Lian Si had been pestering Du Heming every day that week about organizing a group road trip over May Day, but after stubbornly talking for three days straight, she still hadn’t convinced her. It looked like that thousand-yuan “persuasion fee” from her friend was out of reach.
“Normally, we can hang out in the city, but a trip like that? Count me out.”
Du Heming brushed off Lian Si while secretly stealing glances with her peripheral vision at the graceful figure approaching them. “Find some other friends to go with her. I’m really not joining.”
With an outsider like Lian Si present, she didn’t even dare look straight at He Huan, afraid Lian Si might pick up on something from her eyes.
After all, when you like someone, the affection in your gaze is the hardest thing to hide.
“Sigh, fine, fine. I admit defeat—I won’t push anymore. Is it because you don’t like my friend?”
“…”
“My friend might come from a single-parent family, but both sides of her parents are well-off. She passed the civil service exam on her own and has a stable iron rice bowl. Her romantic history is clean—only one relationship before this. You sure you won’t reconsider?”
Lin Huayan and He Huan were drawing closer, but Lian Si beside her kept talking non-stop like a river in flood.
Du Heming felt a pang of panic. “Teacher Lian, I said upfront: friends are fine, but please don’t play matchmaker for me.”
“How is this random matchmaking? She’s got great conditions. Of course, so do you. I just thought you two matched well in every way, so I figured I’d try to set you up.”
“I appreciate the thought, but I don’t need it.”
She hadn’t expected that half a month ago, on a whim, she’d gone to that dinner and KTV gathering with Lian Si, met the woman once, and now she was smitten.
She really shouldn’t have gone out for those random meals and hangouts. But without eating, drinking, and playing, how else was she supposed to fill those long, lonely, empty weekends?
Like Teacher Lin, numbing herself with work over the weekend?
She couldn’t do that.
“Teacher Du, Teacher Lian, you’re eating here too?” He Huan was the first to greet them.
“Teacher He, Teacher Lin, finished eating already?” Du Heming inwardly groaned. Who knew how much of Lian Si’s irrelevant chatter He Huan had overheard.
Lin Huayan nodded. “Mm.”
Her gaze shifted to Lian Si for a brief, indifferent sweep, then returned to Du Heming.
It left Du Heming’s soul utterly scattered.
So wronged, and nowhere to appeal.
Lian Si finally shut up and greeted He Huan too. “Hey, Teacher He. We’ve run into you and Teacher Lin a few times this semester already. Are you two…”
“Teacher He teaches Chinese for Teacher Lin’s class. They’re paired for co-teaching.” Du Heming tugged at Lian Si, not wanting He Huan scrutinized any further. “Let’s go. Don’t hold up Teacher Lin and them.”
“…” Lian Si was speechless. A chance encounter at the cafeteria entrance—how were they holding anyone up?
“Eat slowly. We’re heading out first.” He Huan gave a faint smile and brushed past, her arm nearly grazing Du Heming’s.
Du Heming was just like Ming You now—off to see the wider world, other people. Little by little, she’d let go.
Isn’t that for the best?
There would be new connections, new romances, new lovers who truly matched her.
During dinner, Lou Yixuan messaged Du Heming.
[Lou Yixuan: Teacher Du, why do you always like my posts right after Teacher He? What’s with that OCD? ]
[Du Heming: … ]
OCD to make sure He Huan “sees” her.
[Du Heming: I just ran into Teacher Lin and Teacher He at the cafeteria entrance. ]
[Lou Yixuan: Oh. ]
[Du Heming: Lou Lou, aren’t you tired running around painting every day? ]
[Lou Yixuan: Tired, duh. I’m not a robot—how could I not be? ]
[Lou Yixuan: But I’m doing what I love, seeing the scenery I love. No matter how hard or tiring, I can keep going. ]
On the night before the holiday, Du Heming had asked her—[After this, will you keep going? Can you? ]
Lou Yixuan had taken a long time to reply—[Love is accidental luck. Meeting is accidental, and parting will be too. Persistence or giving up? You don’t get to decide—chance does. ]
So no need to agonize over cutting ties or struggling so hard. It might feel like you’re choosing, but invisible fate is pulling the strings.
Life’s long road leads one way to the end, no turning back.
Journeys are too long. Once you start, you have to let others get off midway—and allow yourself to as well.
Only the one who stays with you to the end, sharing every view along the way, is your fated companion.
