Chapter 55: Heart Moved

Counting this term, it was the second time Teacher Li partnered with He Huan to lead the same class. He had been Ming You’s homeroom teacher—how could he really just let everything slide completely?

Ming You’s grades fluctuated. Ming You had to take the art entrance exam, Ming You had to request extended leave for training camp, Ming You’s communications between home and school—these matters hadn’t required his attention because He Huan had handled them all single-handedly.

When filling out university applications, Teacher Li had also asked He Huan if she knew which university Ming You intended to apply to.

He had checked Jingping Media University and Hengyuan Media University back then. Upon learning that Ming You had applied to Hengchuan University, he hadn’t understood it at all and had planned to call Ming You’s parents personally.

It was He Huan who said she had already contacted Ming You’s parents, and they had all expressed respect for Ming You’s own choice.

The last time Ming You returned to her alma mater and came to the office, she hadn’t said a single word to He Huan until Yan Ningxi finished class. When he deliberately brought it up, it was just to remind Ming You not to get too caught up being all lovey-dovey and chatty with her Sister Yan.

Teacher Li had already returned to his seat. When he reminded Ming You again, he was simply helping Teacher He seek a bit of “justice.”

Nothing was written on the cover of the kraft paper file folder. Only in the upper right corner was a circle drawn with a red signing pen, and in the middle was an English word—My.

When she opened it, it contained a stack of photocopied essays, all from Ming You’s various big and small exams during high school, along with her score reports from every test—both academic subjects and art school ones.

For her art school exams, she had only occasionally sent them to Yang Guishu for review, but without fail, regardless of good or bad results, she had photographed and sent them all to He Huan. She had sent them without a second thought, never realizing that He Huan had organized all the screenshots, printed them out, and saved them.

But what did He Huan’s collection of these prove? A teacher’s painstaking care for a student? Or a teacher’s extra attention toward a student?

In He Huan’s own words, didn’t teachers treat all their students this way?

Folded in the middle of one of the essays was a photo. It was that group photo of them on the little campus bridge.

Yan Ningxi had sent this photo to her too, but she hadn’t even looked at it closely before deleting it. Seeing it again today still hurt her heart a little, but more than that, it filled her with desolation.

Ming You packed up the file folder and put it back on the bookshelf. There, she also spotted a notebook with a vermilion cover—Zen Heart.

That was the one she had given to He Huan.

He Huan wasn’t just “not bad” to her—she was “very good.”

Whether boarding at school during her first or second year of high school, or staying at art school during third-year training camp, whenever there was a weekend off, He Huan would message her in advance to make plans if she had time: cooking dishes Ming You liked, buying fruits and pastries and snacks she enjoyed, accompanying her while she read and practiced calligraphy, taking her to lectures and concerts, teaching her skincare and makeup, never letting her wash dishes or clean up, and never keeping her overnight.

All of He Huan’s kindness toward her felt like the polite courtesy of a guest on the surface, while her own dependence on He Huan could only be kept in her heart.

For someone who treated her so well, had she ever thought of betraying that kindness and chilling her heart? Yet it was she who turned what she once thought “impossible” into “possible.”

Looking at the desk calendar flipped to December, it wouldn’t be long before He Huan’s thirtieth birthday.

The year before last, she had given He Huan a neck and shoulder massager. Last year, she had given her a set of thirteen Forbidden City cultural creative items, including the notebook and desk calendar among them. But this year’s gift had died unborn amid her and his wedding invitations.

She stood up, straightened her chair, and walked to Yan Ningxi’s workstation across from her.

The office was very quiet. Teacher Chen on the right turned her head and glanced over, seeing the girl staring out the window in a daze, so she didn’t call out to her.

…

After evening self-study ended, Jiang Lai came to the office hugging a stack of test papers, along with Yan Ningxi.

“Ming You senpai!”

Spotting her, Jiang Lai bounded over in two quick steps instead of three.

On the desk was not leisure reading, but Yan Ningxi’s Chinese language textbook, spread open. Ming You flipped through it page by page from the frontispiece, scrutinizing every word and sentence of her annotations.

Yan Ningxi’s handwriting was bold and vigorous like iron strokes and silver hooks, every stroke and slant carrying a sharp brush tip. It was beautiful and distinctive.

“We meet again, Jiang.” She closed the textbook, stood up to give Yan Ningxi her seat. “Please sit, Teacher Yan.”

