The weather in early autumn has become slightly cooler, and the heat and humidity of summer have finally receded, leaving only the high, blue sky and white clouds.
The original green shade downstairs in the community was dyed golden by the autumn wind. Bathed in the sunlight, it was warm and made people feel indescribably comfortable.
I got up early in the morning and reorganized all the clothes in the closet. I put away all the summer clothes and took out the sweaters and coats for the winter to dry.
After finishing the tidying up, I sat on the ground, took out the pair of Jimmy Choo high heels that I had always been reluctant to wear, held them in my arms, and rubbed them repeatedly.
This pair of high heels, worth more than four thousand yuan, is my only pair of high heels. It is the most expensive gift Lu Mingyu has given me.
At that time, the program he made was sold at a very high price, and the first thing he did was to give me a pair of high heels as a gift.
At that time, I didn’t know what Jimmychoo meant to girls, I just foolishly treated it as a treasure and wore it carefully once. Then when I accidentally saw the price of this brand, I never wore it again.
Now, I took it out again, and I feel a different mood.
Instead of wasting it and letting it gather dust, it is better to take it out and wear it well. After all, there is nothing that cannot be overcome.
I took out the camel windbreaker, matched it with a white dress, and finally, put on the nude pink high heels and left the house.
Over the years, I have never been willing to buy myself some decent clothes. I always buy the discounted items from the previous season before the season changes, but fortunately, those discounted items are mostly single items, and they will not look outdated even after some time. It's just that over the years, I have never paid attention to my appearance, let alone dressing like today.
I suddenly remembered what Cheng Duo said many years ago: dressing up is not to please others, but to make yourself feel good. I suddenly understood some of the ideas of those girls who love to dress up.
Never love yourself just because you want someone else's love.
This is great wisdom.
Wearing seven-centimeter high heels, I hurried to the training school that I had an appointment with in advance.
Tang Tang helped me contact this school. After I told her that I wanted to retake the college entrance examination, she helped me contact this school almost overnight.
That’s right, starting over for me doesn’t mean finding a job.
Because I knew that if I didn't have a degree, then no matter what kind of job I found, I would still be at the same level. I had to make up for this shortcoming I had left behind, so I took out the "real estate" that I had originally prepared for Chen Meihua to pay for the tuition, which was not cheap. That money was the money I had saved up every month since the accident. Although it was not a lot, it was actually not a small amount, after all, it was the money I earned from working several jobs a day.
However, I have also found two relatively flexible part-time jobs in my spare time, and I will make up the money soon.
After filling out the registration form and sitting in the classroom with my notebook and pen, I suddenly felt a sense of fate that leaves are returning to their roots.
Looking at the familiar classroom, I was uncontrollably excited. Fate had brought my life full circle, and I was finally back here. This was the right thing to do, wasn't it? After all, only in this way could I return to being the proud thorn bird I once was.
So, I can't waste this year, not at all.
However, what I didn’t expect was that the teacher who gave me lectures was actually my math teacher back then. When he came in, I recognized him. He didn’t look much different, just a little older.
He didn't seem to recognize me at first, and only noticed me when he was calling the roll.
After searching the crowd for a while, he finally set his eyes on me, and then slowly smiled a long-lost gentle smile.
I will always remember this smile that was his. It was this smile that silently encouraged me to move forward courageously during my high school years.
When people are highly focused, time always passes very quickly. Before we know it, the two or three-hour class is over, but no student complains of being tired. Because we all know that this is our only hope to reset our lives, and none of us can take it lightly.
Just as I was packing my books, the teacher walked down from the podium and came to my side.
"Xiao Pei." He still called me as affectionately as he did back then, looking at me with a smile.
"Teacher." Memories from many years ago came flooding back to my mind. I was overwhelmed with emotions and looked at him with inexplicable nervousness.
"Yeah, taller and prettier." He praised sincerely, patted my shoulder and sat down, "Don't be nervous, it's okay, I heard everything about you."
