Chapter 27
Soon, the waiter brought out all the dishes. The hot pot in the center of the round table was boiling, and the aroma was irresistible, stimulating the taste buds.
When you like someone, you even want to try their favorite flavors. Chen Zhiyi picked up the first piece from the extra spicy pot, and the moment it entered his mouth, he was instantly overwhelmed by the fiery sensation, like a ball of fire burning. His nose immediately started sweating profusely, his cheeks turned bright red, and the burning sensation of the spiciness rushed to his throat, causing him to cough violently.
Lin Ting quickly poured him a glass of water, and Chen Zhiyi grabbed the glass and gulped it down. He drank two glasses in a row before the burning sensation in his mouth subsided considerably.
Zhong Xiaoman respected him as a real man, saying, "So fierce? You can't handle spicy food, yet you still ordered the extra spicy one for the first bite."
Lin scooped a spoonful of fish slices from the tomato broth and placed it in Chen Zhiyi's bowl. "Let's eat something non-spicy."
Chen Zhiyi picked up a slice and put it in his mouth. The sweet and sour taste of the tomato washed away the last bit of spiciness in his mouth.
When the four girls go out to eat, they always order a few bottles of beer, and today was no exception.
Zhong Xiaoman poured a glass for everyone. When she got to Chen Zhiyi's glass, Lin Ting covered the rim with her hand and said, "High school students can just drink beverages."
Zhong Xiaoman objected, "This is fruit beer, the alcohol content is very low, it's okay to drink a little."
Chen Zhiyi: "It's okay, I can have a drink. I've had them at home before."
Lin Ting said with a serious face, "At home is at home, but we're outside now. I brought you out today, so I have to be responsible for you." After saying that, she poured him a full drink, "This is fine with you."
Zhong Xiaoman pouted, "Even King Zhou wasn't as strict as you."
Ren Jingjing understood Lin Ting's concerns: "Lin Ting is right. If Chen Zhiyi goes back reeking of alcohol, what will his family think? Will they think Lin Ting is a promiscuous person?"
This reason suddenly dawned on Zhong Xiaoman, and she stuck out her tongue in annoyance.
Yun Shu continued the conversation by mentioning "high school students," trying to probe further. "But these 18 or 19-year-old high school students these days are quite mature. They've done a lot of things, haven't they?"
Lin Ting asked with some confusion, "For example?"
Zhong Xiaoman continued, "Of course it's dating. With my brother's handsome face, it would be a shame not to date him enough for a whole mahjong table."
Lin Ting immediately stopped her, "Let's change the subject, this isn't appropriate."
Ren Jingjing: "Emotional issues are the number one problem for mankind. As long as they don't break the law or violate ethics and morality, it's harmless to talk about them."
Chen Zhiyi said frankly, "No!"
Zhong Xiaoman became interested. "Saying you don't have that face? Is your family strict with you?"
Chen Zhiyi mumbled, "Maybe."
Zhong Xiaoman: "I didn't realize you were such an obedient child."
Lin Ting mentally spat at Chen Zhiyi.
The truth is, before meeting Lin Ting, Chen Zhiyi had never met anyone who truly moved him. From childhood to adulthood, he had indeed received many love letters, and new suitors were always appearing around him, chattering and making him feel annoyed. In fact, in junior high school, he even got into a fight with two groups of girls over him, and was subsequently punished by the school, along with him. At that time, he found it even more ridiculous.
But think about when he fell for Lin Ting. Maybe it was when he saw her feeding the kitten through the window and felt a sense of shared loneliness. Maybe it was when she stood in front of him, sharing her parenting experience with composure, and he was struck by the firmness and resilience in her eyes. Maybe it was when her black-rimmed glasses fell off and her clean, clear eyes met his gaze, and the flutter in his heart at that moment was still clear and deep. He was silently and imperceptibly touched by her. Or maybe it was the accidental encounter nine years ago that planted the seed of destiny.
Yun Shu looked at Chen Zhiyi and asked inquiringly, "Do you have someone you like? It's not someone older, is it?"
Chen Zhiyi suddenly looked up at Yun Shu. Their eyes met, and Yun Shu smiled faintly, glancing at Lin Ting, clearly indicating that she understood.
Chen Zhiyi immediately lowered his head, his neck and ears turning completely red.
Yun Shu is very smart. She has had crushes on people and has been liked by others, so she can see through Chen Zhiyi's thoughts.
Lin Ting was focused on replying to messages on her phone and didn't hear Yun Shu's words. She turned her head and saw Chen Zhiyi's bright red ears. "What are you two talking about? Your ears are so red?"
Zhong Xiaoman: "Talking about the person your younger brother likes?"
Lin Ting asked curiously, "Who is it? Wang Xinran, whom we met last time?"
