Coveted for a Long Time 80

Chapter 80: Extra 1

Summer arrived exceptionally late this year. The weather wasn’t too hot, unlike previous years. There was a lotus pond near Teaching Building 1 of Jiang University. It was currently the blooming season, and the pond was full of graceful summer lotuses, simply dazzling.

Many ornamental carp were stocked in the lotus pond. Many students loved to go there to feed the fish and relax. Qiao Xi also went often, but always to wait for Fu Bei, sitting and feeding fish only when bored with nothing to do. Not wanting to disturb Fu Bei’s class, she rarely entered the teaching building, though occasionally she would wait outside the classroom if it felt too hot.

Qiao Xi’s dressing style remained the same—mostly simple T-shirts and shorts. After all, it was convenient for tattooing. She didn’t wear big brands much, very low-key, so her attire was no different from ordinary students. Coupled with her beautiful face looking young, many people thought she was also a Jiang University student.

Because she often appeared with Fu Bei on the Jiang University campus, other students thought she was a graduate student under Fu Bei, sometimes even calling her “Senior Sister.”

Qiao Xi was amused to no end. Once out of school, she would deliberately hold Fu Bei’s arm and drawl, “Professor Fu—”

Fu Bei would glance at her sideways, not responding.

Waiting outside the classroom for someone again, a young boy brazenly came over to ask Qiao Xi for her contact information. Fu Bei taught freshman advanced mathematics, so the boy wasn’t even eighteen yet. Standing in front of Qiao Xi, his face flushed red with embarrassment, even his ear tips turning red. Seeing Qiao Xi standing still, he didn’t dare look up, just rooted to the spot.

It wasn’t the first time encountering such a thing; it had happened even while feeding fish at the pond. Qiao Xi just hadn’t told Fu Bei. But this time, they ran right into it.

Class was over then. Students were dispersing, but some remained in the classroom watching the show, intentionally or not. Several people accompanying the boy started cheering, making everyone around look over.

Qiao Xi really hadn’t expected this, glancing awkwardly at the podium.

Fu Bei glanced over here, her gaze sharp and deep, quickly withdrawing it. She organized materials expressionlessly, unhurriedly, her aura extremely oppressive. Hearing the group of boys cheering again, she frowned, lifted her eyelids, and swept her gaze directly over. The dissatisfaction and impatience in her eyes were so obvious that the air pressure in the classroom dropped two notches, instantly becoming oppressive and dull. The group hurriedly fell silent.

Although no longer making noise, the group all had smiles on their faces, pushing each other and looking at Qiao Xi.

Helpless, Qiao Xi took in Fu Bei’s reaction. Just as she was about to refuse the boy, the boy spoke up at this moment. Seeming to sense it was hopeless, his brain turned active. hurriedly stuffing a note to Qiao Xi, he said quickly, “This is my phone number.”

Students nowadays were more proactive than when they were in college. Qiao Xi was dumbfounded but refused immediately: “Sorry, I have a partner.”

Cutting the knot quickly, leaving no thought for him, crisp and decisive.

The boy was both awkward and embarrassed, his face red enough to drip blood. Actually, he had prepared himself mentally before acting, anticipating this possibility. But when Qiao Xi really said it, he still felt ashamed and humiliated. He didn’t move away, probably a bit unwilling.

Accustomed to such reactions, Qiao Xi moved back subtly.

By the time the boy recovered, Fu Bei, holding books, was already standing in front of him. Fu Bei wore a light blazer paired with nude heels, looking a bit taller than him. Her aura was full, a hint of anger hidden between her brows as she glanced lightly at the boy.

Fu Bei was famous for being strict at Jiang University, meticulous all day long, never even smiling in class. Being looked at like this, the boy felt terrified inside, bracing himself to call out, “Professor.”

Apart from being strict, Fu Bei wasn’t hard to get along with. Usually, when students called her, she would respond with a hum or a nod. Only this time, there was no reaction. Withdrawing her gaze, she looked at Qiao Xi.

Qiao Xi raised an eyebrow.

Until leaving the teaching building, this person still had that serious look.

Qiao Xi walked slowly, observing her reaction as she walked.

Fu Bei also walked slowly.

“I refused,” Qiao Xi said suddenly, moving half a step sideways, arm touching arm with the other party. “It’s not like you didn’t hear. Angry?”

Fu Bei’s expression softened a bit. Looking down, she whispered, “No.”

“Oh.” Qiao Xi’s tone rose. “Really not?”

The two gradually walked to a secluded pine forest. This was the necessary path back to the office, exactly opposite to the direction of the student dorms. Being mealtime, they encountered almost no one. Fu Bei kept pace with Qiao Xi, ignoring the teasing. After a good while, she said lukewarmly, “Not angry.”

Not worth getting angry with a minor, but jealousy was certain. Her face was so ugly just now, her expression simply gloomy.

