SYLM Chapter 18
by VolareChapter 18 The Power Outage Incident (Three-in-One Chapter)
Considering they needed to buy a lot of things, the two discussed it and decided to take a taxi to the largest supermarket in Ningcheng County.
Five minutes later, they got out of the taxi at the entrance of the supermarket.
After entering the supermarket, Chen Lu, familiar with the place, immediately grabbed an empty shopping cart.
Gu Wan Jun, beside her, subconsciously wanted to take it and push it herself, but Chen Lu subtly pushed the shopping cart away from her:
“I’ll push it, teacher. What should we buy first?”
“Hmm…let’s go look at the meat and vegetables first.”
The hand that didn’t get to push the shopping cart turned a corner, and Gu Wan Jun curved her eyes, naturally hooking Chen Lu’s arm.
The arm that was hooked stiffened noticeably. The familiar scent of white tea was close at hand, almost engulfing her. Chen Lu replied with a barely audible “okay.”
…
In the produce section.
Watching Gu Wan Jun carefully pick and choose, and then one after another put the not-so-fresh “landmine” vegetables into the shopping cart, Chen Lu’s eyes widened each time, but she always held back from saying anything.
Anyway, they’ll be eaten soon, so it doesn’t matter if they’re not too fresh.
Chen Lu reassured herself in her heart.
However, until she saw Gu Wan Jun picking through a pile of radishes and accurately selecting the two oldest ones, Chen Lu, who had been thinking about whether to stir-fry, make hot pot, or eat Oden tonight, finally couldn’t stand it anymore. She softly interrupted her:
“Teacher, let me pick the vegetables. You can go buy something else first. We can be faster if we split up.”
“Hmm, you’re right, it’s getting late.”
Gu Wan Jun raised her hand and looked at her watch, “Then I’ll go look at the seasonings. Thank you for picking the vegetables.”
Gu Wan Jun smiled, not thinking too much about it.
After speaking, the clueless Gu Wan Jun put down the two oldest radishes in her hand and turned to the seasoning section.
…
Seeing Gu Wan Jun walk away, Chen Lu breathed a sigh of relief. She took out the not-so-fresh vegetables from the shopping cart and then reselected them.
When her grandmother was alive, she often took Chen Lu to the market. Chen Lu could pick out the freshest vegetables from a pile when she was very young. She learned most of her cooking skills from her grandmother. Plus, she had a few years of living alone, so buying groceries and cooking were easy for her now.
After weighing the vegetables and getting the price tag, Chen Lu pushed the shopping cart to the seasoning area to find Gu Wan Jun, but she couldn’t find the person she was looking for after searching for a long time.
After looking around, Chen Lu turned the shopping cart around and planned to go to another area to find Gu Wan Jun, but her eyes inadvertently caught sight of the flower section not far away.
Recalling Gu Wan Jun’s two pitiful little potted plants, Chen Lu subconsciously pushed the shopping cart towards the flower section.
As she got closer, the dazzling array of plant pots made Chen Lu’s eyes blur, unsure of which one to choose.
At the same time, the small aquarium area next to it also attracted her attention.
…
Meanwhile, in the household goods section.
Holding a few cans of seasonings and two bags of coffee candies, Gu Wan Jun stood in front of the shelf, struggling to choose between two pairs of gloves in different colors and styles.
The pink pair felt thicker and warmer, but would Chen Lu like this color?
Remembering that the masks Chen Lu usually wore were either gray or black, Gu Wan Jun shook her head to herself.
She rehung the pink gloves and then took the Morandi gray pair from the adjacent hook.
This pair felt thinner but was five yuan more expensive than the pink pair. It should be the best one could find in this supermarket. You get what you pay for, so they should be warm enough.
Afraid that the size wouldn’t fit, Gu Wan Jun even tried them on first.
When she was on the bus, she observed Chen Lu’s hands. The girl’s palms weren’t big, but her fingers were slender and long, with distinct knuckles, and visually looked bigger than her own hands.
