Teacher Qin Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Polite and Distant

Downstairs in the residential area, the dim streetlights hung high, moths fluttering around them. The orange glow stretched the shadows of the two people standing beneath. Qin Qing stopped and looked at the man opposite her. I am home. Thank you. Bai Yang smiled and nodded. He had likely sensed Qin Qing’s attitude today; no matter how dense he might be, he could tell her mood was not particularly good.

Bai Yang’s profession gave him an advantage in this regard. Having seen so many people—those who lied, those who hid things—he was no workplace rookie. He could more or less analyze a person’s general state from their expressions.

Teacher Qin, if you have something to say, please be direct. Bai Yang looked at Qin Qing with a sunny smile, like the sun that always hung in the sky; though night would come, it would still rise the next day. Don’t feel pressured. I know they were a bit overeager about this matter, but their intentions were good. If you feel uncomfortable, we can just be ordinary friends. I will have a word with my mother and Uncle Qin.

Qin Qing’s brow relaxed. Hearing Bai Yang say this, the awkwardness she had prepared for vanished. She nodded and said politely, Thank you.

Polite yet distant, just as before.

Bai Yang smiled, not minding. Then we are friends. In the future, if there is ever a place where you can use my help, Teacher Qin, don’t be a stranger. Uncle Qin and my father are old friends, and Uncle Qin and Aunt Yu have always treated me like a junior. I remember their kindness, so don’t feel any pressure.

The meaning was clear: regardless of whether the person was Qin Qing or not, as long as it was An’an’s parents who needed help, Bai Yang would provide it. In an instant, the relationship between the two was defined. As for whether Bai Yang truly had feelings for her, that was not Qin Qing’s concern. Now that things were out in the open, she breathed a sigh of relief and followed his lead. Alright. If I need anything, I will be sure to trouble Officer Bai.

It is no trouble at all. Bai Yang waved his hands quickly, his smile revealing two rows of teeth that made him look quite honest. Teacher Qin, don’t call me Officer Bai anymore. Just call me Bai Yang.

Qin Qing thought about it and felt that his job indeed made it awkward to use that title all the time, so she agreed. Alright then. You should stop calling me Teacher Qin as well. Just call me Qin Qing.

Bai Yang nodded.

With the matter settled, Bai Yang watched Qin Qing turn and walk away. The smile remained on his lips until her figure disappeared into the stairwell. Only then did he look up at the moths under the light before turning to leave.

Moths to a flame—knowing full well what awaited them, they would still flap their wings as always, just to get closer to that solitary warmth. That singular warmth.

After that, although Qin Qing did not take the initiative to contact Bai Yang, he would send greetings from time to time. Perhaps because of what he had said, or because of her cousin and his wife, or perhaps because of the help he had given Gu Yuwei, Qin Qing gradually stopped appearing so distant.

Back to the present, Qin Qing heard the voices of Gu Yuwei and Bai Yang. She quickly put down her paintbrush, took off the paper hat on her head, and walked out of the room. A large apron hung in front of her, already stained with paint. Whether it was because it did not fit or for some other reason, the apron was wrinkled and lacked any sense of beauty; instead, it made one want to laugh.

Qin Qing casually brushed away the stray hairs near her forehead with her arm. Some paint inevitably rubbed onto her cheek, instantly wiping away Gu Yuwei’s previous discomfort. Gu Yuwei suppressed a laugh, her lively and deep eyes fixed on the person approaching. Hahaha… Gu Yuwei finally could not hold it back the moment Qin Qing stopped.

Gu Yuwei could not remember how long it had been since she had laughed so freely. Qin Qing blinked in confusion, then, guessing the reason, gave Gu Yuwei a mock glare. Beside them, Bai Yang was clearly holding back a laugh as well, though he did not make a sound.

Qin Qing pulled Gu Yuwei inside and reached out to pinch her cheek, but then lowered her hand. Still laughing! The paint accidentally smeared on her hand stopped her movements.

Gu Yuwei naturally saw Qin Qing’s actions and her little thoughts. The smile at the corners of her mouth deepened, but the laughter that had carried a hint of mockery ceased. She leaned over to peek into the room. What is Teacher Qin doing?

It was a question she already knew the answer to. Qin Qing did not reply, and Gu Yuwei did not expect her to; after all, anyone with eyes could see the scene. The question was just a casual remark. Gu Yuwei walked to the doorway and looked inside. The floor was covered in newspapers, and some furniture was draped with protective paper.

Teacher Qin, I want to play too, Gu Yuwei said with a playful smile.

Play? Qin Qing gave her a frustrated look but ultimately handed her a paper hat and found another apron from somewhere. This apron was smaller than the one Qin Qing was wearing, and it fit Gu Yuwei perfectly.

Remembering Bai Yang behind her, Qin Qing finally said, I am sorry, I only realized after you arrived that there aren’t any extra aprons at home. The apron Gu Yuwei was wearing was naturally not suitable for Bai Yang. Bai Yang smiled. It is fine, it is fine. I dropped by unexpectedly anyway.

