Chapter 43

She didn’t know when she fell asleep, but her dreams were chaotic, filled with running, getting lost, and car crashes. When she opened her eyes again, it was 8 a.m., her usual wake-up time.

Instinctively, Song Wei looked to her side. It took her several seconds to remember she was at her own place, without Chen Jubai.

Taking a deep breath, she calmed her still-racing heart from the nightmares.

After washing up, she stepped out to find Yang Yingqiu had already prepared breakfast. Song Wei walked over, first asking, “Mom, how’s your stomach feeling?”

“I’m fine now. Sit down and eat.”

Breakfast was simple: sandwiches and milk.

Song Wei didn’t like milk. After pretending to sip a bit, she set it aside and started checking her phone.

The buzz around last night’s WeChat post had mostly died down, but she still received a flurry of nosy or concerned messages, even one from Sister Cheng.

She replied to them all briefly.

Looking up afterward, she saw Yang Yingqiu’s deep gaze and froze. “Mom…”

Yang Yingqiu spoke in a measured tone, “Did Xiao Chen buy you a car?”

Relieved it wasn’t something more serious, Song Wei shrugged off her nervousness. It must be about that social media post. She threw the problem back at him. “He did. As for why he chose that car, you’ll have to ask him. I only found out after he bought it.”

Yang Yingqiu thought for a moment, figuring it was likely true. Her daughter wasn’t one to obsess over money or cars, and if she really wanted a luxury car, her father would’ve bought her one years ago.

Chen Jubai’s generosity, on the other hand, was undeniable. A wedding gift of an apartment, and now a million-dollar car—thinking of this, she asked, “Is the car registered in your name?”

Song Wei laughed. “Mom, are you all about the money now? Even if it’s in my name, it’s marital property.”

“I didn’t mean it that way. Registering it in your name is a gesture of sincerity.” Yang Yingqiu sighed. “This past half-year, Xiao Chen’s been nothing but good to you. What luck you had, finding him through a blind date.”

Song Wei bit into her sandwich, muttering, “Good to me, huh…”

Yang Yingqiu pushed her milk toward her. “Stop taking your blessings for granted.” She added, “Tomorrow night, are you coming to the university with me, or heading back to Hangping Mansion first?”

“Huh?”

“What do you mean, ‘huh’? Xiao Chen has an event at the university tomorrow night. You’re not working—why not go with him?”

Song Wei hesitated. “Why should I go…?”

She’d already declined before. Given their current state, meeting him would only make things more awkward.

Yang Yingqiu pressed on. “There’s a dinner with the principal and department head—my old colleagues. You both should show up. I’m retiring soon; this is a one-time thing.”

Left with no excuse, Song Wei reluctantly agreed.

…..

On Saturday afternoon, she went shopping with Zhu Qingfei. According to Zhu Qingfei, she and Chu Qi had entered a “pre-ambiguous” stage. When Song Wei asked what “pre” meant, she explained it was just shy of ambiguous, so she needed to be prepared—new clothes, new shoes, the works.

Figuring she’d need to look formal for the dinner with Yang Yingqiu’s colleagues, Song Wei bought two dresses as well.

At the mall’s food court, Zhu Qingfei was glued to her phone, responding to messages. Song Wei teased her, “Chu Qi messaging you?”

“Mm…” Zhu Qingfei put down her phone, suddenly serious. “He asked me where you and I usually like to hang out. How should I answer?”

“Reply with a place you’d like to go on a date,” said Song Wei.

Zhu Qingfei’s cheeks flushed slightly. “How about a movie? I just shared a movie on my social media the other day. That wouldn’t seem deliberate, right?”

“Not at all. It’s perfectly normal.”

“Alright, just make sure you don’t slip up when talking about it later,” Zhu Qingfei warned, knowing neither of them was particularly into movies.

“Got it,” Song Wei replied with a smile.

As she watched Zhu Qingfei’s grin stretch to her ears, Song Wei felt a pang of envy. So this was what being in love felt like—a simple chat could bring so much joy.

She reminisced about her own brief period of infatuation with Chen Jubai. It was fleeting, a blink in time. Looking back, she thought, if she could turn back the clock, she might not have chosen to marry him so quickly. Perhaps they should have dated first. Would dating him have been fun? She believed it might have been delightful.

Too bad there seemed to be no chance to find out now.

After dinner, Song Wei packed some food for Yang Yingqiu and headed home.

She had come to realize that ever since the divorce, Principal Yang had been living a relaxed and carefree life. But without someone to cook for her, her meals had become haphazard—takeout or instant noodles most of the time, with only two or three home-cooked meals a week.

