Chapter 39

Teacher Meng noticed that Zhou Yanzhou had relegated Lin Qiuyi to the back seat, and she privately surmised that the boy probably hadn’t taken a liking to her. Although she harbored a slight intention of playing matchmaker, she had no desire to force him.

Seeing the situation develop as it had, Teacher Meng could only take Lin Qiuyi’s hand and offer an excuse for him: "He’s just like that, don’t take it to heart."

Lin Qiuyi forced a tight-lipped smile. Her peripheral vision lingered on the man’s broad back, and she said it didn’t matter. Zhou Yanzhou really acted as if he were just a chauffeur; throughout the journey, no matter how Teacher Meng tried to pave the way for Lin Qiuyi, he ignored everything, as if he had no mouth to speak with. Teacher Meng grew tired after a few attempts and finally gave up.

Logically speaking, this student of hers came from a good family background—the older generation had some acquaintance with her, and the family was one of scholarly repute, tracing their lineage back to famous officials several generations ago. Furthermore, the girl was quiet, gentle, and had plenty of merits of her own; she was more than enough to be a match for her son. Why didn’t he like her? Teacher Meng watched her son and couldn't help but ponder this.

Zhou Yanzhou didn't take this matter seriously at all. After dropping them off at Siji Minfu near the Summer Palace, he prepared to drive away, but Teacher Meng insisted he stay, saying they hadn't seen each other in months and he should at least sit down for a meal. Unable to refuse, Zhou Yanzhou followed them into a private room.

The waiter brought two menus. Zhou Yanzhou chivalrously handed them to Teacher Meng and Lin Qiuyi, then pulled out a chair diagonally across from Lin Qiuyi and sat down, patiently waiting for them to order. Someone brought a pot of tea halfway through; Zhou Yanzhou served the two ladies the entire time, handing over menus and pouring tea without a trace of impatience.

Lin Qiuyi stared at the menu for a few seconds before ordering the Beile roast meat and the tossed bean sprouts. Teacher Meng ordered the signature roast duck and the Beijing-style tripe. When she set the menu down, Lin Qiuyi happily accepted the teacup Zhou Yanzhou offered and softly said, "Thank you."

Zhou Yanzhou raised his eyelids and calmly replied, "You're welcome."

Lin Qiuyi wanted to strike up a conversation, but just as the words reached her lips, Zhou Yanzhou had already turned sideways, sipping his tea while instructing the waiter to speed up the service. The waiter nodded repeatedly, and once Teacher Meng ordered the final dish, they quickly exited the room.

Seeing this, Teacher Meng asked in a good-natured tone, "Why the rush?"

Zhou Yanzhou set his teacup back on the table, shrugged at her, and said helplessly, "I’ve got a lot on my plate."

"The old man somehow found out I was back in Beijing and piled a bunch of work on me overnight. I only managed to squeeze out the time to meet you today. Why don't you put in a good word for me when you go back and tell him to stop tormenting me like this?"

Teacher Meng cast a helpless glance at the ruffian-like Zhou Yanzhou and scolded him with a smile: "You have no manners, saying whatever comes to mind."

At this, Teacher Meng paused for a moment and added with profound meaning: "Your father is doing this for your own good. Otherwise, do you really think you could have escaped that incident back then so unscathed?"

"Guan Yue’s father still hasn't forgiven you. If your father hadn't been shielding you from above, do you think you could have returned to the capital so brazenly?"

Zhou Yanzhou didn't want to hear anything related to Guan Yue. He frowned, his tone dropping: "Fine, have mercy, could you please not mention that?"

"I've got enough on my mind as it is. People outside call me a heartless cad, but don't you know the truth? Is Guan Yue even a normal person? She's a lunatic. When did I ever give her any signal that I was interested in her? She developed hysteria all on her own and just had to drag me into it; what was I supposed to do?"

Speaking to this point, Zhou Yanzhou sighed and said cruelly, "Since it’s come to this, I’ll tell you the truth, too."

"I really intend to remain a bachelor for the rest of my life. Don't go hoping for a grandson."

Teacher Meng felt a headache coming on. Looking at the shocking statement from Zhou Yanzhou, she was so angry she didn't know where to vent. She clutched her chest, staring at him in utter disappointment: "Is this child trying to be the death of me?"

Zhou Yanzhou smiled helplessly and said seriously, "Teacher Meng, I never intended to make you angry."