[Du Heming: So where are you going for May Day? Picked a spot? Take me with you? ]
[Lou Yixuan: Tropical rainforest, five-day trip. Leaving the evening of the 30th, back the evening of the 5th. You’re a homeroom teacher—your schedule won’t match. ]
To teach Art Class at Tianmu Middle School, Lou Yixuan had signed a three-year full-time contract with Haifan. Full-time teachers had to follow the group’s teaching schedule—no way to stick only to weekend classes long-term.
Early on, when her teaching was still shaky, her mentors had covered for her.
Later, thanks to Kinla’s powerful connections, upper management issued an order for the academic affairs office to respect Lou Yixuan’s preferences in scheduling.
So this semester, even with her skills polished, she still only taught weekends and Class 9, with plenty of free time otherwise.
[Du Heming: Border area? You’re really going adventuring? ]
[Lou Yixuan: Not dangerous. I hired a private guide and will check in with Ling Xuan daily. Don’t worry. ]
[Lou Yixuan: Oh, Teacher Du—tomorrow noon, I’m inviting you and Teacher He to lunch at the cafeteria. Got gifts for you both. ]
[Du Heming: Huh? Just me and Teacher He? ]
[Lou Yixuan: Yeah, Teacher Lin has class. Three gifts total—I won’t play favorites. ]
[Du Heming: Okay. ]
[Lou Yixuan: Heading to contact Teacher He now. See you tomorrow noon. ]
[Du Heming: Mm-hm. Call me when you arrive. ]
After dinner, Du Heming made an excuse about needing exercise to digest and ditched Lian Si to play some basketball with the students at the court.
She hadn’t played in ages, but this semester she’d picked it back up, unleashing her old school girls’ basketball team prowess and winning over a bunch of little fans on the court.
Under the Teaching Building, He Huan—back from a quick dorm trip—was swarmed by excited Class 5 students.
“Teacher He, Teacher He! They say Teacher Du’s playing basketball again. Come watch with us! Cheer her on—she’ll love it!”
“Yeah! Heard Teacher Du’s super cool on the court, plays amazingly! Even our class and Class 8’s strongest guys teaming up can’t beat her.”
“I heard she was on the university team, competed in tons of games, even won awards in the National College Women’s Basketball League.”
That impressive?
He Huan had heard rumors last month about Du Heming playing ball with students, but she’d never seen it herself.
“…Sure, I’ll come watch with you.”
And so He Huan was half-dragged, half-willing to the basketball court, standing amid the onlookers, trying not to catch Du Heming’s eye.
On the court, Du Heming wore a white sleeveless T-shirt, light gray sweatpants, a high ponytail, and a dark gray sweatband on her forehead.
He Huan had always known Du Heming was athletic, but she hadn’t realized how athletic.
Cheers of “Teacher Du’s so hot,” “Teacher Du’s awesome,” “Teacher Du, slay me” reached He Huan’s ears, inexplicably quickening her pulse.
The one getting all the wild praise was Du Heming. She hadn’t done or said anything—why did it feel like she’d done or said something shameful, leaving her flustered and embarrassed?
This strange, unfamiliar sensation left her at a loss.
It wasn’t entirely unfamiliar, though. Last semester, she’d felt it twice.
Once on her birthday, when Du Heming awkwardly gave her a cake, and later when she invited Du Heming to the dorm to share those two cakes. The other time at the Hot Spring Resort, when Du Heming put that fuzzy hat on her in the sightseeing cart.
He Huan was lost in thought when the students in front of her suddenly scattered.
During a pass, the ball flew out of bounds—straight toward her. At the last second, someone slapped it down from inches away.
But the blocker lost balance and tumbled right in front of He Huan.
“Teacher Du! Teacher Du!”
“Are you okay, Teacher Du?!”
Students from inside and out rushed to Du Heming, worried about her fall.
He Huan snapped to and crouched to help her up. “Teacher Du, a-are you alright?”
Du Heming had landed on her side, sleeveless shirt exposing her shoulder, which scraped the ground and left a patch of bloody abrasion.
“I’m fine.” With all these students around, she couldn’t play the wounded puppy and whine “it hurts” to Teacher He.
“Still saying you’re fine? Look at that scrape.”
He Huan helped her sit up and gripped her left arm. “Lift it, move it around. Check if anything besides the skin got hurt?”
“I’m tough. Ow—hiss!”
“Come on, to the Infirmary first. If the school doc’s off, I’ll go to the hospital with you.”
“Really no nee—” Du Heming cut herself off. Precious alone time like this was rare. “Then, thanks for the trouble, Teacher He.”
