The whole day, Zhu Wenshu felt as though she’d been floating in midair.

Not until she stood at the school gate the next day, watching the parents and students coming and going, hearing the rising and falling honks of car horns, did she finally feel like she’d returned to reality.

As usual, she went to check on the classroom first, and happened to run into Ling Siyuan sweeping the floor out back.

“Good morning, Teacher!”

“Good morning, Yuanyuan.”

Zhu Wenshu crouched down to fix his scarf and asked, “How was your weekend?”

“Uh… not great.”

Ling Siyuan pouted, muttering to himself. “It wasn’t fun at all.”

“What happened?”

“Uncle upset Dad, and Dad’s been so grumpy, I don’t even dare speak at home.”

Zhu Wenshu: “…”

She glanced around cautiously, then pulled Ling Siyuan closer and whispered, “How did your uncle upset your dad?”

Ling Siyuan: “It’s just, just because he has a girlfriend now!”

Sure enough.

Zhu Wenshu had felt a little happy at first, but thinking of all that celebrity gossip, that happiness got covered with a layer of gloom.

“Is your dad really angry about this?”

“Not exactly angry, I guess…” Ling Siyuan rested his chin on the broom handle, sighing in an imitation of his father’s usual composed demeanor. “Uncle just keeps talking about it, over and over, even Auntie Xiao is sick of hearing it!”

Zhu Wenshu: “…”

She pressed her lips together, trying to hold back a laugh but failing, and quickly turned and hurried away.

On her way to the office, Zhu Wenshu found herself sighing again as she walked.

Sigh.

Honestly, she also wanted to share this with someone, wanted to be like Shi Xue’er, posting couple photos on her Moments feed, going out and about with her boyfriend in her free time.

But reason told her she couldn’t do that, and there probably wouldn’t ever be that kind of opportunity anyway.

Thinking about this, Zhu Wenshu’s mood inexplicably dipped.

Several teachers were chatting in the office. Seeing Zhu Wenshu come in, Teacher Wang turned around and asked, “Xiao Zhu, are you going home for New Year’s Day?”

“I am,” Zhu Wenshu asked. “Why do you ask?”

“It’s like this.” Teacher Wang was eating breakfast and didn’t get up, speaking from her seat. “Didn’t I mention setting you up before? My husband was chatting yesterday, said there’s a really great student, a few years older than you, just finished his PhD—he’s a rising star in the cardiac surgery department at their hospital. Want to meet him? If it’s a good match, we can find a time to all get dinner together.”

Zhu Wenshu’s hand paused mid-motion while tidying her desk, and she said quietly, “No need, Teacher Wang, thank you for the thought, but I have a boyfriend now.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

Teacher Wang, mouth full of bread, spoke indistinctly. “So are you interested or not? Let me show you a photo first, the young man is tall and handsome.”

“No need.”

Zhu Wenshu raised her voice slightly, but Teacher Wang still seemed not to have heard her, and had already pulled out her phone.

Just as she was about to hand over the photo, Zhu Wenshu said loudly, “I have a boyfriend now!”

The office fell silent for a moment.

Only then did Zhu Wenshu realize—had her voice been a little too loud?

She glanced around awkwardly, and found everyone looking at her with teasing expressions.

“Oh my, alright, alright, we get it.”

“Look how excited you are, might as well announce it on the school broadcast.”

“Ah, young love really is a happy thing.”

“…”

Amid the round of teasing, Teacher Wang swallowed her bread. “That fast, huh?”

Zhu Wenshu lowered her head and made a soft “Mm.”

Teacher Wang seemed about to say something more, but another female teacher chimed in, “Show us a photo, Teacher Zhu’s boyfriend must be really handsome, right?”

With someone bringing it up, the other colleagues all started clamoring to see a photo of Zhu Wenshu’s boyfriend as well.

Zhu Wenshu: “…”

How could she possibly show anyone a photo.

“I don’t have a photo of him,” Zhu Wenshu said. “He doesn’t like getting his picture taken.”

“Oh come on, what’s there to be shy about?”

Teacher Wang patted Zhu Wenshu’s shoulder. “Show us, we’re all experienced people, we can help vet him for you.”

Zhu Wenshu thought to herself, how exactly would looking at a photo help “vet” anyone—just by appearance?

“He’s… not very good-looking.” Zhu Wenshu hadn’t expected herself to be capable of lying so smoothly. “Not really presentable.”

