Yu Na's cellphone was on silent mode when she was at school, so she didn't notice Xiao Chen's WeChat message.
When she got home, Yu Na took off her coat as usual, then went to hang it up in her room.
As soon as she opened the bedroom door, the mottled dim light came into view.
The bedroom light was off, and the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree by the window shed light around the room, with shadows projected onto the white walls. The top of the tree blinked on and off.
It was as if she was walking through a golden dream.
She first put her coat over the back of a chair, then saw a very beautiful white gift box under the Christmas tree, with a certain luxury brand's logo on it.
Opening the gift box, inside was the latest model of handbag.
She knew without guessing who had left it there.
Only she and Xiao Chen knew the password to the door of Huating One, and only they had the key.
Yu Na quickly took out her phone, and sure enough saw three WeChat messages from Xiao Chen -
【Gift under the Christmas tree】
【Did you think I'd forget?】
【Silly girl】
A thrill shot through her like a meteor, and Yu Na was clearly unprepared for this sudden surprise.
She took a deep breath.
This guy! How! So! Cute!
Yu Na sat in front of the dresser, biting her lower lip forcefully, but couldn't feel any pain at all. Both on the surface and deep down, from the inside out, everything was suffused with sweetness.
Yu Na replied: 【You!!】
After three minutes, he replied:
C:【Hmm hmm hmm? What's up?】
C:【I just got home】
N:【You! Why! Didn't! Tell! Me! Earlier!】
C:【Would it be interesting if I told you earlier?】
C:【What if you got bored of me and dumped me after knowing?】
C:【Then my mom would rip me to shreds right?】
Sitting at the desk, Yu Na laughed out loud when she saw this message.
He really is!
N:【Then didn't you get scolded by me for nothing? [Sad]】
C:【Scold away, I've got thick skin anyway】
Yu Na was typing a reply when Xiao Chen's message popped up again —
C:【What man doesn't get scolded by his girlfriend!!!!! [Crying]】
Yu Na laughed and jumped onto the bed, burying her head in the quilt, kicking her legs in the air.
The air was full of happiness.
...
The next morning, Yu Na got up early. She took out ingredients from the fridge and made a sandwich for Xiao Chen.
At 6:50 on the dot, she shouldered her bag and went downstairs on time. After going downstairs, she saw Xiao Chen's car already waiting below.
He had been playing a game, and intentionally glanced at the bag she was carrying after Yu Na ran over and got in the car.
It wasn't the one he had given her. She always carried a plain commuter bag for work.
"Hey."
"Hmm?" Yu Na put the breakfast bag to the side, "What's up?"
"Why aren't you carrying the bag I bought you?"
Yu Na looked at the plain commuter bag on her lap, then shifted her gaze to Xiao Chen's face.
He had a questioning look.
She also explained seriously: "Isn't it not quite appropriate for a teacher to carry such an expensive branded bag...?"
Okay.
That made sense.
But Xiao Chen was feeling playful, and disdainfully tutted.
Yu Na: ?
She poked his arm, "What?"
Xiao Chen ignored her, pulling his arm away, "Not talking to you."
"..."
Yu Na looked at him like he was a misbehaving child, amused as she watched him, and pulled out her killer move, "Didn't you say your love for me is like a tractor climbing a mountain, vroom—"
She suddenly stopped.
She really couldn't say these words naturally, as if they had just been fished from a cauldron of oil. She faltered, "Vroom... vroom... vroom vroom passionately?"
Xiao Chen hadn't expected her to coax him like this, and couldn't help chuckling.
Yu Na was so angry she hit his arm, "You're so annoying!"
Xiao Chen leaned over roguishly, only then noticing the kraft paper bag at her side, "What's that?"
"Breakfast I made for you."
"Oh really? Nice."
When Xiao Chen reached to take it, Yu Na stopped him, asking rhetorically, "There's no such thing as a free lunch, haven't you heard?"
Xiao Chen stared blankly, blinking twice, "But isn't this breakfast?"
"..." Yu Na was rendered speechless for a moment, then said, "Anyway, I can't just give it to you for free."
Xiao Chen: "Oh—"
As he spoke, he leaned sideways to help buckle her seatbelt.
The distance between them suddenly shrank, and their breaths intertwined and tangled in the air.
Xiao Chen moved closer to her, pecking her lips lightly like a dragonfly skimming the water.
Then he lowered his voice, seeing through her little trick, "If you want this, just say so."
His gaze was deep, as if wanting to draw her in unconditionally into these eyes full of affection.
Yu Na's eyelashes fluttered twice, and she didn't answer.
She stuffed the breakfast bag into his hands, then swiftly changed the subject: "By the way—"
He had a casual, rakish air about him after succeeding.
"Did you see my gift for you?"
"No."
Yu Na's expression changed slightly: "..."
Before she could say anything else, Xiao Chen flashed the bracelet on his wrist, bragging, "But I put it on."
"You! Can you stop showing off!"
...
After Christmas came New Year's. December 31st to January 2nd was winter break at school.
The day before, the teachers had a meeting in the afternoon self-study period, emphasizing some matters about the break.
On the second day, the last afternoon class was cancelled, and each class organized a party.
But Class 3 wasn't very interested in the party. It was just performing programs, the same old things over and over.
So they unanimously decided to watch a movie instead.
The weather wasn't great that day, with the skies gloomy.
Yu Na picked a movie that got the highest votes from the class. She drew the curtains, closed the classroom door tightly.
But when the movie properly started, few people were actually watching it seriously. Everyone was whispering to each other, voices growing from small to loud, until they couldn't hold it in anymore, and the classroom became noisy and chaotic.
Yu Na didn't stop them.
Just then, Xiao Chen suddenly sent a WeChat message —
C:【Qiao Rui is going back to his mom's place tonight】
When Yu Na saw the message, she reflexively looked in Qiao Rui's direction. He was saying something to the student in front of him, smiling brightly.
N:【How long is he going back for?】
C:【Coming back after the break】
C:【Come to my place during the holidays?】
Sitting at the lectern, Yu Na's mouth curved up as she replied with a simple: 【Okay】
She just happened to be spotted by Qiao Rui sitting in the last row, and he shamelessly stirred things up: "Yo, Teacher Yu, what's the good news?"
"............"
The students' gazes all shifted to her. Teasing voices and jokes also landed on her.
Yu Na put away her delighted expression, and suddenly stood up, "Since you're not watching the movie anyway, how about we talk about the exams instead, since finals are coming up."
"No no no!"
When it was almost time to leave school, Yu Na paused the movie.
Then she rapped on the lectern and raised her voice: "Make sure you do your homework well during the break. The finals will come right after you get back, so after you return, I'll be strictly checking your homework completion, and will consult with your other teachers for details on your homework progress. Understood?"
Students: "Understood!"
Yu Na added: "Also, it's cold recently. The lake surface has frozen over, but it's only a thin layer. So don't take risks going skating on it. Don't play with your lives, got it?"
The students were eager to leave school, and perfunctorily responded: "Got it!"
