After a Flash Marriage with a Professor - Chapter 20.2

Chapter 20.2

Old Liu drove the car smoothly and quickly. They arrived at the company building with about twenty minutes to spare before work started. Mingshu got out of the car and thanked Old Liu again, asking him to take Jiajia wherever she wanted to go.

“Don’t worry, Madam. Have a good day at work. I’ll come pick you up in the evening.”

Mingshu took her things and went upstairs. She had brought the white shirt and black suit that the vice president’s assistant, Mia, had given her. She found that she couldn’t just accept them. So she had taken them to a professional dry cleaner to have them cleaned and brought them to return to Mia.

In her other hand, she was carrying the fruit and corn juice that Auntie Zhang had prepared.

As she entered the company, Mingshu took the elevator upstairs. There were several unfamiliar colleagues inside. Mingshu heard them greeting each other, but she still didn’t have the courage to interact with them and looked down at the tips of her shoes.

The elevator door opened. They had arrived at her floor. Mingshu stood in the corner, not moving, waiting for everyone to get out first. She saw that one person’s feet hadn’t moved.

“Yan Mingshu,” that person called out to her.

Mingshu looked up in surprise and found that the person who called her was the cool-looking female colleague with a buzz cut who had helped her before. Today, she wasn’t wearing her purple earrings. She had changed to purple ear studs, which made her look even more dazzling.

“You should get out now.” Ling Han looked at the motionless Mingshu and waved her hand in front of her eyes.

After a long time, Mingshu finally managed to squeeze out a “thank you.”

“Thank you for that day,” Mingshu said, mustering her courage to offer a belated thanks.

The elevator door was about to close. Ling Han quickly reached out her arm to stop it. She tilted her head, signaling Mingshu to get out first. Mingshu walked out of the elevator and thanked her again.

Ling Han smiled and asked, “You’ve said ‘thank you’ to me twice in a row. Do you even know my name?”

Mingshu didn’t know. She just stared at Ling Han blankly for a couple of seconds.

“Let me introduce myself. My name is Ling Han. I sit two cubicles away from you.”

Mingshu nodded seriously and silently repeated the name of this kind colleague in her mind.

“Did you not have breakfast yet?” Ling Han asked casually, seeing the food in her hand.

“I had some,” Mingshu answered stiffly. After speaking, she felt that she should have a back-and-forth conversation, so she asked Ling Han, “What about you?”

Ling Han was amused by Mingshu’s rigid demeanor. How could a girl who found it so difficult to even talk to people be a homewrecker who seduced men?

“I haven’t eaten. I didn’t have an appetite this morning, so I didn’t know what to get for breakfast.”

“Oh…” Mingshu nodded thoughtfully. “Then… then…”

The two of them stood by the elevator door for a while. The elevator door opened again, and some people came out. The two of them moved aside. The colleagues who came out this time looked at Mingshu and Ling Han strangely for a few seconds before going into the office.

Mingshu hadn’t finished what she was going to say. Ling Han directly took the sweet-smelling drink from her hand and continued Mingshu’s sentence. “Then you can give this drink to me for breakfast.”

“O-okay…” Mingshu felt a little relieved. Ling Han wasn’t as cold as she seemed on the outside and was easy to get along with.

The two of them walked into the office side by side, causing another round of murmurs. Mingshu pretended not to hear them. She was used to being gossiped about, but what about Ling Han? She nervously glanced in Ling Han’s direction. Ling Han held up the cup of corn juice and mouthed “it’s delicious” silently. Mingshu finally relaxed and smiled, burying her head in her work.

At ten in the morning, someone came to tell Mingshu that the vice president was looking for her and wanted her to go to his office. Mingshu stood up and followed nervously.

This was the first time Mingshu had seen the vice president. Contrary to her imagination, the vice president was not a pot-bellied, greasy man. On the contrary, he was a very well-kept, elegant, and handsome middle-aged man.

“Mingshu, I’ve already heard about what happened a few days ago when my wife came to the company to cause you trouble. I’m very sorry for the harm and distress my private matters have caused you,” the vice president said apologetically.

With her boss apologizing like this, Mingshu felt flustered. She gently shook her head. “It’s in the past.”

