Chapter 22

Qin Nanshan took a long time to answer. “You were eating pan-fried dumplings then. There was a black sesame seed at the corner of your mouth. I was watching when you would notice it. Later you reached up, wiped it, and ate it.”

Wen Yi froze. She had no memory of this part, but it really was something she would do. She never wasted food.

Yet now that he said it out loud, her brain crashed. After it restarted she was both angry and embarrassed. She angrily pulled his hand away, rolled up the quilt, and turned her back to him. “Sleep!”

A smile slowly spilled from the corners of Qin Nanshan’s eyes. He got out of bed to find a quilt for himself.

…

Spring recruitment was approaching. Jiang Yu sent Wen Yi the schedule. BPs needed to follow interviews. Altogether they would go to five universities for talks, plus work from other channels. Jiang Yu complained endlessly on WeChat.

Wen Yi opened the recruitment plan. Jiang Yu had assigned her Shen University, her alma mater. But she did not want to go to Shen University. She messaged Jiang Yu privately: [Can the plan still be changed?]

[Why?]

[Switch my arrangement with Xiaolan’s.]

Jiang Yu was puzzled. [Why? You are an alumna of Shen University. I was even planning to have you speak on stage. Lily already agreed.]

Wen Yi sent him a hammering emoji. [Then I will go to one more session. Go to University A.]

Jiang Yu: [Are you all right? There are people who volunteer for extra work?]

Wen Yi never complained about having too much or too little work. Having no work was the most frightening thing. [Just say whether it is all right.]

[Fine, fine, of course it is all right. But why?]

[My husband is at University A. I want to get off work together with him. Is that not allowed? smile.jpg]

A couple of days ago Xuan Ying had called and said Qin Xi had found a job, telling them to come back and celebrate. The University A schedule was on Friday. After work the two of them could go back together.

The other side did not reply for a long time. Three minutes later Jiang Yu came over carrying a small stick he had grabbed from who knew where and warned with great momentum, “Wen Yi, do not kill me with the affection knife!”

Wen Yi laughed so hard she could not stop. “Who told you to be single? You see affection in everyone.”

“Do not disgust people.” Jiang Yu found a mirror from her desk. “Look at yourself. How are you any different from an eighteen-year-old lovesick girl?”

Wen Yi was stunned, then went blank again.

A few seconds later she quickly shook her head. How was that possible? How could she be lovesick? What messy words was Jiang Yu using.

She took the mirror and looked. Although her face was a bit rounder, it still barely qualified as eighteen. She looked up and smiled at him. “Good eye. Indeed an eighteen-year-old girl.”

Jiang Yu turned and left at once.

…

Friday. The University A talk. The location was the small auditorium.

Wen Yi stood at the auditorium doorway and actually felt a bit of familiarity. Thanks to the baby, she became the most idle person in the whole venue. Material setup and directing did not need her at all. Her work was only to sit and chat with the students.

Wen Yi sent Qin Nanshan a message in advance. One address, one sentence: [I am at your school. I did not drive. After work we will go back to your parents’ house together for dinner.]

These past few days he had come into the room very late every night. Sometimes she slept early and only vaguely felt someone lying down beside her. She gradually grew familiar with the scent on him. Once he lay down it was as if she had taken a sleeping pill. She slept even more soundly.

One night she specially waited for him with dark circles under her eyes. After they finally exchanged two sentences he wanted to sleep. Wen Yi lost all interest.

Same bed, different dreams.

Was Qin Nanshan actually hiding from her? Wen Yi thought back. There was only one reason that could make him hide. Heh. It was just letting him touch a little. Was she some kind of hedgehog or tigress?

Today they were going back to the eastern suburbs. He should have no work, right? She wanted to see whether he was truly busy or hiding from her.

Students who had recognized her from the last lecture greeted her friendly. “Hello, Teacher’s wife.”

Wen Yi was stunned for two seconds by this form of address, then responded warmly. After the student left, Jiang Yu asked in surprise, “You have this connection too?”

Wen Yi raised her brows proudly. “This is my husband’s student.”

Jiang Yu had not been free to go on the wedding day and had not seen Qin Nanshan in person. Now he was curious. “Call him out to meet?”

“Keep dreaming.”

“Stingy.”