In this case, she would need to buy larger gloves.
Then this pair it is.
After choosing the gloves, Gu Wan Jun held the things in her arms and planned to leave the household goods section.
She had bought everything she needed, right?
Gu Wan Jun counted the things in her hand while taking out her phone, preparing to send a message to Chen Lu asking where she was.
Just as she left the household goods section, before she could send the edited message, Gu Wan Jun looked up and happened to run into Chen Lu, pushing a shopping cart, coming from who knows where.
“You’re here. I was just about to send you a message. What is this…?”
Gu Wan Jun put her phone in her pocket, her increasingly surprised gaze scanning the person in front of her from top to bottom.
Chen Lu was pushing the cart with one hand and carrying a bag of who knows where the little goldfish came from in the other. The shopping cart also inexplicably had a small pot of succulents and a large pot of clivia.
…
Seeing that Gu Wan Jun was holding a pile of things, Chen Lu thoughtfully pushed the shopping cart forward, making it easier for her to put the things in.
Seeing the coffee candies placed in the shopping cart along with the bottles and jars of seasonings, Chen Lu was a little puzzled.
Didn’t this person seem to like White Rabbit candies a few days ago? How did she change her taste so quickly?
Despite her confusion, Chen Lu silently remembered the brand of coffee candy.
…
After putting the things in the shopping cart and freeing up her hands, Gu Wan Jun poked the fleshy tip of the succulent with her index finger and touched the leaves of the clivia, smiling:
“Where did the little goldfish and potted plants come from?”
“I bought them in the flower section. The owner said they are very suitable for putting at home.”
“That’s great, they’re very beautiful, very suitable for you.”
“Um… these are bought for you.”
“Bought for me?”
A hint of surprise flashed in her beautiful peach blossom eyes. Meeting Gu Wan Jun’s straightforward gaze, Chen Lu lowered her head and raised the plastic bag containing a pair of little goldfish, explaining:
“Um, consider it a casual housewarming gift.”
“…”
Hearing that it was a housewarming gift, Gu Wan Jun felt that Chen Lu was really thoughtful, but despite her gratitude, Gu Wan Jun clearly refused:
“No, how can I let you spend money on a gift for me?”
“Why not?”
“I’m a teacher, you’re a student. How can I spend your money? I appreciate your kind intentions, but I’ll pay for it later.”
“The flowers and fish are sold separately. I’ve already paid for them.”
“…”
“I bought these willingly. Teacher, you don’t need to feel burdened.”
“No.”
“They’re not expensive.”
“It’s still not okay, even if they’re not expensive.”
“Teacher, don’t you like these?”
“…”
Listening to Chen Lu’s cautious and tentative tone, Gu Wan Jun was stunned. She felt as if her heart had been stung by something and quickly softened her tone to explain:
“This isn’t a matter of whether I like them or not, it’s just that I really can’t let you spend money on me.”
“So you do like them?”
Chen Lu got the point. Those usually cold crescent eyes unconsciously curved into an arc:
“It’s good that you like them. You treat me to dinner, and I give you a housewarming gift. Isn’t that normal?”
“That’s not right. I’m treating you to dinner because you helped me move and worked hard. This is what we agreed on before the move.” Gu Wan Jun wasn’t so easily confused.
“But I should also give you a gift for your move, and this isn’t an expensive gift, just a small token of my appreciation.”
“But—”
“Okay, teacher, it’s getting late. Let’s hurry back after we buy everything. I’m hungry.”
Seeing that she couldn’t reach a conclusion, Chen Lu simply took a different approach. While changing the subject, she grabbed Gu Wan Jun’s coat sleeve and pulled her closer.
Regardless of whether Gu Wan Jun agreed, Chen Lu directly handed the little goldfish in her hand to the person in front of her:
“By the way, it’s a bit inconvenient to push the cart with one hand. Please take your gift yourself, teacher.”
“…”
…
Afterward, the two went to other sections to buy other things.
This included a transparent fish tank that would soon be used to hold a pair of little goldfish.
