Morning Longing for Warmth – Chapter 52
by Little PandaMeeting
My little girl has grown up.
Weiss often had successful people return to give lectures, mostly invited by the school, while some had collaborations with the school, coming to give speeches before graduation and taking some elite students with them when leaving. Wei Hui had received invitations before, but due to her busy work and poor health, she had declined. However, she maintained contact with the professors at Weiss, otherwise there wouldn’t have been the opportunity to recommend Shiyi and Du Yueming. After hanging up Shiyi’s call, she called the old professor to inquire about recent lecture opportunities, saying she would be willing to return to lecture if they didn’t mind.
The old professor was about to retire. He had taught countless students in his lifetime, some successful, some useless. His deep impression of Wei Hui was due to her intelligence – what others learned in a week, she grasped in three to five days. Moreover, she was humble and steady, reserved and composed, standing out particularly among his students. He had regretted when she dropped out early, but gold shines wherever it goes. After Wei Hui took over Wei Tian, she rapidly expanded its influence, opening many branches, including overseas naturally. The school had unilaterally invited her several times for a lecture, even asking the old professor to convince her, but without success. Now, with his retirement approaching, Wei Hui actually contacted him voluntarily. He immediately confirmed she could return anytime, letting her decide the date.
So Shiyi saw Wei Hui again on the lecture platform. Unlike her previous red dress, she wore a light blue suit, her long hair falling casually behind her, wearing light makeup. The sharpness in her brow remained, and everywhere her gaze fell, silence followed, emanating an air of natural authority, the entire classroom falling quiet.
Shiyi stared blankly at the person on stage, in a daze, until Du Yueming jabbed her arm, asking: “How did your Buddha come here?”
How did Wei Hui come?
She didn’t know either.
Last night, she had messaged Wei Hui telling her not to come, that her health wasn’t good and she shouldn’t strain herself. Since she had already requested leave, she told Wei Hui to fly back. Wei Hui either was busy or hadn’t seen it, never replied, and Shiyi took it as tacit agreement. She had just been planning to ask the professor for a leave slip after class, but unexpectedly now saw Wei Hui.
Compared to these two’s astonishment, others naturally discussed in low voices: “Is that President Wei?”
“Which President Wei?”
“She’s the one who published IHF in Weiss’s first economic journal.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’ve read it many times, and I’ve watched her interviews many times too, though she’s very low-key and rarely accepts interviews.”
They were conversing in a foreign language. Shiyi, having been here for just a few months, could already communicate fluently in the foreign language, so she had no difficulty following. As she was listening intently, someone poked her arm, and Du Yueming asked: “How about it, are you happy now?”
Shiyi’s expression remained unchanged from usual, her brows slightly furrowed, and she answered honestly: “No.”
Du Yueming laughed: “Stop pretending. If my girlfriend was this badass, I’d be grinning even in my sleep.”
“Listen to them praising your wife, and you’re still not happy?”
Shiyi indeed wasn’t happy. She knew Wei Hui’s health condition better than anyone – a lecture would last at least two to three hours without breaks. How could Wei Hui’s body handle that? She was being reckless!
Halfway through speaking, Wei Hui looked toward the students in the classroom, unexpectedly meeting Shiyi’s eyes. Seeing the displeasure in her eyes, she felt an inexplicable sense of guilt. She coughed lightly, brushing away this strange feeling, and continued the lecture.
Wei Hui’s foreign language skills were excellent. Shiyi had never heard her speak it before, but now listening to her fluid foreign language, there was an indescribable sense of comfort – it sounded much better than her own awkward speaking.
Two and a half hours later, the lecture ended, and students asked questions randomly. Most questions revolved around her previously published IHF and how to better manage companies and utilize resources. The person on stage maintained a steady, reserved demeanor, her gaze peaceful yet commanding, her voice cool and clear – not loud but penetrating. She would slightly tilt her head when listening to questions, and when Shiyi looked up, she saw her profile, as if drawn with a brush – delicate, dignified, beautiful.
Only she seemed thinner than before – had she not been eating properly? Or was she not sleeping well at night? Shiyi had initially resented her for straining her body like this, but now she only felt deep concern.
She lowered her eyes slightly, and beside her, Du Yueming suddenly stood up, smiling: “President Wei, I have a question!”
The entire class looked at her. This was an open lecture, and having learned today that the old professor had invited someone to speak, the classroom was packed full, with many people pacing back and forth in the corridor. They craned their necks to look at Du Yueming, curious about what question she might ask.
This person, whom everyone knew as someone who never cared for studying, opened her mouth and asked: “President Wei, are you married?”
The entire classroom erupted in laughter. Shiyi tugged at Du Yueming’s sleeve, trying to make her sit down, but Du Yueming stood straight, her expression more serious than during regular classes, staring unblinkingly at Wei Hui.
Wei Hui shook her head, speaking under everyone’s curious gaze: “No.”
Whispers followed, and Du Yueming continued with a smile: “Then are you in a relationship?”
Shiyi yanked her arm hard, making her sway, and Wei Hui, seeing their interaction, furrowed her elegant brows and stated directly: “I have a girlfriend.”
“Gi-girlfriend?”
“Oh!”
The whispers grew louder, and whistles rang out. As it was nearly the end, the atmosphere wasn’t as serious as before, becoming much more relaxed. Someone even called out teasingly: “Is President Wei’s girlfriend beautiful?”
Wei Hui responded in fluent foreign language: “Very beautiful.”
