Rumors always spread faster

Chapter 18

Rumors always spread faster.

Regarding the matter with Teacher Zhang, Jian Yue had initially only intended to shield Lin Zhengmo from scrutiny, but the rumor had snowballed.

The person introduced by Teacher Zhang was a thirty-year-old programmer who loved to shower Jian Yue with cheesy pick-up lines online. Every time Jian Yue opened the chat window, it took courage, and she lost her appetite for meals.

Out of courtesy, she had initially replied politely, each sentence perfunctory, but the other party was low EQ and misinterpreted her intentions.

Surely he didn't think Jian Yue really liked him?

"Me, get married?" Jian Yue laughed. "It's not even close to happening."

"Ah." Lin Zhengmo had an epiphany. "So it's just a rumor."

"Mn."

"Right, I think..." Lin Zhengmo suddenly stopped, looking uncomfortable, leaving the sentence unfinished.

"You think?"

Lin Zhengmo had wanted to say: I don't think any of those men are good enough for you, and it seems you shouldn't be interested in them either. When Teacher Zhang said you were extremely satisfied, I was really surprised.

But saying that would seem strange, wouldn't it?

It was as if she had been secretly observing Jian Yue for a long time, which was true, but also a secret.

Lin Zhengmo changed the subject: "Don't you think we should eat now?"

"Oh, I forgot again!" Jian Yue belatedly realized she was here to eat. If it weren't for the rain, how would she have the privilege to sit here?

Forget it, don't ask too much.

Just be a polite guest.

The two sat together and finished the shredded chicken cold noodles, chatting idly about work, tacitly avoiding private topics.

After the meal, Jian Yue packed the garbage, deciding it was time to leave.

Lin Zhengmo stood at the entrance watching her put on her shoes, seeing her off. When Jian Yue pressed the elevator button, she turned back to find Lin Zhengmo leaning against the doorframe, looking at her.

"Go back inside, Ms. Lin."

"Mn." Lin Zhengmo only nodded but showed no sign of entering.

Jian Yue had to smile and ask: "I forgot to ask, were you satisfied with today's workout?"

Lin Zhengmo nodded: "Satisfied. Shall we do it again next Saturday?"

"Right. Should I pick you up on my scooter then?"

"Sorry to trouble you."

The elevator door finally opened. Jian Yue waved and stepped in, the door closing, leaving an empty corridor. Lin Zhengmo turned, closed the door, and instead of going inside, walked straight to the balcony and looked down.

The rain outside continued, the smoke-blue sky shedding transparent raindrops that covered the ground, turning it smoke-blue again, heaven and earth echoing each other.

Soon, Director Jian emerged from the lobby carrying a bag of garbage, walking swiftly. Her slim figure was quickly swallowed by the greenery, reappearing briefly near the residential compound gate before finally vanishing from Lin Zhengmo's sight...

After Director Jian left, Lin Zhengmo took out her MP3, reclined on the sofa, and played a monologue.

In the earphones, Ah Ah Ah said:

Dear Lin Zhengmo, it's raining today. I wonder what the weather is like when you hear this? I recorded this voice five minutes after chatting with you. Now I'm lying on the sofa, and on a whim, I have more to say.

Do you remember when I asked what kind of love you wanted? You answered: "To love like ordinary people, smoothly." I always thought "smoothly" was something said when parting, the first time I heard the word linked to love. I've pondered this adjective countless times, forming a picture in my mind:

I want to stay in a small room with you on a rainy day, Bubble beside us, cuddled on the sofa wasting time together until the sun comes out, then looking forward to the next rain, just like all couples in the world—ordinary but warm.

However, Lin Zhengmo, desiring smooth sailing implies that things aren't so smooth.

So you must have your own worries, too? Is it that I give you too little security in this relationship, or is there something in life that concerns you? I've never asked.

But like you, I have a bit of worry. As the day we meet draws closer, my concerns grow. You'll surely ask me why again, and I can only say I'm eager to meet you, but I also admit I'm not frank enough to explain why.

And when we meet, I look forward to watching the rain together.

As the monologue stopped, Lin Zhengmo happened to hear the rain outside. Was this a tacit understanding across time?

She took off her earphones, stared blankly into the air, and after a long daze, messaged Ah Ah Ah.

The opening line was:

[I want to tell you something.]

Roughly five minutes later, Ah Ah Ah replied:

[What's up?]

[It's a bit awkward to say.]

[Tell me?]

[I used to be prejudiced.]

Lin Zhengmo's words were a bit unexpected.

[I don't get it.]

[I want to be friends with my supervisor.]

Ah Ah Ah sent a smiling face: [Oh! You think she's different from what you imagined, right?]

[Yes, she's nice, so I invited her to work out next Saturday.]

Ah Ah Ah: [That's great!!]

Lin Zhengmo breathed a sigh of relief. She felt Ah Ah Ah understood her, but to be sure, she asked:

[You're not angry, are you?]

[Of course not! Go out with her more! It's not easy to find someone like-minded.]

Lin Zhengmo mused that they weren't quite like-minded yet, but it was true that being with her was comfortable. She had no friends at this school, and Jian Yue could be the first.

So Lin Zhengmo switched out of the chat and messaged Jian Yue:

[Director Jian.]

[The shredded chicken cold noodles were delicious.]

Clumsy and dry—this was how the socially awkward Lin Zhengmo initiated a conversation...

A week later, the sports meet was held as scheduled.

Deafening cheers shattered the plastic track, and energetic figures filled the view. As a teacher, Lin Zhengmo occasionally marveled: Youth is good, so full of passion.

Lin Zhengmo had spent most of the day in the office. Bored, she decided to check out the playground.

The afternoon's event for Grade 1 was a group tug-of-war, with Class 1 versus Class 2.

When Lin Zhengmo arrived, the match hadn't started yet.

Wherever she stood, students flocked around her, led by number one fan Zhao Xiaoxiao.

"Ms. Lin! Ms. Lin!" Zhao Xiaoxiao pulled Shen Liping over, laughing boisterously. "I've been looking for you everywhere! You're finally here!"

Shen Liping glanced at Lin Zhengmo and said softly, "Hello, Ms. Lin."

Lin Zhengmo nodded in acknowledgment.

Shen Liping was quiet, the complete opposite of Zhao Xiaoxiao. In Lin Zhengmo's impression, she always stood quietly beside Zhao Xiaoxiao, listening to her talk and smiling silently at her.

Xiaoxiao was the little sun, Shen Liping the little moon.

"How are you prepared?" Lin Zhengmo placed a hand on Shen Liping's shoulder.

Shen Liping was taken aback by Lin Zhengmo's sudden physical contact. She looked up uncertainly, meeting Lin Zhengmo's smile, which warmed her heart.

"All set, Ms. Lin."

"What about you, Xiaoxiao?"

"Super prepared!" Zhao Xiaoxiao recited like she was memorizing a text: "Liping and I have a strategy! We each ate two extra bowls of rice at noon—if we lack strength, we'll make up for it with weight! My cousin's sweet and sour pork ribs and egg shrimp paste are amazing! And chive dumplings, slurp slurp..."

The kid had somehow veered into talking about food.

She was drooling.

Zhao Xiaoxiao was in full swing when she suddenly caught sight of a figure in the distance, her voice dropping an octave.

"My cou..." She quickly corrected herself: "Director Jian is coming!"