72 Don’t underestimate a woman’s sixth sense

The May breeze carried the fragrance of locust blossoms, and the temperature in northern Beijing soared like a lit fuse. A few days ago, the modern ladies of Taikoo Li were dressed in trench coats and boots; now, they were wearing figure-hugging dresses. Jin Lang resumed his web browsing of the airline map, and Liu Yuwei's schedule was packed. Everything had returned to normal, the two intersecting trains only occasionally glimpsing each other's presence in the dim light of their phones late at night. More often, they left a trace of each other's lives through WeChat. Messages didn't have to be replied to instantly, but the first response was always a heartwarming one. Liu Yuwei relished this state of mind; it reminded her of their first two years of college, when they had endless things to say to each other. Those unspoken feelings were like green apricots on a branch in early summer, sour yet sweet enough to linger on. Six months ago, Liu Yuwei's life was like a well-organized waltz. Morning coffee, evening overtime or the gym, weekend study and rest—all routines were orderly and well-organized. Jin Lang's reappearance forced him to insert ebbs and flows into her prepared music. The once-smooth 3/4 beat was forcibly fused with the jittery 6/8, throwing her orderly dance steps into disarray. She began checking his flight status during her overtime breaks and staring blankly at the weather forecast for his city on rainy weekends. These moments of disruption, like a pebble dropped into a lake, stirred ripples in her otherwise tranquil life. Perhaps life is never an either-or choice. When two different rhythms meet in the same movement, seemingly contradictory shifts collide to create an unexpected rhythm. … May is the Tiancheng Public Welfare Group's annual Minor Protection Law Awareness Month. Tong Lu says this is a preemptive effort before Children's Day arrives, to let more children know that the law is their strongest armor. This year's event schedule differed from previous years, when everyone moved around and cast a wide net, covering more schools within a month and achieving success through sheer volume. This time, everyone discussed and decided to focus their support, launching a weekly series of lectures targeting several elementary and middle schools with high rates of left-behind children. Liu Yuwei's name was listed in the column for Huangcun Tongxin Experimental School. After contacting the school, she was temporarily "hired" as a special teacher for the Morality and Law course, teaching both younger and older students. The principal said a 40-minute session would better suit the children's learning habits. Liu Yuwei never imagined she would one day hear a group of young children shouting "Liu...

The May wind carried the fragrance of locust blossoms, and the temperature in northern Beijing soared like a lit fuse. A few days ago, the modern ladies of Taikoo Li were dressed in trench coats and boots; now they were wearing figure-hugging dresses.

Jin Lang began to weave his web on the ever-changing flight map again, and Liu Yuwei's schedule was also packed. Everything had returned to normal, the two trains running side by side could only occasionally touch each other's figures briefly in the dim light of their mobile phone screens late at night, and more often, they relied on WeChat to leave a trace in each other's lives.

Messages don't have to be replied to immediately, but it's always worthwhile to give thoughtful feedback the moment you see them. Liu Yuwei enjoys this state of mind; it reminds her of her first two years of college, when they always had endless things to say to each other. Those unspoken feelings are like green apricots on a branch in early summer, sour yet sweet enough to be savored again and again.

Six months ago, Liu Yuwei's life was like a well-organized waltz: morning coffee, evening overtime or the gym, weekend study and rest—a routine that was perfectly organized.

Jin Lang's reappearance forced him to insert ups and downs into the music she had written. The originally smooth 3/4 beat was forcibly blended into the rapid 6/8 beat, and the orderly dance steps were suddenly thrown into disarray.

She began checking his flight status during her overtime breaks and staring blankly at the weather forecast for his city on rainy weekends. These moments that broke the routine were like stones dropped into a lake, stirring up ripples in her peaceful life.

Perhaps life is never an either-or choice. When two different rhythms meet in the same movement, the seemingly contradictory changes collide to create an unexpected rhythm.

…

May is the annual Minors Protection Law Promotion Month organized by Tiancheng Public Welfare Affairs Group. Tong Lu said that this is a step ahead of Children's Day, so that more children will know that the law is the strongest armor to protect them.

This year's activities differed from previous years, where everyone used mobile operations to cast a wide net, covering more schools within a month and achieving success through sheer volume. This time, everyone discussed and decided to focus their support, holding a weekly series of lectures targeting several elementary and middle schools with high rates of left-behind children.

Liu Yuwei's name was listed at Huangcun Tongxin Experimental School. After contacting the school, she was temporarily "hired" as a special teacher for Morality and Law, teaching both lower and upper grades. The principal said a 40-minute class would better suit the children's learning habits.

