Chapter 44 Part 2

“Teacher He might…” Chi Nuan started, then fell silent. She couldn’t be sure if Teacher He had seen their kiss—voicing it now would only worry Gu Ningzi unnecessarily.

“It’s nothing. You need to do homework, right? Circle anything you don’t get, and I’ll photo the solutions for you next class.”

Half the period passed before Teacher He arrived. She set her water cup and stack of test papers on the podium and began patrolling from the first row.

When a student stopped her with a question, she patiently explained.

She circled the room slowly and paused by Chi Nuan’s desk, tapping it twice with her fingers.

Chi Nuan’s scalp prickled. She heard Teacher He’s voice: “Chi Nuan, pass out the papers from the podium.”

Teacher He acted as normal as ever and didn’t keep Chi Nuan after school for a talk. Chi Nuan wondered if she’d overthought it. The next day, during break while handing in Chinese homework, she lingered extra at Teacher He’s desk.

Teacher He looked up from her lesson plans with a gentle smile. “Something else?”

The sky had been so dark then—even if Teacher He saw shadows, she might not recognize them. Maybe that figure just resembled her?

The incident faded from mind. But that Saturday afternoon, Chi Nuan received a call from Teacher He, inviting her to meet at the dessert shop off campus.

Chi Nuan realized then that things hadn’t ended as she’d assumed.

The walk from the dorm to the dessert shop wasn’t long, but Chi Nuan took her time. Pushing open the door, she saw Teacher He wave with a smile. “Over here.”

Chi Nuan sat across from her.

Teacher He pointed to the iced milk tea in front of her. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like—this is their signature. Try it.”

Chi Nuan: “Teacher He…”

Teacher He said, “It’s fine. I just want to chat with you.”

Not long ago, Gu Miaoyan had said the same: “I don’t mean anything by it; I just want to chat.” Chi Nuan tensed reflexively at such words, clutching the hem of her skirt. She nodded. “Mm…”

Teacher He’s warm gaze settled on her. “Chi Nuan, you’re my favorite student. I’ve been conflicted these past few days, but after thinking it over, I knew I had to talk to you.”

Chi Nuan’s lashes trembled. “Mm…”

Teacher He: “That day, I saw you and Gu Ningzi on the sports field… you two…”

Chi Nuan looked up, her evasive gaze softening Teacher He’s heart. “Chi Nuan, I have no prejudice about this. Whether you like boys or girls, love is beautiful. As long as it doesn’t affect your grades, I’ll quietly wish you well in my heart. And I’ve noticed—Gu Ningzi’s attitude toward studying has improved a lot this semester. I believe that’s thanks to you.”

Chi Nuan had braced for criticism on the way over, but these touching words caught her off guard. If that was the case, why had Teacher He gone out of her way to meet her?

Teacher He sighed. “Gu Ningzi’s sister came to see me that day and told me a lot. Before leaving, she half-jokingly asked if any girls at school were pestering Gu Ningzi. She said things got really messy up North, and their family hates it—especially their father, who can’t accept it at all. Does her sister know about you two?”

Chi Nuan sipped her milk tea, her eyes heating up again as she looked down. Muffled, she said, “She might have guessed… but hasn’t brought it up.”

Teacher He pulled a tissue from her bag and handed one to Chi Nuan. “What’s her attitude, then?”

Under Teacher He’s care, Chi Nuan’s pent-up pressures burst into sobs. “She told me to persuade Gu Ningzi not to fight with her dad anymore. She promised that no matter what troubles I face in the future, she’ll help me solve them.”

Teacher He drew in a sharp breath.

Chi Nuan pressed the tissue to her eyelids. After a moment, she looked up again, eyes red, her delicate face drained of color.

Teacher He knew Chi Nuan’s family situation well—no parents since childhood, yet she’d excelled into No. 1 Middle School with her gentle, easygoing nature. From the start, Teacher He had felt both pity and affection for her. Seeing her favorite student so vulnerable now brought tears to her own eyes. “Love’s beauty often lies in the happy dreams it inspires for the future… Chi Nuan, I just don’t want to see you in a romance with no future. You don’t know how much it hurts me, how much I want you to have a bright tomorrow without suffering…”

Fresh tears streamed down Chi Nuan’s cheeks at Teacher He’s words.

“Chi Nuan, I’m not telling you to break up with Gu Ningzi… I want you to know that no matter what you choose, you can come to me with all the joy or pain that comes from it. I’m on your side, okay?”

Chi Nuan covered half her face with her hand, sobbing uncontrollably. Teacher He wiped her own tears alongside her.

Later, Teacher He left—she’d slipped out during her child’s nap and couldn’t stay long. As she departed, she left the tissues on the table.

Chi Nuan’s eyes still red, she drank the milk tea down sip by sip.

Only then did she realize they were sitting in the exact spot where she’d been with Gu Ningzi that evening.

How much time had passed since then?

Their romance, all told, had barely lasted a month.