I Woke Up and Found Myself Married to the Dean - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: You Are Not Allowed to Kiss Me.

When it came to food Si Nanyu liked, she usually stuck to one specific shop. Knowing this, Wen Qingyan didn’t say a word and drove directly to the Malatang restaurant that Si Nanyu used to frequent.

It was a bit far from both the school and home. Although Wen Qingyan felt she had acted on impulse, she felt too embarrassed to back out now that she had promised.

Along the way, seeing Si Nanyu looking out the window with wide-eyed curiosity made Wen Qingyan’s regret over her “impulsiveness” vanish completely. Her naive wonder was rather cute, making Wen Qingyan feel a different kind of regret: she felt bad for being so busy lately and not taking Si Nanyu out more, which was why the girl found everything so novel.

Just as Si Nanyu felt Wen Qingyan was special, Wen Qingyan felt the same way. Though Si Nanyu was reckless and sometimes infuriating, this kind of daily interaction was clearly what Wen Qingyan liked.

“We’re here.” Wen Qingyan pulled the handbrake and spoke softly to remind Si Nanyu, who was still staring outside. Si Nanyu snapped back to reality and smiled sweetly: “Oh, okay!”

She didn’t quite remember exactly where they were, so she whispered: “Is this… Shunxing Avenue?”

Shunxing Avenue was located in the Pushun District, where Si Nanyu and Qin Hua used to live. Because it bordered the Yuexing District where they lived now, its name was derived from the two major districts. This street was a place Si Nanyu often visited in her youth; she used to be very familiar with it.

But now, things were different. There were familiar sights, but even more unfamiliar ones. After she asked, she looked at Wen Qingyan with uncertainty. Wen Qingyan thought for a moment before answering: “Yes.”

“It’s the Shunxing Avenue you used to visit frequently.” Beyond just admitting it, there was a hint of nostalgia in Wen Qingyan’s eyes.

Besides Si Nanyu visiting often on her own, after her high school graduation, she would often bring Wen Qingyan here. Their very first date had been right here. As Wen Qingyan’s gaze swept over the coffee shop next to the big mall, her nostalgic expression deepened.

Si Nanyu noticed none of this. She excitedly prepared to get out of the car, pointing at the place Wen Qingyan was looking at. “That coffee shop is actually still there! I had my first cup of coffee there. I thought it was so bitter back then.”

“I liked it later, though. Should we go buy a cup?”

When Si Nanyu turned to ask for Wen Qingyan’s opinion, she caught a glimpse of unrestrained surprise in Wen Qingyan’s eyes. Si Nanyu was confused: “What’s wrong? Is it too late? You don’t want any…”

“No, let’s get that one,” Wen Qingyan denied, trying her best to steady her expression and her slightly trembling hands.

So, the eighteen-year-old Si Nanyu… really would say almost the exact same words. But she was bolder than she had been back then.

“Teacher Wen, the coffee here is great. I hated it the first time I tried it, but then I saw you drinking it to stay awake, so I went and bought some…”

Back then, Si Nanyu’s cheeks were red when she said that, but her eyes were bright. She had recommended the Orange Peel Latte with 50% sugar.

“It’s late, so don’t get an Americano. How about an Orange Peel Latte? 50% sugar?”

Past and present intertwined once more. Standing in front of the coffee shop with Si Nanyu, Wen Qingyan couldn’t help but tremble again. Only after a desperate effort to restrain herself did she look at Si Nanyu—who hadn’t noticed her distress—and said softly: “I’ll have the Orange Peel Latte.”

Wen Qingyan wasn’t nearly as much of a coffee drinker as Si Nanyu; she was only occasionally drawn by the aroma, or needed a pick-me-up, but mostly she just liked sweets. Si Nanyu, on the other hand, loved Iced Americanos—though Wen Qingyan didn’t know if the current her still did.

“Hello, boss. Two Orange Peel Lattes, please. One with 50% sugar and one with 30% sugar.”

Before Wen Qingyan’s thoughts could fully form, Si Nanyu had already decided, choosing the exact same coffee and sweetness levels as she had years ago. However, muscle memory didn’t seem to fade that fast. Si Nanyu handed one cup to her and opened her own. After just one sip, she frowned and complained: “So sweet…”

Wen Qingyan thought to herself: As expected. She lowered her head to bite the straw, turning away so Si Nanyu wouldn’t see the smile spreading across her face.

The Malatang shop was located in the most bustling part of the market. Wen Qingyan walked in front with Si Nanyu following. Si Nanyu still remembered this stretch of road because it was old, narrow, and hadn’t changed much.

Walking behind, she could see Wen Qingyan clearly. Wen Qingyan’s back was straight, and she stepped carefully, as if afraid of getting her shoes dirty. This was a busy market area with many small eateries; it was hard to keep clean. Si Nanyu knew Wen Qingyan well enough to know she was a bit of a germaphobe.

Yet, because Si Nanyu wanted to eat here, she had brought her. And she walked with a familiarity that suggested she had been here many times. As Si Nanyu’s thoughts drifted, she grew bolder. She thought that her “past self” must have had a very good relationship with Wen Qingyan.

Before high school, Si Nanyu had been quite rebellious—the kind of rebellion meant to get her parents’ attention. But she changed when she met Wen Qingyan; she wanted to attract Wen Qingyan’s attention instead. She didn’t have many friends besides Shao Ling and Tao Yi. Because of her strong sense of territoriality, she only ever wanted to bring Wen Qingyan to this shop.

