Back to Auntie’s School Days - Chapter 11

Tan Yanqing’s parents had passed away while on duty during her freshman year of high school.

Jian You was the one who told Jian Hao this, but whenever she asked for the specifics, Jian You remained silent. She said that for all these years, Tan Yanqing had never spoken much about it to anyone, so Jian You hadn’t pried. All she knew was that it was an accident and that a large sum of compensation had been left to Tan Yanqing.

And so, since her parents’ passing, Tan Yanqing had lived alone.

Navigating high school alone, taking the college entrance exams alone, deciding on her university major alone, and taking care of herself alone.

By the time Jian Hao learned all this, Tan Yanqing was already an adult. She presented herself as reserved and steady, possessing a powerful inner strength and a mature, grounded aura.

The younger Jian Hao had never truly understood or felt the weight of Tan Yanqing’s past. Even when she saw the funeral portraits placed beneath the family photo in Tan Yanqing’s home, her heart felt only a tiny ripple, like a breeze passing over a lake.

But since realizing she had traveled back to 2008, having experienced only a few seconds of feeling isolated and helpless, Jian Hao felt like a fish out of water—suffocating.

What about Tan Yanqing?

How did Tan Yanqing get through it?

She wanted no friends, had no family, and was completely alone.

Did she need comfort? Did she need companionship? Did she need a hug?

Back then, she was too young to understand Tan Yanqing’s lonely coldness; even now, she couldn’t fully empathize with it.

So, after waiting outside for a minute to see the lights of the small house turn on before cycling away, Jian Hao had suddenly turned back after riding a short distance.

The past misses were unavoidable, but she couldn’t miss this chance now.

She couldn’t wait until tomorrow.

She wanted to see Tan Yanqing this very second!

As Jian Hao watched Tan Yanqing take the mantou out of the fridge and expertly place it in the microwave, her eyes suddenly burned, and her throat felt as if it had been filled with scalding water.

She bit her lower lip hard, and as Tan Yanqing turned around, Jian Hao turned toward the living room.

“Do you have a phone? I need to call Jian You and let her know.”

She feigned nonchalance, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her sadness.

Tan Yanqing looked at her back, a strange look in her eyes.

“By the stairs.”

Jian Hao knew it was by the stairs. Even in an era of ubiquitous smartphones, Tan Yanqing’s home still had an old-fashioned red telephone. Though it couldn’t make calls in the future, it would still sit on the table by the stairs next to a phone book.

Jian Hao didn’t know the number for Jian You’s house, but luckily there was a phone book. After searching for a bit, she found Jian Sihong’s name and dialed. Jian Sihong answered.

Jian Hao told her she wouldn’t be back for dinner. Upon learning she was eating at a classmate’s house and checking why Jian You wasn’t home yet (knowing she was dropping off a friend), Jian Sihong didn’t pry further, only telling her to be safe on her way home.

Jian Hao turned slightly, stealing a glance at Tan Yanqing sitting on the sofa, and lowered her voice: “I might not come back tonight either; I’ll just stay at my classmate’s.”

Tan Yanqing placed the microwaved mantou into a bowl for Jian Hao. Jian Hao took it and looked up with a radiant smile: “Thanks~”

Tan Yanqing’s eyes remained downcast as she sat down in silence.

Jian Hao took a bite of the bun. “So sweet~”

Tan Yanqing had eaten these buns for so long but had never felt they were particularly sweet. She took a bite; it was a bit sweet.

But she didn’t respond to Jian Hao.

Jian Hao didn’t care if she replied or not. Regardless of Tan Yanqing’s current attitude, she knew exactly how well “Auntie Tan” would treat her in the future.

Jian Hao sat on the sofa, chewing her bun. In her bowl was half the side dish Tan Yanqing had shared with her. She picked up a piece of garlic moss and took a bite; it was the taste of Tan Yanqing’s cooking from her memory.

Since she was a child, she had loved Tan Yanqing’s food. Hearing Jian You say she was taking her to Auntie Tan’s for dinner made her happier than a trip to KFC or McDonald’s.

Jian Hao looked up and smiled at Tan Yanqing: “Did you stir-fry this? It’s so delicious!~”

Tan Yanqing happened to be bringing a bite of food to her mouth. She didn’t think her cooking was particularly good; to her, eating was merely a means of survival.

