To prevent Lu Ma from spilling those half-truths about her “work updates” with Lu Lingxuan at home—innocently, of course—Lou Yixuan acted decisively. She withdrew her hand, grabbed Lu Ma’s handbag, and hustled her toward the door.
“Hey, why are you pushing me? I’m not in a rush to leave…”
“How could you not be? Godmother, go handle business at the company—making money is priority. I’ve got nurses here. Once today’s checkup is done, I’ll call you.”
“Yixuan, no, something’s off with you. Why can’t I stay now that your colleague’s here?”
“Godmother! You are really busy!”
Lou Yixuan practically used brute force to “escort” Lu Ma out of the ward. “If you miss a business deal because of me, I’ll feel guilty.”
“What business deal? This morning I—mmph…”
“You’ve got a ton of work to handle this morning, so don’t get distracted.” With her right hand clamped over Lu Ma’s mouth, Lou Yixuan used her left to push and hug her all the way to the elevator.
“Sorry, Godmother.” Lou Yixuan released her and apologized, shaking her arm affectionately. “Truth is, I’ve got some disagreements with this homeroom teacher lately. She’s cunning, tough to deal with. I don’t want to rely on you guys—I need to handle it myself.”
“…” Lu Ma’s eyebrows twisted into knots. “Is she bullying you?”
“Huh? N-No, not exactly.” Lin Huayan had just rejected her confession again—how could that count as bullying?
“Not exactly? Then it can count.” Lu Ma’s tone darkened.
“…” What kind of logic was that?
“Yixuan, if there’s office politics or bullying at your workplace, don’t swallow your pride and endure it. Fight back however you need to—your godparents have your back.”
“Got it, Godmother. I’m really not being bullied.”
Lou Yixuan hugged her and rubbed cheeks. “It’s just a difference of opinion with her. A chat might sort it out.”
“Fine.”
Lu Ma patted her hand. “Then I won’t cramp your style. Give it your all. Stick to what you believe is right, fight to the end—got it?”
“Mm-hmm, I will.”
After seeing Lu Ma into the elevator, Lou Yixuan turned and jumped in fright.
Why had Lin Huayan followed her out? Without a sound.
That meant she’d overheard the whole conversation with Lu Ma.
“You…”
“When’s your checkup?”
They spoke at the same time, but Lin Huayan was quicker—and she had no intention of asking what Lou Yixuan wanted to say.
Lin Huayan had checked Lou Yixuan’s complexion the moment she entered: cheeks rosy, gait steadier than yesterday.
Proof the treatment was spot-on, effects ideal.
Lou Yixuan felt utterly disoriented by Lin Huayan’s actions yesterday and today.
“Teacher Lin, I haven’t finished breakfast yet. What checkup?”
She brushed past Lin Huayan back to the ward, walking slowly, then glanced sideways. “Do private school teachers get docked pay for ditching class for personal errands?”
“Worried I’ll get docked?”
“…” And she smiles? Does Director Lin not get subtle hints?
Well, as grade director, pay docking wasn’t an issue anyway.
Lin Huayan followed into the ward. After Lou Yixuan washed her hands in the bathroom and emerged, Lin Huayan went in to wash hers too.
She hadn’t cooked today, but brought other things—two boxes of chocolates and a small box of Swiss rolls.
While Lou Yixuan was seeing Lu Ma off, she’d left the bag on the table.
“I picked them up at the supermarket last night—expiration dates are fresh.” Lin Huayan took the items out of the bag for Lou Yixuan to see, then put them back.
Only then did she sit across from her. “Breakfast’s getting cold—eat up. If you mind me here, I can wait in the hallway.”
“…” Then please leave, Teacher Lin.
Of course, Lou Yixuan couldn’t say that out loud.
Even though that’s exactly what flashed through her mind.
“Just don’t stare at me.”
Lou Yixuan picked up her utensils again—spoon in left, chopsticks in right—and hit fast-forward on her meal.
She ate quietly; Lin Huayan sat quietly beside her, not even touching her phone.
So poised, lost in who-knows-what thoughts.
It reminded Lou Yixuan of herself, actually. She could sit still too—not just while painting, but often lingering in one spot for ages.
Letting her mind wander wildly, chasing inspirations, or endlessly drifting in reverie.
But the absurdity hit when she set down her spoon and chopsticks, drained the last of her porridge without even wiping her mouth—Lin Huayan reached over to take her bowl and utensils. “I’ll wash them for you.”
Lou Yixuan snatched them back quick. “I’ll do it myself!”
They stalemated for seconds; Lin Huayan yielded. “Don’t strain—I’ll let go.”
“Mm, let go.” Once Lou Yixuan eased her grip, Lin Huayan did as promised.
