After a Flash Marriage with a Professor - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: The First Escape

Yan Mingshu was merely surprised, not delusional. Professor Shen probably just said it casually. After all, it was supposed to be a happy day, and there was no need to tell outsiders that they were about to get married without any emotional foundation.

There was no need for that.

Just as Yan Mingshu finally sorted out the logic and convinced herself, the owner had finished cutting the photos and put them into a delicate little red gift box.

“I wish you both great happiness,” the owner said with a smile, handing the photos to Shen Junlan.

“Thank you.” Shen Junlan said her thanks and, holding Yan Mingshu’s hand, walked out. Yan Mingshu was still in a daze, and she just followed instinctively. It wasn’t until they were outside the shop that she realized she was still holding Professor Shen’s hand.

Yan Mingshu felt very awkward. She didn’t usually hold hands with people. With her friend Jiang Lingyu, at most, Jiang Lingyu would link her arm through hers. How could Professor Shen be so at ease while she was so uncomfortable?

Shen Junlan raised her hand and checked the time. It was still before the civil affairs bureau’s working hours. Remembering that Yan Mingshu had mentioned her social anxiety and dislike for crowded places, she led Yan Mingshu into a book cafe. There were only a few people inside, all minding their own business.

Yan Mingshu didn’t know why Professor Shen brought her here, so she just followed silently. The place wasn’t crowded, and no one was paying them special attention, so she didn’t mind the environment.

Walking along the smooth wooden floor with vertical stripes, Yan Mingshu saw two female office workers focused on their computers, a bespectacled girl buried in a book with a stack of textbooks in front of her, likely preparing for the postgraduate entrance exam in December, and in the innermost corner, a little girl sitting on a high stool, her legs dangling dozens of centimeters from the ground, asleep on the table. There were some snacks next to her hand and bread crumbs at the corner of her mouth.

Worried that the little girl might accidentally fall off the stool, Yan Mingshu paused. Shen Junlan noticed and turned to her, asking softly, “Want to sit here for a bit?”

Yan Mingshu nodded, sitting next to the little girl, with one seat in between them.

Shen Junlan went to the counter to order coffee and freshly squeezed pear juice. Yan Mingshu stayed put, staring at the lone little girl. As she watched her, she couldn’t help but think of herself. Once, when she was little, she got lost in a mall with her mother. It was a completely unfamiliar mall to her. She waited all day, tired and hungry. When the mall closed, her mother still hadn’t come to find her.

The mall was locked, and a kind staff member helped call the police. The police officer took her to the station and bought her a hamburger. That night, she slept in the police officer’s dormitory. The next day, her father came to pick her up.

When she got home, she saw her mother watching cartoons with her younger brother. She called out, “Mom,” and asked, “Why didn’t you come to find me?” Her mother said, “I did look. How was I supposed to know where you ran off to? The mall was so crowded.”

Her mother didn’t seem very happy. Yan Mingshu felt wronged. At that moment, her brother crawled over from their mother’s lap, reaching out for her and calling “Jie-jie, Jie-jie.”

“What are you thinking about?” Shen Junlan gently placed a cup of pear juice in front of Yan Mingshu. “It’s warm and has no sugar.”

“Thank you.” Yan Mingshu’s hand touched the warm pear juice. She looked to the side again. “I was wondering if this little girl got separated from her parents.”

“Are you worried?”

“A little.” Yan Mingshu had experienced that feeling herself and could deeply empathize. The difference was that this little girl was happy in her sleep, with a smile unconsciously escaping her lips. She was likely different from her childhood self.

“Her parent is probably in the restroom,” Shen Junlan guessed.

Just as she finished speaking, a woman in high heels came rushing over, making a “clack-clack” sound. Yan Mingshu looked over, thinking this must be the little girl’s mother.

“Are you the little girl’s mother?” Shen Junlan asked.

“Yes.” The “clack-clack” of the high heels stopped, replaced by the woman’s hurried breathing. “I was in a rush to go to the restroom and didn’t want to wake her up. I figured it would be safe in the store, so I went by myself.”

“You should still be more careful. The stool is so high, it’s very dangerous. My wife was worried, so I stayed here with her for a bit.”

The woman and Yan Mingshu were both stunned.