When paying, Chen Lu held the little goldfish in her left hand and a large pot of clivia in her right, standing obediently to the side, waiting for Gu Wan Jun to pay.
As they were about to reach the supermarket entrance, Chen Lu originally planned to lift the curtain first to make it easier for Gu Wan Jun behind her to exit, but the person behind her suddenly grabbed her collar and pulled her back.
Gu Wan Jun tore off the tag of the newly bought Morandi gray gloves and handed them to Chen Lu.
“Perfect timing. Put them on and try them out to see if they’re warm.”
“For me?” Chen Lu looked at Gu Wan Jun, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
“Yeah, do you like this color?”
“…”
Touching the soft fabric, Chen Lu was both surprised and happy, but on the surface, she just nodded lightly.
After putting on one glove, the warm and soft touch traveled from her palm to her heart.
Seemingly thinking of something, Chen Lu suddenly raised her eyes and stared at Gu Wan Jun, who had been watching her. The complex emotions in her eyes couldn’t be hidden.
“What’s wrong? Are they not fitting properly?”
“You’re only allowed to buy things for me? Why can’t I buy things for you?”
“…”
Tentative, questioning, aggrieved, coquettish, shy, and a small bit of anger, like cat claws scratching at the tip of her heart…
Their eyes met, as if an electric current ran through her body. Gu Wan Jun couldn’t describe Chen Lu’s expression, as if she had been lucky enough to discover a treasure buried under a ten-thousand-foot glacier that had never been revealed.
This was the first time Gu Wan Jun had seen such a soft and defenseless side of Chen Lu.
—
The two took a taxi home.
By the time they got back, it was completely dark, and it happened to be snowing outside.
Seeing that it was getting late and they had school and work tomorrow, the two decided to have hot pot tonight.
Rose Garden, 302.
Outside the window, the snow was falling harder and harder. In the kitchen, under the warm yellow light, the two were shoulder to shoulder at the sink, washing vegetables.
To be exact, only Chen Lu was washing vegetables.
Gu Wan Jun’s hand was injured, so it wasn’t convenient for her to touch water. Originally, she wanted to cut the vegetables, but Chen Lu wasn’t comfortable with that either, afraid that she would cut herself again with her injured hand, so she kept her by her side to chat.
Gu Wan Jun was wearing a black tight-fitting turtleneck sweater today. With her sleeves rolled up, her snow-white forearms were exposed to the air, and the tight and beautiful lines were faintly visible.
Chen Lu was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt. Gu Wan Jun helped her tie her hair into a bun behind her head with her own hair tie because she was afraid that her hair would get in the way. The hair problem was solved, but the loose sweatshirt sleeves couldn’t be rolled up at all. Gu Wan Jun didn’t know how many times she had rolled up her sleeves just while washing spinach.
Every time the cool and delicate fingertips brushed against the skin on her forearm, Chen Lu would unconsciously frown. She asked Gu Wan Jun several times if she was wearing too little, otherwise why would her hands be so cold.
As if thinking of something, Gu Wan Jun supported herself on the cabinet with one hand and smiled as she shared with Chen Lu:
“My hands and feet have been cold since I was a child. When I was little, my sister would warm my hands, but she found that they wouldn’t warm up no matter what.”
“Your sister?”
“Yeah, I have an older sister. She’s eight years older than me and is a doctor.”
“Do you two look alike?”
“Which aspect are you talking about? In terms of appearance, we look a lot alike. We both look like my mother.”
“What about personality?”
“Um…”
Gu Wan Jun thought for a moment and chuckled:
“In terms of personality, you could say we’re nothing alike. My sister has always been obedient since she was a child and has hardly ever worried my parents.”
“Are you disobedient?” Chen Lu was a little curious.
“It’s more than just disobedient.”
Gu Wan Jun sighed with a smile.
Perhaps it was because Chen Lu was more mature and considerate than others her age, but Gu Wan Jun was telling someone about her experiences for the first time.
