Chapter 123 Extra (8): Not My Husband Yet.
"get out of class dismissed."
Wen Xue put down her marker, picked up her thermos, and drank some water to soothe her throat.
After returning from Nana's wedding during the National Day holiday, she and Miao Wenya's educational institution launched trial class discounts. They have been extremely busy for the past two months, with no weekends left. Fortunately, things are now at least on the right track.
Goodbye, teacher!
The students said goodbye to her with smiles and left the classroom one after another to go home.
Wen Xue was still organizing her lesson plans when she looked up and saw a girl still sitting in her seat. She paused for a moment, then asked, "Yang Han, didn't your mother come to pick you up?"
Yang Han blushed and shook her head.
The teacher and student looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"Teacher Wen." Yang Han stood up, took out the throat lozenges she had been carrying all day from her pocket and handed them to her, saying shyly, "Happy birthday."
Wen Xue was astonished: "How did you know?"
Yang Han whispered, "I overheard Teacher Miao ordering a cake on the phone last week."
"Thank you." Wen Xue smiled and accepted it, a warm feeling welling up in her heart despite the cold winter.
Two weeks ago, Yang Han's mother was very busy at work and encountered traffic on her way to pick up her child, so she had to delay picking her up by half an hour. Wen Xue readily agreed, but she did not expect that Yang Han would have her first period after class. Although junior high school girls are usually prepared for this, they were still caught off guard. They did not have sanitary napkins in their schoolbag and stayed in the bathroom for a long time.
Wen Xue went to find her and quickly guessed the reason.
She had also felt helpless at times like that, so she understood. She asked a few other teachers and found some sanitary napkins to send over.
Afterwards, she discussed with Miao Wenya about hanging friendly reminders on the doors of the girls' restrooms.
If you encounter any special circumstances, you can call the teacher; the front desk of their training institution also keeps sanitary napkins on hand.
"Teacher Wen, I'm leaving now."
Yang Han was an introverted girl. When she saw the teacher take away her throat lozenges, her face turned bright red, and she immediately wanted to run away.
Wen Xue chuckled and nodded. "Be careful."
Before long, she was the only one left in the classroom. She looked down at the box of throat lozenges, thought for a moment, opened it, and ate one. The cool taste spread in her mouth, and her throat felt much better.
The students had all left long ago.
A man was sitting on a sofa in the common area. When she looked at him, he looked up and met her gaze.
Wen Xue smiled and walked closer to him, partly to explain and partly to show off, "A student knew it was my birthday today and gave me a box of throat lozenges."
As soon as she opened her mouth, He Yan could smell the crisp, refreshing scent. "Give me one."
“No.” She refused, smiling as she stepped back. “A student’s sentiments cannot be shared.”
He Yan: "..."
OK.
Today is Wenxue's 23rd birthday. Just like last year, she has friends and a lover.
Of course, this year she received a very special gift: a home.
Her home with He Yan.
Back in April, He Yan was worried that fate would trip him up. He was very anxious and hastily booked a three-bedroom apartment with Wen Xue. After being discharged from the hospital, he also considered whether to cancel the purchase and looked at other apartments more seriously.
Wen Xue likes that style.
He thought it was good, so he made the decision to buy it, hired someone to design it, and decorated it into the home she wanted.
For safety reasons, they cannot move in yet, but that doesn't stop them from inviting friends to celebrate her 23rd birthday at her new home.
…
"Happy birthday!!"
A group of people crowded around the table, some raising beer, some raising drinks, clinking glasses happily. Outside the living room's floor-to-ceiling windows, the wind was biting cold, but inside it was warm and cozy. Wen Xue, wearing a birthday hat, stood in front of the cake.
So happy.
At the age of twenty-three, she had three birthday cakes.
A business partner.
One from my best friend.
A lover with whom you have a deep and abiding affection.
Therefore, she was also fortunate enough to be able to make three wishes.
He Yan stood beside her, wearing the same style of sweater as her but in a different color. As she clasped her hands together and made a sincere wish, all the lights in the room were turned off, leaving only the flickering candlelight.
He stared at her intently, a smile in his eyes.
"alright!"
Wen Xue opened her eyes, bent down, and blew out the candles in one breath. This was a cake ordered by He Yan, with a small greeting card on it. He hadn't let the shop assistant do it for him; he had written it himself.
