The corridor was biting cold. Principal Lin didn't linger on pleasantries, gesturing for the two young colleagues to follow him into his office for a proper chat.
The moment they stepped inside, two puffs of white fog clouded the old man's glasses. Yu Bei moved to grab a tissue from the corner of the desk.
But Chen Qingning beat him to it, offering one from her own pocket.
Her tissue was covered in prints—pale pink Hello Kitty.
"Thanks, thanks." Lin Yuzhang's smile widened as he unfolded it to wipe his lenses.
Chen Qingning shot Yu Bei a triumphant look, then held the tissue packet out toward him. "Teacher Yu, want one?"
Yu Bei: "No need."
Lin Yuzhang put his glasses back on and fished out his phone from his pocket. "Miss Chen, what would you like to eat? I'll book a private room first."
Chen Qingning pouted. "Keep it simple."
She gestured at Yu Bei with her chin. "Is he going?"
Lin Yuzhang followed her gaze. "Yes—all the teachers are going."
Chen Qingning's jaw dropped a notch. "That many people?"
Lin Yuzhang smiled mildly. "You don't just want to have dinner with this old man, do you?"
Chen Qingning fired off a barrage of sweet talk. "Of course not—Principal Lin is so warm and refined, who wouldn't want to dine with you?"
Lin Yuzhang beamed. "Alright, alright. But I've already confirmed with the department heads—I can't stand them up."
Chen Qingning nodded. "True." Her large brown-tea eyes rolled once. "Then will Uncle Lin agree to let me do something?"
By the time Qu Xiao arrived at Ruifeng Restaurant, half a circle of people had already gathered in the second-floor private room. At a side table, three teachers were playing Dou Dizhu, shouting and laughing noisily, while Principal Lin stood nearby with a smile, hands clasped behind his back, watching without comment.
The moment she walked in, all eyes turned to her. One of the male teachers playing cards craned his neck. "Teacher Qu, we were just waiting for you!"
"Sorry I'm late." Qu Xiao greeted them apologetically. She'd hurried over, a thin sheen of sweat on her forehead. She wiped it with the back of her hand. "A kid in my class had a bathroom accident."
"Who?"
"Zhang Shuchen."
"Him again?"
"Ah… let's not dwell on it." Qu Xiao took off her coat and saw the coat rack by the wall was full. She looked for a spot. "Where should I sit?"
Principal Lin said, "Sit wherever you like."
"Should we call a truce?"
"Let's finish this round—only a few cards left."
"Not playing."
"I think you know you're about to lose and want to run away."
"Don't you have afternoon classes?"
The three card players were still locked in their back-and-forth, but after being shushed by colleagues taking their seats, they tossed down their cards and joined the table, filling out the large round table.
A few cold dishes rotated slowly, untouched by anyone.
In the center, there was no alcohol, no cigarettes, no coconut juice—just a cluster of Mixue Ice City cups.
Yu Bei sat by the serving entrance, phone lying flat on the table, his expression calm.
Qu Xiao sat slightly inward, next to him. After arranging her coat over the back of her chair, she noticed the seat beside Principal Lin was still empty. She leaned toward Yu Bei. "Where's Chen Qingning?"
Yu Bei said, "No idea."
Qu Xiao: "?"
She looked down at her WeChat. The pinned parent groups for the home-visit program filled the top, her private messages buried below. Only now did she see Chen Qingning's message.
She blinked, then looked up to find Yuan Yue.
Yuan Yue happened to be sitting diagonally across from her. Their eyes met, and Yuan Yue shot her a questioning look.
Qu Xiao gave her a small smile, then lowered her head to reply to Chen Qingning: Where are you?
Ning: You're here?
Qu Xiao: Yeah.
Ning: Touching up my makeup in the bathroom.
Qu Xiao: …
Ning sent a Beagle sprinting sticker.
The clack of high heels grew closer, and what slipped through the doorway first was a cascade of layered black tulle skirt. When Qu Xiao caught sight of Chen Qingning's alarming fishnet stockings, she nearly choked on her thermos water.
She'd left early that morning and hadn't witnessed the spectacle in person.
Chen Qingning, are you trying to destroy this school?
Every teacher at the table smiled in unison—some politely, some stiffly, and some exchanged quick glances before looking away just as fast.
"Why isn't anyone taking the milk tea I ordered?" With a sweet note of confusion, Chen Qingning walked naturally to Principal Lin's side.
