Chapter 7

Zhou Wu stood at the back, hands in his pockets.

Today, he was also wearing the school uniform. Except for his hairstyle, he looked almost the same as in the photos, but he now had the poise and steadiness of an adult man, making him even more eye-catching.

Zhou Wu was tall with long legs, so even standing at the back, he was still the center of attention. He was originally looking at his phone but lazily lifted his eyes upon hearing something.

As soon as their eyes met, Wen Ci quickly looked away.

“Though I’ve long heard the school mistreats people by making teachers do labor, this is too much,” Qin Yun scanned the board and asked, “Wen Ci, is this all the names of the outstanding graduates? Is there a second board? Why isn’t my name on it?“

Wen Ci said regretfully, “There’s only this one.”

Dou Yiqing added, “It’s a pity there’s no board of shame, or you would definitely be number one.”

Qin Yun, feeling unjustly scolded, looked at the person next to Wen Ci in confusion, “Wait, why are you scolding me—Dou Yiqing????”

Dou Yiqing ignored him, jumped off the ladder quickly, and Wen Ci, holding the handrail, also returned to the ground steadily.

Dou Yiqing said, “Thank you, uncle. Where should we put the ladder?”

“No need, we’ll take it back,” one of the security guards said, picking up a ladder, smiling. “You guys go have fun.”

Dou Yiqing nodded, “Alright, we’re leaving.”

“Hey, the school celebration hasn’t started yet. Where are you going? Come and see Old Yu with us,” Qin Yun grabbed Dou Yiqing’s clothes, full of curiosity and fearlessness, “Dou Yiqing, why do you look like this now? Did you lie about your age in high school? You must be thirty by now, right?”

Dou Yiqing quickly shook him off, “Who wants to be with you? Do I even know you well? How old I am is none of your business, let go!”

Wen Ci didn’t expect that after so many years of graduation, they would still start bickering the moment they met, as if they were about to fight at any second.

She was just about to step forward to take Dou Yiqing away.

“Wen Ci!” A sweet perfume smell wafted into her nose, and Duan Wei hugged her arm, “Long time no see!”

Wen Ci stopped and smiled, “Long time no see.”

Duan Wei had put on delicate makeup and curled her hair specially, looking like a beautiful doll, even her voice was pleasant.

“I just heard Qin Yun saying you’re teaching here. I didn’t expect Yiqing to be here too.” As she spoke, Duan Wei glanced at Wen Ci.

Wearing a long-sleeve shirt and jeans that were practical for work and sun protection, white sneakers, and with her hair messy from a morning’s work.

Duan Wei said, “Looks like everyone was right; teaching really wears people out.”

Wen Ci smiled without responding.

“It’s good I ran into you. I was just worried; there are only guys here today, and the photos won’t look good.” Duan Wei took a camera out of her bag, “Wen Ci, could you take a few pictures for me? I want a photo with the board.”

Wen Ci took it, “Of course.”

Duan Wei showed her a few basic buttons, and Wen Ci fiddled with the camera, trying a shot.

Duan Wei was satisfied, “Yes, like that. Make sure I look good, thanks! … Zhou Wu, come over, let’s take a picture together.”

“I don’t want to, you take it yourself.” Zhou Wu finally spoke.

His voice was a bit hoarse, like he had just woken up.

It seemed his jet lag hadn’t adjusted yet. Wen Ci recalled last time at his place, Zhou Wu showed no signs of waking up all morning, and she had to leave a message and leave first. Zhou Wu replied to her only in the afternoon.

Wen Ci lifted the camera, searching for an angle on the introduction board.

“I only stood you up for dinner last night, you’re really stingy!” Duan Wei said, “Take a picture with me! Our photo is on the board!”

“Last night was Qin Yun’s gathering.”

“Okay, then I stood Qin Yun up, so now you have to take a picture with me… Zhou Wu, just one picture, Zhou Wu, Zhou Wu, Zhou Wu!”