"I was truly scared by Guan Yue. It’s a human life, after all; if it happened again, how could I live with myself?"

Lin Qiuyi hadn't intended to uncover the truth behind those scandals, but the room was so small that even if she had tried to crawl under the table, she wouldn't have been able to cover her ears. That incident had been the talk of the circle, and Zhou Yanzhou had been the center of the rumors. Lin Qiuyi had only seen him from afar back then and didn't know him personally. Now, in close contact, she realized he didn't match the rumors, and the old news didn't seem to be what the stories had claimed.

But was he really planning never to marry? Lin Qiuyi fidgeted with her fingers, her peripheral vision stealing glances at the man beside her. Seeing the playful look on his face, making it impossible to tell what was true and what was false, she couldn't help but wonder.

Zhou Yanzhou didn't give Teacher Meng a chance to speak further. Seeing she was quite angry, he didn't push his rebellion too far and offered a graceful exit: "Teacher Meng, please don't get so angry; it’s bad for your health, and then I’d really be at fault."

"We finally sat down to have a meal together, so don't hold it against me."

"If you really can't let it go, I'll go find a ruler and you can give me a beating."

Teacher Meng was left between laughter and tears, and finally decided to let it drop. Although the meal had its rough patches, Zhou Yanzhou did manage to accompany her properly until the end. Because of his blasphemous words, Teacher Meng was still too angry to speak to him, turning instead to discuss the day's performance with Lin Qiuyi.

Seeing he was no longer needed, Zhou Yanzhou turned a deaf ear to the world outside and focused on his meal. Lin Qiuyi kept her gaze on him, and noticing him casually picking at the food with his chopsticks, she carefully noted his preferences.

It wasn't that Zhou Yanzhou didn't notice Lin Qiuyi's gaze; he simply chose to ignore it, his mind entirely on that ungrateful wretch, Chen Xi.

When he said those words, he actually felt a twinge in his heart. Did he really intend to remain a bachelor for life? Not necessarily. But whenever he thought of Chen Xi’s identity, the thought vanished. She was just a high school student; what could he do? Wait for her to grow up? Did he have that kind of patience?

The world changes, and human hearts are the hardest things to guess. He couldn't manage to faithfully wait for someone for years on end.

***

Chen Xi was oblivious to all of this. After transferring buses several times, she finally arrived at the terminal station, Beigongmen of the Summer Palace.

Hearing that this was where most tourists gathered, Chen Xi got off the bus and followed the navigation for a few hundred meters. Looking up, she saw He Xu standing under a grey wall, wearing a white t-shirt and grey sweatpants, with a black backpack on his shoulders.

Chen Xi was just about to greet him when He Xu spotted her first.

The moment their eyes met, the nervousness and anticipation in He Xu’s eyes instantly melted into a warm smile. He waved at her, and the next second, he ran toward her with long strides.

With tourists everywhere, queueing and jostling, Chen Xi stood there with her suitcase, watching as He Xu swiftly wove through the crowd, running toward her with determination. Chen Xi stared at his fluttering hair for a moment, and a phrase suddenly popped into her head: "A spirited and vibrant youth."

By the time Chen Xi regained her senses, He Xu had reached her, breathless. His shirt was slightly puffed out, thin beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, but his eyes were filled with shimmering starlight.

Chen Xi was stunned for two seconds before she subconsciously said, "I saw you, you didn't have to run over so fast."

He Xu hunched over to catch his breath, shaking his head with a gentle smile: "I was afraid you wouldn't be able to find me."

As he spoke, He Xu reached out to take the suitcase from her side and pulled a drink from his bag to hand to her: "I bought this on the way here. It’s quite hot today, you should have some water."

Chen Xi blinked slowly and, under his insistence, took the drink.

He Xu had bought the tickets online in advance. He exchanged them, led Chen Xi to store her suitcase at a nearby shop, and then they queued to enter the park.

Chen Xi stood in line for quite a while before a question occurred to her. She looked back at He Xu and asked, "Where are your parents?"

He Xu was debating what to eat later. Hearing this, he looked at the confused Chen Xi and explained with a smile: "They’re having dinner with some old friends. I had nothing to do at the hotel, so I just found an excuse to come out and play."

Chen Xi didn't dwell on his words, simply nodding to show she understood.

It was already 3:00 PM, and the long, snaking line showed signs of loosening under the scorching sun. Chen Xi was flushed red from the heat, feeling as though she were radiating steam. She had already finished most of the drink He Xu bought, yet she still felt thirsty.

