I Woke Up and Found Myself Married to the Dean - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: An Even More Fiery Gaze.

The shredded pork with garlic sauce and the braised lion’s head meatballs, which were barely tolerable before, suddenly became bland and tasteless.

Si Nanyu, in a rare move, didn’t finish her meal. On the way back, she kept her eyes down, barely processing Yang Miao’s chatter. However, as they passed the Academic Affairs Office, her eyes lit up only to be replaced by a look of confusion.

When she and Yang Miao were leaving the cafeteria, Wen Qingyan was still at the window getting her food. How was she back so quickly?

“Teacher Yang…” Si Nanyu’s questions were on the tip of her tongue when Yang Miao sighed. “With monthly exams coming up and the sports meet to organize, the Academic Affairs Office is going to be swamped.”

Si Nanyu looked longingly at Wen Qingyan, who was working away after only taking a few casual bites. She muttered dissatisfactorily, “She’s so busy she can’t even eat a proper meal…”

She immediately looked at Yang Miao, realizing what she’d said. After all, Yang Miao’s husband was the Director of Academic Affairs; saying that was a bit…

To her surprise, Yang Miao’s resentment was even stronger than hers: “Tell me about it! My Old Li was exactly like that back in the day even more of a headache than Xiao Wen.” She added with a sigh of relief, “Thankfully, he’s not in Academic Affairs anymore.”

Turning around, she caught Si Nanyu’s puzzled look and chided, “Nanyu, did you forget again? My Old Li… got a promotion.” Yang Miao pointed upward with a mysterious air.

Yang Miao rambled for a bit about how busy Old Li was as Vice Principal every day. She was smiling, but her eyes were full of discontent.

Old Li wasn’t a “honest” man; almost everyone with good ears in the school knew the rumors. The years of bitterness and tears were likely something only Yang Miao herself knew.

Fortunately, she was an optimist. After finishing her sentence, she laughed and pivoted the conversation…

“Nanyu, you’re at the perfect age. You should hurry up and find a boyfriend or girlfriend to marry.” She broached the topic of Si Nanyu’s lifelong happiness.

Si Nanyu didn’t expect her to be so open-minded. She froze for a moment before asking, “Find a girlfriend?”

“Yeah. Nanyu, don’t tell me you’re that old-fashioned. Same-sex marriage passed three or four years ago! Not just in society, but even our school’s mixer events have happened over ten times.”

“What do you think? Interested? If you are, I’ll set something up…”

The more Yang Miao spoke, the more excited she got. Her voice rose, but Si Nanyu only felt horror. She already had someone she liked, and besides… she and Wen Qingyan were already “married.” How could she agree?

Hearing Yang Miao say this, she realized something: she and Wen Qingyan hadn’t just registered their marriage abroad like she thought; they had official red booklets issued by the state.

A very legitimate channel!

It’s just that in the school… it seemed nobody knew.

While she didn’t know why they were keeping the marriage a secret, she knew she couldn’t just expose it. Not wanting to actually attend a mixer, she waved her hands frantically and said, “No, no, no, that’s not necessary! I… I have a girlfriend!”

Si Nanyu felt a bit guilty after saying it, but then she thought: I have the marriage certificate with Wen Qingyan. Calling her my ‘girlfriend’ isn’t an exaggeration, right?

“Oh? So Nanyu has a girlfriend already. I knew it—someone with your looks wouldn’t lack pursuers.” Yang Miao was surprised but immediately asked gossipily, “Is it the person who came to see you last Friday?”

Last Friday? What last Friday?

How should I know?!!!!

Si Nanyu found it harder and harder to handle Yang Miao’s gossip and wanted to escape. But then Yang Miao dropped a bombshell: “That spicy and sweet girl in the miniskirt? She looked quite young.”

Si Nanyu’s eyes went wide. Not just because she realized who Yang Miao was talking about, but because… Wen Qingyan had just walked out of the Academic Affairs Office!

“I-I-I… she’s not my…”

Since Yang Miao’s back was to Wen Qingyan, she didn’t see her. Seeing Si Nanyu’s reaction, she thought it was just shy nerves and teased, “It’s fine if your girlfriend is a bit younger. It’s cute.”

Young and cute neither of those hit Si Nanyu’s aesthetic preferences. She shook her head, about to deny it, when Wen Qingyan spoke up with a smile from behind Yang Miao: “Teacher Yang, Teacher Si, taking a post-meal stroll?”

Back in the office, Si Nanyu spaced out for a long time. The phone that had seemed so interesting earlier was now just sitting on her desk. She held her thermos, staring out the window.

Her mind was entirely consumed with whether Wen Qingyan would overthink things.

And if she does overthink, then what?

She probably won’t… overthink it at all, right?

After all, Wen Qingyan barely acknowledged her in the cafeteria. In front of the Academic Affairs Office, she had spoken ten sentences to Yang Miao and only half a sentence to her.

And that half-sentence was part of a question directed at both of them.

Si Nanyu felt utterly dejected. This feeling was even harder than when she had a secret crush on Wen Qingyan.

Back then, she could use her status as a student to ask Wen Qingyan about this or that. But now?

The relationship was so tense she was afraid that asking anything would be… a mistake!

“Nanyu, time for Class 2!” Yang Miao tapped on her desk, pointing to the clock on the wall.

It was almost 3:00 PM. Indeed, time for class.

But Si Nanyu wasn’t ready.

The lesson plan Yang Miao had given her at noon had been flipped through several times, but nothing had sunk in. She didn’t understand why she had entered the teaching profession. She wasn’t good at dealing with people her own age…

Oh, wait. They weren’t her age anymore.

Si Nanyu thanked Yang Miao and dragged her twenty-eight-year-old body to class.