Wife?

Even though same-sex marriage was legal, same-sex couples were still not as common as heterosexual couples in this society. People needed time to adjust. The woman quickly reacted and thanked them with a smile: “Thank you both. I’ll be more careful next time.”

Yan Mingshu’s shock was different from the mother’s.

Wife. How could Professor Shen be so natural about it, so natural that it seemed like they were a normal couple who had fallen in love and then gotten married after their relationship had reached a certain level of maturity?

They found another quiet corner to sit down. Shen Junlan smiled and asked, “Mingshu, did I say something wrong just now?”

Yan Mingshu shook her head. They had already taken wedding photos and were just waiting to get their license. Soon, she would be Professor Shen’s wife, so it didn’t matter if she was called that a little early.

After that, neither of them spoke.

Yan Mingshu took small sips of the warm pear juice to soothe her throat, noticing from the corner of her eye that after taking a sip of coffee, Professor Shen was looking at her phone.

“Mingshu, let’s add each other’s contact information,” Professor Shen suddenly said, turning her head. Yan Mingshu, feeling guilty for peeking, was startled and choked.

She bent over and coughed softly. Shen Junlan gently patted her back, sighing helplessly, “Mingshu, are you scared of me?”

“No,” Yan Mingshu said urgently, then coughed again.

Shen Junlan leaned closer, her gaze sweeping over Yan Mingshu’s downcast eyes with long eyelashes, her small, delicate nose, and finally settling on her moist, cherry-red lips. Perhaps because her mouth was too small, the pear juice easily spilled from the corner of her mouth, shining like a tiny light streak on Yan Mingshu’s fair skin.

“Professor Shen…”

Shen Junlan slightly retreated. She thought that if Mingshu hadn’t said “Professor Shen,” she would have already kissed her. She returned to her own seat, reached for a tissue from the table, and carefully wiped the corner of Mingshu’s mouth.

Yan Mingshu swallowed twice uncontrollably. She had another illusion just now, an illusion that Professor Shen was very dangerous.

After they had added each other’s contact information besides their phone numbers, it was almost time. Shen Junlan said they could go and get the marriage license. Yan Mingshu finished the last sip of pear juice, wiped her mouth, and got up from the table cooperatively.

This time, Yan Mingshu clutched the thin strap of her small black crossbody bag with both hands. Shen Junlan’s hand was at her side, making an empty fist.

At the civil affairs bureau, they quickly got their license and received a few blessings. Each of them came out with a little red book.

So this is what a marriage certificate looks like. Yan Mingshu was curious and took another look. Professor Shen also leaned in to look with her, just like when they were taking the wedding photos, squeezed together. However, when they were walking normally, her shoulder didn’t touch Professor Shen’s shoulder, only her arm.

Another couple came to get their license. Yan Mingshu wasn’t looking at the path and almost bumped into them. Professor Shen put an arm around her shoulder, stepped back, and they managed to avoid a collision.

“Sorry, we’re a little too happy and almost bumped into you.” The couple were also two girls. Yan Mingshu saw that they were about the same age, and their eyes and brows were filled with joy and smiles. She shook her head to show she didn’t mind and watched them, a little enviously, walk in tightly holding hands.

It must be wonderful to be able to marry the person you love.

“Mingshu, what are you thinking about?” Shen Junlan asked.

Yan Mingshu shook her head. She didn’t want to lie to Professor Shen, but she also didn’t want to say something inappropriate at a time like this.

Anyone could see that there was no love between them.

Shen Junlan didn’t press her. She smiled. “Then I’ll take you home first. You need to rest well. I’ll go back with you. Although we agreed beforehand that we wouldn’t have to worry about each other’s families after marriage, meeting them is still necessary.”

“Ah!” Yan Mingshu looked terrified.

“What’s wrong?”

“Professor Shen, next time. I want to tell my parents myself first.”

Shen Junlan pondered for a moment, then nodded. “Okay, then I won’t go in this time. I’ll just drop you off at home.”

“I’m sorry, Professor Shen.”