A student fetched Du Heming’s jacket from the bench. “Teacher He, this is Teacher Du’s jacket.”
He Huan took it, draping it over her arm, and told the students, “It’s getting late. Those who haven’t eaten, go now. Those who have, back to class for self-study.”
With He Huan’s help, Du Heming stood.
She waved cheerfully at the students. “No worries, guys. Bumps happen in basketball. Don’t feel bad about my little scrape—it’s nothing. Two days and it’ll be gone. Go do what you need to.”
The students dispersed. Du Heming took the initiative, linking arms with He Huan. “Teacher He, it hurts so much.”
He Huan felt a strange jolt, her heart skipping. Eyes forward, she headed for the Infirmary.
This close…
For the first time, she realized a girl’s post-workout sweat didn’t smell bad at all.
Or maybe only because it’s her—Du Heming. Even drenched in sweat, she smells like sunshine.
“Teacher He, slow down. My leg hurts too.”
With a sigh, He Huan slowed, but still didn’t turn to look.
Her face felt hot, ears burning, heart racing wildly—every sign unusual.
“Teacher He, Lou Lou invited us to lunch tomorrow noon. She told you, right?”
“Mm.”
“Teacher He…”
“Du Heming, be quiet.”
“…Oh.” Du Heming obediently shut up, but her arm linked tighter, not letting He Huan slip away.
The Infirmary doctor was still on duty. She checked Du Heming’s injury—surface scrape, minimal bleeding—and just cleaned it.
He Huan stared at the raw flesh, fingers clenching. “No gauze or bandage?”
The doctor smiled. “Of course. Hold on—gauze makes it easier to wear a jacket. In this weather, short sleeves alone? Even you couldn’t handle it, right, Teacher Du?”
“…” Du Heming was tight with this doc; she’d seen right through her from the start.
“Teacher He, right? Help me out?”
“Sure.”
“Teacher Du’s too active—won’t follow my orders.” The doctor handed He Huan a disinfectant wipe and a roll of sterile gauze.
“Trouble Teacher He to supervise. If she gets the gauze wet tonight, change it for her. Don’t let a small wound turn big.”
“!!! ” Du Heming inwardly showered the doc with confetti. Epic assist!
He Huan wiped her hands, said “Okay,” then under guidance, personally bandaged Du Heming’s shoulder and helped her into the jacket.
On the way out, Du Heming sneakily thumbs-upped the doc.
But her glee lasted seconds. They ran smack into Lian Si the moment they left the Infirmary.
More accurately, Lian Si had tracked her down.
And she wasn’t alone—she’d brought that civil servant friend who’d taken a shine to her!
“Teacher Du, I heard from students you got hurt playing ball. I…”
Lian Si barely started before Du Heming, like facing a great foe, raised a hand to shut her down.
“Teacher Lian, you saw it yourself—I’m fine, just a little scrape. I need to head back to the Dormitory Building to change clothes, so I won’t chat more with you and your friend. See you later.”
With that, she grabbed He Huan’s arm and hurried toward the Dormitory Building, completely ignoring Lian Si and her friend chasing after her, calling out “Teacher Du” several times.
He Huan furrowed her brows. Only after their voices faded behind them did she say in a low voice, “Du Heming, let go.”
“I’m not letting go. Come back to the dorm with me.”
Afraid He Huan might misunderstand, Du Heming refused to release her grip no matter what. “I have something I want to ask you.”
“Ask what? I already said everything I needed to at the start of the semester, didn’t I?”
“The start of the semester was then. Now is now.”
“You!”
“Teacher He,” Du Heming suddenly turned back, her lips pursing downward in a pitiful pout, “I’m injured here, can’t you show a little concern for me?”
“…”
“You used to be so gentle with me—how did you change like that? We’re still colleagues, still friends, aren’t we? Or are we not anymore?”
“…” He Huan was at a loss. Du Heming’s pitiful expression made it impossible for her to stay firm. “Teacher Du, what I mean is don’t pull and tug like this at school. Let go, and we’ll each go our own way.”
“Each… go… our… own… way.”
Repeating He Huan’s words one by one, Du Heming finally released her hand. Her expression fell, and with downcast eyes and a subdued look, she said, “Sorry, I got impulsive just now.”
The phone in her jacket buzzed incessantly.
She hadn’t planned to answer, but at that moment, she picked up. “Hello, Teacher Lian. Sorry about earlier.”
