's ears turned red as he said, "Got it."
Yu Qingtang checked his paper, randomly picked a few questions to test him, seeing if he truly understood or was faking it. The result was a mix of true and false. His foundation was too poor, not something that could be caught up in a day or two, and his personality was a bit awkward; it all required time to change.
Xiang Tianyou's face turned red too, "Teacher Yu, I..."
Yu Qingtang folded the paper, placed it on his desk, and said, "Ask me again if you don't understand, or ask other classmates. I'm always available." She stood up, returned the chair to its original owner, patted Xiang Tianyou's shoulder, gave him a deep look, her eyes pure, seemingly filled with expectation and encouragement.
Xiang Tianyou stared blankly at her.
Yu Qingtang turned and called Li Lan, asking her to come to the corridor.
After a while, Xiang Tianyou buried his face back into his arms, his exposed neck completely red.
He lay there for less than a minute before suddenly bouncing up again, looking around, sweeping his gaze over the classmates looking at him. Then he spread out the math paper Yu Qingtang had folded, pulled over a draft paper, picked up his pen, inserted one hand into his short hair, and stared intently at the problem Yu Qingtang had just tested him on that he didn't know.
The preparatory bell rang. The corridor only had a few students rushing back to the classroom.
Li Lan stood before Yu Qingtang, waiting for her instructions, her eyes shining with unusual brilliance.
"Teacher Yu, what do you need me to do?"
Yu Qingtang: "..."
After so long, she still wasn't quite used to Li Lan's worshipful gaze.
Yu Qingtang resisted the urge to clear her throat and said, "I plan to hold a class debate during Friday's class meeting. You organize it."
Li Lan: "Okay, what's the topic? Do you decide, or do we decide ourselves?"
Yu Qingtang: "The topic is: Do you support puppy love?"
As she spoke, Yu Qingtang carefully observed Li Lan's expression, noticing her eyes flickered almost imperceptibly when she heard the words "puppy love."
Yu Qingtang thought inwardly: Cheng Zhanxi is really amazing.
Li Lan suppressed the fluctuations in her heart, hid her panic, and asked an extra question, "Teacher Yu, did you find out something?" As the class monitor, the homeroom teacher's eyes and ears, she had the standing to ask this question, helping the homeroom teacher carry out her work.
Yu Qingtang adopted Cheng Zhanxi's tone, hummed, and said, "Sort of."
Li Lan's heart thumped, cautiously asking, "Then your attitude is..."
Yu Qingtang said, "The debate is my attitude."
Strictly prohibiting puppy love is useless; it easily triggers rebellious psychology. Homosexuality and heterosexuality are also different. The worst-case scenario is accidental pregnancy, which can almost ruin a girl's life. Yu Qingtang hoped these students could gain a deeper understanding of puppy love through the debate. It's a beautiful budding emotion, but also carries huge risks. Treating relationships requires caution; this is also a life lesson. As for the follow-up, she would observe further and provide targeted education.
Yu Qingtang felt she was becoming more and more like a homeroom teacher, not just in terms of responsibility, but genuinely hoping these children would thrive, that the young boys and girls could grow up well. Even if she had to leave soon, she still hoped so.
Li Lan seemed to understand something, saying firmly, "I'll organize it well!" Pausing, she asked, "Can I participate in the debate?"
Yu Qingtang nodded and asked, "Have you decided which side to take?"
Li Lan: "I'll see the registration situation. Whichever side is weaker, I'll join that side." She just wanted to make this debate successful, not just stand from her own perspective to persuade others; that wasn't Yu Qingtang's intention either.
Yu Qingtang's lips curved into a very faint smile.
"Very good."
Li Lan felt light as a feather from Yu Qingtang's praise, almost floating.
Yu Qingtang tilted her chin towards the inside and said gently, "Go in."
Li Lan floated back inside, sat down in her seat, cupped her face, and smiled.