Liu Yuwei never thought that one day she would hear a group of little kids shouting "Hello, Teacher Liu" in unison. She thought to herself that she must share this wonderful feeling with Jin Lang that night - being watched by dozens of clear eyes, as if she had become a shining person.

The first class ended quickly, and the principal warmly led Liu Yuwei around the school. As they walked through the corridor, a group of half-grown boys playing basketball pushed and shoved each other, and they were about to bump into the slender woman in front of them.

"careful!"

Liu Yuwei blurted out, taking two steps ahead, his hand arcing in the air to grab the swaying hem of his clothes. But the other party instinctively stepped back, bumping into the students.

The test papers in his hands fell to the ground, revealing bright red marks on them.

"Teacher Tang, are you okay?"

There was a hint of urgency in the principal's voice. He rushed over in two steps and was about to lend a hand when the person on the ground had already stood up nimbly by supporting himself on the concrete floor.

"Are you guys still standing there? Pick it up quickly! I've told you countless times that the hallway is for walking, not a basketball court!"

The principal had a sullen face and scolded several boys.

"Principal Zhang, I was distracted just now and didn't pay attention."

Teacher Tang explained to the students in a gentle voice, and then followed them towards the classroom. Her petite figure quickly blended into the crowd.

Liu Yuwei and the principal continued to walk slowly forward, her eyes sweeping across the colorful display boards of works on the wall, but a strange thought lingered in her mind, and the subconscious avoidance action made her heart tighten.

"Principal Zhang," she began casually, "That teacher Tang just now is from the south, isn't she? She's so gentle and kind, but can she control these naughty kids?"

When the principal heard this, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes relaxed.

"Don't look at Tang Mei like this, the students all listen to her. Some younger girls even call her Mother Tang in private." He paused, his tone full of emotion.

"Tell me, who doesn't like having a mother who's there for them, who's emotionally stable and able to solve problems? Children have a clear mind."

"Has this Teacher Tang always been in our school?"

The principal waved his hand, his eyes shining as if he had picked up some rare treasure.

"No, I'm a graduate student at Beijing Normal University!"

"Tang Mei wasn't in good health after giving birth, so she resigned from her job at a key primary school. A few years later, when she looked for a job again, she didn't have many options."

"Lawyer Liu, do you have children?"

The principal suddenly turned to her and asked with some concern.

Liu Yuwei smiled and shook his head.

"That's good. How many people are forced by society and their parents to get married and have children before they even figure out what they want? They put themselves in a difficult position, and in the end, the children are the ones who suffer."

The middle-aged man sighed, "You've said too much, too much!"

After agreeing on the class schedule for next week, Liu Yuwei said goodbye to the principal. As she stepped out of the school gate, she pulled out her phone and was about to call a taxi when she suddenly remembered something and turned and ran back.

The teaching and research room was empty. Tang Mei sat by the window, her cyan acetate shirt shimmering softly like jade in the sunlight. Her red pen slid across her homework book. She looked up at the sound of footsteps.

"Hello, Teacher Tang!" Liu Yuwei took the initiative to greet him.

"Hello, you are the lawyer here for today's legal education class!"

"Yes, I'm Liu Yuwei. We met in the corridor at that time."

"I was in a hurry to go to class and didn't even say thank you."

Tang Mei stood up, and a faint scent of gardenias wafted over, refreshing and refreshing. She pulled over a chair next to her and said, "Sit down and talk. What do you want to talk to me about?"

If Liu Yuwei rashly said what she really wanted to ask, she might hurt someone, so she could only "save the situation in a roundabout way".

"I heard from Principal Zhang that the children in the school are all very close to you. I thought that perhaps their families might have some major or minor issues that require legal assistance. So I volunteered to leave you my contact information."

She placed the business card with the law firm's information on the table.

"Our law firm has many experts specializing in labor law and marriage law. If any parents need advice, please feel free to contact me!"

When she heard the words "Marriage Law", the muscles at the corners of Tang Mei's mouth twitched slightly, and she quickly lowered her eyes as if she was pricked by a needle. Liu Yuwei watched her carefully put the business card into the teaching plan folder.

When she looked up again, she had put on a proper smile and said, "I'll contact you if I need anything."

…

The night wind lifted the gauze curtains, and Liu Yuwei sat cross-legged on the bed. The small happiness of being a "role model teacher" was replaced by the fantasy that Tang Mei might be subjected to domestic violence.

