Ouyang Chen had just parked the car when Mo Qingyun excitedly rolled down the window and waved to the students gathered at the school entrance.
Ouyang Chen looked towards the students. Some of the younger ones were accompanied by parents, while others who appeared to be adults were alone. There were also older individuals who seemed to be Mo Qingyun's students.
Just as Mo Qingyun was about to open the door herself, Ouyang Chen placed his hand on it.
Ouyang Chen pointed at the crowd and asked, "Are they all your students?"
Mo Qingyun nodded slightly. Ouyang Chen then looked at the group more closely.
Ouyang Chen inquired, "Where is that man who's always with you?"
Mo Qingyun blinked, confused. Who was always with her?
Ouyang Chen tilted his chin up dismissively. "The one wearing glasses, with the slicked-back hair and effeminate appearance..."
After Ouyang Chen's description, Mo Qingyun frowned and thought hard, tentatively writing down Xie Youlin's name.
Ouyang Chen, though clearly bothered, tried to sound casual. "Oh, really? Maybe. I don't remember his name. Perhaps you never introduced him."
Mo Qingyun then wrote, "He's our boss. This training school is his."
Ouyang Chen glanced quickly at the words. He felt uneasy, like a rabbit falling into a wolf's jaws. He was certain the man named Xie had ulterior motives.
Having confirmed the bothersome person wasn't present, Ouyang Chen asked, "Why isn't he here? Won't he come to listen to your open class today?"
Ouyang Chen secretly hoped that being present at such an important moment would touch Mo Qingyun. However, her next answer poured cold water on his hopes.
Mo Qingyun quickly wrote, "He was supposed to come, but something came up last minute. He'll probably be at the park later."
"Let's get out, your students are waiting for you!" Ouyang Chen exclaimed.
Ouyang Chen looked ahead, listening as Mo Qingyun unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the car door. Just as Mo Qingyun stepped out...
The moment her foot touched the ground, Ouyang Chen swiftly unbuckled his own seatbelt, flung open the car door, popped open the trunk, and rushed over.
By the time Mo Qingyun reached the spot, he had already lifted the heavy box.
When Mo Qingyun reached out to take the box, Ouyang Chen impatiently brushed her hand away.
"This box is too heavy for you. You can't carry it. Come on, you walk ahead, and I'll follow you."
He gestured for Mo Qingyun to go first, but he took a step himself, ensuring Mo Qingyun, who was still a bit slow to react, could keep pace.
Seeing a man even more handsome than Xie Youlin following Teacher Mo, some of the teachers started whispering. Even some students and parents were captivated.
Curious students came closer, admiring and sizing up Ouyang Chen. He seemed to relish their attention, feeling that he finally had an opportunity to understand Mo Qingyun's world.
The students greeted Mo Qingyun with sign language, and she happily responded.
A chubby child managed to squeeze through the crowd and stood in front of Ouyang Chen, not even reaching his waist.
The little boy made a gesture to Ouyang Chen, pointing to his own face, then drawing a circle on his face with an open palm, and finally giving a thumbs-up.
Ouyang Chen didn't understand, but he maintained a polite smile. This signature smile further charmed everyone around him, who repeatedly gave him thumbs-ups.
Just then, a bus arrived. Led by their teachers, everyone boarded one by one. Mo Qingyun counted the people and remembered Ouyang Chen holding the box. She was about to take it from him when he deliberately dodged her again.
He held the box with one hand and, to his apparent chagrin, allowed the little chubby boy to take his other hand. It seemed the boy had become friends with Ouyang Chen. The boy not only boarded the bus himself but also led Ouyang Chen onto it.
Ouyang Chen placed the box on an empty seat in the very front row. The little boy, seeing Ouyang Chen on the bus, felt relieved and ran back to sit with his grandmother. Mo Qingyun, boarding last, still didn't understand Ouyang Chen's intentions, but she was grateful he had carried the box for her.
The bus driver saw Mo Qingyun board and closed the door. Mo Qingyun looked anxiously at Ouyang Chen, realizing the driver would start the bus soon if he didn't get off.
