I Woke Up and Found Myself Married to the Dean - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Clinging, Intertwined Fingertips.

After the meal, the three of them squeezed into the kitchen to wash dishes, facing each other in silence.

Because of Si Nanyu’s questions and Qin Hua’s reactions, no definitive answers had been reached. Furthermore, regarding Si Jiamu—except for Wen Qingyan, who seemed able to mention her at any time the other two had no desire to speak of her.

As for the question of staying overnight, Wen Qingyan had avoided it.

Si Nanyu, however, stole several glances at Wen Qingyan. While washing dishes, she squeezed herself between Qin Hua and Wen Qingyan, her face flushed as she remained silent. One moment she looked at Qin Hua; the next, she looked at Wen Qingyan.

Wen Qingyan possessed a certain magic over Si Nanyu—a magic Qin Hua was well aware of. As long as things revolved around Wen Qingyan, Si Nanyu could forget many things. For instance, why she had seen Si Jiamu.

As the dishes were nearly finished, Qin Hua excused herself first. Si Nanyu summoned her courage and asked Wen Qingyan, “Teacher… did we used to…”

“Always stay the night?”

If this had been the Wen Qingyan of six months ago, she might have answered without hesitation that they did.

But it wasn’t six months ago. Back then, Si Nanyu wouldn’t have asked such a stupid question. Instead, there was usually one weekend a month—mostly when Qin Hua returned from a business trip—that they would stay here. At least, that’s how it went barring any accidents.

But over the past six months, accidents had been frequent. They hadn’t stayed at Qin Hua’s place for a long time.

Wen Qingyan couldn’t lie. She lowered her eyes and said, “…We used to.”

“As for now…”

“Then which room do we stay in?”

Si Nanyu interrupted her, her eyes shining with excitement. Wen Qingyan felt scorched by that gaze and couldn’t find her voice for a long time. She allowed Si Nanyu to pull her out of the kitchen.

Si Nanyu was prone to shyness, and when she was shy, she became awkward. In Wen Qingyan’s memory, this was how Si Nanyu acted when they first started dating or just before they got together. In recent years, the Si Nanyu she knew was bold and self-absorbed—someone who often stopped considering Wen Qingyan’s feelings.

Now, in this moment, it felt like the old days. Because of this, the suspicion that Si Nanyu hadn’t actually lost her memory surged within her once more.

“Does your forehead… still hurt?” Si Nanyu’s question was sudden, but it made Wen Qingyan’s eyes sting.

Because Si Nanyu was always like this: just when Wen Qingyan was about to hold a grudge, she would stuff a piece of candy into her mouth.

It did still hurt a little, but Wen Qingyan was stubborn and didn’t want to admit it. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Si Nanyu was capable of self-reflection; she hadn’t forgotten that she had hurt Wen Qingyan. Her sudden temper just needed time to settle. One meal and a few blushing comments were enough to melt her resistance.

She leaned in close to Wen Qingyan’s slightly red forehead, contradicting her: “But I can see it’s still very red.”

“You must be in pain.”

“I’m sorry!”

This apology was incredibly solemn, carrying the weight of the accidental bump and the regret for not coaxing her immediately.

How well did Wen Qingyan know Si Nanyu? She felt she understood her through these small things, yet Si Nanyu often acted unpredictably. Now, with these small gestures, she had guessed right again. Si Nanyu was only temporarily withholding her affection; once she realized it, she would lean in and act pitiful.

Seeing no reaction from Wen Qingyan, Si Nanyu lowered her eyes and used a soft, wheedling tone to act spoiled: “I’m sorry, okay?~~”

Wen Qingyan couldn’t hold out. Her heart softening, she asked, “Do you really want to stay the night?”

The moment she asked, she regretted it. Si Nanyu was an expert at taking an inch and wanting a mile!

Si Nanyu nodded frantically, saying “Yes, yes, yes!” repeatedly, then leaned in closer with crimson cheeks. Acting stealthily though she thought she was being subtle she pushed further: “Then shall we go for a walk first? It’s still early~” Her tone rose with excitement. “Also, when I came in, I noticed an open space in the neighborhood where you can see the stars!”

Whether it was intentional or accidental, Si Nanyu was repeating an old trick, which triggered some less-than-friendly memories for Wen Qingyan.

Once, when they had come back to Qin Hua’s, Si Nanyu had done exactly this using a post-dinner walk as an excuse to drag her to that open space. Then, in the darkness… she had done whatever she pleased.

“No…!” Wen Qingyan instinctively wanted to refuse, but because of a certain sense of shame, her voice was tiny. Si Nanyu, emboldened, took her arm and started walking out with great enthusiasm, not hearing her at all.

Wen Qingyan seemed to lose her self-control. Looking at the light in Si Nanyu’s eyes, she could only think of indulging her, so she allowed herself to be led outside step by step.

The open space wasn’t far. Even though it was early autumn, it was indeed beautiful. When Qin Hua bought the house, she had asked for their input; the environment was truly excellent. And every time Si Nanyu came here, she wanted to run wild. This time was no different.

“Wow!”

“The stars here are so beautiful.”

She sighed in admiration, still holding Wen Qingyan’s hand. Even more, some habits were buried deep in her marrow; their fingers naturally intertwined in a ten-finger lock. Si Nanyu’s hands were well-defined and strong, fitting perfectly into hers.

While Si Nanyu looked at the stars, Wen Qingyan stared unblinkingly at their joined hands. The more she looked, the more uncomfortable she felt.

What was this? Si Nanyu claimed not to remember their past, yet she was doing exactly what she used to do. Without a second thought, Wen Qingyan pulled her hand away.

She left Si Nanyu’s warm palm and those clinging, intertwined fingertips.

“Let’s go back.”

Si Nanyu, who had been smiling at the stars, froze. She looked at Wen Qingyan almost instantly. She saw Wen Qingyan blinking hard, her breathing tight.

She looked at their now-separated hands, and her heart gave a sharp throb. Si Nanyu opened her mouth, unable to grasp what that emotion was, only to be filled with a sense of shame.

“I…”

“I didn’t mean it, I just…” she stammered, trying to read the emotion on the half of Wen Qingyan’s face illuminated by the dark night.

She couldn’t read her, only hearing Wen Qingyan say in a self-mocking voice: “You couldn’t help yourself.”

Then came the urge to leave: “I’m tired, let’s go back. I have to go back to school tomorrow morning.”

It was indeed late, and Wen Qingyan’s excuse was valid, but Si Nanyu keenly sensed… Wen Qingyan was unhappy. Not the kind of unhappiness from finding out about her playing with Shao Ling or being bumped on the head.

It was a low-pressure, purely emotional gloom.

The beautiful stars no longer held any charm for Si Nanyu. On the way back, her eyes and heart were filled only with Wen Qingyan. It was an unpleasant feeling as if a piece of her was missing. She could read some of Wen Qingyan’s emotions but didn’t know the cure, leaving her to follow behind her helplessly.

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