The two turned around and saw a middle-aged woman with a refined air, who had been a beauty in her youth.
“Teacher Zheng.” Zhong Tingyue smiled faintly.
"Oh, it really is you." The elegant female teacher smiled as well. "I thought your figure looked a bit like yours from behind, so I just called out to you. I didn't expect it to be you."
"So many years have passed, but you haven't changed. You're just as beautiful as before, emm... ...no, you're even more beautiful."
While exchanging pleasantries with Zhong Tingyue, Teacher Zheng kept glancing at Chu Fang.
"You flatter me," Zhong Tingyue said modestly, then continued, "Oh, right, I forgot to introduce you. This is my fiancé, Chu Fang, and this is my university professor, Professor Zheng."
Chu Fang nodded: "Hello, Teacher Zheng."
Teacher Zheng chuckled and teased, "Wow, the young man is very handsome. Fiancé? Are you two getting married soon?"
The term "fiancé" is not appropriate for couples in a relationship.
Zhong Tingyue readily admitted, "Yes."
"That's great." Hearing this, Teacher Zheng was happy for the student.
The three walked side by side, with Teacher Zheng and Zhong Tingyue chatting about their university experiences.
"What are you doing?"
"After graduating, I entered the interior design industry. After years of hard work, I opened my own studio to make a living."
"Amazing!" Teacher Zheng gave a thumbs up.
She was well aware of the difficulties of opening a studio in Shanghai, including many untold stories.
Teacher Zheng continued, "Indeed, a piece of gold will shine wherever it is. Teacher Wu was too stubborn back then."
Hearing this, Zhong Tingyue's brows furrowed with worry. After a few seconds of silence, she asked, "How is Teacher Wu now?"
"They're gone."
"Where did she go? She's almost eighty-two this year..." Zhong Tingyue asked instinctively, but before she could finish, the rest of the words caught in her throat. Then, in an incredulous voice, she asked, "To..."
"Yes, he passed away." Teacher Zheng nodded generously. "He left at the beginning of this year. He had a sudden heart attack and passed away unexpectedly."
After these words were spoken, the two fell silent.
Chu Fang looked at his fiancée, whose usually composed demeanor was now etched with complex emotions: surprise, grief, regret, disbelief...
Even when she ran into Zhou Yahan by chance, Zhong Tingyue's emotions were never this complicated.
Teacher Zheng forced a smile: "Hey, don't be so sad. Teacher Wu left without suffering much pain; it was a happy funeral."
Zhong Tingyue pursed her rosy lips: "Where is Teacher Wu's tomb? I'd like to go and visit her."
Teacher Zheng then told her the location of Teacher Wu's tomb. When they reached the fork in the road, a middle-aged man waved to them, and Teacher Zheng waved back.
"My husband is here, so I'll head out first. You two can take your time shopping." Teacher Zheng said to Chu Fang with a smile, "It's a pleasure to meet you. Handsome young man, you must treat Zhong well; she has many suitors."
Then he said to Zhong Tingyue, "Don't overthink it. Teacher Wu has her own ideas. You have your own path. We are born to live for ourselves. It's best if you're happy."
After saying that, Ms. Zheng walked towards her husband, and the two left hand in hand.
"Is that Zhong Tingyue?" asked Teacher Zheng's husband.
“Yes.” Teacher Zheng wasn’t surprised that her husband knew her student, Zhong Tingyue, “She’s still as beautiful and elegant as ever.”
"That boy?"
"He is her fiancé."
"Getting married soon?" Teacher Zheng's husband raised an eyebrow, shook his head, and then nodded.
What do you mean by this?
"So many boys used to pursue her, but she kept saying she had no feelings for them. Now, she has a fiancé who is so young and handsome, only a few years after graduation. That's how you women are. You say you have no feelings, but you still care about a guy's looks."
Teacher Zheng's husband explained, "Beauty is justice. Ultimately, this is a world that judges by appearance, and Zhong Tingyue is no exception."
"If not looks, what should we look at? Heart?" Teacher Zheng retorted to her husband. "And don't underestimate people, Zhong Tingyue's fiancé is not simple."
"I've been teaching for so many years and I'm also a senior executive in the company. I can say that I'm very knowledgeable and have seen a lot of people. Chu Fang has an extraordinary temperament, just like our company's chairman. He has a kind of composure that doesn't show when Mount Tai collapses."
University professors not only teach and nurture students, but are also senior executives in many companies, and even chairmen of listed companies.
For the average college student, university professors represent a ceiling that is almost impossible to reach in their lifetime.
You ignored me on campus, but off campus you'll be begging for my attention.
As the Taoist patriarch said, one should not be too arrogant.
The company chairman was easier for Ms. Zheng to identify and was more authoritative, while Chu Fang had a gentler temperament, like a spring breeze. However, Ms. Zheng's intuition told her that Chu Fang was more formidable.
She had been chatting with Zhong Tingyue and hadn't paid attention to Chu Fang, but the latter showed no change in emotion, still smiling and quietly listening to their conversation.
"Young people these days are really amazing."
... ...
Chu Fang asked, "To Teacher Wu's tomb?"
Zhong Tingyue nodded: "Mm."
The two then left the school and drove to the Shanghai Cemetery, where they bought some candles and paper money.
Arriving at the tombstone, Chu Fang looked at the photo on it. It showed an elderly woman with white hair, her hair in a bun, and a smile on her face, as if she were an artist from the Republic of China era.
Wu Xiu, a very simple name.
Zhong Tingyue pursed her lips, seemingly with unspeakable words in her heart, which finally turned into a deep sigh: "Teacher Wu, I'm sorry, I have let you down."
After paying their respects to Teacher Wu, the two left. It was already after get off work hours, and instead of returning to the studio, they went straight home.
