After a Flash Marriage with a Professor - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Little Oolong

Ming Shu was in a fluster, but Shen Junlan was in no hurry at all. The more Ming Shu stalled, the better. She was desperate to spend the entire weekend clinging to Ming Shu.

Ming Shu untied the knot she had initially made, but when she tried to re-tie it, she realized she didn’t know how. The only knot she knew was the one for a red scarf (a type of simple uniform necktie).

Oh no.

“Professor Shen, I… I don’t know how,” Ming Shu’s hands released the tie, and she placed them on Professor Shen’s shoulders, pushing her away.

Shen Junlan was not yet satisfied but didn’t want to cling to Ming Shu anymore.

“I’ll do it myself. Ming Shu, you should go be with Lingyu for her birthday,” Shen Junlan said with a smile.

Ming Shu watched Shen Junlan tie her tie, mentally rehearsing the steps, thinking that she’d be able to help next time.

“You’re letting me go now?”

“If I don’t, I’ll regret it,” Shen Junlan said, catching one of Ming Shu’s hands. Ming Shu quickly turned to open the car door, slipped out, and closed the door tightly before turning back to wave. “Bye-bye, Professor Shen! See you the day after tomorrow.”

See you the day after tomorrow. Not until the night after tomorrow. Shen Junlan smiled and nodded, though her heart ached. Her newlywed wife was so ruthless.

Shen Junlan watched Ming Shu enter Jiang Lingyu’s house and didn’t start the car until her figure disappeared from sight.

When Ming Shu arrived at Lingyu’s house, Jiang Lingyu was pacing the living room, one hand holding the other, biting the back of her hand, her eyes filled with worry.

“Lingyu?” Ming Shu walked up to her. “What are you thinking about?”

Jiang Lingyu snapped back to reality, still a bit dazed. Ming Shu had been outside for so long that she had worried Professor Shen might take her away, and she wouldn’t be able to celebrate her birthday with her.

“Nothing. I’m just glad you’re here.”

“Of course I’m still here. I promised to spend your birthday with you,” Ming Shu smiled at Lingyu. “Oh, by the way, Lingyu, have you eaten breakfast?”

Jiang Lingyu shook her head. She had been worried since last night that Ming Shu wouldn’t be able to come for her birthday, and she was still thinking about it this morning, so she had no appetite for breakfast.

Luckily, Ming Shu still came.

Ming Shu, unaware of her worries, smiled sweetly. “It’s almost 10 AM. Shall I cook you a bowl of longevity noodles?”

“Yes.”

Ming Shu was very familiar with Jiang Lingyu’s house; it felt just like her own. She had spent many weekends here with Lingyu and was comfortable using the kitchen. She wasn’t as good at cooking as Aunt Zhang, but she was much better than Lingyu.

“It looks like there aren’t many ingredients left,” Ming Shu checked the fridge and the vegetable basket. There were only a few noodles left. “I’ll use up all these noodles, add two eggs, a few leaves of Chinese cabbage, and cut up some ham sausage.”

Jiang Lingyu stood behind Ming Shu, skillfully took the little bear apron hanging on the wall, and naturally tied it onto Ming Shu. “I want one fried egg and one poached egg.”

“Can do. I’ll make it for you, little birthday girl,” Ming Shu said, indulging her.

“Ming Shu.”

“…Hmm?” Ming Shu was focused on cooking the noodles and was startled for two seconds when Lingyu called her. “What else do you want to eat? Tell me. You have two days, and I can cook it all for you.”

“Do you cook for Professor Shen at her house?”

“That… I don’t think so. Professor Shen made one meal for me, but the house has a really great cook, an auntie. I don’t really need to cook.”

“Then…”

“Yes?” The eggs were done. Ming Shu scooped them out, poured water into the pot, and covered it, waiting for the water to boil before adding the noodles. “Lingyu, what’s wrong with you today? You’re being so hesitant.”

“I’m a little afraid to ask. I don’t want to offend you.”

