Chapter 37

“We just went to the same high school, calling each other comrades is a bit exaggerated,” Qin Yun said, clicking his tongue. “Is he that close with Wen Ci? They even go out for meals together—oh, I guess they were pretty close back in high school. When Xiang Wenwen got married, he invited her too.”

Zhou Wu lazily lowered his eyelids, his gaze falling on the photo, but he didn’t respond.

“Duan Wei said Xiang Wenwen’s been busy lately and that they haven’t seen each other for almost two weeks. Seems like he’s not as busy as he says,” Qin Yun continued. “By the way, back when they were in Bincheng, I never saw them call each other. Is this how a married couple acts? You think they might actually be getting a divorce?”

The phone was thrown back into his hands, and Zhou Wu replied casually, his expression unreadable, “I don’t know.”

It wasn’t yet evening, and the blues bar wasn’t crowded. The waiter brought drinks to the table, and Qin Yun stopped talking for a moment, placing a glass in front of Zhou Wu. “Here, try this. It’s a new wine we just got.”

Zhou Wu made an acknowledging sound but didn’t move to drink.

Qin Yun took a sip of the new wine. It was sharp and sweet, similar to what he and Duan Wei had drunk at a bar on a small island.

Satisfied, he picked up his phone, planning to take a photo to tease Duan Wei, but he noticed there was a new reply under Xiang Wenwen’s post:

[The ungrateful dead woman: Help, how come you two are eating in the library… just seeing this place gives me PTSD.]

“Damn!” Qin Yun opened the chat with her and pressed the voice message button to curse. “Duan Wei, you’d rather comment on Xiang Wenwen’s post than reply to my messages? Are you crazy—hey, where are you going?”

Zhou Wu stood up, leaving his untouched glass of wine on the table. “I have something to do. I’m leaving.”

—-

In the library’s dining area, surrounded by greenery, with a massive bookshelf at the back, the environment was quiet and comfortable.

Although it wasn’t a reading area, there were still students eating and working, and everyone instinctively lowered their voices.

Xiang Wenwen took a sip of water. “How come Duan Wei didn’t come with you today?”

Wen Ci replied, “She signed up for an online course. She’s been staying home for classes recently.”

“Has she gotten along better with her family?” Xiang Wenwen asked, recalling, “Her parents said she had a falling out with them because she refused an arranged marriage.”

Wen Ci shook her head, surprised. “You’ve met her parents?”

“Work requirements. I’ve visited many senior professors in the city. I was actually going to ask you to help set up a meeting with Professor Wen, but then I ran into you by chance in Guang’an,” Xiang Wenwen shrugged. “To be honest, I didn’t expect things to be this bad between her and her family… but I understand. Marriage is a big deal, and it’s something you need to think through.”

Knowing that Xiang Wenwen’s current marriage status wasn’t great, Wen Ci gave a faint smile and didn’t ask further.

She didn’t want to bring up something painful for Xiang Wenwen, and… she also had a certain form of avoidance herself that was hard to explain.

When the topic was brought up, it was clear that Xiang Wenwen was also a bit troubled. He shook his head, adjusted his expression, and changed the subject. “I haven’t been here in a long time. Do you remember? In high school, the three of us used to meet here to study together. When we got hungry, we’d have some sandwiches here. There weren’t many restaurants around then. The dining area was always crowded, and we’d have to wait in line for half an hour. Once, Dou Yiqing even secretly brought bread into the reading area to eat, and got fined 200 yuan.”

Remembering the chaotic scenes back then, Wen Ci smiled and nodded. “I remember.”

“And there was that time when a couple was being affectionate in the library, and she went over to ask them if they couldn’t afford to book a hotel…”

“Is this seat taken?”

Xiang Wenwen was reminiscing when a cold voice interrupted his words.

Hearing the familiar voice, Wen Ci froze, and her smile didn’t have time to fade as she looked up.

“The area is empty, no need to share a table, right?” Xiang Wenwen politely declined, then instinctively glanced at the newcomer, looking surprised and his expression turning a little strange. “…Zhou Wu? What are you doing here?”

Zhou Wu’s gaze swept over Wen Ci’s face, her eyes and smile implying they were enjoying their conversation.

“Just passing by.” Ignoring Xiang Wenwen’s refusal, Zhou Wu pulled out a chair and sat down casually. “What about you guys?”

Zhou Wu was wearing a white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. As he sat down, his long legs in black suit pants casually parted.

He looked strikingly handsome, drawing attention from the nearby diners, who couldn’t help but glance over.

A flash of irritation crossed Xiang Wenwen’s eyes. Lately, “Zhou Wu” had been frequently mentioned in his conversations with Duan Wei, and none of the mentions were ones he liked.

But the adult world was always full of pretenses, so Xiang Wenwen forced a smile. “I just happened to bump into Wen Ci, so we decided to have a meal together.”