I was not surprised to hear him say that. After all, my dropping out of school caused quite a stir among the alumni. Both college and high school classmates were deeply saddened by the incident.
"Xiao Pei, don't be discouraged. This is not your fault. Look , aren't you starting over now? The teacher believes in your ability." He comforted me earnestly, obviously seeing my worries.
"I haven't studied for so many years, so I'm still a little unfamiliar with these subjects. It's inevitable that I feel a little anxious." I rubbed my palms subconsciously.
"It's okay, it's okay. Just hold on tight and you'll be able to remember it soon. After all, you were the second in the school back then." He was quite emotional. "Come to think of it, Chen Jialing, who was the first in the school back then, is really successful now. He has returned to China and is a professor at our X University. What a young professor!"
"He's so good, it's only natural." I agreed, and inexplicably recalled everything that happened in the convenience store a few years ago. I wonder what he looks like now, but he should be even better and more handsome than before.
"What surprised me was that guy, the most naughty student at that time, Lu Mingyu. Oh, my goodness, it's incredible. I heard that he is now a manager of a Fortune 100 company. He was just that young, and yet he became a manager." The teacher sighed, shaking his head, and my heart felt like it was pierced by a needle.
I haven't heard these three words for a long time. These three words seem to have become a curse in my heart, and every time I hear them, I feel completely defeated.
The teacher didn't know that Lu Mingyu and I had such a close relationship. He just sighed from the bottom of his heart. Seeing that I was silent, he seemed to suddenly think of something and said, "Oh, by the way, there is something I haven't told you yet."
"What?"
"You came at a bad time. I'm just about to retire from my position. I'm old and my children won't let me teach anymore. Others will teach the courses from now on. But don't worry. I heard that the next teacher will be very good too."
"Oh, is that so. It doesn't matter. I didn't expect to see you when I came here." I smiled indifferently. Whatever you learn is your own ability. What does it have to do with the teacher?
"How about this." He took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to me. "This is what Chen Jialing left for me when he came to see me some time ago. If you have any questions in this area in the future, you can go directly to him. He is a professor now, and he is very knowledgeable. He must be much better than the teacher."
I took it blankly, not knowing what to do. Find him? How could I have the nerve to find him? In fact, I didn't know him at all. I didn't even know why a man like him wanted to help me again and again. And I refused again and again. I thought that even if I took the initiative to contact him, he would not bother to pay attention to me.
"You are all my students. It would be nice to get to know each other better." He smiled meaningfully. "He is still single now."
Hearing this, I blushed in embarrassment.
The teacher chatted with me for a few more words and then left. I sat alone in the classroom, staring at the business card in a daze. In the lower left corner of the business card belonging to Chen Jialing, his English name was written - Alex.
It turns out he is Alex.
It turned out that he was the one who sent me to the hotel when I was drunk and looked ugly that day, and he was also the one who said those encouraging words to me.
Why did he do that?
Many years ago, he also came to help me silently and took me out of the office that had tortured my self-esteem. At the graduation ceremony, he took the initiative to help me apply to study abroad. And I never thanked him properly.
An unrealistic idea unfolded in my mind, but this idea was quickly overturned by me, and I couldn't help but want to laugh at myself.
Pei Jixing, you are too narcissistic. Hasn't all these years of chasing Lu Mingyu made you realize who you are?
Right now, the most important thing for me is the present moment. I must do well the task at hand. As for the rest, I don’t have the energy nor the qualifications to think about it.
The two new part-time jobs I found are teaching children their homework. Although I am no longer familiar with the high school courses, I am still able to teach children with ease.
Salaries were paid daily, classes were arranged on a fixed schedule, and at night, I went to school. This is why Chen Meihua had no idea that I had resigned, after all, the pocket money I gave her had never decreased.
