551. Old Classmates
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“I’ll be off to the store for a bit, then tonight I’m going with your uncle to meet some relatives, so don’t wait for me.”
As they exited the mall, Aunt waved at Lin Nan.
“Going to a family gathering at this hour?” Lin Nan asked, slightly perplexed.
Aunt didn’t bother with much explanation, just called Chen Yao over and shoved the newly purchased condoms into his hands while sternly saying, “You’ve been together for a while! Why haven’t you made a move on Lin Nan yet?”
Chen Yao had never felt so awkward from being scolded or subjected to double standards. His usually thick-skinned demeanor was surprisingly flushed, and he was at a loss for how to respond.
Should he just blurt out that he and Lin Nan are already an item?
But somehow that felt… difficult to say out loud!
Lin Nan curiously watched the mother-son duo whispering off to the side while she idly gazed around.
Right next to Walmart was a small park, featuring a modest hill and a small artificial lake. It wasn’t exactly a paradise of chirping birds and blooming flowers; the ground was simply paved with bricks, and a cobblestone path wound around the lake, leading up the hill.
In a slightly wider area of the park, there was a group of elderly folks engaging in square dancing. These days, square dancing had evolved; the once-popular Phoenix Legend was no longer in vogue, replaced by a bunch of aunties learning to do the Electric Slide with a few youngsters.
After briefing Chen Yao about everything, Aunt waved him goodbye and flagged down a taxi. Only then did Chen Yao head over to Lin Nan’s side, extending an invitation: “It’s still early, wanna take a stroll?”
“Sure!”
Descending the steps from the mall led them to the cobblestone path that circled the tiny lake. Lin Nan’s shoes had thin soles, and as she walked, she could feel the stones digging into her feet.
They walked side by side when Lin Nan glanced at Chen Yao, hesitated for a moment, and then linked her arm with his.
Surely, there wouldn’t be anyone recognized around, right?
Having attended middle and high school in this small county, Lin Nan had acquired more than a hundred classmates and friends over the years, and she was anxious about old acquaintances spotting her.
Plus, it was the Dragon Boat Festival; classmates who were working or studying elsewhere might be back home.
“Feeling hungry for a late-night snack?” Chen Yao slowed down, worried Lin Nan’s short legs might struggle to keep up with his longer strides.
Although proportionally Lin Nan’s legs could be considered long, Chen Yao still towered over her.
“Not really craving anything.” Lin Nan’s gaze drifted to a stray cat sitting on the railing by the lake, reminding her of her own two cats, and she sighed, “I wonder if Lilith has put Cola on a diet… I haven’t seen her in a while.”
Of course, a cat shouldn’t be getting fatter; Lin Nan was genuinely worried that her precious Cola might suddenly drop dead from being overweight.
“She has magic. No matter how fat she gets, she’ll be fine, right?”
“True.”
Ever since Chen Yao discovered her secret, Lin Nan felt their relationship had gotten even more intimate.
When cozying up to Chen Yao, she no longer felt any nervousness; she had relaxed quite a bit.
Letting out a yawn, Lin Nan realized she had experienced way too much today, and by eight o’clock she was already feeling sleepy.
Besides the two of them, there were plenty of families strolling along the cobblestone path, chatting away, surrounded by the cheerful noise of children and the typical banter between couples and parents.
The ordinary cobblestone path seemed to be filled with a warm, harmonious vibe, making everyone walking on it feel increasingly at peace.
Lin Nan observed the people around them, her eyes glimmering with a hint of envy.
From time to time, Chen Yao would sneak glances at Lin Nan’s cheeks. Under the dim light of the streetlamps, her already delicate face looked almost celestial.
Although Lin Nan didn’t compare to those overly made-up online influencers, with a bit of baby fat still lingering on her cheeks, to Chen Yao, she got more charming with each passing look.
Noticing his stare, Lin Nan casually asked, “Why are you staring at me?”
“What do you think our kids will look like in the future?”
Lin Nan pondered for a moment, frowning, “I heard boys take after their moms and girls take after their dads… We’d want a boy, right? If a girl took after you, it’d be a disaster…”
Hearing this, Chen Yao couldn’t help but protest: “What? Am I not handsome?”
“Your eyes are too small, your nose isn’t prominent, and you’ve gained a bit of weight—your face went from square to pancake! If a girl inherits your genes, she’d be doomed to look ugly!” Lin Nan exaggeratedly critiqued.
“How am I a pancake face?” Chen Yao pulled out his phone, checking the reflection in the black screen, “I clearly have an oval face!”
“Pfft~”
After a leisurely stroll around the small park outside Walmart, the pair sauntered back in the direction of home.
They were scheduled to leave by bus the next afternoon, and since Pan Maoxin had final exams coming up, Lin Nan would be heading over to give him a lesson later that day.
“I booked the ticket at the South Station; it’s handy for me and easier to get to the student’s place from there.” Lin Nan was busy preparing to order her ticket, head down.
Chen Yao asked, “Should I go with you?”
“Not necessary. I’ll head back after class, and you can drop by the rental apartment to start cooking dinner.”
The North Station of the train had direct buses to the school located on the outskirts of the city, while the South Station was in the city center—clearly, it would be more convenient for Lin Nan after finishing her tutoring session.
But Chen Yao felt uneasy just thinking about his girlfriend being alone in a room with another guy: “Once he’s done with finals, let’s just stop with the tutoring, alright? It wouldn’t hurt to find a real educational institution for you to intern at during your junior year.”
“Only if it’s in junior year,” Lin Nan nodded, but she was concerned about not being able to manage the students.
As a tutor for Pan Maoxin, if she couldn’t handle the student, she could just give them a good whack, but as a teacher at an educational institution, that wouldn’t fly at all; she wouldn’t just be reprimanded—who knows, she might even get accused of lacking professional ethics.
As they arrived back at the People’s Square, Lin Nan suddenly heard someone calling from not too far away.
“Chen Yao!”
She froze for a second, and both she and Chen Yao turned to look, spotting a girl on the edge of the square nervously waving at them from a bench.
She looked somewhat familiar, but after a closer look, Lin Nan recognized her as a high school classmate. It’d been years since they last met, and she had changed her hairstyle; the once chubby girl had slimmed down quite a lot.
Lin Nan instinctively held her breath, her face heating up.
Chen Yao was also taken aback, glancing between the girl and Lin Nan, unsure whether to approach or not.
Before he could hesitate for too long, the girl hesitantly jogged over, arriving in front of them, her face flushed: “Chen Yao! You didn’t recognize me, huh?”
“I did.” Chen Yao instinctively glanced at Lin Nan beside him.
The girl also glanced at Lin Nan, assuring her, “It’s okay, I’m just a regular schoolmate of Chen Yao’s, just saying hi.”
“Uh…” Lin Nan chimed in awkwardly.
“Chen Yao, I remember Lin Nan goes to the same school as you, right?”
Chen Yao felt a bit embarrassed and nodded awkwardly.
“Give me his phone number. He doesn’t reply to me on QQ.”
