Chapter 153: Probing

Qin Yu followed Qian Xiao into her room.

The room contained nothing but a small bed draped in a simple, white-patterned spread. Beside it sat a desk with a notebook and a pen tucked inside, along with a single chair. Aside from these, the room was entirely bare.

Taking in the sparse surroundings, Qin Yu’s mind raced. She remembered that the rooms in this villa were never meant to be this austere.

Seeming to sense Qin Yu’s confusion, Qian Xiao sat on the edge of the bed and smiled. "I had most of the things in here moved out. I’ve grown to prefer simplicity."

Qin Yu nodded, choosing not to press the matter. She walked over to the chair, pulled it out, and sat down facing Qian Xiao.

"Qin Yu, I want to ask you a question," Qian Xiao said, her gaze fixed on her guest.

Qin Yu looked at her, a faint smile playing on her lips, and nodded, gesturing for her to continue.

"What do you think of Xia Cheng?" Qian Xiao asked.

Qin Yu observed the woman before her. Time had etched fine wrinkles onto her face, and upon closer inspection, a few strands of gray hair were visible, yet she maintained the same gentle air she had always possessed. Qin Yu felt a momentary sense of vertigo; the woman before her merged perfectly with the memory of the person she once knew.

Noticing Qin Yu’s distracted expression, Qian Xiao licked her lips and repeated the question. "What do you think of Xia Cheng?" This time, her tone carried an undeniable weight of pressure.

Qin Yu snapped back to reality, pursed her lips, and asked, "In what regard?"

"As a person, of course! His character, his conduct, and so on," Qian Xiao replied.

After a moment’s thought, Qin Yu said, "He is a good man, very responsible."

Qian Xiao seemed dissatisfied with this answer. She leaned forward, staring intently at Qin Yu as if trying to extract the specific answer she desired from her face.

Qin Yu leaned back, shifting her weight to push her chair slightly away; Qian Xiao’s gaze made her skin crawl. She did not know what answer was expected of her, but she had an intuitive sense that it was not one she wanted to give.

Qian Xiao noticed the small movement. She settled back, bowed her head slightly to fidget with her fingers, and asked, "Then what do you think of Zhao Meng?"

"Her? She is a very lively and adorable girl. Although she can be reckless at times, she is also willing to take responsibility. She has a way of being meticulous despite her rough exterior—she can sometimes spot the smallest details!" As Qin Yu thought of Zhao Meng, her expression softened completely.

At these words, Qian Xiao’s hands paused. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, offered Qin Yu a smile, and fell silent.

Qin Yu watched her, sensing an air of dissatisfaction lingering about her. Unable to gauge her thoughts, Qin Yu chose to remain silent as well.

After a long time, Qian Xiao sighed, her expression turning melancholy. "Qin Yu, do you still remember how we used to be?"

Qin Yu nodded, then shook her head. Even if she could recall those memories, they felt far too distant now.

Qian Xiao did not understand the gesture, but it did not stop her from continuing.

"I remember the first time I saw you. You were arguing with another teacher, wearing a faint smile, so calm and confident. That composure made me feel that this girl was truly to my liking. I remember thinking, if I had possessed your poise when I was young, I wouldn’t have had to face so many regrets later in life.

"Later, I specifically requested to teach your class, and when I witnessed your talent, I was even more delighted. I knew that, to you, I was both a teacher and a friend, and I always regarded you as my proudest student and my closest confidante.

"It is a pity that you eventually abandoned your plans for further study and left. I heard from others that it was for a man. I was actually happy for you, because not everyone has the courage to give up everything for love.

"Do you know? I’ve always envied you. You knew what you wanted, and you were willing to sacrifice what you had for it. But I... I could never do that." Qian Xiao’s voice choked, as if she were haunted by unpleasant memories.

Qin Yu’s fingers twitched. She leaned firmly against the back of the chair and smiled candidly. "Perhaps. One can only truly know one's own affairs. As for me, I actually regret giving up those opportunities back then." *Wasting so much of my youth,* she added to herself.

Qian Xiao seemed surprised by this admission. She glanced at Qin Yu and asked, "Why?"

"Why? There’s no great mystery to it. It’s just that I’ve seen many things clearly since then," Qin Yu replied.

Qian Xiao felt she had touched upon a hidden wound. She clasped her hands tightly, looking somewhat lost.

Qin Yu curled her lips into a smile. "Teacher, do you know? I have always respected you. I was especially happy when you took over our class because your achievements in our field commanded my admiration. But the others in the class did not think highly of you. I once overheard their comments about you. Would you like to hear them?"

Qian Xiao looked up and smiled. "Why not?"

"'Teacher Qian looks gentle and kind, but she actually harbors deep schemes. She is more ambitious than anyone. On the surface, she is a kind teacher, but in reality, she loves using that gentleness to destroy people step by step,'" Qin Yu said, mimicking the students of those years.

Qian Xiao’s face stiffened. She asked, somewhat rigidly, "Do you think so too?"

Qin Yu shook her head. "I didn't think so then, and I don't think so now. If I believed you were that kind of person, would I have ever become your friend?"

Qian Xiao exhaled in relief and chuckled, "I knew you understood me."

Qin Yu shook her head, leaned forward, and with a glint of mischief in her eyes, said softly, "But now that I think about it, there is no smoke without fire, is there?"

Qian Xiao froze. Her hands tightened, her lips pressed into a thin line, and she stared fixedly at Qin Yu.

"What do you mean by that?" Qian Xiao asked.

Qin Yu laughed softly. "Teacher, why be so tense? The past is behind us; we should be looking at the present!"

Qian Xiao stared at her, as if trying to find something on her face that might serve her own ends. Qin Yu sat there calmly, letting her look.

"Teacher, did you call me here today just to ask these few questions?" Qin Yu asked with a faint smile.

Qian Xiao was taken aback. She replied, "No."

"Oh? Then, after talking for so long, what is it that you actually want?" Qin Yu continued to smile.