The following afternoon, Wen Ci was awakened by the sound of a WeChat notification.
When she opened her eyes, she was still lying in Zhou Wu’s arms. His hand rested against her waist, and his breathing beside her ear was slow and even.
Wen Ci reached for her phone.
To avoid waking him, she moved very slowly and lowered the screen brightness before unlocking it.
**Jiangcheng Primary School English Department: Meeting at 2 p.m. this afternoon in Room 103 of the Comprehensive Building. All teachers must arrive on time!**
She had only just finished reading when a low, deep voice sounded behind her.
“School hasn’t even started yet. Why are they holding a meeting?”
His voice carried a trace of impatience.
Wen Ci was still extremely sleepy and laughed softly.
“If they wait until school starts, it’ll already be too late.”
Wen Ci had always been disciplined about sleep and never returned to bed after waking.
She replied **Received** and was about to get up when the arm around her waist shifted.
It did not move away to let her leave.
Instead, Zhou Wu’s hand slipped beneath the hem of her shirt, lifting the fabric slightly.
His hand moved in the same manner as his half-awake state—slowly and patiently.
Wen Ci had still been drowsy at first, but after a while, her breathing became uneven and she curled like a prawn inside Zhou Wu’s arms.
WeChat chimed again.
Wen Ci loosely hugged the arm beneath her clothes.
“I haven’t brushed my teeth yet. Yeye is still here too.”
Zhou Wu hummed.
“I’m only touching you.”
“…”
While brushing her teeth, Wen Ci looked at her reddened ears and the wrinkled hem of her pyjamas.
Then she glanced at Zhou Wu beside her.
She had no idea how he slept.
His clothes remained neat, and even his hair had barely changed shape.
Wen Ci rinsed her mouth, washed her face and turned towards the door.
As she passed behind Zhou Wu, he was splashing water over his face.
He looked up and lazily said,
“I ordered food. They left it outside on the shoe cabinet—”
He did not finish.
In the mirror, the person walking behind him suddenly reached beneath his shirt.
With an extremely righteous technique, her soft fingers casually squeezed his waist and chest twice.
Zhou Wu:
“…”
The two met each other’s eyes in the mirror.
Seeing the rare surprise on his face, Wen Ci experienced a strange sense of satisfaction.
She withdrew her hand and nodded.
“All right. I’ll get it from the door.”
“…”
Wen Ci had only reached the bathroom doorway, the victorious smile still lingering on her face, when Zhou Wu caught her around the waist and carried her back.
In the end, she was placed face-to-face on his lap and left so disoriented that she could not tell north from south.
Zhou Wu even caught her hand and guided it beneath his shirt, thoughtfully asking which area felt best and which she found unsatisfactory.
They had spent most of the previous night doing it, and then started again after waking at noon.
When Wen Ci finally emerged from the bathroom, she had never felt so hungry in her life.
She even ate more than usual.
After eating, Wen Ci carefully applied concealer across her neck and borrowed a long-sleeved shirt from Zhou Wu.
She checked herself repeatedly in the mirror before daring to leave.
“You genuinely don’t want me to drive you?”
Zhou Wu leaned against the entrance while watching her put on her shoes.
He had already asked the same question countless times.
“Genuinely.”
Wen Ci smiled and stroked Yeye’s head as he stood beside Zhou Wu.
“The high-school students are registering today, so the roads near the school will be extremely congested. I’ll use a shared bicycle.”
The man and dog accompanied her to the door.
Wen Ci entered the lift and was about to press the button.
“When can I see you again?”
Leaning against the doorway, Zhou Wu slowly called after her,
“Girlfriend.”
“…”
Those three syllables froze Wen Ci in place.
Her finger remained suspended over the floor button as she stared blankly at Zhou Wu.
She did not make a sound even as the lift doors slowly closed.
The dog beside Zhou Wu looked up and barked, sounding almost as though he were mocking him.
The next second, the lift doors opened again.
Rapid tapping sounds came from inside as Wen Ci anxiously pressed the open button.
“I—I—I don’t know yet.”
She said, “I’ll come and see you whenever I’m free. Is that all right?”
“All right,” Zhou Wu said. “If you aren’t free, video-call me.”
“All right.”
The lift doors closed.
Zhou Wu lowered his head towards the dog.
A lazy smile rested on his face as he imitated Yeye’s mocking tone.