This included choosing her major after the college entrance examination behind her parents’ backs and then resolutely going against her parents’ wishes to work in Ningcheng after graduating with a master’s degree.
After listening, Chen Lu fell into thought.
Before, she couldn’t understand why a top student like Gu Wan Jun would come to a small county to teach, but now she understood.
Had Gu Wan Jun told other students about these experiences?
…
Seeing Chen Lu lower her eyes and remain silent, Gu Wan Jun thought that she had said too much and made her feel embarrassed. She hooked her lips, thinking of ending the topic in a teasing way:
“So, I’m indeed a daughter who gives her parents a headache.”
“Although you have different opinions, I think they must be proud of you in their hearts.”
“…”
The smile of self-deprecation on her lips gradually faded, and a few hints of shock appeared in Gu Wan Jun’s eyes, who had wanted to skip this topic.
Chen Lu’s answer was something she hadn’t expected.
Meeting the young girl’s sincere and serious gaze, Gu Wan Jun inexplicably felt a little nervous. She suddenly began to look forward to what else she would say next.
Their eyes met, and Chen Lu shook the water droplets off her hands, truthfully expressing her thoughts in a sincere tone:
“Teacher, you just said that your parents both taught in rural areas for more than ten years. During this time, more superior schools that could offer higher salaries extended olive branches to them, but they never wavered. In their era, such persistence was enough to show their enthusiasm and dedication to education.”
“You said that they object to you teaching in a small county because they are getting old and have forgotten their original intentions, but from the perspective of an outsider like me, they scold you and object to you because they know how hard this path is. But if they were to go back to the past, I believe they would still be willing to dedicate their lives to education but would still not want you to choose this path, because in their eyes, they can have a hard life themselves, but they don’t want their children to have a hard life.”
“In fact, while objecting to you and feeling sorry for you, they must inevitably feel proud of you in their hearts, because you are people with the same beliefs, the same goals, and the same spirit. Although you are in different eras, your choices are surprisingly consistent. When they see you, they will definitely think of themselves when they were young and full of enthusiasm. How can they not be proud?”
“…”
Although Gu Wan Jun knew that Chen Lu had read many books, had her own opinions on many things, and was more mature than others her age even before this conversation, she would still be shocked when she heard her sincere and insightful words.
She realized that she really couldn’t just treat Chen Lu as a child anymore.
Gu Wan Jun wanted to say something, but unfortunately, the soup pot with the hot pot base boiling on the living room table happened to boil over.
It was time to add the ingredients.
The unfinished topic had to be temporarily put on hold.
…
On the table, the soup was bubbling in the pot, and white hot air rose up. Chen Lu, who was used to this scene, wasn’t flustered. She put the washed and cut ingredients into the pot one by one.
Gu Wan Jun stood across the table, helping to put the ingredients into the pot as well.
From her tense expression and slightly flustered movements, it could be seen that she didn’t have much cooking experience.
The hot pot pot this time was brought by Chen Lu from her home. Besides the pot for stir-frying, Gu Wan Jun’s house only had a small pot for boiling noodles, which was a little small for two people to use.
After the ingredients were added, Chen Lu put the lid on the pot, and they could eat as soon as it boiled again.
…
While waiting for the pot to boil, Gu Wan Jun originally wanted to continue the unfinished topic from just now, but when she turned her head, she found that Chen Lu had brought a few cans of iced cola from her refrigerator.
Chen Lu was just about to open the cola, but Gu Wan Jun grabbed her hand:
“We’re going to eat hot pot later. Don’t drink anything cold, it’s easy to get a stomach ache.”
“…”
With obvious concern in her gentle tone, Chen Lu was a little dazed when her hand was grabbed.
After her grandmother passed away, this was the first time someone had cared about her in her daily life.
The long-lost concern gradually made Chen Lu put down her mature facade. She obediently put the iced cola in her hand on the table and discussed with Gu Wan Jun in a good-natured manner:
“I haven’t had cola in a long time. I’ll just drink a little.”
