Chapter 69: Possessiveness

From the rearview mirror, Zhao Chiyun could be seen sitting primly in the back seat, closer to the passenger side.

After finishing the call, she quietly observed the rain-fogged streets through the car window.

The temperature had dropped these past couple of days, but it made little difference to someone who didn’t mind the cold. It was still the tail end of summer, so skirts and short sleeves remained feasible.

Zhao Chiyun clearly wasn’t one of those people.

She wore a long-sleeved base layer under a thin brown jacket, the interplay of light and dark tones blending seamlessly into her form.

In the rainy weather, she appeared warm and vibrant.

But that warmth was vivid, tightly restrained, and stingily withheld from display.

Thus, she resembled smoke in a gallery painting—polite yet distant, beautiful yet aloof.

Qiu Yu was chatting away, but not about calligraphy. She chattered animatedly with her Teacher Zhao about school matters.

Zhao Chiyun listened attentively, seeming genuinely interested.

It wasn’t the forced interest adults feigned, nor condescending small talk. On the contrary, her tone relaxed when speaking to the slightly younger girl.

At the end, she asked, “So you’re saying you have over a dozen subjects to study? And teachers assigned for each one?”

Yan Qing found the question endearing.

“Yeah, it’s exhausting. I have to stay up late every night.”

“Isn’t it because you dawdle when you get home and refuse to do your homework first?”

Yan Qing laughed. “Teacher Zhao must be shocked. Kids these days have it so much tougher than when you were in school. By the way, which middle school did you attend, Teacher Zhao?”

Zhao Chiyun said flatly, “I didn’t study here.”

“You’re not from this city?”

“Mm.”

Zhao Chiyun turned her head back to the window, her expression aloof, as if she had no desire to continue the conversation.

Fortunately, the other woman took the hint.

Mirror City’s autumn rain arrived earlier than Zhao Chiyun remembered, falling endlessly and incessantly—utterly annoying.

After driving a stretch, the rain eased, and visibility improved.

This wasn’t the usual route Zhao Chiyun took when calling a cab. They passed a building she had no recollection of.

“Where does this road lead?”

she asked.

Yan Qing explained that Qiu Yu had ordered dinner before they set out, and they were now heading to the store to pick it up. It would only take two minutes.

“Does Teacher Zhao need to rush?”

Zhao Chiyun relaxed inwardly. “No problem.”

The car pulled into the parking area outside the store. Yan Qing said they couldn’t park long and reminded her to watch for slippery roads.

“Got it!”

Qiu Yu popped open an umbrella and hopped out, her steps light and nimble as she headed into the shop.

Suddenly, only the two of them remained in the car.

Zhao Chiyun’s fingers unconsciously tapped a few times on the phone she had been clutching.

Yan Qing glanced back at her. “Is Teacher Zhao cold?”

Zhao Chiyun replied, “No.”

Yan Qing caught a faint, elegant scent mingling with the familiar car air freshener—emanating from this unfamiliar passenger.

She naturally voiced the question. “Is Teacher Zhao single?”

Zhao Chiyun looked at her and blinked, her expression unchanging.

She recalled Gan Xun recently asking about Lady Yan’s appearance. She had called her beautiful, and it wasn’t flattery.

Lady Yan was always impeccably groomed, with a steady demeanor that suggested a position of importance.

Her makeup was always tasteful, and she often appeared in formal attire, as if perpetually busy—squeezing in time during work to pick up her daughter from calligraphy class.

Zhao Chiyun had encountered plenty of such women before; they weren’t novel, and she knew how to handle them.

“Sorry, that was forward of me. Just making conversation. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, Teacher Zhao.”

Seeing her back off, Zhao Chiyun offered a polite smile. “No, I have someone I like.”

“The person you were just on the phone with?”

Zhao Chiyun gripped her phone tighter and lowered her gaze. “Mm.”

“Have I met her?”

Yan Qing asked directly.

Zhao Chiyun hadn’t expected such bluntness—it was almost like she was on the verge of naming the girl who had accompanied her to work.

