Chapter 8

Wen Ci had been called “Teacher Wen” by countless people and was used to it. However, perhaps due to Zhou Wu’s naturally clean and deep voice, when he called her, it felt different from others.

Wen Ci initially intended to refuse, but she was momentarily stunned by his call.

Dou Yiqing spoke first, “No thanks, Teacher Yu, you go ahead. Wen Ci and I already have reservations at a restaurant and were just about to leave.”

“Just about to leave means you haven’t left yet. You can cancel it,” insisted Yu Binhong. “I wanted to ask about your and Wen Ci’s teaching situations.”

Qin Yun interjected, “Old Yu, don’t mind her. If she doesn’t go, it’s better. She might ruin everyone’s appetite.”

Dou Yiqing responded, “Teacher, I’ll cancel the restaurant. We’ll join you.”

“When did you cancel it?” Qin Yun asked.

“Right now,” Dou Yiqing sneered. “I’ll disgust you to the point you can’t eat, and you can starve to death for all I care.”

In just a few words, while Wen Ci was in a daze, she and Dou Yiqing inexplicably joined the large dinner group.

Yu Binhong declined the suggestions from Qin Yun to go to some nice restaurants and chose a small restaurant near the school, saying he was used to it.

The restaurant was only a kilometer away from the school. Since they encountered a traffic jam, everyone unanimously decided to walk.

Along the way, to prevent Dou Yiqing and Qin Yun from arguing, Yu Binhong called them to his side and earnestly tried to mediate.

Wen Ci, not familiar with the others and finding the road narrow, fell back to walk alone, seeking some peace.

Unexpectedly, as she walked, the people in front of her became Zhou Wu and Duan Wei.

Duan Wei deliberately slowed down and, passing by an arcade, raised her chin and asked, “Zhou Wu, remember this place?”

“Where?” Zhou Wu asked.

“This arcade,” Duan Wei stood on tiptoe and whispered in his ear, “You confessed to me here. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”

For the first time, Wen Ci felt troubled by her good hearing. She lowered her head, counting the tiles on the pavement, and slowed her pace even more.

“I haven’t forgotten,” Zhou Wu replied indifferently, “Why didn’t Wen Wen come today?”

Duan Wei was stunned, then pouted, “Do you have to bring him up?”

Zhou Wu said, “Just asking.”

“Zhou Wu, I…” Duan Wei paused, then didn’t continue. There was a brief silence between them.

The silence was short-lived. After crossing an intersection, Duan Wei resumed her usual demeanor. She took her bag off her shoulder and handed it to Zhou Wu, whining, “I’ve been carrying this all day. My shoulders are killing me. Can you carry it for me?”

Zhou Wu’s hand dangled lazily at his side, showing no intention of moving. “We’re almost there.”

Duan Wei’s expression fell, “You used to carry my school bag for me after school.”

Zhou Wu smiled without any particular meaning, “It’s not appropriate now.”

“Why? Because I’m married?” Duan Wei looked at him and suddenly asked, “What if I get a divorce?”

A sharp honk from a bus startled Wen Ci, making her shiver, so she didn’t hear their subsequent conversation clearly.

But she had a general idea of what Zhou Wu might say.

She had heard a similar question on the day Duan Wei got married.

Yu Binhong reserved the largest table at the restaurant. It was just a large round table, though.

After sitting down, Dou Yiqing made a point to leave a seat beside her for Wen Ci. But Qin Yun sat there first with a smile, “Dou Yiqing, no one’s going to have a good meal tonight.”

When Wen Ci arrived, there were only three seats left at the round table: two together and one directly opposite.

Zhou Wu pulled out a chair, and Duan Wei smoothly sat down, sweetly thanking him.

Zhou Wu paused, said nothing, and pulled out the chair next to Duan Wei. He turned and said, “Wen Ci, sit here.”

Wen Ci smiled at him, the same smile from their teacher group photo, “You sit there. I’ll take the other side.”

She quickly moved to the remaining seat and didn’t look at him again. Zhou Wu raised his eyebrows slightly, then slowly sat down.

