Together Forever - Chapter 29
Volume 2, Chapter 29: Just Want to Be Together (2)
He and her grandmother talked downstairs for a long time.
Tong Yan watched them from the third-floor hallway window. Although she couldn't hear their conversation, she knew her grandmother would never approve of their relationship. But what would he say? How would he explain it?
She couldn't guess.
The conversation they had when she returned home was the first time her family had expressed their opinion about her relationship with Gu Pingsheng.
“When you’re a student, it's easy to develop a sort of hero worship for your teachers. But once you leave school, you’ll realize they're just ordinary people, and they might not be right for you.”
Although her grandmother had been an elementary school teacher, due to the nature of her profession, she had heard many stories about teacher-student relationships.
Most involved female students infatuated with male teachers, often leading to poor academic performance and a bad reputation at school. They were cautionary tales.
“He’s your teacher, your lecturer. If I didn’t think he was a decent young man, I wouldn’t even bother talking to him. Yan Yan, the teaching profession has its boundaries. The relationship between a teacher and a student… should remain just that.”
She remained silent.
Since her parents' divorce when she was in seventh grade, she had lived with her grandmother. She’d had a rebellious phase, skipping school and roaming the streets, causing her grandmother much heartache. But she had eventually matured, resolving never to hurt the only person who truly cared for her.
So, she didn't argue.
When her grandmother mentioned taking her to visit relatives in Tianjin for the winter break, she hesitantly asked when they would return. Her grandmother warmed up a bowl of porridge and placed the chopsticks on top. “After the New Year.” A small dish of kimchi and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro accompanied the porridge. “We’ll be back before your semester starts.”
She mixed a generous portion of kimchi into the porridge and ate in silence.
Her phone remained quiet; he hadn’t messaged her.
Around one o'clock, she went back to her room. As she picked up her phone, a wave of anxiety washed over her.
What had he said? What decision had he made?
She parted the curtains, looking out at the buildings in the night, and sent him a message: So, I’m guessing it didn’t go well?
He replied quickly: As expected. TK
What did you expect?
There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Time to pay the bill. TK
…
Tong Yan stared at her phone, a mixture of amusement and exasperation. Did your math teacher teach you Chinese?
Although her remark was nonsensical, it lifted her spirits slightly. She turned on her desk lamp and chatted with him for a while before asking if he had made it home.
Gu Pingsheng replied casually, I’m still nearby.
She froze, instinctively looking out the window. There were no cars. After a moment, she realized she had looked in the wrong direction; he would be on the living room side of the building. The realization made her heart skip a beat. Thankfully, her grandmother was asleep.
She opened her bedroom door and carefully tiptoed through the small living room to the window.
She parted the curtains.
This window faced the street.
The traffic flowed steadily, the streetlights glowed, and his car was still there.
He had put on his down jacket but remained standing beside the car. As if sensing her presence, the moment the curtains parted, he raised his right hand and touched his forehead with his index and middle fingers in a casual salute.
Someone walked past, curiously following his gaze up to the window…
Tong Yan couldn't see their expressions, but she imagined they were envying her.
Well, having him around certainly boosted her ego.
Because he was always so… wonderful.
She couldn't help but smile, her forehead resting against the cool glass. It was rare to find the icy touch of glass so comforting in the winter. Perhaps it was because her heart was warm.
The next day, Tong Yan went to Tianjin. With her grandmother constantly by her side, she couldn't use her phone to contact him. The train journey wasn’t long, and the carriage was filled with the joyful anticipation of returning home. Her grandmother chatted with a young mother holding a baby. Tong Yan opened her thermos and took a sip of hot tea, recalling his words from the previous night.
He said he understood a teacher’s reaction to their relationship. He had even felt conflicted himself and had briefly tried to avoid it.
He said everything would be alright.
He said he would be waiting for her in Beijing.
Leaning against the window, she closed her eyes, longing for graduation more than ever.
She hadn’t seen her relatives in Tianjin for years. They had apparently heard about her getting into a prestigious university and showered her with praise, introducing her to everyone. She smiled politely, listening patiently. When someone asked if she had a boyfriend, she hesitated. Before she could answer, her grandmother interjected with a smile, “Her studies are her priority right now.”
And so began the festive yet occasionally quiet Lunar New Year celebrations.
On New Year's Eve, they had a massive reunion dinner, filling ten tables at a restaurant. Over ninety people! It was the largest family gathering she could remember. A distant cousin, a few years younger than Tong Yan, who had stayed at her house when they were little, was especially affectionate, pulling her aside to chat while they watched the fireworks in the hotel lobby.