Qin Nanshan did not come. Zhuang Yue came. He should have come to coordinate some work. After talking with Jiang Yu for a while, he turned around. The two people’s gazes met, both rather awkward.

So being a matchmaker was the hardest. If the people you brought together had a result, that was best. If they did not stay together, it was like the scene in front of them now.

Wen Yi smiled first. “Teacher Zhuang.”

Zhuang Yue still held some anger from Qin Nanshan rejecting him, but the smile on his face was warm. “You came too? Aiyo, Nanshan seems to be in a meeting right now.”

“It is fine. I came for work. Let him be busy.”

Seeing they knew each other, Jiang Yu promptly inserted himself. “Director Zhuang, about our banners and standees?”

Zhuang Yue glanced at Wen Yi and put on a difficult look. “The school has regulations. Off-campus institutions and companies are not allowed to place advertisements in the cafeteria and dormitories. If the leaders see it, I will certainly have to take the blame.”

Wen Yi understood and also received Jiang Yu’s look for help, so she had to speak. “Director Zhuang, we will only occupy these two or three hours in the afternoon. The moment the time is up we will remove them at once. Please help us be flexible.”

“This year Newan will recruit quite a few interns and fresh graduates. The positions have good benefits. It also helps the school’s employment rate. Do you not think so?”

Zhuang Yue hesitated for a moment, as if making a difficult decision. “All right then. Remove them immediately when it ends.”

Wen Yi and Jiang Yu thanked him at the same time. “Thank you, Director Zhuang.”

After Zhuang Yue left, Jiang Yu stamped his foot. “You have this connection and did not say earlier. Do you know how long we applied to the school office for this auditorium? At first they wanted to fob us off with a large classroom. Now they are blocking us from doing publicity. Which school’s office director would have to take responsibility for putting out a recruitment display stand? Really.”

Wen Yi looked extremely innocent. “This is not my connection. This is my husband’s classmate.”

“Husband, husband. Is there only your husband in your heart?”

Wen Yi smiled. “Otherwise would there be you?”

The two of them bantered and laughed. Wen Yi felt emotional. She had not expected Qin Nanshan to still have this use. She glanced again in the direction Zhuang Yue had left. Truly an old fox. Even such a small matter and he still fished a favor from her. Truly cunning.

After the talk ended, the colleagues packed up and prepared to leave. Wen Yi had to stay and wait for someone. Jiang Yu, who had nothing to do, also wanted to stay together.

Qin Nanshan replied with a message in the middle, telling her to wait for him at half past five by the roadside of the auditorium.

He was extremely punctual. The moment half past five arrived the car drove over and stopped in front of the two of them. The man in the driver’s seat first looked at Wen Yi, then faintly looked at the man beside her.

Wen Yi introduced, “This is my colleague, Jiang Yu.”

Qin Nanshan: “Hello.”

After looking the person over, Jiang Yu responded, “Hello.”

In his heart he clicked his tongue. Wen Yi was indeed someone who cared about looks. With this face, why be a teacher? He could debut.

After Wen Yi got in the car she received a message. [I finally understand why you were in such a hurry to get married.]

Wen Yi: [Why?]

[Strike first and gain the advantage!]

[That is right. My husband is handsome, right?]

[Average. Not as handsome as me.]

[vomit.gif]

Out of the corner of Qin Nanshan’s eye the woman kept smiling at her phone. The scene of the two of them standing by the roadside laughing and teasing earlier floated up. He asked softly, “Is that your new colleague?”

“Mm. A colleague from HR. In charge of recruitment.”

The car drove onto the road. Wen Yi went back to looking at her phone, smiling continuously. Qin Nanshan withdrew his eyes, lids half lowered, and asked no more.

After Wen Yi finished chatting she remembered something, put down her phone, and said, “Today Zhuang Yue helped us. I owe him a small favor. When you have time, help me repay it.”

Qin Nanshan asked what favor. Wen Yi explained, and after explaining she complained, “I do not really like this friend of yours. Too utilitarian. Last time too. Luckily you did not let him into the group.”

Qin Nanshan thought for a while and said, “Zhuang Yue’s family conditions look good, but his family values his older brother more. The pressure he has borne since childhood is great, so he yearns even more for power and money.”

“You sympathize with him?”

“No. I only understand.”