“I think I should still give you some compensation.”

“The assistant has already given me some,” Mingshu said. She hadn’t counted. The money was with her mother. She estimated it was around 20,000 yuan.

“That was what Mia gave you. It’s not the same.”

Mingshu was stunned. Wasn’t Mia the one who handled all sorts of matters for the vice president? Could it be…

“This is from me, Mingshu. If you don’t accept it, my conscience won’t be at ease.”

Mingshu looked up, staring at the vice president in shock. She suddenly thought of a startling possibility.

“Take this money and go back to work. Don’t worry about it,” the vice president said, not caring about her look of offense. He just pushed the yellow folder on the table toward her. Mingshu took it and left the vice president’s office with the folder in her arms.

Back at her cubicle, Mingshu tried to clear her chaotic thoughts and continued to focus on her work.

During lunchtime, Ling Han came over and invited Mingshu to have lunch with her. Mingshu hesitated for a while but finally agreed. This was the first time a colleague had invited her to lunch since she joined the company.

They went to the company cafeteria. In the past, Mingshu would get her food and sit alone in a corner to eat. This time, she was with Ling Han, who sat with her in the corner.

Mingshu took out the fruit Auntie Zhang had prepared and shared it with Ling Han. Without saying anything, she just pushed the box toward Ling Han with her hand.

“Thanks.” Ling Han wasn’t shy at all and quickly ate most of her fruit, leaving her own lunch untouched.

“This is so strange. Your things always taste better,” Ling Han suddenly said.

“The corn juice this morning was also very good.”

Mingshu didn’t understand the hidden meaning. She just thought Ling Han was particularly craving fruit today, so she pushed the whole box to her. “Then you can have it all.”

Ling Han really took the box and ate the fruit as her meal. Mingshu lowered her head and ate the cafeteria food, finding it a bit bland. She wondered if she had gotten used to Auntie Zhang’s cooking.

“Mingshu, do you know about the vice president and Mia?” Ling Han asked her.

Mingshu hadn’t known before. She had guessed a little this morning in the vice president’s office, but she wasn’t sure, so she shook her head.

Ling Han said, “I don’t usually like to gossip, but I think it’s necessary for you to know this, so I’ll tell you. Actually, the mistress Mrs. Zhang was looking for that day was probably Mia.”

“Is there any concrete evidence?”

“No concrete evidence, but there are some clues. After you left the company that day, Mia also left, and she still hasn’t returned to the company.”

Mingshu said, “Maybe something happened in Mia’s family.”

Ling Han said, “Mingshu, you remind me of something Lu Xun once said.”

“What?”

“I have always used the worst malice to speculate on my fellow countrymen.”

Mingshu didn’t think she was on the same level as Lu Xun and said in a panic, “I just think that until the truth is revealed, anyone could be a victim.”

Ling Han was silent. It was true that situations like what Mingshu described happened, but very rarely. Perhaps Mingshu didn’t want others to be wronged because she had been wronged herself.

After they finished eating, Ling Han asked Mingshu if they could add each other on WeChat. Mingshu agreed. After they had added each other, they returned to the office together.

Nothing else happened in the afternoon besides them working diligently. After work, Mingshu deliberately stayed in the office and didn’t leave right away. She didn’t want her colleagues to see someone picking her up, fearing that it would lead to more outrageous rumors.

Ling Han said goodbye to her before she left, saying she would see her tomorrow. Mingshu smiled and waved at her.

Ling Han walked out of the office and couldn’t help but look back. The last ray of the setting sun fell on Mingshu’s face. Nature was partial to her, lighting her up and adding a touch of brilliance to her beauty.

It had been a long time since she had seen such a cute girl.

Ling Han smiled and continued to walk forward. She was already looking forward to tomorrow even before she had left the company.

Mingshu was the last one to leave the office, like a thief, sneaking around.

Old Liu, who was unaware, sighed and said, “Why do other people get off work so early, but Madam has to work overtime? It must be so tiring.”

Mingshu didn’t dare to tell the truth. She sat awkwardly in the back, holding the glass box of fruit in her lap. She had left Mia’s clothes at the company. She would find an opportunity to return them when Mia came back.

