Free Web NovelChapter 1021: Chapter 894: A Chance Encounter with an Old Classmate
Zhang Guoqing is not someone who lives like an ascetic monk. Whenever there’s an opportunity, he likes to make life a bit more comfortable for himself; when there’s no opportunity, he creates one. The bottom line is that he can’t live his whole life always for other people and other tasks.
Since it’s a rare occasion to take his wife to the city, he doesn’t want to head straight home. There are too many bright lightbulbs around; their time together is becoming increasingly scarce.
Even when they weren’t well-off, during the hardest days, he never forgot to make sure his wife ate well. This grand objective hasn’t been achieved yet, but it doesn’t stop him from making sure she’s well fed first.
The couple enjoyed a hot pot lunch, albeit a late one.
Zhou Jiao glanced at his military uniform. She silently regretted that she didn’t have the face to go shopping online with him dressed like that.
"Should we drop by Lin Zi’s place?"
Zhang Guoqing immediately shook his head. He couldn’t be bothered with that literary old youth heart revival. He was especially annoyed with Li Qinglin always jabbering about those things at the newspaper, and it put him in a bad mood.
Life is about nine-tenths unsatisfactory, it all depends on personal willingness and thoughts. Zhang Guoqing doesn’t want to invite trouble and to him, Lin Zi originally chose the wrong major.
See, after five years in the Chinese department, a Northeast tough guy turned into a sentimental little girl.
Zhang Guoqing clicked his tongue against the root of his teeth, the more he thought of Li Qinglin’s spectacled look, the more the image felt a bit of an eyesore.
Zhou Jiao chuckled privately, slapped the table, and said, "Let’s go! It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Xiao Hui. I’ll go see if she’s pregnant for her mother-in-law."
The wife’s decree is always right! Zhang Guoqing exhaled, stood up, and said, "Okay. I’ll also ask Lin Zi about matters back home."
Beijing might seem vast, but it’s still quite small; perhaps there’s something called fate at play. Imagine, the couple had just stood up, walked out the door, and immediately ran into an old acquaintance.
"Hey, long time no see, buddy."
Hearing this, Zhang Guoqing looked to the front and saw a swarm of people rushing toward him; wasn’t it his old classmate Shen Shi Yun! If he came up with a hug, that would have overdone it.
Fortunately, the guy changed his approach at the last moment!
Shen Shi Yun grinned, gave him a light punch on the shoulder, and said with a teasing smile, "Haven’t seen you in over half a year, how come you never come around?"
Zhang Guoqing glanced at the female companion beside him, smiled, and said, "I’ve been really busy; this is the first time this year I’ve taken my wife out to a restaurant."
"Are you heading back? Don’t leave yet, have some more food."
Shen Shi Yun grabbed his arm, trying to usher him inside, looked at Zhou Jiao, and said with a laugh, "Old classmates, do me a favor, because if you don’t go in, your husband wouldn’t dare."
How should she respond to this? Zhou Jiao looked away speechlessly and nodded to the woman wrapped up beside him.
"Brother Xiao Wu, not going back home for the New Year this year? How about our old classmates in Beijing gather once during the year-end break?"
"Let’s not get off track. We’ve actually eaten." If Zhang Guoqing doesn’t want to go, you can’t pull him away.
The silent female companion tugged at Shen Shi Yun. Wasn’t this presumably the prodigy student her father couldn’t stop talking about?
Shen Shi Yun immediately smacked himself on the forehead and said, "Look at me, I forgot to introduce everyone. This is our junior sister Wei Sihua, who’s about to become my wife."
"Xiao Hua, these are Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao..."
Before he could finish, Wei Sihua looked around quickly and bowed to Zhou Jiao.
She moved so fast that Zhou Jiao couldn’t even stop her; then she saw Wei Sihua approaching her with eyes full of gratitude, and a light bulb went off in her mind.
Wei Sihua pulled down her scarf and mask and said, "I’ve wanted to thank you personally for a long time, but I was worried that showing up unannounced might cause trouble for you."
So that’s why she bowed?
Zhou Jiao smiled and patted her hand, "You’re too kind, he is my mentor too."
Yes, even though she hadn’t mentioned it, Zhou Jiao had already guessed her identity. She was the daughter of Professor Wei, who had always favored her.
Before the chaos at Huaqing University, Zhou Jiao worried about Professor Wei, Counselor Xiao Wu, and others getting involved. She wasn’t a saint, and she wouldn’t put herself in danger, but after five years together, how could there not be some attachment? Especially when several of them had treated her and her husband well.
During those years, she always stood under the names of Professor Wei and others to conduct experimental projects, just to prepare for this one day. Now, they succeeded in transferring Professor Wei and others to a remote confidential research institute.
That’s great! It was all worth her painstaking efforts on the side.
"Not everyone understands the teacher-student bond," Wei Sihua couldn’t express the guilt in her heart. Initially, she blamed them, wondering why as students they created such a mess. As a result, her parents were transferred to a remote area, making it impossible for her to see them every day.
But after seeing enough familiar elders getting beaten up by their own students, and their children insulted as riffraff by everyone...
She suddenly understood a lot.
Zhou Jiao smiled and shifted the topic, "Haven’t congratulated the two of you yet; when are you planning the wedding? Don’t forget to invite us for drinks."
Wei Sihua shyly glanced at Shen Shi Yun, lowered her head, and said in a soft voice, "Soon, Aunt Shen wants it at the end of the year."
Zhang Guoqing gave Shen Shi Yun a playful punch, "Wow, you were planning to prank us with talk about not going back home? Such a big event, even if we were to go back, it has to be postponed. Congratulations, congratulations. Once the date is set, let us know. I’ll give Da Yi a heads up, and you notify the other classmates as soon as possible."
"Hahaha..."
"Stop giggling. The end of the year will be here soon. If you need anything, remember to call me." Zhang Guoqing glanced at the blush on his face, knowing he’s thin-skinned, so he didn’t tease further.
"No need, we’ve been preparing for over half a year; everything should be ready." freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
By the looks of it, the two have long been in love, likely not able to escape the handpicked choice of Professor Wei for his only daughter.
That’s good! Zhang Guoqing glanced at his little girl, knowing that another loving couple has become a family all thanks to his wife’s efforts.
"Alright, let’s get in touch again later. You two go inside; I still have some business to take care of."
"Not going in for a quick bite?" Shen Shi Yun reluctantly grabbed his arm again, eager to gossip about some of the old who’s who at the university.
Zhang Guoqing patted his belly and declined decisively, "I’m full, the sooner we finish our business, the sooner we can head back. It might snow later, and Jiao Jiao can’t handle it."
Shen Shi Yun rolled his eyes and let go of his arm.
How could he forget this guy was obsessed with spoiling his wife? Those events seem distant now, yet feel so close when he thinks back on them.
"Remember to bring our Little Ping’an and the twins to the wedding."
Zhang Guoqing chuckled and nodded. Smart thinking, they surely deserve to be invited. For an average wedding, the three kids might not even make an appearance.
