Chapter 1
At the end of winter, the campus of Maritime University is particularly deserted. After Ye Shuya finishes the last class of the day, she returns to the office to pack up her things and prepare to leave.
The office of the Chinese Department is extremely lively. There are four teachers with extremely sharp tongues. Once they start gossiping, it's endless. Before Ye Shuya even pushes open the office door, she hears Song Xiao speaking in an extremely excited voice, "Hey? Sister Dan, the Weibo post related to Su Yao that I just forwarded was deleted! Even when I search for 'Su Yao' on Baidu, it says that according to relevant laws, regulations and policies, some search results are not shown..."
The voice suddenly stops.
As Ye Shuya enters, the gossip atmosphere in the office immediately disappears. Song Xiao has only recently entered this office. To be honest, she is a little afraid of Ye Shuya. When she saw Ye Shuya for the first time, she was deeply amazed. This woman is so beautiful that just standing there is a sight to behold. When she saw Ye Shuya for the second time, she noticed the indifference and aloofness of this Teacher Ye. Except for official business, she never talks to people at all. There isn't even an exchange of glances.
Just like now.
She enters wearing seven-inch high heels. Her face is adorned with delicate makeup, like a mask carved from ice. She is picking up the odds and ends on the office desk on her own. A lock of long curly hair hanging by her ear is like a screen, blocking the world that connects her to them.
Tang Dan is the oldest in the office and is quite experienced in handling such awkward situations. She makes a sound and laughs to smooth things over, "Huh? Where was Little Song?"
Lin Yu is the one who dislikes such women the most. She snorts through her nose to show her disdain.
Ye Shuya leaves the office. Song Xiao comes to her senses. She softly says, "I was thinking that Su Yao must be a person with a background..."
"That's for sure." Lin Yu rolls her eyes and her gaze falls on Ye Shuya's office desk. A bunch of fiery red roses is blooming enchantingly in a vase. "That woman Ye Shuya might also be a person with a background."
Song Xiao's gaze also falls on that eye-catching bunch of roses. "Why does Teacher Ye have a bunch of roses on her desk every day?"
"I heard that she has a boyfriend who works in the United States. There is a bunch of roses every day without interruption."
When Ye Shuya walks out of the teaching building, her figure is elongated by the winter sunset. She tightly wraps herself in that red woolen coat, resisting the invasion of the cold wind. On the campus, although the weather is cold, the enthusiasm of college students is like an unextinguishable flame. On the basketball court, boys play shirtless, and sweat shines on them; on the road, students walk in groups of twos and threes, chatting and laughing; couples lean against each other, using their body heat to dispel the cold of winter. All of this forms a vivid picture of Maritime University at the end of winter.
She had an indescribable feeling in her heart. After walking for a while, she turned into a bamboo grove.
In Maritime University, a large bamboo grove sways in the cold wind of winter. They seem to be telling of the tranquility of the years. The evergreen branches and leaves look extremely verdant in the clear and cold sunlight. This bamboo grove is not only a scenic spot in City C but also a quiet refuge on campus. In winter, the bamboo grove is secluded and deserted. Students rarely set foot here, making it a rare peaceful place.
Ye Shuya stopped at the edge of this bamboo grove. She looked at her watch and realized that it was time to call Qin Wei who was far away in Philadelphia. Qin Wei, her childhood sweetheart. The relationship between the two is like the stream in this bamboo grove. Although it has gone through the changes of the four seasons, it is always clear and lasting.
On the other end of the phone, Qin Wei's voice had the laziness of just waking up. It seemed that one could feel his warmth through the telephone line. Their daily conversations are simple and warm. Even though they are separated by a vast ocean, the emotional connection has never been broken.
"A Qin, are you awake yet?" Ye Shuya's voice rang softly in the bamboo grove, forming a sharp contrast with the surrounding tranquility.
Qin Wei's voice was with a smile. "Yes. Yaya, are you off work?"
"Yes. I don't have classes tonight." Ye Shuya paused for a moment. There was a hint of helplessness in her tone. "A Qin, the new colleague in the office seems to be very afraid of me."
"Isn't it good that she is afraid of you?" Qin Wei's tone was teasing.
"No, it's not good at all." There was a trace of loneliness in Ye Shuya's voice.
"Then try to smile at people. Yaya, you are very beautiful when you smile." Qin Wei advised gently.
"No. Why should I smile at her? I don't like my colleagues around me. Not a single one." Ye Shuya's tone was firm but also had a hint of childishness.
"Don't be childish." There was a hint of indulgence in Qin Wei's voice.
Just as Ye Shuya was about to retort, her gaze was attracted by a scene not far away. Under the cover of the bamboo grove, a man's back looked extremely lonely. His thin figure seemed a bit frail in the cold wind. With his tall stature and slender fingers tightly holding a paintbrush, he was concentrating on depicting on the drawing board. The gray-black on the drawing paper and the bright green bamboo formed a strong visual impact, which made Ye Shuya can't help but be amazed.
