It was an unremarkable winter afternoon, the sun bright and clear. The two of them sat on the bean bags on the raised platform, each occupied with their own business.

Lin Shuang was scrolling through videos on her phone, sneaking a glance at the man beside her out of the corner of her eye. Zhou Zheng was wearing a light gray knit sweater, backlit, his silhouette edged with a soft, warm glow, head bowed as he focused on grading exam papers.

She lifted her slim, bare leg and rubbed it against him a little; he, entirely unaware, unconsciously curled his left hand around her leg, scribbling away, marking scores on the test papers.

Lin Shuang smirked and went back to scrolling her phone.

After a good while, Zhou Zheng suddenly stopped his red pen, tilted his head to look at her, thought seriously for a moment, and said, “Do you want to go back to school?”

“Hm?” Lin Shuang raised an eyebrow. “Back to school? To study in your class?”

That flustering scenario — Lin Shuang’s imagination ran wild — herself in a school uniform, sitting under the podium, looking up at the clean, refined male teacher on the platform, lean and toned, sleeves of his white shirt rolled up, slender fingers holding a piece of chalk, his warm voice slightly hoarse, the pointer striking her desk with a crack—

That fantasy, she was into it, she was really into it.

Lin Shuang licked her red lips and gave him an inscrutable smile. “What exactly did you have in mind?”

“What I mean is—” Zhou Zheng’s expression was somewhere between a smile and not, and he reached out to block that odd smile on her face, his tone growing more emphatic, “—we go back to school together. I go for a PhD, you go for a master’s degree, or take a continuing-education course, and learn something new.”

“—” Lin Shuang looked utterly blank. “A PhD? A master’s?”

He nodded. “Yes. Go back to school.”

“Where did this idea suddenly come from?” Lin Shuang was incredulous.

“If you have the capacity, keep learning — isn’t that how it goes? The sea of learning has no end.” Zhou Zheng explained, “I’ve been working for several years now, and I want to better myself. I have an advisor I’ve stayed in touch with who was recently promoted to doctoral supervisor. We’ve talked, and I’m very interested in the direction of his research — he’s also offered to help with a recommendation.”

“Besides, in these past few years of teaching, I’ve published a few papers in my spare time too — I haven’t let my academic work lapse, so passing the doctoral entrance exam shouldn’t be a big problem.”

“You design clothes on your own — if you got more systematic training, a better environment to be immersed in, wouldn’t you improve faster?” he asked her.

This past year Lin Shuang had put some of her energy into her studio, treating it as a hobby — browsing reference images online, tinkering away on her own, sending the clothes she made to Miao Cai’s shop to sell on consignment, purely for her own enjoyment.

Zhou Zheng had taught for so many years — stepping back to pursue further study for a while wasn’t a bad choice. Besides, with no children to look after, life had no particular constraints, and there was no need to rush — they were free to choose to pursue whatever they wanted.

“What if the two of us went to Linjiang together? A first-tier city, great fashion resources, plenty of fashion and design schools too — should be good for your professional development. I’m familiar with Linjiang as well — I’d be taking the doctoral exam for my alma mater, studying there for a few more years.” Zhou Zheng had it all planned out. “Financially, doctoral students get a stipend and scholarships too, and my part-time income each month is decent, plus we have some savings — the two of us won’t have any trouble living there.”

Lin Shuang was a bit dazed. “What would you even study — a math PhD?”

“Yes. Pure mathematics.”

“Would that even be interesting? Could you actually get through it? Would you be able to graduate?” Lin Shuang thought of all those books he read, and her scalp started to prickle just imagining it.

Zhou Zheng laughed heartily.

“How long does a PhD usually take?”

“Four or five years.”

“Then what about your job? Would you have to quit? Would you come back after finishing?”

Zhou Zheng looked at her. “Let’s think about you first. If you’re willing to go with me, then we’ll sort out everything else after that. If you don’t want to go, then I won’t go either — either way, the precondition is that we live together.”

Lin Shuang felt herself somewhat tempted.