“Then you’re jealous,” Qiao Xi said deliberately.

Fu Bei didn’t speak.

Walking a distance, taking advantage of no one around, Qiao Xi subtly tried to hold this person’s hand. Unexpectedly, in this instant, she was embraced by the waist. Before she could react, her lips were blocked.

Fu Bei never showed affection in such public places. This time was exceptionally “unreasonable.” A kiss lingered without ending, getting deeper and deeper, half forceful and half gentle, capturing Qiao Xi’s breath.

That night, the two stayed in the bathroom for a long time. The hot water from the shower never stopped, making this summer exceptionally hot.

Coming out, Qiao Xi couldn’t make a fuss anymore. In the end, Fu Bei dried her hair for her. She was only responsible for leaning in Fu Bei’s arms, doing nothing else.

The news that “Senior Sister” was taken spread. Later, Qiao Xi never encountered such a confession mix-up again.

As for the boy who confessed to her, his luck wasn’t good. Both volumes of advanced mathematics were taught by Fu Bei. He was questioned in every class, daring not slack off or relax even a bit. A moment of distraction meant being called on. However, precisely because of this, the boy’s advanced math grades were always good.

When the lotus flowers withered, the weather gradually cooled down. Due to work, Fu Bei went on business trips twice in a row, one of which was an exchange abroad.

Qiao Xi didn’t accompany her abroad, and Fu Bei wasn’t willing either, telling her to wait peacefully. After all, it wasn’t a vacation; running around with the team was troublesome and tiring. Qiao Xi stayed at the shop, working on orders when in a good mood, and asking Tang Yi out for shopping when not.

Once, going to the mall on Qijing Street, they met Qiu Yinong.

The current Qiu Yinong had long been married and had children, pushing a stroller alone looking around.

Qiao Xi heard Qiu Yinong’s married life was fairly harmonious. Her in-laws were very rich. The wealthy life brought huge changes to her. From an intellectual career woman immersed in academia, she became a noble and elegant rich wife, not doing much academic work anymore, muddling along at school.

Jiang University had no opinion on this because Qiu Yinong’s husband donated a lot of money to the school.

Actually, when just married, Qiu Yinong still held onto her work tightly, full of drive. But later, pregnancy and childbirth came, and the family insisted she take care of the child. After that, it was delayed continuously, forcing her to transfer her projects to colleagues. When returning to the workplace, the fatigue from family and the huge pressure at work made it hard for her to adjust. Unable to bear it, under the double attack of family and work, she shifted her focus to the family.

She no longer had the boldness and high spirits of back then. Her overall spirit wasn’t particularly good, with faint spots on her face and her figure slightly out of shape. She didn’t even recognize Qiao Xi at first glance.

It was Qiao Xi who spoke first: “Teacher Qiu.”

Only then did Qiu Yinong remember who she was.

The relationship between Qiao Xi and Fu Bei was no secret among the teachers at Jiang University. Qiu Yinong had also heard of it. Smiling gently, she responded, “Miss Qiao, also here for shopping?”

“Yes,” Qiao Xi nodded. “Heard a few new shops opened here; came with a friend to have a look.”

After speaking, she introduced Tang Yi to her.

The three stood together chatting for a few minutes. Qiu Yinong spoke softly, still as generous and dignified. But they didn’t chat long before parting ways, and she pushed the stroller away.

Just a few steps away, the child in the stroller suddenly burst into loud cries. Qiu Yinong stopped hurriedly, skillfully picking up the child to coax.

Qiao Xi and Tang Yi exchanged a glance. Not going over to help, they left subtly, silently saving enough face for Qiu Yinong.

Such a proud and powerful woman back then, now her brilliance gone, reduced to being ordinary. Unknown whether to call it greatness or pity.

This society is like this; gains must come with losses. Everything requires exchange—material, emotional, or ambitious. Ideally and reality collide fiercely. Which one to choose depends entirely on the person involved. Of course, no matter the choice, there is no question of which is nobler. One cannot judge choosing family as depravity. People’s concepts vary and change gradually with time.

Tang Yi sighed about this, saying to Qiao Xi, “Heard the school wanted to promote Professor Qiu before, but she refused.”

Qiao Xi was puzzled. “Why?”

Tang Yi raised an eyebrow, deliberating before replying, “To balance family, I guess. Too busy, no time. Promotion means more work and pressure; where would the time to raise a child come from?”

That was true. Children nowadays are precious, unlike when they were young, just needing to be fed. The whole society advocates parents raising children personally. Qiu Yinong’s husband ran around in the business world; it was impossible for him to come home and raise the kid. Only Qiu Yinong could do it. The couple inevitably had to make a concession.

The child was still small; had to be raised until four or five years old to be let go. Really…

Qiao Xi looked back, seeing Qiu Yinong holding the child while looking apologetically at the people around. The child was too noisy, crying loudly, the sound audible almost throughout the mall.

