Chapter 7
Yan Qing returned to her dormitory at 2 a.m.
After accepting Shen Hanyang's friend request, the chat window remained blank, and the other party did not send any messages.
When she and Huang Qian left Su Shan Fang, Shen Hanyang's table was still clinking glasses and drinking, showing no signs of ending. Yan Qing thought for a moment and decided she should inform Cheng Jiaming's parents about his studies, so she edited a brief text message and sent it. After waiting a while and receiving no reply, Yan Qing sent a document, complete with pictures and text, detailing the week's class progress. However, it was still like throwing a stone into the sea—no response whatsoever. Finally, Yan Qing was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open, and she lay down on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.
When Yan Qing opened her eyes the next day, it was already ten o'clock. Gu Feimeng's bed curtains were still drawn tightly, and there was no sound. She seemed to be sleeping soundly. Yan Qing quietly climbed out of bed to wash up.
A cell phone suddenly vibrated in the quiet dormitory. Yan Qing quickly covered the phone, afraid of waking Gu Feimeng.
It was a WeChat voice message from Cheng Jiaming.
"Teacher... I... I'm here."
Yan Qing didn't react immediately: "You're here? Where have you been?"
Gu Feimeng woke up and asked groggily, "Who's here?"
When Yan Qing jogged to the entrance of L University, Cheng Jiaming was peeking inside, carrying a large backpack that seemed disproportionate to his small frame.
Yan Qing grabbed him: "Why did you come here?"
"Looking for...looking for you to play with."
"Did the driver bring you here?"
Cheng Jiaming shook his head: "Take...take a taxi."
Yan Qing took off his backpack and carried it in her hand; it was heavy, and she didn't know what was inside. She led Cheng Jiaming back to the dormitory, where Gu Feimeng had just climbed out of bed.
"Hello, sister..." Cheng Jiaming greeted politely.
Gu Feimeng beckoned to him: "Come here, little cutie."
Cheng Jiaming obediently walked over. Gu Feimeng pulled over a chair: "Sit here." Cheng Jiaming sat down, and Gu Feimeng peeled an orange for him to eat.
Cheng Jiaming broke open an orange and gave half to Gu Feimeng. Gu Feimeng raised an eyebrow at Yan Qing: "Sweetheart."
After finishing the orange, Cheng Jiaming opened his schoolbag and took out two square boxes.
"Give it to...give it to my two older sisters."
Yan Qing asked, "What is this?"
Gu Feimeng picked up one of the boxes and read the words on the outer packaging: "Golden Cave Swiftlet. Good heavens, bird's nest!"
Yan Qing also picked up a box and examined it closely. Sure enough, it was bird's nest, the ready-to-eat kind. No wonder it was so heavy that it deformed her schoolbag.
"Why did you send us this? Did you buy it?" Yan Qing asked.
Cheng Jiaming shook his head: "Old...Old Shen bought it. He said...it's nutritious for girls."
Yan Qing pinched his chubby little face: "Thank you for your kindness, Jiaming. But such an expensive thing needs Dad's permission first."
Cheng Jiaming said, "No...no need, I...I'll decide. I'll give it to my two older sisters."
Gu Feimeng was overjoyed: "This little guy is so talented, he's bound to amount to something!"
Gu Feimeng went to wash up, while Cheng Jiaming sat in a chair, his two little legs dangling leisurely, his gaze sweeping around the dormitory. Gu Feimeng liked flashy things; her desk was covered with a whole shelf of blind box dolls, and a Stitch doll with an exaggerated expression peeked out from behind the half-drawn bed curtains. Yan Qing's side was much simpler; besides neatly stacked books, there was only a vanity mirror and a few simple skincare products. A ten-inch-tall beige teddy bear was the only decoration on the plain table.
Cheng Jiaming said, "Sister... your dormitory is really... really beautiful."
Yan Qing asked, "Did you tell Dad you were coming here?"
Cheng Jiaming lowered his head and did not answer.
Yan Qing said, "I have to tell Dad, otherwise he'll get worried."
Cheng Jiaming remained silent, fiddling with the hem of his clothes.
Actually, Yan Qing noticed his unusual mood the moment they met. There must be a reason why he suddenly came to see her alone. She asked softly, "Is something bothering you?"
Cheng Jiaming said, "None..."
Yan Qing asked, "Really nothing?"
Cheng Jiaming looked up, his eyes filled with resentment: "No, it's Wu... Wu Yanying!"
Yan Qing guessed that Wu Yanying was referring to the girl surnamed Wu who had appeared at the Shen family's house. The night before at Su Shan Fang, she had heard Secretary Gao call that girl by her name; those were the two characters.