The moment of disgust that flashed in his eyes was noticed by Zhou Wu, who didn’t care. He lazily nodded. “How come you’re eating here?”

Xiang Wenwen replied, “Since we’re here, might as well reminisce a bit.”

“Reminisce?” Zhou Wu leaned back in his chair, looking at the people at the table. “You guys used to come here often?”

Wen Ci was tempted to ask when he returned but was afraid of inadvertently revealing his past with Duan Wei in Bingcheng.

So, she held back. Feeling Zhou Wu’s gaze on her, she quickly returned to the conversation and softly replied, “In high school, we used to come here on weekends to study together.”

Zhou Wu scoffed. “Study? What’s there to reminisce about?”

Xiang Wenwen: “…”

“True,” Xiang Wenwen smiled and casually added, “I still remember that during our senior year, we were really obsessed with studying. Every time I bumped into Wen Ci on the bus, we were both holding books full of mistakes.”

Wen Ci smiled lightly, about to speak, when her knee was nudged.

“Bus?” Zhou Wu looked at her. “Didn’t you ride a bike to school?”

Wen Ci suddenly remembered that when they met at the school gate, Qin Yun had asked Zhou Wu how he knew she had a bike. Zhou Wu had answered that she used to ride a bike to school.

She thought it was just a response to Qin Yun, but it seemed Zhou Wu really thought so.

“How could that be,” Xiang Wenwen spoke first. “Jiang Zhong doesn’t allow students to ride bikes to school.”

As expected, Zhou Wu raised his eyebrows, lightly saying “oh.”

Wen Ci’s mood remained calm. Her home wasn’t far from Jiang Zhong, and she often rode her bike directly to the hotel after school, so Zhou Wu’s assumption made sense.

She lowered her eyes, about to fork a piece of tomato, when her knee was nudged again.

“Then, Teacher Wen, how did you get your bike into school?” Zhou Wu drawled, teasing her. “Breaking school rules?”

Wen Ci was stunned. “I didn’t.”

“I saw it,” Zhou Wu lifted his eyelids slightly. “It was the afternoon after the first monthly exam in the second year. I had just finished a basketball match and saw you pushing your bike.”

“I didn’t—” Wen Ci stopped herself.

Wait.

She stared at Zhou Wu, and memories slowly came flooding back.

It seemed like, she really did ride a bike to school.

The final match of the basketball competition in the second year was against other classes, and Zhou Wu was the key forward for their class.

The matches were always scheduled after school, but Wen Ci, who had to go home on time, missed every game.

To watch Zhou Wu play, on the day of the final, she lied to her parents for the first time, saying she was staying behind to do a bulletin board. Coincidentally, that day, Wen Ci’s mother was attending a wedding and asked her to take her bike home.

That was the first time Wen Ci lied for Zhou Wu.

She had almost forgotten about it.

“A broken black bike, it was tall,” Zhou Wu slowly helped her recall, his leg staying close to hers under the table. “You had to pedal twice to get on.”

“…”

Her heart beat faster.

Although she had been teased for having short legs, Wen Ci felt a strange, small happiness.

“Sorry,” she admitted. “…But it was just that one time.”

After seeing Zhou Wu, Xiang Wenwen had lost interest in reminiscing. After a light meal, the three of them left the library together.

It was already dark outside, and the leaves rustled in the wind.

In the evening breeze, Xiang Wenwen caught a faint fragrance from Wen Ci. Suddenly, he remembered that in high school, after being exhausted by studies and the heat, by the time school ended, most people would have a slight scent of sweat on them.

But Wen Ci wouldn’t. Her school uniform, hair, and the half-exposed arm always carried a faint scent of osmanthus.

“Then let’s leave it at that for now. See you next time,” Xiang Wenwen smiled politely and said goodbye to Zhou Wu. “Wen Ci, let’s go. I’ll take you home.”

Zhou Wu didn’t even look at him. He lowered his eyes, speaking casually, “Do you want him to take you, or should I take you?”

His expression was calm, but inside he was calculating. If she said she wanted to go with Xiang Wenwen, he’d go to a different car later.

Wen Ci had no idea what he was thinking.

She didn’t hesitate and stood still beside Zhou Wu. “Zhou Wu can take me. See you next time, class president.”

—-

Once in the car, Wen Ci fastened her seatbelt and finally asked, “When did you come back?”

Zhou Wu started the car. “Just got off the plane this afternoon.”

Wen Ci lightly said, “Oh,” and remembered seeing Duan Wei’s WeChat moments that afternoon. She held back for a moment but couldn’t stop herself.

She clutched the canvas bag on her lap and casually asked, “Didn’t Duan Wei come back with you? I saw her WeChat moments this afternoon… She seems to still be in Bincheng.”