“Teacher Lin, I’ve gratefully accepted your visits and gifts these past two days, truly. But please don’t…”
“I’ve got class later—heading back to school.”
Lin Huayan stood abruptly, like fleeing, gave Lou Yixuan a deep look, and curved her lips in a smile. “Won’t disturb your recovery. Keep a good mood.”
The ways she wanted to care for Lou Yixuan—the intimate parts—were all rejected outright.
As expected. No room for complaints. She’d prepared mentally, so no overreaction.
Lin Huayan left.
No goodbye to Lou Yixuan; no send-off from her.
The thermos and glass box from yesterday sat untouched on the bedside cabinet, abandoned by their owner, ignored by all.
…
After another morning checkup, the doctor said Lou Yixuan could be discharged.
Lu Ma and Xu Yaning came midday to pick her up, both insisting she stay with them for a few days—proper meals and care.
But she insisted on her own little apartment, saying friends were visiting that evening; they’d feel more at ease there.
Her “friends” meant Du Heming and He Huan.
But her sixth sense screamed that Lin Huayan—who’d visited that morning—would definitely show up tonight too.
What’s gotten into Lin Huayan?
So weird.
All action, no words.
That evening, Lu Lingxuan hauled two big bags of hot dishes from the Small Tavern to the apartment… and refused to leave!
“What’s there to fear? You’ve already confessed you’re back from Australia for her, right? And what happened? Your ten years of devotion got fed to the dogs!”
Months later, Lu Lingxuan still vividly recalled Lou Yixuan sobbing in her arms—and pinned the blame squarely on Lin Huayan.
Her precious baby was heading back to Australia anyway. Better to cut ties cleanly this time. Long pain beats short agony? No—short pain beats long. She’d help deliver the killing blow.
Sever it once and for all.
“Lingxuan…” Lou Yixuan frowned slightly, wanting to correct her harsh words.
“I won’t hear it!” Lu Lingxuan plugged her ears. “It did get fed to the dogs!”
Frogs, rabbits—who cares.
All she knew: eight years ago and now, Lin Huayan had hurt her baby deeply. Calling her a “dog” was letting her off easy!
If she’d known it’d end like this, she’d never have told Lou Yixuan about Lin Huayan at Tianmu Middle School. Regret ate her alive these months.
Lou Yixuan understood Lu Lingxuan’s worry and care. “You can stay for dinner, but promise no rash moves later. No making Teacher Lin uncomfortable in front of everyone. Stay calm—okay?”
“Hmph, do I seem that reckless?”
Lu Lingxuan shot her a sour glare, then grumbled sourly, “She’s the apple of your eye. Who am I compared to that? In your heart, I’m yesterday’s cold dish—pickled in the jar, swimming in sour brine.”
“…”
Lou Yixuan tapped her finger, hooked it closer, and cooed softly, “You’re my one and only baby, living in my heart, lights always on. How could I—how would I not love you?”
By the floor-to-ceiling window, Lu Lingxuan sat cross-legged on the rug, next to Lou Yixuan’s lounger.
She flopped onto her lap, wrapping her waist in heartfelt embrace.
“I’m just heartbroken for you. I hurt once and bounced back—but you’ve hurt twice. I know that knife-twist agony. I don’t want a third time.”
A third time…?
But it felt like there’d already been more.
“Not entirely fruitless, though.” Lou Yixuan smiled. “Look, I patched things up with Mom. I used to think she disliked my weak side—the vulnerability, the need for her care. Couldn’t even act spoiled. But after Chinese New Year, I saw she loves it when I show weakness, lean on her. She even blushes, gets flustered, tongue-tied.”
Lou Yixuan recalled the eight years with her parents, and this New Year—same three people, same place, but everything different.
Took eight years to fail at loving Lin Huayan, but half a year to master loving her parents.
Not quite “self-taught,” though…
“Lingxuan, get this—I only just realized Mom and—no, Lin Huayan—they’re alike in temperament. Soft inside, tough out.”
Fearing misunderstanding, she clarified quick. “Not ‘Oedipal’ or anything. If it were, I’d have noticed in over a decade.”
“I figured you’d never spot it.”
Lu Lingxuan looked up, propping elbows on her thighs, chin in hands.
“Hm?”
“Honestly, back in high school I thought so too. But no real contact with Teacher Lin—just a vibe like Godmother’s. I was clueless about romance then, and didn’t want to slap you with some taboo ‘mommy issues’ label… so I kept quiet.”
To Lu Lingxuan, her baby and godmother were always so “proper”—overly courteous, nothing like her own hugs and banter with her mom.
Yet they loved each other.
In the little things.