Wen Yi did not quite agree with this way of putting it. “The pressure I bore since childhood was also great. I also lacked money. But I never thought of stretching my hand toward my own people.”

She did not want to say it too clearly. Qin Nanshan had this overly good-natured personality and treated everyone as a friend, but other people might not treat him as a friend. In this world “interest” came first. If he were merely an ordinary mathematics teacher, see whether he would still have so many papers and projects that needed cooperation.

“Qin Nanshan, people are selfish. You go understand others. Who comes to understand you?” Wen Yi allowed him to explain. “Or did he help you a great deal when you were in school? Save your life?”

Qin Nanshan held the steering wheel and said nothing.

Wen Yi laughed lightly. “See. He did not.”

Waiting at the red light, Qin Nanshan said, “If we have to calculate so many gains and losses, then there are not many pure relationships in the world.”

“What do you mean?”

Qin Nanshan turned to look at her. “Wen Yi, a relationship can never be completely balanced. If I truly calculated whether others treat me the same, how would I survive in this world?”

Wen Yi understood. Their views were not the same. Even if he knew what kind of person Zhuang Yue was, he still stayed neutral and treated him sincerely. She could not do that.

“Then you willingly put yourself in the lower position and forever be the one who gives?” Wen Yi thought about it and felt something was off. She narrowed her eyes and lowered her voice. “Or are you hinting at our relationship? That you have given more?”

Qin Nanshan did not know how she had thought of this. “Were we not talking about Zhuang Yue?”

Wen Yi asked seriously, “Zhuang Yue is only the opening. Qin Nanshan, do you have complaints about me?”

They had been married for so long. Wen Yi knew she was not a very good wife. She could not cook and had no time to clean. In the days they lived together it was indeed he who took care of her more. She was even less able to speak soft, considerate words like an understanding flower.

But it was not as if she had done nothing. “This child is not only my child. In the first twelve weeks I vomited until bile came out every day. Now my back aches, my feet cramp from time to time. When I reach late pregnancy I will be like a waste who cannot eat or sleep well. Even turning over and bathing will be hard. Can you bear these in my place?”

Qin Nanshan frowned. “I did not mean that.”

Wen Yi’s heart felt even more blocked. “If you mind that I do not cook or wash dishes you can say it directly.”

She did not insist on fairness in everything. Arguing over who gave how much had no meaning. What she cared about was whether the other person’s actions and feelings toward you were genuine.

Now that they had discussed it to this point, did his meaning not amount to their relationship also being unbalanced? And he was willing to be the one who gave.

Wen Yi could not help taking it personally, because on the surface the care was indeed all done by him. Every time Mrs. Wen called she said how good Xiao Qin was to her. Her aunt said such a good man must be cherished, wiping her out as if she were worth nothing.

And also, he still did not want to touch her. He had never kissed her. They were husband and wife. She had already taken the initiative to this extent and he was still like a monk, clear-hearted and desireless!

Before she had not felt much. Now added to the busyness of the recent week, the more Wen Yi thought the sadder and more wronged she felt.

It was not the first day she knew Qin Nanshan’s personality. Right now it was more that she could not figure out what she was feeling wronged and sad about. She grew even more restless.

“Wen Yi…”

Wen Yi did not answer. She rolled down the window, breathed fresh air, and calmed the restless mood that came and went from time to time on a pregnant woman’s body.

In her heart she reached a conclusion. Men were indeed unreliable. Where were there any good men? Whatever you did, they kept score. Heh.

Like her? How could Qin Nanshan like her? If he could like someone, the Ice Age would probably come again.

The car turned a corner and arrived at Building 25. Qin Nanshan had no more chance to talk with her.

…

The whole Qin family was there. Qin Xi ran out to meet them and enthusiastically linked arms with Wen Yi. Wen Yi asked her, “Mom said you found a job. What job did you find?”

“Aiya, I just casually submitted a resume. New media operations at an advertising company. Mom just wanted you to come back for a meal and casually found a reason.”

Qin Xi had just graduated this year. This was her first job. Wen Yi was a bit older and considered herself experienced. After thinking for a while she continued to ask, “Do you like this job?”

“It is all right. I will do it first. If I do not like it I will change.”

Wen Yi then smiled. Forget it. Young people nowadays had their own ideas. She did not need to worry too much.

