CoP 11

Ji Ling didn’t understand why Sui Cannong had such an expression on his face.

He paused for a moment, then explained to Sui Cannong, “It’s Lin’s student’s flag that got blown outside. I was helping him—”

But Sui Cannong cut him off immediately.

He said, “Come down first.”

Ji Ling felt confused and hesitated, saying, “I want to try again because…”

But Sui Cannong quickly repeated, “Come down first.”

Ji Ling saw Sui Cannong take a few steps in place, seemingly taking a deep breath out of frustration. He then said, “I’ll help you get it. I’m taller, and your current position is too dangerous.”

Ji Ling didn’t understand why Sui Cannong thought his position was dangerous.

The bottom of the window was just around his waist, and he was standing very steadily on the chair. Everything was within his control and safe.

However, Sui Cannong’s expression was very serious, and Ji Ling felt he was being overly cautious, though he knew Sui Cannong meant well.

Ji Ling glanced back at the flag on the branch, realizing he probably couldn’t reach it. Perhaps Sui Cannong would be more efficient.

So Ji Ling said, “Okay.”

Ji Ling slowly pulled his body back from the window, and at the same time, Sui Cannong, who was standing behind him, took a few steps forward.

Then Sui Cannong suddenly reached out to support Ji Ling’s waist.

Sui Cannong’s gesture was purely out of concern, but Ji Ling hadn’t expected it. He suddenly widened his eyes and his body trembled slightly.

Ji Ling lost his balance and stumbled on the chair.

Sui Cannong’s heart nearly stopped, as behind Ji Ling was the open window.

He feared Ji Ling might fall backward and quickly reached out to grab his arm, pulling him toward himself.

Ji Ling was trying to regain his balance, but Sui Cannong’s sudden pull made it impossible for him to stand on the chair. He stumbled forward.

—And suddenly, their distance became very close.

When Sui Cannong came to his senses, he found Ji Ling had fallen into his arms.

Sui Cannong’s chin touched Ji Ling’s soft hair, and at the same time, Ji Ling’s face collided with Sui Cannong’s chest. Both of them were momentarily dazed.

Ji Ling recovered slightly faster.

Sui Cannong saw him take two steps back and then lift his head. Sui Cannong felt his heart finally settle back into his chest.

He took a deep breath and asked, “Are you okay?”

Ji Ling raised his hand and gently touched his face, saying softly, “…I’m fine.”

Ji Ling’s cheeks were slightly red. He didn’t look at Sui Cannong but raised his hand again to touch his face, perhaps because it hurt from the collision.

“Can you have some safety awareness?” Sui Cannong exhaled, feeling utterly exhausted. “What if you really fell—”

Ji Ling looked at Sui Cannong but didn’t speak.

He wanted to explain that he wasn’t that reckless. If Sui Cannong hadn’t touched him, he wouldn’t have lost his balance.

But he knew Sui Cannong meant well. Ji Ling was just confused and didn’t understand why Sui Cannong was so cautious.

The atmosphere between them suddenly became awkward.

Sui Cannong finally recovered and realized he had spoken to Ji Ling in a less-than-friendly tone.

Mainly because of what Ji Ling had said at the hotpot restaurant, which sounded like a last will and testament to Sui Cannong.

Sui Cannong had been on edge for the past two days, checking on Ji Ling’s arm wound every day before leaving work.

Today, when buying the hair clip, he felt Ji Ling was in a good mood, so he relaxed a bit.

But just five minutes later, when Sui Cannong came out to throw away the trash, he saw Ji Ling standing by the window, and his mind started buzzing.

Sui Cannong’s Adam’s apple moved up and down as he said, “I, I was just worried—”

Before he could finish, Lin rushed back, followed by a bewildered Thomas holding a meter stick.

With the help of the meter stick, the flag hanging outside the window was easily retrieved. Sui Cannong, being taller, helped rehang the flag.

Lin was a warm and outgoing person. She suggested they relax since it was Friday and go out with a few other young teachers.

Thomas cheerfully agreed. Sui Cannong glanced at the silent Ji Ling beside him and swallowed the words he hadn’t finished saying.

Because it was an activity day, the students were dismissed earlier. The teachers stayed to clean up the booths and then had dinner together nearby.

After dinner, they found a quiet bar to chat.

It was the application season for the older students, which was also the teachers’ stressful season.

Meanwhile, the science teachers were preparing for the science fair next month, and the art teachers were helping students with their portfolios. The pressure on the few teachers present was significant, and they were glad to relax, so they didn’t skimp on the drinks.

Thomas had a poor tolerance for alcohol and no sense of his limits. After a few drinks, he wore a mask of pain.

