“That one’s for Qin Fengru to use— she bought this pair of cups,” Lin Huayan said without lying, her explanation spot-on. “She visits the school once or twice a month to see me, brings some snacks, and we chat for a bit. She never stays overnight.”
Lou Yixuan let out an “oh,” set the water down without drinking, and handed it back. “I’m going to sleep.”
Lin Huayan finished off the remaining half cup.
After watching Lou Yixuan settle into bed, she grabbed her mouthwash and pajamas from the coat rack and headed to the balcony. Two or three minutes later, she returned.
She drew the curtains too.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she touched Lou Yixuan’s cheek to check her temperature. “Are you hot? Should I turn on the AC?”
Huai’an in late May could hit over thirty degrees during the midday peak. But this week had been mild—average twenty-six or twenty-seven during the day, eighteen or nineteen at night.
Lin Huayan had only used the fan in the dorm that week; the AC hadn’t been touched.
They were using summer-weight quilts, enough to cover the stomach for a nap.
But Lou Yixuan had burrowed completely under the covers, her hair splayed messily across the pillow.
“Turn it on if you’re holding me while we sleep. Don’t if you’re not.” The words carried a hint of petulance.
Lin Huayan grabbed the remote from the nightstand and pressed it a few times with a beep-beep-beep.
Then she lay down too, scooping the jealous little kitten into her arms. “From now on, when you’re taking classes here, you can come nap in the dorm at lunch. This weekend, we’ll go shopping and get a pair of cups you like to keep here.”
Lou Yixuan melted, her heart softening and itching with anticipation. She dropped the cup topic, mumbling instead, “It’s still more comfortable holding each other in bed at home.”
She didn’t mean the bed at home was more comfortable…
These past few nights, she hadn’t let Lin Huayan sleep with clothes on, insisting skin-to-skin felt more real, that she needed to cling until she believed this wasn’t a dream.
Lin Huayan had never slept nude before, but with a sleek little kitten pressed against her, the sensation was exquisitely comfortable, so she went along with it.
And the kitten knew her limits—she didn’t pester every night. Like last night, she’d only suckled two fresh strawberry marks before curling up contentedly.
Lost in thoughts of last night’s well-behaved kitten, Lin Huayan got pinched through her clothes by today’s restless one.
“Teacher Lin, you’re not focusing on sleep.”
Another pinch, and amid Lin Huayan’s muffled grunt, she kissed her lips. “So soft and firm. Sleep or not?”
Lin Huayan’s mouth was thrown into chaos, the mint-lime flavor overwhelming her taste and smell. She caught the mischief-maker’s wrist, her thumb prying open the fingers from the heel of the palm. “Sleep.”
With her hand freed, Lou Yixuan stopped fussing and wrapped her arms around her waist instead. “Will you come with me tomorrow night to see my little sister? Lu Lingxuan—my godmother’s daughter. Not demanding it, just asking your thoughts. But I promise, meeting her this time will bring you some happy surprise.”
Little sister?
Lin Huayan caught the shift in Lou Yixuan’s address for Lu Lingxuan. So this was an invite to meet family, not just a friend.
“Is there any surprise happier than me having a girlfriend now?”
“Lin Huayan!” Lou Yixuan’s volume spiked. “Say stuff like that to mess with my head again, and I won’t hold back.”
“Okay, no more. Hold it together.” Lin Huayan patted her back, soothing her own racing heart too.
Lou Yixuan was holding back—so was she.
But in broad daylight, in a school dorm? Doing it would make her feel like some depraved wanton.
“Sure, I’ll meet her. You set the time and place. Or invite her over to the house.”
“Really?”
“Really. Though you might need to do the grocery shopping. I’ll cook tomorrow night—let her taste my skills, see if I can fatten you up nice and plump.”
“Better not come to the house yet. Don’t want her tasting your cooking so soon. I haven’t even eaten much of it yet. Later, okay?”
Lin Huayan chuckled. “Not eaten much? Did you barely eat before?”
The AC kicked in, chasing away the stuffy heat. The air Lou Yixuan breathed felt fresher, especially laced with Lin Huayan’s scent, stirring her mind to wander. Her hand slipped under the clothes.
“Not enough. I need to eat until the end of my life.”
Under the covers, her palm pressed against smooth skin at the waist, toes playfully rubbing Lin Huayan’s leg. “Teacher Lin, I want a good afternoon kiss. Kiss me quick.”
Gazing at the little kitten’s slightly pouted lips, Lin Huayan teased, “Where?”
It backfired spectacularly. The kitten pounced, groping, nibbling, biting until she finally relented—pants nearly lost in the fray.
The kitten licked her lips, savoring. “Lin Huayan, you tempted me first. Can’t blame me for daytime lewdness. You know? Holding me like this and expecting me to stay calm in your lap? That’s impossible.”
Lin Huayan shut her eyes and stayed silent.
She feared saying something else provocative—this nap wouldn’t last a minute.
“Teacher Lin, don’t be mad.”
The kitten pecked her lip corner. “I’ll button your clothes and turn around to sleep.”
She’d annoyed her—time for self-punishment.
But Lin Huayan still felt for her. After she turned, she pulled her back into an embrace, kissing her hair. “Good girl. Sleep now.”
…
After afternoon classes, Chen Qingli sniffed Lou Yixuan like a bloodhound and caught Lin Huayan’s scent.
She didn’t say it outright, but her eyes screamed the conclusion.
During break, Lou Yixuan ducked to the garage—perfume in the car. She spritzed her clothes to avoid more “drama.”
After sharing a quilt at noon, how could she not carry Lin Huayan’s scent?
But her cover-up only fueled Zhang Xiao’s material. “Xuan-jie, this perfume… doesn’t it smell like the one on Teacher Lin too?”