“That’s what offends me. Lingyu, do you not want to be friends with me anymore?”

“No!”

“Then what is it?”

“Ming Shu, I want to ask you, can we still be good friends like before?”

“Why wouldn’t we?” Ming Shu tilted her head in confusion. “Because I married Professor Shen?”

Jiang Lingyu nodded hesitantly. “A lot of people focus more on their own family after getting married. They don’t have much time to spend with friends. I’m afraid we won’t be able to spend weekends together like this anymore.”

“About that…” Ming Shu thought for a moment and felt it was indeed tricky. Professor Shen’s behavior over the past few days clearly indicated that she wanted Ming Shu to spend more time with her. She even seemed a little jealous of Lingyu, and she seemed jealous of Ling Han too.

“It’s difficult, right, Ming Shu? I can manage on my own, really. I just want you to be happy.” Jiang Lingyu lowered her head. Today was her birthday, and even though Ming Shu was there, she couldn’t feel as happy as she used to on her birthdays.

“I will be happy, Lingyu, and you will be happy too,” Ming Shu said with a confident smile, inexplicably feeling sure. Was this confidence coming from Professor Shen?

Jiang Lingyu was momentarily infected by Ming Shu’s optimism, but her mood quickly dropped again.

Ming Shu was already Professor Shen’s wife; happiness for her seemed unlikely now.

“Lingyu, you don’t seem particularly happy today, do you?” Ming Shu asked, adding the noodles to the pot with her back to Jiang Lingyu. She felt today’s Lingyu was very similar to how she was when they first became friends in college.

“You got married, you know? I feel like our relationship isn’t the same as before.” Lingyu tugged gently at the bow knot on the back of Ming Shu’s waist. She always liked to do this quietly when Ming Shu was cooking.

“Oh, Lingyu, we’ll always be good friends. Even after you get married, we’ll still be good friends. I thought you had fallen for someone and were heartbroken again. Thank goodness it’s not that,” Ming Shu said with relief.

Jiang Lingyu’s heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat broke out.

Afraid Ming Shu would notice, she nervously yanked the ribbon, pulling the bow apart. Ming Shu sensed something and turned around to see a flustered Jiang Lingyu.

“Did I actually guess correctly?” Ming Shu asked cautiously. “Is it a colleague?”

Jiang Lingyu shook her head.

“Then who is it?”

Jiang Lingyu didn’t dare to say. She was afraid that if she told the truth, she truly wouldn’t be able to be friends with Ming Shu anymore.

“Well, whenever you want to talk, just come to me. I’ll be your sounding board, just like before. Absolute secrecy.”

Jiang Lingyu nodded, feeling her eyes well up. She quickly ran out of the kitchen. Ming Shu didn’t quite understand and shook her head slowly, thinking that balancing friendship and marriage was truly a perennial problem.

To cheer Lingyu up, Ming Shu decided to bring out her surprise gift early.

“Lingyu.” Ming Shu was watching the noodles and couldn’t leave, so she called toward the living room. After Lingyu answered, she continued, “I bought you a birthday gift. It’s in my bag. You can open it yourself. I hope you like it.”

In the living room, Jiang Lingyu immediately saw Ming Shu’s bag sitting in the corner of the sofa. She walked over to the sofa very nervously, sat down, placed Ming Shu’s bag on her lap, and solemnly unzipped it. The first thing she saw was soft white silk.

Could the gift Ming Shu gave her this time be a dress? Jiang Lingyu touched it with her hand, feeling how comfortable it was. When she pulled it out to look, she was completely dumbfounded.

This… this… this… was this a mistake? Why would Ming Shu give her this?

Ming Shu carried the finished longevity noodles out and was also shocked when she saw Lingyu staring blankly at the improper nightwear, nearly dropping the noodles.

“No, not that,” Ming Shu said, placing the noodles on the dining table. Some soup spilled due to her haste, getting onto her hands.