The two of them walked into the living room. Wen Yi greeted Qin Heng and Xuan Ying. Xuan Ying asked, “Just off work?”

“Mm. This afternoon the company went to University A for recruitment. Nanshan and I came over from the school together.”

Xuan Ying was surprised. “Such a coincidence?”

Qin Xi said from the side, “This is nothing. Last week sister-in-law specially went to listen to brother’s lecture. The two of them eating in the cafeteria even got photographed.”

Wen Yi was speechless. “Xixi, how do you know?”

“It is on Qin Tan’s Moments and on the internet.” Qin Xi smiled ambiguously. “Mom, you can rest assured. Sister-in-law and brother are very loving.”

If this sentence had been said half an hour earlier she might still have found it a bit interesting. Now it sounded very sarcastic. She faintly glanced at the man standing beside her and accepted the line with a smile that did not reach her eyes.

They went inside. Xuan Ying told them to sit and said there were still two dishes unfinished in the kitchen. Dinner would be later.

Wen Yi did not dare sit. Later people would have opinions. She followed into the kitchen. Qin Nanshan frowned and pulled her hand. “Go rest.”

Wen Yi smiled gently, the smile especially standard. “How would that do? I have hands and feet. I can help Mom with some work.”

“All right, all right. Come quickly.” Xuan Ying did not hear anything and still wanted to spend more time with her daughter-in-law. But Qin Nanshan understood. He lowered his voice. “Let’s go back to the room.”

Wen Yi shook off his hand, her tone firm. “No. I want to help Mom work.”

When Xuan Ying looked over again Qin Nanshan compromised and let her go.

Wen Yi did not try to hide her mood. She glared at him hatefully.

Xuan Ying was making the meatballs she liked. The meat and seasonings were mixed. Now they were preparing to shape them into balls and put them into the boiling water beside them. Xuan Ying said, “You and Nanshan both love to eat them. I specially went to learn the method. Later if you want to eat them you can tell Mom anytime. Later take the rest away and put them in the fridge.”

Wen Yi felt a little moved.

To keep her hands from getting dirty, Xuan Ying specially made a small tool with a plastic bag, then stuffed the meat in and demonstrated for her. “Twist hard like this and the meatball will come out.”

“All right.” It was not hard. Wen Yi got the hang of it smoothly.

Xuan Ying herself used the web of her hand to squeeze them out one by one and talked with her. “Has the child still been troubling you lately? Is it hard?”

“Not hard. The baby is very good.”

“That is good. Whatever you need, just order Nanshan around and let him do it for you.” Wen Yi did not respond. Xuan Ying continued on her own. “This child Nanshan has been sensible since he was little. When his little sister was born we still could not put down work. It was all him helping to take care of her. How old was he then? Only six or seven.”

“Can a six- or seven-year-old take care of people?”

“Grandma was still around then. When Grandma cooked and did housework he watched Xixi.” When Xuan Ying recalled it her face was full of smiles. “Such a small child, sitting obediently at the desk doing homework, while Xixi slept on the bed beside him. If Xixi woke and cried he still had to coax her.”

“Oh my, little Xixi was simply as naughty as a monkey. We were all afraid, but once her brother held her it was fine. It was truly strange. Nanshan even knew how to mix formula. The temperature and amount were just right. Grandma did not have to worry at all.”

Xuan Ying described it vividly. Wen Yi listened and curved the corners of her mouth. Her free hand gently stroked her lower abdomen.

But as Xuan Ying spoke she grew sad again. “We two old people have lived up to research, to the school, and to the students in this lifetime. We have only let Nanshan down.”

Xuan Ying paused, standing to the side. After a long time she pulled out a smile. “Fortunately Nanshan did not grow crooked. Apart from his personality being a bit dull, I have never seen such a kind child.”

She smiled at Wen Yi again. “Yiyi, Nanshan having you is his blessing. This person of his has no bad intentions. Help Mom watch him a bit. Do not let him be cheated.”

Wen Yi’s heart tightened. She asked gently, “Has he been cheated?”