The colleagues who’d been egging her on suddenly went quiet, looking utterly unconvinced.

But if that weren’t the case, it wouldn’t make sense either—otherwise why would she refuse to show anyone a photo?

“I need to head to class.”

“Hey, wait for me.”

“I’m off to class too.”

Only Teacher Wang was still watching Zhu Wenshu with a look of concern.

“Well… I’ll keep an eye out for you anyway. If you ever change your mind, I can introduce you to someone.”

Zhu Wenshu nodded. “I’ve made peace with things as they are.”

The other colleagues dispersed, and Zhu Wenshu let out a breath of relief, just about to turn on her computer when a voice sounded by her ear.

“You have a boyfriend?”

Zhu Wenshu turned around and saw Zhu Qisen’s large face right by the window, startling her so badly she jerked backward.

“What are you doing here?!”

“This is my school too, why can’t I come?”

He reached through the window, handing her a small bag. “It’s your birthday present from Xue’er, she asked me to bring it to you.”

“Oh… okay.”

Zhu Wenshu took the gift, her expression flat. “I’ll thank Teacher Xue’er later. You can go now.”

“Go where, I’m not done asking yet. When did you get a boyfriend? How come I didn’t know? Who is he? What does he do? Why haven’t you brought him around to meet us?”

Zhu Wenshu opened her computer without saying a word, completely ignoring him.

“Say something, what’s with you, Zhu Wenshu, are we still friends or not?”

“You actually found some ugly guy? No way, when did you go blind, Zhu Wenshu?”

“You’re really not going to introduce him to us? I’m telling you, bring him out here so Xue’er and I can vet him for you, so you don’t end up getting sold off and thanking the person who did it.”

Zhu Wenshu turned to glare at him. “Not bringing him, not introducing him, not getting sold.”

“Tch…” Zhu Qisen shook his head. “Are you scared he’ll take one look at me and fall for me instead? Have a little confidence, Teacher Zhu.”—

As it happened, Zhu Qisen kept running into Zhu Wenshu around her commute times for several days in a row, only to find her going about her days alone as usual, even eating lunch in the cafeteria with everyone else.

Thursday afternoon after school, Zhu Qisen watched Zhu Wenshu finish walking her students out, then went up to her and said, “I get it now.”

Zhu Wenshu glanced at him. “Get what?”

“You don’t actually have a boyfriend, do you?”

Zhu Qisen said, “Was it all just to get people off your back?”

Zhu Wenshu: “…Don’t you have anything better to do? Shouldn’t you be picking up Teacher Xue’er after work?”

“I should, I’m about to head over now. We’ve got a date tonight.”

“Ugh, see, even you understand that much. This doesn’t look like someone with a boyfriend at all.”

Zhu Qisen shook his head. “Just drop the act already. Later I’ll introduce you to a few good-looking guys, no more of this ‘ugly’ business.”

Zhu Wenshu didn’t bother responding, and turned to glance across the street, her gaze suddenly fixing on something.

Amid the bustling intersection stood a black business car.

She stared at it for a few seconds, then pushed Zhu Qisen away.

“Hurry up and go on your date.”

“Alright, alright.”

Zhu Qisen hopped on his bicycle, and before pedaling off, added, “Gonna go buy some flowers and catch a movie.”

Once Zhu Qisen had ridden off into the distance, Zhu Wenshu finally jogged over.

Standing outside the car door, she glanced around, then leaned toward the window and gave a light cough.

She waited, but the door didn’t open.

What was going on—didn’t the door usually open on its own whenever she showed up?

Zhu Wenshu tilted her head and knocked gently on the window.

The window slowly rolled down, revealing a completely unfamiliar face.

“Can I help you with something?”

“…”

Zhu Wenshu gave an awkward yet polite smile. “That’s a really nice car you’ve got there.”

The man: “You like it? Want me to take you for a couple of laps?”

Zhu Wenshu: “…?”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, I just wanted to let you know you can’t park here, the traffic police will be along soon.”

The man immediately drove off.

Zhu Wenshu watched the car leave, feeling like she’d truly lost her mind.

The car wasn’t even the same model, and yet she’d mistaken it for the right one.

Probably because she hadn’t seen Ling Chen in several days.

She sighed, turned around, stood beneath the bus stop shelter, lowered her head, and sent Ling Chen a message.

【Zhu Wenshu】: So embarrassing, I just mistook a stranger’s car for yours.