Jin Lang on the screen had just finished a shower, with a towel draped over his shoulders and water dripping from the ends of his hair. Seeing her worried face, he offered words of comfort.

"Maybe you're overthinking it. Some people naturally don't like physical contact with strangers. Wearing long sleeves in the summer isn't necessarily to cover wounds like your junior high classmates did. It could also be for sun protection!"

"Yeah, that's right..." Liu Yuwei mumbled in response, but then changed her mind and said firmly, "But she must have thought about divorce!"

"Just because of that little expression?"

Jin Lang suddenly moved closer to the camera, his wet eyelashes almost poking the camera.

"Don't underestimate a woman's sixth sense!"

Liu Yuwei retorted with his neck stiff.

"Lawyer Liu, shouldn't we talk about some evidence? Relying on intuition will scare clients away!"

Looking at the pleasingly handsome face, Liu Yuwei blurted out, "As long as I didn't scare you away!"

…

When Liu Yuwei went to school for the second time a week later, he deliberately ended the class five minutes early and went to the teaching and research office for a walk.

"Lawyer Liu, why are you here? I was a few minutes late for get out of class, and when I went to the lecture hall to look for you, I found you were gone."

The head teacher's voice came from behind.

"I'm just strolling around." She pointed to the seat where Tang Mei sat last time, "Is Teacher Tang going to class?"

"Xiao Tang is sick!" A round-faced female teacher passed by with a thermos cup in her arms, heard their conversation, and interrupted.

"Her husband even came to help her get her medical insurance card which she left in the drawer yesterday!"

"It sounds like Teacher Tang and her husband are quite loving!"

Liu Yuwei put on an envious expression.

"Oh, you don't know, Yang Bin is a recognized model husband. As long as he doesn't work overtime, he comes to pick up Teacher Tang from get off work almost every day, rain or shine!"

She took a sip of water from the cup, her tone slightly sour, "We middle-aged women riding e-scooters home in the wind and sun are so jealous! They're really living a good life."

Liu Yuwei responded with a smile, but the doubts in his heart did not diminish at all.

The adult world is full of disguises. Just like the delicate artificial flowers in a window display, they appear gorgeous but lack a shred of real life. The more desperately one tries to show off something, the more lacking it is inside; the more carefully one maintains a perfect persona, the more unspeakable truths may be hidden behind it.

But domestic violence is like a cage locked tightly. If the person inside refuses to pick up the key, no matter how anxiously or forcefully those outside try, they'll be left lingering in vain. Liu Yuwei thought of Tang Mei's gentle eyes, and a wave of powerless bitterness welled up in her heart.

Before getting off work on Friday, Liu Yuwei unexpectedly received a call from Tang Mei.

The next day, in the bustling mall, Liu Yuwei saw Tang Mei at the entrance of the Starbucks where they had agreed to meet. She was wearing a dark green dress, holding two cups of coffee, and accompanied by a lively little boy.

"This is Mom's friend, Teacher Liu."

"Teacher Niu?" The boy imitated the sound of a cow mooing, then twisted his mouth and made a face.

Tang Mei shook her head helplessly, "Too naughty, even my words at home don't work!"

The three of them took the escalator to the children's playground on the fourth floor. The boy took off his shoes and disappeared in the blink of an eye, as he was familiar with the route. Tang Mei dragged Liu Yuwei to the parents' lounge.

"Lawyer Liu, I'm so sorry..." She pushed the coffee over, and the condensation on the outside of the paper cup rolled onto the table. "I called you to ask you out, but you can only drink coffee here!"

"That's fine. I should have some time to spend with my kids on weekends anyway. Killing two birds with one stone is great!"

Liu Yuwei noticed that she was addressing him as "Lawyer Liu" instead of "Teacher Liu." This subtle change in address was like a half-open door, hiding the truth she was finally about to reveal.

Tang Mei lowered her head and gently stirred the coffee in her cup with a straw, creating small vortices in the brown liquid. Her lips trembled slightly, as if countless words were stuck in her throat.

Liu Yuwei waited quietly, without urging her. She knew that some words required courage to speak, and only if Tang Mei took the initiative and took this step, would the shackles wrapped around her be truly untied.

From a distance, a boy shouted excitedly, "Mom, look at the wall I built, isn't it amazing!"

Tang Mei stood up reflexively and gave her son a thumbs up. The smile that instantly appeared on her face was bright and lively.

Sitting down again, she looked straight at Liu Yuwei, her tone filled with a determination to burn her boats.

"I want to consult you about divorce..."