Jiang Lai set down the test papers. “It looks like it’s starting to rain outside. Teacher Yan, did you two bring umbrellas? If not, I’ll go grab some for you.”

“I’ve got one in my bag, thanks.” Before coming back, Ming You had checked Huai’an City’s weather forecast: overcast turning to light rain.

On her recent few visits, she had carried a backpack. On sunny days, it held sunglasses and a parasol; on cloudy rainy days, a large folding umbrella. Sunscreen, baseball cap, and power bank were always in there—this time, she had also added a newly bought bottle of body lotion.

“Then… see you later, senpai. Teacher Yan, see you tomorrow.”

“See you.”

After bidding Jiang Lai farewell, Ming You took her backpack off the chair back and slung it on, then asked Yan Ningxi, “Leaving now, or wait a bit?”

Yan Ningxi hadn’t sat down yet, and Teacher Chen was there too. She hadn’t forgotten the promise she made last time. True to her word, she placed a hand on Ming You’s back and guided her toward Teacher Chen.

“Ming You, this is Teacher Chen. Last time you came and left such a deep impression on the teachers, Teacher Chen wanted to meet you too.”

Ming You, full of question marks over her head, still greeted Teacher Chen politely and properly. “Hello, Teacher Chen.”

“Hello.” Teacher Chen turned to the two of them.

Seeing Ming You today, the idea of introducing her to her son wasn’t quite as urgent as before. After a slight nod, she said, “I heard you’re studying at Hengyuan. It reminded me of my son who’s also at Hengda. I mentioned it to Teacher Yan. My son’s the president of their school’s external relations club. He said they’ve held some joint events with Hengchuan, and he’s been to your school a few times—maybe you’ve crossed paths.”

The girl was exceptionally bright—how could she not grasp the implication? “I didn’t join any clubs, and I rarely participate in external activities.”

Just as Yan Ningxi thought the girl would give her the cold shoulder, Ming You changed tack. “Teacher Chen, could I borrow a pen and paper?”

Teacher Chen moved the signing pen and a notebook opened to a blank page from her right side to her left. “Here.”

“Thanks.” Ming You bent down and wrote a string of numbers on the notebook, smiling as she did. “This is my phone number—same for WeChat. Next time he comes to Hengchuan, I’ll treat him to a meal.”

Sharing the same office—for the sake of not making Yan Ningxi break her word, and to avoid awkwardness between Yan Ningxi and Teacher Chen in the future—Ming You did what she didn’t want to do and said what she didn’t want to say.

Teacher Li didn’t chime in this time. He pocketed his phone, picked up his umbrella, and walked over to Yan Ningxi. “Taking on two extra classes—the next two weeks will be tough on you, Teacher Yan.”

Yan Ningxi replied, “You’re too kind, Teacher Li. I’ll balance the teaching progress across classes and make sure not to hold Teacher He back.”

…

Winter rain wasn’t like spring rain nourishing all things, nor summer rain fierce and sudden, nor autumn rain romantically poetic. Winter rain was cold and damp, devoid of poetic charm, only laden with bleak chill.

Emerging from the teaching building, Yan Ningxi and Ming You each held an umbrella as they stepped into the rain.

“See you, Teacher Yan.” “See you tomorrow, Teacher Yan.” Over the short few hundred meters, Ming You heard these farewells dozens of times.

Even after leaving the school, Ming You kept a “safe” distance of two or three meters, trailing behind Yan Ningxi.

What was the point of buying such a big umbrella? Neither the He Huan of before nor the Yan Ningxi of now would deign to share her umbrella. They were revered teachers in the eyes of the world, their professional circles plastered with labels of being role models, upright and exemplary in conduct—every word and action had to consider its impact.

The love strategy said that if you liked someone, you had to respect her profession.

She liked Yan Ningxi.

So she had to respect everything the teaching profession brought to Yan Ningxi.

That was the theory, and she tried to convince herself of it, but it still left her frustrated. Teacher Li’s earlier remarks, Teacher Chen trying to set her up with her son—it was hard for Ming You not to suspect Yan Ningxi’s motives in calling her to the office to wait.

The key slid into the lock.

The moment they stepped inside, the irritated Ming You wrapped her arms around Yan Ningxi, forcing her to sit on the shoe-changing stool.

