Chapter 28 Did you have a relationship in college...?
The birthday gift for the teacher was chosen by Shen Huai'an himself. The teacher lived frugally and never asked anyone to bring anything when visiting him, so he didn't buy anything particularly expensive, only a can of the teacher's favorite tea.
If Bai Zhenzhen were to see this, she would think the gift was a bit too simple. Her father also loved drinking tea and had a considerable collection of fine teas at home, but giving someone a box of tea as a birthday gift just felt a bit inadequate.
“It’s alright, the teacher doesn’t care about these things,” Shen Huai’an explained to her. The teacher used to work in a government department and was later rehired as a professor at the university after retiring. “Not accepting gifts is a rule that the teacher has always followed. If you bring an expensive gift, the teacher might kick you out.”
Bai Zhenzhen began to understand. Shen Huai'an, this teacher, was once an upright and honest good cadre, unlike the businessmen around her who were good at scheming.
After buying the gifts, the two came out of the mall. Bai Zhenzhen saw a flower shop open in the commercial street at the entrance, so she pulled Shen Huai'an inside.
"I can't give you anything expensive, but I can always bring a bouquet of flowers."
Flowers aren't expensive and are perfect for the occasion. Shen Huai'an turned to look at her, surprised that she was so thoughtful. He nodded and smiled, letting her choose.
Bai Zhenzhen selected a few lilies and asked the florist to arrange them with other flowers to make a bouquet. Considering the recipient's age, she also requested that the color scheme be slightly more festive.
After the bouquet was wrapped, the two asked Uncle Liu to drive them there.
Shen Huai'an's teacher lived in the staff quarters near the university, which was also the school he graduated from.
As they drove past the school gate, Bai Zhenzhen leaned out the car window, a sense of curiosity rising within her about Shen Huai'an's university days. She turned to the person beside her and asked, "What were you like in college? Did you ever have a relationship?"
“No,” Shen Huai’an followed her gaze to the receding school gate outside the car window, and after a moment of recollection, told her, “I was focused on my studies during college and didn’t even have a proper chance to explore the school. I can take you in for a visit sometime when I have time.”
Bai Zhenzhen was a little skeptical, so she leaned closer with wide eyes and asked again, "Really, you've never been in a relationship? Do you have any classmates you like, or anyone who likes you?"
Shen Huai'an didn't know why she kept dwelling on this question, so he reached out and put his arm around her and said again, "I've never been in a relationship, and I don't have anyone I like."
He came from a high school in a remote town. When he first entered the school, he was like a country bumpkin in the city. His clothes were tattered and his hands were calloused. Who would want to date him? Moreover, Shen Huai'an was only focused on getting a scholarship to ease the burden on his family and also wanted the person who sponsored him to leave the money to those who needed it more. He had no other thoughts at all.
Bai Zhenzhen believed him when he said he didn't have anyone he liked, but she was sure that someone would like him just because of his outstanding appearance. Although Bai Zhenzhen had never been to university, her classmates in high school had votes for the best-looking boys and girls in the school. She wasn't good at studying, but she still managed to get the title of school beauty based on her looks.
When Bai Chuxiong was trying to persuade her to get married, he kept nagging her about how outstanding Shen Huai'an was, saying that he had good grades, not only was his tuition waived but he also received scholarships in college, and that he was good-looking and academically excellent. He was probably quite famous at school.
However, Bai Zhenzhen asked several more times but couldn't get any information out of her. Shen Huai'an didn't know if he really didn't care about these things or if he was just too tight-lipped.
In the short time it took to interrupt them, Uncle Liu had already driven the car to the entrance of the alley. The houses in the old school staff quarters were spaced too close together for the car to go in, so the two of them had to get out and walk in.
After getting off the bus, Bai Zhenzhen told Uncle Liu to go back first and call him to pick them up when they were ready to leave.
Shen Huai'an carried the tea leaves, and Bai Zhenzhen picked up the flowers. The two had just walked a short distance into the alley when a familiar voice called out to the couple from behind.
It was Zhou Minghui, who happened to arrive at the same time. The three of them greeted each other and then walked together toward the teacher's house.
On the way, Zhou Minghui looked at the tea he was carrying, then at Shen Huai'an and his wife, and sighed inwardly that getting married really made a difference; why hadn't he thought of sending flowers instead?
The teacher lived on the second floor of Building 3 in the staff quarters. Zhou Minghui went up the stairs first, and when he got to the door, he saw that the door was open. The teacher had left the door open because he knew they would come.
The room was bustling with activity. Zhou Minghui entered first and greeted the teacher. The other students who had come to celebrate the teacher's birthday turned around first. They all knew each other and started chatting.
Zhou Minghui greeted a few friends, then stepped aside, revealing Shen Huai'an and his wife behind him.
All eyes in the room turned to him again, and they were all surprised to see that Shen Huai'an had brought his family.
Some people here do know that Shen Huai'an is married and that his wife's family is wealthy, but they have never seen Bai Zhenzhen. Moreover, they have heard that the two of them are having marital problems and have been going through a divorce.
As soon as Bai Zhenzhen appeared, everyone's attention was involuntarily drawn to her. She was bright and beautiful, dressed exquisitely, and had an extraordinary temperament. Shen Huai'an, who was beside her, had been holding her hand since she entered the room and had not let go. This did not seem like a sign of discord in their relationship.