“Woof.”
Yeye:
“…”
On the way to school, Wen Ci remained deeply worried.
The meeting had not been announced in advance, so she had made no preparations.
Besides, she and Zhou Wu had gone too far from the previous night until now.
Would she become sleepy during the meeting?
Would she feel weak?
Would she lack energy?
Not at all.
Wen Ci finished the meeting completely energised.
She then ran an errand for the year-group director, delivering several files to different year groups.
Afterwards, she joined the other teachers in thoroughly cleaning an office that had been empty for two months.
Wen Ci stood on the windowsill with one arm stretched outside to clean the glass.
The teacher holding her securely from below suddenly said,
“Teacher Wen, it seems you had a very fulfilling summer.”
Wen Ci froze and looked down.
“Mm?”
“You’ve gained a little weight.”
The teacher immediately felt that the wording sounded wrong and quickly clarified,
“You were simply too thin before. Now there’s slightly more flesh on your face, and you look even prettier.”
“You’re also full of energy. Have you been exercising?”
“…”
Wen Ci choked slightly.
Feeling extremely guilty, she continued wiping the window and answered vaguely,
“Thank you. I… suppose so.”
After cleaning the windows, Wen Ci mopped the floor and wiped the desks.
She also helped several form teachers who were too busy to return to the office.
“Oh, thank you, Xiao Wen.”
Teacher Xu entered through the doorway and thanked her after seeing her helping.
“You’re far too kind.”
“You’re welcome. I was already cleaning.”
Wen Ci glanced at the mountain of booklets in the other woman’s arms.
“Do you need help?”
“No.”
Teacher Xu placed the school-opening handbooks on the desk and released a breath of relief.
Then she noticed Wen Ci’s oversized clothes and looked surprised.
“Teacher Wen, your clothing style… has changed quite a lot.”
Wen Ci smiled without answering.
“But you look good dressed like this too. Many young people seem to dress this way now.”
Teacher Xu changed the subject.
“My nephew does too. All his clothes are loose and oversized. Your tastes are similar.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to meet him, Xiao Wen? You could simply become friends.”
Wen Ci remembered that Teacher Xu had mentioned this nephew several times during the previous term.
“My nephew genuinely has excellent qualities. He’s fair and handsome. Let me show you a photograph…”
She began reaching for her phone.
“No, thank you, Teacher Xu.”
Teacher Xu remembered that Wen Ci had previously refused by saying she had no plans to date.
She tried to persuade her.
“Xiao Wen, you’re actually at the perfect age for romance—”
Wen Ci nodded in agreement.
“Yes.”
“Don’t refuse to listen. I…”
Teacher Xu had not expected that response and froze.
“Huh?”
“I’m already dating someone, Teacher Xu. Thank you for caring about me all this time.”
Wen Ci released one hand from the mop and tugged lightly at the clothes she wore.
With a red face, she smiled.
“These are actually my boyfriend’s clothes.”
…
Holidays and the beginning of term were complete opposites for teachers.
During holidays, they could find free time whenever they wanted.
Once school started—especially during the opening weeks—even drinking water had to be postponed.
Every day, Wen Ci was either teaching or attending meetings.
Staff meetings followed one after another.
Even when she video-called Zhou Wu at night, she was preparing lessons or marking assignments.
Of course, someone was even busier than her.
As both a form teacher and high-school teacher, Dou Yiqing disappeared entirely after school started.
She did not even have time to respond to messages.
Knowing she was busy, Wen Ci did not disturb her.
Only during the second week did Dou Yiqing finally find time to invite Wen Ci to lunch.
They still met in the school canteen.
The moment Wen Ci sat down, she immediately announced,
“Zhou Wu and I are together now.”
Dou Yiqing remained calm.
She had already guessed.
After sending her previous message, she had not received a reply until the next day.
It had contained only two words:
**Used one.**
That was followed by a cute, guilty-looking cat emoji sweating nervously.
“What are you planning to do about your parents?”
Dou Yiqing chatted casually with her.
“There’s no rush to tell them. You could keep it secret.”
“If the relationship genuinely reaches the next stage, you can decide then. Going out will simply remain rather inconvenient…”
“I don’t plan to hide it,” Wen Ci said.
Dou Yiqing froze and looked up.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with telling them.”
“After all, Zhou Wu and I are now in a… normal relationship.”