“Ai, too many times.” Xuan Ying’s mood improved and she told her one by one. “Take elementary school. Nanshan’s grades were good, right? The naughty children all wanted to copy his homework. That person of his is stubborn and will not be flexible. He would not let classmates copy. In the quarrel the homework was torn. The homeroom teacher called them in to talk. The teachers knew Nanshan’s personality and naturally stood more on his side. The little boy opposite was scolded, felt wronged, and shed tears. He could not stand it and took the initiative to offer to help the other complete the homework. He helped for a whole semester.”

“It is not cheating as serious as that. It is just that this personality of his cannot refuse others.” Xuan Ying paused again. Perhaps at this age mood swings were large. Her tone lowered again. “Nanshan has had few friends since he was little and does not often open his heart to us either. Ah.”

Wen Yi was silent, staring at the leaping fire on the stove. In her hand a huge lump of meatball came out. Only when Xuan Ying reminded her did she hurriedly stop.

…

Qin Nanshan was called to the study by Qin Heng to talk.

Qin Heng was steeping tea and from time to time looked up at the son across the tea table. In his heart he felt emotional. After this brat got married the change was quite large. Before he often wore a cold face and did not like to talk. Now there was finally some human warmth on him. His personality had softened quite a bit. Looking at him was more pleasing to the eye.

So establishing a family and career still required establishing a family first. Qin Heng shook his head and smiled, then spoke of the arrangement of the only shares. “Your mother and I have discussed transferring that 20 percent of shares to you two siblings when we have time recently. What do you think?”

“As you arrange.”

“Your uncle’s side does not need us to do anything. Taking dividends every quarter is enough. But you just got married and now have a child. See whether you want to transfer some out to use. We cannot shortchange Wen Yi.”

Qin Nanshan lowered his eyes and thought. After half a minute he nodded. “I will go back and discuss it with her.”

Qin Heng poured him a cup of tea, raised his brows, and asked, “How is work?”

“All right.” Qin Nanshan’s gaze went toward the study door, then withdrew. He sipped the tea.

“Has the preliminary review result of the National Natural Science Foundation come out?”

“Yes. The result just came out. The time to prepare for the second review is short. This whole week has been busy.”

Qin Heng: “A few days ago when I was eating out I ran into Deputy Cheng. He mentioned the vacancy for deputy director in your department. I estimate he wants you to take it. What are your thoughts?”

Qin Heng and Cheng Hongyuan had known each other for more than ten years and were on good private terms. Back then when Qin Nanshan and Cheng Zhiruo were together they could not have been happier, thinking they could become in-laws. Pity there was still no fate.

No father did not consider for his children. Before retirement Qin Heng had also been a small leader in the college. Naturally he hoped his son could grasp both research and career. If that matter really succeeded, Qin Nanshan’s future would be bright.

Right now Deputy Cheng still gave Qin Nanshan this chance. He did not want him to miss it. Qin Heng said, “Personnel changes in your department are not large. This deputy director vacancy now comes at just the right time. Follow the flow and climb up. Otherwise the chance will be gone.”

Outside the study a burst of pleasant laughter suddenly came. Qin Xi and Wen Yi were talking about who knew what. The two of them kept laughing.

Qin Nanshan glanced outside, lowered his lids, considered for a few moments, then said, “I will go back and discuss it with Wen Yi.”

Qin Heng was stunned, then delighted. “Discuss, discuss. Discuss again. In the end is it your wife who becomes an official or you who becomes an official? Do you make the decisions or does your wife make the decisions?”

Qin Nanshan said seriously, “Dad, the child is about to be born. I have also just taken over a large project. Being deputy director is actually optional. Even if I truly take it I should first get her agreement.”

Qin Heng was blocked until he could not speak. He waved his hand. “Fine, fine. Go discuss. I cannot manage you.”

Qin Nanshan finished the last sip of tea in the cup and went out.

In the kitchen Xuan Ying was not there. Only Wen Yi and Qin Xi were squeezing meatballs.

Wen Yi heard the movement and looked over, then withdrew her gaze again and continued focusing on her work, her expression calm, as if she had not seen the man at the doorway.

Qin Xi, however, looked at the burning gaze her brother placed on Wen Yi and seemed thoughtful. Had they quarreled?

Tsk tsk. Something was off.

She was very tactful, washed her hands, and went out, leaving the space for the young couple to raise the temperature.

Qin Nanshan’s feet moved. He stepped into the kitchen.