Winter Time Rendering

Chapter 175: Chapter 75: Revisiting the Villa

"She left a while ago. We can’t catch her."

Zhang Shutong deliberately lied.

In reality, Lu Qinglian had only just left the school gates.

’I don’t feel like she’s an "enemy,"’ he thought.

But the fact was, everything from the tattoo and the photos the upperclassman sent to the island’s development plan was intricately connected to her.

It wasn’t that Zhang Shutong didn’t want to ask; it was that she wouldn’t tell him even if he did. And if they were to exchange information, it would circle back to the original problem: would he be exchanging intel or just exposing himself?

’Keep an eye on her, but maintain distance.’

That was Zhang Shutong’s current attitude toward Lu Qinglian.

"She left a while ago? Ah, this is my fault. I forgot to ask Qinglian to wait," Song sighed, sounding rather guilty. "Her family doesn’t even have a phone, so I can’t even call to see if she got home... How are you getting home? I can give you a lift."

Zhang Shutong nodded. "I’m not in a hurry. We have to go to Gu Qiuyan’s place first."

Song Nanshan also had things to pack up, so Zhang Shutong went with him to the office and asked, "What took you so long?"

"Oh, I forgot to mention, Qiumian’s dad called back. I told him about what happened today, and he said he’s heading back right away. Then I gave the phone to Qiumian, and the two of them started chatting. I figured I had nothing to do just standing there, so I came down first."

Father Gu was coming back a day earlier than planned.

That counted as good news.

The recent news had always been a mixed bag of good and bad. Zhang Shutong relaxed slightly and shouldered his backpack, watching as Song rummaged in a drawer and pulled out an umbrella.

"Only one?"

"Only one."

The two looked at each other.

"You take it?"

"You take it."

"Let’s just give it to Qiumian later." Song placed the umbrella in his hand.

It reminded Zhang Shutong of the story of the man, his son, and the donkey.

’Whoops.’ He immediately realized it was a terrible analogy. ’I really didn’t mean to imply Gu Qiuyan was the donkey.’

The school building was shaped like a capital L. The long side housed the classrooms; the short side had the offices, the dean’s office, the restrooms, and so on.

The two of them returned to the classroom. Song hadn’t kept anyone for cleaning duty today, telling the students to leave quickly.

But just because no students were on duty didn’t mean the classroom didn’t need cleaning. Song Nanshan called him over to help, and the two of them wiped down the blackboard and replaced the trash bag.

Being a homeroom teacher wasn’t easy. In this kind of weather, Song had to be the last one to leave.

Soon, the rest of the students in the class left under his urging. Song Nanshan helped pack Gu Qiuyan’s schoolbag, slung it over his shoulder, and wondered aloud,

"Why is this so heavy?"

Zhang Shutong explained that she had snacks in her bag. Besides, she didn’t have to carry her backpack to and from school since she always took a car, so it didn’t matter if it was a little heavy.

’Then again,’ he thought, ’we probably shouldn’t have packed it for her. She likely wasn’t planning on doing her homework anyway.’

Gu Qiuyan returned shortly after.

At least today, unlike on previous Thursdays, she wasn’t heading to the school gate with a cold expression to buy steamed buns.

The girl was in a good mood. She returned the phone to Song and said, "Thank you, Teacher." She was getting a ride home in Song Nanshan’s car today.

But when it came to Zhang Shutong, their interaction was purely an exchange of looks.

She looked at Zhang Shutong.

Zhang Shutong blinked.

Gu Qiuyan glared.

Zhang Shutong didn’t get it.

’Wait, I think I get it.’

She had probably cried in front of him earlier, and now that she’d had time to think about it, she was embarrassed.

There was no one left in the hallway. The entire floor was empty. Looking back, he saw the sky had darkened, and the only sound was the howling of the frigid wind through the glass.

The LED lights overhead, usually a piercing white, seemed dim now.

The three of them turned off the lights. If one were watching from outside, they would see the last point of light go out among the countless small squares on the four-story building.

Footsteps echoed in the stairwell.

This was the first time Zhang Shutong had ever accompanied someone to their house.

As they left the school building, he handed the umbrella to Gu Qiuyan. Then, holding his backpack over his head, he prepared to dash out into the snow. But just as he took a step, someone called out from behind him.

"Wait," the young miss finally spoke. She opened the umbrella and said irritably, "Are you stupid or something?"

She reluctantly jiggled the umbrella in her hand, tilting it outward. "Get over here."

"No need," Zhang Shutong said.

He found Gu Qiuyan’s pace too slow; he’d rather just run for it.

Gu Qiuyan glared and said,

"My stomach hurts today."

"So?"

’What does that have to do with anything?’

’That’s exactly why *you* should be holding the umbrella,’ Zhang Shutong thought.

"So you’re not allowed to make me mad!"

Zhang Shutong slowly walked back.

’Girls are troublesome creatures.’

’Girls on their period are even more troublesome creatures.’

The two of them walked out of the building side by side. Gu Qiuyan complained again, "Ugh, you’re so tall. My arm is getting sore from holding this up."

Zhang Shutong was exasperated. ’Is it my fault I’m tall?’

The girl was about 165 centimeters tall, and that was with her little boots on. Back at her house when she was wearing slippers, she only came up to Zhang Shutong’s collarbone.

Zhang Shutong had never paid attention to her height before. He’d always thought Gu Qiuyan must be around 170 centimeters. After all, she was a girl with a narrow waist and long legs; her good proportions made her look taller.

But now, standing beside him, he realized she wasn’t that tall after all. Especially now, huddled together under the umbrella, she seemed even more petite.

The longer they walked, the more awkward he felt. He finally just took the umbrella back and held it over Gu Qiuyan. To be honest, it was a thankless task. Half of his own shoulder was exposed to the elements, and he had to match Gu Qiuyan’s pace, taking it one step at a time. He would have much rather just made a run for it.

Fortunately, Gu Qiuyan had no more complaints. He glanced at the girl. Her face was buried in her red scarf, and she stared at her toes as she walked, not saying a word, leaving one footprint after another.

Under the gray-black sky, the flurry of snowflakes blurred his vision. Zhang Shutong noticed how delicate her skin was. It had looked fine inside the school building, but now, touched by the cold wind, a blush had risen on her snow-white cheeks.

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