When she got home, the sky had turned into a dark blue. She could see a small crescent moon and a few twinkling stars, as if they were guiding her, a stranger to this new home.

Mingshu got out of the car, and Old Liu got off work. He smiled and said that his friends were waiting for him to grill meat, and he had to hurry. Mingshu felt a little guilty that she had made him wait. She couldn’t do this again tomorrow.

As she walked into the yard, Mingshu looked in the direction of the grape trellis. The day Professor Shen brought her home, she had asked her if she liked to eat grapes.

The moonlight shone on the grapevines, as if water was cascading down. These must be grapes that were washed by the moonlight. Mingshu thought to herself and couldn’t help but smile.

She walked with a light step through the yard and into the main door. The interior was brightly lit. A warm orange light mixed with a little white. Professor Shen, Auntie Zhang, and Jiajia were sitting on the sofa in the living room. The atmosphere was a little tense.

Mingshu reined in her joy and continued to walk inside.

“Mingshu, you’re back.” Shen Junlan, who was leaning on the sofa with a frown, immediately stood up and came over to hold her hand when she saw Mingshu.

Auntie Zhang also stood up, patting her apron with both hands. “Madam is back. I’ll go bring out the food, and we can start eating.”

Only Jiajia didn’t move. She had an unconvinced look on her face and didn’t even look at Mingshu. Mingshu didn’t mind and didn’t ask.

When all the dishes were on the table, the four of them ate together. Mingshu and Jiajia were sitting directly across from each other. Mingshu could clearly feel Jiajia’s dissatisfaction and anger.

Was it directed at her? Mingshu wasn’t sure.

Jiajia really hated Mingshu at this moment. This morning, she had asked Mingshu if she truly loved Sister Junlan. Mingshu had hesitated, which meant she didn’t. When she got home, she told Sister Junlan about it and said that Mingshu’s family had problems and that it was highly likely she was only marrying her for her money. Sister Junlan actually said that she knew.

“The point is that she doesn’t even love you!” Jiajia couldn’t accept this point. She then added, “Sister Junlan, I know why you were in a hurry to get married. It’s because your father is already arranging your marriage, isn’t it?”

Sister Junlan didn’t deny it at the time. Jiajia was heartbroken. “Why did it have to be Yan Mingshu, Sister Junlan? You could have chosen a better person, someone who at least wasn’t after your money.”

“Mingshu isn’t what you think she is. There’s no such thing as a perfect person in this world. Isn’t choosing a person about choosing everything about them?”

That was true, but if she had known that Sister Junlan was going to be so hasty in her choice, then she, Zhang Jiajia, could have been that person. She could have also guaranteed to cooperate better with Sister Junlan. She could have been the shield to fend off her father’s arrangements or her real wife. She was confident she could do a better job than Yan Mingshu.

The two of them had an argument about this. Auntie Zhang came out later and didn’t know what had happened. She was also worried. The atmosphere in the house only got better when Madam came home from work.

“Madam, did the fruit I cut for you today go bad or get mixed with other smells?” Auntie Zhang asked Mingshu, who was eating seriously with her head down.

Mingshu looked up and smiled. “No. I shared it with a colleague, and she said my fruit was delicious.”

When Shen Junlan heard the word “colleague,” she glanced at Mingshu. Mingshu didn’t notice. She was focused on her conversation with Auntie Zhang.

“Was she just being polite?” Auntie Zhang asked with a squint.

“Definitely not. She ate almost the entire box of fruit by herself,” Mingshu said sincerely, looking into Auntie Zhang’s eyes.

Auntie Zhang’s cloudy eyes lit up. Although she had been in this line of work for decades, she was still very touched to receive a sincere compliment.

“Then I’ll prepare more for Madam in the future.”

After dinner, Mingshu and Professor Shen went upstairs together. After they entered the room and closed the door, Mingshu quietly asked, “Professor Shen, did you and Jiajia have a fight?”

“You can tell?”

Mingshu nodded and then asked cautiously, “Is it because of me?”

Shen Junlan just looked at Mingshu, neither admitting nor denying it.