Qin Qing was renovating the room and needed to prepare tools. Bai Yang had learned about this when he happened to run into her on the street while she was buying painting supplies. He had not expected to come and help today, but since he was already at the door, she could not very well turn him away.

However, not long after Bai Yang arrived, Gu Yuwei had shown up. Qin Qing had expected Gu Yuwei to come today.

Gu Yuwei stood to the side, silent.

Qin Qing did not know what to say for a moment, so she just told Bai Yang to sit down first. Bai Yang felt helpless; what would it look like for him to sit while two girls worked? He stood at the door with a smile. You two go ahead. I will watch, and I will take over for the high spots later. Seeing this, Qin Qing did not insist further. She just smiled and handed a brush to Gu Yuwei.

Gu Yuwei took the brush, swished it in the paint bucket, and stood up to ask, Teacher Qin, where do we start?

They had only been doing prep work earlier; Qin Qing had only briefly painted the corners. Seeing Gu Yuwei’s slightly crooked paper hat, Qin Qing stepped forward with a smile to straighten it. Gu Yuwei gazed at the serious and gentle expression of the person in front of her, her heart pounding uncontrollably. She hid her emotions.

Once the hat was straight, Qin Qing pointed to a spot. Let’s start here.

Gu Yuwei nodded and walked to a wall. The smooth brush strokes fell on the flat wall one by one, like feathers landing on the tip of Gu Yuwei’s heart, making it itch with an unbearable intensity that she could not bear to brush away.

After the two of them had painted as much as they could reach, only the higher areas remained. Bai Yang spoke up as planned. Qin Qing thought about it and found it hard to refuse, so she took off her apron and gave it to him. The apron fit Bai Yang perfectly; it seemed it had been made with a male physique as the model.

Gu Yuwei’s eyes darkened as she looked at Bai Yang, but the look vanished in an instant.

Qin Qing and Gu Yuwei went to the bathroom. Once Bai Yang finished his part, the job would be done. She planned to freshen up with Gu Yuwei first.

In the bathroom, Qin Qing pulled Gu Yuwei in front of her and reached for a towel. After soaking it, she gently wiped Gu Yuwei’s cheek. There was not actually anything on the girl’s face, yet Qin Qing’s movements remained tender. Gu Yuwei’s eyes darted away; she did not dare look directly at Qin Qing when she was this close.

After cleaning Gu Yuwei’s face, Qin Qing took the girl’s arm. The girl’s fair arms were slender. The original scars had already healed, leaving no trace, yet the fact that they had existed could not be forgotten.

Gu Yuwei watched Qin Qing’s slightly dazed movements and pursed her lips. In truth, she could have wiped herself, but for some reason, she did not want to. Deep down, she craved to be close to Qin Qing, yet she was also afraid of this closeness.

Teacher Qin, Gu Yuwei said, pulling Qin Qing’s thoughts back. Qin Qing put away the towel and looked at her with a smile. All done.

Gu Yuwei nodded. After a moment of silence, she finally picked up another towel to wipe the paint off Qin Qing’s cheek. Qin Qing was slightly stunned but ultimately allowed it. The paint had begun to set and required some force to remove, yet Gu Yuwei wiped gently, repeating the motion as if handling a fragile treasure.

Qin Qing’s gaze drifted as she looked at Gu Yuwei. The girl before her was no longer as green and distant as when they first met. She had grown quite a bit taller, already past Qin Qing’s forehead. Her smiling face retained its original feel while also carrying a sense of youth. Qin Qing’s brow furrowed slightly, perhaps thinking of something.

Sorry, I will be gentler. Noticing Qin Qing’s expression, Gu Yuwei thought she was using too much force and causing pain, so she hurried to apologize. Qin Qing’s wandering thoughts were instantly pulled back. She smoothed her brow and placed her hand over the back of Gu Yuwei’s hand that was wiping her face. It is not that, Xiao Wei. I just thought of something.

The temperature on the back of her hand was no different than usual, but for Gu Yuwei, it was a heat that felt like it would burn her. She pursed her lips and shifted her attention, asking casually, What was Teacher Qin thinking about?

Qin Qing paused, letting go of Gu Yuwei’s hand. Gu Yuwei looked at her in confusion. In Qin Qing’s eyes was an emotion that Gu Yuwei could not quite understand. Before she could think further, Qin Qing leaned in and hugged her.

Gu Yuwei was stunned, but her body, encircled by Qin Qing, slowly relaxed. Just like countless times in the past, Qin Qing’s embrace made her feel safe and nostalgic, making her wish she could drown in this tenderness forever.

Bai Yang’s voice came from outside, startling the two in their embrace. Qin Qing withdrew her melancholy, her expression returning to normal. She led Gu Yuwei out of the bathroom; Bai Yang had finished his work. Qin Qing and Gu Yuwei looked around the room, and then Qin Qing closed the door.

After a quick cleanup, it was time for dinner. Qin Qing invited Bai Yang to stay, and after a moment’s thought, he did not decline. He did not want to seem like a stranger; if he refused, it would appear too formal. Gu Yuwei was a girl of few words, especially in front of Bai Yang. Consequently, Gu Yuwei and Bai Yang sat in the living room facing the television, silent toward one another.