Lou Yixuan called Lu Lingxuan over.
When it came to pursuing older women—especially high-quality, divorced ones in their prime—Lu Lingxuan could be called an emotional expert.
Her experiences were the most similar to Du Heming’s, and her know-how in chasing a wife was the most suitable to pass on.
Having Lu Lingxuan counsel her and serve as Du Heming’s strategist might be more reliable than Lou Yixuan herself.
While waiting for her, after Lou Yixuan gave a rough rundown of Lu Lingxuan’s rollercoaster romance with her wife, Du Heming eagerly awaited her arrival.
Lu Lingxuan was a fiery Aries, who hit it off great with Gemini Du Heming. Both were warm-hearted, eager to help, and social butterflies.
In this three-person drinking session, Lou Yixuan sat off to the side by herself, sipping soda water and half-heartedly listening to the two across from her swap experiences.
Lou Yixuan had given Lu Lingxuan a heads-up beforehand: don’t mention Xu Yaning or Nannan’s names to Du Heming for now. She’d also warned Du Heming: don’t bring up Lu Lingxuan in front of Teacher Lin and the others.
With booze and stories flowing, the chattering Du Heming and Lu Lingxuan were completely engrossed, one forgetting she had early classes tomorrow, the other forgetting her wife was waiting at home tonight.
What could she do?
One was a sister like family to her, the other a friend who’d opened her heart.
It was nearing ten-thirty when Lou Yixuan first messaged Xu Yaning: [Ya Ning-jie, tonight I needed a favor from Ling Xuan, so I treated her to a little drink.]
[Don’t worry, I didn’t drink. I’ll drop her off later.]
Xu Yaning replied: [Okay, no problem. If she gets too drunk, call me when you’re downstairs, and I’ll come get her.]
With that report sent, Lou Yixuan scrolled down to the “Indissoluble Meal Buddies” group chat.
She wavered between asking Lin Huayan or He Huan for help.
From the sound of it, Du Heming was already slurring badly. Lou Yixuan couldn’t get her back to the dorm alone—the garage to the dormitory building was nearly ten minutes’ walk.
The last evening self-study session had ended ages ago; Teacher Lin should be free, right?
No way should Teacher He see Du Heming like this drunken mess. What if Du Heming blurted out something shocking and offended her? That would be even harder to handle.
[Lou Yixuan: Teacher Lin, are you resting?]
[Lin Huayan: Just about to wash up. Nothing major—shoot.]
[Lou Yixuan: I’m at the Clear Bar with Teacher Du right now. She’s in a funk and drowning her sorrows.]
[Lin Huayan: You drank too?]
[Lou Yixuan: Nope, just her. She’s getting pretty drunk, so I’ll talk her into heading back soon.]
[Lin Huayan: Want me to come find you?]
Come find her?
No way!
Lu Lingxuan was still here.
[Lou Yixuan: No, no need. Just hoping Teacher Lin can wait a bit. I’ll drive Teacher Du back to school—could you meet us at the garage?]
[Lin Huayan: Sure. Let me know when you’re at school.]
[Lou Yixuan: Thanks, Teacher Lin. Sorry for the trouble. I’ll hurry.]
[Lin Huayan: No rush. Drive safe.]
Lou Yixuan stared at the chat in a daze when Lu Lingxuan draped her upper body over the table, waving at her: “My Xuan, my big baby, whatcha looking at?”
Du Heming followed suit, flopping over: “My Xuan-jie, my baby Xuanxuan, whatcha looking at?”
“…”
Lou Yixuan hurriedly pocketed her phone and glared at the two goofballs, jabbing their foreheads hard. “You two are filthy, reeking of booze. Done chatting? Still drinking?”
Lu Lingxuan grabbed Lou Yixuan’s wrist and pulled her close, while shoving Du Heming back into her seat with her other hand.
“Xuan, your colleague’s really drunk. I’m still good.”
“But if we keep going, my wife won’t be happy. Let’s call it tonight—next time.”
“Pfft.” Lou Yixuan burst out laughing. “Alright, Lu Lingxuan, you’re very conscientious.”
“What else?” Lu Lingxuan lifted her chin proudly. “I’m a married woman.”
“Yeah, yeah, only you have a wife.”
