Jian Zhi watched as Wen Tingyan and Luo Yucheng quickly adapted to their new identities after a brief moment of awkwardness, chatting and laughing with their business partners.
They looked so well-matched…
Jian Zhi silently took a photo. As she turned to leave, the “needle” buried in her heart pricked her sharply, the intense, fine pain quickly spreading through her chest, even making the tip of her nose ache.
“Jian Zhi!” Someone called out to her just as she was about to exit the mall.
She turned to see someone standing on the descending escalator, waving vigorously at her.
It was actually her teacher!
Her former teacher from the dance academy!
“Teacher Zhao!” She was overjoyed.
Teacher Zhao quickly stepped off the escalator, walked up to her, and took her hands, equally delighted. “I thought it looked like you, and sure enough, it is! How have you been? It’s been five years since we last met.”
Jian Zhi felt a pang of sadness.
Five years had passed, and she had become a useless person. How could she face her teacher?
“Are you busy? If not, let’s find a place for afternoon tea,” the teacher said, holding her hand.
She wasn’t busy.
In the past, she might have continued to shut herself away out of insecurity, politely declining all people and matters related to the dance world. But ever since she opened that dancing photo album on her phone, it felt as if a crack had opened in her gloomy sky.
She suddenly began to crave the light streaming in.
She nodded, “Sure, Teacher.” For some reason, tears welled up in her eyes.
The teacher then led her to a British-style afternoon tea spot on the first floor.
“Teacher, how are all the classmates doing?” She had been disconnected from her world for far too long, having left all her class groups.
Teacher Zhao gave her a perceptive look. “Do you really want to know?”
Teacher Zhao was aware of her situation. Back then, when she suddenly gave up her guaranteed postgraduate spot, Teacher Zhao had inquired and even made a special trip to Hai City to visit her once.
She nodded firmly.
So Teacher Zhao began to share.
Five years was truly enough to change a person’s life.
Some of her classmates had joined song and dance troupes, becoming principal dancers. Some had gone abroad for further studies and had already earned their doctorates. Others had stayed at the school as teachers, nurturing new talents.
Everyone had taken a significant step forward on their original life paths.
Only she…
But starting today, she would be different too.
She would strive to catch up, even if she could no longer dance. She would find her place in another field!
“Teacher, I… I can finally give you my answer,” she said, her eyes burning. At this moment, she truly felt she had let down her teacher’s expectations.
“Wonderful,” Teacher Zhao smiled, just like in the old days.
Jian Zhi leaned close to Teacher Zhao’s ear and whispered about her plans to study abroad.
“That’s fantastic! I knew it! None of my students are cowards!” Teacher Zhao clasped her hands emotionally. “By the way, we happen to have a European tour coming up. You should come along to get a feel for it and adapt to life in Europe!”
“But I…” What about her foot? She could no longer dance, and even walking was slower for her. Her postgraduate program was in theoretical studies.
“Nothing is impossible! If you hadn’t had that accident back then, you would have been part of the youth dance troupe. This time, just come along as a helper! A stagehand! Or even a makeup artist!”
Teacher Zhao spoke with such conviction, completely disregarding her disability.
Jian Zhi couldn’t help but smile. She liked this feeling of not being seen as crippled. She could no longer dance, but she could still do other things—it wasn’t that she was useless just because she couldn’t dance…
Just as she finished speaking, Teacher Zhao’s phone vibrated—a message had arrived.
“It’s my husband. Would you mind if he joins us for tea?” Teacher Zhao sought her opinion.
“Of course not,” she replied with a smile.
In truth, she felt somewhat timid.
After five years of isolation, she had grown unaccustomed to meeting strangers. But she had to take that first step, didn’t she?
“Then I’ll ask him to come over,” Teacher Zhao replied to the message.
But what Jian Zhi never expected was that Teacher Zhao’s husband turned out to be Wen Tingyan’s new business partner—the very person they had just seen.