“It’s not that I’m not letting you drink cola, it’s just that it’s too cold. We’re going to eat something hot later, which isn’t good for your teeth or your stomach. Why don’t we warm it up in water before drinking it?”
“I want to drink something cold, just a little bit. You can pour it into a cup for me. I’ll drink as much as you pour, and I promise not to drink more, okay?”
“…”
Who could refuse Chen Lu’s childlike side after she had let down her guard?
Anyway, Gu Wan Jun couldn’t refuse.
It was rare that Chen Lu was willing to let her take care of her.
Putting aside everything else, one was willing to take care of someone, and the other was willing to be taken care of. Who wouldn’t sigh and say that the two were meant to be?
…
During the hot pot, the two ate and chatted. From constellations and zodiac signs to news and books, the two almost simultaneously discovered the fact that they were very compatible with each other.
During the meal, Chen Lu kept her word. Gu Wan Jun poured her a small half cup of iced cola, and she only drank that much.
Adhering to the principle of not wasting food, the two cooked as much as they ate, so that in the end, all that was left in the pot was the soup base, and the ingredients that hadn’t been put in the pot were placed in the refrigerator by Gu Wan Jun.
…
In the kitchen.
Considering that Gu Wan Jun couldn’t touch water with her hand, Chen Lu automatically took over the task of washing the dishes after the meal.
The girl stood in front of the sink, washing the pot and dishes. The warm yellow light outlined her soft and smooth profile, and her delicate skin was illuminated even whiter by the light. A small tuft of hair stuck up on her fluffy bun, swaying with its owner’s neat movements.
The sound of dripping water spread to every corner of the room. Gu Wan Jun, who had finished wiping the table, came to the kitchen, and Chen Lu’s quiet profile caught her eye.
Gu Wan Jun put the rag aside, propped herself up on the cabinet, and reached out to tuck Chen Lu’s stray hair behind her ear. A gentle smile that even she herself didn’t notice unconsciously appeared in her peach blossom eyes.
From graduating and starting work until now, Gu Wan Jun was experiencing for the first time what it felt like to have someone by her side.
…
On the living room table, two little goldfish waved their beautiful tails, swimming back and forth in the newly bought fish tank, seemingly familiarizing themselves with their new home.
After washing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen, Chen Lu, considering that Gu Wan Jun was tired from moving and might want to rest early, prepared to go home with the cleaned pot.
Hearing Chen Lu say she was leaving, the smile on Gu Wan Jun’s face suddenly faded. She looked at the time. It wasn’t even ten o’clock yet. It was still early.
Could she stay a little longer?
The sudden reluctance pushed the words of retention to Gu Wan Jun’s lips, but she couldn’t say them.
Had she already experienced withdrawal symptoms after just one day, or even less than a day?
Was this situation normal?
Gu Wan Jun asked herself in her heart.
…
“Thank you for your hard work today, thank you for helping me move, and thank you for your housewarming gifts. The little goldfish are very cute, and the succulents and clivia are all beautiful. I like them very much.” Gu Wan Jun heard herself say this.
As soon as she finished speaking, the two almost simultaneously glanced at the fish tank on the table.
“You’re welcome. Teacher, you should rest early too. See you tomorrow.” Chen Lu nodded goodbye.
“See you tomorrow, good night.” Gu Wan Jun prepared to see Chen Lu out.
The two walked to the door. Chen Lu put the pot on the shoe cabinet. She was about to change her shoes when the bright lights in front of her suddenly flickered twice and then went out completely.
A tripped circuit breaker? A power outage?
Before Chen Lu could carefully think about what situation it was, a cold hand suddenly grabbed her hand in the darkness!
For people who are afraid of the dark, a sudden power outage or tripped circuit breaker is unimaginably terrifying.
In the moment before she was surrounded by endless darkness, Gu Wan Jun’s shoulders trembled. She had no time to think. She was instinctively looking for someone or something that could make her feel safe.
So she took Chen Lu’s hand.