The roads in Shanghai remain congested.
Taking advantage of the traffic jam, Chu Fang spoke up: "Ms. Zhong, you don't plan to say anything?"
"You want to know?"
"Since I have nothing else to do, I'll just listen to a story and have some fun."
Zhong Tingyue rolled her eyes at him: "Can't you tell I'm very unhappy?"
"I can see that, but your sadness is my source of amusement."
Everything in the world follows the law of conservation of energy.
A car consumes a certain amount of oil depending on how long it runs, a cell phone lasts a certain amount of time depending on how much battery it has, and while one person is sad, someone else is happy.
Zhong Tingyue was heartbroken, but Chu Fang was quite happy.
However, there is one exception to the law of conservation of energy, and that is... ...a simp!
A simp will always simp the same person; a simp doesn't need to get energy from the outside world to simp the person they like.
A "simp" can comfort himself by drawing energy from himself to simp the person he admires, without needing any external interaction.
Absolutely unbeatable!
Zhong Tingyue raised both thumbs up, then pointed them downwards and poked them hard a few times: "I despise you."
She gazed at the sky, seemingly lost in memories, and slowly said, "Actually, there's not much to say."
"Teacher Wu is a school teacher. She is very capable and well-known in the industry. Even though she has reached retirement age, she continues to work in education."
“I was her student at the time. My art skills were pretty good, and my works were passable. I entered this major hoping to design interior houses, while Ms. Wu hoped that I would go in the direction of art and create excellent works to be exhibited.”
"This caused a conflict between us, and after graduating from university, we never saw each other again. I never expected... that we would just part ways like this."
Chu Fang asked, "Do you regret it?"
“No.” Zhong Tingyue shook her head. “I have never regretted it. Interior design is what I wanted to do, and even in the current sluggish real estate market, it is still brighter than simply pursuing the path of art.”
Interior design not only fulfilled her desires but also earned her money, and she has never regretted it.
“I just… …” Zhong Tingyue stopped mid-sentence, exhaling, “I just… …have some regrets.”
Chu Fang: "..."
Isn't that just regret?
Girl, what are you arguing about?
It's not what you think.
Knowing what her fiancé was thinking, Zhong Tingyue explained, "Before I graduated from university, Professor Wu hoped that I would paint a work of art, pouring my heart and soul into it, as a gift."
"And I promised her, but I had just graduated and was so busy that I didn't have time to draw. I kept putting it off and then forgot about it until today."
At this point, Zhong Tingyue's eyes were filled with complex emotions, a hint of unspeakable regret.
Chu Fang thought for a moment and said directly, "Then it is indeed your fault, you already promised them."
"That's why I feel bad," Zhong Tingyue sighed. "I wish I hadn't agreed."
"Why didn't you just say you should have drawn it yourself?"
“I don’t want to paint. Besides, I’m just an ordinary person. I eat rice and flour, and wear ordinary clothes. I don’t understand things related to art. Those things are too far removed from me.”
“... ..."
The car drove along the road while listening to the audio, and it took more than an hour to get back to the Tanhua residential area.
It was late at night, and the sky was overcast; the moon was obscured by clouds and mist.
Zhong Tingyue gazed at the sky, her double eyelids unable to close for a long time.
... ...
The next morning, Chu Fang woke up to a startling surprise.
Zhong Tingyue was sitting on a small stool with a drawing board in front of her and various kinds of paint around her. Her beautiful face and clothes were covered in paint.
He asked, "Ms. Zhong, what are you doing?"
“I’ve decided to create the best work of my life, to fulfill my promise and not break my word to Teacher Wu,” Zhong Tingyue replied without turning her head.
"... ...Is it possible that Teacher Wu has already passed away? You have broken your promise to Teacher Wu."
Zhong Tingyue asked, "Does that mean justice delayed is not justice at all?"
"Nonsense!" Chu Fang rolled his eyes. "What kind of justice is it if it can't bring criminals to justice the moment they break the law?"
Seeing his fiancée's cold gaze, he changed his tune and said, "Fine, then it's a matter of justice. Zhong Tingyue, you did the right thing."
"You really support me?"
"certainly."
These were Chu Fang's true feelings. He supported Zhong Tingyue, even though this method was not very effective, it was still a comfort to his heart.
"Alright, I'll be going into seclusion for a few days. I'll leave the studio matters to you."
Chu Fang slapped himself.
Damn it!
Chu Fang, are you out of your mind?
... ...
Zhong Tingyue secluded herself at home, while Chu Fang could only reluctantly go to work at the studio.
"Hey? Why are you the only one here today? Where's Sister Zhong?" Jiang Wenzhen asked.
Chu Fang replied, "I'm pregnant and staying home to rest."
Soon after, news of Zhong Tingyue's pregnancy spread throughout the studio, sparking much discussion among colleagues. After various analyses, data collection, and verification, the colleagues concluded:
My boss is really pregnant.
This is not a wild guess, but rather a logical conclusion.
Firstly, Chu Fang and Zhong Tingyue had already been living together.
Secondly, the two must be engaged.
Thirdly, Chu Fang actually came to work alone? Such a lazy person coming to work?
This is the most crucial information.
Chu Fang entered Zhong Tingyue's office, sat down in the chair, and could still smell the unique fragrance that belonged to that woman.
The desk was piled high with documents. He sighed, "I don't even care about my company worth hundreds of millions, yet I'm managing your studio."
"I'm just plain shameless!"
But there was nothing he could do; after all, Zhong Tingyue was his future wife.
Chu Fang began to take over Zhong Tingyue's work, which involved things like painting and composition. He delegated these tasks to his employees, while he was responsible for business entertainment, an area where he excelled.
... ...
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