Song Wei considered teasing her about missing her dad’s cooking but thought better of it, holding her tongue.

She washed and hung up her new clothes, ensuring they’d be ready to wear the next day.

On Sunday afternoon, Song Wei took some extra time to apply makeup and change into her new outfit.

The dress was made of lightweight chiffon, with a slightly traditional design on the upper half, featuring exquisite embroidery on the neckline. The lower half was cinched at the waist, accentuating her curves.

Yang Yingqiu eyed her daughter up and down. “Why are you so dressed up just to have dinner?”

“It’s a dinner with Principal Zhang. I can’t embarrass you, Mom,” Song Wei teased.

“Alright, enough with the jokes,” Yang Yingqiu replied with a faint smile.

Song Wei drove the new car, and just like Chen Jubai’s first ride in it, Yang Yingqiu clutched the seatbelt tightly.

Song Wei rolled her eyes. “It’s not that serious. I’m a careful driver.”

“Just go slow. I’d like to live a little longer,” Yang Yingqiu retorted.

“…..”

They arrived at the school’s small auditorium 15 minutes later. Song Wei glanced at her mother triumphantly. “See? Right on time.”

“Not bad,” Yang Yingqiu admitted begrudgingly.

Chen Jubai’s lecture was scheduled to start at 6 p.m., targeting first-year students whose academic workloads weren’t too heavy. The talk was expected to last about an hour and a half. Song Wei and her mother arrived half an hour early.

As they approached the backstage area, Song Wei’s heartbeat quickened.

The first person they encountered was Xiao Xu, who stammered upon seeing her. “Ms. Song… um, ma’am…”

Song Wei smiled gently. “Still the same as before. Where’s Mr. Chen?”

“He’s inside, talking to the school leaders,” Xiao Xu replied.

“Got it,” Song Wei said, following her mother inside.

Inside, three people stood talking. Two were unfamiliar to Song Wei, likely teachers or administrators. Chen Jubai stood in the middle, facing away from her.

The principal noticed Yang Yingqiu first. “Principal Yang!”

The group turned, and Chen Jubai’s gaze landed directly on the woman behind Yang Yingqiu. For a brief moment, surprise flickered across his face before he broke into a smile.

Yang Yingqiu introduced them. “Director Li, this is my daughter, Song Wei.”

Director Li immediately recognized her. “Ah, the former science prodigy from our school! And to think both you and your husband were top scholars from here—that’s what I call life’s biggest win!”

Yang Yingqiu chuckled. “Not at all. Your daughter is the deputy head at the local prosecutor’s office now. That’s much more impressive.”

“What’s the use of a high-ranking job? She doesn’t earn as much in a year as your son-in-law makes in a month,” Director Li countered.

Song Wei listened quietly, her lips pressed into a thin line. The competitive conversations of middle-aged women were truly terrifying.

Chen Jubai noticed her expression and his smile deepened.

He reached out and gently brushed his hand against hers. Startled, Song Wei looked up, meeting his gaze. He took the opportunity to boldly hold her hand.

There were too many people around for her to pull away, so she let him hold it.

Throughout the ensuing conversation, Song Wei barely paid attention, too distracted by the slyness of the man next to her. Clearly, he was taking advantage of her mother’s presence to get away with it. What a cunning man.

As the meeting concluded, Chen Jubai turned to Director Li. “We’re having dinner together tonight, right?”

“Absolutely! Principal Zhang will join us later too. Don’t let me keep you—you’ve got a lecture to prepare for.”

“Thank you, Director Li,” Chen Jubai said politely.

When the others left, Song Wei immediately pulled her hand away. Avoiding his gaze, she said, “I’ll leave now so you can get ready.”

“It’s fine. Why don’t you stay and see if there’s anything we can simplify? Xiao Xu’s slides and script are a bit complicated,” he suggested gently.

Song Wei wasn’t ready to be alone with him, so she declined. “I’ll call Xiao Xu to help.”

She quickly turned to leave, but he grabbed her hand again, this time whispering, “Wife.”

Her cheeks turned red. “Don’t call me that.”

“I couldn’t find Snowflake’s cat food,” he said, referring to their pet.

“What?” Song Wei turned back. “Isn’t it in the drawer under the cabinet?”

“I didn’t see it. Are you sure you didn’t put it somewhere else?” he replied with a serious expression.

“That’s impossible. I put it there myself.”

“Well, check when you get home,” he said nonchalantly.

It was obvious to Song Wei now—this was just a ploy to get her to return home.

She glared at him and walked out without another word.