The class bell rang. Yu Qingtang stepped into the classroom, walked onto the podium, saw the students sitting upright, their desks neatly arranged. Xiang Tianyou in the back row was also sitting properly, one hand bent on the desk, the other holding a pen, looking straight ahead, his posture upright.
Facing the eager faces below, this three-foot podium seemed to take on a new, sacred meaning.
Yu Qingtang touched the edge of the podium, picked up a piece of chalk from the box with two fingers, broke it in half, and wrote today's lesson content on the blackboard: Sine and Cosine Induction Formulas.
Compared to PPT teaching, Yu Qingtang preferred traditional blackboard writing. Her writing was neat and elegant, her fingers slender and flexible, drawing graphs quickly and accurately. The students loved watching it; PPTs were only used for minimal assistance.
After one class, the blackboard was densely covered with graphs, formulas, and derivation processes. Yu Qingtang dropped the chalk, patted the chalk dust off her coat with her clean left hand, and was predictably surrounded by students asking questions at the podium.
Today, besides questions, there was also gossip.
Tong Feifei said, "Teacher Yu, today Teacher Cheng told us you gave her a whistle, good-looking and nice-sounding."
The students below the podium all pricked up their ears.
Yu Qingtang paused.
Then, witnessed by almost the entire class, Yu Qingtang's ears turned red bit by bit.
Yu Qingtang couldn't continue explaining the problem. She told the students with questions to come to her office after class and left the classroom.
After Yu Qingtang walked far away, a commotion erupted in the classroom.
"Wow wow wow wow."
"I told you it's true, even if they're not married, it's almost there."
"Teacher Yu blushed, my god, if this isn't love~"
"What's there for me to be sad about~"
"Thank you for your generosity, it's my own fault~ oh~"
Before the classroom turned into a KTV scene, Li Lan stood up, clapped her hands, interrupting Tong Feifei's singing, and said, "There's something."
The noisy sounds quickly subsided, leaving only rustling whispers.
Li Lan took a breath and said loudly, "Teacher Yu wants us to hold a debate during the next class meeting. The topic is 'Do you support puppy love?' Those interested can sign up now, tell me which side you choose."
Puppy love was a sensitive topic for these high school students, both yearned for and hidden, or avoided like a flood.
As soon as these words fell, the classroom fell completely silent.
Those dating, wanting to date, resisting, or only focused on studying, all had different expressions.
He Shuangjiang looked at Xing Bailu and raised her hand, "I'll sign up."
Xing Bailu tugged at her sleeve.
Li Lan had already walked to the podium by now, holding paper and pen, noting down He Shuangjiang's name, asking, "Affirmative or negative?"
He Shuangjiang's expression was open, "Affirmative, support."
She patted Xing Bailu's hand.
Li Lan said, "Okay."
Under the leadership and influence of the class committee, Class 7 was very active in collective activities. With someone taking the lead, others soon signed up, the number of people choosing affirmative and negative sides roughly equal. A debate team only needed four people per side, eight in total. Li Lan finalized the official team members before evening study began. The rest were the audience, who could speak freely after the debate, or provide arguments for their preferred side to the team members now.
Li Lan returned to her seat, looked at Lian Yabing beside her, and asked, "Don't you have any thoughts?"
Lian Yabing cupped her face with both hands, looking at her with sparkling eyes.
Li Lan couldn't help laughing.
Lian Yabing looked expectant, "Do you think Teacher Yu will ask Teacher Cheng to watch our debate together?"
Li Lan: "..."
Yu Qingtang returned to the office. Entering, she first glanced at Cheng Zhanxi in the corner. Cheng Zhanxi's coat was draped over her chair. She wore only a warm black cashmere sweater inside, no special patterns, just a close-fitting style, outlining her slender waist and graceful curves. Yu Qingtang unconsciously admired her beautiful figure for a moment, until the silver whistle hanging in front of her flashed in her eyes.