Lou Yixuan smiled knowingly. “One Virgo, one Scorpio—I never linked them.”
Plus, both cool and aloof, few words—imagining them meeting felt like clashing auras, total repulsion.
Du Heming called via voice: “Yixuan, we’re at your complex, entering the garage. Which elevator?”
Lou Yixuan hit speaker. “Number 3. No rush—I’ll have Lingxuan come get you.”
“Little Lu’s there too?”
“Yeah.”
Lou Yixuan pinched Lu Lingxuan’s cheek, gesturing her down. “She’s my blood sister—handles whatever I can’t.”
“Blood sisters”—music to the ears.
Born half a year apart, “Xuan” and “Xuan”—names picked by both families. How not sisters?
Lu Lingxuan hopped up gladly, patted her pants, leaned to the speakerphone. “Teacher Du, on my way.”
Du Heming and Lin Huayan rode in He Huan’s car.
After hanging up, she glanced at He Huan beside her, then Lin Huayan alone in back. “Yixuan’s bestie is there too—Lu Lingxuan. Same age as her, and she’s…”
She’d meant to say “same orientation, both like girls,” but switched. “Married, with a wife she adores.”
…
Lu Lingxuan politely ushered the three upstairs like half-owner of the place.
“Yixuan’s not mobile—forgive any inconvenience, teachers. Anything you need, just say. She and I are thick as thieves—no ‘yours’ or ‘mine.’ I can play host here too.”
“Little Lu, you’re too welcoming. We’re Yixuan’s good friends too—make yourselves at home.”
Du Heming had met Lu Lingxuan once before and chatted with her on WeChat several times, so they weren’t total strangers.
“Sure, make yourselves at home.”
Lu Lingxuan entered first and stood in the entryway to greet the guests. “This is just a temporary place, so I didn’t prepare enough guest slippers. Just come on in—I’ll clean up tonight.”
“Teacher Du, Teacher He, Teacher Lin—welcome.”
Lou Yixuan heard the door open and came over to the entryway as well. “Just come right in, no worries. I’ve got a housekeeper today; she’ll handle all the chores. It won’t tire me out.”
She leaned against the wall in a set of cartoon cat pajamas, the loose pant legs hanging down and completely covering her injury.
Lin Huayan stepped forward onto the entryway mat, about to ask if Lou Yixuan needed to go back to the hospital for a follow-up over the weekend, when Lu Lingxuan beat her to it.
“Didn’t you just call me your one and only darling baby? And now I’m just the housekeeper?”
“…”
“Darling, you can’t just flip like that—it’s breaking my heart.”
Lou Yixuan’s smile froze at the corners of her mouth. “Lu Lingxuan, if you don’t behave, I’m not keeping you around. I’ve still got Teacher Du…”
Lu Lingxuan trotted over a few steps and hugged her arm, pitching her voice in an exaggeratedly coquettish whine. “I won’t go~ You can’t just ditch me for someone new either. Teacher Du’s only known you for half a year—how could she understand you like I do? And besides, Teacher Du’s a guest; we can’t make the guest…”
“…Stop right there! Talk less, do more, okay?” Lou Yixuan suddenly felt her appetite fading.
“Got it, darling. Whatever you say goes.”
“…” Du Heming shivered, her scalp prickling. She strongly suspected Lu Lingxuan was deliberately provoking Teacher Lin with all this.
What kind of Shura field is this?
Where did this Shura field even come from?
Didn’t Lu Lingxuan get married already??!
“Teacher Du, please come in—you too, everyone. Don’t mind her nonsense; she’s always been cheeky like this.”
Lou Yixuan brushed past Lin Huayan and looked toward Du Heming and Teacher He, who were still outside the door, urging them to hurry inside. Otherwise, everyone would just be standing awkwardly in the entryway.
“Hey, Little Lu’s still as humorous as ever.”
Du Heming stepped inside too, smoothing things over. “I went for drinks with Little Lu once before. The girl’s got a lively personality—funny, chatty, and loves cracking jokes.”
“Sorry, did I scare you all? I didn’t realize you were so easily startled. My bad, my bad.”
Lu Lingxuan switched back to a serious expression, though her gaze lingered on Lin Huayan’s face for a few extra seconds.
Seeing that Lin Huayan stared right back without flinching, she laid her cards on the table. “Teacher Lin, you do remember me, right?”
Lin Huayan smiled faintly. “Yes. Last year, we met at the hospital.”
“Teacher Lin has a great memory! I didn’t expect you’d still remember me. You probably never imagined we’d end up connected like this, huh?” Lu Lingxuan gave a thumbs-up, but her next words carried a note of regret. “Too bad, though. There won’t be any more of that from now on.”