“Why would I come back with her?” Zhou Wu replied. “I flew back from Singapore.”

Wen Ci asked, “You went to Singapore?”

“Yeah, I went the day after you left,” Zhou Wu said indifferently. “I told you during that video call, there was something urgent, so I couldn’t return to Jiangcheng right away.”

Wen Ci froze. “I thought…”

Zhou Wu asked, “Thought what?”

Wen Ci shook her head. “Nothing.”

She thought Zhou Wu’s “urgent matter” meant he had gone on a vacation with Duan Wei in Bincheng, which was why he couldn’t come back.

So, for this past week, every time she chatted with Zhou Wu, she held herself back from asking what he was doing or when he was coming back, fearing she’d see something related to Duan Wei in his replies. But she couldn’t stop her anxiety, checking Duan Wei’s WeChat moments multiple times a day—

Turns out, they hadn’t been together.

Wen Ci let go of her canvas bag and, feeling guilty, sighed in relief.

“Teacher Wen, I’ve noticed you never pay attention to the road conditions when you’re in the car,” Zhou Wu suddenly said slowly.

“Hm?”

“I almost drove you into the mountains, didn’t you notice?”

Wen Ci looked up. The scenery outside was unfamiliar—it wasn’t on her way home or to the hotel.

At the red light, Zhou Wu reclined in his seat, turned his head to look at her, his eyes dark, with a hint of allure.

“Yeye has learned how to do a handstand,” he invited. “Do you want to come to my place to see?”

Wen Ci naturally fell for it.

Zhou Wu had bought a new house in the best part of Jiangcheng. Since it wasn’t on the market, normal people didn’t even know the price.

There were several staff members in the parking lot of the community, and when they saw them pass by, they saluted them. Wen Ci was taken aback and instinctively bowed back.

Zhou Wu turned his face away, trying not to laugh.

The building had one apartment per floor. As soon as the elevator doors opened, Wen Ci heard Yeye’s loud barking of “Woof woof woof.”

Zhou Wu opened the door and kicked the dog aside. “If you get another complaint, you’ll go live outside.”

Yeye immediately became obedient.

As soon as Wen Ci entered the house, it immediately jumped at her, using both paws and feet to climb on her. But due to the owner’s warning, it only dared to make excited “woo woo” sounds.

Wen Ci, softened by its sounds, crouched down to pet it, surprised. “It still remembers me.”

Zhou Wu said, “Not necessarily. It might be faking it.”

Yeye barked, “Woo woof!”

Wen Ci immediately defended the dog. “It really remembers me.”

“Alright.” Zhou Wu laughed, nodding and pointing to the wall. “Yeye, go, do a handstand.”

Wen Ci was stunned. “It can really do a handstand?”

“Why else would I bring you here?” Zhou Wu laughed. “Do you think I lied to you to get you into bed?”

“…………”

Wen Ci blushed, hurriedly releasing Yeye and standing up to make space for it, lying, “No. I didn’t think that… Go on, Yeye.”

Yeye barked.

Wen Ci waited for a while, but Yeye was sitting on the ground, unmoving, facing her.

Wen Ci, feeling awkward, grabbed her hands in front of her, glancing around. “Is it deciding which wall to use?”

Zhou Wu chuckled softly.

Before Wen Ci could respond, he grabbed her chin, tilted his head, and kissed her.

He laughed, his breath trembling as it brushed against her face, making her heart race. “Sorry, Teacher Wen. I lied to get you into bed.”

Clothes were scattered all over the floor, and Yeye was locked out of the bathroom. It could hear the sound of water and Wen Ci’s occasional gasps from inside and paced back and forth anxiously.

Wen Ci was sitting on the edge of the bathtub, her legs spread open, while Zhou Wu stood between them.

The wall behind her was cold, but Zhou Wu’s fingers were warm. In this position, Wen Ci could see everything clearly. Her ears were burning, and her face was red, unable to face him. She instinctively closed her eyes and leaned in to kiss Zhou Wu.

She barely touched his lips before he pulled away. He lowered his gaze, and his free hand covered Wen Ci’s lower abdomen.

Even in this position, Wen Ci’s stomach didn’t show any extra flesh.

“Teacher Wen, why are you always so thin?” Zhou Wu asked.

Wen Ci, not understanding why they were talking, replied, “I… I’m not.”

“Were you this thin in high school?” Zhou Wu recalled.

“Yeah… now, I’m a bit fatter.”

Zhou Wu sighed. “I should have gotten close to you in high school.”

Wen Ci, already dazed, replied after a long while, “What…”

“So I wouldn’t have to do my English homework,” Zhou Wu’s voice was low, lazy, and full of desire as it softly echoed in Wen Ci’s ear.

Wen Ci rested her head against his chest, silently breathing for a long time, then shook her head. “That… still wouldn’t work. You’d still have to do it.”