She observed quietly. The man seemed to be completely immersed in his own artistic world, unaware of everything around him. His profile was extremely charming in the mottled light and shadow of the bamboo grove. His long and thick eyelashes trembled gently in the cold wind, like the gentlest touch in winter. His complexion was pale, but it added a bit of the mysterious temperament of an artist.
Ye Shuya didn't disturb him and had no intention of striking up a conversation. She always keeps a certain distance from strangers. Even if the other party is a handsome man. She quietly admired for a while, then turned around and continued to stroll in this bamboo grove, enjoying the tranquility and beauty of this winter.
At eight o'clock in the evening, Ye Shuya has a tutoring job, tutoring a high school sophomore. The pay for this tutoring job is very generous. For her who is short of money, it is an irresistible temptation.
Haishi is a place where every inch of land is as precious as gold. When she first arrived, she was fearless like a newborn calf. She spent more than half of her savings to buy a small house, and then used the remaining savings to buy a car. According to her idea, she would rather drink the northwest wind in the house and car than eat delicious food outside. So now, raising a house and a car makes life extremely tight. So when Chen Qi took the initiative to find her, she agreed without hesitation.
Chen Qi has a son named Chen Li. He just entered his sophomore year of high school this year. His Chinese grades are extremely poor. Every time Chen Qi thinks of his son's Chinese score, he has a terrible headache. So he had to find a tutor. Ye Shuya was introduced by his colleague. The colleague said that there is a teacher surnamed Ye from the Chinese Department of C University. Last year, under her tutoring, her daughter was admitted to a very good university. So, for his son's future, Chen Qi is very willing to spend money. As soon as he saw Ye Shuya, he said, "Miss Ye, as long as you can make my son's Chinese score higher, you can make any request."
In the end, Ye Shuya took this tutoring job. Two hours a day, five hundred an hour. In a month, there will be thirty thousand.
Chen Qi lives in a very high-end villa area. When Ye Shuya went there for the first time, she was really shocked. The parking lot of the community is full of all kinds of famous cars. BMWs, Land Rovers, Bentleys, etc. are neatly placed there, just like a car show. And her red Chery QQ seems out of place.
But after a long time, Ye Shuya got used to it. Now she gets out of the car and locks it very naturally. She holds her head high and walks to Chen Qi's residence in high heels with a clattering sound.
Chen Li is a teenager in his rebellious period. Naturally, he doesn't have a good attitude towards the tutor invited by his father. At the beginning, he always made things difficult for Ye Shuya. Fortunately, Ye Shuya is extremely skillful with rebellious children. After a week, Chen Li was tamed by her. Seeing this, Chen Qi repeatedly praised Ye Shuya for being capable and that the money was well spent.
When Ye Shuya entered Chen Li's room, Chen Li was playing Warcraft. The mouse and keyboard were clicking loudly. The humans and elves on the screen were fighting bloody battles. Chen Li was so engrossed in playing that he didn't notice until Ye Shuya coughed softly. Without turning his head, he said, "Sister Ye, sit down first. Wait for me to finish this game before we start."
Ye Shuya understood and casually found a place to sit down. She casually flipped through a magazine beside her. After looking at it for a while, she suddenly said, "Chen Li, are you very interested in painting?"
Chen Li replied casually, "It's okay. My dad is investing in a gallery recently." After thinking for a while, he said again, "When the gallery opens, my dad will invite some well-known painters. Hey, Sister Ye, do you know Su Yao? The emerging painter who recently won the Wilpries Award. He has come to Haishi these days. My dad is preparing to invite him, but I think it should not be easy to invite."
She suddenly remembered the man she saw in the bamboo grove this afternoon. She was not very interested. She expressionlessly pulled out a Chinese textbook from Chen Li's drawer. "It's almost time. Let's start class."
After class, she saw Chen Qi in the living room. Chen Qi shook the car key in his hand and smiled casually. "Miss Ye, shall I take you back? It's raining outside."
Chen Qi is interested in her. She knows this clearly. There is unscrupulous scrutiny in his eyes, which makes her uncomfortable. However, people die for money, and birds die for food. She is really short of money. Otherwise, she would definitely not stay here any longer. She politely shook her head. "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Chen. I have a car."
Chen Qi smiled. "Well then, be careful on the road."
She nodded with a smile. At the moment she turned around, her expression immediately darkened. After going out, she shook off the goose bumps on her skin and took out an umbrella from her bag to pick up the car in the parking lot.
The rain was getting heavier and heavier. The water was flowing down the windshield in columns. Suddenly, the mobile phone rang. Ye Shuya took out the mobile phone from her handbag. She glanced at the call. It was a strange number.
