SYLM Chapter 17
by VolareChen Lu quickly brought the first-aid kit.
She opened the lid and found the band-aids, iodine, and cotton swabs.
“Teacher, did you disinfect the wound before applying the band-aid?”
“…No.”
Perhaps aware of her own fault, Gu Wan Jun spoke with some nervousness.
As soon as the words left her mouth, seeing Chen Lu about to frown, Gu Wan Jun’s eyelashes fluttered, and she quickly explained:
“I was too anxious to see the apartment this morning and didn’t have time to disinfect it. Who would have thought the medicine was expired? This can be considered a blessing in disguise, right?”
“…”
Perhaps out of respect for Gu Wan Jun being her homeroom teacher, or perhaps because this person’s smile made it impossible to say anything more, meeting those watery Peach Blossom Eyes, Chen Lu sighed, then lowered her head, and skillfully used cotton swabs to disinfect and treat Gu Wan Jun’s wound, and applied a band-aid.
Chen Lu’s movements were very gentle, and Gu Wan Jun hardly felt any pain.
Looking at the girl’s earnest appearance, Gu Wan Jun rested her chin in her hand and began to wonder if, at some point in the past, Chen Lu had treated her own wounds in the same way, becoming the caring person she is today through practice.
Although Gu Wan Jun’s parents were often away from home when she was young, she had her sister, Gu Wan Rong, who was eight years older, to take care of her, so she hardly suffered any hardships. She was also not good at taking care of others. Her sister often said that it was good enough if she could take care of herself.
But the child in front of her, who was ten years younger than herself, handled these things with ease. On the one hand, it might be because Chen Lu’s grandmother educated her well, and on the other hand…
Gu Wan Jun really didn’t dare to think about how much hardship Chen Lu had endured to grow up to this day.
…
After changing the band-aid, Chen Lu put everything back in its place before closing the lid of the first-aid kit.
Having been busy all afternoon, Gu Wan Jun looked up at the time and saw that it was almost 4:30.
Winter in the Northeast arrives early; the sky outside the window already looked a bit gray.
Apart from the clothes packed in the suitcase and the two potted plants that were inconvenient to pack and had to be carried by hand, Gu Wan Jun’s remaining belongings were almost all packed in cardboard boxes, which were now piled on the floor in the living room.
Gu Wan Jun had originally planned to tidy up herself when she had time, and before it got dark, she and Chen Lu could go out to eat first, but Chen Lu said she wasn’t hungry yet and suggested they finish packing first.
The two rested for a while, then started squatting on the ground, opening the cardboard boxes that had been sealed with transparent tape a few hours earlier, one by one.
Gu Wan Jun had a lot of books, as Chen Lu had noticed while packing.
Because they were in a hurry to pack at the time, there hadn’t been time to take a close look at what books there were. Now, opening the cardboard boxes, Chen Lu suddenly discovered that Gu Wan Jun had books of all kinds and fields.
Including the mystery novels Gu Wan Jun had mentioned.
Of course, these books were only the tip of the iceberg of the books Gu Wan Jun had read.
…
“Have you read all these books?”
“Hmm?”
Gu Wan Jun, who was busy unpacking the kitchen utensils box, turned to look at Chen Lu, who was squatting next to the book box, and smiled gently:
“I’ve read them all. If there’s anything you want to read, you can pick it out and I’ll give it to you.”
“Do you have any recommendations, Teacher?”
“Hmm… The first book in that stack on your right, *Life is a Mess*, is worth reading.”
“Mai Jia’s book?”
“Yes, it’s his book. Have you read his work before?”
“…”
Mentioning Mai Jia, two names flashed through Chen Lu’s mind subconsciously. She hesitated for a few seconds before calmly answering: “I’ve seen it, *The Message*.”
“Ah, I have that book too. I especially like it. Every time I see a movie or TV series adaptation, I reread the original.”
Gu Wan Jun’s eyes were smiling, and her tone was gentle. From her reaction, it was clear that she was simply having a normal conversation with Chen Lu about recommending literature.
…
Seeing that Gu Wan Jun didn’t have any special reaction, Chen Lu breathed a sigh of relief, but along with it came a vague sense of loss and curiosity.
In fact, the moment she heard Gu Wan Jun say she had seen *The Message*, Chen Lu suddenly wanted to ask Gu Wan Jun how she viewed the relationship between Li Ningyu and Gu Xiaomeng.
But the words were on the tip of her tongue, yet she couldn’t bring herself to ask.
Mystery novels often depict vague, obscure, or even “chaotic” emotional relationships. Knowing that Gu Wan Jun liked Renzaburo Utusmi’s books and was used to this type of literature, Chen Lu still felt inexplicably nervous and even a little guilty when she wanted to ask the question.
What was going on?
Chen Lu, who was burying her head in tidying up, unknowingly fell into self-analysis and doubt, and didn’t talk to Gu Wan Jun anymore.
…
5:30 PM Beijing time.
The night had enveloped the outside of the window, and the cardboard boxes piled up in the living room were finally cleared by the two.
After being busy all afternoon, even an iron man would need to eat.
Gu Wan Jun looked at the time and asked Chen Lu what she wanted to eat, and they would go out to eat now.
Chen Lu didn’t answer immediately. She thought for a while, and finally asked Gu Wan Jun if they could buy groceries and cook at home.
Gu Wan Jun was stunned for several seconds by this suggestion, not knowing how to answer.
She could imagine that Chen Lu was probably afraid of spending too much money eating out, but the key was buying groceries and cooking…
Gu Wan Jun didn’t know how to explain to Chen Lu that her cooking skills could only ensure that the food was cooked but couldn’t guarantee the taste, and were really embarrassing.
She really didn’t want to lose face in front of her favorite student again and again.
…
As if noticing Gu Wan Jun’s embarrassment, Chen Lu thought for a moment and added very considerately:
“Teacher, you have an injury on your hand. Just help me with the chores after buying the groceries, and I can do the rest.”
“…”
Faced with the thoughtful way out that Chen Lu offered, Gu Wan Jun was first surprised that the girl knew how to cook, and then wanted to decline.
It was her treat, and she really shouldn’t let Chen Lu cook.
Gu Wan Jun thought so, and she should have explicitly refused and said they would just go out to eat.
But somehow, the words of refusal were already on the tip of her tongue, but Gu Wan Jun just couldn’t say them.
Gu Wan Jun, oh Gu Wan Jun, you’re really something. The girl helped you move all afternoon, and in the end, you’re still embarrassed to have her cook for you?
Gu Wan Jun cursed herself inwardly, but as she cursed, her thoughts drifted back to what Chen Lu had just said—
Chen Lu said she could cook. If they really bought groceries and cooked, they could not only go to the supermarket together, but she could also taste Chen Lu’s cooking, and after dinner, they could talk and chat at home. Wouldn’t that be ten thousand times better than eating out?
…