It took them a full hour to finally reach the entrance. Seeing her drenched in sweat from the heat, He Xu subconsciously stood behind her to block the sun. Unfortunately, it had little effect.

The two squeezed into the park with the other tourists. Chen Xi didn't follow the crowds, instead opting for a quiet path. It was her first time visiting such a magnificent Chinese-style garden, and she was somewhat awestruck. Especially after passing through Suzhou Street and walking to the end of the long corridor, seeing the Chinese architecture and the shimmering lake not far away, Chen Xi stood under the gallery, feeling the breeze, and experienced for the first time the breathtaking beauty of words from a book becoming a real scene.

He Xu slung his backpack over one shoulder, unzipped it, and pulled out a black camera.

Chen Xi blinked in surprise at his actions: "You brought a camera?"

He Xu flipped open the lens cap, raised the camera to take a photo of the distance, and while adjusting the settings with his head down, he replied: "It's my dad's."

As he said this, He Xu lowered the camera, turned his face to look at Chen Xi quietly for two seconds, and suddenly asked: "Do you want to take a photo?"

Chen Xi gave an surprised "Oh," and after waiting patiently for He Xu, she nodded gently: "Okay."

He Xu shook the camera in his hand and promised Chen Xi: "I’ll make sure to take a really good picture of you."

Chen Xi let out a giggle, her smile bright: "Okay."

She set down her backpack, straightened her clothes, and looked around before deciding to stand in front of some rockery. Behind her were pavilions and terraces, and further away was the tranquil lake; willow branches nearby swayed in the breeze. Everything was just right.

For convenience, Chen Xi wore a pink top with light blue jeans. Her shoulder-length hair was tied up, with a few stray strands falling across her forehead, making her delicate features look even softer. Her skin was very fair, glowing with a faint golden light in the sunlight, like a young bodhisattva bathing in the light of Buddha.

He Xu was struck by her beauty. He held up the camera, staring at her through the lens in a daze. It was a long time before he remembered to press the shutter.

*Click.* The image was frozen.

Before the image appeared, He Xu saw Chen Xi in the lens staring right at him, her watery almond eyes filled with gentleness. She was beautiful, so beautiful he couldn't look away. If he could, he wanted to cherish her forever.

He Xu took a dozen photos in a row. Chen Xi wasn't used to being photographed, so she was a bit reserved at first, not daring to look directly into that dark camera. To help her relax, He Xu guided her on how to pose and how to handle the lens. Slowly, Chen Xi began to adapt.

They left many memories at the Summer Palace. Toward the end, He Xu found a passerby and asked if they could help take a photo of them together. The passerby gladly agreed, took the camera, and under He Xu's instructions, captured their first photo together.

In the photo, Chen Xi had her hands behind her back, her head leaning subconsciously toward He Xu, while He Xu wasn't looking at the camera, his gaze burning as he stared at Chen Xi.

After the passerby finished, they remarked that the two were a perfect match. Chen Xi blushed with embarrassment, and He Xu’s ears turned red with shyness.

Once the passerby left, Chen Xi fanned herself, trying to calm down. She awkwardly changed the subject: "Where to now?"

He Xu reviewed the photo he’d just taken and replied with satisfaction: "Are you hungry? If you are, we can grab a bite first."

Chen Xi was indeed a bit hungry. She thought for a moment and asked him, "What do you want to eat?"

He Xu turned off the camera and put it back in his bag, not forgetting to reply: "I'm okay with anything—"

Halfway through his sentence, He Xu remembered the guide he had prepared at noon and suggested: "How about roast duck?"

***

"There’s a Siji Minfu nearby. I heard it’s very authentic, and a lot of tourists go there."

Chen Xi quite liked roast duck, so she nodded happily.

The two wandered around the park for about an hour, finally exiting from the West Gate. They returned to the North Palace Gate to retrieve the suitcase, then walked to Siji Minfu.

However, Chen Xi didn't expect to run into Zhou Yanzhou there.

The restaurant wasn't overly crowded at this hour, but there was still a wait. He Xu got a number and walked to Chen Xi's side, saying with concern: "There are still a few tables ahead of us. Can you wait? If not, we can eat something else."

Chen Xi shook her head, indicating she could wait.

The waiting process didn't seem too difficult. After two or three days, He Xu looked at the quietly waiting Chen Xi and finally couldn't help but bring up the competition: "Were you nervous during the competition that day?"

