Chapter 50

This was the embrace she had long yearned for, carrying a scent that put Lin Huayan’s heart at ease, like a ray of winter sunlight that chased away all the gloom and fatigue in her mind.

The girl’s chin rested lightly on her shoulder, her warm breath brushing her ear, laced with a sweet watermelon flavor.

Her heartbeat fell into disarray, like drumbeats struck chaotically, rapid and unordered.

Lou Yixuan’s embrace was soft, yet tight.

So tight that Lin Huayan could feel every contour of Lou Yixuan’s body, so tight that she could almost hear Lou Yixuan’s equally erratic heartbeat.

But she was also afraid, afraid of being discovered. Her hand lifted, then softly dropped back down.

She cherished Lou Yixuan, and cherished Lou Yixuan’s embrace.

So she indulged in this moment of extravagant happiness, indulged in the lingering thrill of her heart, even if the next moment it would shatter like a dream.

It was a long, long time before Lin Huayan heard Lou Yixuan’s voice again.

“They were talking nonsense.” There was a hint of grievance, a touch of dissatisfaction, and a lot of heartache and affection. “My Teacher Lin isn’t menopausal at all.”

Lin Huayan took a steadying breath and patted Lou Yixuan’s waist twice. “Teacher Lou, you should let go now.”

Her porcelain-white face flushed red with embarrassment.

After Lou Yixuan released her, Lin Huayan spun around immediately and walked to the desk.

With her back to Lou Yixuan, she placed the shopping bag on her desk. “I bought some local specialty snacks and unique cultural souvenirs.”

If it had been just her, she probably wouldn’t have bought these things. But with her mother accompanying her on the stroll, she picked some up along the way.

Her generation… had that habit.

She could just say her mother bought too much and shared some with her.

That was the excuse she gave to He Huan and Du Heming.

To Lou Yixuan, she didn’t want to say that. She didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

The night before they returned, while packing her luggage, her mother had come to her room and asked—Shouldn’t you give a souvenir to the person you like? When you give it to her, can you say it’s from both of us, mother and daughter, bought and given together?

She had kept a straight face and pushed her mother back to her own room—Mom, why are you gossiping about your own daughter? Don’t go learning from Qin Fengru.

That night, she discovered for the first time that she and her mother could have a heart-to-heart connection.

That she could confide her subtle romance to her mother.

Her mother understood her, comforted her, supported her, encouraged her.

This kind of unreserved, 100% trusting, easygoing mother-daughter bond, deep maternal love—if only it had come sooner, just a little sooner.

“Thank you.” Lou Yixuan walked over with light steps. “Anything Teacher Lin buys must be delicious and fun.”

She didn’t pay particular attention to Lin Huayan’s expression. She glanced inside the bag and carefully put it away.

Then she lifted the folder and a sheet of A4 drawing paper slanted over the desk, revealing the unfinished Wooden Puzzle Flower beneath—the red camellia she had assembled a few more pieces of.

“Teacher Lin.”

Her opening words carried that coquettish tone of someone asking for a favor. “You missed one piece.”

“…” How could it count as her missing a piece if it hadn’t been handed to her yet?

“Teacher Lin, I’m all thumbs. Can you finish it for me? You already have four. I want to keep this one for myself, to display on my desk.”

“…” She’d never heard of a painter calling themselves “all thumbs” before.

“Teacher Lin, pretty please?”

“…Fine.” How could Lin Huayan resist Lou Yixuan’s soft, wheedling pleas? “Package it up, and I’ll take it back to the dorm to finish.”

But Lou Yixuan wouldn’t have it. “I mean, I want to see it the moment I walk into the office on Wednesday next week.”

Lin Huayan: “…”

Fail to plan for the future, and trouble will find you right away.

Lou Yixuan had already planned meticulously. “When we get back from dinner, I’ll give you my Teacher Card. You give it back to me on Wednesday next week. The flower and the card—both to me.”

Of course: “Sure.”

“Teacher Lin, you’re the best.” Lou Yixuan’s praise was utterly sincere.

From now on, every time she came here to teach, she could see a flower personally assembled by Lin Huayan.

It was practically like Lin Huayan keeping her company.

“…” Lin Huayan flushed again, because Lou Yixuan’s tone sounded just like praising a child.

