Wen Ci regretted it the moment she ended the call.
She should not have refused so quickly. What if she managed to overcome her embarrassment by the day after tomorrow?
It was strange.
If she had humiliated herself this badly in front of anyone else, Wen Ci would probably spend the rest of her life trying to avoid appearing before that person again.
But this person was Zhou Wu.
Even while she felt embarrassed and ashamed, the desire to see him still firmly outweighed everything else.
While thinking that she was beyond saving, Wen Ci opened her conversation with Zhou Wu and typed:
**Sorry. I thought about it, and I think the day after tomorrow might actually work—**
Wait.
Would changing her mind immediately after ending the call make her feelings too obvious?
Wen Ci unconsciously bit her thumb and compromised with herself. She changed the message to:
**Sorry. Could we meet this Friday instead?**
Zhou Wu replied quickly with only three words.
**Zhou Wu: No, we can’t.**
Wen Ci collapsed over the desk again and buried her face in her arms, still clutching her phone.
Ah…
Why had her mouth reacted so quickly earlier?
After lying there for a while, Wen Ci slowly raised her head and began typing again.
**Then Saturday—**
Sounds came from outside the door.
The teachers who had gone to the canteen returned, and one set of footsteps headed directly towards her desk.
Like a student secretly plotting something bad, Wen Ci immediately locked her screen with a click.
She would ask again after returning home that evening.
A portion of cold noodles was placed on her desk.
Ms Li smiled.
“Ms Wen, although you said you didn’t want anything, I still brought you a portion. It’s normal to lose your appetite in weather this hot, but you won’t have enough energy for the afternoon if you don’t eat. You’re already so thin.”
“You only want Ms Wen to eat so she’ll speak louder when she teaches your class this afternoon,” someone beside them teased.
Ms Li protested, “I do not!”
Wen Ci laughed as well and tucked her hair behind her ear.
“Thank you, Ms Li. I’ll eat it.”
People genuinely did lose their appetite in extremely hot weather.
Combined with the thoughts occupying Wen Ci’s mind, she could barely continue after two bites.
Remembering that Ms Li had specially brought it for her, Wen Ci forced herself to eat a little more before setting it aside.
It was almost time for class.
After tidying her desk, Wen Ci picked up her textbook and prepared to head to the classroom early.
She had barely stepped out of the office when someone slammed hard into her back.
Wen Ci nearly lost her balance.
Before she could react, she felt a sticky, sweet wetness spreading across her back.
“Ms Wen!”
A slightly childish voice apologised in panic.
“I’m sorry!”
Wen Ci turned around.
It was one of the students from Ms Li’s class, holding a cup of milk tea that was now half empty.
Hearing her student’s voice, Ms Li hurried to the doorway.
The moment she understood what had happened, she began scolding him.
“You brought snacks from outside into the school again! And you were running through the corridor that quickly! Look at what you’ve done now! Come to my office after school and bring your parents!”
The student’s eyes immediately turned red.
Wen Ci hurriedly said, “It’s all right. My clothes are only wet.”
“Ms Wen, you don’t understand. This isn’t the first time he’s done something like this…”
Ms Li turned towards the student again.
“Why are you still standing here? Go back to the classroom. Class is about to begin!”
After scolding the student and sending him away, Ms Li carefully wiped Wen Ci’s clothes with tissues for a while.
She looked worried.
“What should we do, Ms Wen? The stain is still extremely obvious.”
Wen Ci was wearing an apricot-coloured knitted cardigan over a white base layer, with comfortable jeans below.
The milk tea had soaked into the cardigan.
Not only was the stain obvious, but the smell was strong as well.
“The air conditioner is on in the classroom. What if you catch a cold after going inside in wet clothes?”
Ms Li considered it for a moment.
“How about this? Wait here. I’ll run to the staff accommodation building and bring you one of my jackets. Let the class study independently for ten minutes.”
“There’s no need, Ms Li.”
Wen Ci thought for a moment.
“…I brought another jacket today.”
She hesitantly took Zhou Wu’s jacket from her bag.
She would not be seeing Zhou Wu for the next few days anyway.
