Chapter 39

With Liu Meng's running speed, it was quite easy to catch up with Guo Yunting. Before long, he could clearly see her, dressed in a cotton sportswear that was both close-fitting and breathable. Her rounded curves trembled with each step, and her thighs extended down to her slender calves, creating a very beautiful sight.

He took a deep breath, cleared his throat, and prepared himself. Liu Meng then shouted in English, with a standard American accent, mixing up various pieces of memorized English texts into a jumbled speech. He could talk for an hour without repeating himself.

As he passed by Guo Yunting, he deliberately slowed down so she could hear him more clearly. He maintained this pace for about a minute, then sped up and ran ahead.

He left a cool and confident back view for Guo Yunting.

It was all about timing! Just like eating a meal one bite at a time, a good impression had to be built step by step. The first step was to pique her curiosity.

Women were naturally very curious.

Guo Yunting took a deep breath, as if to expel the anxiety in her heart. Recently, her mood had been terrible. Her husband had left for business in Nanyang and never returned.

In fact, she had long noticed the signs, but for the sake of her daughter, she had been deceiving herself, comforting herself, and trying not to think about the messy situation.

She had thought her husband's heart was still with the family, that it was just a temporary infatuation.

She had believed he would remember their years of shared feelings.

She had thought he wouldn't forget their mutual support and the beautiful, unforgettable campus romance that had brought them to this point, through so many hardships.

Her husband's calls became fewer and fewer. At first, her daughter often asked about her father, but recently, she seemed to have sensed something and became silent, irritable, and unwilling to talk to her.

Thinking about it made her feel frustrated. Her daughter thought she had driven her father away and was quite resentful.

They had indeed argued a lot during that period, and she had said many times that her husband should leave. However, she had never mentioned his affair to her daughter, as she couldn't bring herself to do it.

She also felt ashamed and wanted to maintain her image and authority in front of her daughter.

Her daughter's academic performance had also declined. The homeroom teacher had called her multiple times, saying that her daughter was not paying attention in class and, after being criticized, had even started skipping classes.

She had tried to communicate with her daughter several times, but her daughter ignored her. When pushed, she would lock herself in her room and refuse to eat.

Her daughter had been an excellent student, ranking in the top three of her grade, talented and skilled in playing the piano. She had lost hope for her future, just trying to get through each day. As long as her colleagues and acquaintances didn't know, she could continue to pretend that everything was fine in her marriage.

But her daughter was still young, with a beautiful life and a bright future ahead. She didn't want her own problems to affect her daughter's future. She was very anxious and didn't know what to do, even stopping her regular running routine for a few days.

Today, she was so frustrated that she came out to run and clear her mind.

While lost in thought, she heard a young man shouting in English as he ran past. His figure was very swift, giving off a healthy and sunny vibe.

Although she was a Chinese literature teacher with a high level of English, she immediately recognized that the young man's pronunciation was very standard and his vocabulary was very authentic. He must be a first-year student at Ice City University of Technology, as students often appeared here.

Guo Yunting felt a bit curious.

The young man had already run past her twice, and Guo Yunting still showed no reaction. Liu Meng was getting anxious, almost wanting to introduce himself, but he held back and continued running.

The young man ran past again, and Guo Yunting opened her mouth to call him, but he was already ten meters away. In public, she couldn't bring herself to shout at a stranger.

She sighed, thinking that perhaps finding a tutor and companion for her daughter wasn't a bad idea. Her daughter used to be diligent and outstanding in her studies, and she had never considered a tutor. When her colleagues worried about their children, she had secretly felt proud of her well-behaved and sensible daughter.

Thinking of this, she sighed deeply again, never expecting things to turn out this way.

She was tired from running and couldn't catch up with the young man, so she sat down to rest, waiting for him to run another lap so she could talk to him and see if he was suitable or could recommend a classmate.

Liu Meng soon ran another lap, but he couldn't see Guo Yunting. Just as he was wondering, a voice called out, "Young man, hello."

It was just a blind spot, a corner he hadn't noticed. She was sitting on a bench by the roadside.

"Did you call me, sister?" Liu Meng asked, feigning surprise and pointing at himself.

"Yes, I called you, but I'm not a sister, you should call me aunt," Guo Yunting said with the air of a Chinese literature professor, her tone intellectual and gentle.

"You don't look much older than me," Liu Meng replied, "surprised" and flattered her. After all, Guo Yunting did look young, and he was genuinely impressed.

He sat down next to her.

Guo Yunting chuckled, "My daughter is almost in junior high school, so I'm definitely not a sister." It was clear she was in a good mood, as women always feel happy when complimented, especially those in their early thirties being called young.

She continued, "I saw you running and shouting in English, you must be a diligent and studious student. You're from Ice City University of Technology, right?"

Liu Meng nodded, "Really? You don't look like it at all. I thought you had just graduated."

"How could I lie to a young man like you? Can I see your student ID?" Guo Yunting asked, then realized she might seem too abrupt and explained, "Don't worry, I'm not a bad person. I teach at Ice City Normal University. Here's my work ID. I just heard your English and wanted to chat with you."

Liu Meng was more than willing. Hearing this, he felt there was a chance and said, "Sister, I don't have my student ID, but I have a campus card with my photo and personal information. Here, take a look."

He handed her his campus card.

A campus card was a magnetic card used in universities for various purposes, such as dining and library access.

Guo Yunting looked at it and was satisfied. The young man was indeed a first-year student at Ice City University of Technology. To be admitted there, one had to be an excellent student, so his character was likely good. She immediately trusted him more and relaxed her guard.

Chatting with the young man improved her mood, and she smiled. "Very good, getting into Ice City University of Technology is not easy. You must be an outstanding student."

They then started chatting about literature, a topic Liu Meng was somewhat knowledgeable about. He had spent a lot of time in the library reading various books, and he was particularly interested in Guo Yunting's preferences. They hit it off, and it was already around six o'clock.

Guo Yunting looked at her watch, feeling a bit reluctant. She hadn't had such a good conversation in days, and the pent-up frustration in her heart had been greatly relieved. She felt much lighter and a bit regretful. "It's getting late. I need to pick up my daughter. When would be a good time for you to come to my place? Her grades have dropped a lot recently, and I hope you can tutor her. As a teacher, I can't teach my own daughter well, which is embarrassing."

"Sister, don't be so formal. I think today is a good day. I have nothing else to do, so I'll go with you to pick up Yan Yan. She must be a lovely girl. I'm very curious to meet her after hearing about her from you," Liu Meng said without hesitation.

The little girl, Zhou Shiyuan, attended the affiliated primary school of Ice City Normal University, the top-ranked primary school in the city with excellent teachers. Only the most outstanding children could study there.

"Look at you, calling me sister. It makes me feel so old."

"What's wrong with that? I'd feel awkward calling you aunt. You're such a young and beautiful lady."

They then drove to the affiliated primary school of Ice City Normal University. They parked by the roadside and waited. Soon, the children came out of school.

Zhou Shiyuan stood out among the group of children, with a unique and proud aura that didn't fit in with her surroundings. Her face had a serious expression that was unusual for a child her age.

Seeing this, Guo Yunting felt a pang in her heart. She glanced at Liu Meng, who was smiling, and felt a bit relieved. What a sunny and confident young man. He would surely influence her daughter and melt her frozen little heart.

"Yan Yan, over here," Guo Yunting waved and called out.

Zhou Shiyuan walked over and saw the man next to her mother. She glanced at him and said coldly, "Who is this? Why are you with a stranger?"

...

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