At 6 p.m., the lecture began on time.

Song Wei sat in the back row while her mother joined the school leadership at the front.

The topic of the day was virtual reality, designed to be accessible and engaging for first-year high school students.

When Chen Jubai took the stage, the audience erupted in cheers. His tailored suit fit perfectly, complementing his already striking appearance. The teenagers couldn’t contain their excitement, and it took the host several tries to calm them down.

Such presentations were second nature to him. Over the course of an hour and a half, he skillfully broke down complex concepts, adding live demonstrations of headsets and glasses. Not only were the students thoroughly engaged, but even Song Wei found herself inspired and brimming with enthusiasm.

When it ended, the applause was resounding.

Yang Yingqiu took the stage to deliver a closing speech. She announced the upcoming establishment of a science education base and encouraged students to join interest groups and aspire to excel in the VR and AR industries, bringing pride to Nan’an City.

As the audience gradually dispersed, Song Wei joined Yang Yingqiu and met with Principal Zhang, who hadn’t been present earlier. After a round of introductions and small talk, the group left together.

The dinner was held at the school’s guesthouse, conveniently within walking distance.

That evening, Chen Jubai was the center of attention, engaging in discussions with the school leaders. Song Wei, as a family member, mostly played a supporting role, occasionally being addressed. Sitting between Yang Yingqiu and Chen Jubai, she focused on her meal.

The conversation shifted to her.

“So, Xiao Wei, when are you planning to have kids?” someone asked casually.

Caught off guard while drinking water, Song Wei choked, her face flushing crimson. Chen Jubai quickly patted her back to help.

The group chuckled as Director Li remarked, “Your mom just retired; isn’t it time to have children so she can take care of them?”

Principal Zhang added, “We intended to rehire your mom, but she insisted on dedicating herself to taking care of future grandchildren. Otherwise, she would’ve stayed.”

Yang Yingqiu laughed. “These two are busy with their careers. When they have kids, it’ll be my responsibility to take care of them. Principal Zhang, spare me the work!”

Director Li turned to Song Wei. “Did you hear that? Your mom’s ready to take on grandma duties!”

Still blushing, Song Wei replied, “No rush! Let her enjoy a world tour first.”

“Such a considerate daughter,” someone commented.

Another teacher chimed in, “But having kids earlier is better. It gets tougher as you age.”

Song Wei smiled awkwardly, choosing to stay silent as the conversation veered into discussions about birth rates. She silently thanked her stars when the focus shifted away from her.

However, she couldn’t avoid noticing Chen Jubai’s subtle smile as he watched her. Embarrassed, she lowered her head and sipped her water.

The meal went smoothly without the usual toasts and rounds of drinking. The topics alternated between work and casual chatter, creating a relaxed atmosphere.

By nine o’clock, dinner concluded. The leaders left first, leaving the trio behind.

Yang Yingqiu asked, “Are you two coming to my place tonight or heading home?”

Song Wei hesitated, biting her lip.

Chen Jubai made the decision. “Mom, we’ll head back to Hangping Mansion. You can drive Weiwei’s car home.”

“Alright, I’ll get going then.”

Yang Yingqiu walked briskly, leaving the couple—recently separated for two days—alone at the guesthouse entrance.

“Shall we?” Chen Jubai’s voice softened, shedding the earlier commanding tone.

Song Wei nodded, taking the first step forward.

She couldn’t avoid returning home forever; running away wasn’t a solution.

The school was quiet, save for a few boarding students who were likely still in evening classes. The distant sounds of frogs and insects by the lake created a lively backdrop.

As they strolled slowly, neither knew what to say.

Chen Jubai broke the silence. “About having kids…”

Song Wei immediately cut him off. “It’s too soon. I don’t want to rush into it.”

He chuckled lightly. “I wasn’t finished.”

“Still, it’s too soon,” she insisted.

“Alright, later then.”

Why did the conversation circle back to kids again?

Though she kept her head down, she could feel his intense gaze. The warm evening breeze couldn’t dispel its weight.

As they passed the teaching building, they saw a few students sneaking out in small groups. Their youthful faces and school uniforms exuded energy and innocence.

Song Wei glanced at the brightly lit classrooms, overwhelmed by nostalgia.

This was where she had poured three years of hard work. In one of these classrooms, she had sweated and toiled through her teenage years. Now, almost a decade had passed.

Chen Jubai followed her gaze and felt a similar wave of emotion.

After a while, he pointed to a classroom on the second floor’s far right. “That was your classroom, wasn’t it?”

Startled, Song Wei turned to him. “How do you know?”