"I felt like something was off with you, but I didn't think too much about it. By the time I wanted to find you, you were already gone from the auditorium."

He Xu didn't mention that when he went back to find her, he saw her leaving with that man.

Prompted by He Xu, Chen Xi finally remembered why she had come to Beijing in the first place. These past few days with Zhou Yanzhou felt like everything else had been left behind, leaving only a surreal, vacuum-like world where she seemed to have no worries. But now, Chen Xi realized that the road still had to be walked by herself.

She blinked slowly and, under He Xu’s gaze, admitted with a smile: "I must have been nervous because I’d never seen such a big scene before."

"My mental fortitude was just too poor. I thought being prepared was enough."

He Xu hadn't intended to bring up her painful memory. Seeing her mood drop, he took the initiative to review it for her: "You won't be nervous after more experiences like this."

"Next time you have an opportunity like this, you can..."

Chen Xi was very grateful for He Xu’s sincerity, but she didn't want to discuss her failure right now. She blinked and asked innocently: "He Xu, could you please not talk about it anymore?"

He Xu paused for two seconds and compromised: "Okay."

The waiter was still calling out numbers. When it was their turn, He Xu stood up first, habitually took Chen Xi’s suitcase, and waited for her to walk into the restaurant together.

They were seated at a two-person table near the entrance of the main hall—a quite conspicuous spot where anyone glancing over could see them.

He Xu was very much a gentleman; the first thing he did when he got the menu was pass it to Chen Xi, letting her order first. Chen Xi, having come with the intention of eating roast duck, didn't act coy. She ordered the duck and then passed the menu to He Xu for him to order.

While He Xu was ordering, Chen Xi mentioned she wanted to go to the restroom. Guided by a waiter, she bypassed rows of tables and walked straight toward the back of the hallway.

Turning a corner, Chen Xi finally saw the sign for the restroom. A wave of relief washed over her, and she subconsciously quickened her pace. The restroom was filled with incense, a very light and pleasant scent that covered up a lot of odors.

After using the restroom, Chen Xi washed her hands at the sink, pulled out two paper towels to wipe the water off, and was humming a tune as she prepared to leave, never expecting to run straight into a beautiful woman.

Lin Qiuyi hadn't expected anyone to be inside. Looking up to see a young girl several years her junior, she apologized embarrassedly: "Excuse me."

Chen Xi didn't take it to heart, softly saying it didn't matter, and stepped aside to give her some space to pass.

By the time Chen Xi returned to her seat, the dishes were being brought to the table one after another. She took a sip of the tea He Xu had poured, rested her hands on the edge of the table, and watched quietly as the waiter served the food.

The moment the roast duck was served, He Xu urged Chen Xi to start eating. Zhou Yanzhou had taught her how to eat it, so this time Chen Xi wasn't as awkward as she had been the first time. She rolled a piece of duck and handed it to He Xu, sharing it enthusiastically: "Do you want to try it?"

He Xu took it in surprise, popped it into his mouth, and said it was delicious before he’d even swallowed. Chen Xi was amused by his reaction and asked if he was doing it on purpose. He Xu shook his head vigorously.

Every move the two made was taken in by Zhou Yanzhou, who was walking out to pay the bill not far away. He took the black card from the cashier, stood there with his hands in his pockets, and watched it all with cold eyes.

Lin Qiuyi came out and saw Zhou Yanzhou staring blankly in a certain direction. She followed his gaze and only saw a young couple laughing and talking. Looking closely, she realized that the girl was someone she had seen just minutes ago.

Did Zhou Yanzhou know that young couple? Lin Qiuyi suppressed the doubt in her heart and walked over slowly, calling out: "Third Brother, have you finished paying?"

"Teacher is waiting for you."

Zhou Yanzhou retracted his gaze without expression, his tone indescribably cold: "Let's go."

Chen Xi seemed to sense something. She looked up toward the cashier, and to her surprise, she saw a familiar figure. She froze on the spot.

Zhou Yanzhou didn't even glance at her, walking straight away with a beautiful girl. If Chen Xi remembered correctly, that girl was the one she had just seen in the restroom.

So, the reason he hadn't replied to her messages all afternoon was because he was on a date?

Before Chen Xi could think it through, the phone in her pocket suddenly vibrated. With chaotic thoughts, she retracted her gaze and hurriedly pulled out her phone.

Unlocking it, she saw a text message from Zhou Yanzhou: "Dating another man behind my back?"