With a soft chuckle, she leaned forward slightly and asked innocently, “You’re asking for such specifics—are you planning to set me up with someone?”

Yan Qing’s eyes curved in a smile, her well-maintained eye corners free of any fine lines.

Her movement was limited, so she simply extended her hand—not to touch Zhao Chiyun, but to rest it on the back of the passenger seat.

“No, I just admire you greatly, Teacher Zhao, and couldn’t help wanting to learn more. Qiu Yu likes you a lot too. She often tells me how wonderful you are. Kids can’t help but adore pretty, capable teachers.”

Hearing the student’s name softened Zhao Chiyun’s expression. “Thank you, Qiu Yu’s mom. You’re too kind. I like Qiu Yu too—she’s clever and thoughtful. You’ve raised her well.”

She feigned relief.

“I thought for a second you were eager to play matchmaker. You know how young people dread that these days.”

“I know exactly. It’s not just the young—I’ve had my fill too.”

Yan Qing gave her a helpless, understanding smile.

Zhao Chiyun got it instantly and let out a soft laugh.

Outside, Qiu Yu had retrieved the food and was heading back to the parking spot.

“Was Qiu Yu born in autumn?”

“Yes, that’s why I named her that.”

“Such a clever choice.”

Yan Qing said gently, “But I hope Teacher Zhao won’t call me Qiu Yu’s mom in the future. Even as a mother, I don’t want to be defined by my child’s name.”

Zhao Chiyun agreed wholeheartedly, feeling a twinge of guilt. “Sorry about that, Lady Yan.”

Yan Qing paused briefly, then gave a wry smile.

“I’m Yan Qing, though Teacher Zhao can call me whatever you like.”

Qiu Yu returned to the car, and Zhao Chiyun caught the aroma of fried food—familiar, the very first meal Gan Xun had ordered when she arrived here.

Zhao Chiyun was hungry, and she missed Gan Xun terribly.

She politely declined Qiu Yu’s offer to share.

Qiu Yu asked, “Does Teacher Zhao need to watch her figure? No way—you’re already perfect.”

“No, dinner’s waiting at home. I’m afraid if I eat this, I won’t have an appetite, and the one who cooked would be upset.”

After that, Yan Qing fell mostly silent.

The drive was short, and soon they reached the neighborhood entrance.

“No need to go in—it’s just a hundred meters. I can walk.”

Zhao Chiyun nodded to Yan Qing. “Thank you for today.”

Gan Xun was working overtime today and was only now on her way back.

Zhao Chiyun got home and showered first. As she was blow-drying her hair, Gan Xun entered, came over, and stood behind her.

From the bathroom mirror, she asked Gan Xun, “What did you eat?”

“Not hungry. A bit full.”

Zhao Chiyun was surprised. “Full from what?”

Gan Xun said nothing, drawing closer and inhaling the scent of conditioner from her hair tips.

She asked, “Cold?”

Zhao Chiyun laughed lightly and smoothed her hair. “Not cold at home.”

She was still in her summer pajamas.

She met the gaze of the silent figure in the mirror, then felt arms wrap around her as Gan Xun deeply breathed in her scent.

Then she said, “I’ll go make dinner.”

She simply served two dishes. It wasn’t early, so they didn’t eat much and soon finished the meal in unusual silence.

Afterward, Zhao Chiyun stood up proactively.

“I’ll clear the table. I can do the dishes—you go shower.”

Gan Xun watched her tidy up clumsily for a bit before calling out, “Zhao Chiyun.”

She laughed. “So this is what you look like when you’re guilty.”

Zhao Chiyun had just gathered the chopsticks onto the plate. “I’m just being considerate of how hard you work and cook. Ungrateful, aren’t you?”

One chopstick slipped from the plate and clattered onto the table with a clang.

Startled by the sound, Zhao Chiyun composed herself and lifted her chin defiantly. “What do I have to feel guilty about?”

Gan Xun smiled. “Right, nothing at first. But you suddenly insisting on housework has me pleasantly surprised.”

“What a boring thing to say.”