The conversation at the table was lively. Wen Ci, using her usual skills at colleague gatherings, kept her head down and ate, occasionally smiling along with the others, maintaining a presence without being obtrusive.

Until the topic turned to her.

Yu Binhong asked, “Why aren’t you two wearing your school uniforms today? Some of the teachers who also went to Jiangcheng High School wore theirs.”

Dou Yiqing stuck out her tongue, “I lost mine a long time ago.”

“I couldn’t find mine either,” Wen Ci said with a smile.

“You even went to the trouble of getting everyone’s signatures on it, right? How could you lose it?” Zhou Wu suddenly spoke, his arms crossed as he looked at her.

Wen Ci almost dropped her chopsticks.

“Everyone? Where did they sign? On the uniform?” Qin Yun asked curiously. “Did I sign it? I don’t remember.”

“Don’t ask. If you ask, it means you weren’t asked to sign,” Dou Yiqing teased.

Another old classmate laughed, “Haha, Wen Ci didn’t ask you? I signed it back then.”

“?!” Qin Yun looked at him, feeling hurt. “Really, Wen Ci?”

Wen Ci quickly recovered, feeling a great sense of relief for having used two sets of uniforms before.

“Sorry, I couldn’t find you at the time,” Wen Ci said, clasping her hands together and smiling apologetically. “If I find it, I’ll add your name.”

Qin Yun replied, “No way. This is too important. You have to bring it to me so I can add my name myself! How about this, next month on my birthday, you come to my birthday party and bring the uniform.”

Dou Yiqing retorted, “Crazy, who wants to go to your birthday party.”

Qin Yun raised his hand between him and Dou Yiqing, “You are not invited.”

Dou Yiqing immediately tried to pry his fingers apart.

Yu Binhong exclaimed, “Stop arguing! Are you still kids?”

The attention of everyone at the table shifted to them, leading to more laughter. Zhou Wu watched Wen Ci, who was also laughing, and raised an eyebrow curiously.

Although the restaurant was small, the food was indeed delicious, mostly seafood, but quite spicy. Unfortunately, the fridge was broken, so there were no cold drinks.

“Let’s buy some cold drinks from the convenience store across the street,” Yu Binhong suggested. “Who hasn’t peeled any shells and has clean hands? Go and get them.”

Zhou Wu stood up, “I’ll go.”

Wen Ci was about to volunteer, but seeing him stand up, she quietly sat back down.

“Wen Ci,” Zhou Wu suddenly looked at her, “join me? It’s easier with two people.”

Wen Ci was stunned for a moment before slowly getting up, “…Alright.”

Wen Ci deliberately slowed her pace, habitually wanting to fall behind, but for some reason, even after a while, Zhou Wu was still walking beside her.

The pedestrian light turned red, and after a group of people crossed, they were the only ones left on the road.

Standing there, Wen Ci kept her face turned away.

Zhou Wu glanced down at her disheveled hair and lazily said, “Teacher Wen.”

Wen Ci’s shoulders twitched. After a few seconds, she turned her head naturally, “Hm?“

“Although our relationship is not entirely pure,” Zhou Wu said, a slight curve forming at the corner of his mouth, “there’s no need to act so unfamiliar, is there?”

“…”

“I’m not acting unfamiliar,” Wen Ci argued. “It’s just that we weren’t close before. Being too familiar would make others suspicious.”

Zhou Wu asked, “Were you and Qin Yun close before?”

Wen Ci was taken aback, “No.”

“Then why the different treatment?”

“I’m not treating you differently.”

“You were just talking to him,” Zhou Wu stated, “but you haven’t looked at me once today.”

“…” Wen Ci was silent for a moment, then apologized, “I’m sorry.”

Surprised by her apology, Zhou Wu raised an eyebrow. “No need to apologize, I didn’t blame you.”

He looked at Wen Ci’s profile and suddenly asked, “Why are you in a bad mood today?”

“…”

Wen Ci’s denial was weak, “I’m not.”

