Chapter 12: She caught sight of a familiar figure—it was Gu Pingsheng.

"Professor Wang mentioned last time that he wanted to meet you," she said.

Back then, Gu Pingsheng's pursuit of Wen Zhixia was the talk of the town, his fervor spreading from No. 2 High School all the way to Sifangcheng University—a story known to all. The professor naturally remembered them well; just last year, he had even asked Wen Zhixia, who had gone to visit him alone, when she would have time to bring Gu Pingsheng along.

To Wen Zhixia, Professor Wang was a gentle and kind elder who had helped her greatly in both her studies and her life. Grateful by nature, she made it a point to visit him every year.

"I can't leave right now. You going alone is just the same. I should get going," he said, gently rubbing her cheek and coaxing her with a few words. He straightened his sleeves before turning to leave.

Wen Zhixia wanted to call him back, but before she could speak, a wave of nausea overtook her and she had to rush to the bathroom. She vomited up nearly everything she had eaten that morning, leaving her feeling utterly drained as she slumped to the floor. Pressing a frown to her stomach, Wen Zhixia wondered what she could have eaten to make her so ill.

...

"That boy left you to come alone again," Professor Wang said, gazing at his former favorite student with a heavy sigh.

The professor had students everywhere, but only Wen Zhixia came to visit him early in the morning. The others, calling out to one another in groups, usually arrived in the afternoon.

Wen Zhixia accepted the tea offered by the professor's wife, and as she thanked her, she smiled gently and explained, "Pingsheng is busy. There are so many things at the company that need his attention."

Professor Wang, now older and more short-tempered, snorted in irritation. "Don't make excuses for him. I've said it before—he's always been a rebellious one. And you, silly girl, if he sold you off one day, you’d probably help him count the money. He can't even spare the time to come see this old man with you? Back when he was chasing after you and sneaking into my lectures every day, he seemed to have all the time in the world!"

Whenever the professor remembered his favorite student giving up the chance to go straight to graduate school at Tsinghua or Peking University, it filled him with resentment, and his annoyance with Gu Pingsheng only grew.

Wen Zhixia couldn't help but laugh softly as she recalled those days—Gu Pingsheng skipping his own major classes just to pester her, and Professor Wang, exasperated, throwing chalk at him to chase him out.

"Your complexion doesn't look so good," Professor Wang said, his irritation subsiding as he turned his attention to her.

"My appetite hasn't been great lately," Wen Zhixia replied.

"You must eat properly. Don't be like those young girls always thinking about dieting. If you ruin your health now, you'll regret it when you're older," Professor Wang advised her earnestly.

"I'm not dieting, truly. My appetite's just been off. You don't need to worry about me. I heard from your wife that you've been sneaking drinks again. Didn't the doctor tell you repeatedly to quit?"

Professor Wang puffed out his cheeks, grumbling in annoyance that his wife had tattled on him in front of his student.

His wife, who had spent a lifetime with him, knew his character all too well. Both were intellectuals, and even their bickering would be laced with references from half a bookshelf of classics.

Listening to them, Wen Zhixia felt a deep sense of envy for the warmth and companionship that lingered even in their old age.

She spent the morning at the professor's house, and when their child came home at noon to prepare a birthday celebration, Wen Zhixia didn't want to intrude on their family time. Quietly, she set down her things and slipped away.

Leaving the lively warmth behind, the solitude of sitting alone in her car felt all the more stark. Remembering that they were out of Gu Pingsheng's favorite sauce at home, she decided to stop by a nearby shopping mall to buy some.

As she prepared to park her car, she caught a glimpse through the windshield of a familiar figure—it was Gu Pingsheng.

He was walking alongside a woman, the two of them intimately close, like lovers.

Wen Zhixia froze.