Yu Qingtang took a deep breath and walked back to her seat.
Cheng Zhanxi: "Yu... Hey?"
She watched Yu Qingtang walk past her desk without looking sideways and blinked.
"Pfft pfft."
Yu Qingtang lowered her head to prepare lessons, not even lifting her head.
"Pfft pfft pfft."
After several unsuccessful attempts to get a response, Cheng Zhanxi sent her a message on her phone.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: What's wrong?
Yu Qingtang opened her phone. Seeing this message, she immediately imagined Cheng Zhanxi's coaxing tone. Her mood instantly improved by more than half. She held her cheek with one hand, turned to the side Cheng Zhanxi couldn't see, her lips curved, then quickly suppressed it, typing: [Nothing]
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Nothing is what's wrong?
[Yu Qingtang]: Don't use tone particles when speaking
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Then turn around and look at me
[Yu Qingtang]: No
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Then I'm coming over, I'm walking to your side, turn around
As she spoke, Yu Qingtang felt a faint warmth behind her. She abruptly turned around, about to reprimand her softly, only to see Cheng Zhanxi sitting properly in her original seat, raising both arms to make a big heart shape towards her, her teeth white, her smile brilliant.
Yu Qingtang: "..."
She couldn't help laughing.
[Yu Qingtang]: Did you tell the students I gave you a whistle?]
[Cheng Zhanxi]: I used it during PE class, they asked casually, so I answered casually. I was wrong, won't do it again
She had said everything; what else could Yu Qingtang say? Besides, she wasn't really angry, just feeling a complex mix of emotions—a bit happy, a bit embarrassed. Happy probably outweighed embarrassed, plus a bit shy. She didn't want to hear about the whistle again for a short while.
[Yu Qingtang]: Don't tell anyone else
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Got it [Cheng style cute.jpg]
She had drawn a new emoji pack. Yu Qingtang long-pressed the screen and clicked save.
Cheng Zhanxi hadn't told anyone else face-to-face, but she had posted on her Moments for everyone to see, long before Yu Qingtang said this.
[Received the most special birthday gift this year, love it love it love it [Heart][Image]]
Jin Siyue: [See this little boat of friendship? It's capsized]
Yu Jianxing: [Stop showing off]
Other friends tsked: [Xixi, this spring water rippling across the screen, really not used to it, love is truly great]
More friends: [Blessings 99, when are you bringing sister-in-law out for us to see?]
...
Cheng Zhanxi received a private message.
Lu Yubin: [Boyfriend gave it? [Moments screenshot]]
Cheng Zhanxi thought seriously for a moment before remembering who this was. After she had deliberately ignored him several times, Lu Yubin hadn't messaged her much. Who knew what possessed him today. Who gave it to her had nothing to do with him?
Given that Cheng Zhanxi had shown off too much, many people knew the whistle was from Yu Qingtang, and Yu Qingtang wasn't her girlfriend yet. Cheng Zhanxi didn't reply, directly deleting the friend, not even giving him the qualification for the blacklist.
...
Yu Qingtang saw this Moments post two days later, no need to mention it again.
Yu Qingtang had evening study duty on Monday. Cheng Zhanxi ate dinner with her outside school. As they were about to part ways and go home, she hugged her tightly, refusing to let go.
Night fell. The two hugged by the roadside. Streetlights cast overlapping shadows. Passersby occasionally glanced over.
"Don't want to go back..." The woman hummed softly in her ear, her hands wrapped around her waist.
Ever since exposing her tearful side, Cheng Zhanxi had become increasingly fond of acting cute, naturally and skillfully.
Yu Qingtang's heart softened. She gently suggested, "Then come back to school with me?"
"Have to paint..." Cheng Zhanxi rubbed against her neck, still humming.
"Painting is important," Yu Qingtang said.
"But I want to be with you."
"Paint first." Yu Qingtang's attitude suddenly became firm.