As is often the case with young girls, their conversation eventually turned to relationships.
The last time her cousin had been in Beijing, Lu Bei had shown her around, so she had a very positive impression of him. She couldn't help but ask about Tong Yan's "brother-in-law."
Tong Yan simply said they had broken up.
Her cousin was surprised, seemingly finding it hard to believe, considering how “great” he was.
Tong Yan watched a firework streak across the sky, exploding in a shower of sparks.
Perhaps it was because she had been missing someone so much these past few days. Perhaps it was because she had finally met someone who knew both her past self and Lu Bei, yet remained somewhat detached from their story, that she felt a sudden urge to confide in her cousin.
“When he was in high school, he accidentally hit someone with his car and killed them. Although the other person had been jaywalking, their family refused any out-of-court settlement and insisted on pressing charges. They were from the city’s tax bureau, so they had connections and wouldn’t budge. It seemed certain that he would be sent to a juvenile detention center for a year and then to prison.”
“Then what happened?”
“Then,” Tong Yan paused, “quite dramatically, a classmate of mine decided to help him. After a series of events… the problem was resolved, and he and my classmate got engaged. They got married last year.”
She remembered every word his mother had said to her.
She also remembered how, in her despair, witnessing this dramatic turn of events, she had felt like she was dreaming. Fang Yun Yun had simply stated that Lu Bei was a good catch and that she intended to marry him. That was it.
That was the first time she had truly understood the chasm that could exist between people.
While she had been crying her eyes out, another girl, the same age, had simply thrown a tantrum, demanding her family use their connections and influence to solve the problem, all to secure a boy.
“Being born into the right family solves everything,” her cousin sighed.
“Exactly,” Tong Yan chuckled. “That’s why I got dumped.”
And that was the end of her first love.
Perhaps because it had been so dramatic, such a drastic turn of events, even now, she found it hard to believe.
She would never forget the sight of Lu Bei, on the night of his engagement, sitting on the curb, crying his heart out. That night, she had felt cursed, as if she was destined to suffer. Although she had never experienced true hardship, life had repeatedly taken away the love she craved, the love she shouldn't have had to fight for.
“Don’t worry,” her cousin waved her hand dismissively, trying to comfort her. “My sister is beautiful, has a great singing voice, and graduated from a top university. She’ll definitely marry a good man.”
Tong Yan leaned back on the sofa, thinking of Gu Pingsheng.
“What about your current boyfriend?” her cousin quickly changed the subject. “Don't tell me you haven't found one yet?”
Tong Yan smiled at her without answering.
After a moment, she pulled out her phone and sent him a message: Happy Lunar New Year. How was your day?
Happy Lunar New Year. Spent the whole day at various family dinners. Exhausted. TK
Unconsciously, it had been over two weeks since they had last seen each other.
Her carefully planned winter break had gone completely awry. She had envisioned spending a few days sightseeing, a few days simply being together, just enjoying each other's company… She doubted he would have minded.
But somehow, things had turned out this way.
With her grandmother constantly present, they had barely even texted.
I miss you.
She sent the message, suddenly feeling completely honest.
He called almost immediately.
Tong Yan answered.
His voice was barely audible over the loud explosions of firecrackers.
“It’s been around minus ten degrees Celsius in Beijing these past few days. I saw a weather report; it seems to be snowing in Tianjin. Dress warmly and don’t catch a cold.” After his brief admonishment, he continued, “I’ve been in contact with the dean. They’ve found a replacement for Maritime Law next semester. I won’t be teaching your year anymore; I’ll be taking over a second-year course.”
She hadn’t said a word since answering the call.
Her cousin looked at her, puzzled, and mouthed, Is that a call from the Intermediate People's Court? Don’t believe them; it’s a scam.
Tong Yan shook her head.
“I can’t talk much longer. There are a lot of people here, and they’ll find it strange if they see me on the phone.” His voice held a distinct smile. “I miss you too. Very much.”
Tong Yan couldn't help but smile, noticing her cousin’s increasingly confused expression.
The call ended quickly.
She lowered her phone, still processing his words.
The sudden mention of changing courses, yet it sounded like he had planned it all along…
“Who was that? Why didn’t you say anything?”
Tong Yan thought for a moment, then replied with a perfectly straight face:
“A really, really handsome guy who sings better than me and goes to a better school than me. He was confessing his love for me.”
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