The two stepped out into the moonlight to eat dinner off-campus, at that same noodle shop. Lou Yixuan wasn’t sulking anymore and finally got her beef noodles.

She had just taken a few bites when she heard Lin Huayan speak. “Want to hear about what happened at noon?”

Lou Yixuan seemed startled, pausing for a few seconds before nodding. “Yes.”

You can’t plug the mouths of the masses.

She knew Lin Huayan wanted to tell her the truth before the story got distorted beyond recognition. After all, she was one of the half-informed eyewitnesses.

After hearing Lin Huayan’s account, Lou Yixuan reciprocated by sharing what Zhang Xiao had told her.

Two people who weren’t chatterboxes, two people who had once shied away from talking about the past or the present, were suddenly sitting together chatting about a work mishap. Wasn’t this a new beginning?

Lou Yixuan was overjoyed at this step Lin Huayan had taken.

As long as Lin Huayan didn’t hide or run away, as long as she was willing to come toward her—no matter how slowly—Lou Yixuan could wait.

A week later, on Wednesday, Lou Yixuan retrieved her school card. In the afternoon, she opened the office door, and sure enough, just as she had envisioned, the first thing she saw on her desk was the vibrant red camellia.

It was a lifeless still life, yet it bloomed boldly, petals layered like two clusters of crimson flames, burning ever fiercer in the depths of winter.

Lou Yixuan placed it on the windowsill, staged a photo, and posted it to Moments with the caption: My flower has finally bloomed.

She pinned it to the top.

Many people liked and commented on her post—colleagues and students alike, the wife-wife duo of Lu Lingxuan and Xu Yaning, her new friends Du Heming and He Huan, even Qin Fengru liked it. Lin Huayan remained the one who followed her Moments most closely yet most invisibly.

Du Heming commented: 【This flower blooms beautifully—may it never wilt.】

Lou Yixuan only replied to her with a [cute] emoji.

Lu Lingxuan, unaware of the context, private messaged her: 【My Xuan, is that camellia?】

【Lou Yixuan: Yep.】

【Lou Yixuan: And I don’t have extras!】

【Lu Lingxuan: Look at you being stingy. Who wants your fake flower? I have real ones every day!】

【Lou Yixuan: Show-off.】

【Lu Lingxuan: Hey, who wouldn’t flaunt when they’ve got the goods? Hehe!】

【Lou Yixuan: [eyeroll]】

【Lu Lingxuan: I’m telling you, camellias have another name—Severed Head Flower. Know that?】

【Lu Lingxuan: Sounds tragic and inauspicious, right? So friendly reminder: no matter how pretty, don’t gift camellias to your loved one, got it?】

Lou Yixuan’s attention fixated on “Severed Head Flower.” After a pause, she replied: 【Oh.】

…

To prepare for the end-of-term exams in late January and the grading work, the teachers at Tianmu Middle School were busy for another half month or so.

A week after the students’ winter break, they could log into the Smart Campus to check their final grades.

By the end of January, the first semester of the freshman year wrapped up completely. Before the official holiday, Lin Huayan organized a gathering for the grade group and the corporate functional departments.

Two days and one night, at a hot spring resort in the suburbs.

The director of the Information Center had been nagging about this since after New Year’s, approaching Lin Huayan no fewer than three times.

Afraid she’d forget.

Among the teaching staff’s eligible singles, whether any good stories would blossom with the functional department colleagues was another matter—more mingling couldn’t hurt.

—Director Lin, you’re always true to your word. You wouldn’t burn bridges after crossing, right?

As grade director, Lin Huayan held final decision-making power, but she handled things by the book.

She didn’t do one-man rule. She directly asked the opinions of several homeroom teachers, and most felt a single farewell meal was boring. If it could secure more benefits for them, with some entertainment thrown in, that would be icing on the cake.

And so this “get-together” came about.

Class 9’s three art teachers were on the attendee list.

The professional homeroom Teacher Liu had to take students out of province for art college entrance exams and politely declined Lin Huayan’s invitation. Lou Yixuan and the other attended as planned.

Hoping to chat on the road, Du Heming proposed early in the Meal Buddies Group that the four of them ride together.

After discussing, Lin Huayan would drive, and Lou Yixuan would bring her luggage to school to meet them.