Yan Qing asked patiently, "What's wrong with her?"
Cheng Jiaming frowned slightly: "Annoying! Even more...more annoying than Old Shen!"
"Who upset our handsome young man?" Gu Feimeng came out of the bathroom, her face covered in a face mask, only her eyes showing as she looked at Cheng Jiaming. "Be good, tell your sister, and I'll help you get revenge!"
Cheng Jiaming's worry turned to joy, and he giggled at Gu Feimeng's face.
Yan Qing said, "You should still call home and tell them you're with us."
Cheng Jiaming turned his face away: "No...no need, there's no one at home. Old...Old Shen and Aunt Gao...Aunt Gao took Wu Yanying to play...play."
Yan Qing asked, "Why aren't you coming along?"
Cheng Jiaming snorted lightly: "I...I don't...I don't care!"
Gu Feimeng, unaware of the situation, asked: "Who is Wu Yanying? Is she a relative of yours?"
Cheng Jiaming said with disdain, "No...no! They're from outside, just...clinging on and refusing to leave!"
Gu Feimeng looked at Yan Qing: "A woman?"
Yan Qing nodded.
Gu Feimeng asked again, "The one with Shen Hanyang?"
Yan Qing sighed helplessly, "Which one? The child is here, don't talk nonsense."
Gu Feimeng's chivalrous spirit flared up, and she stood up for Cheng Jiaming: "Outrageous! He's so carefree, he doesn't even care about his child! If they don't care about you, I will! What do you want to eat? I'll order takeout for you!" She opened the food delivery app. Cheng Jiaming eagerly followed. After a brief chatter, Gu Feimeng placed the order: "Done!"
The takeout arrived quickly, containing pizza, fries, spicy hot pot, milk tea, and even a bag of bright red crabapples. Yan Qing shook her head: "The child is so happy with you."
Cheng Jiaming nodded vigorously in agreement: "They are all...they are all my favorite foods."
Gu Feimeng eats in a haphazard way, taking a bite of beef pizza, a bite of spicy hot pot, a crabapple, and then back to take another bite of pizza. Yan Qing often wonders, "Won't the flavors mix?" Gu Feimeng replies, "It's double the deliciousness!"
Gu Feimeng casually opened her phone's reading app, her expression lighting up: "Qiao Yi updated!" So she started reading with great interest while eating.
Cheng Jiaming shifted his little bottom closer to Gu Feimeng: "Sister... what are you looking at?"
Gu Feimeng popped a crabapple into his mouth and said, "Novel."
The crabapples were so sour that Cheng Jiaming's mouth watered. He wrapped the small fruit in his tongue, and after the tingling sensation subsided, he asked again, "Wh...what novel?"
Gu Feimeng replied, “《The Unlucky Prince and His Wind…》” Before she could finish the word “wind”, Yan Qing covered her mouth.
"Not suitable for children!" Yan Qing reminded her.
Cheng Jiaming tilted his head back: "I...I know everything."
Gu Feimeng chuckled: "Kids these days are much more promising than we were back then. Okay, I'm not looking at my phone anymore. Tell me where you want to go, and I'll take you."
Without even thinking, Cheng Jiaming blurted out, "Let's go to the comic convention!"
Gu Feimeng slapped her thigh: "It's settled then! I just bought a JK sailor uniform a while ago, but I haven't had a chance to wear it. I'll wear it out today and show it off."
After finishing their meal, Yan Qing checked the route, and the group got ready to leave. Before leaving, Yan Qing opened her chat window with Shen Hanyang and sent him a message: "Mr. Shen, Jiaming came to school to visit me this morning. My roommate and I took him to the comic convention at Yuehui. Please don't worry."
As expected, the opposite side remained as calm as still water.
Yan Qing thought that since the message had already been sent to Shen Hanyang, he would see it when he checked his phone, so she set off with Cheng Jiaming without any worries.
The Yuehui Comic Con occupied three entire floors: the first floor was for arcade games, the second floor for merchandise, and the third floor for screenings. It was a Chinese-style comic con, with cosplayers dressed as ancient-style dolls moving about, as if bringing a fantasy world into reality. Gu Feimeng was overwhelmed, exclaiming repeatedly, "Young people really know how to have fun! These things are so uplifting; I feel like an old tree has been rejuvenated!"
Gu Feimeng and Cheng Jiaming played games and browsed the surrounding area, having a great time. Naturally, Gu Feimeng couldn't resist taking photos at this kind of event. In no time, Cheng Jiaming had been trained to be her professional photographer. Wherever Gu Feimeng pointed, he would point the camera, not only responsibly finding the right angle but also occasionally offering thoughtful reminders: "Sister...sister, turn your face...turn it a little more towards me!"