Wen Ci continued, “If I don’t tell them, my mother will keep introducing blind-date candidates.”
“And I’ll constantly have to trouble you to cover for me.”
“I don’t mind that…”
Dou Yiqing asked, “But can your family accept him?”
“I remember that although Zhou Wu had excellent grades, he caused plenty of trouble in other ways.”
“He was always late or leaving early. In our year, only he and Qin Yun dared talk back to your mother.”
After reconsidering, she added,
“But ignoring those things, Zhou Wu’s other qualities are beyond criticism.”
“It depends on whether your mother still holds grudges.”
“I don’t know.”
Wen Ci smiled.
“I’ll try. I’m still thinking about how to tell them.”
Dou Yiqing stared at her.
She kept feeling as though something about Wen Ci had changed, but after considering it for a long time, perhaps she had not changed at all.
Wen Ci had always obeyed her family, but she did not follow them blindly.
Take the puppy from high school, for example.
After Wen Ci’s parents secretly abandoned it while she slept, Wen Ci did not give up simply because her family objected.
She used every spare moment to search for the dog.
Then she asked Dou Yiqing to post online and find someone willing to adopt it.
Afterwards, she visited the family occasionally, using her saved money to buy treats and small toys for the dog.
Wen Ci had a gentle personality.
She always tolerated others as much as possible and tried not to upset her parents.
But she also had her own boundaries.
Whenever she genuinely wanted to do something, she would do it no matter how strongly her family objected.
“All right.”
Dou Yiqing offered advice.
“Then take it slowly. Don’t rush. It’s best to gradually ease them into it.”
Wen Ci smiled.
“All right.”
After speaking with Dou Yiqing, Wen Ci had no classes that afternoon and could not stop thinking about the matter.
Even when she left the school gates after work, she remained distracted.
Only when she noticed the Samoyed and her boyfriend being surrounded beneath the large tree outside the gates did she slowly return to reality.
Over the past two weeks, Zhou Wu had collected her from work three times.
Whenever he was free, he came.
He never told her in advance.
As usual, they would exchange occasional WeChat messages, and then he would suddenly appear outside the school after work.
Together with Yeye, he would accompany Wen Ci on the walk home before driving away alone.
Wen Ci loved the feeling of opening a mystery box and never asked whether he was coming.
When Zhou Wu appeared, she became happy.
When he did not, she began looking forward to the following afternoon.
The bicycle was transferred into Zhou Wu’s hands.
Wen Ci held the lead and pulled Yeye along.
The two people and dog went, as usual, to eat noodles at the same restaurant.
Wen Ci still needed to eat dinner at home, so they only ordered one bowl each time.
Zhou Wu and the dog shared it.
Outside the noodle shop, Wen Ci was feeding Yeye a piece of beef brisket when a primary-school-aged boy suddenly ran over.
His eyes shone as he stared at Yeye.
“Hello, Teacher Wen! Can I touch him?”
“Hello.”
Wen Ci smiled gently.
Without showing it, she shifted Yeye protectively closer to herself.
For once, she refused.
“No. He bites.”
The boy raised his hand, fingers curved like a malicious chicken claw.
“Then hold him. I’ll only touch him quickly—”
He was about to reach over when Zhou Wu, who had just returned after buying water, caught the back of his collar and dragged him two steps away.
The boy jumped in fright and looked up blankly.
Zhou Wu lowered his eyes, his gaze cold and indifferent.
“You’re Wang Ziliu, aren’t you?”
At those words, Wen Ci froze too and looked up with the boy.
“I am. Who are you?” Wang Ziliu asked.
Zhou Wu sneered, his tone lazy.
“That’s none of your concern.”
“Someone asked me to come and beat you up.”
“She said you’re disruptive and regularly bully the girls in your class.”
“She told me I absolutely had to teach you a lesson.”
Wang Ziliu:
“?”
Wen Ci:
“…?”
Wang Ziliu looked at the man’s strong arms and nervously clutched both sides of his trousers.
“Who? Who said that?”
Zhou Wu stopped responding.
He released the boy and rolled up his sleeves, pretending that he was preparing to attack.
At the perfect moment, Yeye stuck his head out from Wen Ci’s arms and barked at Wang Ziliu.
The moment he was released, Wang Ziliu believed he had found an opportunity to escape.
