Chapter 44 I'm already married.
Jin Huan stayed with her aunt for more than a week.
During this time, Zhong Yan sent Jin Huan a message saying that he had to go abroad for some business and would come to pick her up when he returned.
Jin Huan was always very obedient; she did whatever Zhong Yan said without ever asking questions.
His temporary trip abroad must have been for work, that much is certain. Zhong Yan is extremely busy, and there are often unexpected events. In addition, he is about to take over the family business, so there are countless things to do.
So the wedding dress fitting that we had arranged had to be postponed.
However, spending time with her aunt was also quite pleasant. The two of them would chat about coffee, cakes, makeup, and fashion, and they always had so much to talk about. Recently, Jin Huan has also taken a liking to listening to her aunt and uncle's stories from the past, and she tries to ask them a question or two whenever she has the chance.
Jin Huan has almost dug up every detail about her uncle's affairs.
Chen Zhisong couldn't do anything about her. After all, she was his aunt's darling, and he was a staunch believer in the power of books and philosophy, thinking that his wife was the most important person in the world.
At the end of July, Jin Huan received a message from Teacher Tan that it was her birthday and invited all the students to her birthday party.
Upon seeing Teacher Tan's message, Jin Huan was momentarily dazed. She thought of that book again, and the postcards inside. She felt guilty, wondering if her tears had ruined it.
After thinking it over, Jin Huan agreed.
She went to the mall first to buy a birthday gift for Teacher Tan.
Despite Teacher Tan's repeated explanations that there was no need to send her gifts, and that it was just an invitation for everyone to have a meal together, Jin Huan still felt that she should send her a gift. After all, Teacher Tan was a special person to her, and she had never sent her any gifts before.
Enjoy carefully selecting items in the mall.
Online recommendations for gifts for teachers mostly include fountain pens, thermos cups, and lumbar pillows. Jin Huan carefully researched these and concluded that none of them were good choices.
To be precise, it's not suitable for Teacher Tan.
Finally, after careful consideration, she bought a perfume.
The gentle blend of sea mint and lavender is perfect for summer spraying. It smells refreshing, and the base notes are both rational and gentle, perfectly matching Teacher Tan's overall temperament.
Jin Huan arrived around 10 a.m. Ms. Tan's home is near the school, just across the street. She was the first to arrive, and the other students arrived one after another after her.
Jin Huan gave her birthday gift to Teacher Tan.
Tan Xi sighed helplessly.
Despite repeated warnings not to buy her a gift, Tan Xi insisted on buying one anyway. Since it was a student's thoughtful gesture, she could only accept it and thank Jin Huan.
“It’s not a very expensive gift,” Jin Huan said with a smile. “Teacher Tan, try it later. I think you’ll definitely like it.”
Tan Xi nodded and said softly, "Okay, I'll try it in a bit."
Tan Xi bought this apartment in her third year after joining the school. She had some savings when she was pursuing her master's degree, and her salary and housing provident fund were also quite substantial. In her third year of employment, she bought this apartment on her own. It's about 100 square meters, more than enough for one person. After paying the down payment, her housing provident fund fully covered the down payment, and she has almost finished paying it off by now.
Tan Xi cooked for herself today, and two dishes were already stewing in the pot. While she was doing this, she showed Jin Huan around and mentioned that she didn't really like the interior design style.
When she bought the house, the developer did a basic renovation. She was busy with work and her parents weren't around, so she couldn't put much effort into the renovation. She only did a little soft furnishing. Now, after living there for seven or eight years, she's starting to dislike it more and more.
Tan Xi said that if she were decorating it herself, she would definitely only keep one bedroom, and it would be best to open up the rest of the rooms to make them into a living room. After opening them up, they could be used to put bookshelves, which would make the space more open and allow for more books to be placed.
Tan Xi has so many books at home.
Aside from her professional interests, she also enjoys reading Chinese and foreign classics, essay collections, and books by authors such as Sanmao and Eileen Chang, which she categorizes by author.
Jin Huan saw Wang Zengqi's book in the middle.
Several of these books were from the same set as the one she saw in Zhong Yan's study, and they were also well preserved.
Seeing Jin Huan staring at them, Tan Xi smiled and asked, "You like reading essays?"
