After the school anniversary, Jiangcheng entered the sweltering heat of June.
For days, the outdoor temperature hovered around thirty-five degrees Celsius. The sun blazed over the campus, cicadas chirped without pause, and a faint heat haze seemed to hang in the air.
Inside the teachers’ office at Jiangcheng Primary School, complaints filled the room.
“Has the repairman still not come to rescue our air conditioner? We’re seriously going to roast to death.”
The office air conditioner was already very old. Switching it on felt no different from leaving it off. They had reported it for repairs three days ago, yet no one had come.
“Just wait. It’ll probably be next week at the earliest,” another teacher said. “If you really can’t stand it, go to your classroom early. The air conditioner there is much cooler.”
Ms Li hurriedly shook her head.
“No, thank you. Given the choice between dying from the heat and dying from the noise, I’d rather die from the heat. At least I can still fan myself.”
The oppressive weather left everyone restless and irritable. For a while, the office was filled with the sound of teachers using notebooks as fans.
Ms Li wiped the thin layer of sweat from the side of her face. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the person at the neighbouring desk and could not resist asking, “Ms Wen, aren’t you hot?”
Wen Ci was wearing a white cardigan over a teal dress.
Although it was an ordinary summer outfit, it still looked rather heavy in such intense heat. Their office was also directly exposed to the sunlight, and the cheap curtains could barely block it.
Yet Wen Ci seemed completely unaffected by the temperature.
She kept her head lowered and quietly marked her students’ homework. Her low ponytail hung behind her neck, revealing its long, fair line.
There was not the slightest trace of heat-induced irritation about her. Simply looking at her made others feel more comfortable.
Wen Ci did not react when her name was called.
Ms Li called again, “Ms Wen?”
Wen Ci abruptly returned to her senses.
“Mm? I’m sorry, Ms Li. I was thinking about something. What did you say?”
Ms Li repeated herself.
Wen Ci gave a faint smile.
“I’m all right. I think I tolerate heat fairly well.”
Ms Li casually asked with concern, “Is something troubling you lately? You seem to have been spacing out a lot these past few days.”
Wen Ci joked, “No. I’m simply being lazy.”
“So that saying really is true. Calm people genuinely don’t fear the heat,” the teacher at the next desk interjected. “Ms Wen, teach me how you regulate your emotions. We all teach the same classes, so why do I spend every day boiling with rage?”
Ms Li shook her head.
“That can’t be taught. Ms Wen was born with a good temper. The children in our class are so noisy, yet she has never lost her temper with them.”
“They’re only lively between lessons. They’re very well behaved during class.”
Wen Ci smiled and took a small electric fan from her drawer.
“Ms Li, would you like this?”
Ms Li’s eyes lit up.
“This is a lifesaver. Thank you, thank you.”
Wen Ci was about to tell her there was no need to be polite when the phone on her desk suddenly chimed.
She hurriedly picked it up.
Even Wen Ci herself did not notice how quickly she moved.
Seeing this, Ms Li smiled and asked, “A message from your boyfriend?”
Wen Ci’s fingers paused.
“No. It’s from my mother.”
“Xiao Wen doesn’t have a boyfriend,” the teacher at the neighbouring desk said.
Wen Ci gave a very faint smile.
Mother Wen had sent her a photograph of some ingredients and reminded her to come home early for dinner after school.
Wen Ci replied with a simple *Okay*.
The bell rang, and the teachers’ office finally fell quiet.
Wen Ci held her phone in silence for a while before exiting the WeChat conversation with her mother.
Below Mother Wen’s message were countless work groups and parent groups.
Farther down was Dou Yiqing, followed by several teachers discussing work matters with her, students’ parents and the owner of the breakfast shop.
Apart from Dou Yiqing, the final message in every conversation was the same:
**Okay.**
Wen Ci stopped only when she reached the Samoyed profile picture.
Half a month had passed since the school anniversary, and she had not spoken to Zhou Wu again.
In truth, this was normal for them.
