Sorry
Teacher Jin, I’m sorry.
After Lu Zhenqiu received the gift, she placed it in her bag. Xiao Yu and the others were still chatting idly. Jin Shuilan turned her head to watch her listen to a joke told by Hua Luo and smile with pressed lips, yet her brows were furrowed. A heart of hers slowly plunged into an abyss, her entire body chilled through.
She couldn’t remember what was said before leaving; she only remembered that when they were leaving the restaurant, Ji Zibo said she could give Xiao Yu a ride back since it was on the way. She looked at Lu Zhenqiu and asked, “What about you?”
Lu Zhenqiu turned her head. She hadn’t spoken a word to Jin Shuilan since receiving the gift. Being asked so abruptly at this moment, she paused. Before she could speak, Xiao Yu laughed, “Does that even need asking? Of course, we’ll have to trouble Teacher Jin to take our Qiuqiu back.”
Jin Shuilan looked at Lu Zhenqiu, her gaze blazing and full of spirit. She tentatively passed the car keys over, saying, “You drive.”
Lu Zhenqiu glanced at Xiao Yu and the others, then smiled, “Alright, but I’d like to take Hua Luo home first.”
Hua Luo waved her hands, “I don’t need…”
“I’ll take her home,” Bai Mao suddenly said. Hua Luo, as if choked up, twisted her head, her eyes full of happiness, “Teacher Bai, you’re taking me home?”
Bai Mao: “Where do you live?”
Hua Luo said, “Over by Xingfu Residential Area1.”
Bai Mao nodded. The others just assumed she was doing it to create some time for Jin Shuilan and Lu Zhenqiu, not noticing her slightly unnatural expression. Hua Luo didn’t notice either. As she got in the car, she frequently looked out the car window and waved to Lu Zhenqiu, “I have Teacher Bai to take me home, don’t worry. You and Teacher Jin should also head back early.”
Lu Zhenqiu hummed in acknowledgment, smiling.
From the rearview mirror, Hua Luo saw the two were still standing there and sighed lightly. Beside her, Bai Mao asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Hua Luo said. “I just suddenly realized, the yuanfen2 between people is truly so magical.”
If it were two months ago, she would have never imagined that Lu Zhenqiu and Jin Shuilan were living in the same house, let alone that Jin Shuilan had feelings for Lu Zhenqiu. Although it was still in the hypothetical stage now, she felt that what Xiao Yu said was right; it was quite obvious.
Hearing her words, Bai Mao’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. She gave a light cough and said, “This kind of thing like yuanfen, it’s hard to explain clearly.”
Hua Luo agreed, “Exactly! Being able to know Teacher Bai is also yuanfen!”
She was too talkative.
Bai Mao’s face grew slightly hot.
Hua Luo was still muttering, “I was so happy today, I haven’t been this happy in a long time. Thank you, Teacher Jin, thank you, Teacher Ji, thank you, Teacher Bai!”
After speaking, she gave Bai Mao a smile, her round face cute and playful. Bai Mao unexpectedly met her smiling eyes and hesitated for a moment before saying, “Getting to know you has also been quite happy.”
Hua Luo was overjoyed.
Bai Mao asked her, “I heard from your friend about that matter with the apprentice you were mentoring. Are you okay?”
Hua Luo’s smiling face fell away, and she let out a sigh, “You mean that recent matter? It’s just a bit disheartening. I found materials for her, taught her how to bury a pen3, how to analyze the plot. I mentored her so painstakingly, I just can’t figure it out.”
As she spoke, her shoulders slumped, somewhat dejected. Bai Mao suddenly thought of how in the past, she would see a greeting every morning the moment she opened her eyes.
【Tudidi4, morning!】
【Tudidi, good morning, time to get up and eat breakfast!】
【Tudidi, you have to seriously read the materials I sent you. You can ask me if there’s anything you don’t understand.】
Always full of energy, always enthusiastic.
She had been afraid of excessive enthusiasm, so she had irresponsibly run away.
She never expected that it was actually Hua Luo.
Guilt surged up in Bai Mao’s heart. She opened her mouth, “Actually…”
Hua Luo turned her head, “Actually what?”
With her staring like that, a pair of eyes sparkling brightly, Bai Mao found herself unable to say it. Several seconds later, she said, “Actually, it’s very normal. This world isn’t entirely full of good people.”