“You’re so amazing!” Jian Hao added.

Tan Yanqing narrowed her eyes and said coldly, “No talking while eating—”

“—and no talking while sleeping,” Jian Hao chirped, finishing the proverb with a grin. She took another bite of the bun, her cheeks puffing out like a little hamster as she chewed.

A very talkative little hamster.

With her mouth full, Jian Hao’s voice was muffled: “Don’t worry, I don’t talk in my sleep, and I don’t snore or grind my teeth. You won’t have to worry about being woken up if you sleep with me.”

Tan Yanqing: “…”

Unable to understand why Jian Hao was telling her this, Tan Yanqing’s pale face remained motionless. She lowered her eyes and continued eating in silence.

The two sat in a row, left hands holding their bowls and right hands holding chopsticks, their movements in perfect sync as they ate.

Since Tan Yanqing forbade talking, Jian Hao shut her mouth. But her eyes wouldn’t stay still. She glanced at the coffee table, spotting the stack of homework Tan Yanqing had prepared.

After finishing her bun, Jian Hao took her bowl and chopsticks to the kitchen. After washing them, following Tan Yanqing’s habits, she placed them on the dish rack to drain.

Tan Yanqing, who chewed slowly, finished a bit later. She entered the kitchen only after Jian Hao had left. Seeing that Jian Hao had not only washed the dishes but also put them in the right place, Tan Yanqing felt another surge of curiosity about Jian Hao’s upbringing. Jian Hao was very well-bred—polite, cheerful, and balanced in her words and actions.

If a family like that lost a child, they would surely report it to the police immediately. So why, after more than a week, had Jian Hao’s family still not been found?

If Jian Hao truly had amnesia, there was nothing to say.

But if she was faking it, what was her motive? Was she running away from home?

Unknowingly, Tan Yanqing’s curiosity about Jian Hao had risen another level. She also realized her attitude toward Jian Hao had changed; she wasn’t as indifferent as she was to others, otherwise, she wouldn’t have agreed to let her in.

However, the moment she had let go of the doorknob to let Jian Hao inside, Tan Yanqing had regretted it.

She was afraid, and she was annoyed.

She was annoyed that Jian Hao would discover she was home alone and ask why. She was annoyed that Jian Hao would see her parents’ funeral portraits and ask about them.

But Jian Hao said nothing.

Even though Jian Hao saw the portraits, she didn’t wear a look of pity; instead, she interacted with her naturally.

This made Tan Yanqing feel something different. Because she didn’t need a relationship built on pity.

Tan Yanqing finished her dishes and came out of the kitchen to find Jian Hao sitting on the rug by the coffee table.

Jian Hao had seen the schedule on the table. Beneath that schedule was another one, pressed under the transparent desk mat. The paper was tinged with a yellowed hue and marked by time. In the top right corner was written: [Tan Tan’s 9th Grade Daily Schedule].

The handwriting was neat and elegant, and at the end, there were little emoticons like (^_^). Every part of the plan was reasonable, and compared to the one on top, it included plenty of rest time. It was clear that whoever had made this study plan for Tan Yanqing had done so with great care.

Just as Jian Hao was wondering if Tan Yanqing’s mother had made it for her, her vision suddenly went dark. In the next second, a book covered the schedule.

Jian Hao looked up to see Tan Yanqing leaning over to wipe the surface of the coffee table. “Do you need me to see you out?”

Jian Hao shook her head.

“Mhm. Be safe.”

The dismissal in Tan Yanqing’s voice was clear, but Jian Hao sat perfectly still. “Are you going to do your homework now?”

“Can I do it with you?”

“There are so many problems I don’t know how to solve.”

Without giving Tan Yanqing a chance to speak, Jian Hao’s mouth kept moving: “Do you know why Teacher Gao paired me with Xinsui?”

“Because on that math paper she gave me, I only got a 63…” Jian Hao looked at Tan Yanqing with a piteous expression. “Can I finish my homework with you before I go? Otherwise, when I get home, I won’t have anyone to ask if I get stuck…”

Jian You’s grades were average at best. There would indeed be many problems she couldn’t solve.