Mo Qingyun pointed at Ouyang Chen with her finger, then realized he might not understand. She quickly took out a pen and paper. But before she could write anything, Ouyang Chen plopped down in the first-row aisle seat by the door, pretending not to look at Mo Qingyun.
Bus Driver: "Teacher Mo, we're starting. Please take your seat."
The driver's words interrupted Mo Qingyun. She looked up at Ouyang Chen and realized he had no intention of getting off. Mo Qingyun nodded to the driver and looked for a seat.
However, all the seats were taken. Except for the front row, there were no other empty seats.
A large box occupied the front row on the left, leaving only the window seat next to Ouyang Chen.
Ouyang Chen sat with his arms crossed, legs crossed, and his eyes closed. Mo Qingyun had no choice but to carefully squeeze past Ouyang Chen's legs, inching her way inside.
Suddenly, the bus jolted, and Mo Qingyun lost her balance, leaning backward. Just as her head was about to hit the railing...
Ouyang Chen opened his eyes and reacted quickly, grabbing Mo Qingyun!
As a result, Ouyang Chen pulled Mo Qingyun back heavily into the seat, and Mo Qingyun's forehead bumped hard against his.
Ouyang Chen: "!!!"
Mo Qingyun: "!!!"
Ouyang Chen rubbed his forehead and snapped, "I saved you out of kindness, and you're retaliating?"
Mo Qingyun quickly waved her hands. She truly hadn't regained her balance from Ouyang Chen's pull, and then Ouyang Chen quickly stood up and pulled Mo Qingyun down to sit again.
This time, Mo Qingyun tried to control herself, but her face was still very close to Ouyang Chen. He leaned in slightly...
Now Mo Qingyun's forehead was right by Ouyang Chen's mouth. With a soft "pop," Ouyang Chen seemed to kiss Mo Qingyun's forehead.
Mo Qingyun quickly moved away, and Ouyang Chen looked at the girl his lips had just brushed against with embarrassment.
But he sat up straight, making space for Mo Qingyun. As she stiffly sat beside him, they both froze, their hands resting obediently on their laps.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Mo Qingyun and Ouyang Chen seemed to have a silent agreement. They both moved to the side, creating more space between them.
One touched his forehead, the other touched her lips.
A few more seconds passed, and they slowly moved closer to each other. This time, they both looked at each other simultaneously.
Ouyang Chen: "Sorry."
Mo Qingyun signed, "You just now?"
Ouyang Chen: "It wasn't on purpose."
Mo Qingyun signed, "It's okay."
They looked at each other for three seconds, then nodded quickly, as if reaffirming their words.
At that moment, the chubby boy trotted over and handed Ouyang Chen two candies.
The little boy signed, "The TV says you eat candy before kissing."
Mo Qingyun quickly waved her hands and signed to Ouyang Chen that they weren't about to kiss. However, the entire bus seemed to have misunderstood the relationship between Mo Qingyun and Ouyang Chen.
Although Ouyang Chen couldn't understand their sign language, he took the candy from the boy and decided to eat one to calm his nerves.
So, he ate one himself and then peeled the other, holding it out to Mo Qingyun's lips.
The chubby boy pouted and squinted with a kissing gesture, which suddenly made Ouyang Chen understand his intention for running over!
Mo Qingyun looked at Ouyang Chen even more awkwardly. Just as Ouyang Chen was about to give the chubby boy a light tap, the boy excitedly ran to the back.
Ouyang Chen now held the candy in front of Mo Qingyun's lips, leaving them both at a loss.
Mo Qingyun looked at the candy. Just as she was about to slowly take it, Ouyang Chen quickly withdrew his hand and popped it into his own mouth!
Two cold, icy mint candies melted in his mouth. Every breath felt like being on a glacier. What was even more unbearable was the strong mint that almost made his brain freeze.
Ouyang Chen quickly turned his head, lightly tapping his forehead, avoiding Mo Qingyun's gaze as he quickly crushed and swallowed the mint candy.