Lin Huayan had planned to pick up Lou Yixuan, but Lou Yixuan checked the map—her home was in the complete opposite direction from the hot spring resort. It would be too much of a detour for Lin Huayan.

A cab to school took only twenty minutes. Why circle around?

Lou Yixuan dressed casually: a light purple cropped hooded down jacket, light gray fleece-lined sweatpants, leather sneakers, and a black backpack.

Just one night, so everyone traveled light with one bag each.

After stowing them in the trunk, He Huan opened the rear door first. “Teacher Du, back seat with me?”

Du Heming puffed her cheeks like a bun and nodded vigorously.

Lin Huayan and Lou Yixuan said nothing, each heading to their side and getting in.

A large thermos sat in the cup holder. Lin Huayan reminded them, “It’s a forty- to fifty-minute drive. There’s warm water in the thermos, and disposable cups. Help yourselves if you’re thirsty.”

“Teacher Lin is so thoughtful.”

Du Heming, seated behind Lin Huayan, leaned forward gripping the seatback. The topic shifted abruptly. “Lou Lou, did you bring a swimsuit?”

“…I did.” It was a hot spring resort—weren’t they there to soak? What else without a swimsuit?

Du Heming asked again, “What about you, Teacher Lin? Did you?”

“…No.”

Under Lou Yixuan’s gaze, Lin Huayan added, “Not used to it, and I don’t like it.”

“Then this afternoon, we’ll go soak ourselves.” Du Heming nudged Lou Yixuan’s shoulder with a mischievous grin. “Is your swimsuit sexy?”

“Teacher Du, if you tease me again, I won’t go soaking with you this afternoon.”

“Don’t.” Du Heming sneaked a glance at Lin Huayan, only to see her staring straight ahead, starting the car.

She leaned back in her seat, slouching lazily, and earned a reproachful glare from He Huan. “Does Teacher Du like sexy ones?”

Du Heming tensed up.

Lou Yixuan up front was already laughing.

In her heart, she sighed: This is what they mean by ‘karma doesn’t miss, retribution is swift.’ One thing conquers another.

Hearing Lou Yixuan’s laughter, the corners of Lin Huayan’s eyes and brows lifted slightly too.

Happiness was really that simple. A laugh from the one she loved—even if not for her—could brighten her mood.

Who needed praise directed at her?

“I don’t like sexy ones!”

Du Heming sat up straight in an instant. “No, I mean, not that I don’t like sexy—it’s, it’s that I don’t like that kind of sexy from outside.”

She sounded like a student whose mind had wandered off during class, got called on to answer, and ended up contradicting herself.

“That kind from outside?”

Lou Yixuan was laughing so hard she nearly choked, turning to look at her with vengeance. “What kind from outside, Teacher Du?”

“Lou Yixuan, what are you laughing at!”

Du Heming wanted to die of stupidity. This time she was truly doomed—Lin Huayan couldn’t save her, and even He Huan wasn’t her savior anymore.

All three were laughing!

“Teacher Lin, let me out of the car. I’m not going. I’ve lost all face.”

Du Heming hunched over, burying her head in her lap.

A hand patted the back of her head, stroking like petting fur. “Okay, we won’t laugh anymore.”

Even as she said it, He Huan couldn’t hold back—her stroking hand trembled with laughter. “Sorry, Teacher Du, but how are you this funny?”

Lou Yixuan turned back around, no longer looking at the two in the back.

For several minutes, Du Heming stayed silent, curled up like a “puppy.” He Huan laughed happily, stroked happily, and she was happy too.

Face? Nothing mattered more than He Huan’s joy. This embarrassment was worth it.

Finally stopping her laughter, He Huan’s hand moved to lift Du Heming’s forehead. “Teacher Du? Not crying, are you? Lift up, let me see.”

“I’m not crying.”

Du Heming mumbled grumpily in rebuttal. “I’m fine.”

“Yes, yes, you’re fine. We’re the bad ones.” He Huan withdrew her hand, grabbed the thermos, and coaxed half-seriously, “My mouth’s dry from laughing. Teacher Du, Teacher Lou, want some water?”

Du Heming felt deeply aggrieved—she hadn’t even laughed.

“No thanks,” Lou Yixuan replied. “Teacher Lin probably isn’t thirsty yet either.”

“I want some.” Du Heming sat up, staring straight at He Huan.