Mingshu said, “Jiajia is young and genuine. She’s thinking of you. She thinks I’m with you for your money, which isn’t wrong. Anyway, Jiajia is on your side, Professor Shen. Don’t be angry with a child.”

“Are you speaking up for Jiajia, little Mingshu?”

Mingshu lowered her head, suddenly not daring to look into Professor Shen’s eyes. She whispered, “I don’t deserve you in the first place. It’s normal for Jiajia to think that way. I don’t want you to ruin your relationship because of me. Auntie Zhang will be sad if she finds out, too.”

Shen Junlan patiently listened to Mingshu finish speaking, took a deep breath, and pulled Mingshu into her arms.

“Mingshu, do you know that if you’re this kind, it’s easy for others to bully you.”

Mingshu leaned against her, her voice a mix of innocence and sadness. “I know, but I feel that life is already hard. I don’t want to lose the only good quality I might have. I don’t want to become hateful and completely unlike my original self.”

Shen Junlan’s heart ached. It ached for Mingshu.

Mingshu continued optimistically, “And I think everything is getting better.”

“Then there must be some good news. Can you tell me?” Shen Junlan held Mingshu, her fingers gently combing through Mingshu’s soft, curly hair.

Mingshu told her about clearing her name. “Is this good news, Professor Shen? I’m not entirely sure. I’ve left the eye of the storm, but the assistant has been pulled into it. I think things might not be what everyone thinks they are.”

“Oh, you.” Shen Junlan sighed, both heartbroken and helpless. “You’re worrying about others before your own wounds have healed.”

“From now on, if you encounter similar things and are wronged outside, remember to come back and talk to me. Prioritize protecting yourself first, and then think about others, okay?”

“Mm, I understand, Professor Shen.” Mingshu obediently agreed.

This was the first time someone had ever told her to protect herself first.

“You must be tired after a day of work. Go take a shower first. I’ll get you a bathrobe.”

Mingshu didn’t have to worry about anything and just went into the bathroom. Halfway through taking off her clothes, Professor Shen knocked on the door and asked her if she knew how to use the bathtub. Mingshu said no, so Professor Shen came in to teach her.

“Have a good soak.” Before leaving the bathroom, Shen Junlan couldn’t resist pulling Mingshu into a kiss, which made Mingshu forget what she was supposed to ask her to do. It wasn’t until she came out of the bathroom that she remembered.

Mingshu wanted to ask her to charge her phone. Her phone was in her bag and was running out of battery. Shen Junlan was naturally willing. After receiving a fragrant kiss from her, she immediately went to do it.

Her bag had slept next to Mingshu’s in the living room before, so when she touched the black satchel, Shen Junlan felt a sense of familiarity. She opened the bag and took out the phone.

Just as she did, Mingshu’s phone lit up in her palm. The battery was at 2%, reminding her to charge it quickly. Shen Junlan quickly plugged it in, so the phone wouldn’t automatically shut down.

Just as she was about to put Mingshu’s phone down, a series of messages popped up. Shen Junlan glanced at them and saw everything.

Mingshu, now that we’re friends, you can’t just not chat. I want to ask you where you bought the fruit you brought today.

This is the first time I’ve had such sweet fruit. Why can’t I buy it? Am I bad at picking them?

I’m at the fruit store right now. If you’re not asleep yet, can you help me take a look?

Below were a few pictures. Shen Junlan couldn’t see them, but she could guess that they were all pictures of fruit.

Shen Junlan took one last look at the name Mingshu had saved for the other person: Ling Han.

It should be her full name. She wondered what Mingshu had saved her as.

Shen Junlan wanted to send Mingshu a message. That way, Mingshu’s phone would show a message box with her name on it. But that was too childish. Shen Junlan couldn’t do that.

She put Mingshu’s phone down and picked up the foreign classic novel that had been on the nightstand. She opened it, but she couldn’t read anything. Her mind was filled with Mingshu, fruit, and Ling Han.

Mingshu came out of the bathroom and told her to hurry up and wash up, too. Shen Junlan stood up and went into the bathroom without saying a word. Mingshu sensed that something was off but couldn’t figure out why. She lay on the soft bed and rolled around.

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