He turned, screamed “Help!” and ran far away.
Throughout the walk home after eating, Wen Ci repeatedly praised Yeye for being brave.
Zhou Wu nearly laughed from irritation.
“Who exactly was brave?”
Wen Ci looked up, her eyes curved.
“You actually remembered his name.”
“Mm.”
Zhou Wu looked at her.
“I remember every word you say while drunk.”
Wen Ci turned her face away and stopped smiling.
They chatted throughout the walk until Zhou Wu delivered her to the entrance of the alley.
He took back Yeye’s lead and looked around.
“What are you looking for?”
Wen Ci turned her head along with his.
It was the evening rush hour, and the narrow road was crowded.
“I’m checking whether there’s somewhere we can hide.”
“Why do we need to hide?”
“I want to kiss you.”
“…”
Wen Ci’s wandering head immediately turned back.
Zhou Wu wanted to laugh.
He gestured towards the alley with his chin.
“Go home.”
…
When she was almost at her front door, Wen Ci took out her phone and discovered an unread message.
**Mum: Come home immediately.**
Wen Ci pushed open the front door and heard faint movement in the living room.
It was Mother Wen’s voice, though she could not tell what she was muttering about.
Wen Ci removed her shoes and walked inside.
“I’m home. Mum, I didn’t see your message earlier. Is something—”
Her voice abruptly stopped.
Her parents sat in the living room with grave expressions and ugly complexions.
On the coffee table between them lay two thin swimsuits, creased from being tightly clenched, and half a box of c*ndoms.
Mother Wen raised her reddened eyes.
“Come here.”
Wen Ci found it difficult to explain what she felt at that moment.
For an instant, her mind went blank.
Then countless heavy thoughts pressed down upon her.
But fear was not among them.
She walked over and looked down at her possessions.
Because she rarely wore the swimsuits, she remembered placing them at the very bottom of her wardrobe.
“Did you search my room?” Wen Ci quietly asked.
“A neighbour’s home was burgled recently.”
Mother Wen’s voice trembled from the effort of remaining coherent.
“The residents checked the alley surveillance footage.”
“No one saw the thief, but they did see you—”
She could no longer continue.
She grabbed the swimsuits and threw them violently into Wen Ci’s arms.
Gritting her teeth, she cursed furiously.
“I asked around. You never attended any training course during the summer!”
“Have you no shame?”
“How did you become like this?”
“You’ve done nothing but lie, secretly sneak out and embrace some man!”
“You’ve completely humiliated your father and me!”
Mother Wen questioned her hysterically.
Father Wen remained seated, staring at her without saying a word, his jaw tightly clenched.
Wen Ci had not expected to be this unlucky.
Just as she had been preparing to discuss everything openly with her family, they had discovered the truth in a way that poured fuel directly onto the fire.
For a moment, Wen Ci felt relieved.
Fortunately, the footage was too dark and blurred for them to recognise Zhou Wu.
“Who is that man?”
When Wen Ci did not answer, Mother Wen approached and pulled at her clothes.
“How did you meet him?”
“Did he corrupt you?”
“Or did he threaten you?”
“Did he force you to buy these things too?”
“Yes, that must be it.”
Mother Wen turned towards her husband.
“I already said we should call the police—”
“No.”
Wen Ci held her swimsuits and met her mother’s eyes.
Her voice remained calm, every word clear.
“I asked him to come and help me because I desperately wanted to go out.”
Mother Wen stared up at her blankly, still clutching her clothes as though she had not understood.
“No one threatened me,” Wen Ci continued.
“I approached him.”
“I bought all of these things myself. There are purchase records.”
“I was the one who initiated every—”
Smack.
A soft-covered magazine flew directly towards her.
Wen Ci did not avoid it.
The corner struck her forehead heavily, producing a brief numbness.
The sound did not frighten Wen Ci.
Instead, it frightened Mother Wen.
She released her daughter’s clothes and stepped backwards.
“Get out!” Father Wen shouted. “I don’t have a shameless daughter like you!”
Wen Ci turned and went upstairs.
Mother Wen recovered amid the sound of her footsteps.
She instinctively wanted to follow and inspect her injury.
After taking two steps, she heard a door close upstairs.
She picked up the magazine from the floor, turned around and struck her husband with it through her tears.