Zhou Wu’s bluntness was undeniable, “It’s obvious.”

Wen Ci reflected on her numerous slip-ups today.

She pressed her lips together and randomly made up an excuse, “I don’t know, maybe because Xiang Wenwen didn’t come today.”

Finally, the silence was broken.

The red light turned green, and Wen Ci sighed in relief, “Let’s go.”

Zhou Wu responded indifferently, “Hm.”

With a reasonable excuse, Zhou Wu stopped asking difficult questions.

After buying the drinks, Wen Ci reached for the remaining bag on the counter, but Zhou Wu had already picked it up.

Wen Ci quickly said, “Let me carry that one.”

“No need,” Zhou Wu’s tone was flat. “Seeing you’re in a bad mood, I wanted you to get some fresh air, not to be a pack mule.”

Just before they returned to the restaurant, Zhou Wu handed her the lighter bag, avoiding the awkwardness of her returning empty-handed. When they entered the restaurant, Zhou Wu paid the bill at the counter.

As the gathering came to an end, Yu Binhong’s wife called, so he left early. Ten minutes later, the rest of the group also started to say their goodbyes.

“Duan Wei, do you want me to give you a ride home?” someone asked before leaving.

“No need, Zhou Wu will take me home” Duan Wei said on a whim, turning to the person beside her, “Zhou Wu, haven’t you seen my new clothing store yet? I’ll take you there.”

Zhou Wu replied, “Maybe next time.”

“Then Wen Ci and I will head back,” Dou Yiqing stood up.

“Shall I give you a ride?” Zhou Wu asked.

Dou Yiqing was momentarily stunned but then declined, “No, I drove. Wen Ci will go with me.”

“Wen Ci, see you next weekend. I’ll send you the address on WeChat,” Qin Yun said with a smile.

Dou Yiqing retorted, “Get lost, Wen Ci won’t go.”

Qin Yun replied, “Why do you always interrupt when I’m talking to Wen Ci? Do you want to come too? Fine, I’ll reluctantly invite you as well.”

Wen Ci quickly stopped Dou Yiqing before she could explode and smiled, bidding farewell to everyone at the table. This time, she didn’t avoid looking at Zhou Wu, “We’re leaving now. Let’s keep in touch. Goodbye.”

—-

In the car on the way back, Dou Yiqing ranted about Qin Yun the entire time. Wen Ci stared out the window, her thoughts drifting several times. Only when Dou Yiqing asked, “Right?” or “Isn’t that so?” did she snap back, smiling and nodding in agreement.

When they arrived home, Wen Ci’s mother was surprised to see her, “Today is the school anniversary, why did you dress like this? And so messy. You’re a teacher, you can’t look so sloppy…”

Wen Ci responded a few times and then turned back to her room.

—-

After taking a shower, she returned to bed and buried her face in the pillow, staying that way until she was nearly out of breath before turning back over.

She opened WeChat, intending to reply to work messages before going to sleep, when Duan Wei’s WeChat avatar appeared in her Moments.

Unable to resist, Wen Ci clicked in.

It was a photo grid, captioned: “If only I could stay 18 forever.”

The first six photos were of Jiangcheng, and the last three showed faces.

One was a photo Wen Ci had taken for Duan Wei, a group photo with Zhou Wu in front of the introduction board; another was a selfie of Duan Wei in front of the board.

In the background of this selfie, Wen Ci saw herself.

Duan Wei probably didn’t intend to capture her. In the photo’s background, Wen Ci was just a small figure, her hair messy, a dirty spot on the side of her long-sleeve top, and faded jeans, making Duan Wei look even more beautiful and refined by comparison.

The last photo was a selfie of Duan Wei in the car’s passenger seat.

Her face was in the foreground, with Zhou Wu driving in the background. The car was moving, and both their faces were slightly blurred, giving the photo a moody, atmospheric feel.

The fatigue in Wen Ci’s mind suddenly intensified.

She closed the photo, her finger lingering over the like button for a long time.

In the end, she didn’t press it.