invite
Li Weilin was so excited he almost stood up. "You've finally figured it out! Wait, no, you mean he's not your boyfriend yet?"
Zhou Jingxing said confidently, "It's not yet, but it will be sooner or later."
Useless thing! You made me happy for nothing.
Li Weilin was disappointed for a moment, but after calming down, he thought for a moment and told Zhou Jingxing, "In that case, I will definitely help you with this. But you have to promise me one thing."
"Teacher, please speak."
Li Weilin tapped the documents on the table and gestured, "I just received a notice that there's an exchange meeting in City A at the end of next month. You'll be coming with me."
Zhou Jingxing instinctively didn't want to go, not because he didn't want to accompany his teacher, but because he wanted to stay in Mingcheng and stick close to Chen Zhou. He made an excuse, "I'm fine with it, but the library is quite busy, and I don't know if I can get another day off."
"You're not some old fox, yet you dare to play these ghost stories with me!" Li Weilin was too lazy to expose him, so he simply said directly, "I'll have the organizers send you an invitation. I'll talk to the curator; he won't disagree with such a small matter. I still have your ID number; I'll buy you the tickets directly from here."
The matter was settled in just a few words.
Left with no other option, Zhou Jingxing could only awkwardly say, "Thank you, teacher."
"Okay, go ahead. Practice your basic skills properly, and don't embarrass me when we're out in public!"
Zhou Jingxing dragged his feet to the door, then turned back to ask him, "Teacher, what about the sunken ship incident..."
Li Weilin was clearly losing patience. He waved his hand impatiently, as if chasing away a dog, "I know, I know, your teacher isn't so old that he can't remember things."
Zhou Jingxing felt somewhat relieved and then opened the door and left.
The porcelain restoration was nearing completion, and everyone in the studio was working overtime that night. Although Chen Zhou didn't know anything about it, he stayed by her side the whole time, helping to hand her tools and fetch auxiliary materials.
It was past nine o'clock, and Shen Zhou checked his phone several times. Zhou Jingxing couldn't help but ask him, "Do you have anything else to do tonight?"
Chen Zhou shook his head. "No, I ordered late-night snacks for everyone. The agreed time has passed, why haven't they been delivered yet?"
Just then, the studio doorbell rang, and someone struggled to walk in carrying a box.
"The delivery should have arrived. I'll go pick it up." Chen Zhou went to meet him, and was somewhat surprised when he saw the person's face. "It's you?"
Zhao Xin laboriously placed the box on the empty table and said with a smile, "I heard you were working overtime tonight, so I bought some desserts to treat you. How about it, are you surprised?" Before Shen Zhou could say anything, he opened the box and casually invited everyone, "You've all worked hard working overtime, come and have some sweet soup to rest!"
Shen Zhou's expression changed, and he wanted to say something to him, but just then a deliveryman knocked on the door, "Hello, is Mr. Shen home? His delivery is here."
"It's me, I'm here." Shen Zhou had no choice but to leave Zhao Xin behind to pick up the takeout he had ordered.
Zhou Jingxing's face fell the moment he saw Zhao Xin.
The ghost won't leave!
What's he doing here? Is he here to assert sovereignty?
boring!
Zhao Xin's eyes lit up when he saw him. He came over with a bowl of sweet soup and said warmly, "Jingxing, you must be tired from working overtime tonight. Have something to eat and rest."
Zhou Jingxing said with a straight face, "No need, I'm not hungry." He glanced at the sugar water in Zhao Xin's hand, "Move this further away, it'll be hard to clean up if you spill it on the workbench."
Zhao Xin's smile didn't diminish at all because of his indifference. He still stood next to Zhou Jingxing, holding the bowl, and asked, "Jingxing, when will your restoration mission be over?"
Zhou Jingxing's alarm bells rang loudly. Why was this person asking about this? Was he afraid that I was spending too much time with Shen Zhou?
Zhao Xin continued, "My friend has opened a hot spring hotel in the mountains of the next city. I'd like to take Chen Zhou there for a couple of days. If you're free after your restoration work is finished, how about we go together?"
He suddenly leaned closer to Zhou Jingxing, the two almost touching. His tone was flippant, his words full of implications, "Want to go to the hot springs with us? The private baths there are very private."
Feeling his breath hitting his neck, Zhou Jingxing abruptly took a step back, avoiding the contact that sent shivers down his spine.
Zhao Xin persisted, smiling as she pressed him, "So? Want to come along?"
This is outrageous!
Did she deliberately come to the studio to get so close to me and show off her affection, trying to drive me away by flaunting her relationship?
They even invited me to a hot spring trip. Are they trying to provoke me?
childish!
I can't give up!
Zhou Jingxing's mind raced, but he smiled and replied, "Okay, I'll go too."
Haha, you didn't expect that, did you? I'm going to take this hit head-on! How will you respond?
Zhao Xin's eyes lit up with surprise. "Okay, I'll come pick you up then."
"Where are we taking him?" Zhou Jingxing turned around and saw Chen Zhou standing behind him, staring at Zhao Xin. "Where did you just say we were taking him?"
Zhao Xin panicked for a moment, but he quickly covered it up. "I was just chatting with Jing Xing, and he said he was also going on a hot spring trip."
Chen Zhou frowned. "Also? Who else is going?"
Zhao Xin feigned a wronged expression, "Have you forgotten the agreement we made?"
Shen Zhou remembered that before he broke up with Zhao Xin, she had said she wanted to go to the mountains to soak in hot springs with him. But now that they had broken up, it was impossible for them to travel together. However, Zhao Xin was still clinging to him and refused to accept the fact that they had broken up.