The woman who had previously lowered her voice from fear of being overheard by neighbours now screamed furiously,
“What are you doing?”
“Why did you hit her?”
“Why couldn’t you speak properly instead of using violence?”
“If you injured her eye, I’ll never forgive you!”
“I’ll divorce you!”
The man stood there and allowed his wife to strike him.
His hands trembled faintly.
Only after she became exhausted and sat down did he speak with a headache.
“She needs to be taught a lesson. Look at the things she has done…”
“Enough. She already went upstairs to reflect behind a closed door.”
“Take some medicated oil to her later—”
Father Wen’s words were interrupted by approaching footsteps.
The couple turned around blankly.
Their daughter was struggling to carry a twenty-four-inch suitcase down the stairs.
After reaching the ground floor, she raised the handle and left the house without looking back.
…
Wen Ci walked quickly.
When she reached the entrance to the alley, she bought a bottle of mineral water, sat on her suitcase and opened it.
The sky was already dark.
A cool breeze brushed across her face.
Only then did Wen Ci notice a light layer of sweat across her forehead.
The place where she had been struck throbbed faintly.
Strangely, she did not want to cry.
Although she still felt slightly upset, the stronger emotion was a sense of liberation called *finally*.
Finally, she no longer needed to lie.
The situation had already reached its worst possible outcome.
That spared her from enduring the long, painful period of worry in between.
Wen Ci drank half the bottle in one breath.
After calming slightly, she took out her phone and hesitated.
Where could she go?
Yiqing had been extremely busy recently, so Wen Ci could not impose on her again.
Zhou Wu was not an option either.
Her face was injured.
She scrolled through WeChat for a long time before eventually opening a hotel-booking app.
After browsing several options, Wen Ci chose a familiar hotel.
It was the same one where she had often arranged to meet Zhou Wu in the beginning.
She was about to pay—
“I already told you. This hotel’s pillows are hard.”
A low voice descended from above her.
Wen Ci’s finger paused.
She raised her head and saw her boyfriend’s face.
She did not know when Zhou Wu had arrived.
He was standing directly in front of her.
Wen Ci had been too absorbed in her thoughts to notice him at all.
Yeye circled her suitcase.
Zhou Wu did not look at her face directly.
His gaze remained fixed on her forehead.
It was red and visibly swollen.
He raised a hand as though intending to touch it, then stopped in mid-air, afraid it would hurt.
“Why did you come back?”
Wen Ci still held her phone and looked up at him.
It took a long time for her to recover her voice.
In truth, he had never left.
Because they were afraid the neighbours inside the alley might see them, they always separated at the entrance.
Zhou Wu would walk around outside with Yeye until Wen Ci sent him a message saying she had arrived home safely.
Only then would he leave.
Today, he had never received that message.
When he turned around, he saw Wen Ci sitting on her suitcase with a large swollen bump on her forehead, visible even from the side.
“Who hit you?”
Zhou Wu’s voice was very cold.
“My father.”
Zhou Wu did not respond.
He stepped sideways, intending to walk past her and enter the alley.
Wen Ci immediately hugged him.
She was still sitting on the suitcase, wrapping both arms and legs around Zhou Wu.
Many pedestrians were nearby and could not help looking.
Some might even have been neighbours who recognised Wen Ci.
In fact, the owners of several shops behind them were all familiar faces.
But Wen Ci continued holding him tightly.
“It doesn’t hurt. Really.”
She completed her explanation.
“He didn’t do it intentionally. I was simply unlucky. The corner of the book happened to hit me.”
“It doesn’t hurt?”
Zhou Wu glanced at her forehead.
“I could see that swelling from far away.”
“My skin is simply like this. It’s thin, so injuries look frightening.”
Wen Ci clung closely to him.
“You already know that.”
“…”
Zhou Wu remained silent.
Wen Ci could feel his breathing becoming heavier than usual.
He was genuinely angry.
Only after she had held him for a long time did he slowly begin calming down.
Zhou Wu placed a hand against the back of her head.
His voice returned to its usual lazy, slightly improper tone.
“I know it’s rather inappropriate to ask this only a few days after we started dating.”
Wen Ci asked, “Mm?”
“In future, if your father and I get into a fight, whose side will you take?”
“…”
The final trace of sadness disappeared.
Wen Ci buried her face in Zhou Wu’s clothes and burst into quiet laughter.
Leave a Reply