I'm back in 1990

Chapter 394: A Heart Full of Disappointment

He enjoyed a long vacation right after starting his job. Although the income of university teachers at this stage only accounts for 72% of the average salary in Shanghai, it is not a big deal for Huang Xiaochuan. What he cares about is not the monthly teaching assistant salary of 48752 yuan, but the profession and the environment on campus.

Teaching and nurturing students sounds prestigious, especially for university professors.

Huang Xiaochuan has a master's degree. According to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and the university, he can automatically be evaluated as an intermediate lecturer after three years without doing anything.

However, if Huang Xiaochuan performs exceptionally well in teaching and academic research, he can be evaluated for a professional title ahead of schedule. That is to say, as long as Huang Xiaochuan publishes three papers in core journals within a year, completes all teaching tasks for the year, and his teaching work is rated as excellent, he can apply for the evaluation of intermediate professional title ahead of schedule.

Huang Xiaochuan sat in the library in Xujiahui, leisurely sipping tea while flipping through the "Detailed Rules for the Implementation of Teacher Appointment" that he had obtained from Sang Weihong. The rules detailed the required years of service and relevant conditions for junior, senior and advanced professional titles.

Huang Xiaochuan made a rough estimate in his mind. If nothing unexpected happened, he was almost certain to be promoted to associate professor before the age of thirty. Thinking of this, Huang Xiaochuan took another sip of tea and felt very comfortable!

Just then, the mobile phone on the tea table rang. Everyone who knew this number was familiar with it, so Huang Xiaochuan pressed the answer button immediately.

"That one?"

There was no sound coming from the phone.

"Feed him/her?"

Huang Xiaochuan thought the mobile phone signal was down again; the current analog communication network was like a lunatic, working and not working at all.

Just as Huang Xiaochuan was about to hang up and wait for the person to call back,

"Huang Xiaochuan, it's me!"

A familiar yet distant voice came through the phone. Huang Xiaochuan searched his memory bank and suddenly thought of someone.

"Class monitor?"

Then Huang Xiaochuan thought of something else.

Are you in the country?

"I'm at Hongqiao Airport now, my flight is at 7 pm. I saw that I still have some time, so I thought I'd call you."

"oh!"

At that moment, Qin Yu on the other end of the phone mustered up her courage: "Huang Xiaochuan, could you come to the airport to see me off?"

Huang Xiaochuan remained silent for a while, just as Qin Yu thought there was no hope and was about to hang up the public phone.

I'll be there in about an hour.

Qin Yu's voice was noticeably lighter: "It's okay, there's plenty of time, you don't need to rush over."

After hanging up the phone, Huang Xiaochuan rubbed his face and checked the time; it was 1:30 PM.

Huang Xiaochuan touched his nose, shook his head, and pressed the intercom on the table.

"Get out of the car, I need to go out for a bit."

On his way to the airport, Huang Xiaochuan was thinking about some things.

Huang Xiaochuan was well aware of the ambiguous meaning Qin Yu conveyed through her words and actions.

He felt it was necessary to make Qin Yu understand one thing: that she should stop wasting her time on him. That's why he agreed to meet her at the airport.

A thunderstorm had just passed, and the brief period of strong winds and rain brought a short cool spell to the city. Huang Xiaochuan could clearly see through the car window that pedestrians on the road were enjoying this rare comfort in the summer.

After putting the microphone back in its place, Qin Yu found a coffee shop, sat down, and ordered a coffee.

Qin Yu took a lot of courage to carry out this action today.

Five years have passed in the blink of an eye. When she returned this time, her family members asked about her personal relationship, whether intentionally or unintentionally. It was only then that Qin Yu realized that she had reached the age to talk about marriage. Time really flies!

I don't seem to lack suitors, but I don't feel anything for any of them. I tried dating a guy once, but it ended in failure after just one time. I always felt uncomfortable with him, and after having a cup of coffee, I never saw him again.

Because one person always occupies my mind, it's as if with him I can't have room for anyone else, and I don't know why.

I originally thought it was just a naive crush from my youth, and that I should let it go since I missed it. But when we met again a few years later, I realized that he had always been in my heart. He had changed a lot; he had become more mature and had a better presence.

He perfectly matched the image I had in my mind. I made a point of arriving in Shanghai yesterday to meet him, even though the chances were slim. But what if it happened?

Huang Xiaochuan met Qin Yu at the airport coffee shop.

She wore a pale yellow silk shirt, and a thin gold necklace at her collarbone shimmered under the light.