She could wear it today, take it to the dry cleaner tomorrow and still return it to him in time.
Fortunately, Ms Li had rushed out quickly and pulled the soaked cardigan away from her body while wiping it.
The base layer beneath it had barely become wet.
Wen Ci put on Zhou Wu’s jacket, zipped it up and pushed the sleeves slightly above her wrists.
As the class bell rang, she hurried towards the classroom.
…
Wen Ci had classes throughout the entire afternoon.
By the time school finally ended, a crowd of students followed her out of the classroom.
“Ms Wen! Just tell us! When exactly does the summer holiday begin?”
Wen Ci walked quickly.
“I really don’t know. You’ll have to ask Ms Li.”
“Ms Li is so stingy. She’ll never tell us. Please, Ms Wen!”
“Ms Wen! Your jacket looks so handsome and cool today—”
Wen Ci patted the head of the student who said it and smiled.
“Thank you, but I truly don’t know.”
After finally escaping the students, Wen Ci pushed her bicycle out of the school bike shed and released a long sigh.
There were many young children both inside and outside the school during dismissal.
For safety, Wen Ci always walked for some distance before beginning to cycle.
“Wen Ci, those students really love you.”
Another teacher from the English department followed behind her, also pushing a bicycle.
The teacher’s surname was Yang, and her full name was Yang Yunfei.
She had become a permanent teacher at the same time as Wen Ci that year and taught fourth grade.
They were the same age and had a fairly good relationship.
Their homes were along the same road. When they happened to finish work together, they occasionally cycled home side by side.
“Not at all.”
Wen Ci smiled.
“My presence simply isn’t intimidating enough. They think I’m easier to take advantage of.”
Yang Yunfei pushed up her glasses and sighed.
“No, I understand them. When I was a student, I especially liked attractive teachers too.”
Wen Ci had never considered herself beautiful.
She treated such comments as polite compliments and merely smiled without responding.
The two walked through the school gates together.
Jiangcheng Primary School was only a branch campus, so its entrance was not as grand as the neighbouring Jiangcheng Middle School.
There was simply one large gate with two narrow roads beside it, both lined with a dazzling variety of street-food stalls.
Delicious aromas filled the air.
Yang Yunfei quickened her pace.
“Wen Ci, hurry! Otherwise, I’ll be seduced again!”
Wen Ci accelerated with her.
“All right.”
“Wait.”
Yang Yunfei stopped.
“Why are so many people gathered over there?”
Wen Ci followed her gaze.
A circle of students had gathered beneath the banyan tree in front of the school gates.
Every one of them craned their necks curiously, chattering about something.
Wen Ci rose slightly onto her toes and tried to look, but could not see anything.
“With this many children surrounding it, it must be a new stall selling something especially delicious!” Yang Yunfei declared.
“No, Wen Ci, we have to look. If I try to buy something later, remember to stop me. I’m trying to lose weight.”
Wen Ci said, “Actually, if you don’t look, you won’t want to eat it—”
“There are even more people now! Hurry, Wen Ci!”
“All right.”
The two teachers pushed their bicycles to the edge of the crowd but still could not see anything.
Yang Yunfei cleared her throat and spoke with practised authority.
“What are you all doing? School is over, yet none of you are going home. Be careful, or I’ll tell your teachers.”
Wen Ci reached out to stop her, but failed.
Yang Yunfei had already spoken.
Several students turned around at the sound, finally creating a gap in the crowd.
Before Wen Ci could investigate what they were surrounding, she heard a clear—
“Woof!”
Immediately afterwards, an enormous white mass burst from the crowd and charged directly towards her.
Completely unprepared, Wen Ci jumped in fright.
Just as the huge white creature was about to leap onto her, the leash attached to its body reached its limit.
Its paws stopped only a few centimetres away.
Wen Ci returned to her senses and finally saw clearly.
It was a Samoyed.
The dog had obviously been raised extremely well. Its fur was thick and glossy, the corners of its mouth curled upwards, and its eyes appeared to smile.
Its tongue hung out wildly.
Unable to reach Wen Ci, it whined anxiously and repeatedly pawed towards her.