And I don't want her to know. After all, this is my own life and I don't want anyone to interfere with me.
The classrooms at school were very crowded, and I couldn't find a seat most of the time, so sometimes I would go to 7-11 to read, and sometimes I would go to Starbucks or something like that. It was during this time that I really felt that life was fulfilling, and my thoughts were not controlled by anything or anyone. This feeling was like a faucet that had been blocked for a long time being fixed, and it was extremely refreshing.
But I forgot that there are still many unpredictable things in life.
Just like the appearance of Chen Jialing.
I had just made a new cup of tea and was tidying up my desk, waiting for the bell to ring. Chen Jialing walked in unexpectedly. He was wearing a clean white shirt with his sleeves rolled up, revealing the muscular forearms. His long legs held his grey trousers straight. He was wearing a pair of half-frame glasses, looking cool and gentle.
He has indeed become more outstanding than before.
His eyes fell on me at this moment, and I was a little panicked for a moment. The strength in my hands suddenly became uncontrollable, and I knocked over the cup of boiling hot tea on the table. In less than a second, the cup of hot tea spilled on my high-heeled feet without any scruples.
Fortunately, I didn't scream.
My lower lip was almost broken from my biting, and the nails of both hands dug into the flesh. I stood there in a stupid posture, letting the pain invade the instep of my feet.
At this moment, a force suddenly attacked me from behind, and a pair of strong arms lifted me up horizontally. I was finally shocked by this sudden action and screamed. When I raised my eyes, I saw a pair of cold and gentle eyes behind the glasses.
"You guys study on your own first, I'll take her to deal with it."
After that, he ignored everyone's comments and carried me to the bathroom. I looked flustered and kept saying no, no, I can do it myself, but he pretended not to hear me and put me on the table beside him, then took off my high heels, turned on the faucet, and washed my instep. I wanted to pull my foot back, but he held my ankle with more force.
"Wait a moment." His voice was low, inconsistent with his cold appearance.
I don't know why, but he always has an irresistible power, which has existed since the first day I met him. So I dare not refute his words.
After rinsing for a long time, he let go of my feet, took out a clean handkerchief from his pocket, wiped them dry, and then helped me put my shoes back on.
"After class, I'll take you to buy burn ointment." He finally raised his head and looked at me steadily.
"Thank you." I stood up by myself, leaning on the table. He came forward and supported me. With his support, we walked slowly towards the classroom.
"I will be your teacher from now on." The corners of his mouth curved up. It suddenly dawned on me that the new teacher who had been rumored to be a particularly good teacher was actually him.
"Then you... aren't you a professor? How do you still have time?" I couldn't help but ask.
"The professor doesn't stay there all day to teach." He chuckled.
"Oh, but aren't you tired?"
"Tired." He answered with a smile.
But I felt that I had accidentally asked something I shouldn't have asked. So I didn't ask any more questions, and he also tacitly stopped talking.
After class that night, Chen Jialing called me.
I was packing my textbooks at that time. Without saying a word, he helped me stuff all the books into my big backpack, and then snatched it from my hand without question.
"Is your foot okay?" He looked at my feet with concern.
"It's okay, thanks to you for helping me." I replied.
"That's good." He paused, then suddenly said, "Let me take you there." He looked at me with a charm that could not be refused.
I foolishly followed him into the car. The car smelled like him. I sat in the passenger seat and suddenly felt a little panicked. From childhood to adulthood, the only car I had ridden in was Lu Mingyu's. This was the first time I had ridden in another boy's car.
"Western food or Chinese food, your choice." His expression was calm but unquestionable.
"What?" I asked blankly, "Aren't we going home?"
"But I'm hungry and need to eat first." He held the steering wheel, turned his head and smiled very naturally. Before I could react, he stepped on the accelerator and the car moved forward.
Until I sat in the most famous Chinese restaurant in the city, I still didn't realize what had happened that night.