These past few days, it had usually been around this time that Ling Chen was swamped with work, often not replying until the middle of the night, so Zhu Wenshu hadn’t expected a response.

But today turned out to be a bit different.

【c】: ?

【c】: It’s only been a few days and you can’t even recognize your own boyfriend anymore?

Zhu Wenshu had meant to clarify that she was talking about the car.

But then again, she figured his interpretation worked just as well.

【Zhu Wenshu】: Yep, can’t remember, already forgotten what you look like.

【c】: Then turn around.

Zhu Wenshu’s eyes lit up instantly, and she spun around right away.

A few meters away, sure enough, that ordinary-looking sedan was parked by the roadside.

Only then did she notice—the weather was especially nice today. The cold, gloomy winter had finally cleared up, and the bright sun made everything around her glow.

Zhu Wenshu jogged over, and before she’d even caught her breath after getting into the car, she asked, “Why are you here?”

Ling Chen was about to open his mouth to speak, but when he turned and saw Zhu Wenshu’s bright, sparkling eyes, her chest still rising and falling slightly, his expression froze on his face, and it took him a moment before he spoke.

“You’re this happy to see me?”

“Not really happy.”

Zhu Wenshu lowered her head, missing the way the light dimmed in Ling Chen’s eyes.

“I’m ecstatic.”

When she didn’t hear a response, Zhu Wenshu grabbed at her clothes in frustration.

Why couldn’t she control her own mouth?

This felt a little awkward.

“If you think that’s a bit much,” Zhu Wenshu said, “just pretend I didn’t say it.”

“It is a bit much.”

Zhu Wenshu: “…”

“Say it two more times.”

“?”

Zhu Wenshu looked up at Ling Chen.

He turned his head to look at her, tongue pressed against the inside of his cheek, and she couldn’t tell if he was smiling or teasing her.

“You’ll get used to it after saying it a few more times.”

“Alright, I…”

Zhu Wenshu really tried, but this kind of thing that had slipped out spontaneously was hard to repeat on command. “Never mind, I can’t say it.”

“What’s there to be shy about?”

Ling Chen leaned in closer, reaching over to pull the seatbelt across, his upper body wrapping around Zhu Wenshu as he did.

As his face drew close to her ear, Zhu Wenshu heard him say softly, “I also, super…”

He seemed to deliberately draw out the pause, “…like you.”

Seeing that Zhu Wenshu just froze without responding, Ling Chen let out a soft sigh, lowering his head to continue buckling her seatbelt.

His words carried a hint of playfulness, but his tone was heavy.

“You can’t even say something this simple out loud, acting like such an innocent schoolkid. If there’s ever anything more—”

Suddenly, Ling Chen’s voice and movements both stopped at once.

He lowered his eyes, his gaze fixed on Zhu Wenshu’s shoulder, unmoving for a long moment.

Zhu Wenshu also froze in place, her eyes darting around, not knowing where to look.

Just now, had she—had she not been able to help herself, and kissed his cheek?

It seemed like she had.

Zhu Wenshu lowered her eyes again, seeing that face so close to her, her heart suddenly pounding.

Who could resist that—it was practically just a tilt of the neck, and her mouth had made the decision before her brain even caught up.

After a long moment, the person leaning close to her shifted slightly.

“Close your eyes.”

Zhu Wenshu: “…Me?”

Ling Chen: “Who else?”

Zhu Wenshu abruptly closed her eyes, very forcefully, as if she were putting all her strength into the act of closing her eyes.

But the kiss she’d been imagining never landed—only her forehead was touched, gently.

When his warm lips finally pressed against hers, Zhu Wenshu felt all the strength drain out of her body, leaving only her lashes trembling faintly.

“Next time you do that—”

Ling Chen’s voice came out a little hoarse, almost drowned out by his own breathing, “could you pick somewhere with no one around?”

It was a long while before Zhu Wenshu opened her eyes again, and by then Ling Chen had already returned to the driver’s seat, even putting his mask back on.

The words she’d meant to say took a different turn when she noticed a flush creeping across the tips of his ears.

“Oh, got it.”

Ling Chen glanced over, only to hear her add, “In-no-cent. School-kid.”

“…”

The car fell silent for a long moment, and Ling Chen’s breathing grew heavy again.

But he said nothing more, silently starting the car and hitting the gas.

Elementary school let out early, and it wasn’t quite rush hour yet, so there weren’t many cars on the road.

