Chapter 40: Don't Mind

Five minutes before start—audience filed in with tickets.
Famous domestic director’s new suspense—day one trending—discussions, clips, reviews everywhere.
Qi Yu and Jiang Ya entered—nearly half full. Row seven center—narrow aisle—Jiang Ya in long dress harder to walk—avoid touching audience ahead.
Passing two middle-aged men—they did not yield—knees seemed deliberately forward—cloudy old eyes glued on Jiang Ya.
Jiang Ya eyes forward—light frown—quick past.
Unluckily her seat right beside them.
“Switch with me.” Qi Yu glanced at men sizing Jiang Ya—no hesitation.
Jiang Ya looked back—surprised—understood—smiled—sat seat ahead.
Seated Qi Yu crossed legs—heard two men mutter—unclear—probably not nice.
Hah. Probably mad she ruined their “fun.”
Creeps. Disgusting.
“Should’ve listened to you—picked row eight.” Qi Yu could not help venting to Jiang Ya.
Jiang Ya organizing bag—looked at her—glanced at men—smiled. “Row seven view’s fine too.”
“Ignore them—no point getting angry over trash.”
“Not angry—just speechless.” Qi Yu cold—hated contact with men—body leaned toward Jiang Ya’s seat.
“No class—ogling women in public.”
“When I offered to switch—their faces soured.”
Jiang Ya watched her—sharp tone—some pleasant nerve jumped inside. Knew she should not think so—but privately wanted more of Qi Yu hostile to others.
“Don’t stoop to trash—don’t ruin the movie mood.” Seeing Qi Yu still cold—changed topic.
Spotted milk tea on armrest—same shop—hers usual—Qi Yu’s untried.
“What milk tea did you get?”
Qi Yu: “Iced coconut milk—strong coconut—first time—pretty good.”
Jiang Ya: “Really? Haven’t tried that one.”
“You next time try…” Qi Yu’s voice cut off.
Jiang Ya picked up her milk tea—lips directly on straw—sip.
Qi Yu stunned—stared at straw in Jiang Ya’s mouth—heart trembled—could not help. “This… I already drank from.”
Jiang Ya chewing coconut bits—serious tasting—looked at Qi Yu—raised brow. “It’s fine—I don’t mind… do you?”
“……No… I don’t mind.” Qi Yu lowered eyes.
“Mm—really good—sweet.” Jiang Ya smiled at her—another sip—reluctantly put back.
Qi Yu watched—heard praise—did not know how to respond.
Sweet…
Involuntarily glanced at milk tea—obvious lipstick mark on straw.
Jiang Ya’s.
Qi Yu throat moved—suddenly forgot this cup’s taste.
So when lights dimmed and film started—quietly picked up milk tea—like Jiang Ya—light on straw—taste.
Mm… really sweet.
Several sips before setting down—stole glance at Jiang Ya—hurried look away—deep breath—threw messy thoughts—focus on film.
Suspense but opening little setup—police report straight in—family of four vanished overnight—everyone hooked.
Story from report—protagonist policewoman—female reporter neighbor family missing overnight—neighbor once funded her—after asking everyone—came to police.
At first focus on disappearance—Qi Yu and Jiang Ya whispered possibilities—missing or murder.
Investigation deepened—case murky—forbidden past surfaced—twists piled.
Truth revealed—collective gasp.
Clues pointed—reporter herself was killer.
End—woman in interrogation room confessed honestly. Asked why report instead of confess—sudden cold laugh at camera—creepy.
Jiang Ya gasped—instinct closed eyes—leaned Qi Yu’s shoulder.
Qi Yu scared too—but seeing Jiang Ya hide beside her—held back laugh—leaned closer—face near Jiang Ya’s hair.
“Don’t fear—not horror.”
Jiang Ya slowly looked up—sat back—saw Qi Yu’s smile—embarrassed at own reaction.
Muffled voice: “Not scared… that shot was just intense.”
Qi Yu: “Oh—not scared.”
Jiang Ya: “Wasn’t scared.”
Qi Yu: “Okay okay—I know.”
Looked back at screen—smile more obvious.
“Hiss—” Smile gone instant.
Jiang Ya pinched her arm—light but hurt some.
Qi Yu rubbed skin—surprised looked at her—about to speak—Jiang Ya first: “No talking—watch movie.”
Words stuck back.
Stared at her—wanted to speak—did not—sat straight—corner of mouth never fell.
Woman narrated—once had a friend—both children from the orphanage—funded by victim family—grateful.
One day victim father claimed to be teacher—tutoring excuse—often invited friend to their home.
……
After—friend grew thin—silent—depression—tragedy. Woman thought accident—piecing shredded diary learned friend suffered molestation—family knew—ignored—enabled the man—even threatened—torment unbearable.
Woman tried reporting with diary—insufficient evidence—friend dead years—case not filed. Desperate—woman chose most extreme path for her revenge.
Narration turned to memories with friend.
Met in orphanage—relied on each other—promised companions for life.
Screen—two girls holding hands—sincere bright laughter—many in theater teared up.
Qi Yu rarely cried—but now choking back—breath—instant tears.
Sentimental—heard whispers from seats ahead.
—“So pity—if nothing happened maybe they’d be together.”
—“Even before—they looked at each other not like friends—that’s love not friendship—must’ve been censored to be subtle…”
Faint but clear enough.
Lowered eyes—tears reined in—eyes still wet.