The umbrella dropped. Her kiss came like a gale and downpour, ravaging Yan Ningxi’s mouth, her nimble tongue leaving Yan Ningxi overwhelmed.

Again, her tongue was bitten.

The girl’s eyes reddened. “Yan Ningxi, we’ve kissed, yet you’re still thinking of pushing me toward other guys?”

Yan Ningxi took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, steadied her ragged breathing from the kiss, and gazed at her. “It’s not about what I want or don’t want, Ming You. In the next five years, ten years—things like today, you and I can’t avoid them.”

The girl straightened up. “So? You specially called me there today just to give me this lesson, right?”

“You could see it that way.” She wasn’t some naive child living in an ivory tower or a princess in a castle. Whether choosing not to marry or finding a same-sex partner, there were too many real-world problems to face.

Ming You was still young, yet to enter society fully, not yet hounded by marriage pressure, unburdened by debts, free from work and financial strains.

But these were all things Yan Ningxi faced right now. She had the most right to speak on the hardships involved.

“Very well. Teacher Yan teaches by word and example—lesson received.” Without even grabbing her umbrella, the girl pushed the door open and left.

…

Friday was a great day—evening brought updates to all sorts of variety shows.

The amateur dating show Qi Xuexin had been chasing recently updated too.

Wrapped in a fluffy blanket on the sofa, by the time the progress bar hit 80%, her auntie smile hadn’t stopped once.

【Ming You: Sister Qi, do you drink? I’ll come pick you up.】

What was this about?

She hit pause and immediately called Yan Ningxi. She needed to figure out the cause and effect before replying—could this drinking happen or not?

“Hello?”

“What hello! Cut to the chase— is Little Pomelo with you?”

“She messaged you?”

“Yeah, she did. Wants to drink with me. So, say the word: do I go or not?”

“Go ahead. Drink less.” Better to drink with a friend than with strangers.

“？？？” Qi Xuexin got it instantly, standing up as she asked, “Fight? Whose fault? So I know whether to curse her or you out while drinking later.”

“Curse me.”

“！！！” It was bad. “Yan Huahua, those are your own words—if you’re sneezing nonstop later, don’t blame me.”

“I won’t.”

“Ho, cool as ice.”

Qi Xuexin stood before her full-length mirror, leaning in to inspect her face, debating whether to put on makeup. “Don’t hang up yet. Got a serious question—answer seriously. Yan Huahua, have you fallen for her?”

Silence on the other end of the line. But silence was often affirmation.

“Yes, but being together is hard. Don’t tell her.” It took Yan Ningxi great courage to say that “yes.”

“Sigh, if heaven had feelings, even heaven would age; if people have feelings… they age early.”

After hanging up, Qi Xuexin messaged Ming You back: 【Sure, let’s drink. But not just drinks—I want late-night snacks too. Imperial River Garden Block A, I’ll doll up and wait.】

She had holed up at home since getting back that afternoon, removed her makeup, and dinner was just some snacks. It was freezing cold with rain outside, but for anyone else, she’d sooner die than go out accompanying them. No interest in clubbing either without makeup.

She applied bare-face cream, outlined her brows and eyeliner, lipstick—done.

【Ming You: Garage elevator side.】

Qi Xuexin waited in the garage, only to say, “You call this ‘picking me up’? A taxi??”

“Sis, we’re going drinking—want to die?” She wanted to drive too, but where were the keys? In the bedroom.

“…Shut your crow’s mouth—don’t jinx me!” Not family, not entering the same door. So young, yet so old-mannered, mouth even more “poisonous” than Yan Ningxi’s.

Imperial River Prestige Gardens—Huai’an City’s priciest river-view complex right now. He Huan lived here too.

Last time, Ming You had heard the navigation say Imperial River Garden Block B; on the map, it was just across the street. After Qi Xuexin got in the car, she asked, “What’s the difference between Block A and Block B?”

“What difference could there be?” Qi Xuexin closed the car door. “Just the difference in price. Building A has five buildings, all one- or two-bedroom small units. Building B has six buildings, all three- or four-bedroom large units. The apartment size doubles, and so does the price. You want to buy one? If you do, hurry up. On my floor, a family just had a baby and needs to switch houses. Come be my neighbor.”

“No money.”

Qi Xuexin patted her shoulder. “Work hard after graduation to earn some. You’ll get there eventually.”

“Did you earn this house?”

“…” Qi Xuexin was furious. Could she get out of the car now?