Counting Yu Bei, there were only three male teachers present. One of them stood up to distribute the drinks. "Let's share these around." He compared the labels on the cups. "All the same flavor?"
"Yeah, I didn't know what you all like to drink." Chen Qingning rested her chin on one hand. "So I just ordered the most expensive recommended one on the menu."
The table went quiet for a second before a chorus of thanks bubbled up, mixed with pleasantries.
Principal Lin kept his kind smile and instructed Yu Bei, "Teacher Yu, go find the waitress and tell her to start serving the dishes."
Yu Bei got up and walked out without hesitation, his head nearly brushing the doorframe.
"Half of them are hot—I was worried some of the teachers might be on their period." Chen Qingning tilted her head toward the principal, flashing a row of charming little teeth. "And I was also worried our Uncle Lin can't handle cold drinks."
Principal Lin let out a "Hah!" "Who said I can't handle cold drinks?"
"I was just worried, that's all." Chen Qingning tore open the straw's plastic wrapper herself, poked it into the hot drink first, and slid it over to him.
Qu Xiao was dumbfounded.
Principal Lin responded with repeated "good, good," then helped himself to addressing the whole table, saying with self-satisfaction, "Mine—Miss Chen already opened it for me. Help yourselves."
One teacher lowered her head to insert her straw, unable to suppress the smile tugging at her lips.
When Yu Bei returned, his fruit tea had already been brought over to his tray by Qu Xiao. He said thanks and sat down briskly.
Steaming dishes were brought into the private room one after another, and the table grew lively. The teachers chatted about work experiences, student situations, local livelihood, and industry policies—nothing was off-limits. Information irrelevant to Chen Qingning kept piling up. She soaked in the surrounding voices, biting her straw, gradually zoning out.
To say she was ignored wouldn't be quite accurate.
Whenever someone toasted Principal Lin, they'd include her too, offering polite pleasantries and words of care.
Seeing Chen Qingning lost in thought for a long while, barely touching the food and just sipping her milk tea, Qu Xiao secretly sent her a WeChat message: Does the food not suit your taste?
Chen Qingning snapped back to reality from the vibration, raised her phone, and glanced at Qu Xiao.
Ning: There's still a pack of instant noodles in the dorm.
Qu Xiao was caught between laughter and tears: Isn't the food healthier than instant noodles?
Ning: Once I finish eating, I can go ask Yu Bei for more.
Qu Xiao: I have some too. There's also a small convenience store next to the school.
Ning: No, you don't.
After sending that, she even beamed a sly grin across the air, radiant and triumphant.
The next second, the smile slid away, aimed straight at Yu Bei, full of determination.
Qu Xiao choked a little and cast a sympathetic glance at the man sitting upright. Of everyone at the table, he and Chen Qingning were the most detached—one couldn't get a word in, the other neglected social niceties.
Why don't you two just talk to each other.
Qu Xiao suppressed the urge to try persuading Yu Bei.
As soon as lunch ended, Chen Qingning cheerfully circled around and hooked her arm through Qu Xiao's.
Qu Xiao looked left and right, wanting to escape but unable to. Hey, she really didn't want to be roped into the Explosive Qingning Alliance Front so soon.
Colleagues said their goodbyes to the two of them.
Qu Xiao could only respond with a series of "bye-byes."
Noticing Yu Bei about to leave, Chen Qingning moved with lightning speed—left hand pulling Qu Xiao, right hand seizing Yu Bei, gripping his elbow. Even when he turned back to look, she didn't let go.
Yu Bei tugged twice, dodging her grip: "What is it?"
"Come walk with Xiao'er and me!" she invited boisterously.
Yu Bei said, "I'm in a hurry."
Chen Qingning blinked: "In a hurry to do what?"
Yu Bei: "Nap."
Chen Qingning laughed in spite of herself. How was he just like Chen Yu'en—unshakably devoted to his afternoon nap? Mountains may crumble, heaven and earth may merge, even if tomorrow brought the end of the world, all the men on the planet would still not forget their naps.
She feigned magnanimity and released him: "Oh, go on then."
Once the teachers had all left, Principal Lin walked over with his teacup and stopped beside them: "What are you three young people blocking the door for?"
Chen Qingning seized the opening: "Waiting for Uncle Lin, of course!"
Qu Xiao stayed put, inwardly facepalming. She really didn't want to walk alongside the top boss.
But Chen Qingning was already trading banter with the principal.
Principal Lin didn't decline, only saying: "Then you'll have to wait for me to pay the bill first."