Heard tremor beside—turned to look.
Jiang Ya wrapped in dark—screen light on face—flickering—but clear tears in eyes.
Parted lips to comfort—throat blocked—no voice.
Stared at Jiang Ya’s blurred eyes—blank—those eyes slowly turned—looked at her.
Lost count how many times they met eyes like this.
Every serious look at those eyes—softest place in heart tugged.
Not pain—little sour.
Neither looked away—eye contact continued natural.
Long enough—it shifted flavor.
Dark the crowd could not see—on screen two girls singing—lyrical tender—young voices through screen—knocked Qi Yu’s heart.
Hand on lap fingers moved—gaze unclear at Jiang Ya—seemed casual pass over parted lips—inhaled—both looked away in tacit agreement.
Sat as if nothing—kept watching.
Silent—mood indescribably subtle.
……
After movie—restroom—walking out like everyone—praising film—laughing talking.
Side by side—suddenly called from behind—
“Wait!”
Both turned—young man approaching from behind.
Eyes on Jiang Ya—clearly for her.
Qi Yu frowned—watched him come—shy smile at Jiang Ya. “Sorry—do you remember me? I’m… Li Wen’s brother.”
Jiang Ya sized him up—nodded. “I know—may I ask… what is it?”
“No… just…” scratched head—embarrassed. “Uh… she said you’re a teacher at the school too?”
“Mm—please say directly.”
“No need formal—we’re about same age haha…” dry laugh—finally looked at Jiang Ya—face red. “Can we get to know each other? Be friends?”
“Really just friends—no other meaning…”
“Sometimes my parents want to know how Li Wen’s doing at work—she won’t tell home—so I thought… could chat with you sometimes?”
Hearing that Jiang Ya swallowed prepared refusal.
Saw through the excuse—could not expose publicly—no face for him—think of Li Wen…
Hesitated—nodded—phone scanned his QR code.
“Thanks.” Man satisfied—bright smile—hand out. “I’m Li Chengbin.”
“Jiang Ya.” Polite smile—light handshake.
Less than a second Jiang Ya pulled away—but Qi Yu saw—felt stinging—looked away before they touched.
Performance clumsy—anyone with eyes saw intent.
Still Jiang Ya did not refuse.
Qi Yu mocked herself inside.
But in the end—they were only friends—what right to interfere—refuse for Jiang Ya?
Drop the extra concern.
She did not need it anyway.
……
After holiday—first years had second monthly exam this term.
Three exam days—Jiang Ya proctored three—unsure grateful for rest or dreading backache.
Proctoring boring and numb.
Whole morning in classroom—sealed papers back to office—past noon.
No energy cook—simple lunch in cafeteria.
Staff cafeteria separate from students—quieter—occasional teacher talk.
Jiang Ya habit empty corner—today too.
Halfway through—Li Wen with tray walked straight over—sat opposite.
“Teacher Jiang—what’d you get today?” Same morning proctoring—Li Wen more energetic—always bright smile.
Jiang Ya wiped mouth with tissue. “Random—ribs and tofu.”
“Oh… so little?” Li Wen sipped soup—saw fist-sized rice on Jiang Ya’s plate—sighed.
Jiang Ya smiled. “No—I ate some—don’t love cafeteria food—too heavy.”
Small talk done—Jiang Ya sensed Li Wen had something to say—hesitating.
Understanding—asked—Li Wen caught—confessed.
Stabbed chopsticks in rice—ashamed. “Teacher Jiang… sorry… my brother’s thing—I wanted to tell you—didn’t know how.”
Jiang Ya raised brow—warm. “What happened? Why apologize?”
Li Wen: “That movie day my brother was asking about you—wanted your contact—I didn’t give—said get it yourself… didn’t think he really would—I was in restroom—didn’t know.”
“I told him you’re not looking to date—he didn’t believe… these two days maybe bothered you…”
Jiang Ya silent—thoughts sinking.
Li Chengbin’s approach had ulterior motive—polite surface. After that day he messaged often—started about Li Wen—shifted to her.
Jiang Ya mostly perfunctory—thought he’d retreat—stubborn—waited at school gate—meals and flowers old script—Jiang Ya refused all—some teacher saw—office gossip she had a boyfriend.
Li Wen anxious seeing silence. “Teacher Jiang really sorry! Couldn’t talk him down… caused trouble.”
Jiang Ya: “Fine—don’t blame yourself—not your fault—I’m not mad at you.”
Li Wen blank—relieved. “Good… been thinking how to apologize…”
“But… Teacher Jiang one more question—might be rude…”
“Ask.”
“Can I ask—is it temporarily not dating—or you don’t like my brother’s type?”
“Tell me—I can talk him down at home—won’t believe—says sincerity wins everything—feels crazy…”
“Mm…” Jiang Ya knit brow—thought—sighed. “Both.”
“Your brother’s fine—enthusiastic—not suited to me.”
“I don’t feel beyond friendship for him—his behavior does trouble me.”
“Please tell him when you go back. Thank you.”
Smile at Li Wen—warm and distant.
After chat—parted in cafeteria—Jiang Ya alone toward school gate.
Unexpected—message from Zhou Lin.
Zhou Lin: *Free tonight? Come home.*
Jiang Ya blank.
Since working Zhou Lin never asked her home on weekdays—always Sunday.
Jiang Ya: *Free—what is it?*
Zhou Lin: *Come eat*
Zhou Lin: *Also talk about something—very important*