Although Yan Qing doesn't understand anime, she appreciates the handsome men and beautiful women cosplayers and doesn't find it boring.
The three of them played until 5 p.m., their legs and feet aching, and they were starving, before finally rushing into a McDonald's. Gu Feimeng ordered a huge amount of food, piling hamburgers and chicken nuggets onto two trays. Yan Qing and Gu Feimeng carefully carried their trays to find seats, while Cheng Jiaming was still in line for ice cream.
Having finally found an empty four-person table and just put down her plate, Yan Qing's phone rang.
As soon as I answered the phone, Secretary Gao's stern voice pierced my ears: "Yan Qing, what right do you have to take Jiaming away without our permission?"
Yan Qing tried to explain, but Secretary Gao didn't give her a chance to speak, unleashing a barrage of words: "Have you misunderstood your role? You're a teacher, and only a tutor. You have no right to be near children outside of class. If something happens to the child while you're taking him out without a word, who will be responsible? We can hold you accountable, understand? Send the child back right now!"
Yan Qing's old phone was leaking sound, and every word Secretary Gao said reached Gu Feimeng's ears. Gu Feimeng was immediately displeased and said loudly, "You're really something! If you want the child, come and pick it up yourself!"
Yan Qing quickly covered the microphone and shook her head at Gu Feimeng. But Secretary Gao still heard it and questioned Yan Qing, "Who's talking? Are you broadcasting our conversation?"
Yan Qing quickly replied, "No."
Secretary Gao's tone was cold and stern: "Send the child back to Tan Chen Mansion within half an hour, or I will call the police!" He then hung up the phone.
Looking at the table full of hamburgers and chicken nuggets that hadn't been eaten yet, Yan Qing sighed with worry.
Gu Feimeng slammed her fist on the table in anger: "Don't be afraid! We'll take Jiaming back, and I'll go with you. I want to see just how shameless this family is!"
At the entrance of the Tanchenfu residential complex, they encountered Secretary Gao, who was in a rage.
Secretary Gao glanced at Cheng Jiaming first: "Jiaming, go upstairs. Your father and Sister Xiao Wu are at home."
Cheng Jiaming shrank his neck and ran into the residential area as fast as he could.
Gu Feimeng gritted her teeth in anger: "I praised this child for nothing, and he deserted at the last minute!"
Secretary Gao stood with his arms crossed, staring at Yan Qing with an air of accusation in his eyes: "Teacher Yan, please give me an explanation."
Gu Feimeng said, "The child has been returned to you unharmed, what more explanation do you need?"
Secretary Gao ignored Gu Feimeng and stared intently at Yan Qing with an interrogative gaze: "Don't you realize how outrageous your actions are? We discovered the child was missing and almost called the police."
Yan Qing said, "I have informed Mr. Shen via WeChat."
"Send a WeChat message?" Secretary Gao's tone was as if she had heard a joke. "I won't even ask how you added President Shen on WeChat. President Shen receives hundreds of WeChat messages every day. Does he expect to check them all? Formal communication is done through email or OA. What kind of talk is this on WeChat? You're a student at L University, don't you have this much common sense?"
Gu Feimeng grew increasingly angry as she listened. Ignoring Yan Qing's attempts to stop her, she retorted, "You still know we're students, not your child's nannies? You abandoned your child and went out to eat, drink, and have fun. We took care of him all day, and you didn't even say thank you. Instead, you're biting the hand that feeds you, turning the tables on us? You want an explanation? We want an explanation from you! You explain first, where were you parents all day?!"
Secretary Gao was speechless with anger, and could only glare at Yan Qing and Gu Feimeng. After a long pause, she finally uttered, "Incomprehensible!" and turned to go into the residential area.
Gu Feimeng shouted from behind, "You think you can just leave because you can't win an argument? Don't go! Reimburse us for our taxi fare!"
Secretary Gao had already walked away, and Gu Feimeng spat, "The richer they are, the worse they are!"
Yan Qing took out her phone; the message she sent to Shen Hanyang was still sitting alone in the chat box. Perhaps Secretary Gao was right; a busy person like Shen Hanyang wouldn't have time to check WeChat, even though he was the one who added her first.
Gu Feimeng was still angrily cursing Shen Hanyang, but Yan Qing was much calmer. She had experienced far too many unreasonable things like this. For her, dispelling those trivial grievances was no longer a difficult task.
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