"..." Cheng Zhanxi reluctantly released her embrace, pouting, "You only care about my paintings, you don't care about me at all."
Yu Qingtang looked at her pouting lips, pink and moist. Her throat moved, suddenly wanting to...
She reached out and pinched Cheng Zhanxi's upper and lower lips together, soft.
Cheng Zhanxi blinked, tilted her head, opened her mouth, and gently bit her fingertip.
Smooth and fluid, seamless. Yu Qingtang hadn't even reacted before her finger was in Cheng Zhanxi's mouth, the moist, flexible tongue tip pressing against it.
Yu Qingtang's heart thumped heavily, "I..."
Meeting Cheng Zhanxi's deep gaze, she suddenly couldn't speak.
A car horn sounded behind them.
Yu Qingtang pulled her fingertip back, awkwardly glancing at the car by the roadside, her voice unsteady, "Aren't you afraid it's dirty?"
"Not afraid."
Cheng Zhanxi took out a tissue from her pocket, wiped the crystal clear saliva from her fingertip, held her face with both hands, looked into her eyes, and said, "I'm going home."
Yu Qingtang looked at her but didn't dare meet her eyes seriously, her gaze drifting around her face, her voice slightly floating, "Mm."
Cheng Zhanxi smiled, "Am I good-looking?"
Yu Qingtang lowered her head and nodded twice.
"Good girl." Cheng Zhanxi teased her chin and said, "I'll come pick you up tonight."
Yu Qingtang immediately looked up, "No."
Cheng Zhanxi: "Why?"
Yu Qingtang: "Just no."
Cheng Zhanxi ruffled her hair and compromised, "Alright, then message me when you finish class."
Yu Qingtang: "Okay."
Cheng Zhanxi gently tidied her trench coat collar and said, "I'm leaving."
Yu Qingtang watched her step by step button up her coat, looked up at her, "Mm."
Cheng Zhanxi hugged her, turned, and walked towards home.
Yu Qingtang watched her retreating figure, then felt something, turned her head slightly, and saw Li Lan holding two large roujiamo, standing under the dim yellow streetlight at the school gate, unsure how long she had been watching.
Yu Qingtang suddenly felt a bit guilty.
But she was the teacher. She quickly suppressed the inappropriate emotion and walked over.
Li Lan discussed the debate with her; the preliminary selection of team members was done. They briefly discussed it.
Yu Qingtang looked at the two substantial roujiamo in her hand, raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly, and asked, "Eating alone?"
Li Lan looked down at the ground, "No, bringing it for someone."
Yu Qingtang, very Cheng Zhanxi-like, let out a soft "Oh."
Then she saw Li Lan's ears turn red.
Yu Qingtang's lips curved slightly upwards.
Little girls are really interesting.
Yu Qingtang shared this episode with Cheng Zhanxi. Cheng Zhanxi laughed heartily on the sofa.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Teacher Yu, you're being a bit mean teasing the kids like this]
[Yu Qingtang]: Am I?]
[Cheng Zhanxi]: No]
[Yu Qingtang]: Going to class]
Yu Qingtang stood at the door of Class 7, put away her muted phone, silently reflected: Hmm, seems a bit mean.
But she was very happy.
With Cheng Zhanxi around, she was becoming happier and happier.
What if she left one day? Like before. First time, second time, very normal, right? When would she leave this time?
Since reuniting, this thought occasionally popped up, her anxiety growing stronger.
Yu Qingtang rubbed her forehead and walked into the classroom.
Yu Qingtang didn't assign extra math homework; the in-class exercises were finished earlier. She walked slowly around the classroom, occasionally stopping to watch students do problems. Naturally, Xiang Tianyou received the most attention. Xiang Tianyou spent the whole night wrestling with math problems, scratching his head and ears. Yu Qingtang walked to his side, looked at his exercise book for a few minutes, making Xiang Tianyou break out in a cold sweat in the middle of winter.