They were not really friends, and outside the hotel, there was very little for them to discuss. During the time Zhou Wu had been in America, they had even lost contact for almost three months.
Yet Wen Ci had not felt particularly unhappy during those three months.
Every night before sleeping and every morning after waking, she would check whether Zhou Wu had sent a message.
When there was nothing, she would begin looking forward to the next day.
Just as she finally decided she could no longer resist and should find an opportunity to ask whether he had returned, Zhou Wu sent her a room number.
The feeling of anticipation itself was precious to Wen Ci.
Zhou Wu had generously given her a great deal of it.
But this half-month felt unbearably long.
Duan Wei’s marriage appeared to be in danger. During that conversation, she had even mentioned the possibility of “regretting” her decision.
Wen Ci suddenly became uncertain whether Zhou Wu would ever contact her again.
If he did not, would Zhou Wu politely inform her that their arrangement was over?
Or would it simply end in silence?
She did not know.
She understood far too little about Zhou Wu.
Wen Ci held her phone for a long time before finally opening their conversation and typing:
**Are you free lately?**
She stared at the words for a while, then deleted every one.
She could not bring herself to ask Zhou Wu to sleep with her while knowing that his relationship with Duan Wei was ambiguous.
She was also afraid that Zhou Wu might take the opportunity to inform her that he wanted to end their arrangement.
Wen Ci closed the chat window.
After thinking for a moment, she opened Duan Wei’s Moments instead.
Duan Wei had posted another three or four updates during the past half-month. Wen Ci looked through every photograph.
Only when she failed to find Zhou Wu in any of them did she sigh slightly in relief and put down her phone.
Wen Ci lowered her head and stared at the student’s homework in front of her.
After a long while, she finally set down her pen and collapsed over the desk, burying her face in the crook of her arm.
This was awful.
Both the way she clung to a sliver of hope and avoided reality, and the way she secretly searched through Duan Wei’s Moments.
…
At a little after nine that evening, the light in Wen Ci’s bedroom was still on.
She had her head lowered as she wrote a lesson plan when the phone beside her chimed.
Remembering what Ms Li had said that day, Wen Ci deceived herself by deliberately waiting two seconds before picking it up.
**Qin Yun: Wen Ci, my birthday party is on Saturday evening. Come and have fun with us.**
Wen Ci froze.
She had assumed Qin Yun had only spoken casually that day. She had not expected him to genuinely invite her.
They were not particularly close. Considering his relationship with Dou Yiqing as well, Wen Ci naturally had no intention of going.
After thinking for a moment, she typed a reply.
**Wen Ci: Sorry. I already have plans with Yiqing that day, so I probably won’t be able to come. Happy birthday in advance ^^**
**Qin Yun: Did she arrange to meet you? Then that works perfectly.**
**Qin Yun: She’s coming to my birthday party that day.**
**Wen Ci: ?**
Wen Ci immediately called Dou Yiqing.
She answered quickly.
“What is it, sweetheart? I’m taking a bath.”
Wen Ci asked, “Are you going to Qin Yun’s birthday party?”
Naturally, Dou Yiqing had initially refused.
Go and celebrate Qin Yun’s birthday?
Had she lost her mind?
It was already generous of her not to curse him.
Unfortunately, Qin Yun’s mouth was as irritating as ever.
When she refused, he had released an exaggerated sigh of relief.
“That’s wonderful. I regretted inviting you the moment I said it, but I’m a man of my word. Since I said I would invite you, I had to do it. I’ll hang up now. I wish you a mediocre life and an unpleasant time at work.”
How could Dou Yiqing tolerate that?
Now she was determined to attend.
“Perfect timing. The students in my class have nearly angered me to death again. I need someone to insult, or I’ll eventually suffer a heart attack from all this rage,” Dou Yiqing said. “Did he invite you too? You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. Don’t worry. I can deal with him by myself.”
How could Wen Ci possibly feel reassured?
Besides, she had already used that terrible excuse and could not take it back now.