“He’s in Hai City for business, so I came along for a few days. I never thought I’d run into you here—what a coincidence…” Teacher Zhao chatted while introducing her husband, but Jian Zhi’s eyes were fixed on Wen Tingyan, Luo Yucheng, and Teacher Zhao’s husband as they approached the tea table.
Finally, they arrived.
Jian Zhi remained seated, observing the dramatic shifts in Wen Tingyan and Luo Yucheng’s expressions—flushing pale, then red, then pale again.
“Please, have a seat. This is my wife, surnamed Zhao, a dance teacher,” Teacher Zhao’s husband introduced. “This is Mr. Wen Tingyan, whom I’m collaborating with this time, and this is his wife.”
The moment the word “wife” was uttered, Wen Tingyan’s hand trembled slightly, and Luo Yucheng grew restless, shifting uncomfortably. Both stared nervously at Jian Zhi.
Jian Zhi simply looked at them with a faint smile.
Teacher Zhao also introduced Jian Zhi, “This is my husband, surnamed Wu.” Then, pointing at Jian Zhi, she added, “This is my student—the one with the most potential to win the Taoli Cup back in the day.”
When Wen Tingyan heard “Taoli Cup,” his eyes dimmed completely, his gaze dropping as if he wanted to look at Jian Zhi’s legs.
Jian Zhi noticed it—in that moment, his eyes were filled with pain.
Yes, how could he not be in pain?
If she hadn’t become disabled back then, he wouldn’t have married her, and the woman by his side now could rightfully be called his wife.
Jian Zhi smiled lightly. “Teacher Zhao, Mr. Wu, actually, I am the one who…”
“Ah—” Luo Yucheng let out a timely scream, cutting off Jian Zhi’s words.
Jian Zhi paused.
Luo Yucheng had spilled her tea—scalding hot tea—all over her hands and clothes.
“I’m… I’m sorry, how embarrassing… I’m so clumsy,” she hurriedly wiped herself with a napkin.
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Teacher Zhao, unaware of the situation, handed her more napkins.
A cup of tea had prevented Jian Zhi from revealing the truth.
But if Jian Zhi had wanted to continue, could she have been stopped?
Across the table, Wen Tingyan cast a pleading look at Jian Zhi, shaking his head slightly and silently mouthing, “Don’t say it, don’t say it.”
Hah, in truth, she hadn’t intended to say it anyway. She had only spoken half a sentence deliberately to watch the two of them panic.
During this afternoon tea, some sat on pins and needles, while others remained perfectly composed.
As Jian Zhi lifted her teacup, Teacher Zhao suddenly noticed her hand. “Jian Zhi, you’re wearing a wedding ring? Who is your husband?”
Like a bolt from the blue, the question made Wen Tingyan and Luo Yucheng across the table turn pale with shock.
Jian Zhi gazed at Wen Tingyan’s hand resting against the teacup, a mocking smile curling at the corner of her lips. He had never worn a ring—not since removing the wedding band right after their ceremony five years ago. Who knew where that pair of rings had been gathering dust all this time.
“Yes, I’ve been married for five years,” Jian Zhi said lightly. “My husband’s surname is Wen.”
“What a coincidence? Also surnamed Wen?” Wen Tingyan immediately responded.
The implication was crystal clear: he wanted her to stop there.
“Yes, also surnamed Wen, also in business—just not on the same scale as President Wen.” Jian Zhi took a sip of tea.
Through the teacup, she clearly saw him release a sigh of relief.
“What an extraordinary coincidence! Next time, bring your Mr. Wen along for tea,” invited Mr. Wu, who, being Teacher Zhao’s student, showed particular respect.
Wen Tingyan’s expression shifted again.
Jian Zhi found it utterly amusing. In five years of marriage, she’d never seen his face change as much as it had this single afternoon.
Given the circumstances, Wen Tingyan couldn’t stay much longer. After some brief conversation, he excused himself, claiming other commitments. Yet he couldn’t leave Jian Zhi alone there, worried she might say something indiscreet. His eyes signaled her to leave promptly as well.