"Hello? Is this Teacher Ye? I am Zheng Ran. Can I hand in my final paper two days late?"
Ye Shuya was annoyed when she heard that. Clearly instructed to hand it in yesterday, but insisted on delaying it for a few more days. She announced the topic and requirements of the final paper she assigned two months ago. It's only a short two thousand words. Two thousand words in two months. Can't this be written?
Her voice was a bit cold. "I don't accept late papers."
Zheng Ran seemed about to cry. "Teacher Ye, I really have something to do these days. Otherwise, I will hand it in on your desk tomorrow?"
Ye Shuya sneered. "Are you busy every day these two months? This is not the first time you take my class. You should know my rules."
"Teacher Ye, you can't do this."
Ye Shuya frowned. Just as she was about to scold, a person suddenly appeared in her line of sight at some point. She was greatly shocked. She hurriedly braked. The harsh sound of tire friction made her face turn pale. She didn't care about the mobile phone or the pouring rain outside. She opened the car door and rushed out.
There was a person lying in the rain. It was the handsome man she saw this afternoon. Except for his pale face, he seemed to be fine. She breathed a sigh of relief. The man suddenly groaned and opened his eyes. Then he grabbed Ye Shuya's wrist forcefully. "Don't go to the hospital."
His eyes had no focus, but they were so cold that it made people shiver from the bottom of their hearts.
She answered in a mess. Only then did the man let go of her hand and passed out again.
She took a deep breath and used all her strength to drag him into the car. She stared at his face in a daze. Ye Shuya couldn't bring a strange man home. She couldn't leave him on the street to fend for himself either.
Qin Wei happened to call, solving her urgent need.
He said happily, "Yaya, take him back. He is a good person, isn't he?"
Ye Shuya has always regarded Qin Wei's words as imperial edicts. When helping the man change his wet clothes on the sofa, she took a few glances at the man and suddenly felt that this man looked a bit like Qin Wei.
The eyelashes are as thick, the nose is as straight, and the lips are as thin... In a trance, she thought Qin Wei had returned and was lying quietly on the sofa.
She couldn't help but lean forward and kiss his forehead. When her warm lips touched his cold forehead, she suddenly woke up.
Ye Shuya covered her mouth and her face turned red. She looked at him regretfully and sighed in her heart that a good-looking man is really a disaster.
She suddenly sneezed. Only then did she realize that she was also completely wet. Just now she was too panicked and afraid to even feel the cold. Now that she had let go of most of her worries, she immediately shivered with cold. Ye Shuya walked into the bathroom.
When the man woke up, his head was a little dizzy. There was the sound of rain in his ears, and the fluorescent lamp above his head was extremely dazzling. He frowned. The clothes close to his body made him very uncomfortable.
He has a mild case of洁癖. He can't accept that clothes that others have worn are now closely attached to his skin. Thinking of this, he felt as if there were countless worms crawling all over his body.
Regardless of the dizziness, he propped himself up and got off the sofa and looked around for his clothes.
There was a faint fragrance in the room. After walking a few steps, his sight suddenly locked on the lilies by the TV cabinet. His brows immediately wrinkled into a "川" shape. Suddenly, a soft female voice came from the bathroom. He walked over and stopped at the door of the bathroom.
"Hey, I listened to your words and brought him home."
"A Qin, he looks a bit like you. I almost kissed him just now."
"Haha, no. I only like you."
"A Qin, what do you mean by this! I have a lot of people chasing me."
"...I won't tell you anymore. I'm done taking a shower. You should pay attention to rest."
Ye Shuya casually put on a bathrobe and opened the bathroom door. The misty water vapor gushed out. The man was standing straight outside the door. Through the eyes hazy with mist, they were as black as purple grapes just soaked in water. His inquiring gaze fell on Ye Shuya's face.
She immediately held her breath. The man in front of her had an innate attraction. Especially his eyes. Such a gaze made her forget to think instantly.
The man soon stopped his inquiry. His expression was listless. "Where are my clothes?"
Ye Shuya pointed to the washing machine. Watching him pick up the clothes in the washing machine, she opened her mouth and said, "The clothes are wet." But he still took off the clothes she had bought for Qin Wei in front of her and quickly put on his own clothes.
She was a little angry and felt more and more in her heart that she had been blind just now. How could this man be like Qin Wei!
After the man got dressed, he nodded to Ye Shuya. His voice was extremely flat and distant. "Miss, thank you. I will come to express my thanks again some other day."
It was still raining outside, but he left in a hurry without even taking an umbrella.
Before going to bed, Ye Shuya suddenly remembered what Qin Wei had said just now - "Yaya, he will definitely be scared away by you."
She touched her face and reflected on herself: In fact, except that her temper is a bit bad occasionally, her appearance is not ugly. Could it be that apart from Qin Wei, no one else can see her?