Yan Mingshu felt very guilty. On one hand, she was afraid that her parents would make a scene when they found out she had a shotgun wedding. On the other hand, she was afraid that the situation at her home would scare Professor Shen, such as the large bloodstains and red crosses on the wall outside the door that hadn’t been cleaned yet. Professor Shen had never seen anything like this before, and she didn’t want Professor Shen to see the shame brought on by poverty and chaos.

Shen Junlan asked Yan Mingshu for her address and drove off calmly. While stopped at a red light, she couldn’t help but notice the person beside her. The young woman looked preoccupied, as if they weren’t going home but were about to face a storm.

Her own family was a mess, so she wasn’t qualified to judge. The young woman didn’t speak, so she didn’t ask.

“We’re here, Professor Shen. Please stop here.”

Even though they were still seven or eight hundred meters away, the young woman beside her urgently asked her to stop. Shen Junlan respected her wishes and pulled over to the side of the road.

“Mingshu, when is it convenient for you to move in with me?”

Yan Mingshu already had one foot out of the car when she heard Professor Shen ask this from behind her. She slowly turned back, looking troubled. She had clearly not thought about this question yet.

Shen Junlan didn’t want to put too much pressure on the young woman. She smiled and said, “It’s summer vacation now, and I’m free almost every day. You’re welcome to come anytime. Just let me know when you’re ready, and I’ll come pick you up.”

“…Okay, thank you, Professor Shen.”

Yan Mingshu got out of the car, closed the door, and watched Professor Shen’s car drive away, completely disappearing from sight. Only then did she truly let out a sigh of relief.

Professor Shen was such a good person, unlike Boss Huang who pressured her so much. As soon as she nodded, he would want to take her home. It was unspoken what he wanted to do.

She walked forward with her head down, heading home. Halfway there, she stopped, took the marriage photo out of her bag, and looked at it. In the photo, Professor Shen was smiling very happily, a different kind of gentle from her usual self, with a bit of a triumphant air.

Triumphant. Yan Mingshu savored the word, and her face suddenly flushed with shame. What was she just thinking? How could that be?

Yan Mingshu’s right thumb was stuck on the marriage photo page. She raised both hands and patted her own face.

It must be because of all the events and chaos of the past few days that her mind was muddled. She needed to go home first and tell her parents that she had found a better marriage partner, and then give her father the money to pay off the debt.

Yan Mingshu carefully put the marriage photo back into her bag, and at the same time, she glanced to make sure the ICBC card Professor Shen had given her was still in the inner pocket. With a relieved smile on her face, she walked toward her home.

Once her father’s debt was paid off, she wouldn’t be so nervous.

Before she reached the building, Yan Mingshu saw a familiar figure. It was her younger brother, Wenxuan. He was looking around, as if waiting for someone.

“Wenxuan.” Yan Mingshu’s throat didn’t hurt as much as before, and her mood was relaxed. She waved and ran toward her brother with a light, quick step.

Yan Wenxuan was nearsighted. Only after hearing his sister’s voice did he confirm that it was her.

“Wenxuan, why are you here?”

“Jie, I… I…”

“Don’t rush. Take your time.”

“Jie, you need to run.”

“What?”

“Run!”

Yan Mingshu was pushed back by her brother, stumbling. She regained her footing but didn’t move, still asking, “What happened, Wenxuan?”

Yan Wenxuan’s face was extremely pale. He knew that if he didn’t explain, his sister wouldn’t listen and leave. He gritted his teeth and said in a furious whisper, “They’ve colluded. They want to force a marriage. Boss Huang is in your room right now. I don’t want… Jie, I don’t want you to…”

The relaxed expression on Yan Mingshu’s face instantly vanished. The color drained from her face as quickly as a delicate rose thrown into a raging fire, withering rapidly and about to be destroyed.

“Jie, run!” Yan Wenxuan urged with bloodshot eyes, trying his best to keep his voice down.

“Go find Lingyu-jie, or just go anywhere. Just don’t come back.”

“Go! Jie!” The young man’s low growl strained his vocal cords.

“I…” Yan Mingshu’s heart was in agony. Her hand trembled as she opened her black crossbody bag, took out the bank card, and handed it to her brother. “There’s… a million inside. The password is… today’s date.” A single tear rolled down Yan Mingshu’s right eye, tracing over a hidden little mole at the corner.

“Jie, you…” Yan Wenxuan held the bank card, but his words were caught in his throat.