As her feelings for Wen Qingyan grew, she even started leaving Shao Ling and Tao Yi behind. Every day, she thought about introducing her favorite places, foods, and everything else to Wen Qingyan, hoping she would like them too. More importantly, she hoped she would like her. But back then, she was too cowardly in her secret crush, and the teacher-student dynamic was complicated. She didn’t dare do anything; she could only dream.

“We’re here.”

Wen Qingyan stopped and turned back to tell her. Si Nanyu’s thoughts halted, and she walked to Wen Qingyan’s side with a smile. Now, she didn’t have to just “dream” anymore!

Si Nanyu excitedly stood on her tiptoes. Since she was already taller than Wen Qingyan, this made her even taller. Wen Qingyan looked at her, speechless: “What are you doing now?”

Shame flooded Si Nanyu’s cheeks. Annoyed at her own unnecessary movements, she stomped her foot hard. The sound was quite loud. Wen Qingyan followed the noise…

Afraid she’d be asked what she was doing again, Si Nanyu pushed Wen Qingyan’s arm to urge her forward: “Hurry inside, Teacher Wen! I’m starving. I want Malatang!”

Wen Qingyan was wearing high heels, and the street was uneven. The push caused her to stumble. She tilted back, then forward… and landed right in Si Nanyu’s arms.

Si Nanyu hadn’t expected this. The sudden embrace of a warm, soft body made her expression freeze. Then, a sharp pain came from her arm. She couldn’t help but let out a hiss of pain, and then she heard Wen Qingyan’s aggrieved, humming complaint: “Si Nanyu, did you do that on purpose…”

Of course she didn’t! But she had caused a mess. After helping her up, Si Nanyu realized Wen Qingyan’s ankle seemed injured; her walking posture looked strange.

The Malatang shop she had been longing for was right in front of her, but Si Nanyu no longer wanted to go. She stopped Wen Qingyan from walking inside: “We’re not eating. Let’s go home.”

Her voice was muffled, full of self-blame as she glanced at Wen Qingyan’s ankle. Then, without a hint of shame, she said: “I’ll carry you home.”

The residual heat on Wen Qingyan’s cheeks flared up again. Hearing Si Nanyu say this made her face burn even more. She refused gently: “We’re already at the door…”

“No, let’s go!”

Being slightly forceful, Si Nanyu ignored whatever she was saying. She squatted down in a spot with fewer people and looked back, shouting: “Get on!”

“Can you… can you do it?”

She couldn’t win an argument against her, and her ankle really did hurt, so Wen Qingyan compromised. However, she was still hesitant about being carried back. After the sudden morning runs, Si Nanyu’s legs were surely sore; they were trembling slightly as she squatted. That was why Wen Qingyan asked if she could do it.

To her surprise, Si Nanyu widened her eyes, patted her legs, then her arms, and said with a red face: “My lower body is very stable and my arms are strong. Why wouldn’t I be able to?” She had suddenly become very defensive about it.

Wen Qingyan wanted to say that wasn’t what she meant, it was… But Si Nanyu didn’t care and tried to pull her onto her back.

Wen Qingyan still didn’t get on. Besides considering Si Nanyu’s physical condition, she cared about the gazes of the people passing by. She gave Si Nanyu’s waist a light poke and said in a tiny voice: “Just support me while I walk. I’m embarrassed.”

After being together for nearly ten years, Wen Qingyan knew how to make Si Nanyu compromise. At this moment, she didn’t care what the “current” Si Nanyu was like; she just wanted her to stop, so she showed her vulnerability by telling her the truth.

Sure enough, Si Nanyu straightened up. She took the words to heart and compromised: “Then I’ll support you. Let’s walk slowly.”

Si Nanyu spoke in a soft, coaxing tone. Her hand naturally wrapped around Wen Qingyan’s waist, and she lowered her head slightly so Wen Qingyan’s arm could circle her neck, completely ignoring the looks from a few passersby.

But Wen Qingyan couldn’t help but care. Of course, the stares bothered her the least; she was far more preoccupied with Si Nanyu’s burning palm resting fully against her waist.

She was ticklish, and because she was unsteady, she wobbled occasionally. This caused Si Nanyu to keep shifting her hand to find a better position. These were originally tiny things, but because she was overly sensitive, Wen Qingyan’s ears turned red. She averted her gaze, afraid Si Nanyu would see, biting her lip and trying to maintain a calm expression.

Completely oblivious, Si Nanyu suddenly looked up: “We can go… Ugh!”

Because they were so close, the moment Si Nanyu looked up, Wen Qingyan’s bitten lip happened to brush against Si Nanyu’s cheek. There was a distinct sensation of friction, even against the slightly exposed canine tooth.

Si Nanyu held her breath, not daring to move. She accidentally caught sight of Wen Qingyan’s reddened ears. She had been focused on Wen Qingyan’s leg, thinking of how to make her comfortable enough to get her to the roadside, so she hadn’t realized… their posture was incredibly intimate and suggestive.

It wasn’t just the accidental brush; it was the hand around the waist and their hair tangled together. Lacking her memories, Si Nanyu had absolutely no experience in this area and didn’t know how to handle it.

But her racing heart was quietly issuing a command. She wanted to kiss Wen Qingyan.

She had no idea how well Wen Qingyan knew her. Sensing the change in atmosphere, Wen Qingyan’s eyes shimmered. In a mix of shame and anger, she quickly turned her head away and warned in a low voice:

“You are not allowed to kiss me.”

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