Chapter 32: My Wife, Wen Zhixian

It’s perfectly normal to have lingering shadows from such an experience, especially since he had witnessed his friend die right in front of him.

As a listener, Wen Zhixian felt sad, let alone Qi Yanjing, the one who had actually lived through it.

It was no wonder her mother-in-law never mentioned Qi Yanjing’s past; she simply hoped that Wen Zhixian would care more about him.

Qi Yanjing said that marrying her was to his advantage, but most of it was unintentional, and he had kept it in his heart. In reality, his care for her was not lacking in the slightest.

Lost in thought, she eventually drifted off to sleep.

The night passed peacefully.

The next morning, Qi Yanjing went downstairs to buy breakfast, still regretting drinking that bottle of wine.

At breakfast, Wen Zhixian took small bites of a crystal shrimp dumpling and looked up at Qi Yanjing. She chewed slowly, stared at him for a few seconds, and then asked, “How about I take you to school later?”

Qi Yanjing thought for a moment and replied, “Sure, thank you.”

After leaving the house, she parked the car in front of a coffee shop, unbuckled her seatbelt, and turned to Qi Yanjing. “Wait for me, I’m going to grab a cup of coffee.”

“Good morning, boss,” the barista greeted.

Wen Zhixian leaned against the counter and smiled. “Morning, just one cup of coffee.”

The barista glanced at her and jokingly said, “Is this for your brother-in-law?”

“It’s exactly 8:00, so it must be for your brother-in-law,” Yue Qi pointed to the clock.

While waiting for her coffee, Qi Yanjing walked over. He raised an eyebrow and asked in a low voice, “Is this for me?”

Wen Zhixian lifted her gaze and glanced at him.

Qi Yanjing smiled faintly and took the hand she had resting on the counter.

When the barista handed over the coffee, her eyes carried a knowing smile as she looked at the two of them holding hands.

“Let’s go,” Wen Zhixian said. Qi Yanjing didn’t let go of her hand and turned with her to leave the shop.

Once in the car, while he was fastening his seatbelt, his hand paused briefly. He turned to Wen Zhixian and said, “I didn’t pay for the coffee.”

He had been so focused on holding her hand that he had forgotten about paying.

Wen Zhixian laughed softly. “It’s fine, you can drink it.”

Qi Yanjing felt a bit helpless. He had thought she had gotten out of the car to take care of something, but instead, she had just bought him a coffee.

As they neared the school, she asked, “What time should I pick you up this afternoon?”

“Probably around 4:30.”

Wen Zhixian nodded. “If it’s earlier, just give me a call.”

Qi Yanjing agreed, though he didn’t mind waiting for a little while.

When they arrived at the school, Qi Yanjing got out of the car and looked toward the campus. Leaning against the car window, he asked, “Want to come inside and have a look?”

“Can I?” she asked. Since there was nothing urgent to do, and he had asked, she naturally wanted to go.

“Of course,” Qi Yanjing replied.

Wen Zhixian smiled and nodded, then got out of the car, walking with him toward the school’s entrance.

She had been to the school before; after all, it wasn’t far from home. From the tall buildings, she could look down and see the whole campus.

Qi Yanjing led her straight to the office.

“Good morning, Professor Qi,” a woman in her forties greeted, holding a bag.

Wen Zhixian wondered which department she was from.

“Good morning, Teacher Zhou,” Qi Yanjing responded politely. Noticing that Teacher Zhou was looking at Wen Zhixian, he introduced her, “This is my wife.”

Wen Zhixian smiled politely.

Teacher Zhou sighed. “Professor Qi, you really surprise people. I didn’t expect it to happen so soon. You two make a perfect couple.”

“Thank you, Teacher Zhou.”

After saying their goodbyes, they took the elevator up. Qi Yanjing held her hand tightly. “My office is on the fifth floor.”

Just as they reached the door, they heard a voice from inside. “Professor Qi, you’re later than usual today…”

The voice abruptly stopped halfway.