Hua Luo smiled, “Teacher Bai is right.”
After speaking, she asked, “When is Teacher Bai starting a new book?”
Bai Mao didn’t answer, instead asking, “When do you think would be a good time to start?”
Hua Luo thought for a moment, “Recently would be pretty good.”
She said, lowering her voice, “I heard Teacher Jin will be starting a new book over the New Year. You know Teacher Jin, one must avoid the month before and after she starts a new book. If Teacher Bai wants to start a new book, if you don’t start recently, you’ll have to wait until after the New Year. That’s so long, I want to read Teacher Bai’s new book.”
First, she had the cute expression of sharing a little secret, and at the end, she looked pitiful. Bai Mao suddenly felt that Hua Luo was very much like a newborn kitten, constantly meowing, occasionally staring with a pair of round eyes, clear and full of spirit. She nodded, “Then I’ll consider it.”
Hua Luo nodded. In the midst of their conversation, they had already arrived at the entrance of Xingfu Residential Area. Hua Luo waved, “I’ll get off here.”
Bai Mao asked, “We’re here?”
Hua Luo smiled, “We’re here. Thank you, Teacher Bai, for bringing me back.”
She got out of the car and stood outside, then turned her head again, “Does Teacher Bai want to come up for a bit? Have a cup of tea?”
She’s too enthusiastic. Isn’t she afraid of running into a bad person?
Bai Mao waved her hand, “No need.”
After speaking, she couldn’t help but call out, “Hua Luo.”
Hua Luo answered with an “ai” and leaned down slightly to look at Bai Mao in the car window. Bai Mao said, “Living alone, don’t easily invite others home.”
She said it seriously and sternly. Hua Luo was like a child who had suddenly been lectured. She stood up straight and nodded, “Oh, okay.”
After speaking, she blinked.
How did Teacher Bai know she lives alone?
Seeing that she had listened, Bai Mao said, “Then I’ll be going. Goodbye.”
Hua Luo waved her hand, “Goodbye, Teacher Bai.”
After seeing Bai Mao off, Hua Luo turned to go back. As she was getting on the elevator, she sent a message to Lu Zhenqiu, asking if she was home yet. Lu Zhenqiu was driving. Hearing the phone’s notification sound, she turned her head for a glance. Jin Shuilan asked, “Should I get it for you?”
Lu Zhenqiu said, “It’s probably Hua Luo and the others messaging me that they’ve arrived home. I’ll look after we park the car.”
Jin Shuilan hummed in acknowledgment. Sitting in the car, she continued to play the role of an invisible person. The two hadn’t spoken since getting in the car, a rare lack of communication. Lu Zhenqiu’s gaze was fixed ahead. Having driven for a few days, her car speed was no longer a snail’s crawl. Soon, they arrived at the community’s parking garage. Lu Zhenqiu tried to reverse into the spot twice but failed. Jin Shuilan said, “Let me do it.”
Lu Zhenqiu got out of the car, a little embarrassed. She watched as Jin Shuilan got in, and the car’s body traced an arc, parking steadily within the white lines. She said, “Teacher Jin is still the impressive one.”
It wasn’t known if Jin Shuilan was overthinking it, but she always felt that this sentence was somewhat distant.
Clearly, their previous relationship had already reached the point where they could joke around freely. Now, it seemed like they had deleted the save file and started over5, and at the most unfamiliar stage. After getting out of the car, Jin Shuilan glanced at Lu Zhenqiu and saw she was sending a message. Lu Zhenqiu’s peripheral vision caught Jin Shuilan approaching and said, “Xiao Yu is home. Just now Hua Luo said she also arrived.”
Jin Shuilan hummed in acknowledgment. The two entered the elevator. When pressing the floor button, they reached out their hands one after the other. Lu Zhenqiu, being closer to the door, pressed it a step ahead. Jin Shuilan’s fingertip touched Lu Zhenqiu’s finger. Lu Zhenqiu retracted her hand. As the elevator slowly ascended, Jin Shuilan’s hand, hanging by her side, tightened.
After arriving home, Maomao rushed out, pounced on Lu Zhenqiu, licked her clingily, and even wagged its tail, brushing against Jin Shuilan’s leg. Jin Shuilan habitually went to pat its head, but Lu Zhenqiu called out, “Maomao, come here.”