Xiang Tianyou looked up at Yu Qingtang, used his pen tip to circle a problem on the exercise book.
Yu Qingtang: "Don't know?"
Xiang Tianyou nodded.
Yu Qingtang bent down to look at the problem and explained it to him. Because it was study hall, her voice was very low, soft and gentle, sounding unexpectedly tender.
Several students nearby unconsciously stopped writing, listening to her voice, like moonlight waxing and waning, tides rising and falling.
Yu Qingtang's change was most clearly felt by the students around her. The sensitive teenagers of adolescence felt the tenderness beneath Yu Qingtang's silent exterior.
Evening study ended.
Yu Qingtang said, "Goodbye classmates, be safe, don't linger outside, sleep early tonight."
The students packed their bags, saying, "Goodbye teacher, you too."
Yu Qingtang took out her phone and sent Cheng Zhanxi a message: [Class is over, I need to go to the dormitory area, will be back later]
Cheng Zhanxi replied instantly: [Okay]
Yu Qingtang looked up from her phone and found Yu Zhou still sitting in her seat, her schoolbag packed, hands clasped on top, spacing out.
Yu Qingtang: "Yu Zhou?"
Yu Zhou startled and looked up, her face fair and delicate.
She was frail, with a gentle, scholarly air. Her father died early, leaving her in a single-parent family. Coupled with the previous incident, Yu Qingtang's voice softened unconsciously, "Why aren't you going home?"
Yu Zhou picked up her schoolbag, pushed her chair in, and said softly, "Going now, goodbye teacher."
Yu Qingtang said, "Goodbye, be safe."
Yu Zhou's footsteps paused almost imperceptibly. She nodded and left the classroom.
She walked out of the school gate, left the brightly lit main road, turned into the small alley of the urban village. The malfunctioning streetlights flickered, casting eerie shadows. Low walls lined with cardboard boxes and trash rustled in the strong wind. Cold wind seeped into her collar, a chill climbing up her back.
Distant dog barks and drunken men's slurred words echoed.
Yu Zhou lowered her head, quickening her pace, switched her schoolbag to her front, hugged it, and started running.
Footsteps echoed in the empty alley. Her heart pounded wildly, almost leaping into her throat. Finally, she saw the light on at her doorstep.
Yu Zhou wiped her eyes, stood at the door, took a deep breath, took out her key, opened the door, and simultaneously forced a smile.
"I'm back, Mom."
Yu Qingtang checked the dormitory area, came out, and walked towards the school gate. It was 10:05 PM.
She took out her phone with fingers chilled by the cold wind and sent Cheng Zhanxi a message: [Going back now]
After sending, she stuffed her hand and phone back into her pocket, shivered slightly for warmth, exhaled a puff of white air, and walked towards the school gate.
Her pocket phone vibrated.
Yu Qingtang didn't want to take her hand out, so she ignored it, tucked her chin into her collar for warmth.
The road home was very safe. Yu Qingtang buried her head and walked, not looking up, just wanting to get home quickly.
A pair of boots appeared in her vision, sheepskin. Just as Yu Qingtang had this thought, she bumped into a soft embrace.
Yu Qingtang didn't even need to lift her head; she recognized the person from the scent.
Cheng Zhanxi put the scarf in her hand around Yu Qingtang's neck, wrapping it circle by circle, from her chin to her ears, leaving only her slightly red nose tip and a pair of deer-like eyes exposed.
Yu Qingtang felt much warmer and said, "Didn't I tell you not to come pick me up?"
Cheng Zhanxi held up the bag in her hand, "I just came out to buy milk tea and happened to see if I could run into you."
She inserted the straw and offered Yu Qingtang the first sip. Warmth spread from her throat to her internal organs.
Cheng Zhanxi took her cold hand, tucked it into her own pocket, warming it.
"Let's go home."
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