Duan Wei’s way of acting spoiled was still as annoying and cute as in high school. Wen Ci recalled that after this, Zhou Wu would usually turn his face away and chuckle, then go along with Duan Wei’s wishes.

Now, Wen Ci couldn’t see Zhou Wu’s reaction, but a few seconds later, Zhou Wu appeared in the frame.

Duan Wei stood on the right side, and Zhou Wu slowly walked to the left. They were so far apart that they almost didn’t fit in the frame.

But they had superior looks and were both wearing school uniforms, still presenting a beautiful picture.

“Are we just going to stand here?” Wen Ci suddenly felt a bit dry in her throat, perhaps from working under the scorching sun for too long. She endured the discomfort and asked softly, “Aren’t we standing too far apart?”

Zhou Wu looked directly at the camera as if looking at her. “Just like this, my picture is over here.”

On the introduction board, Zhou Wu and Duan Wei were positioned at the head and tail, indeed on the left and right.

Duan Wei hesitated for a moment but reluctantly agreed, “Okay.”

Wen Ci pursed her lips and had no choice but to hold the camera and step back.

A breeze blew by, lifting a strand of hair that had fallen during Wen Ci’s busy work into the air, where it hung for a long time. Combined with her slightly bent posture, she appeared a bit dazed.

At the moment Wen Ci pressed the shutter, Zhou Wu raised an eyebrow and slightly smiled.

After taking the photo, there was still noise next door.

Dou Yiqing and Qin Yun seemed to be natural enemies. Back in school, the class bell could temporarily cease their fighting, but now it relied solely on manpower.

Wen Ci grabbed Dou Yiqing’s hand, “Yiqing, everything’s set up. Let’s go back?”

“Wen Ci, it’s sunny here. You go back first; I want to scold him a few more times.” Dou Yiqing didn’t even turn her head and continued, “You still have the nerve to mention high school! I haven’t even settled the accounts for you stealing my notebook back then! You scumbag! Trash!”

Wen Ci couldn’t stop her and instinctively looked for someone who could.

Turning around, she found Zhou Wu already standing behind her.

Zhou Wu had been staring at the back of her head for a while. They were only half a step apart, and Wen Ci almost bumped into him when she turned around.

Seeing Wen Ci’s pleading gaze, Zhou Wu remembered that she used to do this too.

Even though they weren’t familiar, whenever Qin Yun and Dou Yiqing argued, Wen Ci’s first reaction was always to look at him.

It was the first time Wen Ci looked him in the eye today.

Remembering how she had hurriedly avoided his gaze on the ladder earlier, Zhou Wu felt an inexplicable urge to laugh. He knew what Wen Ci’s eyes meant but pretended not to understand, lowering his eyelashes and silently meeting her gaze.

After taking the photo, Zhou Wu seemed to wake up. His expression relaxed, and his eyebrows casually raised, making him look more like his photo.

Realizing her heartbeat had quickened a few beats, Wen Ci came to her senses, took a step back in a panic, and averted her gaze.

Seeing Zhou Wu’s indifferent look, Wen Ci decided to take matters into her own hands. She reached out to tug at Dou Yiqing’s clothes, intending to feign a stomach ache. A breeze with a faint scent of toiletries blew by.

“Are you leaving or not?” Zhou Wu walked to Qin Yun’s side, speaking lazily, “It’s starting over there soon.”

Qin Yun responded, “Yes, I’m leaving. Damn, it’s already this time… I’m not stooping to your level. I have to give a speech in the auditorium now. Old Yu is still waiting for us.”

There was an event in the school auditorium at three in the afternoon, and one segment involved excellent graduates giving speeches.

As a school staff member, Dou Yiqing was naturally aware of this. She sneered loudly, “Yeah, right, you? Probably Zhou Wu giving the speech on stage while you, Qin Yun, clap at the bottom.”

Qin Yun glared angrily. Before he could come up with another retort, Wen Ci quickly pulled Dou Yiqing away, leaving behind, “You guys should hurry. You’ll really be late soon. Goodbye.”

They arrived late, and the auditorium was almost full. The school staff saw Zhou Wu and invited him to sit in the specially reserved front rows, but he declined.