Under that stare, He Huan felt unjustly guilty, lowering her eyes as she poured half a cup and handed it over.

Du Heming let out a “hmph” from her nose, without saying thanks.

The car had already merged onto the inner ring expressway. Lou Yixuan observed Du Heming and He Huan through the rearview mirror and asked, “Was Ji Mingxin still first in the grade for the final exams?”

“Yeah, she was, with scores far ahead of everyone else.” He Huan screwed the lid back on her thermos and slotted it away. “But she won’t be next semester.”

“How come?”

“She’s skipping ahead to sophomore year next semester.”

Lou Yixuan was mildly surprised and turned back. “You can just skip a grade like that?”

Du Heming choked on her surprise too. “Skip a grade?”

He Huan nodded. “No harm in telling you all. Anyway, it’ll probably be impossible to keep secret once the new semester starts. Teacher Lin knows already—the one who approved Ji Mingxin’s exemption from evening self-study and her grade skip is Tianmu Education Group President Cen Qiongying.”

“President Cen is personally grooming her. She’s hired Olympiad-level tutors for every subject. It’s not just about aiming straight for Jingping University or national Math, Physics, and Chemistry Olympiad certificates—it’s really about her becoming next year’s top scorer in the college entrance exams.”

“As everyone knows, Tianmu Middle School leads the pack among private schools in overall strength and teaching results, with no rivals. Every year, it sends droves of graduates to top universities. But the top scorers in the gaokao have always, without exception, come from Huai’an No. 1 Middle School, No. 3 Middle School, or No. 8 Middle School. President Cen is placing her bets on Ji Mingxin to break that deadlock and make a bold mark in Tianmu Middle School’s history.”

Lou Yixuan asked doubtfully, “Every grade is full of talent—why did this President Cen set her sights on just Ji Mingxin?”

“Yeah, why?”

Du Heming thought for a moment but couldn’t figure it out either. “Didn’t Teacher Lin’s class last year have that super standout student too? From sophomore year on, we were all sure she’d get into Jingping University hands down—and she did. She only missed the No. 8 Middle School science top scorer by 7 points.”

“Maybe President Cen is personally funding Ji Mingxin because of her impoverished and orphaned background.”

Speculation about the depth of the connection between Ji Mingxin and Cen Qiongying came to an abrupt halt amid He Huan’s sigh.

If they kept talking, they risked touching on certain “taboos.”

Lou Yixuan and Du Heming didn’t dare—and couldn’t—bring it up, while Lin Huayan and He Huan wouldn’t.

A couple of days earlier, after grades were tallied and the principal notified them that Ji Mingxin would skip a grade next semester, He Huan had called her.

—Ji Mingxin, your teacher wants to ask: are you skipping to sophomore year of your own free will?

—Teacher He, it was my choice. I’m sorry I didn’t submit the application to you first and you had to hear it this way.

—That’s no big deal. About President Cen…

—President Cen takes good care of me, like a big sister. Teacher He, don’t overthink it—I have full personal and mental freedom, no restrictions or harm.

—Mm, got it. Then your teacher wishes you top honors with a future bright as brocade.

—Thank you, Teacher. Wishing you good health and constant smiles too.

…

At 11:10, Lin Huayan pulled into the resort parking lot. Lunch was set for noon, so they’d arrived early.

The hotel had reserved plenty of standard rooms, to be paired up as they liked.

No one had discussed roommate pairings before arriving, but each had pondered it in her mind.

Anyone would do, it seemed.

“Hello, please show your IDs for check-in.”

As the front desk prepared to process them, Du Heming sidled up to Lou Yixuan and muttered softly, “Lou Lou, how are we rooming?”

She wanted to room with He Huan but was scared.

Lou Yixuan wanted to room with Lin Huayan but was scared too.

Scared of…

“We’ve got four people for two rooms,” Du Heming said, stamping her foot since the others weren’t chiming in. “How about I room with…”

Whoever came after “with” blended seamlessly into Lin Huayan’s words.

“Teacher Lou with me, Teacher Du with Teacher He.”

With that, Lin Huayan strode forward and handed her ID to the attendant, not even adding a “Any objections?” at the end.

Lou Yixuan lit up, her dimples visibly deepening as she hurried to hand over her own ID. “Make it a high-floor room with a balcony facing the gardens, thanks.”