Shen Zhou sighed and said helplessly to Zhao Xin, "Zhao Xin, didn't I tell you? We've already—" He stopped abruptly because he saw Zhou Jingxing staring at him and Zhao Xin with a look of inquiry.
Shen Zhou tugged at Zhao Xin's arm, then quickly let go. "I have something to say to you. Come to my office with me." With that, he walked out the door first.
Zhao Xin winked at Zhou Jingxing and followed Chen Zhou away.
Zhou Jingxing was furious. Was it really necessary to brag about a private conversation? I've been spending every day alone with Shen Zhou lately, what have I said?
Zhou Jingxing was sulking when his assistant, a young woman, came over and handed him a cup of herbal tea. "Teacher Zhou, don't be angry. Have some herbal tea. Teacher Shen just asked me to give this to you. He said it's cassia seed tea, good for the eyes. It's perfect for you since you've been using your eyes too much lately."
Zhou Jingxing's anger turned to joy, and he snatched the herbal tea. "Did he give it to me on purpose?"
Well, it wasn't intentional. Everyone has one, but Chen Zhou just told her to get one for Zhou Jingxing. Seeing the hope in his eyes, the assistant couldn't bear to disappoint him, so she lowered her head and mumbled, "Ah, he told me to get it."
Zhou Jingxing was so happy he almost fainted.
Having a private conversation or traveling together? That's nothing!
I have cassia seed tea that Chen Zhou specially ordered for me! He even had it brought over because he was worried I wouldn't drink it! Am I drinking herbal tea? It's Chen Zhou's special favor!
Zhou Jingxing happily sipped his herbal tea, eagerly watching the doorway as he waited for Chen Zhou to return.
A moment later, Shen Zhou came in alone from outside with a sullen face. He went straight to Zhou Jingxing and told him, "Zhao Xin is a bit rash. If he says anything to you that makes things difficult next time, you can ignore him."
It seems the two had a very unpleasant conversation! Was Zhao Xin jealous of him, and that's why she argued with Shen Zhou? Zhou Jingxing imagined a little drama of a jealous husband throwing a tantrum, with Zhao Xin vehemently accusing Shen Zhou of being with another man, and Shen Zhou helplessly replying: "It's just work, you've misunderstood. I didn't tell you because I was afraid you'd be angry. If that's how you think, there's nothing I can do. If you think it's true, then it is. Can't you be a little more sensible..."
Oh dear, why does the sunken ship seem a bit slag-like?
Zhou Jingxing had forgotten his conscience at home today, so he decided to add fuel to the fire. He stroked the herbal tea cup, lowered his eyes, and said softly, "Okay, I understand. Chen Zhou, thank you for the herbal tea. You're so good to me, won't Zhao Xin misunderstand if he finds out?"
He continued, "I feel like he doesn't really like me. Is there something I did wrong? Can you help me explain to him?"
Chen Zhou was stunned. He hesitated and said, "He doesn't like you? He didn't say anything strange, did he?"
Zhou Jingxing waved his hand, "He might have misunderstood me a little, it's okay. I don't want to put you in a difficult position, and I especially don't want you two to argue because of me."
Chen Zhou hesitated for a moment, then said, "Okay. But you must tell me if he treats you rudely."
After delivering this series of green tea punches, Zhou Jingxing felt refreshed and went to work happily after drinking the herbal tea.
Chen Zhou sat in the corner of the studio, his mind wandering. He couldn't help but recall the argument he had just had with Zhao Xin.
Shen Zhou led Zhao Xin to his office, and after closing the door, he couldn't help but tell Zhao Xin, "You shouldn't have come here tonight. We've already broken up, and you're putting me in a difficult position."
Zhao Xin grinned and tried to take his hand, but Shen Zhou dodged it. He wasn't angry, though. "Shen Zhou, why are you still angry with me? I've already explained it to you. That girl is just a friend of mine. She's like a younger sister to me. There's really nothing between us."
Chen Zhou couldn't help but facepalm. "You don't need to explain this to me anymore. I've already said it before, I've never doubted you. I broke up with you because I still couldn't find the feeling of being in love with you. I'm sorry for wasting more than a year of your time, we really should end it."
Zhao Xin's expression finally changed. "I don't want to! Why should both people agree to be in a relationship, but only you need to agree to break up? I don't accept that!"
He pleaded, "Chenzhou, please don't be angry with me anymore. I'll change, okay? I won't make any more friends. You're all I have, okay?"
Shen Zhou hadn't known Zhao Xin was such a persistent person. No, he should have expected it. Zhao Xin had displayed astonishing tenacity when pursuing Shen Zhou, relentlessly pursuing him and using every means possible. This was even more pronounced during their breakup, perhaps even more so than before.
Exhausted, Chen Zhou had nothing to say.
Zhao Xin continued nagging, "At least you have to go on the hot spring trip, right? That hotel is owned by our old classmate. I've already told him about our trip together. You can't just not support your old classmate, can you?"
Shen Zhou rubbed his temples. "I will go on the hot spring trip." Upon hearing this, Zhao Xin's face lit up with surprise. "But I must make it clear to you that we have broken up. This is not a couple's trip; it's just an ordinary gathering between old classmates."
Zhao Xin opened his mouth as if to say something, but Chen Zhou waved his hand at him, "Don't say anything, Zhao Xin. It's come to an end now, let's leave some dignity for our relationship."
Zhao Xin lowered his head and remained silent for a moment before finally turning and leaving.
"This is it, isn't it?" Chen Zhou thought to himself, leaning back in his chair. "What a failed first love."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
