On their tenth wedding anniversary, Cen Jin gave herself a day off. Tying her hair into a high ponytail and wearing a sweater with a short skirt, she secretly slipped into her husband’s lecture hall after checking his class schedule for the semester.
She timed her entry just as the previous class was dismissed. Walking against the flow of departing students, she found a seat near the back, hoping Li Wu wouldn’t notice her too soon.
Soon, physics majors began filing in, and the classroom quickly filled to capacity, buzzing with noise.
Cen Jin rested her cheek on her hand, half-lowering her face as she pretended to flip through a “book.” With her youthful appearance, she blended in seamlessly with the college girls around her, drawing little attention.
Besides, it was common for students to audit classes, so a new face wasn’t unusual.
When the bell for the third class rang, Li Wu entered right on time.
The room fell silent instantly, and Cen Jin hurriedly ducked her head.
The man stepped onto the podium, briefly scanned the classroom, then took off his overcoat and placed it by the desk. He switched on the projector and adjusted the microphone.
The gray turtleneck he wore underneath accentuated his tall, upright posture—his demeanor, as always, untouched by time.
This lesson was on Atomic Physics.
Only when Li Wu turned to write on the whiteboard did Cen Jin lift her head, gazing freely at his back.
A moment later, after finishing his notes, Li Wu turned around and began reviewing the previous lesson.
His voice still carried the crisp clarity of melting ice in a stream from his youth, yet his tone was measured and effortless.
Cen Jin smiled to herself. Though she had witnessed his transformation from an eager student to a knowledgeable teacher, being part of it now felt wonderfully amusing.
Suddenly, whispers rippled through the classroom.
For some reason, Professor Li, known for his rare and stern expressions, paused mid-glance at a certain spot, then broke into an unexpected, toothy smile—like spring’s return after rain.
Realizing she’d been caught and singled out, Cen Jin could only smile back, pressing a finger to her lips to signal him to keep quiet.
The man behind the podium understood perfectly and resumed teaching, though he couldn’t resist stealing glances her way whenever possible.
The teacher’s “sudden excitement” and frequent glances in one direction left the students baffled, and they began searching around curiously.
Cen Jin mentally facepalmed and could only slump over, pretending to sleep.
Li Wu cleared his throat, the sound amplified by the microphone, then declared with feigned seriousness, “I’d appreciate it if certain students paid attention and refrained from sleeping in my class.”
Cen Jin shot upright and glared at him.
Who would dare doze off in the class of this strict, no-nonsense professor? Everyone looked around, trying to spot the bold soul.
Li Wu gazed steadily in her direction, a slight smile tugging at his lips. “Oh, it’s my wife. In that case, feel free to keep sleeping.” He removed his glasses, unabashedly revealing his double standards and smiling eyes. “I can turn a blind eye.”
Awwww—
Instantly, all the students realized Cen Jin was there, erupting into teasing cheers and whistles.
The woman in the spotlight blushed to the tips of her ears but maintained a calm facade, smiling gracefully at the students.
Amid the sweetness, she desperately wished she could vanish into the ground.
Li Wu, perfectly composed on the podium, explained on his wife’s behalf, “This is one of our activities to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary. I hope you don’t mind.”
The students, force-fed a mouthful of “dog food,” could only grumble inwardly while outwardly agreeing, “Okay, sure, no problem.”In the following class, Li Wu dutifully fulfilled his essential duties, even though the students' attention had largely shifted to Cen Jin.
After class, Li Wu leisurely packed his belongings while everyone eagerly flocked to observe and chat with the teacher's wife before gradually dispersing.
Once the room emptied, Li Wu slipped on his overcoat and walked to the back row to meet Cen Jin.
He reached for her hand, but she swatted it away irritably.
"What's wrong?" Li Wu smiled at her, undeterred, and extended his slender-fingered hand toward her again.
Cen Jin shot him a glare but didn't move: "I just wanted to sneak in and listen to your lecture. Did you have to make such a scene?"
He firmly grasped her hand, refusing to let go: "I can't help smiling when I see you. What am I supposed to do? Might as well acknowledge it openly."
Cen Jin touched the top of her head and muttered: "Now your students all know your wife likes to pretend she's young."
Li Wu looked her up and down, smiling without a word.
Annoyed, Cen Jin was about to remove her hair tie when Li Wu stopped her.
His demeanor was completely different from when he was lecturing as he pleaded: "Keep it tied up. It looks so nice this way."
"What's so nice about it?"
"Everything is nice."
"Only you think so."
Li Wu glanced at the door: "Should I go outside and ask a student for their opinion?"
"No need," Cen Jin raised an eyebrow: "I am naturally beautiful anyway."
Li Wu curved his lips into a smile and tightened his grip on her hand.
After accompanying him back to his office to drop off his teaching materials, they walked together to the parking lot.
As a prominent figure at the university, Li Wu attracted many sidelong glances from students along the way, with Cen Jin basking in the reflected attention.
Cen Jin glanced at him: "Why do I get the feeling your students are all afraid of you?"
Li Wu replied: "Because I'm strict with them."
"Why are you so hard on them?"
"The learning opportunities they take for granted are what countless other kids dream of having. Yet they don't cherish them, skipping classes to sleep or play on their phones," Li Wu explained logically. "I have to be strict."
Cen Jin patted her chest as if relieved: "I used to sleep in class during university too. Good thing I never had a teacher like you."
Li Wu's dimples appeared: "Even if you had me as a teacher, I'd handle it the same way as today."
Cen Jin scoffed: "I don't believe you. Would you even have recognized me? Don't make empty promises about not being strict with me."
She began bringing up past grievances: "You were strict with me today."
Li Wu looked genuinely puzzled: "When was I ever strict with you?"
Cen Jin meticulously recreated his tone and words: "'I request that certain students pay attention and refrain from sleeping during my class'—who said that?"
Li Wu argued confidently: "You weren't looking at me, and you wouldn't let me look at you either." Cen Jin side-eyed him: "Was it wrong that I didn't want to disrupt Professor Li's classroom order?"
"Wrong," Li Wu put on a serious face before immediately breaking into a smile: "Today is our tenth anniversary. Since you came all this way, I can't neglect you."
"You mentioned in class that this was just part one," Cen Jin raised an eyebrow: "Do you have other plans?"
Li Wu nodded.
"What?"
"We're going to visit a temple and pray to Buddha."
"Huh??" Cen Jin wondered if she'd heard wrong. She had assumed it would be something like a candlelit dinner with flowers and jewelry.
Li Wu stopped walking and turned to look at her. His eyes, never vulgar and always clear, overflowed with youthful sincerity: "To pray that we'll be together in our next life too."
"How old are you? Do you have to be so boyishly romantic? Is this something a man in his thirties should say or do?"
"Aren't you dressed in a very girlish way too?"
"...Let's just go."
...
Ten years could never be enough—even a hundred would pass in the blink of an eye.They are like two entangled particles, unaffected by time and space.
The final verdict is never the end; the prologue has already begun to be rewritten, and eternal love has but one theme: through all lives and all worlds, I will find you.
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