Hearing the snow,
Life is long, let's live it to the fullest.
What a coincidence!
Her third wish was to live a peaceful, healthy, and happy life with He Yan.
I'm a bit greedy, but it's okay to be greedy on my birthday.
It was late at night.
Wen Xue and He Yan went downstairs to see their friends off. They didn't plan to stay overnight. He Yan had prepared something else for them to do alone. He had booked a hotel suite high in the sky, which offered a panoramic view of most of the western part of the city at night.
He also prepared many surprises.
For example, the 999 roses displayed in the room.
A red wine that suits her taste.
Wen Xue commented, "That's quite an exaggeration."
However, she understood his feelings. He always felt he owed her something on her birthday. On her twenty-first birthday, he intentionally tried to avoid it, and only appeared when she brought the cake back to the dormitory building. On her twenty-second birthday, Zhou Xian interfered, and despite the danger on the highway, he still managed to rush back, arriving in front of her late at night.
He didn't spend a proper birthday with her.
"Not an exaggeration."
He Yan had no concept of 999 roses. He had never sent so many flowers before. He was surprised to see them in the room for a few seconds, but he didn't show it and said in a calm tone.
Wen Xue didn't want to expose him, even though his pupils were clearly trembling when he led her in.
She wanted to confront someone about something else, so she pointed to the red wine on the table and criticized, "You wouldn't let me drink earlier."
As a result, he prepared a bottle himself.
He Yan remained expressionless: "The situation is different."
Of course it's different. Every single one of those people has a high alcohol tolerance. If Wen Xue were to open a channel, she probably wouldn't even be able to cut the cake before she was drinking glass after glass until she couldn't tell if her boyfriend's name was He Yan or Shi Tou.
Wen Xue hummed softly.
It was a bit exaggerated, but she couldn't stop laughing as she watched.
At 11:50 a.m. on her birthday, she posted a status update after a long time, along with a photo. In the photo, she sat next to a large bouquet of roses, her eyes crinkling with happiness. Even in a still photo, the overwhelming happiness was palpable.
[23rd, thank you to my family, friends, and him]
Early morning.
Wen Xue's back was pressed against He Yan's broad chest as the two soaked in the bathtub, their two wine glasses clinking together.
He whispered in her ear, "Happy birthday."
"It's all over."
"fine."
Wen Xue was amused, and ripples appeared on the water's surface.
My first day as a 23-year-old was wonderful, and so was my second day.
-
Another month has passed, and the New Year is here.
Last year, Wenxue and Heyan went back to their hometown of Haicheng for the Spring Festival. This year, after discussing it, they decided to stay in Xicheng and have their New Year's Eve dinner at their new home. Shitou was also brought along. It ran around happily in the new home, and Wenxue followed behind it, making sure it didn't destroy anything.
This is their fourth Lunar New Year's Eve together.
Putting up couplets and preparing meals—it turns out that doing mundane things with him can be quite enjoyable.
The next day, while she was still sleeping in, He Yan had already gotten up. Seeing her open her eyes, he leaned over and pecked her on the cheek, his voice muffled: "I'm going to the temple, I'll be back soon."
Wen Xue affectionately rubbed her face against his large hand, "Hmm, no rush."
After he left, she couldn't sleep, so she got up.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, her phone never stopped ringing. This year was a little different; among the well wishes, there were a few more from her students, and she replied to each one carefully.
noon.
When He Yan returned from the temple, he brought back a thermos containing dumplings that the monks had made by hand. He thought the dumplings were a sign of good fortune, so he didn't eat any of them and naturally wanted to pack them up for his girlfriend.
On such a beautiful day, the weather was especially nice.
Warm sunlight streamed in through the window, making the room cozy. Wen Xue, having eaten and drunk her fill, nestled in He Yan's arms playing on her phone. He was also very busy, with messages and calls coming in non-stop. This year, Changya Company's annual profits, whether in transportation or trade, were much higher than in the previous two years, and the company's scale was also constantly expanding. Before the Lunar New Year, He Yan and Wu Yuejiang rented two offices next to each other in the office building.
Even when Lian Siyi mentions him, he no longer calls him "Boss He," but "President He."
