The two were extremely close, their breaths mingling, practically touching.
He could touch her soft lips just two inches lower; he'd accidentally brushed against them one night when he turned over—softer than jelly…
Are you alright?
Jiang Wanqing noticed that his face was starting to turn red and thought he had bumped or bruised himself. Thinking that he was still injured, she felt guilty and quickly asked him what was wrong, even reaching out to touch him.
He suddenly stood up, coughed awkwardly twice, and staggered. Jiang Wanqing quickly helped him sit up on the bed.
"Sit still. Your leg injury hasn't fully healed yet, so you can't afford to get injured again. I'll go get your wheelchair."
"Um."
He responded in a muffled voice, his fingers unconsciously tightening. Damn it, it's only been a few days since we last met, and she reacts so strongly as soon as we get close. I've never felt this way before, it's like being poisoned. Will she be able to tell?
The recommendation letter said that Jiang Wanqing could report to the school and start her job as soon as the summer vacation was over, and she didn't waste the little time she had left; she read academic journals, wrote letters...
She also helped Cheng Ran continue his rehabilitation training, but no one else knew about it.
In September, when the weather was still hot, Jiang Wanqing went to the school on time to complete her onboarding process. Because she had a letter of introduction in her hand, she did not encounter any obstacles and completed the process smoothly.
The principal stamped her employment certificate and looked up with a smile.
"Another teacher joined the company today. Shall I introduce you to her?"
"Okay, thank you, Principal."
Jiang Wanqing nodded and smiled. She would be working at the school soon, and maintaining good relationships with her colleagues was very important, so she wasn't against it.
The principal quickly led her out, showing her around the school for a short while, before taking her to a classroom where other teachers were preparing for the start of the new semester.
"Comrade Wanqing, come here. This is Teacher Yuan Zhong, who joined the company today just like you."
Yuan Zhong? Jiang Wanqing paused upon hearing this name. She initially thought it was just someone with the same name, but when she saw his back, her heart sank. When he turned around, the smile she had shown to the principal had turned into a cold expression on his face.
"It's quite a coincidence. Teacher Yuan was a sent-down youth who was assigned to Xiyang Village. Comrade Wanqing, aren't you from that village? Did you... know each other before?"
The principal tapped his head with a憨态可掬 (憨态可掬 is a Chinese idiom meaning a simple, honest, and somewhat clumsy manner) expression, then suddenly remembered this incident and introduced it with a smile.
"Principal He, we know each other."
Yuan Zhong actually extended his hand to her: "Teacher Jiang, we'll be colleagues from now on."
“Yes, it would be much easier if you knew each other,” the principal said.
Jiang Wanqing completely ignored his outstretched hand and instead smiled at the principal, saying, "Didn't you say you wanted to collect your books?"
"Oh right, I'll go get it for you. Wait here and chat with everyone to get to know them."
"good."
After the principal left, Yuan Zhong took two steps forward. Jiang Wanqing didn't bother to look at him, but he insisted on talking to her, his voice and tone equally disgusting.
Are you surprised to see me here?
Jiang Wanqing raised her eyes in disgust and scoffed, "Not curious, not interested, stay away from me, we're not familiar."
His getting a job at the school was indeed unexpected for her, but thinking about it, she roughly knew what was going on. The only connections he could make in the city were with Qiao Xuemei; it was just a matter of a letter of introduction.
She bypassed him, greeted the other teachers in a friendly manner, and gave each of them a small gift, leaving a good impression on everyone in less than ten minutes.
After receiving her books, Jiang Wanqing was about to head back when Yuan Zhong clung to her as soon as she stepped out of the school gate.
"Are you so eager to get rid of me now? I think we need to have a serious talk. You weren't like this before!"
People are inherently flawed, especially men like Yuan Zhong, who are strangely confident and self-righteous.
Jiang Wanqing lifted the cloth bag on her shoulder and rolled her eyes.
Before Yuan Zhong could even feel smug, she turned around and heard her mocking laughter.
"Can you ask Qiao Xuemei to pull some strings for you and get your head checked? We've never had any relationship whatsoever, so shut your dog mouth!"
"You...you insulted me?"
"What, can't you understand good and bad advice?"
"Jiang Wanqing, how did you become like this? You once said you would accompany me to the top..."
Unable to bear hearing him utter a single word, Jiang Wanqing intervened and stopped him, giving an impatient sneer.
"Don't put on this sentimental act in front of me, it disgusts me, get lost!"
"Stop right there..."
It had only been a few days since they last met, and she hadn't said anything nice to him at all, but Yuan Zhong found her even more charming than before, more captivating than her previously lifeless and quiet demeanor.
He tried to grab her hand, but she slapped him instead, showing her genuine disgust.
"I think you're looking to end up in jail again!"
"Jiang Wanqing, what are you doing!"
Jiang Xiu witnessed this scene. She had come specifically to pick up Yuan Zhong, but as soon as she arrived at the school gate, she saw the two of them pulling and tugging at each other. Without asking any questions, she tried to push Jiang Wanqing.
"Have you no shame? Yuan Zhong is already married to me. Don't even think about seducing him!"
In fact, Jiang Wanqing couldn't understand why Jiang Xiu, having lived a second life, was so short-sighted and lacked even the basic ability to judge people. Or was it that there was such a thing as birds of a feather flocking together?
"Ha, he's not worthy of my seduction. If you like him, tie him to your body and don't let him go out and harm people."
This was at the school gate, and it was her first day on the job. It wouldn't look good if she made a scene, so Jiang Wanqing restrained herself.
"You're not leaving today until you make things clear! You clearly knew Yuan Zhong was reporting today and deliberately waited for him here. Let me tell you, don't even think about it. Go back to your crippled husband and live your life!"
Jiang Xiu stood protectively in front of Yuan Zhong, as if afraid that someone else would snatch her away. Jiang Wanqing found it ridiculous. She didn't want to talk to her much, but Jiang Xiu's insult of Cheng Ran as a cripple was really like dancing on a minefield.
Jiang Wanqing's face was icy cold, and her eyes were devoid of warmth as she approached.
"What...what are you going to do?"
"What are you afraid of? Didn't you want to know how I got here? Unfortunately, I'll be working at this school from now on, so you'll have to stand guard at the gate every day."
"Impossible? Jiang Wanqing, what makes you think you can..."
"Shh!" Jiang Wanqing patted Jiang Xiu's face and pinched her chin: "Look around, your Yuan Zhiqing has embarrassed you again. Guess what he's thinking? Will he dump you after he gets ahead? Or will he pretend not to know you and just leave now?"
No, it won't.
As soon as she finished speaking, Yuan Zhong disappeared from her sight; he had already crossed the road, just as Jiang Wanqing had predicted!
"Yuan Zhong, you..."
"Wait for me!"
She didn't care about anything else and hurriedly chased after him. Jiang Wanqing finally got some peace and quiet. She wiped the dirt off her hands with a handkerchief, clicked her tongue, and threw the trash into the roadside garbage heap. It's better not to bring bad luck home.
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