Class 2 was easy to find; it was straight down the hall from the office. Having spent the whole day getting reacquainted with the campus, she realized that besides the renovations, not much had changed. The seniors still occupied one building. The first floor was the Arts office, and the second and third floors housed Classes 1 through 8.

Her office was on the second floor, making it convenient for classes and rehearsals.

Wen Qingyan…

She had two offices: one in Academic Affairs and one for her subject department.

Si Nanyu knew this because she ran into Wen Qingyan almost immediately after leaving the office. One was coming from the stairs, the other from the middle of the hall.

By a very “clever” coincidence, they met.

“Teacher Wen!” Si Nanyu clutched her textbook and nodded to Wen Qingyan.

Wen Qingyan gave a light “Mhm” and looked at her neutrally.

Si Nanyu couldn’t miss this chance! She stepped forward quickly, coming to Wen Qingyan’s side to ask humbly, “Teacher Wen, how am I supposed to teach…?”

Wen Qingyan stopped and looked at her in disbelief.

But it only lasted a second. A moment later, she frowned and countered, “You’re asking me for advice on music? Is that appropriate?”

Si Nanyu was startled by the question and that icy gaze. She gripped her textbook tighter, her face flushing as she replied, “But I… I don’t know anything…”

“Then ask the class representative.”

“I have a class. I can’t waste any more time.” With that, Wen Qingyan walked quickly into Class 3.

Leaving Si Nanyu standing there, dumbfounded.

She was hurt again. Because Wen Qingyan felt she was… “wasting time”?

Si Nanyu’s glass heart… shattered once more.

Among the eight classes at Zhennan High School, 1 and 3 were key Science classes, 2 and 4 were key Liberal Arts classes, 5 and 6 were standard classes, and 7 and 8 were Art classes.

For the first six classes, the music course was just for general exposure; the curriculum wasn’t heavy. The students in Class 2 were relatively quiet, so Si Nanyu found it easy enough.

Just as Wen Qingyan had said, as soon as she walked in, the class rep stood up and started playing folk music.

Even if she wasn’t good at teaching, she was still good at music.

Over the course of the period, music appreciation took up half the time, and Si Nanyu spent the other half expressing her personal feelings about the pieces.

She was nervous, but when the bell rang, a heavy weight felt lifted from her shoulders. Fortunately, she only had this one class today, and she had finally completed her mission.

Now, she just had to wait for school to end…

Or rather, for work to be over.

She walked out with her textbook, her mood much improved, her shattered glass heart pieced back together.

She stole a glance into Class 3 as she passed.

Wen Qingyan’s expression didn’t look great as she walked out. When she saw Si Nanyu, her face seemed to sour even further.

But this time, she didn’t ignore her. Instead, she took the initiative: “Wait for me at the subway station after work.”

“We’re going to pick up your car.”

Her tone was a bit heavy on that last part. Si Nanyu didn’t dare talk back; she just nodded vigorously.

She walked back to her office, moving like a robot with her arms and legs in sync. For some reason, meeting Wen Qingyan in this setting always made her even more nervous.

An hour later, Si Nanyu saw Yang Miao get up and prepared to leave as well. Yang Miao had someone picking her up; Si Nanyu did not. She walked to the agreed-upon subway station to wait for Wen Qingyan.

She leaned against the wall, bored. People flowed past, but no Wen Qingyan.

Just as it was approaching 6:00 PM, Wen Qingyan walked over quickly.

She had changed her shoes into flat canvas ones, though her clothes remained the same. Because she had been in a rush, a few strands of her pinned hair had fallen by her ear.

She stopped and caught her breath, saying with a slight note of apology, “I got delayed by a few things…”

Having lived together for a few years, Si Nanyu knew Wen Qingyan was very punctual; she would never be late for personal reasons. It must have been school business.

Regardless, she didn’t mind.

Instead, she offered a bright smile and waved her hand. “It’s fine! Let’s go.”

To her surprise, Wen Qingyan just looked at her askance and didn’t move. She didn’t head toward the subway entrance like Si Nanyu; instead, she pointed to the curb. “I called a car. We’re taking a taxi.”

The school wasn’t too far or too close. Si Nanyu had assumed Wen Qingyan wanted to take the subway to avoid people knowing about their relationship, but she had forgotten… you could just call a taxi.

Si Nanyu leaned in a bit closer and whispered, “Teacher Wen…”

“What?”

Before she could even get to the point, Wen Qingyan took a step back, asking defensively.

Perhaps used to Wen Qingyan being like this, Si Nanyu didn’t have any extra emotional reaction this time. She continued in a low voice: “You… have a few strands of hair stuck by your ear.”

She gave a little “Hehe” laugh and stood next to Wen Qingyan, her gaze fixed on the other’s profile.

Then… she saw Wen Qingyan’s ear-tips suddenly turn red.

Her lips were pressed tightly together, looking somewhat uneasy.

Si Nanyu stared for a few more moments, feeling a bit embarrassed herself.

Because she… actually quite liked Wen Qingyan’s flustered state. It was the only time her ears would turn red like that.

Moreover, she discovered with surprise that her twenty-eight-year-old self had grown taller slightly taller than Wen Qingyan. Looking at those blushing ears only required a slight glance downward now; it wasn’t as much effort as before.

This realization made her lose all restraint. Her gaze became bold and undisguised.

Wen Qingyan naturally felt it. She gently smoothed her hair, used to such looks. If it were anyone else, Wen Qingyan might have gotten angry, but this was Si Nanyu.

After all, Si Nanyu was someone who would usually look at her with an even more fiery gaze.

So, she remained seemingly indifferent, though she finally turned with a hint of reproach in her eyes: “People are coming and going. Aren’t you afraid someone will see?”

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