“No need. I’ll just stand at the back with Mr. Yu. Thank you.”

—-

After the staff left, Yu Binhong, their former high school homeroom teacher who had retired, looked around at his former students, finally settling his gaze on Zhou Wu. He said with satisfaction, “Not bad, you actually wore your uniform as I asked.”

Yu Binhong was a glasses-wearing, loud-voiced old man.

Zhou Wu smiled faintly, “You asked, so I had to.”

“The school wants to take pictures. They said it looks more uniform if everyone wears their school uniforms.” Yu Binhong chuckled, “If only you had been this obedient in high school.”

“I listened to you the most in high school.”

“Alright, stop giving me that history lesson.” Yu Binhong asked, “Are you really not going to give a speech as an excellent graduate later?”

Zhou Wu nodded nonchalantly, “Sure, I’ll go up and share my experience of climbing walls and skipping classes. I spent three years researching that.”

Yu Binhong laughed angrily and slapped his shoulder, just like in the old days.

Wen Ci thought Dou Yiqing would be furious after meeting Qin Yun, but to her surprise, she was smiling after walking a distance away.

“That felt great!” Dou Yiqing exclaimed, “Usually, I can’t scold those brats in my class like this. It felt amazing!”

Wen Ci couldn’t help but laugh.

Relieved, she coaxed, “Shall we go eat?”

“Sure,” Dou Yiqing shouted, “I want to eat! I want a massage! I want to sleep!”

The next moment, Wen Ci’s phone rang. It was a call from an activity group teacher.

Seeing the caller ID, Dou Yiqing collapsed, “Don’t answer—don’t answer—”

Wen Ci held back her laughter and answered, avoiding Dou Yiqing’s hand trying to hang up, “Mr. Chen… Yes, I’m still at school. What’s up?… Okay. Yiqing already went back. I’ll go there myself… Alright, I’ll be right there.”

“A booth at the garden fair is short of people. I need to go fill in.” After hanging up, Wen Ci said, “You go home and sleep. I’ll go there myself.”

“No way, how could I let you suffer alone? Wen Ci, you’re just too nice! This won’t do!” Dou Yiqing hugged her neck, feeling hopeless, “Let’s go.”

They finished their work around five in the afternoon.

As they crossed the playground towards the school gate, Dou Yiqing commanded, “Put your phone on Do Not Disturb mode now, so you don’t get roped into more work.”

Wen Ci laughed, “What do you want to eat tonight? My treat.”

“No, you paid for the last meal, so it’s my turn this time,” Dou Yiqing said, rubbing her belly. “Let’s go eat some barbecue…”

“Dou Yiqing? Wen Ci?”

—-

For the second time today, they were called out. The two turned around and, to their surprise, it was the same group of people.

Only this time, it wasn’t Qin Yun who spoke, but Yu Binhong.

Both of them were startled and quickly stopped to greet him, “Teacher Yu.”

“I was just thinking about why I hadn’t seen you two today.” Seeing his former favorite class officers, Yu Binhong’s face softened with a smile. “Why didn’t your parents come today?”

Wen Ci answered, “They’re attending an academic conference out of town and won’t be back until this evening, so they didn’t come.”

Yu Binhong nodded, “How do you feel about teaching here?”

Dou Yiqing replied honestly, “I feel like you were truly amazing back then.”

Yu Binhong laughed heartily, “Since we ran into each other, this is perfect. These folks insisted on taking me out for a meal. You two should join us too, we’re all classmates.”

As soon as he said this, Yu Binhong remembered that Wen Ci and Dou Yiqing had never really mingled with the more noticeable group standing next to him during school. Unaware of what had happened earlier that afternoon, he looked at the people beside him, “You all still remember each other, right? Wen Ci and Dou Yiqing, they used to be class officers and are now teaching here…”

“Of course, we remember.”

Wen Ci was just about to think of a polite way to decline when Zhou Wu spoke first. He smiled, “We met Wen Ci when we arrived.”