“I’m leaving, Wenxuan.” Yan Mingshu tried hard to force a smile, but couldn’t, so she gave up.

Yan Wenxuan wiped her tears. “I’m sorry, Jie. I’m useless.”

Yan Mingshu no longer paid attention to him. She turned and walked away, her back slightly hunched, her heart in excruciating pain.

Her left eye couldn’t help but shed tears as well. Yan Mingshu raised her hand to wipe them away, but more tears came.

The river of tears had broken its banks. Her vision was a blur, but she walked forward recklessly.

“Mingshu!” Jiang Lingyu saw a tearful Yan Mingshu from a distance and slammed on the brakes as she got closer.

She had just received a call from Mingshu’s brother and promised to help. She knew Mingshu was on a blind date today and had lied that she was still at work, so she shouldn’t be home so early. Not wanting to disturb Mingshu’s blind date, she came to wait with Mingshu’s brother, planning to intercept her before she went home. She didn’t expect Mingshu to return so soon.

“Get in the car first, Mingshu.”

Jiang Lingyu lived alone now, so she took Mingshu to her apartment. Mingshu cried from the afternoon until night. Her eyes were red and swollen. It was the first time Jiang Lingyu had seen Mingshu cry so heartbrokenly. If it had happened to her, she might have been even sadder.

She couldn’t understand. How could parents like this exist? So eager to sell their daughter?

It hadn’t happened to her, but just thinking about it made her furious.

Jiang Lingyu wanted to cheer Mingshu up, but food didn’t work, and neither did comedy movies. In desperation, she took out the red wine she usually drank to help her sleep. Mingshu drank a lot and was already drunk, but even drunk, she was still sad, which made Jiang Lingyu’s own eyes turn red.

Mingshu’s phone vibrated inside her bag, making a buzzing sound on the glass coffee table that was annoying to hear. Jiang Lingyu decided to turn it off for her.

She opened the bag to get Mingshu’s phone and saw a small red book. She was stunned.

Isn’t this a marriage certificate?

Could it be… Mingshu had a shotgun wedding today?

Jiang Lingyu turned back, looking in shock at Mingshu, who was still sobbing with a wine glass in her arms. She nervously opened the marriage certificate. What she saw inside made her withdraw her hand in shock.

Not only did Mingshu have a shotgun wedding to get money for her father, but the person she married was Professor Shen?

The Professor Shen who had taught them in college?

All at once, Jiang Lingyu’s mind was in chaos. She didn’t really want to recall her college days; it was an unpleasant time for her.

Jiang Lingyu looked at the crying Mingshu, and her shoulders slumped.

What was bothering her most now was that Mingshu had gotten a marriage license with Professor Shen. Could she still let Mingshu stay with her?

After a few minutes of agonizing, Jiang Lingyu found their university group chat, looked up Professor Shen’s contact information, and tentatively sent a message, saying that she was Mingshu’s friend, Mingshu was not doing well, and asked if Professor Shen could come over.

Yes, please send me the address.

Please take care of Mingshu for a bit. I’ll be right there. Thank you.

Jiang Lingyu was surprised by how quickly Professor Shen responded. She nervously swallowed. Now she believed that Mingshu and Professor Shen had gotten their marriage license.

She was actually a little afraid of Professor Shen.

Professor Shen arrived very quickly. Jiang Lingyu had already gotten dressed and was now timidly opening the door.

“Where is Mingshu?” Professor Shen asked as she entered, looking a little worried.

Jiang Lingyu pointed to the sofa. Then she felt a gust of wind as Professor Shen quickly went to Mingshu, bent down, and took the wine glass from Mingshu’s hand, placing it on the glass coffee table. Then, she smoothly lifted the small, huddled Yan Mingshu from the gray couch.

Jiang Lingyu watched in a daze. She saw Professor Shen steadily lift the still-crying Mingshu, who didn’t resist and buried her head in Professor Shen’s arms.

“I apologize for the disturbance. I’ll take Mingshu home now.” Professor Shen nodded slightly and walked past her with Mingshu in her arms.

Jiang Lingyu stood frozen for a long time before finally saying to the empty air, “No trouble at all. Mingshu is my good friend.”

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