She wasn’t the type to stick rigidly to convention — going back to school wouldn’t be a financial issue at all, and living abroad for a few years wasn’t a bad idea either. Besides, what Zhou Zheng said was practical too — if she could gain a better perspective and knowledge base in the field of fashion design, maybe she really could take another step forward.

“It’s not… not impossible.” Lin Shuang hesitated. “Do you think I could actually handle the coursework, at my level?”

“With me around, what are you afraid of?” Zhou Zheng pinched her cheek, with a faintly suggestive smile. “Didn’t you want to be my student? Well, here’s your chance.”

“What do you want to learn? I’ll teach you.” He lowered his voice, pulling her into his arms. “Besides your major subjects — math, English — none of it’s a problem for me.”

“So the top student is finally going to teach the underachiever?” She said, resting her head on his lap, reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck, laughing. “This time it’ll really be official — you’ll be my Teacher Zhou for real.”

He kissed her forehead. “I won’t disappoint.”

Once both of them had committed to this plan, Zhou Zheng went first to talk to the school about the arrangements going forward. He was one of the standout young teachers, and the school was reluctant to let him go, trying repeatedly to keep him. In the end, Ding Yan stepped in and worked out a deal — if Zhou Zheng insisted on pursuing his PhD, he could take an unpaid leave of absence, and after graduating, return to Beiquan High School with a direct promotion to deputy-division rank; if he chose not to return to the school, he’d need to come back early to process his resignation.

Zhou Zheng continued teaching his classes for the rest of the semester, seeing the whole academic year through conscientiously, while also starting to prepare his application materials and entrance exams, and getting in touch with his doctoral advisor.

Watching him act so decisively, Lin Shuang hesitated for a moment herself — if she went for a master’s degree, she’d have to pick back up on English, political theory, and her major coursework, all from scratch. Rather than suffer through studying, she decided to build up her fundamentals at home first, then go to Linjiang to find a design program for continuing education, enroll in a pattern-cutting and draping course, and then find a job or platform to gain experience, deciding on her future direction from there.

As for Beiquan, Lin Shuang didn’t have much holding her back. On the family front, her father, since being released, had gradually adjusted to his current life and was also planning to work again — she could simply hand the milk tea shop over to him to run.

On Zhou Zheng’s side, back in the village, his grandmother was actually supportive — the village hadn’t produced a single doctoral graduate in all these years, and if Zhou Zheng could pass the exam, that would bring honor to the whole family. Besides, Zhou Xue was graduating from university that year and had chosen to go back to Beiquan to take the civil service exam and find work there, so she could take over looking after Grandma — there wasn’t much to worry about on that front either.

Once the decision was made, they set about preparing in earnest. Zhou Zheng arranged his study schedule down to the minute, and had Lin Shuang’s coursework worked into the same schedule too — the idea being that they’d support each other. Lin Shuang, for the first time, experienced both the joy and the pain of studying, and the two of them sat with single-minded focus in the study, each hunched over a thick textbook, chewing through it.

Finally, good news came from Zhou Zheng’s school, and Lin Shuang’s school was also confirmed. She smiled and threw her arms around him, giving him a peck. “When do we leave? I heard Linjiang has some really cool nightclubs — I can’t wait.”

Zhou Zheng raised an eyebrow, tweaking her nose. “There are also plenty of cultural centers and museums.”

“Promise me — study hard, make progress every day.” He kissed her lightly on the lips. “No overdoing it out there.”

Lin Shuang pouted her cherry lips.

When people around them found out the two of them were really going to Linjiang to study, they were more than a little stunned, thoroughly envious of the couple’s spontaneous courage. After a few rounds of gatherings with family and friends, Zhou Zheng started sorting out matters at school and at home, while Lin Shuang, feeling light and carefree, eagerly packed her bags for Linjiang.

They could ask family or friends to keep an eye on the new house. Lin Shuang planned to drive their car over — it was a nine-hour drive from Beiquan to Linjiang, and with more luggage packed into the trunk, it would be more convenient to get around in Linjiang afterward too.