“You weren’t at ease about my safety, so you kept the voice call on the whole way. Did you hear a single word that crossed the line?”

Better not to bring it up—but once she did, Gan Xun couldn’t hold back, muttering softly, “Every sentence crossed the line to me.”

“Her intentions were way too obvious.”

There had even been a moment when she was so anxious she wanted to speak up, but Zhao Chiyun had smiled so sweetly at the woman!

“Don’t wrongly accuse her.”

Zhao Chiyun said, “I don’t care about her. I said what needed saying. She’s not dense—how could she not get it?”

“What if she pesters relentlessly?”

“What does that have to do with me?”

Gan Xun fell silent.

True, what did it have to do with Zhao Chiyun?

Zhao Chiyun sat back down. “The weather was bad. She and her student offered me a ride, so of course I’m grateful. It wasn’t just the two of us. In casual chat, I didn’t hide our relationship. Even a fool would understand.”

“You’re asking me now what to do if she pesters—am I supposed to take responsibility for that?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Gan Xun backtracked. “That’s not what I meant. I just…”

Just a bit jealous.

She felt too embarrassed to say it.

Her hesitation only puzzled Zhao Chiyun more.

“But that’s exactly what it seems like. You’ve had a sour look on your face since we got home. I thought you were tired and tried to help, but you mocked me for feeling guilty.”

“What would I have to feel guilty about?”

Zhao Chiyun’s tone wasn’t even aggressive—just question after question, as if truly baffled by Gan Xun’s behavior.

She was upright and innocent; Gan Xun’s reaction made it seem like she didn’t trust her.

“Sorry.”

Gan Xun apologized, feeling her jealousy was unfounded.

She took the dishes to the kitchen, still not letting her wash them.

The night’s storm grew fiercer. Even with the windows tightly shut, thunder rumbled faintly through the thick walls and glass into the room.

Zhao Chiyun had no mind for reading. Though she knew it was safe, the thunder still unsettled her.

She checked the time—it was late. Gan Xun should have showered by now but hadn’t come over.

Putting on airs again.

She took a sip of water, then went out and knocked on the opposite door.

Without waiting for a response, she pushed it open.

Sure enough, Gan Xun was wearing headphones and working at her desk. She turned at the sound.

Zhao Chiyun walked over, pressed her shoulders to keep her seated, and massaged from behind.

Gan Xun felt both ticklish and sore, unsure how to react.

What new torture was this?

She said, “I’m not done yet. You go to sleep first—we have a meeting on this project tomorrow.”

Zhao Chiyun released her, sat on the bed, kicked off her shoes, and lay down. “Sure, keep working. I’ll wait for you.”

“Not going back to sleep? Not tired?”

Gan Xun asked with concern.

Zhao Chiyun lay there looking at her and said honestly, “Thunder scares me.”

Gan Xun had long grown immune to thunder, especially with headphones on. Only now did she register how bad the weather was outside.

She stood apologetically. “Sorry, I didn’t notice.”

“I thought you were doing it on purpose because I upset you.”

Zhao Chiyun said softly.

“No more rides from her,” she added soothingly.

Gan Xun sat on the bed’s edge and cupped Zhao Chiyun’s ears, leaning down to look at her.

Zhao Chiyun smiled.

Gan Xun seized the chance to explain, “That line today wasn’t about you—it was me asking myself. If she pesters relentlessly, what do I do?”

“What does that have to do with you?”

“I’m scared.”

Zhao Chiyun took the hand covering her ear and kissed its palm.

“Don’t be silly.”

Gan Xun’s fingertip rubbed her lips, then slipped inside a little involuntarily.

“I’m just jealous.”

Gan Xun confessed. “The thought of someone coveting you makes me restless, so I was distracted and made you think I was upset.”

Zhao Chiyun thought of a new term. “Possessiveness?”

“Yes.”

Gan Xun grew even more embarrassed.

Zhao Chiyun’s tongue had brushed her fingertip as she spoke.

“But you haven’t possessed me yet.”

Zhao Chiyun said seriously, exploring the idea.