Chen Jialing took the initiative to order a few dishes, all of which were my favorites. Then he placed a bowl of white rice in front of me, wiped the sterilized chopsticks for me again, and placed them next to my left hand. After doing all this, he began to eat without saying a word.
I sat there stiffly, completely at a loss for words.
How did he know my preferences? Why did he even know that I was left-handed? Lu Mingyu didn't know this until college.
I looked at him in confusion, but he became happier and happier as he ate, and put a large piece of meat in my bowl. I have to admit that people like him and Lu Mingyu are really blessed by God. Not only are they excellent in everything, but even when they are hungry and wolf down their food, they look good when they eat.
Taking a deep breath, I decided to say what had been in my heart for a long time.
"When did you return home?"
"Half a year ago." He politely began to peel a shrimp.
"Then why were you in the bar that day?" My voice subconsciously became smaller.
"I was having a party with friends." He put the peeled shrimp into my bowl, "and ran into you drunk."
"Really? Haha." I laughed dryly and picked up the chopsticks to fiddle with the shrimp. "I was embarrassed that day, wasn't I?"
"It was quite embarrassing. He even vomited all over me." He shrugged, pretending to be disgusted.
"Anyway, thank you. If it weren't for you, I might have encountered something that day." I thanked him from the bottom of my heart. "Thank you for your encouragement that day. If it weren't for your words, I think it would be difficult for me to get over it."
"Everyone has fallen in love with the wrong person." He shook his head and smiled helplessly.
After hearing him say that, my embarrassment was alleviated a lot.
"It seems that you have suffered a lot of setbacks."
"Well, I dated a few times when I was abroad. I was cheated on and I also took the initiative to break up. Anyway, I probably went through the same things that other people went through in their youth." He was very open and chatted with me like an old friend.
"You've definitely never experienced secret love." I joked.
But he suddenly looked at me straight, and the faint smile on the corner of his mouth never disappeared.
"How do you know I haven't had a crush on anyone?"
When he looked at me like this, my cheeks suddenly became hot: "Well, you are full, let's go."
"Okay." He nodded happily.
Just then it started raining heavily outside the window.
I frowned, at a loss as to what to do, but he simply helped me carry the bag: "Let's go, it will rain harder later."
"But……"
"Nothing to worry about." He took off his suit jacket, gently pulled me to his side, and whispered, "We'll use our clothes to block the rain and run out directly."
"Oh, okay." I moved closer and smelled his nice men's perfume. His scent was different from Lu Mingyu's. Lu Mingyu's was intoxicating and rich, while his was always cold and light. However, they were two people, so how could they be compared? I couldn't help but laugh at myself in my heart.
In this way, he took me into the rain curtain and then returned to the car. He threw the only towel in the car to me, but his shirt was wet.
"Are you okay?" I wanted to hand the towel back since I wasn't that wet after all.
"It's okay." He waved his hand nonchalantly, "You know, when I was in England, I often dreamed of this scene."
"Is it raining?"
"No." He smiled pretentiously .
"What is that?" I asked.
He paused, but ultimately just shook his head.
"Let's go, I'll take you home."
We didn't talk during the whole journey. It seemed that something was brewing between him and me. This made me feel a little flustered. When we got off the bus, the rain just stopped. Just when I said goodbye to him and turned to walk away, he suddenly called me.
"Pei Jixing."
"Huh?" I turned around and looked at him.
"Nice to meet you again." His eyes were sincere, like a clear moon in the water.
I was stunned, and for a moment I felt something touching the softest part of my heart.
It has been a long time since anyone could give me this feeling. But at this moment, this boy in front of me, who is not even familiar with me, gave me this feeling.
For some reason, my eyes suddenly felt a little sore.
Oh, it turns out that there are people who are happy to meet me again.
Thinking of this, I held back the mist in my eyes, grinned, and smiled at him foolishly: "Me too, Chen Jialing, I'm glad to meet you again."