Tan Yanqing wasn’t planning on agreeing. Letting Jian Hao in for dinner was already a favor for riding her home. She was used to the silence. She didn’t want that tranquility broken.

Sensing the refusal forming on her cold face, Jian Hao reached out and grabbed the hem of Tan Yanqing’s shirt, giving it a tiny tug. “Please?~”

Jian Hao had round, apricot-like eyes. When she looked up, the light in her eyes was like moonlight scattered on the sea—bright and sparkling like stars.

Anyone who liked “moe” and “cute” things would be completely unable to refuse her.

“Tao Tao~”

Tan Yanqing’s frost-like eyes lowered, her gaze falling on the hand clutching her shirt. The pale, slender fingers gripping the fabric carried a sense of humble pleading.

She lifted her gaze slightly and met Jian Hao’s eyes. It was that watery, spoiled look again.

Jian Hao squinted and smiled: “You wouldn’t just leave a struggling student to fend for themselves, right?” She gave a light huff. “Class Monitor.”

Her tone was like a cat’s curling tail. Beneath Tan Yanqing’s icy exterior, an undercurrent shifted in the depths of her eyes.

Ultimately, Jian Hao got her wish.

Tan Yanqing said nothing; she simply turned and brushed off the hand pulling at her, then leaned over to grab a seat cushion for Jian Hao.

Jian Hao took it with a grin. “Thanks, Monitor!” She sat down and pulled her homework out of her bag, stacking them by her side just like Tan Yanqing.

“Monitor, which subject are we doing first?”

Tan Yanqing lowered her gaze. “Whatever.” After a pause, she added, “Ask me if there’s anything you don’t know.”

“Okay~” Jian Hao smiled.

Tan Yanqing sat down beside Jian Hao. The house was a bit warm, so Jian Hao tossed her school jacket onto the sofa, but Tan Yanqing remained in hers. Jian Hao looked at her and asked, “Monitor, aren’t you hot?”

“No.”

A while later, Jian Hao asked, “Monitor, is there water? I’m thirsty.”

Tan Yanqing stood up again to boil some water for her.

After drinking, Jian Hao pulled out those two bags of “Sour Girl” candies, tore them open, and poured several into her palm. The plastic rustled loudly.

Jian Hao held her hand out to Tan Yanqing: “Monitor, have some candy.”

Tan Yanqing just swept a glance over her and continued with her worksheet.

Jian Hao blinked, pulled her hand back, tilted her head, and popped all the candies from her palm into her mouth at once.

The sourness made her features scrunch up into a ball. A very soft chuckle escaped Tan Yanqing’s lips.

Jian Hao looked over. The smile on Tan Yanqing’s face hadn’t faded. Their eyes met, and Tan Yanqing was the first to look back down.

After a few seconds, Jian Hao spoke up: “Tan Yanqing.”

Tan Yanqing didn’t look up. “Quiet.”

Jian Hao blinked innocently and pointed to her worksheet. “I have a problem I don’t know how to solve.”

“…”

Two seconds later, Tan Yanqing paused and lifted her eyes to look at Jian Hao. After a brief gaze, Tan Yanqing leaned over toward Jian Hao’s paper.

A secret smile tugged at the corner of Jian Hao’s mouth.

But a moment later, as Tan Yanqing began analyzing the problem for her, Jian Hao couldn’t smile anymore. She secretly bit her lip, not even daring to breathe normally.

—Tan Yanqing was leaning so close!!!

Agh!~

Unlike the Tan Yanqing of 2025, the Tan Yanqing of now didn’t have that scent of cold mountain air; there was only the faint, fresh smell of laundry detergent, like flowers just starting to bloom.

Jian Hao’s heart hammered in her chest.

She thought she had changed! After realizing her feelings for Auntie Tan, she had always struggled with her racing heart whenever they were close. It had taken two long years of her secret crush before she finally practiced the skill of remaining calm in front of her.

But now, her frantic heartbeat reminded her that all her previous practice was void.

It also told her that she didn’t just have “different” feelings for the mature, steady Auntie Tan—she felt the same heart-stirring attraction for this cold, icy version of Tan Yanqing.

It turned out it didn’t matter which version of Tan Yanqing it was.

As long as it was Tan Yanqing, it was enough.