After Escaping Marriage - Extra 19
Chapter 162: Extra 3 - Parallel World
Cheng Zhanxi had just gotten out of class. She took out her phone to casually check for new messages, and her expression suddenly froze.
Yu Jianxing said, “I found a really good Chinese restaurant last time. Want to go treat ourselves tonight?” She turned to see Cheng Zhanxi completely unresponsive, as if in a state of immense shock. She raised a hand and gently patted Cheng Zhanxi’s shoulder, saying with amusement, “It can’t be that serious, can it? How long has it been since you had a good meal?”
Before she could finish speaking, she saw Cheng Zhanxi dash off in a certain direction.
Yu Jianxing shouted, “The Chinese restaurant is in that direction!”
Cheng Zhanxi broke into a full sprint. Within a few breaths, she turned a corner and disappeared, truly gone like the wind.
Yu Jianxing stared blankly at her retreating figure, then suddenly perked up. Could she be going to see her sweetheart?
In art-infused Paris, galleries were everywhere. Yu Qingtang was in one of them, looking up to admire a religious work hanging on the wall before her—a painting of the Madonna and Child.
Cheng Zhanxi walked in from outside, standing at the gallery entrance and rubbing her sore eyes.
As if sensing something, Yu Qingtang turned her head and gave her a slight nod and a faint smile.
Cheng Zhanxi restrained herself from running over, instead breaking into a brisk walk. She embraced her in front of the Madonna painting.
Yu Qingtang hugged her back, gently patting her on the back.
Other people looking at the paintings cast glances their way.
Cheng Zhanxi discreetly sniffled, then took the initiative to let go of Yu Qingtang. She whispered, “Let’s go outside.”
Yu Qingtang placed her hand in hers, letting her lead her away.
Cheng Zhanxi took her to a café. Only then did she start asking a flurry of questions. “How did you get here? Didn’t you say Teacher Tian was taking you to see an exhibition?” She was so thrilled she was nearly incoherent. “Did it end early? You came here to…”
She paused, swallowing the rest of her words, and simply gazed at her without blinking.
…Is it because of me?
Yu Qingtang said lightly, “Just passing by.”
Cheng Zhanxi’s knuckles, hidden under the table, rubbed together. The corners of her mouth lifted, but the smile was a bit forced.
Yu Qingtang frowned.
She was hesitating about whether to say something when a waiter politely inquired from the side, “What would you like to drink?”
Yu Qingtang replied in French, ordering a cappuccino. Then she looked at Cheng Zhanxi across from her and said softly, “Your taste hasn’t changed, has it?”
Cheng Zhanxi hummed in agreement, her feelings complicated.
Yu Qingtang ordered an Americano, and the waiter acknowledged and left.
It was afternoon in Paris. The lazy sunlight shone on the Louvre across the river.
The two cups of coffee were soon brought over.
Cheng Zhanxi picked up her coffee and took a sip of the foam on her cappuccino. Yu Qingtang’s gaze lowered slightly, watching the soft lines of her face as she looked down.
If Cheng Zhanxi had lifted her eyes at that moment, she would have discovered an unprecedented tenderness in the young woman’s gaze.
Cheng Zhanxi put down her coffee cup. “How long are you staying? Let me treat you to dinner. A friend of mine found a particularly good Chinese restaurant.”
Yu Qingtang asked, seemingly casually, “Which friend?”
Cheng Zhanxi said, “Yu Jianxing.”
The two of them chatted often. Cheng Zhanxi reported everything to her in great detail, never hiding anything, so Yu Qingtang knew her social circle like the back of her hand. For example, her best friend was Yu Jianxing, a fellow countryman majoring in sculpture. The bronze-skinned girl who had her arm around her shoulder while rock climbing was named Cindy; she was mixed-race, very athletic, and Cheng Zhanxi had learned a lot from her. Cindy also had a steady boyfriend… and so on.
Yu Qingtang nodded, then said, “Didn’t you say you wanted me to try your cooking?”
Cheng Zhanxi glanced at the sky. “Now?”
Yu Qingtang observed her expression and said knowingly, “You don’t have enough time?”
Cheng Zhanxi said, “No, it’s just that I’m almost out of groceries in the fridge. I was thinking about what to buy.”
Yu Qingtang smiled. “I’ll eat whatever you make.”
“Okay.” Cheng Zhanxi finished her coffee in one go. “Then we’d better hurry. The supermarkets here close early. We won’t be able to buy anything later.”
Yu Qingtang followed her example but only drank half her coffee. She pushed the cup forward a little. “I can’t finish it.”