Maomao ran over. Lu Zhenqiu added food for it. Jin Shuilan watched Lu Zhenqiu standing on the balcony, deliberately keeping her distance, and pressed her lips together. A few seconds later, she went into her room.
Ji Zibo’s message came at a very timely moment. She asked her: 【Home?】
Jin Shuilan replied with a period6.
Ji Zibo: 【Why so fast? You didn’t even take Qiuqiu out to have some fun alone, do you understand romance or not.】
Have some fun alone?
Jin Shuilan gave a bitter smile. Right now, she was afraid Lu Zhenqiu was avoiding her at all costs. How could they possibly be alone together? Before giving the phone, she had already anticipated Lu Zhenqiu’s reaction, but when it really happened, she felt she had overestimated her own ability to endure.
Perhaps she should have waited a bit longer.
Jin Shuilan leaned back in her chair, her head tilted up slightly. The room was quiet, so even the slightest sound from outside the door could be heard very clearly. Lu Zhenqiu was on the phone. It was unknown if it was Xiao Yu or Hua Luo. Her voice was soft, occasionally drifting in through the crack of the door that wasn’t fully closed. Jin Shuilan got up and walked to the doorway, leaning her back against the doorframe, listening to her say, “Streamer Annual Meeting? Me? When?”
On the other end of the phone was the person in charge of the entertainment section, a newcomer. Before coming, she had already heard about the matter with the previous person in charge, so she was naturally attentive towards Lu Zhenqiu. For this Streamer Annual Meeting, the original plan was to choose from among the veteran streamers like Lu Yan, but the platform’s person in charge said to give newcomers a chance, so they came to ask about Lu Zhenqiu’s schedule.
Lu Zhenqiu still had two radio dramas on her hands. The one with Jin Shuilan would be over in a week. The one with Bai Mao hadn’t been officially announced yet, so it should still be a while. She said, “How long do I need to go for?”
The person in charge said, “If Miss Lu decides to come, it will be for at least half a month. There are rehearsals in advance. The broadcast hours for that month will be waived for you. If you want to stream, that’s fine too. I can arrange a live-stream room for you.”
Lu Zhenqiu thought for a moment, “Does the company arrange the hotel?”
“That’s right,” the person in charge replied to her. “Everyone stays in the hotel arranged by the company.”
Lu Zhenqiu said, “Then let me think about it.”
Person in charge: “Okay, then can you give me a reply within a week?”
Lu Zhenqiu said, “I can.”
The person in charge hung up the phone. Lu Zhenqiu put down her phone and turned her head to look in the direction of Jin Shuilan’s study. After sitting quietly for a few minutes, she still took the gift out of her bag. Jin Shuilan, standing at the doorway, heard the rustling sound of the packaging box, and her heart hung in suspense. Her body tensed, her heartbeat throbbed like a drum, and she couldn’t even clearly hear Lu Zhenqiu’s approaching footsteps.
When the door was knocked on, Jin Shuilan was startled with a jolt, breaking out in a sweat. The palm of her hand gripping the doorknob was moist. Only after calming her breathing did she open the door. Lu Zhenqiu stood outside and called, “Teacher Jin.”
Jin Shuilan nodded, hooking a strand of fine hair behind her ear with one hand, her voice as calm as possible as she said, “Were you on the phone just now?”
“Mhm,” Lu Zhenqiu said. “Someone from the platform called me just now.”
Jin Shuilan hummed an “oh.”
Lu Zhenqiu’s hands were behind her back, her expression nervous. She took a deep breath and heard Jin Shuilan ask, “What’s behind your back? An early birthday present for me?”
She looked up, stunned, and saw that Jin Shuilan had already turned sideways and taken the phone box from her hands. Jin Shuilan lowered her head, blinked, and said, “Our tastes are quite similar. Even for birthday presents, we both give…”
“Teacher Jin,” Lu Zhenqiu interrupted her, pressing her lips together and saying sullenly, “I’m sorry.”
Jin Shuilan lowered her head, the corners of her eyes flushing red, like a fishbone stuck in the throat7.
The author has something to say:
Thirty red envelopes, me me da.
Teacher Jin: Unhappy, feeling wronged.
Lu Zhenqiu: …
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