"Want to see a movie?"
After replying to a message, He Yan put away his phone, kissed her forehead, and asked.
"There aren't any movies that really interest me."
Wen Xue said lazily.
"Fireworks?" he subtly reminded, "Perhaps it won't be long before fireworks and firecrackers are banned in the city."
“I’m wearing new clothes,” she said.
He Yan was at his wit's end.
He just didn't want her to feel that the New Year was tasteless.
As dusk fell, Wenxue suddenly felt like flipping through photos from the past two Chinese New Years. Unbeknownst to her, she and He Yan had accumulated so many memories.
"What are you looking at?"
He Yan dried his hands and walked over, leaning closer to look at her phone screen.
Wen Xue looked up at him and smiled, "Look at the old photos. Look, this was taken during the Chinese New Year two years ago."
Looking back on the Lunar New Year two years ago, my feelings were like riding a rollercoaster.
She was terrified and anxious at that time, and he restrained himself.
If there had to be a turning point, it would probably be on the evening of the first day of the Lunar New Year, on their way back from watching a movie, when he suddenly suggested embarking on an unknown journey to clear their minds.
"Let me see."
He Yan took the phone and chuckled briefly.
The photo was taken at a service area; she was probably taking pictures of the sunrise, but he ended up in the frame.
"Should I take a picture of the sunrise or of me?" he asked cheerfully.
Wen Xue looked away. "What do you think?"
She had seen the sunrise many times, but the reason she took the picture was because he was standing in that open space.
He Yan raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat smug. "Well done."
Wen Xue suppressed a laugh.
A thought flashed through her mind. Perhaps spending a lot of time with someone, being intimate and affectionate, would naturally influence one's behavior. Now, she no longer had so many concerns.
She said, "He Yan, shall we go?"
I'm leaving today.
Let's go now.
He Yan paused, looked at her, and nodded without thinking: "Let's go."
Two years ago, they were in pain, lost and anxious.
They are now steadfastly happy.
At night, under the bright moonlight, they entrusted the stone to a friend and drove onto the highway, getting further and further away from Xicheng.
Just like last time, at each fork in the road, Wen Xue decided which direction to take. Perhaps there really is some kind of destiny at play; they didn't intentionally follow the same route as last time, yet they still encountered a choice at a certain juncture.
Even from a distance, Wen Xue felt a sense of familiarity when she looked at the place name.
I remember that time I encountered an accident and had to get off the highway to reach this small town.
"The left side!" she exclaimed in surprise.
I thought I would only visit this place once in my life, but I actually had a second chance.
Don't miss it.
He Yan chuckled: "Alright, shall we go to that hotel again?"
Wen Xue replied without hesitation, "Go."
"The hotel was small and the hygiene was so-so."
"It's okay, I'll just stay one night."
"The sound insulation probably isn't very good either."
"No—" She immediately realized what he meant and turned to look at him. "What do you mean?"
He Yan coughed lightly: "The literal meaning."
"..."
They chatted and joked along the way. She had a good memory, and he knew the route they had taken every time, so they arrived at the small hotel without incident. This time, there were no accidents. It was the Lunar New Year, and the hotel wasn't doing well, with hardly any guests.
Hearing the car door close, the boss, who had been lazy, perked up and looked up with a warm smile. When she saw a young couple walk in, she paused for a few seconds, feeling that the two looked somewhat familiar.
Having run a hotel for so many years, she has met people from all over the country.
There aren't many people who truly leave a deep impression.
She quickly remembered, slapped her forehead, and laughed heartily, "It's you guys!"
Wen Xue nodded and said with a smile, "Boss, Happy New Year, and may everything go well for you."
He Yan nodded, which was considered a greeting.
The innkeeper's gaze shifted downwards, settling on the two tightly clasped hands. A look of "I knew it" appeared on his face as he joked, "Gentlemen, we have plenty of rooms at our inn this time, more than a dozen are empty. How many rooms would you like?"
“One room,” He Yan said with a smile.
Wen Xue leaned against his shoulder, smiling shyly.
"Okay, here's your ID." The shopkeeper paused, deliberately asking Wen Xue, "Yours, and yours..."
He Yan remained silent.
Wen Xue smiled and said, "My boyfriend."