**

Reaching a certain age, marriage and children are unavoidable topics, even for homosexuals. Lesbians wanting children is easy; as long as the money is there, using technology to get pregnant isn’t hard. Qiao Xi knew a bit about this, but she had never considered it before. Firstly, no plans in this regard; secondly, still relatively afraid. Just that needle as long as a forearm was scary enough to kill someone.

In traditional Chinese concepts, having children is mostly for old-age security or avoiding loneliness. Few people link childbirth with responsibility. Moreover, the fear of old age and loneliness greatly increases the desire for children.

Qiao Xi had considered this question seriously. Unable to figure it out then, she started pondering repeatedly after meeting Qiu Yinong today.

Honestly, she hadn’t figured out her own life yet; really didn’t know if she should have a child. On one hand, worried she couldn’t bear the responsibility; on the other hand, unable to imagine what life with a child would be like.

After some struggle, she felt she should test Fu Bei’s attitude. Life was lived by the two of them; children were secondary. Two people loving each other aimed for long-term mutual support; she couldn’t decide alone.

However, she was thinking too far ahead; their wedding hadn’t even been held yet.

Fu Bei returned to the country two days later, travel-worn. After getting off the plane, she had to return to the school with the team to report before going home. Coincidentally free, Qiao Xi went to Jiang University to pick her up.

Qiao Xi didn’t enter the school, waiting at the main gate.

From a distance, she saw Fu Bei holding a baby in one arm. That was Professor Xu’s grandson—chubby, cute, and well-behaved, loving to smile. Seeing Qiao Xi, the little baby jumped excitedly, babbling.

Qiao Xi was polite, greeting first: “Professor Xu.”

Professor Xu smiled, eyes crinkling. “Little Xi, meeting again.”

Exchanging pleasantries for a while, chatting casually.

The little baby drooled in Fu Bei’s arms, unknown what he was happy about. Suddenly seeing Qiao Xi, he stared straight with big dark eyes, then giggled, drool falling like threads.

Qiao Xi hurriedly took a tissue to wipe him, teasing, “So good…”

The little baby didn’t understand words yet, only responding with ah-ah-ah, twisting his little waist, wanting her to hold him. He was a bit fat and heavy. Qiao Xi held him for two minutes before returning him to Professor Xu. Professor Xu still had things to do, so he left with the child first.

In the car, Qiao Xi still remembered the baby’s cuteness, praising him repeatedly. She rarely gave praise, usually not complimenting people. Moreover, she was talking and laughing, looking in a very good mood.

Fu Bei raised her eyebrow slightly, asking pointedly, “Like kids?”

Qiao Xi didn’t answer immediately. Thinking for a moment, she nodded, affirming, “Like.”

Fu Bei was always sharp-minded, figuring out the other’s thoughts in a few words, asking directly, “Want one?”

Qiao Xi asked back, “You?”

Fu Bei said, “Up to you.”

The car was silent for a long time. Until stopping at the next intersection for a red light, Qiao Xi said seriously, “Not really.”

Telling the truth. This answer was thought through and deliberated. Both were testing each other. If wanted, both would answer affirmatively. But throwing the question to the other party first was testing while also considering the other’s thoughts. As long as one wanted, they would definitely have one.

Fu Bei was a bit surprised by this answer, thinking Qiao Xi’s reaction meant she wanted one. She asked puzzledly, “Don’t you like them? Why don’t you want one?”

Qiao Xi pondered, then turned her head to look. The green light turned on then, continuing forward. Waiting to turn into the road in front of the apartment, she replied seriously, “Liking is liking, wanting is wanting; it’s different.”

“How is it different?”

Qiao Xi didn’t answer immediately. Driving the car into the parking spot in the complex, stopping, turning off the engine, facing this person, she took a light breath and explained, “Because I only want to live with you. All plans made include only you and me. Decided from the moment I accepted the proposal. I don’t know what we might face in the future—turning points, or bad changes. But I’ve always only wanted to be with you. Only you, no one else.”

Having children is good and bad. For the two of them now, it was indeed too early. Love is a happy yet arduous long run—one year of guarding, three years of pain, five years of separation, seven years of itch, ten years to make a promise. No one knows where it can truly go. Both were attentive to this relationship, but life is life after all. They still had much to experience. Love doesn’t only have beauty; it also has many troubles. Qiao Xi only wanted Fu Bei.

This explanation was more like a confession, revealing her heart.

A smile flashed in Fu Bei’s eyes. Raising her hand to touch Qiao Xi’s face, she whispered, “Understood.”

Realizing belatedly that her words were too direct, Qiao Xi lowered her eyelids uncomfortably, not looking up once.

Fu Bei hooked her chin, lifting it, leaning in, gently touching her rosy lips twice.