“You’ll have one too.”
“Hope so.”
I hope I get a wife too.
Tonight’s tab was on Du Heming. Lou Yixuan and Lu Lingxuan didn’t need to settle up; they flanked her, one on each side, and hauled her straight to the car.
“School’s closer—ten minutes tops. I’ll drop her first, then you.”
Without Lu Lingxuan, Lou Yixuan really couldn’t have handled drunk Du Heming alone.
She’d probably have had to call Lin Huayan.
“No problem.” Lu Lingxuan was stronger than Lou Yixuan, so she tilted Du Heming’s body toward her.
Can’t let her crush my baby Xuan.
Who’d compensate if she got squished?
How would she face dry dad, dry mom, and her real parents?
“Ah, wait, I…” Lou Yixuan looked at Lu Lingxuan with an apologetic smile. “Ling Xuan, I just contacted Teacher Lin. She’s meeting us at the garage to help get Teacher Du back to the dorm.”
“Heh, knew it, you ungrateful brat.” Lu Lingxuan teased her grumpily. “Fine, fine, I’ll cab it. Don’t trouble yourself.”
“Sorry, sorry. I’ll come apologize in person this weekend.”
“Watch me tattle to your Ya Ning-jie—my wife. She always thinks you’re all frail like a willow in the wind, telling me to go easy, not bully you. Who’s bullying who here?!”
“…” Lou Yixuan smiled softly. “That’s ’cause you’re so strong and muscular. Ya Ning-jie says being with you feels super safe.”
“Strong and muscular?” Lu Lingxuan gritted her teeth. “Thanks a lot for the compliment!”
“No problem.”
Among the three, tallest was 170cm Du Heming. Lu Lingxuan edged out Lou Yixuan by a negligible 1.3cm.
It took real effort to maneuver Du Heming out of the Clear Bar and into the back seat to lie down.
The booze was hitting hard now.
Du Heming held her liquor decently—messy, sure, but no tantrums or yelling.
“Her like this… buckle her seatbelt?” Lu Lingxuan suggested.
“…Yeah.” Lou Yixuan feared Du Heming rolling off the seat mid-drive.
Any bumps or bruises would be a sin.
Lu Lingxuan pulled the belt on her side; Lou Yixuan strained to haul Du Heming up by the arms and finally clicked it shut.
“Too funny, haha.” Lu Lingxuan cracked up at the sight. “Wanna snap a pic? Show her when she wakes up.”
“…Pot, meet kettle.”
“Uh.” Lu Lingxuan, with her spotty drunk record countable on one hand, shut up instantly and closed the door.
Lou Yixuan shut the back door too, then peered over the car roof at Lu Lingxuan. “Alright, thanks for today—you’re a lifesaver. I’m all about repaying favors. I’ll sing your praises to your wife next time.”
Lu Lingxuan “hmph”ed: “Go on, go meet your Teacher Lin. Hurry it up—I’m waiting to call her sis-in-law.”
“…You cab quick too. Text Ya Ning-jie once you’re in.”
“Bye. Worry about yourself more.”
With goodbyes exchanged, Lu Lingxuan smoothed her hair, called a ride on the app, and headed to the curb.
She voice-messaged her wife: “Babe, little Xuanxuan’s ditched me for romance. Called me out but won’t drive me home.”
The moment Lou Yixuan slid into the driver’s seat, she sneezed.
Rubbing her nose, she hammered out a message on her phone: [Ya Ning-jie, sorry!! Minor hiccup here—can’t drop Ling Xuan off. She’s not drunk, and I told her to message you once she’s in the cab. If you’re up, keep an eye on WeChat.]
[Xu Yaning: Got it. Drive safe yourself. Good luck.]
Good luck?
Smooth what?
…
Lou Yixuan voice-called Lin Huayan only when she reached the south gate. From messaging Teacher Lin to pulling into school, it’d been just twenty minutes.
In those twenty minutes, Lin Huayan hadn’t washed up, read, or worked. Instead, she’d kept assembling the fourth Wooden Puzzle Flower.
Just the base and stem left to join, and this Purple Lilac would be “complete.”
Answering the call, she paused assembly, threw on a thick jacket, and hurried downstairs to the garage.
The rain had stopped earlier.