It was almost excessively adorable.
Wen Ci’s heart immediately softened.
Strangely enough, although dogs of this breed generally looked similar, she inexplicably felt that this Samoyed appeared slightly familiar.
Wen Ci desperately wanted to pet it.
She raised her eyes, intending to ask its owner for permission.
The harness around the Samoyed was tugged lightly.
Its owner spoke lazily.
“Behave. Don’t jump on her.”
Wen Ci’s heartbeat paused.
She finally understood why the dog looked familiar.
Zhou Wu was wearing a black sleeveless top and grey cargo trousers.
The dog leash was wrapped several times around his palm as he sat on a low stone bench beneath the banyan tree.
“So it isn’t a food stall.”
Yang Yunfei’s gaze travelled across Zhou Wu’s smooth, powerful arms.
She silently swallowed, then raised her eyes towards his face.
The next moment, she turned and whispered to Wen Ci, “But he looks even more delicious than a food stall.”
Wen Ci fell silent.
“…”
Zhou Wu sat lazily, his back slightly curved, which was why the crowd had completely concealed him.
After pulling the Samoyed back slightly, he slowly raised his eyes.
“Ms Wen.”
Looking at Wen Ci’s frozen expression, he raised an eyebrow and made an extremely unconvincing display of surprise.
“What a coincidence.”
Wen Ci said nothing.
“…”
Yang Yunfei froze and looked between the two of them.
“You know each other?”
Wen Ci had never imagined she would encounter Zhou Wu outside the school gates.
Her mind went completely blank.
After struggling for a long time, she finally managed to say, “…Mm.”
Zhou Wu stood and extended a hand towards Yang Yunfei.
“Hello. I’m Ms Wen’s friend.”
Zhou Wu was tall. The moment he stood, he became the most conspicuous person in the crowd.
Yang Yunfei looked up at him and inhaled sharply before hurriedly shaking his hand.
“Hello, hello. I’m Wen Ci’s colleague.”
While the two spoke, the Samoyed continued circling excitedly in front of Wen Ci, constantly attempting to leap onto her.
“No wonder it likes Wen Ci so much. It turns out they already know each other,” Yang Yunfei said with a smile.
Zhou Wu released her hand and gave an ambiguous hum.
“It recognises her scent.”
Wen Ci, who was currently wearing Zhou Wu’s jacket:
“…………”
“Are you two going out for dinner?” Zhou Wu asked, seemingly casually.
Wen Ci’s scalp tightened.
It was over.
“Us? Who? Wen Ci and me?”
Yang Yunfei laughed.
“Of course not. We’re going home. Who would attend a dinner gathering on a hellish Monday?”
Wen Ci remained silent.
“…”
She could not smile.
Lowering her head, she attempted to locate a crack in the ground beside the excited Samoyed.
“Is that so?”
Zhou Wu’s voice was calm and unsurprised.
Wen Ci helplessly opened her mouth, intending to say something to repair the situation.
But the person beside her spoke first.
“Are you walking your dog?” Yang Yunfei enthusiastically invited him. “Are you going along this road too? Come with us. Wen Ci and I are heading home.”
“No.”
Zhou Wu smiled.
“I’m going that way.”
Yang Yunfei sounded disappointed.
“Oh, I see. All right, then.”
They watched the man and dog walk away in the opposite direction.
Once they were some distance away, Yang Yunfei finally withdrew her gaze and could no longer suppress the excitement in her voice.
“Wen Ci! Who was that man? He’s so handsome! Is he really your friend? Send me his WeChat contact! Please—”
“Sorry.”
Wen Ci returned to her senses and tightened her grip on her bicycle’s handlebars.
She turned the bicycle around and said in a fluster, “Yunfei, I suddenly remembered that I still have something unfinished at school. You should go home first.”
“Huh? All right. But could you send me that man’s WeChat—hey, Wen Ci! I haven’t finished speaking! Why are you leaving so quickly?”
When Yang Yunfei noticed the direction Wen Ci had taken, she froze.
“Wait. Didn’t you say you had something to do at school? Why are you going that way?”
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