Chapter 1354
Unrequited Love 8
Chapter 1354 Unrequited Love 8
Shi Yuexin was a little anxious: "The elevator is malfunctioning? Are you alright, Oni? Teacher, you have claustrophobia. I should have known better than to let you take me there. You've run into this."
Zhou Jinxu, who was about to enter the restroom, stopped in his tracks. So he was right, Xu Yanzhen really did have claustrophobia? She and Chu Qian really weren't boyfriend and girlfriend?
Xu Yanzhen smiled and said, "It was an accident, no one wanted it. Just don't be angry with me. It's just a pity about that cake, it was the one with the strongest Christmas theme in that shop."
Shi Yuexin, of course, couldn't keep clinging to the cake. She looked at Xu Yanzhen with concern: "Unnie, are you really okay? You look a little pale."
Xu Yanzhen patted her cheeks: "I feel much better now. I'll go out and buy another cake later. I'll make sure to convey your good wishes."
"No need," Shi Yuexin said cheerfully. "I called Chu Qian and told him that you don't need to make another special trip, teacher."
After exchanging a few more words, Xu Yanzhen hung up the phone. She put her phone and power bank into her bag, and as she packed up and walked out with her head down, she unexpectedly bumped into a wall of people.
The other person was extremely steady; Xu Yanzhen bumped into them without them moving an inch, while she herself was forced to take a few steps back. The other person reacted quickly, placing their hands on Xu Yanzhen's waist to help her regain her balance.
"Ouch!" Xu Yanzhen's nose hit Zhou Jinxu's shoulder right in the middle. Her eyes reddened and tears fell down her cheeks. They were purely physiological tears.
For a moment, Xu Yanzhen was caught in a dilemma: should she put down her phone and power bank first, or rub her nose first?
Xu Yanzhen hastily stuffed her phone into her bag and was about to find a tissue to wipe her tears when a handkerchief was suddenly handed to her. Through her blurry vision, Xu Yanzhen took the handkerchief, not even seeing the person opposite her clearly: "Thank you, I'll wash it and return it to you."
Zhou Jinxu responded and watched Xu Yanzhen wipe her tears. His gaze fell on her reddened eyes and nose; her eyes and nose were red and swollen, making her look like a pear blossom after a sudden rain.
Zhou Jinxu fidgeted with his fingers, suddenly feeling an urge to make Xu Yanzhen cry.
She started crying...
It must be very beautiful.
Wiping away her tears, Xu Yanzhen finally saw the person opposite her clearly. Seeing that she had regained her footing, the other person gentlemanly withdrew his hand from her waist and took a step back.
"Thank you," Xu Yanzhen said, her voice slightly nasal from bumping her nose earlier. "President Zhou, I've been thanking you all day."
Zhou Jinxu looked at Xu Yanzhen, his eyes unreadable. "You know me?"
Xu Yanzhen shook her head: "I don't know you. I just heard Chu Lu call you that, so I just followed suit."
She extended her hand: "My name is Xu Yanzhen, and I am a high school teacher."
Zhou Jinxu looked at her hands. Her fingertips were pink and tender, and there were no fancy nail art on her hands. Her nails were just their natural color, like peach petals pasted on her fingertips.
These hands are truly beautiful. Slender fingers, delicate and boneless—it's no exaggeration at all.
Just as Xu Yanzhen awkwardly tried to withdraw her hand, Zhou Jinxu took it, his warm palm pressed tightly against Xu Yanzhen's: "Zhou Jinxu."
Xu Yanzhen withdrew her hand, her heart suddenly skipping a beat. She folded the handkerchief neatly: "I'll wash it when I get back and return it to you. I'm going to find Chu Lu now. Goodbye, President Zhou."
After watching Xu Yanzhen leave, Zhou Jinxu went into the restroom. He hadn't expected that his impulsive visit to meet his business partner today would yield such an unexpected reward.
In Xu Yanzhen's eyes, today's meeting with Zhou Jinxu was just an accident. It's not surprising that a person encounters so many people every day and unexpected situations can arise.
When they returned to Chu Qian's office, Chu Qian was also out carrying a briefcase. He glanced at Xu Yanzhen's face and said, "It's good that you weren't scared. Let's go, Jin He should be here by now."
Xu Yanzhen thought for a moment: "Lawyer Chu, I'm here today simply to thank you and Jin He. Thank you for helping me at the Municipal Bureau last night, and thank you to Jin He for not pursuing the responsibility of my students." Chu Qian was particularly clever and immediately understood Xu Yanzhen's meaning: "Okay, if Jin He wants to ask you out, I will help you refuse."
"Thank you, Chu Lu," Xu Yanzhen said happily, her eyes crinkling at him, revealing a dimple on her cheek. "You really are a very loyal friend."
Even though he had known Xu Yanzhen for several years, Chu Qian was still momentarily stunned when he looked at her. He had noticed something different about Xu Yanzhen yesterday, but today, he found her to be incredibly beautiful.
Come to think of it, he and such a beautiful woman have always maintained a purely platonic friendship over the years?
Chu Qian chuckled self-deprecatingly: "Jin He is charming but not vulgar, and he can let go of things easily. He won't force anyone to do anything against their will."
Xu Yanzhen chuckled: "I don't care what kind of personality he has, and I don't want to know what it means to be able to take things in stride. I'm not interested in him."
Chu Qian shook his head: "Teacher Xu, you are good in every other way, but in this aspect, you are particularly indifferent."
Xu Yanzhen smiled but remained silent. Cold? When men become cold, they can be far more heartless than women.
Snow-capped peak.
Kim Hyuk had already arrived. He sat down in his usual spot, already planning what to say on their date, and whether to take Seo Yeon-jin out for drinks or to see a movie afterward.
Just as he was lost in thought, Chu Qian stopped beside his table: "Snap out of it."
Jin He glanced at Chu Qian with disdain: "Why are you here?"
Chu Qian smiled enigmatically: "Why are you here? That's why I'm here too."
Jin He wasn't stupid; after all, back in school, he and Chu Qian had taken turns sitting first and second. Hearing this, Jin He straightened up: "Where's Teacher Xu? She didn't come, did she?"
Chu Qian: "Stop looking. She's downstairs buying some snacks, saying it's to thank you and also as a Christmas present."
"It'll be up in a bit."
Jin He leaned forward: "You two came together? How did you two get here together? You don't have feelings for Teacher Xu, do you?"
Chu Qian twirled the wedding ring in his hand: "Our relationship is purely platonic. As for anything else, I have nothing to say."
Jin He was relieved and looked at Chu Qian: "Could you please stop getting in the way here?"
Chu Qiancai refused to leave: "That won't do. Teacher Xu invited me. What would it look like if I left now?"
"Teacher Xu has no feelings for you, you should give up as soon as possible."
Jin He was unwilling to accept this: "How can this be? Feelings can be cultivated. She doesn't like me now, but if we get to know her better, what if she falls for me?"
“I can’t reason with you,” Chu Qian sighed. He waved towards the restaurant entrance, and Xu Yanzhen waved back, heading towards table number 8.
Jin He subconsciously looked in the direction Chu Qian was looking. When he saw Xu Yanzhen's face clearly, all the laziness in his eyes disappeared, replaced by amazement.
“The lighting at the Municipal Bureau yesterday was terrible; I couldn’t even see what Teacher Xu looked like clearly.” Jin He stared intently into Xu Yanzhen’s eyes. “Only now do I realize how beautiful Teacher Xu is.”
Chu Qian nudged him: "Turn your eyes off her. Everyone knows Ms. Xu is beautiful. On our way to the restaurant, so many people have tried to chat her up."
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