Chen Zhiyi couldn't understand it. In just a short while, he was already invisible to Yun Shu, so how come Lin Ting hadn't noticed him at all after spending so much time with him? He seriously suspected that she was faking it. He had only met a suitor once, so how could he be so closely associated with Wang Xinran in Lin Ting's heart? Everything about her was Wang Xinran.
Chen Zhiyi was eager to change the subject away from her and looked at Lin Ting, "So, Teacher Lin, do you have someone you like? Just now, Sister Jingjing said that emotions are the number one problem for mankind, so it's harmless to talk about them." Although the two of them had just talked about it a while ago, he still wanted to know more about her love life from the people around her.
Ren Jingjing rubbed her forehead, thinking to herself, "Quite quick to apply what she's learned." Her love life had always been very stable; she had been with her boyfriend from high school to university, so she knew how to tell if someone liked her. She had some doubts, but Chen Zhiyi's question just now dispelled them.
Zhong Xiaoman: "Little brother, you've asked the wrong person. Do you know that there's a medicine in martial arts called the Love-Severing Pill?"
Chen Zhiyi looked puzzled.
Yun Shu: "Xiao Man means that Teacher Lin was probably given this kind of drug by her family when she was young, which caused her to be heartless and indifferent to love, and to become a well-known ice queen."
Ren Jingjing continued, "She has many suitors, but she never pays attention to them, whether they are handsome, talented, or from good families. If you ask her what she likes, she says she likes studying and scholarships."
Hearing these words, Chen Zhiyi was both surprised and delighted. The two had a brief chat before, and Lin Tingyou had said that she was not considering relationships at the moment. He thought she was just being shy or perfunctory. Now, he could confirm from her roommate's words that she really didn't have anyone she liked and was even a complete novice when it came to love.
Chen Zhiyi doesn't have any so-called romantic purity obsession. After all, liking someone or being liked by someone is a perfectly normal thing in the journey of human emotions. Perhaps it's hard to express this liking, but he's not ashamed, because liking someone is a wonderful thing in itself.
Lin Ting disagreed: "Is it wrong to love learning?"
Zhong Xiaoman: "To talk about learning in front of a master of exam papers, isn't that just humiliating oneself?"
Chen Zhiyi listened with great interest, "The King of Scrolls?"
Yun Shu: "No one can beat our teacher Lin in academics. She has won the national scholarship for three consecutive years, and she basically wins the championship in any academic competition she participates in."
Ren Jingjing: "If she hadn't given up, she could have been recommended for postgraduate studies."
Speaking of this, Zhong Xiaoman expressed her sincere regret: "It's a real pity that Lin Ting gave up her postgraduate studies. She is truly talented in design. There is a forum in our fashion industry called 'Flying Needle and Stitch,' where many design enthusiasts or big names post their design drafts. Fashion groups, buyers, or private studios often browse it and buy the excellent works they see. Lin Ting posted a lot on it, and quite a few copyrights were bought."
Chen Zhiyi could guess the reason, but felt that there was always a solution to everything, and that giving up such a good opportunity was indeed wrong. He turned to her and asked, "Why don't you continue to pursue a master's degree?"
Lin Ting smiled faintly and did not reply. In her mind, there was no solution to this problem. Only by building a solid foundation in reality could one pursue higher opportunities, but she did not have one.
Ren Jingjing: "Sometimes compared to her, I feel like we are useless. She can work 24 hours a day without a break, teaching, doing experiments, tutoring, and working part-time every day."
Lin Ting followed up with, "So where do you find the energy and time to talk about feelings?"
Ren Jingjing: "You're pushing yourself too hard. You need to learn to rely on others. Always arming yourself with an impenetrable wall makes people who like you want to get close but don't know how. You only have two shoulders, and there will always be a time when you can't bear it anymore."
Lin Ting's family situation is known to everyone. They have lived together for four years. Although they have never asked her directly, they can tell a little from her daily life. They also know her stubborn nature. Afraid of hurting her self-esteem, they will not help her openly, but only secretly in private.
For example, she secretly paid for the water and electricity cards in the dormitory, and when the class paid the management fee, she would include hers. When buying snacks, she would always bring red bean flavored ones, and she would ask the vendors to cut melons into pieces and pack them in boxes for easy sharing.
Lin Ting smiled, but anyone with eyes could see the sadness in her eyes. "I'm used to being alone."
The three women found it strange. They wondered what had happened to her that had left her in this state. Even if the sky were falling, she wouldn't actively seek help from others, as if accepting help from others was something incredibly embarrassing for her. The three women didn't ask, knowing Lin Ting as they did, they knew she wouldn't tell them.
An awkward silence fell over the room.
Yun Shu picked up her phone and pretended to examine it. "Let me see which nunnery has good conditions and scout it out for Teacher Lin in advance."