Chen Qingning replied: "I can pay the bill too, you know."
Principal Lin clapped his hands: "How could I let you youngsters pay?"
The moment he said that, Qu Xiao felt the grip on her right arm release—Chen Qingning had let go and gone to take Principal Lin's arm instead, helping him down the stairs.
Leaving her and Yu Bei behind, as if she'd completely forgotten them.
Qu Xiao wrapped her scarf around her neck, glanced at Yu Bei beside her, looking for some shared sentiment.
The man simply walked downstairs without looking sideways. Just before exiting the restaurant's main door, he zipped his jacket up to the highest point and strode out into the wind.
Chen Qingning came back quite late. Qu Xiao had already taken care of her business and was about to head to class to relieve the teacher on duty. She glanced at the wall clock, curious: "Why are you only back now?"
Chen Qingning flopped onto the bed: "I walked Principal Lin back to his office."
Qu Xiao marveled: "You're way too good at playing the game."
Chen Qingning murmured: "Better at playing the game than playing the victim."
Qu Xiao said: "You're pretty good at causing trouble too."
"Thanks," Chen Qingning said, writhing through a few Pilates moves on the bed, grimacing as she asked: "How old is that Teacher Yuan?"
Qu Xiao combed her hair briefly: "Twenty-six."
"Oh," Chen Qingning said thoughtfully: "Does she like Yu Bei?"
Qu Xiao was silent for a moment: "You have no idea how exhausted we are. Who has time for liking this and liking that?"
"I'm exhausted too…" Chen Qingning dragged out a hoarse, breathy voice.
Qu Xiao turned around and was startled. The girl had somehow changed positions and was desperately attempting the splits, face flushed red.
Afraid of an accident, she quickly urged: "If you can't press down, just don't."
"Fine." Chen Qingning rolled over and gave up in time.
Qu Xiao set down her comb: "How was your day? Getting used to the class?"
Chen Qingning boasted shamelessly, rhyming as she spoke: "Of course—principal dotes, students love, even Yu Bei sees it and can only say 'not bad.'"
"That's good then," Qu Xiao laughed at that, reassured. She looked at the bed that had changed owners: "My previous roommate also taught the hearing-impaired class."
"Huh? You had a roommate before?" Chen Qingning's imagination ran wild: "So I'm like a substitute-trope story?"
Qu Xiao paused for a moment: "No." From what she'd seen so far, Chen Qingning's presence was absolutely irreplaceable.
"Why did she leave?"
"She felt…"
"Yeah?"
Qu Xiao wasn't sure whether she should reveal the truth and dampen Chen Qingning's spirits, killing her enthusiasm. Gritting her teeth, she decided not to hide it: "The students were hard to handle. She stayed half a year and still wasn't fully accepted by those kids. And Teacher Yu wasn't easy to get along with either."
"She said… she was filled with a sense of defeat."
Qu Xiao spoke in fits and starts, pursing her lips into a bittersweet smile. "…Me too."
"Of course—" She shifted her tone. "It's also very rewarding, especially seeing some of the kids getting better and better."
Chen Qingning sat still, watching her expression, puzzled. "I think all those kids are doing great."
Qu Xiao clenched her fist. "Then hold onto that belief and keep pushing forward."
Chen Qingning tucked her chin. "Why so fired up?"
Qu Xiao said, "Because this is a passionate industry, and this is a passionate school."
Chen Qingning tossed her hair and replied, "Congratulations, now you've got a passionate roommate too."
Then she looked around the room suspiciously. "Is this school really passionate? Yu Bei is clearly freezing cold."
Qu Xiao was speechless.
The passionate one collapsed onto the bed in an instant.
Qu Xiao picked up her canvas bag. "Don't you have class this afternoon?"
The big dog "Blackwater" on the bed muttered, "I don't think so?"
"You think?"
"Let me check." Two hands emerged from the black mass, scrolling through a phone.
Chen Qingning sprang up. "How is there class first period in the afternoon? Did Yu Bei single-handedly take over the entire school's curriculum?!"
"Then what am I?" Qu Xiao hooked her hand. "Let's go."
Chen Qingning studied the schedule in her photo album and shrieked, "It's even P.E.—!"
Qu Xiao was puzzled. "What's the deal with P.E.?"
Chen Qingning rolled over, sliding off the bed with fluid grace, dug out her sneakers from under the bed like a mouse burrowing, then opened the wardrobe and pulled out a full set of lululemon. She snapped her fingers. "Time for me to put on a show."