“…” Damn—last Sunday, she’d used this bottle too, and all the hugging had transferred it to Lin Huayan.
“Did you gift Teacher Lin perfume?” Zhang Xiao tossed her a ladder but with strings. “Tell me the brand? I wanna buy some to gift too.”
“…” Gifting was fake; fanfic was real. “Forgot. I’ll check tonight and send it this weekend.”
“Sure, Xuan-jie. If you forget, I’ll remind you.”
“No forgetting.” These kids—smarter than smart.
Her and Lin Huayan’s story from nothing to this was about to become Zhang Xiao’s epic inspirational saga on Lofter.
In the half-year Zhang Xiao had shipped “Yi Yan CP,” her fanfic Innocent Little Lou evolved from “pure” to “scheming,” while Lin Menopause went from “ice queen” to “seductress.”
Don’t ask how she knew— she’d devoured every Yi Yan CP fic Zhang Xiao wrote with them as prototypes.
Not bad, really. Gave her some timely flashes of “inspiration” at least.
Her phone pinged with logistics notifications.
Lou Yixuan glanced and swiftly closed them all, but her heart raced to fly home.
She messaged Lu Lingxuan to distract: 【Talked to Teacher Lin. Tomorrow night at Youjian Little Tavern?】
That Sunday afternoon after Lin Huayan went to school, she’d called Lu Lingxuan with the good news, chatting for over an hour.
Lu Lingxuan’s reaction had been oddly flat.
Even “Big baby, congrats on getting a girlfriend too” came out calm.
—Lu Lingxuan, something’s off with you.
—How am I off?
—Just feels weird. Last time at the apartment, you cursed her out for me in anger. But today I tell you we’re together, and you’re not shocked? Not calling me brainless?
—Wait, what? When did I call you brainless? Would I ever say that?!
—Then explain. What’s really in your head? Ling Xuan, I don’t want anyone yielding in my love, family, or friendships. No rifts between us sisters. I love her, and I love you…
—No crying! No twists like you think. I’m not shocked because I’m not doubting you two or disappointed. I’ve seen this coming.
—Seen it coming?
—Yeah, my eyes and heart aren’t blind. She likes you that much. Winning you back, coaxing you—it was bound to happen.
—What? Ling Xuan, I’m confused.
—Sorry, Xuanxuan. That day Du-teacher and them visited the apartment, when I walked them down, I gave Teacher Lin your thing behind your back—your Australia business card.
—What did you say?
—Nothing much, don’t freak. Just: ‘You can do great because so many people love you.’
—Testing her?
—Wanted to force a choice: grab you or let go. Reverse psychology? I saw her feelings were real, didn’t wanna meddle too much, so desperate measures. Sorry, big baby, but I swear—that’s the only thing I hid and did/said to her.
Frankly, Lu Lingxuan was too good to her, always thinking of her, never badmouthing Lin Huayan to her face.
Except that one panicked “bitch.”
Handing the card behind her back? Hardly evil. Those words? No malice.
At worst, a psychological skirmish as her bestie.
Might even count as merit.
Lin Huayan’s biggest hurdle was her own mental block. Without external nudge to break through, she’d just tug-of-war herself into “illness” over time.
Lu Lingxuan replied: 【Sounds good. Save the Deng Hua Kai Private Room then.】
Waiting for Flowers to Bloom.
Her flower had finally bloomed.
Not the Wooden Puzzle Flower this time—but Lin Huayan, this vibrant four-season bloom.
Spring, summer, autumn, winter—everlasting day and night.
…
That evening, the Indissoluble Meal Buddies group saw its first message in months.
From Lou Yixuan: 【Teacher Lin, Teacher He, Teacher Du—cafeteria at 5:40? [cute]】
Couldn’t always let Teacher Du break the ice. She’d absorbed her light and warmth—time to give back.
Lin Huayan replied first with 【OK】.
Then Du Heming’s 【ok】 and Teacher He’s 【OK】.
After nearly four months, the four were finally dining together at the cafeteria again.
At the entrance, Lou Yixuan and Lin Huayan’s gazes locked. Du Heming looked away—she’d barely slept at noon.
Thinking of those two next door, tangled lovingly on one bed, kissing and cuddling, while she guarded an empty one? It left her burning with desire, impossible to quell.
She hadn’t shared a bed with He Huan? No—they’d slept together twice, tasting warm softness in her arms. How could she stay pure and desireless now?
But those times had perfect timing and place, missing only the person. Heart aflame, she’d forced it down—pure agony.
He Huan tugged her wrist. “What’s wrong? Fight with Teacher Lou at noon?”
“Nah.”
Couldn’t say she hated their lovey-dovey stares.
With so many eyes on campus, He Huan couldn’t get too intimate to soothe her. But seeing the pair ahead whispering shoulder-to-shoulder sparked an idea.
These days, Du Heming kept normal colleague distance—no daily lunches, no prying about their “relationship.”
He Huan had thought a lot.
About her own future, and theirs.
—He Huan, your past doesn’t need you anymore. Don’t trap yourself there. Let’s go to the future. With me. I won’t stop—we won’t stop. Trust me: the future holds enough joy to make you truly alive in your own happiness again.
—Happiness isn’t imagination or hearsay. I look at you, hold you, kiss you—isn’t that real enough?
How could it not be real?
Du Heming’s kiss, Du Heming’s love, Du Heming’s body heat—everything about it felt so achingly real that He Huan thought she’d touched happiness for the first time, that it had never been this close before.
They stepped into the cafeteria, the aisle narrowing around them. He Huan gave Du Heming’s hand a gentle squeeze. “This weekend, wanna go see a movie?”