Lin Ting smiled and said, "I think this is a good suggestion."
During his roommates' conversation, Lin Ting's aloof and stubborn image was firmly established in Chen Zhiyi's mind. In fact, in this student era where it was common to find men who were after rich men, Lin Ting's looks would have been more than enough to find a "meal buddy." However, she did not take advantage of her beauty, which made her a rare and stubborn individual.
This also proves once again that my vision is unique, which is why I fell in love with someone who is different from others and rare in the world.
After dinner, Lin Ting accompanied Chen Zhiyi across the street to wait for Uncle Chen's car. The other three went back to their dorm first. Before parting, Chen Zhiyi added them on WeChat for easy contact. His ulterior motive was to be able to see their updates about Lin Ting anytime. At that time, WeChat was not yet widespread, and most people used WeChat.
The two stood by the roadside. Because Lin Ting had drunk some beer, her cheeks were flushed with a faint blush under the dim yellow light, like peach blossoms gently kissed by the sunset. Having grown accustomed to her aloof and self-possessed appearance, this touch of red added a touch of untamed passion to her.
Lin asked, "How many minutes until Uncle Chen arrives?"
Chen Zhiyi: "It will probably take about 20 minutes, there will be some traffic."
Lin Ting nodded. "Did you enjoy your meal today? Do you find eating with girls a little annoying?"
Chen Zhiyi: "No, the older sisters speak very directly and easily, which makes me feel very comfortable."
Lin Ting: "That's good!"
Chen Zhiyi originally had little concept of university life, but today, watching Lin Ting and her three roommates drinking and talking about feelings, ideals, life, studies, and even trivial matters—they shared lofty fantasies and the harsh realities of life—he realized that life should be like this, with beautiful expectations and annoying琐碎 (trivialities). A vivid picture of life unfolded before him. He imagined that by then, he too could drink and sing with his roommates. Life is short, and if she were still by his side then, just as she was now, it would be perfect.
Chen Zhiyi looked at her profile, which was obscured by strands of hair blown by the evening breeze, and couldn't help but ask again, "Why don't you want to pursue a master's degree?"
Lin Ting tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Why are you asking this question again?"
Chen Zhiyi: "I just feel it's a pity. Is it because of the tuition fee?" He thought to himself that if that was the case, he could help her.
Lin Ting: "No, there are national policies to reduce or waive tuition fees for postgraduate studies. It's just that I don't think it's necessary. Fashion design is an industry that requires both talent and experience. Unlike other industries that require constant new research and development, it's already very mature. It's something that's fundamental to humanity, a product that has existed since the birth of humankind. The history of human evolution is also the history of clothing evolution. Do you think such a profound foundation requires many professional talents to study it? What I need is practical experience, to be put to the test by the public and the market, rather than being buried in books or experimental equipment. Many design directors of well-known brands started as small tailors in the market. They didn't have high academic qualifications or rich theoretical knowledge; they relied on talent and experience."
"Right now, I just want to find an internship and get some experience."
In Chen Zhiyi's eyes, she has always been so clear-headed, knowing exactly what she needs most right now.
"Where will you go?"
"Not decided yet, still submitting resumes."
"Will you go to northern Beijing?" Chen Zhiyi's inner thought was, "Will you go to northern Beijing? Would you be willing to stay in the same city as me?"
Lin Ting thought for a moment, "Beijing is too difficult, it's hard to survive. But recently a well-known fast fashion women's clothing brand in Tianjin contacted me, they are interested in me and want to talk to me. If it's possible, I can give it a try here."
Chen Zhiyi felt somewhat comforted. If she stayed in Jinshi for her internship, then the two of them would be in Jinshi until graduation. If she performed well during her internship and stayed in Jinshi, he could come back to see her whenever he had time off.
Under the dim streetlights, two shadows, one long and one short, lay silently on the ground, not overlapping. A gentle evening breeze rustled the leaves as they brushed past the shadows' heads. Chen Zhiyi took a small step back, then shifted his body to the side—towards Lin Ting. The shadows then overlapped, allowing her head to rest comfortably on his left chest. He raised his hand in a light patting motion, making it appear as if he were gently stroking her head. Everything seemed so intimate. Yet, she couldn't hear the flutter in his heart, nor feel the warmth of his hand, because it was all an illusion. He lowered his hand, straightened his body, and took a large step forward, forcing himself to clear his head.
I haven't even been drinking, so why am I a little drunk?
Twenty minutes later, Uncle Chen picked up Chen Zhiyi.
Lin Ting watched the car disappear into the distance, then walked alone under the moonlight back to her dormitory. Alone, a sense of loneliness and loss welled up within her. She longed for someone to always be by her side, but she wondered if there truly was someone who would consistently and steadfastly choose another to stand by her side.
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