Based on Tan Xi's understanding of Jin Huan, although she studied science, she was sensitive and sometimes slow to react, which didn't seem like the kind of person who would enjoy reading prose poems.
Jin Huan shook her head: "I don't really like it."
She hesitated for a moment, staring at the book of prose poems, then glancing at Teacher Tan, before finally unable to resist asking, "Teacher, do you really like this book?"
“Me?” Tan Xi took out her collection of essays. She bought the book when she was in graduate school. It’s been a long time, but it’s still in very good condition, with hardly any signs of use or reading.
"When I was young, I liked... when I was your age."
Even if I look at it again now, I won't feel the same vivid emotions as I did back then. It's perfectly normal for people to have different moods at different stages of life.
Jin Huan stared at the book in her hand and said, "I've seen this book before; your name is on it."
Tan Xi was taken aback, not understanding Jin Huan's meaning: "Where?"
Jin Huan opened her mouth, but hesitated to speak.
She initially thought it shouldn't be an important matter and didn't want to dwell on it, but she found herself constantly thinking about it, even when she told herself not to think about it anymore, some thoughts would still keep popping into her head.
Since I've been thinking about this for so long, and I've seen it today, there's no harm in asking.
Jin Huan said, "In Mr. Zhong's study."
Tan Xi thought back to the relationship between this book and Zhong Yan. She just remembered a clue, but then she felt something was wrong. How could Jin Huan have gone into Zhong Yan's study?
Before she could figure it out, Jin Huan asked again, "Is the boyfriend you told me about before Mr. Zhong?"
Tan Xi was surprised for half a second, then she smiled and denied it: "Of course not."
Although she didn't know why Jin Huan brought up Zhong Yan, Tan Xi didn't think about pursuing the matter for the time being. She simply denied it again: "How could it be Zhong Yan?"
Jin Huan blinked and asked curiously, "Why is it impossible?"
Tan Xi countered, "Does he seem like the kind of person who would like anyone?"
Jin Huan fell silent; she didn't say anything.
"But I did give him a copy of this collection of essays when he first enrolled in school." Tan Xi quickly remembered the matter of this collection of essays.
When they first enrolled, Tan Xi and Zhong Yan were in the same research group and spent some time together, about a month or two. Tan Xi had a bit of a crush on Zhong Yan, or more likely, she admired him. This is something she only realized later.
On his birthday in August, Tan Xi gave him a collection of essays, inside which was a postcard she had brought back from her trip to Australia. She wrote a few words on it, but Tan Xi couldn't remember exactly what they were, though they probably expressed her feelings.
In her early twenties, she was completely fearless. She didn't even understand what kind of person Zhong Yan was, yet she dared to speak those things to him directly. This was because Tan Xi was confident enough; she felt she was good enough to be worthy of anyone.
She didn't know if Zhong Yan had read the book, but he probably hadn't, because when Tan Xi brought it up with him later, he only politely apologized and said he had no intention of dating.
It wasn't that he was incompatible or needed to consider it; rather, he told her directly that he wouldn't date.
This is something he doesn't need at all.
He is outstanding, has a great personality, is humble and polite, and has a strong sense of responsibility. More importantly, Tan Xi only truly experienced the feeling of being moved when she was with him.
That's different from my appreciation of Zhong Yan.
Jin Huan listened attentively, thinking, "So that's how it is."
It's that simple.
Based on Tan Xi's description, she asked curiously, "Was Mr. Zhong always like this? Or with this personality now?"
Jin Huan seemed very curious about Zhong Yan's affairs, especially his past. She seemed even more eager to learn than she would be in the laboratory. Tan Xi thought for a moment and replied seriously, "It's not quite the same."
Zhong Yan is a very complicated person. He is complicated because others simply cannot understand him. Even though Tan Xi has known him for so many years, she still cannot understand him.
Complex and shrewd people are the most difficult to get along with; at best, they can be friends.
“He used to be more assertive and outgoing, and he didn’t care much about anything.”
Age has given him tolerance and gentleness, and a more robust physique, allowing him to hide his emotions more deeply and calmly.
This is Tan Xi's evaluation of Zhong Yan from the past to the present.
Tan Xi remembered and showed her a group photo of her classmates from back then.