Jiang Lingyu was a little embarrassed and confused. “I thought so. Why would you give me this?”

“The jade rabbit pendant is underneath,” Ming Shu quickly said, trying to reach for it herself, but stopped when she saw her hands were covered in oil.

Jiang Lingyu looked for herself. At the bottom of the bag, there was indeed a delicate small jewelry box. She opened it, and inside lay the jade rabbit pendant Ming Shu had mentioned.

“Do you like it?” Ming Shu asked while pulling out a few tissues to wipe her hands. Feeling she couldn’t get them clean, she went back to the kitchen for a pump of dish soap. By the time she returned to the living room, Lingyu had already stuffed the white silk nightwear back into her bag.

The two remained silent, sharing an unspoken understanding.

After a few seconds, Ming Shu said, “Hurry and eat the noodles. They won’t taste good once they get cold.”

Jiang Lingyu started eating the noodles. Ming Shu sat on the nearby sofa, feeling a little restless.

“It’s delicious. I still really love the noodles you cook,” Jiang Lingyu said proactively to ease the tension.

Ming Shu tucked her bag behind her. “If you like it, I’ll make it for you every year.”

Jiang Lingyu didn’t speak again, quietly finishing all the noodles. Towards the end, a tear fell into the soup with a “drip,” startling Ming Shu.

“Lingyu…” Ming Shu was alarmed. She quickly got up, went to Lingyu’s side, and placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

“Ming Shu, did Professor Shen force you?” Jiang Lingyu sniffed, asking with her head bowed.

“No, don’t think nonsense. Professor Shen is very good to me and respects me.”

“Are you sure, Ming Shu?” Jiang Lingyu placed her chopsticks on the table and stood up, wanting to ask, “What was that white silk garment I just saw?” but lacking the courage to say it aloud.

Ming Shu knew Lingyu must have imagined many bad scenarios, so she quickly reassured Lingyu: “Truly, Professor Shen hasn’t forced me to do anything. She respects my opinion.”

“If Professor Shen makes some inappropriate requests, can you refuse? Ming Shu.”

“Of course,” Ming Shu nodded. “Professor Shen isn’t an unreasonable person.”

“Ming Shu, do you like Professor Shen?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t reject Professor Shen?” Jiang Lingyu knew Ming Shu marrying Professor Shen was initially out of helplessness. But the kiss she had unintentionally witnessed earlier—Ming Shu actively kissing Professor Shen in the car—was that truly Ming Shu’s will? She knew she should trust her eyes, but a glimmer of hope persisted in her heart. Seeing isn’t always believing.

But Ming Shu said, “I don’t reject her. I don’t reject Professor Shen.”

Ming Shu didn’t understand her own feelings either. She looked at Jiang Lingyu and said sincerely, “Lingyu, I won’t lie to you. I haven’t figured out my feelings for Professor Shen myself. There’s definitely gratitude. I’m not sure about liking her, but I certainly don’t reject her. Maybe I’m superficial, but initially, I felt I’d rather die than marry the pot-bellied Boss Huang. But marrying Professor Shen it’s also selling my own happiness, but I can accept it.”

“I understand.” Jiang Lingyu smiled, tears still glistening in her eyes. “It’s human nature. When the choice improves, it’s definitely easier to accept.”

“I thought you might look down on me,” Ming Shu whispered, fiddling with the apron.

“No, Ming Shu, you’ve done really well. I only regret that I couldn’t help you sooner. If, and I mean if,” Jiang Lingyu paused, gathering the courage to continue, “If the person willing to give you a million yuan bride price to marry you wasn’t Professor Shen, but me, would you accept?”

“You?” Ming Shu opened her eyes in astonishment, not understanding why Lingyu would make such a hypothetical statement.

Jiang Lingyu, tearful yet smiling, was extremely nervous but responded nonchalantly: “Yeah, because you didn’t accept when, as a friend, I wanted to borrow money from my parents for you. So I want to ask: if it was a bride price to marry you, would you be willing?”

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