However, since it was Qin Yun’s birthday…
Zhou Wu and Duan Wei would probably attend as well.
Before Wen Ci could decide what to do, Qin Yun sent another message.
**Qin Yun: Then it’s settled. I’ll arrange for someone to pick you up.**
Wen Ci hurriedly replied.
**Wen Ci: There’s no need. I can go in Yiqing’s car.**
**Qin Yun: Dou Yiqing isn’t driving either. I’m arranging for someone to collect her too. The party is in the mountains, and the roads are confusing. It wouldn’t be safe for you to drive yourselves or take a taxi. Don’t worry. I’ll arrange everything. Just send me your home address.**
With no other choice, Wen Ci replied:
**Wen Ci: All right. Thank you.**
**Qin Yun: Why are you being polite with an old classmate? By the way, remember to bring your school uniform!**
Wen Ci had not expected the uniform matter to return.
She immediately put down her pen, stepped onto the bed and searched through the deepest part of her wardrobe.
Before long, she found two school uniform shirts.
One was covered in names, with small graduation messages written beside some of them.
The other bore only a single name.
Wen Ci unfolded the shirt and stared at that name for a while.
Then she turned to find a marker and some scrap paper.
To avoid being discovered, she needed to add Zhou Wu’s name to the other uniform.
Wen Ci had studied calligraphy as a child. She occasionally imitated the handwriting of famous calligraphers and had some experience with copying different styles.
But this time, even after writing “Zhou Wu” more than ten times, she still felt that none looked quite right.
Zhou Wu’s handwriting was careless and unrestrained, the strokes bold and flowing.
Every line seemed to drift.
It appeared as though he had not put much thought into it, yet it was still beautiful.
After several unsuccessful attempts, Wen Ci leaned back in her chair and stared at Zhou Wu’s name.
Her thoughts gradually drifted.
For no particular reason, she remembered what Zhou Wu had looked like when he signed it.
At the time, she had secretly carried that school uniform shirt inside her bag for nearly a week, never finding a suitable opportunity to take it out.
Zhou Wu was finally alone on a Wednesday.
During the final month before the university entrance examination, Zhou Wu had skipped school for two days.
Yu Binhong called him into the office and lectured him until nearly seven in the evening.
Wen Ci had been sitting in the classroom at the time, guarding the exam papers Zhou Wu had left on his desk.
She had already begun feeling disappointed.
In a few more minutes, the students attending evening study would probably arrive.
Then Zhou Wu returned.
He must have received a severe lecture.
When Wen Ci called his name, he looked up with lingering irritation and displeasure still visible on his face.
Upon seeing her, Zhou Wu was clearly startled.
“Could you sign your name on this school uniform?” Wen Ci asked. “I want to keep everyone’s names as a souvenir.”
The tension between Zhou Wu’s brows eased.
He agreed casually.
“Sure.”
Wen Ci immediately held out the marker in her hand.
“Please use this.”
Zhou Wu spread out the shirt and searched for a place to sign.
Then he realised he was the first person.
“Should I just sign anywhere?”
“All right.”
Zhou Wu completed the signature in two swift strokes.
Then he suddenly burst out laughing.
He raised his eyes towards her, a faint smile in his gaze.
“This is bad. I think I signed it too large… I’ll buy you a new one tomorrow and sign that one again.”
Wen Ci stared into his eyes and fell silently into a daze.
Only after he waited for a long time and raised an eyebrow in confusion did she hurriedly recover.
“N-no, there’s no need. This is fine. It isn’t too large.”
Wen Ci took the shirt back into her arms without daring to look at him again.
“Thank you, Zhou Wu.”
…
On her twenty-seventh attempt, Wen Ci finally managed to imitate the signature reasonably well.
She picked up the shirt covered in names and carefully wrote Zhou Wu’s name on it.
Wen Ci held up both shirts and compared them from side to side for a long time.
Then she sighed.
There was still a slight difference.
Fortunately, it was difficult to notice.
It should be enough to pass.
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