Guided by the parking spot photo from Lou Yixuan, Lin Huayan quickly found the car.
“Teacher Lin, you’re here! Quick, help—she’s heavy.”
Lou Yixuan had gotten out the moment she parked, half her body in the back, patting and coaxing for minutes to wake Du Heming.
She drove so steadily that Du Heming had slept like a log.
Du Heming woke, but her head was foggy. Stepping out, she stumbled right into Lou Yixuan.
Like a koala, she clung to Lou Yixuan’s neck, slurring drunken nonsense: “Lou Lou, baby, big baby—you’re my big baby too. Am I your baby? Tell me, am I your baby? Am I…?”
“…! Teacher Du, we’re at school!” Lou Yixuan’s heart nearly stopped; she clapped a hand over Du Heming’s mouth. “Teacher Lin, Teacher Lin’s here to get you!”
“Mmph mmph, mmph mmph…”
Du Heming thrashed her head, struggling, but Lou Yixuan didn’t dare let go. She’d kill me.
Lin Huayan heard every word, of course.
Face stern, she tied back her hair with the scrunchie on her wrist and stepped behind Lou Yixuan, prying off Du Heming’s hands.
“Du Heming, if you don’t want to write a report on ‘Teacher Ethics’ tomorrow, behave and stay quiet.”
“…”
The icy aura was freezer-level.
Lou Yixuan’s back chilled. Someone save me.
Would iron-fisted Lin Huayan make her co-write the report with Teacher Du?
Essays? Fine. Academic reports? Disaster!
“Teacher Du? Teacher Du?” Be a good Samaritan—wake up, or innocents suffer!
Weren’t you babbling nonsense?
Weren’t you flailing?
Why stop struggling?
Faking it?
Ah?!
Teacher Du, you’re trouble incarnate—biting the hand that feeds! Wake up! I’m suffering too! Stop dragging others down!
Lou Yixuan secretly pinched Du Heming’s waist hard with her left hand, releasing her mouth with the right: “Teacher Du, you’re awake.”
“…” No, I’m not.
Du Heming endured the pain, eyes shut. This infuriated Lou Yixuan.
Time for dirty tricks.
“Teacher Lin, can you handle Teacher Du alone? Or should we bother Teacher He too? Two people would be easier.”
“That works. You call…”
“Mmph, T-Teacher Lin, you’re here too?”
No way could Du Heming face He Huan. Eyes open, she glanced around. “Back at school? Lou Lou, you drove me?”
“…” Lou Yixuan pulled back, only to bump into Lin Huayan’s chest behind her.
Shocking her more: Lin Huayan didn’t retreat. Instead, she steadied Lou Yixuan’s waist—closer, more intimate than the supermarket, with even more… feeling.
So soft.
So fragrant.
I wanna lean like this a bit longer.
Less dazed than Lou Yixuan, Lin Huayan kept her left arm around Lou Yixuan’s waist, right hand gripping Du Heming’s arm: “Teacher Du, can you walk yourself?”
Lin Huayan was the type whose fewer words meant more authority, stronger presence.
“Y-Yeah, I can walk.” Du Heming slowly withdrew her arm from Lin Huayan’s grip, gulping nervously the whole time.
Teacher Lin’s grip wasn’t lighter than Lou Yixuan’s pinch.
Ow.
This had backfired big time. Total embarrassment.
All Lu Lingxuan’s fault—said to test interest, first crucial step: see if she gets jealous.
They’d detail “jealousy signs” on WeChat later.
Du Heming had just seized the chance, testing Lou Yixuan and Teacher Lin. But both were sharp as tacks; she’d hoisted a rock only to drop it on her own foot.
Cursing herself an idiot—not only useless help, but she’d screwed herself.
Only now did Lou Yixuan realize she was sandwiched, her flushed face fully exposed to Du Heming.
City gates catch fire, pond fish suffer.
This freshwater fish was thoroughly grilled.
No face left either.
She sidestepped to create distance from both, circled to the passenger side, opened the door, and grabbed a umbrella from the glovebox.
Du Heming’s toes clenched tight in her shoes as she took the umbrella, her nerves on edge.
No saving her now—the thousand-word “Teacher Ethics Improvement” report was inevitable.