That slender hand wasn’t much warmer than her own, but at the moment the two hands touched, Gu Wan Jun felt Chen Lu hold her hand back hard. Then she heard the girl’s familiar and reassuring voice in her ear:
“It’s okay. I don’t know if it’s a tripped circuit breaker or a power outage. I’m here.”
“Mm.”
Gu Wan Jun responded. The fear of the dark didn’t take away all of her rationality. She almost immediately found her phone on the table and turned on the phone’s flashlight.
At the same time, Chen Lu also took out her phone and opened the WeChat group chat for the residents of her building to check the situation.
There were many people in the group mentioning the property manager and asking why there was a sudden power outage. The property management hadn’t come out to explain yet, and there was no power outage notice in the group beforehand. It seemed like it was a sudden power outage.
Chen Lu told Gu Wan Jun about the situation in the group and added Gu Wan Jun to the WeChat group for the residents of her building.
“We don’t know when the power will come back on yet. We need to save the phone’s battery. I have candles at my house. I’ll go get them.” Chen Lu suggested.
As soon as she finished speaking, Gu Wan Jun opened her mouth, looking like she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Could she go with her?
Perhaps they were telepathic, and the moment this thought popped into Gu Wan Jun’s mind, Chen Lu’s calm voice rang out again:
“Teacher, do you want to come with me?”
“…”
…
Two minutes later, after closing the door of 302, the two came to 301 holding hands.
After entering the door, Chen Lu turned on the light switch in the living room in case the power came back on and they didn’t know.
In the warm yellow light of the flashlight, Chen Lu took one step, and Gu Wan Jun followed one step.
Relying on her good memory and the good habit of putting things back where she found them, Chen Lu quickly found a bundle of red candles in the cabinet above the kitchen.
One minute later, the orange-red flame jumped on the wick of the red candle, and the light it emitted, although faint, was also reassuring.
“There are more candles here, teacher. You can take two back with you later.”
“…”
Looking at the candlelight that was constantly changing shape with the flow of air, Gu Wan Jun was just about to brace herself and say okay, but the next moment she heard Chen Lu say:
“If you’re not in a hurry to rest, teacher, you can stay at my house for a while and wait for the power to come back on—”
“I’m not in a hurry to rest.” Gu Wan Jun answered very quickly this time.
…
Chen Lu carried the candle to the living room, and Gu Wan Jun turned off her phone’s flashlight.
Just now, her phone had given her a low battery warning at 20%.
After sitting on the sofa, Gu Wan Jun began to look around the living room.
The living room was simply decorated. The only thing that showed signs of life was the set of white table and chairs placed in front of the bay window on the balcony.
That was probably where Chen Lu usually did her homework or wrote novels.
On the left and right sides of the square table, leaning against the wall, were two reddish-brown bookshelves that were estimated to be 1.7 meters tall. Each shelf in the two cabinets was filled with books, and several blue sticky notes were pasted on the edge of the cabinet door.
Probably memos or schedules or something like that.
Gu Wan Jun guessed secretly.
Before long, Chen Lu, who was sitting next to her, handed over a portable charger with a data cable plugged in: “There’s still no news in the group. Charge your phone first.”
“Thank you.”
Gu Wan Jun once again felt Chen Lu’s reliability and thoughtfulness.
…
On the table, the edge of the candlelight flickered with a faint blue light, like stars emitting faint light in the night sky.
“That—” “Teacher—”
The two almost simultaneously spoke, breaking the silence.
“You go first.” “You go first.”
Another tacit understanding.
The next moment, Chen Lu heard Gu Wan Jun’s pleasant chuckle:
“This is the second time. We’re quite tacit. I don’t have anything to say. I’m just chatting. You go first.”
“Um… a few days ago, you said you wanted to give me some suggestions for that novel of mine called ‘Trapped Cage.’ Do you remember?”
“Yeah, I remember.”
Recalling the protagonist and the plot, Gu Wan Jun still remembered them vividly.
This novel belongs to social reasoning and revolves around the female lead, Gu Ling.