While putting dust covers on the furniture, Lin Shuang felt a little wistful. “We haven’t even lived in this place very long — it’s still so new.”

“We can come back and stay for a while during holidays and breaks.” Zhou Zheng patted her head. “All ready? Off to Linjiang with me?”

“Mm-hm.” She was raring to go. “The exciting new life begins.”

Her style and personality really did suit a dazzling big city better.

“You’ll have a dorm at your school — where will I stay?” She rested her head on his hand. “Do the doctoral dorms have married-couple housing?”

“I asked around — they don’t. No overnight stays from the opposite sex allowed.” Zhou Zheng wrapped his arm around her waist. “Is it okay if we rent a place outside together?”

“Can’t you just have your place and I have mine?” Lin Shuang raised an eyebrow. “I could apply for a dorm room too, be a weekend couple — that wouldn’t be bad either.”

“No!” He said it flatly, nuzzling into her neck to breathe in her scent. “I want you living with me every single day.”

Lin Shuang smirked. “What, afraid I’ll run off?”

Zhou Zheng nuzzled his nose against her, almost coquettishly, the friction tickling her skin slightly.

Lin Shuang reached back and doted on him, rubbing his head affectionately.

“So should we book a hotel for a few days first? Then look for a place to rent?”

“There’s an old classmate over in Linjiang — let’s stay with him for a couple of days first. He and his wife are both from Beiquan, high school classmates of ours too, we can all catch up.” Zhou Zheng said. “I already asked him to help scope out a good area to rent in. Once we get to Linjiang, he’ll take care of us first.”

“Which friend? Do I know them?”

“You’ll know when you meet them.” Zhou Zheng smiled.

When the time came to leave, the two of them went to stay in the countryside for a while, packed up the house, and finally said their goodbyes to family and friends, handing over one house key to Lin Hai and another to Zhou Xue.

Eight or nine hours of stopping and starting on the highway later, they arrived in Linjiang just as night was falling. Zhou Zheng navigated to the address of his high school classmate — he’d called ahead, and there was already someone waiting downstairs.

All four of them were around the same age. The woman wore a smart office dress, her smile bright and playful, slim figure, holding her husband’s hand and rising on her toes in anticipation. Beside her, the man had very pale skin, sharp, somewhat cold features, and stood there in silence.

“Zhou Zheng, Lin Shuang, hi there.” The woman, holding her husband’s hand, bounced over to the car and waved at Lin Shuang and Zhou Zheng.

Zhou Zheng got out first, and the two men clapped each other on the shoulder without saying much.

Zhou Zheng opened the passenger door and introduced the man beside him to Lin Shuang. “Liao Minzhi, my classmate from senior year of high school — he just finished his PhD last year, and he’s now a researcher at the Gaohua Research Institute.”

“So you’re all top students from the honors classes.” Lin Shuang smiled warmly. “Nice to meet you, I’m Lin Shuang.”

“Hi there.” The man’s voice was low, with a distinctive tone — deep and slightly rough, with a magnetic quality.

“And this is He Lanjue, Minzhi’s wife, also a classmate of ours from the science track.”

He Lanjue took Lin Shuang’s hand of her own accord, her smile sweet and easygoing. “Shuangshuang, just call me Lanjue. I’m from Beiquan too, though I was in a regular class — never really ran in the same circles as these two.”

“Lanjue, hi.”

Lin Shuang found herself quite liking this girl — there was a natural warmth about her.

He Lanjue pulled Lin Shuang along, tugging her upstairs. “Tired? Let’s go on up first — we’ll leave the luggage for those two to bring up slowly. Minzhi told me you two were coming to Linjiang to study, I’m so happy — it’s been ages since I’ve seen any friends from Beiquan, I’ve been looking forward to you coming for so long—”

Her bright chatter didn’t stop, and the two of them hurried excitedly into the elevator.

The two men left behind downstairs glanced at each other, both smiling.

“Long time no see.”

“Long time no see.”