Chapter 185 Thank you

"Oh right, where's my matchmaker sister?"

After saying all that, Zheng Yu finally got back to the point and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Why isn't she answering the phone?"

"Today is Teacher's Day, and I even called her right at the right time."

When Zhong Wan was mentioned, Lin Yan'an's eyes dimmed slightly, but his tone remained steady: "Wanwan... she's been too tired lately and is still resting. I'll help pass on your blessings."

"Huh? It's so late and you're still sleeping?"

Zheng Yu couldn't help but mutter something under his breath, but he didn't think much of it. Instead, he quickly regained his cheerful tone: "Okay, then please pass on my message and wish her a happy Teacher's Day."

"Okay, I got it."

Lin Yan'an readily agreed, paused for a moment, and then sincerely thanked him again: "Thank you, Zheng Yu."

Thank you for remembering Zhong Wan's past efforts, thank you... like a ray of sunshine, briefly dispelling his gloomy world.

"Don't mention it,"

Zheng Yu smiled and looked ahead: "Then I'll talk to Sheng Sheng later and ask her to call the matchmaker sister later."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yan'an lowered his eyes to look at the woman who was still sleeping soundly beside him. After a moment of silence, he replied in a slightly hoarse voice, "Let's do it later, after Wanwan wakes up."

"Oh well."

Zheng Yu agreed, and then there was an unusual silence on the other end of the phone.

Lin Yan'an keenly sensed something, but did not urge him, and listened quietly.

After a while, Zheng Yu's voice rang out again, his tone noticeably more cautious than before, his words carrying a hint of probing: "Um... Brother, I heard some students went back to school and didn't see Sister Wan. Other teachers said that she... isn't teaching at the school anymore?"

His words were full of hesitation, but the meaning was clear: he, and perhaps more than just himself.

They knew Zhong Wan had lost her job...

Lin Yan'an's grip on his phone tightened instantly. His gentle gaze fell on Zhong Wan's face, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of pain as he thought of the box full of lesson plans in the storeroom.

"Um."

He gave a soft "hmm," which was a tacit admission.

He had no involvement in her past and knew nothing of the details, yet the thought of it always brought a pang of pain to his heart.

"oh……"

Zheng Yu's voice lowered considerably. He was usually eloquent, but now he seemed to have run out of words.

Seeing the urging look in his classmate's eyes, he nodded slightly: "Brother, what are Sister's plans for tonight?"

"Are you continuing to teach, or... want to do something else?"

Zheng Yu's voice rose considerably, his tone filled with boldness: "Please tell her that whatever she does, she should do it with confidence and boldness!"

"Sheng Sheng and I have saved up quite a bit of pocket money over the years, as have Brother Lei and the others. If Sister Wan needs anything, just let us know!"

He spoke these words rather hastily, as if afraid that Lin Yan'an wouldn't believe him, and Zheng Yu quickly patted his chest and added, "Really, brother!"

"Brother Lei is right next to me, you can ask him if you don't believe me!"

As soon as Zheng Yu finished speaking, a deep, unfamiliar male voice came from the other end of the phone: "Brother-in-law, Yu Zi is right."

"I also have some money on hand. If Sister Wan needs it, she can contact me anytime."

"Yes, yes, brother-in-law and me too!"

Listening to the sincere and eager promises from the young people on the other end of the phone, and feeling their pure hearts, Lin Yan'an nodded solemnly: "Okay, thank you for your kindness, but you don't need to go bankrupt."

He looked up at the room in front of him and explained in a calm tone, "Wanwan now runs a small general store. It's not big, but she makes all the decisions herself, which is great."

"grocery store?"

Zheng Yu's voice on the other end of the phone instantly rose, filled with excitement: "Wow, Matchmaker Sister has opened her own shop and become her own boss! That's awesome!"

"Bro, where's the address? We'll come support you when we get back!"

"Brother Lei, did you hear that? From now on, our class gatherings will be held at Matchmaker Sister's shop!"

Lei Ge smiled and agreed, "Okay."

Zheng Yu's thoughts were unusually jumpy. Before Lin Yan'an could even reply, he was already imagining the future: "Brother, what kind of things do you have in the store?"

"Do you have snacks and drinks? When we get there, we can eat sunflower seeds and drink beer, reminisce about the past, and dream about life. How great would that be?"

"Haha, the matchmaker must think we're too noisy. I can just picture her with her hands on her hips and a speechless expression."

Hearing his words, Lin Yan'an seemed to recall that scene as well, and the smile in her eyes deepened: "Don't worry, even if there isn't one, I'll prepare something for you when you come."

"Okay, thanks bro!"

Zheng Yu readily agreed, and then considerately said, "Then we won't bother you any longer. I'll have my matchmaker sister call you back when she wakes up. We'll hang up now if there's nothing else."

"Okay, goodbye."

Lin Yan'an nodded slightly and hung up the phone, and the room returned to silence in an instant.

He looked down at his phone, a lingering smile on his lips.

As the screen lit up, he saw the densely packed notifications and the bright red numbers.

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Yan'an opened the app and glanced at it.

Besides the well wishes from her students, there were also messages from his parents-in-law...

He didn't open them all, but he could still guess the general idea.

[Mom: Wanwan? When you're not busy...]

[Dad: Don't keep things to yourself...]

Lin Yan'an gripped her phone tighter again; she could clearly feel their worry and concern just from those words.

He hesitated for a long time, but still didn't click on it.

He was afraid of seeing more concerned questions, and he was also afraid that he wouldn't be able to give them a definite answer that would put their minds at ease.

He didn't want to, and didn't know how to, reply.

They had no idea how to tell them about Zhong Wan's condition.

Let's wait a little longer.

Lin Yan'an kept telling herself to wait a little longer, just a few more days, what if...

He stared silently at the words on his phone, his eyes instantly filled with disappointment.

Lin Yan'an helplessly placed her phone screen-down on the bedside table.

He turned to look at Zhong Wan, carefully took her hand, felt the warmth of her skin, and murmured softly, "Wanwan,"

"Wake up soon, okay?"

"Look... there are still so many people who care about you..."

"Wake up soon and reply to their messages yourself, okay?"

"Soon... please put my mind at ease..."

In the very end, all the emotions and all the words seemed to converge into a heavy sigh.

Ah Gui, who had been steadfastly guarding the corner, seemed to sense something and subconsciously looked up.

Her tearful eyes trembled slightly, and the hand that wasn't holding the broom slowly rose, hesitated for a long time, and then put it down again.

Its round, light bulb-like head drooped slightly, looking at its thin arms, and it curled its lips in disgust. Then it decisively turned around and pressed itself against the wall. The next second, it seemed as if it had no bones and slid slowly down the wall.

Hmm, Ah Gui really doesn't have any bones!