It would have been better if she hadn’t answered – once she did, the atmosphere became explosive. The old professor, originally sitting below the platform, shook his head and smiled helplessly hearing their screams over these questions. Shiyi didn’t join in with the others’ reactions, she just sat on her stool while Du Yueming, bubbling with excitement, asked a third question: “President Wei, is your girlfriend here?”
The previously noisy atmosphere came to an abrupt halt, as if someone had suddenly gripped everyone’s throats, preventing them from making even the slightest sound. The surroundings became so quiet that Shiyi could clearly hear her own heartbeat.
Bang! Bang! Bang bang bang!!!
Her hand gripping Du Yueming’s became sweaty, her body tense. In the dead silence, Wei Hui smiled lightly: “She is.”
She is.
This affirmative response sparked even greater commotion, with continuous uproar. Indeed, when it comes to gossip, there are no boundaries of nation or gender. Everyone looked at her with heightened curiosity, and someone asked: “Is it Du Yueming?”
“No way?”
“Why not? Didn’t you hear how she deliberately asked those questions? President Wei even answered. I’d say it’s ninety percent likely.”
“I think so too. Who would dare to ask such bold questions if she wasn’t the girlfriend?”
“But Du Yueming…”
Not worthy of her!
Before the speaker could finish, Shiyi pulled Du Yueming to sit down. The younger girls in the class called out teasingly: “President Wei, who is it?”
The old professor, watching their playful commotion, shook his head helplessly and said to Wei Hui: “I’ll head out first, about lunch…”
Wei Hui respectfully asked: “May I bring someone else for lunch?”
The old professor, knowingly: “No problem.”
Wei Hui’s cool demeanor melted away, her lips curving into a smile: “Thank you.”
After the old professor left, the class became unrestrained. Several bold students gathered around Wei Hui: “President Wei, is it Miss Du?”
“President Wei, I still have some questions about your published IHF paper.”
“President Wei…”
Wei Hui raised her hand: “Class dismissed.”
Everyone giggled, and even those who were still holding their notes with questions scratched their heads and sat back down. Others watched Wei Hui as she walked step by step toward Du Yueming’s direction.
“I told you it was Du Yueming.”
“It must be Du Yueming.”
“How could it be her?”
“No wonder she got into Weiss despite having no real ability.”
Any gossip is hurtful, regardless of how it’s expressed. Shiyi felt uncomfortable hearing the whispers behind her, but Du Yueming laughed carelessly: “Why are you uncomfortable? The more uncomfortable they are, the happier I am. Besides, I live for myself, not for others. Don’t make such a sour face, smile.”
“And this is nothing. When I first came out about my orientation, people would curse at me on the street, and for a while, friends stopped contacting me.”
Shiyi had never heard Du Yueming talk about these things before, and felt sympathetic: “Then why did you come out?”
Du Yueming’s eyes showed complexity, sneering: “Nothing much, just fell in love with an idiot.”
She shook her head: “Hurry up and pack your things, your Buddha is here to get you.”
Shiyi was about to ask when she heard her unfiltered words, but Wei Hui was already standing in front of them. She extended her hand, asking amid everyone’s astonished gazes: “Miss Wei, would you like to have lunch together?”
Everyone’s jaws dropped.
Wei Hui held Wei Nuan’s hand as they left the classroom. The old professor was waiting for her to come out, and seeing her approach, he smiled: “I was wondering why you suddenly agreed to my request, so you had ulterior motives. This Wei Nuan is, Wei Nuan—” he hesitated for a moment before saying: “Also surnamed Wei, are you sisters?”
Wei Hui looked at the old professor, shaking her head: “No, she’s my girlfriend.”
Several people following behind nearly couldn’t hold back their screams!
Foreign countries are much more open than domestic ones, with no taboo against same-sex relationships – couples openly holding hands on the street is common. However, people usually instinctively avoid such displays before elders or those of higher status, especially someone like an old professor, and would certainly not be so frank. But Wei Hui showed no hesitation, introducing their relationship directly, her attitude natural and graceful.
The old professor paused for a few seconds before nodding: “Alright, let’s go, they must be waiting.”
Wei Hui held Shiyi’s hand as they followed the old professor out of school. Shiyi spoke little, mostly listening to Wei Hui and the old professor chat, only speaking a word or two when asked, her expression calm, her gaze deep. At the hotel entrance, she saw a familiar face – Pei Tian, who stepped forward saying: “Third Miss, everything inside has been arranged.”
She nodded: “Go in with the professor first.”
After Wei Hui spoke and bid farewell to the old professor, Pei Tian led the professor into the hotel, leaving only Wei Hui and Shiyi at the entrance.
“What’s wrong?” Wei Hui squeezed the back of her hand. Seeing no one around, Shiyi asked: “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“Don’t you know a lecture takes at least two or three hours? Did you just fly in? How can your body handle this?”
“You simply don’t care about your health at all, this is just reckless!”
“Does Dr. Su know you’re here? Did you bring your medicine?”
“What if you have an attack…”
A light laugh interrupted Shiyi’s questioning. Wei Hui’s eyes were full of mirth, the sharpness in her brow long gone, replaced with tenderness. Shiyi hadn’t finished speaking when she heard the laughter and became annoyed: “What are you laughing at?”
Wei Hui stood properly before her, speaking with a calm expression: “I’m laughing because my little girl has grown up – she knows how to lecture people and even shows her temper now.”
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