Yu Na turned her head when she heard the sound and walked to the classroom door, "Teacher Su."
Teacher Su poked his head into the class: "Isn't Jiang Yu in class?"
"He's in my office doing questions. Do you need him for something?"
"Well, no. It's just that the kid came to me this morning and said I graded one of his questions wrong. I took another careful look and it turned out he was right. So I came to bring his test paper back to him."
After taking the test paper, Yu Na asked in a low voice: "Teacher Su, how does Jiang Yu perform in physics class?"
"He performs very well. Although he doesn't like to talk much, he studies very hard, asks questions in a timely manner if he has any, quite a down-to-earth kid."
"..."
So it turned out that Jiang Yu just didn't like attending English class.
Prior to this, she had superficially thought that the kid simply didn't like learning at all.
A sense of frustration crept up in her heart little by little for some unknown reason.
After the first class ended, Yu Na went back to her office and handed Jiang Yu his physics test paper, "I didn't expect you to be so serious about physics."
"Mmm." Jiang Yu was expressionless.
As if to get back at her, he retorted, "I just don't like English, especially when you teach it."
Although she felt a little disappointed at being told so to her face by a student, she was particularly upset knowing that this guy just didn't like targeting her.
She calmly responded, "Last semester, I also tutored several students like how I tutor you, and they all made progress. I'll just let the results speak for themselves. Either you can't accept it, in which case you should stay away from me, or you surpass me."
"..."
In the days that followed, Yu Na still set aside time to tutor Jiang Yu.
Sometimes Jiang Yu would deliberately oppose her, but Yu Na's mentality had changed.
Whenever she clapped back at him, she just treated it as regular weeding, and he would behave for a while after being 'weeded'.
And so life went on plainly.
In late April, Xiao Chen had to go on a business trip to City A for a period of time.
Ever since Qiao Rui started boarding at school, Xiao Chen had officially moved into Huating No.1.
They hadn't spent a single day apart, with him picking her up and dropping her off from work every day.
She had long been used to waking up every morning and being able to see him.
Having to be separated for nearly half a month all of a sudden, she truly felt somewhat reluctant inside.
On Sunday night, no matter what she said, she had to help him pack his luggage. Xiao Chen gave in since he couldn't dissuade her.
But he didn't have much to bring, having only packed toiletries and changes of clothes.
There was still a lot of room left in the suitcase.
Yu Na eyed the suitcase and asked, "Oh right, why don't I pack you some snacks?"
"No need," Xiao Chen gave a helpless smile, "I'm not going famine relief, the snacks are what I bought for you, just eat them yourself."
"Then...how about some candy?" she glanced at the lemon drops on the coffee table. "You can eat them when you're bored."
"Candy huh—" Following her line of sight, Xiao Chen also saw the lemon drops. They were the same kind they had eaten together at the hotel that day. At this thought, he suddenly grabbed the back of her head and kissed her lightly on the lips, "It's no fun eating this candy by myself."
"..."
After packing his luggage, while Xiao Chen was showering, Yu Na still stuffed him several packets of candy on the sly.
The next morning when Xiao Chen set off, Yu Na got up bright and early. Xiao Chen was still fast asleep.
She moved very lightly and tiptoed out of the bedroom to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for him.
There was freshly cooked porridge in the rice cooker and shrimp dumplings in the steamer.
Yu Na took out two eggs from the fridge and beat them in a bowl.
After washing up, Xiao Chen heard the sounds from the kitchen and walked over. He saw Yu Na wearing his white T-shirt, with an apron around her waist, frying eggs in a frying pan.
Oblivious to his presence behind her.
Xiao Chen felt his heart pierced by a warm force. He walked up behind her and pulled her into his embrace.
Yu Na was startled and patted the hands around her waist, "You scared me!"
"Why did you get up so early?"
"To make breakfast for you."
Yu Na didn't struggle out of his hold. She tilted her head and said, "You've always taken care of me before, so I wanted to make breakfast for you once too."
Xiao Chen chuckled softly, his breath tickling her neck, "Yu Na."
"Hmm?"
"Do you know what I wrote on the wishing plaque last time?"
"How would I know, you wouldn't even let me see."
Xiao Chen's hold around her tightened slightly, "That I want to marry you."
"Huh?"
"I want to marry you."
The frying pan sizzled as mouthwatering aromas wafted out.
Xiao Chen's voice fell beside her ear, still a little nasal after just waking up. He asked, "Will you marry me?"
With the man behind hugging her tightly, Yu Na's heart thumped wildly.