Cheng Zhanxi glanced down, naturally picked up the half-full cup, finished it in a few gulps, and pulled Yu Qingtang up. “Let’s go.”
The two of them went grocery shopping together.
Yu Qingtang walked a step behind Cheng Zhanxi, recalling her crisp and decisive action just now, a thoughtful look on her face.
Up ahead, Cheng Zhanxi noticed that Yu Qingtang had put a little distance between them. She lowered her eyes, licked her bottom lip, her gaze toward the empty air tinged with confusion.
Cheng Zhanxi put the groceries down in the entryway and took out a clean pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet.
Yu Qingtang noticed they had been used before. As she looked around, she asked, “Do other people come here often?”
Cheng Zhanxi picked up the plastic bags, her voice coming from the kitchen, “Just Yu Jianxing and the others. They come over to freeload meals.”
“Do you need any help?”
“No need.” Cheng Zhanxi looked down to wash the vegetables, then turned to smile at her. “Just wait outside.”
Yu Qingtang agreed.
In the past, Cheng Zhanxi had made her a birthday cake and had even learned to make a few pastries.
“One must look at a scholar with new eyes after three days’ separation.” Cheng Zhanxi laughed heartily. “I’m now the famous culinary god of this neighborhood.”
Yu Qingtang muttered, “And you let other people eat it all.” Cheng Zhanxi asked what she said, but she replied, “Nothing,” and turned to go to the living room.
The apartment Cheng Zhanxi rented had two bedrooms and two living areas. It was neither too big nor too small, and was warmly decorated. The flowers in the vase on the table were also fresh. In the center of the bright, airy living room was a hanging chair. On the chair lay a book, open and face down. Yu Qingtang flipped through a few pages and mentally noted the title.
She pushed open the door to Cheng Zhanxi’s bedroom and walked around. The signs of someone living alone were obvious.
Standing at the bedroom door, Yu Qingtang glanced toward the kitchen and sighed softly.
Hiding in the kitchen, Cheng Zhanxi sent out a message: 【I can’t make it to the gathering tonight, something came up】
Messages of inquiry and gossip instantly flooded the screen. Cheng Zhanxi locked her phone and set it aside.
An hour and a half later, Cheng Zhanxi brought the dishes to the table and called for Yu Qingtang, who was reading in the hanging chair in the living room, to come and eat.
Yu Qingtang tasted each dish one by one, a smile spreading across her face under Cheng Zhanxi’s expectant gaze.
“If you keep this up, your cooking skills will catch up to mine,” Yu Qingtang said.
Cheng Zhanxi laughed and scoffed, “In your dreams.”
“Try me if you don’t believe it.”
“Fine, let’s try. You cook tomorrow.”
“I have to leave tonight,” Yu Qingtang said, looking at her.
Cheng Zhanxi’s smile slowly faded. She wiped her hands on her apron, her gaze shifting away and then back. She smiled as usual. “Okay, I’ll take you to the airport later.”
That’s it?
A flicker of light passed through Yu Qingtang’s eyes. She watched her quietly for a moment, then also hummed in agreement and lowered her head to continue eating.
Yu Qingtang came and went in a hurry, not staying the night.
Cheng Zhanxi took her to the airport and waved goodbye.
Yu Qingtang turned and went through security, not looking back.
Cheng Zhanxi tilted her head up, took a deep breath, then looked down to type a message to Yu Qingtang: 【Have a safe trip. Message me when you land】
Standing in the bustling airport departure lounge, Yu Qingtang slowly bent over.
A passing blue-eyed woman asked her in French if she needed help. Yu Qingtang waved her hand, slowly straightened up, and replied: 【Okay】
Late at night.
Yu Qingtang returned to her hotel in Florence and was startled by a cough in the hallway.
Yu Qingtang turned to see Teacher Tian standing at her hotel room door. He wore black-framed reading glasses on his nose, his gentle face tinged with faint worry. He asked, “Why are you back so late?”
Yu Qingtang’s expression didn’t change. “I went out for a walk.”
Teacher Tian advised, “Be careful. Don’t go out when it’s too late.”
Yu Qingtang lowered her head. “I understand, Teacher.”
Teacher Tian grasped the doorknob to his room and turned back. “Oh, right. Tomorrow morning we’re meeting Professor Sean and his group. Don’t wake up late.”
“I remember, Teacher.”
“Do your best.” Teacher Tian smiled.
“Thank you, Teacher,” Yu Qingtang said gratefully.
Teacher Tian closed his door. Yu Qingtang entered her room and sent a message to Cheng Zhanxi to let her know she had arrived safely.
