Chapter 46: The Trolley
At the entrance of the shopping mall, Tong Yao politely declined He Shaohua’s offer to drive her back and found Tong Hua’s flashy luxury car.
“It’s over already?” Tong Hua’s eyes widened. “What happened?”
“We finished eating. I’m tired.” Tong Yao opened the car door and placed the milk tea in the center console. “This milk tea is for you.”
“So nice, you even brought me milk tea?” Tong Hua was delighted. “Finally know how to dote on your big brother?”
Tong Yao hesitated for a moment, then decided to let him interpret it that way.
The square was bustling with people and traffic, with the impatient honking of drivers everywhere. Tong Hua slowly eased off the gas, inching forward. The car next to him, having lost the race, rolled down its window to shout across and start a confrontation, but upon seeing the car’s brand logo, they sheepishly retreated. The road ahead was completely blocked. The traffic police in their small orange vests were swamped. It was normal for this area to have traffic jams at this time. It probably wouldn’t clear up for an hour.
“Yao Yao, there’s a traffic jam. Can you wait?” Tong Hua said, sweating. “Why don’t you play on your phone in the car?”
“…It’s stuffy in the car, and I get carsick easily if I play on my phone.” Tong Yao looked out the window and couldn’t help but frown. “Line 2 is nearby, right? The newly opened subway. I haven’t taken it yet. I’ll get off here.”
“Huh? You’re not going home?”
“I’m going straight back to school.”
Tong Yao got out of the car and looked at the endless stream of traffic ahead, sighing.
It seemed that the first time she would take the subway in this life would be today.
The newly opened subway was just as crowded. The station by the square was packed with people. She took out a bill, queued up to buy a ticket, and went down the stairs. The waiting area was a sea of heads. Her face turned a little grim. She was daunted by the thought of squeezing into the subway—she was well aware of her own charm, and it wouldn’t be worth it if she encountered any groping.
“Teacher Tong.”
For a moment, she almost thought she was hearing things.
“Ruan Ruan…” She looked up, clutching the coin-shaped ticket in her palm. “And Jiali? Are you guys shopping here?”
The young girl stared at her without speaking. Tong Yao felt a little creeped out and waved her hand in front of her eyes.
“Hey.”
Ruan Xi snapped out of her daze, suppressed the lingering sourness in her heart, and said in a low voice, “Isn’t Teacher Tong on a date?”
Yin Jiali also added from the side, “Isn’t that man taking you back?”
Tong Yao blinked and realized, “You… saw that? He’s not my boyfriend.”
The young girl gave a soft “oh” but didn’t smile again.
She likes Teacher Tong.
But does Teacher Tong like her?
Am I worthy of being with Teacher Tong?
One day, someone would win Teacher Tong’s favor. If Teacher Tong didn’t like girls, or if she wasn’t outstanding enough, that person wouldn’t be her.
“Teacher Tong, we’re also going back to school. Let’s go together.”
She said, running to Tong Yao’s side and standing shoulder to shoulder with her.
The kraft paper bag in her hand rustled.
“What did you guys buy?” Tong Yao asked curiously, since they were just waiting around. “Is it okay to tell the teacher?”
Ruan Xi and Yin Jiali exchanged a look. It was a Mid-Autumn Festival gift for Teacher Tong anyway, so they didn’t plan on hiding it.
Yin Jiali smiled, revealing her small dimples. “We bought a small hat for Teacher Tong.”
The young girl gently opened the bag and showed the contents to Tong Yao. “This is… a scarf for Teacher Tong.”
Actually, she had originally wanted to buy stockings, but she had been too embarrassed at the time. But now, with a sour feeling in her heart, she thought it would have been better to give stockings.
She looked down at the black stockings on Teacher Tong’s legs. The thought that Teacher Tong had just been having lunch with someone else made her so anxious she wanted to cry.
What if Teacher Tong falls for someone else before I become successful?
She hated her powerless self.
For a child from an ordinary, even poor, family like her, there were often no shortcuts in life. There was no quick way to success; she could only climb up step by step. There were still two years of high school left, and four years of university. How could she have so much time to improve herself?
The manga she loved was like a precarious log between cliffs. Walking on it, there was always the possibility of it breaking. Once she failed, it would be eternal damnation.
After graduation, there would be nothing between her and Teacher Tong.
“The train is here.”
Tong Yao turned to the side and pulled the two children. “Hurry up and get on.”
The crowd swarmed into the carriage. During peak hours, it was a human sardine can. Tong Yao led the students to a corner of the carriage. This place didn’t require them to move around and had a little breathing space.
On the subway, no one spoke.
Perhaps it was because they were too close to each other, which made them feel awkward.
Yin Jiali was looking down at her phone. Suddenly, she leaned over and said, “Teacher Tong, watch out for perverts.” Tong Yao smiled. Afraid of disturbing others, she lowered her voice.
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
How embarrassing would it be if the men nearby heard?
But the young girl immediately became nervous. Like a hawk searching for prey, she scanned every man’s face, then moved a few steps to shield her Teacher Tong tightly in the corner.
Tong Yao felt a little uncomfortable. Why… does it feel like I’m being kabedon-ed? The young girl was right in front of her, and they were about the same height… no, had this child grown taller?
She solemnly decided to wear high heels or boots when she went out in the future.
“There’s no need…” Tong Yao turned her face to the side. “There are no perverts.”
But the young girl was firm and wouldn’t budge an inch.
The subway was much more stable than a bus, but there was still inertia when it stopped.
Tong Yao was fine, leaning against the wall, but Ruan Xi couldn’t stand firm. Her hands, which she had kept down to avoid looking like she was doing a kabedon, now, as the train stopped, she couldn’t stop herself from leaning forward. Before her hands hit the wall, she touched a smooth, soft area—it was Teacher Tong’s black stockings.
Tong Yao’s face flushed. She stretched her neck and turned her face away.
She hadn’t changed her clothes; she was still in her office lady attire. The skin on her thigh, above her knee and below her hip-hugging skirt, had just been brushed by the young girl’s hand through the silk—and she was supposed to be guarding against perverts?
Why did she feel like the pervert was this very young girl?
“Little pervert.”
She whispered.
Ruan Xi’s face turned beet red. It wasn’t on purpose! But she had indeed touched… It was like a scholar in ancient times going to the lake and stumbling upon a maiden bathing—the final outcome was usually marriage, right?
“Teacher Tong, I…”
“Just kidding,” Tong Yao chuckled. “Look how anxious you are.”
It was just an accidental touch from a female student. She wasn’t angry. Ruan Ruan was thin-skinned, so she didn’t plan on teasing her further.
Ruan Xi lowered her head in shame. The guardian of the flower had stolen from within. No matter how she looked at it, it was her fault. The more magnanimous Teacher Tong was, the more guilty she felt. Were there really so many accidents? Could she really not have avoided it?
Those thoughts of turning a play into reality became a secret only she knew.
The subway passed a few more stations and finally arrived at the station for No. 1 High. The train was much less crowded now. Tong Yao reminded the children to get off. After leaving the station, she weighed the gifts in her hand and said, “Happy Mid-Autumn Festival. Shall I treat you to some mooncakes?”
