Chapter Thirty-Five

  When Situ Xuan arrived at the agreed location with Zou Jin, she was waiting for her at the entrance of a small teahouse. She was panting and had encountered traffic congestion on the way, the endless stream of vehicles made people despair, so she got off the car and ran halfway through two intersections. It was really anxious like burning fire, even if it meant death, just to get a quick end.

  "Is she inside?" She asked straightforwardly.

  Zou Jin nodded, rubbing his hands together in front of him, and his expression was filled with a deeper and more indescribable emotion than guilt. "I never thought that my one-sided love would become a disaster... Don't worry, this matter started because of me, I will resolve it, even if it means I have to give up everything..."

  "Take me to see her. I have nothing more to say to you, let's get this over with as soon as possible, the less I see of you the better, and I'll be grateful."

  The disgust that was evident on Situ Xin's face clearly made Zou Jin, who was trying to take a stand, feel somewhat embarrassed. He opened his mouth but didn't say anything and instead led her inside with his head bowed.

  They walked into the innermost tea room, which was simply decorated, but quiet. The people waiting there were Tan Shaochen and Liu Zisu. This wasn't unexpected, as they could be said to be bound together by fate now. Situ Xuan sat down, and no tea art lady came in to serve them, unlike before. Instead, Liu Zisu poured a cup of tea for Situ Xuan with a bow, and also refilled Zou Jin's cup at the same time.

  In the space where language was temporarily lost, the tea fragrance was strong, but no one had the heart to taste it, including Liu Zisu himself, and the cup in front of him had already cooled down. Except for Tan Shaosheng, she held her own tea and sipped it mouthful by mouthful. She sat opposite Shi Tuyue, who looked at her still delicate and pale face, lowered eyelashes, and felt a very subtle feeling. This feeling seemed to come from the change in angle. Shi Tuyue's attitude towards Tan Shaosheng had always been complex, with dislike, vigilance, some slight contempt, and pity, but all these emotions were projected from a condescending posture, standing high above. Perhaps she didn't do it on purpose, but it was a fact. She used to seem as if she had never looked at this girl of the same age so seriously, or rather, her opponent.

  The two words "opponent" made Situ Xin's heart skip a beat, she suddenly thought that if she and Tan Shaocheng exchanged identities, whether it was her background or experience, would she be able to compete with him? This idea made her fearful.

  "You wanted to see me, I'm here. Now you can speak, what do you want? Or what do you want to say?"

  Tan Shaochen finally lifted her head, still holding the cup in her hand, and a look of hurt surprise flashed across her eyes.

  She said: "What do you want to give me? Money? I know you have money. Director Zou's proud student? Do you think this still makes sense? You have everything, so in your eyes, I came here today to extort you? Sutu Xue, don't look down on people. My dad is already dead, my younger siblings have dropped out of school, I don't want money, and it doesn't matter if I lose the opportunity for graduate school. What I want is an apology from you."

  Xī Tù Xué turned her face away in a fluster. Tán Shǎo Chéng's words were indeed beyond her expectations. A simple "sorry" was really too easy, if these three words could solve the thorny problem, it would be a bargain. However, Xī Tù Xué clenched her teeth again and again, only to find that she couldn't say it out loud. Her weakness was like being pinched in someone's palm, she didn't know why, but she could show weakness to anyone except Tán Shǎo Chéng. Even if the other party opened their mouth wide enough to swallow her whole, they might not be able to make her feel this difficult.

  "I came today, it doesn't mean I owe you an apology. Believe it or not, I was completely unaware of those things." She spoke the truth, but sadly found herself lacking conviction. Besides herself, how many others would believe her?

  Zou Jin broke the deadlock, saying: "Tan Shaocheng, this matter requires me to apologize. You can ask me to apologize in any way you want, and it's okay to make some reasonable demands. However, I must say that from start to finish, it was my own idea, and Situ Yue was indeed kept in the dark. Today she came here just to clarify things face-to-face with everyone. Whatever it is, you can direct it at me."