“I keep thinking about my chemistry teacher. I still remember her name. She told me to apply to Cambridge, saying I had great potential…” Thomas choked up. “I was very moved and prepared very seriously for the interview, thinking about how to communicate with the admissions officers. I even memorized seventeen protein names…”

Then he burst into tears, “But I didn’t even pass the written test—”

Sui Cannong had heard this story seven times from Thomas, but he still couldn’t help but feel a bit amused at the ending.

The few female teachers nearby couldn’t help but giggle.

At first, the conversation was normal, mainly about work-related issues. But with more women present, the topic gradually shifted to celebrity gossip.

Sui Cannong’s head ached, and he felt he’d rather listen to two more hours of Cambridge admissions stories. He stood up and looked around.

He noticed that Thomas and Ji Ling were talking.

The heartbroken Thomas had put on a green wig and was babbling incoherently, soon crying even louder and raising his glass to toast with Ji Ling.

Ji Ling wasn’t the type to refuse, so he awkwardly picked up his glass in response. Sui Cannong could tell they had already had quite a bit to drink.

Sui Cannong sat down next to them.

Thomas saw Sui Cannong, laughed foolishly, and then enthusiastically introduced him to Ji Ling, “Right, right, today Sui and I played a game. He scared me by describing someone, and then I…”

Sui Cannong was startled and quickly raised his glass to cover Thomas’s mouth.

Sui Cannong glanced at Ji Ling, who, fortunately, didn’t say anything. He just sat there, listening quietly to their conversation.

Ji Ling was unusually silent, a stark contrast to the chatty Thomas.

Sui Cannong vaguely remembered that Ji Ling had also had quite a bit to drink, but he didn’t seem affected. He appeared calm and composed.

Sui Cannong thought Ji Ling must have a good tolerance for alcohol.

Sui Cannong listened to Thomas ramble for another half-hour, drinking a bit more. Eventually, he felt he couldn’t handle it and needed to use the restroom.

So Sui Cannong called out, “Teacher Ji.”

Ji Ling slowly lifted his head, not speaking but staring at Sui Cannong’s face.

Ji Ling’s eyes were beautiful, with a gentle curve. The dim lighting in the bar made his eyes look moist.

He blinked, and his eyelashes left a small fan-shaped shadow on his cheeks. For some reason, Sui Cannong was momentarily dazed.

“…Watch Thomas for me, don’t let him drink anymore,” Sui Cannong said, taking the glass from Thomas and placing it next to Ji Ling. “I’ll be back in five minutes.”

Ji Ling looked at his face for a while, then nodded after a moment.

He lowered his head and said softly, “I’ll wait for you here.”

Sui Cannong said, “Okay.”

While washing his hands in the restroom, Sui Cannong thought about the evening. He felt it might be a good opportunity to have a heart-to-heart with Ji Ling, as a slightly tipsy state might make people more open.

When he returned, Thomas was in a semi-comatose state, slumped on the table. The other female teachers said goodbye to Sui Cannong and left together in a car.

Ji Ling was still in the same position Sui Cannong had left him in, sitting upright on a high stool at the bar.

He had his hands neatly folded on his chest and was staring at a small, round ceramic bottle on the table, which contained two wilted phalaenopsis orchids.

Sui Cannong called out, “Teacher Ji.”

He saw Ji Ling turn his head slowly and respond after a moment, “Teacher Sui.”

Sui Cannong acknowledged and was about to say something when Ji Ling suddenly asked, “You said you’d be back in five minutes. Why did you take so long?”

Sui Cannong was taken aback by the question.

After a moment, he said, “Because the restroom was single-occupancy, and there was someone in front of me, so I had to wait a bit longer.”

Ji Ling looked at him for a while, then softly said, “Oh,” and lowered his head again.

Sui Cannong felt something was off.

He was pondering when he was about to sit down next to Ji Ling, and Ji Ling called out again, “Teacher Sui.”

Sui Cannong: “…Yes?”

Ji Ling asked, “Where’s your hair clip?”

Sui Cannong was confused: “What?”

Then he saw Ji Ling frown.

“The hair clip I gave you today,” Ji Ling described, using his hands to illustrate. “The green one, shaped like a bean sprout, about six to eight centimeters tall.”

Sui Cannong realized what he meant. “Oh, that one. I put it in my bag. What’s wrong?”

Ji Ling didn’t speak for a long time.

Sui Cannong felt a bit uneasy. He thought Ji Ling seemed a bit off and hesitantly asked, “Teacher Ji, are you—”

“Sui Cannong,” Ji Ling called him.

This was the first time Sui Cannong heard Ji Ling call him by his name.

“Why aren’t you wearing the hair clip?” He lifted his eyes and asked softly, “Why did you put it in your bag?”

Sui Cannong was speechless.

But Ji Ling leaned in a bit closer, staring at Sui Cannong’s eyes for a while. He then tilted his head slightly, his expression suddenly becoming a bit dejected.

“Do you not like it?” he asked softly.