Zhong Yan is on the far right of the photo.
His gaze wasn't fixed on the camera; he was probably thinking about something, his consciousness only partially focused... Beneath his black coat was a straight back. Just as Teacher Tan said, he looked stern and intimidating at that time. If it were Jin Huan back then, she probably wouldn't have dared to approach him.
Teacher Tan actually had the courage to say those things to him.
Teacher Tan truly lives up to his reputation.
She was clearly staring at Zhong Yan. Her finger hovered over Zhong Yan's face in the photo, and she stared at it for a long time without saying a word. Tan Xi didn't interrupt her. After she had looked enough, she said, "Why are you so focused on Zhong Yan?"
Jin Huan looked away and pursed her lips. In fact, she was very hesitant about this matter, but she didn't want to lie.
“Teacher Tan, there’s something I’ve been hiding from you.” Jin Huan took a deep breath, looked into Tan Xi’s eyes, and slowly said, “I’m already married.”
Tan Xi was stunned.
She knew that Jin Huan had been in a relationship before, but how could they have gone from dating to marriage in such a short time? She didn't know anything about the other person's situation or background. Jin Huan didn't seem like a girl who was blinded by love.
Tan Xi was still worried about her. As her teacher, she certainly didn't want Jin Huan to get hurt. Just as she was about to ask her what was wrong, Jin Huan took the initiative to speak.
"It's with Mr. Zhong."
"Around New Year's Day last year."
Even someone as composed as Tan Xi couldn't remain calm after hearing this.
Of course she knew about Zhong Yan's marriage. She knew he was looking for a wife when she invited him to the school for guidance last year, and he got married not long after.
Tan Xi had also heard him talk about his wife a few times.
Tan Xi couldn't hide the shock in her eyes. In her opinion, Jin Huan and Zhong Yan were from completely different worlds, seemingly two extremes, and she hadn't noticed at all for so long.
It's even harder to imagine what it would be like for the two of them to get along.
Too many unbelievable things.
The amount of information was so overwhelming that Tan Xi was so shocked that she couldn't even close her jaw.
Other students arrived one after another, and it wasn't appropriate to say anything more. Tan Xi went back to the kitchen to continue her work, telling Jin Huan and her classmates to sit down first, and that she would be done soon.
When Tan Xi got busy, she didn't have time to think about this. It wasn't until the meal ended and everyone left that Tan Xi gave the collection of essays to Jin Huan.
She knew nothing about what happened between her and Zhong Yan, but from the questions Jin Huan asked her today, she could guess that the postcard she wrote back then had caused Jin Huan to misunderstand. So she simply gave Jin Huan the rest of her book as well.
"You can take a look when you have time," she said.
Jin Huan paused for a moment, then took the book: "Thank you, Teacher Tan."
Tan Xi looked at Jin Huan with a complicated expression, then smiled and said that she should have invited them to dinner together.
Jin Huan said, "Mr. Zhong is away on a business trip."
Tan Xi chuckled: "Really?"
Tan Xi, of course, didn't know whether he was going on a business trip or not, nor could she keep track of Zhong Yan's movements at all times. However, she still found it amazing that Jin Huan and Zhong Yan had such a relationship.
Jin Huan nodded, and was about to say something when her phone rang.
She glanced down and saw that it was Zhong Yan calling.
Jin Huan answered the call and put the phone to her ear. Before she could speak, she heard Zhong Yan call her softly, "Jin Huan."
It had been a long time since I'd heard Zhong Yan's voice, and my emotions were a bit complicated. As soon as he opened his mouth, that sour feeling welled up again, and it felt like an invisible hand was gripping my throat.
After a long pause, she finally spoke: "You're back?"
"Yeah, I just got off the plane." Zhong Yan went to her aunt's place as soon as she got off the plane. Hearing that she was there to attend her mentor's birthday party, he rushed over from there.
Jin Huan's voice trailed off: "You've come to pick me up?"
Zhong Yan only knew that it was near the school, but not the exact address. He was on his way here, and after giving a low "hmm," he carefully asked her.
"I'll take you to try on wedding dresses." Zhong Yan paused as he spoke, and considering that she was in a sensitive emotional period recently, his tone was almost coaxing, which was very touching.
"May I?"
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