  Tan Shaocheng had just finished the last sip of tea in his cup and carefully put down the blue-and-white porcelain cup, as if he was afraid that if he wasn't careful, he would break it.

  "You're not drinking? Isn't this tea very expensive? I've finished mine, but I didn't think it was good at all, it's too bitter. I don't understand tea, only people with good fortune would think that a little bitterness is so precious. In reality, there are many bitter things, they're not for savoring, but for swallowing with gritted teeth.

  She's fine, she has everything, and someone to protect her. But me? I'm not as good as her, so even the tiny bit of things that belong to me should be stolen from me in secret? I don't dare envy anyone, I just want a little bit of justice.

  Situ Xue, I don't care why Director Zou helped you, but didn't he take away something that originally belonged to me? This isn't something you can ignore by saying you didn't know. I know you've always looked down on me, but this time, you owe me an apology. I just want your apology!"

  Xī Tù Jìn had never been so bewildered and at a loss. On the one hand, she felt that she was not in the wrong. However, another voice was telling her that Tán Shǎo Chéng's words were also not incorrect.

  Liu Zisu smiled and interjected, "Situ Xuan, I really envy you. The teacher is so good to you. Unfortunately, not everyone has such treatment. If I told you how I spent the past four years, you probably wouldn't believe it." He turned to Tan Shaochen and said, "I guess Qu Xiaowen will also say that her thesis passed so smoothly, she was completely unaware of it."

  He seemed to think this sentence was very humorous and burst out laughing. But apparently no one else found it funny, including Tan Shaochen.

  "Ah, right, Xiao Wan didn't come. I forgot she's too proud to mix with people like us. Even though the good things she does are astonishing." Liu Zisu seemed very used to the awkward atmosphere, and it didn't affect his high spirits at all. At this moment, he even gave off a feeling of excitement and joy, a kind of thrill that came from releasing long-held repression. "Sometimes when I look at those dirty photos, I feel like they're split personalities - is this really our elegant and refined Qu Xiao Wan? Or does our teacher just like this kind of split personality..."

  "Shut up!" Zou Jin couldn't bear it anymore and interrupted, "How did I end up teaching a student like you? What else can you do besides using despicable tricks to secretly attack people and speaking with the tone of a petty person who has succeeded? You're ungrateful, I've treated you well!"

  Liu Zisu burst out laughing. "You're not treating me badly, are you? At school and at home, what trivial matters can't be thrown my way? Even the servants have been spared, I've run around the most in these four years to where? The dry cleaners! To pick up and drop off for you. Which window or toilet in your house haven't I cleaned? Last year during Christmas sales, it was crowded at the mall, and when Curly-haired Sister wanted to go shopping, you were busy with experiments in the lab, so I had to line up for several hours at the checkout counter, still smiling. When you're not happy, you can scold me like dirt in front of anyone. You have principles, aren't afraid to offend people, how many professors and lecturers in the entire pharmacy school haven't been yelled at by you? They don't dare mess with you, what about me? Take it out on me instead. I'm like a lapdog in front of you, what am I trying to get out of this? In the end, if I don't graduate on time, it's all because of you. How long do you want me to suffer? Anyone would go crazy! What should I say? You really don't treat me like an outsider. Thank you, or else how would I have had the good fortune to see those magnificent 'photographic works' in your computer? No wonder they say famous scholars are often romantic, Teacher, you're indeed a famous scholar! Your student admires you!"

  Zou Jin's face turned red with anger, his body trembling with rage. "I've agreed to all your conditions. Hand over those photos and I'll let you graduate. You can do whatever you want from now on, we'll have nothing more to do with each other, and this matter will be settled once and for all!"

  Liu Zisu said slowly: "I'm not a problem here, I do what I say. But Shaocheng's affairs should also be given justice, otherwise I won't be able to bear it. Since this matter has involved her, I should advance and retreat with her. Honestly speaking, I think her request is not excessive at all. She has seen those photos too, and people can easily do something irrational when they are angry, later on, it's not just your face that will look bad, but also..."