Zhou Chuyu silently looked at the woman who had appeared at the door, following Qi Yanjing inside.

“Good morning, teacher,” Wen Zhixian said, sensing the awkward atmosphere and deciding to speak first.

Zhou Chuyu snapped out of her thoughts. “Good morning.”

Qi Yanjing tilted his chin toward Zhou Chuyu. “Zhou Chuyu, a teacher in my office. He’s the one who wanted to have dinner with you.”

He guided Wen Zhixian to sit down in a chair.

“Thanks for the wine you sent yesterday.”

Zhou Chuyu waved his hand. “It’s nothing. No need to thank me. Qi Yanjing and I were university classmates for four years, so it’s only right.”

So, he sent him his dad’s vintage wine?

Wen Zhixian couldn’t help but smile at the thought.

Zhou Chuyu walked over and nudged Qi Yanjing. “You haven’t introduced me to your sister-in-law yet.”

“This is my wife, Wen Zhixian.”

Zhou Chuyu turned to her. “I noticed that Qi Yanjing has been in much better spirits lately. Has he finally started sleeping?”

Wen Zhixian nodded with a smile.

He dramatically complained about Qi Yanjing. “He’s really something. Not only did he skip grades, but he also doesn’t sleep. Just studies all the time. At such a young age, he’s already a professor.”

When the topic of sleep came up, Wen Zhixian’s smile faded, and she looked at Qi Yanjing. Now that she knew his past, she understood that he didn’t not want to sleep—he simply couldn’t.

Her sympathetic and caring gaze didn’t escape his notice, and he gently stroked the back of her head as a form of comfort.

“I should get going. You two continue working.” She then turned to Zhou Chuyu. “Teacher Zhou, let’s have a meal together sometime.”

Zhou Chuyu smiled. “Sure.”

“I’ll walk you out.” Qi Yanjing said as he started to stand, but Wen Zhixian refused. “I can go on my own. Otherwise, you’ll have to make another trip.”

As she headed for the door, he reached out and grabbed her wrist. Wen Zhixian turned around and looked at him. “Hmm?”

Qi Yanjing pulled her in front of him and gently pressed a soft kiss to her lips, the motion tender as though reluctant to part.

Wen Zhixian froze for a moment, her cheeks reddening slightly. She pressed her lips together and said, “Then… I’ll go now.”

She quickly jogged out of the office. Qi Yanjing stood by the door, his arms crossed, watching her leave. The tenderness in his eyes was almost overwhelming.

He only withdrew his gaze when she disappeared down the hallway.

Behind him, Zhou Chuyu was speechless, his face dark with disbelief. “Professor Qi, Qi Yanjing, can you tone it down a little? Do you think I’m not breathing here?”

Did he realize how much it hurt to witness such an undeniably perfect couple flaunting their love so openly in front of him?

Qi Yanjing casually strolled over, shrugging nonchalantly. “You didn’t see anything.”

When he kissed her, he made sure to shield Wen Zhixian so Zhou Chuyu couldn’t see.

Zhou Chuyu was speechless. “True…”

“You think I didn’t know what you did?” Zhou Chuyu muttered, his voice trailing off.

Qi Yanjing gave him a lazy glance and responded with a single, uninterested word: “Oh.”

Today, he hadn’t expected to kiss Wen Zhixian, but now his mood was lifted, and he was in a much better state to teach.

Zhou Chuyu just shook his head. It was clear that Qi Yanjing was in a good mood, and when that happened, he became entirely oblivious to others.

Wen Zhixian quickly sat back in the car, taking a deep breath. She looked up at the rearview mirror, her fingers lightly brushing over her lips as she recalled the moment Qi Yanjing had kissed her in the office. She gently tapped her face and turned her gaze away from the mirror.

Starting the car, she headed back to the shop. Just as she got out of the car, she heard someone call her name. “Zhixian.”