She rested her chin on her right hand, gazing at the scenery outside the glass window, while her left hand held a small spoon and slowly stirred her coffee.

"Class monitor!"

Huang Xiaochuan's arrival broke Qin Yu's reverie, and she stood up with a smile.

"You're here! Have a seat!"

After Huang Xiaochuan sat down, he asked, "What would you like to drink?"

"Coffee, Americano."

Qin Yu immediately called over a waiter and ordered Huang Xiaochuan a cup of Americano, specifically requesting that it be without sugar or milk.

"Squad leader, have you been waiting long?"

Qin Yu smiled gently: "Waiting for the plane is the same as waiting for a flight, this little bit of time is nothing."

Huang Xiaochuan looked around: "Why are you all alone? Didn't anyone from your family come to see you off?"

"I sent my parents home after lunch, otherwise they would get home very late."

Huang Xiaochuan nodded. He knew that with the current transportation infrastructure, the journey from Shanghai to Qingjiang was still quite long.

The two were silent for a moment, and then Huang Xiaochuan took the initiative to break the silence.

"I remember you should have graduated by now, right?"

Qin Yu smiled and said, "Yes, I graduated with my bachelor's degree, but I also received a full scholarship for graduate school, so..."

Huang Xiaochuan sincerely praised, "Amazing, you really are the class monitor!"

Then he asked, "Still at Harvard?"

Qin Yu nodded with a hint of arrogance.

Huang Xiaochuan gave a thumbs up in admiration.

A talented woman is a talented woman; she's a remarkable person no matter where she is. Huang Xiaochuan admires her immensely.

"Stop talking about me! What about you? How are you doing?"

"Me? I'm nowhere near as good as you. I'm a teacher at the University of Finance and Economics now, but I haven't taught a single class yet."

Qin Yu was somewhat surprised: "Didn't you say you were accepted into a graduate program? How come you're a teacher now?"

"It's a long story."

Huang Xiaochuan briefly told Qin Yu about his early graduation.

"Huang Xiaochuan, you're amazing too!"

Qin Yu's words made Huang Xiaochuan feel a little embarrassed.

"Don't praise me like that, I'm afraid I'll get arrogant," Huang Xiaochuan joked with Qin Yu.

"Huang Xiaochuan, congratulations! You're getting closer and closer to your dream."

Huang Xiaochuan didn't understand for a moment. Dreams? Hadn't he already achieved all his dreams? What other dreams could he have?

Seeing Huang Xiaochuan's puzzled expression, Qin Yu smiled and reminded him, "Have you forgotten? In the summer of '90, after we graduated from high school and had our farewell dinner, we went to my aunt's coffee shop, and that's what you said to me and Ren Yangyang?"

Qin Yu's reminder made Huang Xiaochuan remember what he had said that day.

Huang Xiaochuan touched his nose sheepishly: "Hey, I used to talk a lot of nonsense, I didn't expect you to remember."

Unexpectedly, Qin Yu replied quietly, "I remember everything about you!"

Huang Xiaochuan was instantly frozen in place, sitting there motionless.

After a while, he picked up his coffee and took a sip, pondering how he should bring it up with Qin Yu.

"Class monitor!"

"Um?"

Seeing Qin Yu's expression, Huang Xiaochuan steeled his resolve and said with a smile, "Squad leader, I have something to report to you."

"What's wrong?"

"I'm getting married. I got my marriage certificate a few months ago, and the wedding will be held around the end of the year. I'll send you an invitation then, and if you're free, you must come to my wedding."

The smile on Qin Yu's face vanished instantly.

She also quietly picked up her coffee and took a small sip.

Then, forcing a smile, I said, "Congratulations!"

Huang Xiaochuan felt he had said everything he needed to say and there was no need to stay any longer, so he stood up and extended his hand.

"Class monitor, we've parted ways eventually, and you'll have to walk your own path from here on out. But we'll still be good friends and classmates. Like I said, if you encounter any trouble in the US, contact me, or one of my two college classmates. Don't hesitate to reach out to me."

Qin Yu also stood up and extended her hand to shake hands with Huang Xiaochuan.

"Thank you! I will if necessary."

"Squad leader, have a safe journey! We wish you a speedy return after completing your studies!"

After saying that, Huang Xiaochuan smiled, nodded to Qin Yu, and turned to leave.

Qin Yu watched Huang Xiaochuan's retreating figure, feeling utterly disappointed. She clenched her hands tightly, so tightly!

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