“Why are you driving so fast?”

Zhu Wenshu clutched her seatbelt for dear life. “Where are we going?”

“Somewhere with no one around.”

Ling Chen said, his expression cold, “To do something not so innocent.”

Zhu Wenshu: “…”—

The car drove straight out of the city, the roads growing wider and wider, the traffic thinning more and more.

Zhu Wenshu grew increasingly nervous over the course of this journey.

What kind of “not so innocent” thing—were they going to do it out in the middle of nowhere???

She began eyeing Ling Chen with an increasingly strange look, hardly able to believe it—this guy was actually into something this wild?

You’re a huge celebrity, Ling Chen!

And I’m a respectable public school teacher!

But despite Zhu Wenshu’s mind running through a thousand different scenarios—fidgeting with her fingers one moment, staring out the window the next, glancing at the man beside her and then looking away again—

Ling Chen never said a single word the whole time.

Zhu Wenshu endured what was probably the longest, most anxiety-inducing forty minutes of her entire life.

Finally, the car stopped on a large bridge.

By now they were already more than twenty kilometers outside the city; forget about people, even the occasional passing car sped by in an instant.

“Get out.”

By the time Ling Chen spoke, he’d already taken off his mask and undone his seatbelt, while Zhu Wenshu still sat there for a moment, a little dazed by the location.

Only once Ling Chen had come around to open her door did she finally stir, slowly climbing out of the car.

“Where is this…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Ling Chen suddenly took her hand and strode quickly toward the middle of the bridge.

With no buildings to block the wind, the north wind howled fiercely across the bridge, the view stretching endlessly to the horizon, even the setting sun looking like a blazing disc of fire.

Ling Chen led Zhu Wenshu along for a long while, and by the end they were almost jogging. Zhu Wenshu struggled to keep up with his pace, her hair repeatedly blown across her mouth by the crosswind, until finally, he stopped.

All around them was nothing but the roaring sound of wind. Ling Chen stood by the railing and turned his head to look at Zhu Wenshu.

“Is this the kind of vast, open landscape you used to write about in your essays?”

Having lived for so long in a city of concrete and steel, Zhu Wenshu really hadn’t seen a view like this in a long time, even though the cold wind made it hard for her to keep her eyes open.

“It is.” She leaned against the railing, gazing out at the scene—the clear river stretching like a ribbon of silk, meeting the sunset burning red at the horizon—not even noticing that she was practically shouting to be heard. “You still remember that phrase?”

Zhu Wenshu herself couldn’t even remember when exactly that had been; she only remembered that she’d used such an uncommon phrase in an essay once, and her language teacher had specifically pointed it out.

Ling Chen didn’t answer her question.

“I was passing through here today, thought it was beautiful, and wanted to bring you to see it.”

Zhu Wenshu smiled into the wind, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

“It really is beautiful.”

“Zhu Wenshu.”

“Mm?”

“Can I kiss you?”

“?”

Zhu Wenshu’s eyes flew open, and she blinked before turning to look at him.

Ling Chen lowered his head slightly, his eyes rendered pale and shallow in the sunlight, his hair dusted with a faint golden glow.

He wasn’t smiling, nor was he wearing his usual raised-eyebrow expression that masked his lack of composure.

Zhu Wenshu saw him lay his emotions bare, plainly, as if this moment were the answer he’d truly been waiting for all along.

Not merely confirming their identities as boyfriend and girlfriend, but seeking a clear, definite affirmation.

“Ling Chen.”

Zhu Wenshu’s voice scattered in the wind. “I’m not someone who’s very good at expressing what’s in my heart.”

She paused, then lowered her head.

“But if you want to kiss me, all I’ll say is…”

“Okay.”

The howling wind suddenly seemed to fade far away.

As Ling Chen leaned in, Zhu Wenshu immediately closed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath.

His lips were warm and soft, his movements clumsy yet fervent, pressing Zhu Wenshu back against the railing, tilting her slightly backward, her long hair blown wildly in every direction by the wind.

In this thoroughly unpracticed kiss, Zhu Wenshu felt a thrill and satisfaction so intense it threatened to burst through her chest.

Just a few hours ago, she’d been sighing over how her boyfriend, adored by so many, meant they could never be an ordinary couple.

But in this moment, beneath the vast sky and boundless earth, under the brilliant, blazing sunset, they kissed without a single care in the world.