And at this moment, the golden egg rolls were ready.
Yu Na turned off the fire and twisted her head around to answer him with a kiss, "What do you think, silly."
"Then will you tell your parents?"
"Okay. But can I have some time?"
"Sure," Xiao Chen said gently, "there's no hurry."
The thing she worried most about marriage being brought up was getting past her parents.
Years ago Xiao Chen had publicly rebuffed her dad, albeit in very gentle words, but it was still a slap in the face for someone so commanding and superior.
Moreover, initially, to evade all kinds of "matchmaking", Yu Na had used Xiao Chen as a shield. Her dad was firmly against it.
So now, she was very worried that dad still wouldn't agree.
It would be best to talk about this face-to-face. She had to find a suitable opportunity.
After Xiao Chen left for his business trip, Yu Na commuted to and from work by herself every day.
Huating No.1 was very close to the school, no need to squeeze onto subways or buses, she could just walk over. She treated it as a stroll.
They video called every night. Xiao Chen would keep her company until she fell asleep before hanging up.
That day when he was tidying his suitcase, he discovered several packets of candy stuffed inside that Yu Na had sneaked in for him.
He tore open a pack of the lemon drops they ate at the hotel last time and popped one into his mouth.
Sweet and sour, it seemed to still carry the sweetness of that day.
Xiao Chen's gaze softened as he stared at his phone wallpaper—her photo.
She was probably at school now. Her phone was always on silent mode when she was at school.
Xiao Chen sent Yu Na a message—
[I miss you]
...
She saw his WeChat when it was after-school self-study period.
Yu Na didn't need to invigilate in the classroom that day.
She was in the office with Jiang Yu sitting next to her doing questions.
Seeing Xiao Chen's message, the corners of Yu Na's lips quirked up as her eyes crinkled into crescents, her entire person immersed in sweetness.
Jiang Yu glanced up, his expression cold.
He said, "Aren't you afraid of me reporting you for dating during work hours?"
Yu Na: ?
"I don't need to invigilate today, so now is after my working hours."
Jiang Yu said, "You shouldn't have become a teacher."
"You've said that more than once—" Yu Na put her phone away, "What does it have to do with you whether or not I become a teacher?"
"You're stubborn. It'd be better if people like you quit."
Yu Na folded her arms and leaned against the back of her chair, "Mind your own business. You keep saying I shouldn't be a teacher every day, could it be that you have some disreputable identity? Hmm?"
Jiang Yu's heart skipped a beat.
He couldn't expose himself, so he quickly changed his words, "What I mean is, with your looks, you can earn a lot of money in showbiz."
"..."
He added awkwardly, "You can lead a good life if you earn more money."
Yu Na tsked twice, "Thanks for complimenting me, but I hate it the most when others meddle with my affairs."
Jiang Yu: "If you don't listen to advice, you'll end up falling flat on your face sooner or later."
"..." Yu Na gave him a resounding slap, "Who're you calling a dog?"
"You."
...
Yu Na paid no heed to Jiang Yu's words.
It would be Friday the day after tomorrow. She planned on going to meet Xiao Chen in City A. Coincidentally Xiao Chen would be returning on Sunday, so they could go back to Chang Wan together.
That night when Yu Na video called Xiao Chen, she said, "I'll give you a surprise on Friday, 'kay."
Xiao Chen had just gotten out of the shower and was drying his hair. He asked, "What surprise?"
"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you now, would it?"
"Alright, I'll wait for it then."
There was an end-of-term test during after-school self-study on Thursday night.
Before self-study started, Yu Na went back to Huating No.1 to fetch her laptop.
On her way back to school, as she passed by a less populated area, she caught sight of Jiang Yu's figure.
There were hardly any people around there. Jiang Yu had his phone in hand, seemingly calling someone.
Yu Na felt like he was always acting suspiciously.
She halted her steps.
"Uncle Zhou, please relay to President Yu on my behalf that I have no way of getting Teacher Yu Na to resign."
Yu Na was given a shock. She continued listening in.
"If possible, I hope Mr. You can respect her choice. She takes this job very seriously and seems to really like it, so I have no way to force her," said Jiang Yu, his face showing distress. After a brief silence, he continued, "I really don't know about her love life. She probably isn't dating anyone."
He felt guilty about lying, stumbling over his words, his eyes darting around nervously.
Suddenly, he saw Yu Na not far away, and the two made eye contact.
Yu Na had heard every word of Jiang Yu's phone conversation clearly.
Jiang Yu was taken aback.