After handing over the umbrella, Lou Yixuan said her goodbyes. “Teacher Lin, Teacher Du, get some early rest. I won’t walk you out.”
“Lou…”
Du Heming wanted to explain, but this wasn’t the right moment.
She had been truly dizzy when she left the Clear Bar, but Cuba Libre was her go-to drink—no long hangover for her.
“Teacher Du, you should think about how to explain this to Director Lin.”
Lou Yixuan shot Lin Huayan a meaningful glance. “That said, when a teacher errs, the student shares the blame. If Director Lin makes you write a report, I’d love to take a look. Good luck, Teacher Du. Bye-bye.”
Lin Huayan called after her, “Roads are slippery in the rain—be careful.”
“Mm.” Lou Yixuan nodded at Lin Huayan, her gaze brushing over her chest. “Good night, Teacher Lin.”
The garage lights glowed dimly late at night, countless vehicles parked neatly in their spots.
Only one white sedan had its lights on—and it wasn’t heading home.
It was just passing through.
With its own home to return to.
Halfway there, Lou Yixuan spotted a bunch of unread messages from Du Heming on her phone, mounted in its holder. She didn’t tap in.
She wasn’t actually mad—just embarrassed as hell.
She rolled down the window, let in some cold air, and replayed the whole day’s events in her mind. In the end, she felt pretty grateful to Du Heming.
Back home, she ran a bath while checking Du Heming’s messages.
【Du Heming: Lou Lou, don’t be mad~ I admit I was faking drunk in the garage, but it wasn’t to take advantage of you. You know my heart’s with Teacher He.】
【Du Heming: Okay, cards on the table: I did it to scout intel for you.】
【Du Heming: You already know my feelings inside out, so no harm spilling more. But I have to tell you—Teacher Lin’s attitude toward you is unusual. Super unusual!】
【Du Heming: Your friend said the best way to gauge someone’s feelings is to check if they get possessive, if they get jealous for you.】
【Du Heming: Whether confirming feelings or pushing the relationship, when nothing else works, do something to make them jealous—it’s super effective, foolproof.】
【Du Heming: That’s what your friend taught. You barely listened tonight, but I was all ears.】
【Du Heming: I don’t care if you’ve liked Teacher Lin forever or just recently—I only care about one thing: you like her.】
【Du Heming: You’ve helped me, now let me help you. Team up, have each other’s backs?】
What could she have overheard in the Clear Bar, where Lu Lingxuan and Du Heming had whispered like mosquitoes most of the time?
Had they both gone behind her back and sold her out?
Those two clicked instantly from the start, and she’d mentioned Du Heming to Lu Lingxuan early in the semester. The odds of betrayal were high.
【Lou Yixuan: Better if Teacher Du keeps pretending you don’t know. I don’t need help—not because you’re useless, but my situation with her is complicated. Can’t explain in a few words.】
【Lou Yixuan: You’re the same—think three times before acting. I brought my friend to show you there are couples like you out there who made it work. They’re not the only ones.】
【Lou Yixuan: But Teacher Du, every coin has two sides. I showed you hope, but now a splash of cold water.】
【Lou Yixuan: Before your next step, dig up every possible “fruit”—successes and failures—like roots from the soil. Count them, weigh them. Which can you pick, carry home, nurture? Which are too heavy, too needy—bury them back, let them grow wild or die.】
After sending those, Lou Yixuan stripped and sank into the bathtub, letting the soak ease her fatigue.
The apartment hadn’t come with a tub—she’d measured it herself, bought one, had workers install it.
The habit started in Australia.
Setting an alarm while bathing? That came from her mother’s strict orders. Once, she’d dozed off, slipped under, and choked awake. Another time, Mom had to shake her awake.
After that, Mom always checked her phone alarm when she ran the water—and set her own.
Now back home, no one policed her bath times or alarms anymore.
The longing for her mother hit suddenly, fiercely. Lou Yixuan submerged completely, letting tears mix into the water—that way, they weren’t tears.
Twenty-six years together.
How could there be no love? How could she not love her?
Submerged, she missed her phone’s ring. She held her breath to the limit before surfacing for air.
No alarm set.
She grabbed her phone again—and saw a new message from Lin Huayan.
