Chapter 252 - 132: A Toast to Lingering Thoughts

Chapter 252: Chapter 132: A Toast to Lingering Thoughts

Thinking back on all the little moments they had shared, she, a woman with more life experience, knew there were times she had been tempted to act on impulse. But her current situation and her role as his teacher forced her to smother the flickering flame of her feelings.

’I’m so much older than him, and I’m his teacher.’

’I can’t ruin him.’

She sighed inwardly; she was so conflicted.

’Should I deliberately keep some distance in the future?’

Jiang Wanyi didn’t know. She had no answer for herself.

Her rational mind told her to do so, but she was also worried—worried that one day she wouldn’t be able to control her feelings.

Some things, once they happen, are truly impossible to control.

But her heart was telling her she couldn’t do it.

On every helpless day, it was Chen Yuan who was by her side, leading her forward.

This internal conflict stirred up waves in Jiang Wanyi’s heart, and it took a long time for them to calm.

"Sis, what are you thinking about? You’re spacing out," Fu Siyao asked.

"Nothing."

Jiang Wanyi didn’t want the conversation to stay on her, so she changed the subject.

"What are you watching? An anime?"

"I’m catching up on Makoto Shinkai’s older films. Want to watch with me?"

Jiang Wanyi wasn’t particularly interested in anime. Like Chen Yuan, she preferred comedies or variety shows that helped her relax.

However, the atmosphere this film created was quite nice.

"What’s this anime called?" Jiang Wanyi asked casually.

"*The Garden of Words*. I heard it’s about a romance between a teacher and a student. Apparently, it did really well at the box office back then."

A teacher and a student...

For a moment, a chord was struck in Jiang Wanyi’s heart.

’Isn’t that just like my relationship with Chen Yuan?’

Involuntarily, Jiang Wanyi’s full attention was now on the movie. She watched it intently, as if the noise from outside had nothing to do with her.

A gazebo in the rain, the male lead measuring the female lead’s foot, all set to soothing music—Jiang Wanyi was completely immersed in the scene.

’Chen Yuan had never done something like that, but he had painted her nails for her.’

In the movie, on a rainy day, the two of them went home to cook and eat together—it was so much like her and Chen Yuan’s daily routine.

The final inner monologue...

The stumbling on the stairs...

The tight embrace in the pouring rain, the sky clearing afterward, the sunlight shining down on them...

Jiang Wanyi held her breath, completely still. She was nervous too.

"Wow, it even has an open ending. That’s great."

Fu Siyao’s voice pulled Jiang Wanyi back to reality.

The open ending sent her emotions on a rollercoaster.

"Did they end up together in the end?"

"Definitely. Is that even a question?" Fu Siyao said with certainty.

"Why are you so sure?"

"Look at the end. The shoes the male lead wanted to give the female lead were already finished. That proves their story had a complete ending. If they didn’t get together, there would’ve been no point in finishing the shoes."

Fu Siyao chattered on:

"The male lead’s monologue says that one day, when he can walk farther and more steadily on his own, he’ll go see her. That’s also proof they get together. And look here."

Fu Siyao scrubbed the progress bar and said:

"Look at the letter the female lead wrote to the male lead. That blurry line of text at the bottom says ’fell in love.’ And at the very end, the female lead is wearing the shoes he made for her. That means he went to find her. They definitely got together."

After listening to Fu Siyao’s explanation, Jiang Wanyi realized she had missed so many details.

"So, Sis, did that resonate with you?"

"What would I have to resonate with?" Jiang Wanyi said, feigning composure.

"You’re a teacher, and a pretty one at that. Have any of your students ever confessed to you?"

"Oh, get out of here. As if."

Jiang Wanyi rolled her eyes, got off the bed, and put on her shoes. "You can keep watching. I’m going to check on the kids."

"Go on, go on."

Jiang Wanyi left the room, but her mind was filled with the image of that final embrace.

She let out a long breath.

’Maybe this was all fated to happen.’

...

For the next few days, Chen Yuan’s "job" was to visit relatives. He had to have a meal at every house, soaking up the last of the New Year’s atmosphere.

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the family of three left to visit relatives in their old hometown.

When the family returned, they naturally became the center of attention, and the relatives’ conversations all revolved around Chen Yuan.

They asked him about school.

"Nephew, what kind of work can you do after you graduate with that major of yours?" Chen Yuan’s aunt asked.

"We can do any work related to electronics."

Chen Yuan didn’t elaborate. They wouldn’t understand even if he did, so there was no point wasting his breath.

"An electronics factory opened up in the county. I saw they were hiring a while back. Your uncle knows the factory manager; he can set you up with a job when you come back home."

"My uncle has that kind of pull?"

"Of course. Zhu Gui from the back courtyard—his son didn’t even finish middle school, and your uncle still got him in."

"What kind of work do they do?"

"I don’t really know what they do. Anyway, everyone gets a little cubicle and sits there soldering things. No idea what they’re soldering, but the pay is three or four thousand a month."

"Auntie, I have a bachelor’s degree. Is that really a good fit?"

"Don’t worry, they don’t look at degrees."

Chen Yuan: "..."

"Grandson, what university did you get into?" Chen Yuan’s grandma asked.

"Just a regular university, not a top-tier school."

"Is the food at the school any good?"

"It’s not bad. Everything tastes pretty good, and it’s not expensive."

"That’s good, then."

Time flew by, and soon it was the end of February.

"Mom, I’m leaving on the 19th," Chen Yuan said, lying on the sofa.