Chapter 11: Visiting the Teacher

Teacher Shen Lin’s home was simple yet elegant, with warm yellow wallpaper, a small sofa, a low rectangular wooden table, and a movable plastic bookshelf. Though the space was modest, it was tidy and inviting.

Since it was a staff dormitory, the rooms were not large, and when several people entered together, it felt somewhat crowded.

After briefly greeting the teacher and exchanging a few words, the group gradually left downstairs, leaving only Fu Yuan, Yu Xin, and the class monitor seated on the sofa.

“Please have a seat for a moment,” Teacher Shen said with a sigh to the three of them. “You came unexpectedly, so I wasn’t prepared.”

With that, she turned and went to the kitchen.

She was nearing forty but still looked full of vitality, with beautifully softly curled long hair. Her gentle nature and preference for wearing long trench coats belted at the waist marked her as a typical lover of foreign literature.

Fu Yuan took in her surroundings: a living room, a bedroom, a kitchen, and a bathroom. The bedroom door was ajar about a quarter of the way, revealing white tiled flooring and black-and-white wallpaper.

“Do you have something you want to discuss with the teacher?” the class monitor broke the silence first when the others remained quiet.

Fu Yuan simply responded with a soft “Mm” but said no more.

Yu Xin sat respectfully on the sofa, seeming somewhat unsure. The usually carefree girl appeared shy as she pulled two English novels from the snack bag she had just packed.

The two novels were identical in packaging, with black covers embossed with gold patterns, sharply creased spines, and finely stitched bindings that exuded understated luxury.

Seeing the confusion in Fu Yuan’s eyes, Yu Xin lowered her gaze to the books and softly said, “These are English novels I wrote. I want to give one to Teacher Shen and have her sign the other for my collection.”

The class monitor was surprised, staring at the thickness and estimating the word count, then gasped, “You… you’re really determined!”

“Would you like to try the strawberry cream cake I made?” Teacher Shen came out of the kitchen carrying a white plate topped with a six-inch round strawberry cream cake.

She smiled and said, “I saw in the group chat last night that someone might visit, but I didn’t expect so many. I had some strawberries, cream, and flour at home, so I tried baking a cake. It’s not enough for everyone, but it’s enough for you few.”

“Wow!” Yu Xin cheered and went to help place the plate on the low wooden table in front of the sofa, then followed her to the kitchen to get utensils.

Teacher Shen beamed as she sliced the cake, showing no sign of the nightmare she had had earlier that day.

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Fu Yuan watched her for a while before lowering her head to accept a piece of cake, quietly saying “Thank you.”

Looking down, she noticed a bandage on Teacher Shen’s left index finger, freshly applied, and a small smear of cream on her usually pristine clothes.

Perhaps noticing Fu Yuan’s gaze, Shen Lin smiled and raised her injured finger. “I cut it while chopping vegetables this morning. It’s nothing serious.”

They all ate the cake together. The strawberries were fresh, tart and sweet with a refreshing aroma. The cream was silky and delicate, filling the mouth with rich dairy flavor and a gentle texture.

The cake base seemed slightly overbaked, a bit firm on the tongue, but the strawberries and cream more than made up for this minor flaw.

After the cake, the conversation lightened. The class monitor and Yu Xin chatted about amusing university stories, with Shen Lin nodding in agreement from the side.

Yu Xin hesitated briefly before handing the novel resting on her lap to Shen Lin.

“At the time, you inspired me to love reading foreign novels. I majored in English in college. This is my novel—one copy for you to read and review, and the other I hope you’ll sign for me to keep.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Shen Lin’s eyes. She wiped her hands, stood, and took the book with both hands, bowing politely with sincere and focused eyes. “It is my honor, young lady.”

They all laughed, and Shen Lin carried one novel into the bedroom to fetch a pen.

Fu Yuan followed.

Upon entering, the scent of mixed herbal medicine filled the air—Cassia seeds, Angelica dahurica, sandalwood, silkworm sand, clove... Her expression darkened slightly, recognizing most as calming sleep aids.

“Teacher Shen, have you been having trouble sleeping lately?” Fu Yuan asked, picking up a sachet on the bedside table. The pale blue cloth was embroidered with rippling waves and a pair of mandarin ducks entwined necks. She sniffed it and caught a hint of cardamom.

Shen Lin, filling a pen with ink, glanced back hesitantly. “A little, yes, though I don’t remember the dreams clearly. But I do wake up with headaches.”

“Did you make this sachet yourself?” Fu Yuan unwrapped it, revealing yellow and green dried herbs inside. She gently pinched some, causing the pieces to crumble.

Most commercially sold sachets online had a single scent, but this blend suggested it was homemade.

“A student gave it to me. One of them just returned to school a few days ago.” Shen Lin slid a piece of paper beneath the pen nib, allowing the ink to spread smoothly. After drying, Fu Yuan noticed a touch of sadness in her expression.

“You’ve probably seen the news. The student who drowned in the river was his younger brother,” Shen Lin paused at the door, then added softly, “He was also my student.”

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Fu Yuan glanced around the bedroom: a simple long fluorescent light, a double bed, a desk.

On the desk lay the novel and neatly stacked manuscript pages, a desk lamp with a cardboard shade, and a nearly new white laptop—all closed.

“My condolences,” Fu Yuan whispered.

“I’m not as heartbroken as before,” Shen Lin replied.

When spirits are weighed down, nightmares can follow, and Fu Yuan, sitting on the sofa, sensed something subtly amiss.

In front of Yu Xin, Shen Lin signed the novel’s title page in elegant script with “Sherry,” her English name.

After a moment’s hesitation, she added a smaller line beneath, delicate and refined:

For U, a thousand times over.

“May you keep your passion and blossom in your ideals,” she whispered, blowing gently to dry the ink before handing the book back to Yu Xin with a serious tone. “I will read your novel carefully. It’s the best gift I’ve received this year.”

They shared a gentle embrace, both moved.

The conversation turned to everyday matters, with Fu Yuan listening nearby as the atmosphere grew warm and relaxed.

As the visit ended, Shen Lin looked at Fu Yuan with concern. “Are you feeling better now?”

Fu Yuan nodded softly. “Much better.”

Shen Lin’s gaze softened. “You used to sleep so much, I worried about your health.”

Fu Yuan smiled faintly. “Sorry to make you worry.”