  As he spoke, he unintentionally used his hand to lightly stroke the document bag on his knee, and the content of those "photographic works" could be guessed without much imagination. If the person in the photo was Qu Xiaowen... Those scenes made Situ Xuan feel a little psychologically uncomfortable, and she couldn't help but think of Wu Jiang. Moreover, if the matter of switching grades were to be exposed again, it would bring her endless trouble. How could she explain it? Who would listen to her explanation? The more she cared about those rumors, the more she didn't want to add a few more risk factors to the already precarious emotional balance between her and Yao Qiyun.

  She hugged her head and said impulsively: "Isn't it just an apology? Sorry, sorry, are you satisfied?"

  Tan Shaocheng stared at her silently, without saying a word.

  Situ Xuan fell silent for a few seconds, and then chose to compromise as circumstances were stronger than people.

  "Tan Shaocheng, this is all my fault. I apologize to you, sorry!" She seemed to say these words mechanically.

  Tan Shaocheng let out a deep breath, his face filled with mixed emotions. No one could tell what the apology from Si Tu Jue meant to her. She nodded slightly at Liu Zhi Su, who shrugged and stood up, bowing his head to present the data bag to Zou Jin with both hands.

  "Teacher, from now on let's forget those unpleasant things... one day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father..."

  Zou Jin's cold smile was still in his throat when the door of the teahouse was pushed open.

  Qu Xiao Wan stood outside the door and took a glance at the people sitting inside.

  "It seems I missed the best part."

  Liu Zisu straightened his waist and smiled slightly, "Xiao Wan, you're late. Without you, it always feels like something's missing."

  "Really? You also know I love watching Pug's comedy show."

  She walked up to Zou Jin's side and deftly took the thing out of his hand. Zou Jin looked at her with concern, but didn't even think of stopping her.

  Qu Xiao Wan raised an eyebrow, took out a stack of photos from the data bag, and looked at them one by one. She looked very carefully, as if recalling memories of a certain outing. Finally, she even used her hand to tidy up the photos neatly before closing the data bag and returning it to Zou Jin.

  "You still keep these photos, I've forgotten about them." She smiled at Zou Jin with a hint of embarrassment, "I was thinner back then. No wonder Wu Jiang has been laughing at me lately."

  Her tone of understatement enraged Tan Shaicheng, who had been watching her coldly all along.

  Tan Shaocheng bit his lower lip and shook his head: "Don't you have any shame, how dare you mention Wu Jiang."

  "He likes it when I mention him." Qu Xiaojuan's response was still casual and off-topic.

  "You don't deserve to be with him, if I were you, I would save the last bit of face and leave voluntarily. Any man wouldn't tolerate his girlfriend doing something so shameful."

  "If you were me?" Qu Xiaojuan's mouth still had a hint of a knowing smile. "Unfortunately, you'll never become me!"

  Everyone has her own weakness, and there are always times when someone carelessly points it out.

  Tan Shaocheng sprang up from the ground and soon sat back down slowly.

  She raised her head and said to Qu Xiaowei: "I want you to leave him, let him go. Otherwise, I swear that everyone will know your dirty secrets!"

  Qu Xiao Wan picked up the teacup beside Zou Jin, then raised her hand and poured it in the direction of Tan Shao Cheng. The good frozen top oolong tea had not been touched yet, but it was already cold. The tea water dripped from Tan Shao Cheng's bangs and flowed down.

  "Right, how could we forget you?" Before anyone in the room could react, the cup that originally belonged to Situ Xuan was immediately called out and landed on Liu Zisu's stunned face.

  Many years later, Situ Xin still couldn't forget the crisp sound of Qu Xiaojuan smashing the cup to the ground. It was like a bell ringing at a certain stage of her life's journey, marking both an end and a beginning.

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