He's not my husband yet.
The boss drawled, "Oh, oh."
She knew it; after all, she was a seasoned veteran of love, how could she possibly misjudge someone?
Time flies, two years have passed in the blink of an eye. I still remember that time, the couple looked at each other with affection in their eyes, one deep and the other shallow. And now, just standing here, even without looking at each other, they are still full of affection.
"alright."
The boss handed them their ID cards and room keys together.
"Thank you," He Yan said softly, then looked at Wen Xue. "Let's go upstairs."
"good."
He held her hand with one hand and carried the suitcase with the other as they walked up the stairs.
When they arrived at the door of the room on the second floor, they discovered that the boss had arranged for them to stay in the same room.
Wen Xue chuckled softly.
She loves these kinds of "coincidences," even if they are man-made; she only finds them more romantic.
However, despite the romance, when He Yan came out of the shower and lay on the bed, their kisses growing deeper, she still rationally pushed his face away with her hand while panting, saying, "We did it this morning, not now."
"how?"
Morning is morning, and night is night.
"Didn't you say the hygiene here is so-so? And the soundproofing is bad?"
He gazed at her intently, then gave in.
This is what it means to lift a stone only to drop it on your own foot; he didn't need to say that.
"oh."
He kissed her lips, released his arms, and lay down beside her.
The two of them were so excited by this encounter that they couldn't sleep until very late. They chatted about random things until they got thirsty and ended up drinking a bottle of mineral water together.
Do you have any secrets?
After drinking the water, Wen Xue lay back in his arms and asked softly.
secret?
He Yan put his hands behind his head and said, "I guess so."
“I have one too,” she said.
"What?" he pressed.
"You go first."
"Never mind then."
"Hey!" She propped herself up with her hands and punched him.
He chuckled softly, "We'll talk about it later."
The room lights were off, but her eyes were still bright. She insisted on an answer, "When?"
He Yan was helpless.
But with her watching him, he couldn't fool her, so he pondered for a moment and said, "Five years later."
Five years later, he was thirty-three and she was twenty-eight.
It was the point at which they reunited in their past lives.
Wen Xue pondered the answer carefully, and when she asked him, she was also talking to herself: "What will I be doing five years from now?"
He Yan reached out and touched her hair. "Sleep next to me."
"Sounds pretty good."
"Just not bad?"
"very good."
"Just very good?"
"Absolutely wonderful!"
"Just exceptionally good?"
“Hmm…” she pretended to think deeply, then gave the answer he most wanted to hear, “Absolutely.”
However, five years later, she will definitely be able to sleep, but he may not.
Will he be frightened by her secret?
I can't wait!
————————!!————————
This concludes the article. [Let me see...]
When the main story ended and I started updating the side stories, several readers asked in the comments section if I would write an "what if" scenario.
I saw it, but I don't know how to reply. A few days ago, I replied to a friend saying it's likely, but I can't say for sure.
I try to write the side stories as quickly as possible, focusing on writing each day, just to free up a few days to properly think about the outline of the "what if" story.
But I find it so hard to put pen to paper [crying emoji]
It's not the story that's difficult, it's the emotions.
1. Zhou Xian has already written how to resolve this in the main text. I'm a bit reluctant to write the "if" scenario again. I'm worried about repeating this part of the plot, and I'm also worried that I'll mess it up.
2. I actually feel very reluctant to write about Wen Xue's eight years, because her life would be much more difficult than the early part of the main story.
So, after struggling with the decision for a few days, I decided to leave the story here, at the end of their five-year agreement.
↓↓
Anyway, I'm relieved; at least I've finished writing this story.
When I stopped updating at the end of July, many readers told me to trust me, and I myself said very confidently that I would definitely finish writing it, but actually I was also very worried inside [crying].
Rather than saying I really like the story, I'd say I like Wen Xue and He Yan, and the past few months of writing this serial.
In short, I learned a lot.
Especially during the period when I stopped updating, my originally anxious heart gradually calmed down, and that feeling was really great (although I stopped updating, I was writing almost every day). (Of course, I sincerely wish that this situation will never happen again in my future writing career [hands clasped][hands clasped][hands clasped])
Finally, thank you so much for spending this journey with you all! [roses][roses]
See you next time.
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