Shen Huai'an nodded slightly to everyone, then took Bai Zhenzhen to greet the teacher. Coincidentally, the teacher's wife heard the commotion and came out of the kitchen. Bai Zhenzhen smiled and handed her the bouquet of flowers, "Hello, my name is Bai Zhenzhen, I am Shen Huai'an's...lover. I'm sorry to bother you today."
The teacher's wife was named Xu Xiuhua. She was about sixty years old and had her white hair neatly combed. She looked surprised when she received the flowers, but it was clear that she liked them. Her eyes were gentle and smiling. "You are Xiao Shen's wife. Don't worry about disturbing us. We are very happy that you can come."
After saying that, she praised the bouquet for being beautiful. Xu Xiuhua loves to grow flowers and plants after retiring, and there are many flower pots on her balcony. Bai Zhenzhen's flowers were a perfect gift.
On the other side, the teachers from Shenhuai'an also welcomed the couple, and the attention of several classmates was focused on them. For a moment, Zhou Minghui, who had come in first, was overlooked.
He tugged at his collar helplessly, trying to make himself feel noticed, "A lone wolf is never welcome anywhere."
Unexpectedly, his teacher's wife laughed and replied, "You're a year older than Xiao Shen, so he's definitely outdone by you in terms of marriage timing. But if you're really interested, I know a girl who's quite similar to you..."
"Teacher's wife, I was just saying it casually. My law firm has just opened, and I don't have the mind to think about marriage right now..." Zhou Minghui didn't expect to shoot himself in the foot, and quickly smiled awkwardly, trying to change the subject.
"You're not young anymore, you should pay more attention to your personal life," Xu Xiuhua could see through his refusal, so she stopped there. Then she told Bai Zhenzhen not to be shy, put the flowers on the TV cabinet in the living room, and went into the kitchen.
The teacher stayed in the living room and talked to a few students, asking them about their current work situation. The youngest of the students who came today was twenty-four or twenty-five years old. When the teacher called their names, they immediately straightened their backs like primary school students and answered the questions seriously.
When Shen Huai'an was asked, his attitude became much more serious. However, it was clear that he had a very good relationship with his teacher, and there was a feeling that he was both a teacher and a father to him.
His teacher was the kind of person whose appearance alone told you that he must be very serious and attentive in class. Bai Zhenzhen was also most afraid of this kind of teacher when she was in school. Therefore, when she sat next to Shen Huai'an and was swept by the teacher's gaze, she subconsciously straightened her back and sat up straighter.
Zhou Minghui was sitting on the sofa chatting with his classmates and friends when he received a phone call. No one could hear the content of the call, but after he hung up, he stood up with a helpless look on his face and said that he had to go out to pick someone up.
"Who is it? Who else is missing?" someone asked, then teased Zhou Minghui, "Could it be that you brought your girlfriend to surprise your teacher and his wife?"
This person was sitting quite close to Zhou Minghui and recognized a woman's voice on the other end of the phone, which is why he made the following sarcastic remark.
“What girlfriend? It’s Jiang Ting. She’s now my partner in running a firm. She was called away by a client right before she was supposed to leave work today, so she was late,” Zhou Minghui explained while glancing subtly in Bai Zhenzhen’s direction. “She used to get lost a lot when she was in school. She’s been away from home for the past few years and doesn’t even recognize the way to her teacher’s house anymore. When she comes later, you guys have to give her a good talking to.”
"Oh, it's Jiang Ting! When did Jiang Ting get back? Well, Zhou Minghui, we didn't even know she was back before you kidnapped her!"
Everyone was clearly familiar with Ms. Jiang Ting, who had not yet made an appearance. Some people even stood up excitedly when they heard that she was also coming to T, wanting to go with Zhou Minghui to pick her up.
Bai Zhenzhen was a little confused by Zhou Minghui's glance just now. Just then, the teacher was also attracted by the commotion of the others. She reached out and gently poked Chen Huai'an's waist, tilted her head up and whispered in his ear, "Who is this Jiang Ting they're talking about?"
Shen Huai'an grasped her mischievous fingers and squeezed them, then turned his head and said, "Jiang Ting is also a student of the teacher, in the same year as Zhou Minghui and the others, but I'm not very familiar with her."
This time, Bai Zhenzhen didn't doubt him, because she had already noticed that Shen Huai'an probably didn't like making friends when he was in college. Of all the classmates in the room, he was only really familiar with Zhou Minghui, and he hadn't really talked to the others after exchanging greetings.
While the two were talking, Zhou Minghui and another male classmate had already brought Jiang Ting over.
Many classmates stood up to greet Jiang Ting. She seemed to be a very straightforward person and got along well with everyone.
After the round of conversation, Jiang Ting's gaze fell on Bai Zhenzhen and Shen Huai'an, the only two people sitting besides the teacher.
Bai Zhenzhen noticed someone watching her, turned her head and met Jiang Ting's gaze, and at the same time followed her gaze to Shen Huai'an beside her.
Based on a woman's intuition, Bai Zhenzhen felt that her judgment might have been wrong.
She raised an eyebrow, sensing that this senior, Jiang Ting, didn't seem unfamiliar with Shen Huai'an.
So, did Shen Huai'an lie to her, or was there something else going on?
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Author's Note: The investigation is ongoing, and things are in danger... [doge][doge]
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