A well-known and popular acting queen who became famous at a young age has extremely strong professional skills but is often at the center of public opinion storms for various reasons. She can withstand the scolding and accept the praise. Gu Ling is an extremely powerful female character.
In the subsequent side-line reasoning part of the book, an important female supporting character, Ding Bai Xiao, also appeared, a genius female writer who came out of the mountains, dared to love and hate, and hated evil.
Although she is only a supporting role, Ding Bai Xiao is crucial to the entire story line. She is involved in a murder case by accident and later discovers that she has become a scapegoat for the female star Gu Ling, thus starting a life of running away while being wanted and secretly investigating.
The two female characters love and kill each other, are both enemies and friends, and the plot design is very outstanding.
However, Chen Lu hasn’t finished writing the novel “Trapped Cage” yet. The plot has only been updated to the point where Ding Bai Xiao is identified by the police as a murderer and has to desperately escape.
Relying on her sensitivity to words and plots, Gu Wan Jun suggested that Chen Lu could further explore Ding Bai Xiao’s character. If possible, it would be best to add Gu Ling and Ding Bai Xiao’s dual perspectives.
Listening to Gu Wan Jun’s analysis, Chen Lu’s notebook, which she didn’t know when she had taken out, was already filled with a chapter.
…
It wasn’t until the two had discussed how to improve and revise the novel that the property personnel in the residents’ group issued a notice saying that the power outage was a sudden event.
The property said that they had reported it to the power bureau as soon as possible, and now the power bureau was looking for the cause and had also sent technicians to investigate the problem. They asked everyone not to worry.
In short, they still didn’t know when the power would come back on.
The two almost simultaneously sighed.
At the same time, Chen Lu also received a “help” message from her friend Fu Yi Wen.
[Lu Lu! Emergency! A sister is more important than anything! Send me the homework for other subjects besides math!]
[……]
After all, there was a difference between teachers and students. Chen Lu felt a little guilty when she saw this message. She glanced at Gu Wan Jun beside her and typed:
[Our neighborhood has a power outage. It’s not very convenient right now. Wait a moment.]
As soon as the message was sent, Chen Lu’s phone started vibrating non-stop, and soon the phone page was flooded with Fu Yi Wen’s messages—
[Power outage? Are you okay? Are you safe?]
[Then don’t send it to me. I’ll ask Jiang Zhen Zhen. She shouldn’t be asleep yet at this point.]
[Why does the school district housing always have power outages? Seriously. Be safe at home!]
[Call me directly if anything happens!]
[I’m not chatting anymore. Save your phone’s battery. I have to do homework too!]
[Don’t forget to tell me when the power comes back on!]
[……]
The successive vibrations almost numbed Chen Lu’s hand. She wanted to turn on silent mode, but it was too late.
Seeming to notice that something was wrong, Gu Wan Jun’s concerned voice rang out immediately:
“What’s wrong? Who keeps sending you messages?”
“It’s nothing. It’s Fu Yi Wen. She’s afraid I’m not safe at home with the power outage.” Chen Lu’s tone was calm. She wasn’t lying either.
“Didn’t you tell her you were with me?”
“…”
Perhaps it was because of the power outage and the late-night time, but Chen Lu felt that something was wrong with these words, no matter how she heard them. She blinked and vaguely answered Gu Wan Jun, then forcibly ended the topic.
…
After ending the chat with Fu Yi Wen, Chen Lu put down her phone.
Seeing that it was almost eleven o’clock, Chen Lu was a little worried about Gu Wan Jun’s rest, but before she could ask, Gu Wan Jun, who was sitting next to her, suddenly pointed to the chess box under the table, saying in a somewhat surprised tone:
“You know how to play Chinese chess?”
“Yeah, a little.” Chen Lu nodded.
“Are you sleepy?”
“No.” Chen Lu shook her head.
“I’m not sleepy either. Anyway, the power hasn’t come back on, and it’s boring to stay here. Let’s play a game. The loser gets flicked on the forehead.”