She really was just “passing by” Paris—using half a day of rest time to fly over from Florence specifically to see her for a moment before returning.
There was no Spring Festival holiday abroad, but there was Christmas. Not long after her birthday, Cheng Zhanxi went back to China for the holidays.
Back home, she was as busy as a spinning top, meeting up with childhood friends and visiting both sets of grandparents. Yu Qingtang had classes at her university, so Cheng Zhanxi went to the campus to find her, met her roommates, and treated them all to a big meal.
On the way back to the dorm after the meal, one of the roommates couldn’t help but wonder, Isn’t this something a boyfriend is supposed to do?
She nudged the arm of the roommate next to her and whispered, “Don’t you think… their relationship is a bit strange?”
Roommate 2 said, “I can see they have a great relationship, hahaha.”
Roommate 1: “…”
This silly girl.
Roommate 3: “But Yu Qingtang’s friend is really pretty. So many guys at our school are chasing Qingtang, but I don’t think any of them are good enough for her. Her friend’s looks, though, are a good match. Gender isn’t an issue.”
Roommate 2 deeply agreed.
Yu Qingtang had class the next day, so she returned to the dorm that night. Cheng Zhanxi squeezed into the narrow single bed with her, and they fell asleep counting each other’s eyelashes.
The two-week vacation passed in a flash. For the subsequent Spring Festival, the Cheng family once again traveled abroad to spend it with Cheng Zhanxi.
Wei Tingyu cooked a large table of New Year’s Eve dinner. Yu Ci held her chopsticks and lamented, “Why does New Year’s feel so quiet this year? Maybe we should go spend it with Xixi too?”
Yu Ci glanced at Yu Qingtang, who was eating in silence.
Wei Tingyu ladled a bowl of soup for her and shot her a look, signaling for her to say less.
Yu Ci fell silent.
During the meal, Yu Qingtang stood up with her wine glass and said, “Dad, Mom, I wish you a loving marriage and a long life together.”
Yu Ci also raised her glass, smiling. “Then I wish you success in your studies and good fortune in love.”
Wei Tingyu said, “And Dad wishes you health, happiness, peace, and good fortune.”
Afterward, they watched the Spring Festival Gala together. When Yu Qingtang went to the kitchen to wash fruit, Wei Tingyu poked his wife’s arm. “It’s New Year’s. Why bring up love and relationships? You’re making Tangtang unhappy.”
Yu Ci said leisurely, “If I don’t mention it, does that mean she isn’t thinking about it? She’s thinking about it all the time, just like you.”
Wei Tingyu: “…And now you’re bringing me into it.”
Yu Ci didn’t argue with him, continuing, “When Xixi calls later, she’ll probably have to hide in her room to cry.”
Wei Tingyu: “Can’t you help her? You’re so good at relationships…” He caught sight of Yu Qingtang out of the corner of his eye and quickly stopped talking.
Yu Ci, however, was perfectly composed. “I wanted to, but she said she could handle it herself. So, let her handle it herself.”
Doesn’t listen to her elders, tsk.
Yu Qingtang placed the fruit platter on the coffee table, her expression calm. It was unclear whether she knew her parents were talking about her.
Paris was several hours behind China’s time zone. Cheng Zhanxi called during her daytime to greet her family and friends in China who were having their New Year’s Eve dinner. Finally, it was the Wei family’s turn. Cheng Zhanxi sweet-talked Father and Mother Yu for a bit, then asked, “Is Yu Qingtang home?”
Of course, Yu Qingtang was home. She took the phone and went upstairs.
A few minutes later, Yu Qingtang came back down and returned the phone to Yu Ci.
Yu Ci: “The call is over already?”
Yu Qingtang hummed in agreement and said lightly, “She said she had something else to do.”
“It’s New Year’s, of course she’s busy.” Wei Tingyu, afraid she would be sad, quickly made an excuse for Cheng Zhanxi.
Yu Qingtang’s expression was placid as she sat down to continue watching the Gala.
But when Yu Ci called her name, it took two or three tries for her to hear. And even when she did, her reactions and movements were slow, her face written all over with the word ‘distracted’.
Yu Ci and Wei Tingyu went to bed. Yu Qingtang sat quietly in the living room for a while longer before turning off the TV and going upstairs alone.
The days spun by at her fingertips, one after another, passing in vain.
One day in late autumn, Yu Qingtang received a message from Cheng Zhanxi—
【Someone confessed to me today】
Yu Qingtang’s pupils contracted sharply.
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