“…”
One minute later, the chessboard was set up, and the generals were in their positions.
Chen Lu thought that her Chinese chess skills weren’t bad, but when she played against Gu Wan Jun, she only lasted for more than ten minutes before being checkmated.
And this was even after Gu Wan Jun had given her several hints and given her a two-move handicap.
How could this person be so good at playing Chinese chess too?
…
“Ahem, your ‘general’ can’t escape. I win again.”
At the end of the third game, the victory was decided. Gu Wan Jun’s eyes sparkled, and she said as she raised the corners of her lips, using her chariot to eat Chen Lu’s “general.”
As soon as she finished speaking, accompanied by a slight rustling sound from the direction of the electric meter outside the door, the living room was instantly plunged into darkness, then lit up, and the faces of the people in front of her, which had been shadowy, became clear.
The power was back on.
The power outage tonight was really sudden, and the power came back on suddenly too.
The clock on the wall was about to point to midnight. Chen Lu blew out the unused candles on the table.
…
It was time to go home.
Time passed so quickly.
Gu Wan Jun reluctantly put down the “general” she had just eaten and got up to say goodbye to Chen Lu.
…
As she walked to the door, as if thinking of something, Gu Wan Jun suddenly turned around. Chen Lu, who was distracted thinking about other things, was startled and spoke with a slightly flustered tone:
“What’s wrong? Did you forget something?”
“The forehead flick from just now hasn’t been given yet.”
Gu Wan Jun raised her eyebrows, and a gentle slyness flashed quickly in her peach blossom eyes.
As soon as she finished speaking, before Chen Lu could react, the cool, smooth fingernails of the person in front of her had already touched her forehead and flicked it lightly.
Such a small action stirred the entire pool of spring water.
Looking at those affectionate and smiling peach blossom eyes, Chen Lu felt that her heartbeat was like a wild horse off its leash. Her palate to the back of her head was numb.
…
It wasn’t until she had sent Gu Wan Jun away and leaned against the door panel to calm down that Chen Lu raised her hand and touched her pounding heart. The powerful trembling numbed her palms, and she realized that something was wrong with her.
Why did she always feel her heart race because of Gu Wan Jun?
A thought flashed through her mind, and Chen Lu’s expression changed suddenly. She subconsciously shook her head repeatedly in denial.
But what she didn’t know was that shaking her head in denial was useless at all. A certain thought that shouldn’t have been there had already imperceptibly followed the blood into her heart, taking root, sprouting, and growing wantonly.
…
—
Monday morning, an unexpected snowstorm.
The cold wind howled and raged, and the fluttering snow was as dense as a curtain. Students hurrying to school struggled to walk in the wind and snow, the ice and snow particles hitting their faces like knives, making it almost impossible to open their eyes.
The heavy snow started falling in the second half of last night, and in just a few tens of minutes, the entire city was already a vast expanse of white.
Early in the morning, various primary and secondary schools forwarded the blizzard suspension notice issued by the Education Bureau.
Except for Ningcheng No. 1 High School.
Learning time is precious before the college entrance examination. Every minute counts. Let alone a snowstorm, even if knives were falling from the sky, the principal of Ningcheng No. 1 High School would probably make the students come to school with pots on their heads.
…
Second Year (12) Class.
Even with a mask on, Chen Lu’s face was still frozen red from the walk.
She had just entered the classroom and hadn’t had time to shake off the snow when Fu Yi Wen entered through the back door of the classroom right behind her.
“Hey, Lu Lu, who was that person who came into the teaching building with you just now?”
“Hmm?”
“Tsk, it’s that person wearing a light purple long down jacket. I saw her hooking your arm!”
“…”
Fu Yi Wen went straight to the point, and Chen Lu’s face felt hot from what she said.
Remembering that Gu Wan Jun felt that it was windy when she left in the morning, and had been actively hooking her arm ever since they left the residential area, Chen Lu unnaturally looked away from Fu Yi Wen, trying to change the subject:
“Which subject’s homework do you want to