Chapter 56

Inside the teacher’s office. 

The form teacher was leisurely brewing a cup of wolfberry tea when a young teacher curiously asked him, “Is it true about that situation with your class’s Tao Yi Xi?”

“What situation?” The form teacher was puzzled.

“Don’t you know?” The young teacher explained the whole incident to him. The relaxed expression on the form teacher’s face gradually turned serious.

“What nonsense! The surveillance is always on during every examination at Fu Middle School. How could she possibly cheat? Moreover, is the national competition a joke? It’s impossible to just solely rely on connections to win first place. Do you truly believe in such baseless rumors?”

The young teacher, upon seeing the form teacher getting agitated, quickly waved his hands. “No, no, of course, I don’t doubt that her grades are legit. It’s just that I’m curious about her relationship with the Gu family.”

“That’s their family matter, and it’s none of our business.” The form teacher, who was usually as amiable as the Smiling Buddha, was even more intimidating once he wore such a stern expression.

The young teacher awkwardly smiled. “That’s true.”

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“Do you know about the recent events circulating the internet?”

“Yes.” Tao Yi Xi’s eyes were clear, and she had an open and honest demeanor.

The form teacher sighed in sympathy. He had always thought she was a distant relative of the Gu family. Yet, it turned out that her relationship was more intricately complicated than he had imagined. He wondered how she managed to tame that little devil, Gu Jing Yuan, given her status. It seemed like it was no easy task.

Now, with this kind of situation arising, it was likely to make matters even worse.

“Tsinghua University has received many private messages regarding this matter. They even called the school specifically to inquire about it.”

A bomb went off in Tao Yi Xi’s head. With a jolt, she finally spoke up to explain, “Teacher, I have never cheated or falsified on my tests.”

“Yi Xi, I believe you, but public opinion is powerful enough to melt metal¹This idiom means that public clamor can obscure the actual truth, and mass spreading of rumors can confuse right and wrong..” The form teacher wore a worried expression. The world of the internet was too volatile; the speed at which information and rumors spread was beyond imagination.

“We need to think of a way to quickly mitigate the impact. Otherwise, if this continues to escalate, it won’t be easy to explain to Tsinghua University,” he advised.

Having taught for twenty years, the form teacher had dealt with his fair share of troublemaking students, but this was the first time he had encountered such a talented student being suppressed due to public opinion. He was truly distressed. Losing such a promising talent and having her miss out on the best opportunity in her life would be a great pity.

“Teacher will try to help you explain to Tsinghua University.”

“Thank you, teacher.”

Tao Yi Xi mechanically expressed her thanks and then fell into silence. She departed as if her soul had left her physical body.

In the classroom, Gu Jing Yuan waited for a long time. However, even after the last bell of the day rang, he did not see her return.

He packed her belongings and took it to the teacher’s office. By the time he arrived, the door was already locked.

He called her phone, but no one answered. When he called Zhou Zhi, she said that Tao Yi Xi was not with her. In addition, with Nanny Yang and the others being at home, it was unlikely that she would go back there.

In a state of panic, Gu Jing Yuan rushed to the security guard post at the entrance of the school, pointing to a photo of Tao Yi Xi on the honor display wall nearby, and asked the security guard, “Excuse me, have you seen this girl leaving school?”

The security guard initially wanted to tell him that the number of students who passed through these gates every day was numerous and it was practically impossible to keep track of everyone. However, Tao Yi Xi’s appearance was outstanding, and the security guard had a deep impression of her.

“I don’t think so.” 

“Thank you.”

With that, Gu Jing Yuan knew that she was still on school premises, so he ran frantically to continue searching for her.

In the deserted restroom, he stood at the entrance of the female toilet on each floor, calling out her name three times before moving on. At one point, in the middle storey, he encountered a female student coming out of the restroom. Despite the embarrassing situation, he still chose to approach and ask the girl if anyone was still inside. 

Blushing, the girl shyly replied, “No.” 

After receiving her reply, he hurriedly thanked her and left.

He continued his search until he reached the rooftop.

The sky had darkened, and there were no lights on the rooftop. Gu Jing Yuan could only rely on the faint moonlight to see the path beneath his feet.

“Tao Yi Xi, are you here?”

Still, there was no response.

“Tao Yi Xi, please answer me.”

He called out as he walked. Soon, his keen eyes spotted a dark figure huddled in a corner.

Her slender back seemed fragile and vulnerable with her hands wrapped around her knees and her face buried in her knees.

He slowed down his pace, gently walked to her side, and crouched down beside her. 

“Tao Yi Xi, school is over,” he informed her softly.

He could hear her muffled voice, “You should leave first.”

“I’ll wait for you.”

“No need.”

He did not move, stubbornly staying by her side. Their two shadows were closely intertwined.

Even when he was crouching, he was still a head taller than Tao Yi Xi, casting a shadow over her and causing her emotions to erupt. She whipped her head up and coldly asked him, “What are you still doing here? Are you here to mock me?”

Gu Jing Yuan replied, “I’m not. It’s already late, so I’m waiting for you so that we can go home.”

“That’s your home,” she said, turning her face away. Her delicate and refined side profile conveyed a chilly and unapproachable atmosphere.

“…Then let’s go back to where we’re currently staying. I’ve already packed your school bag.”

He placed the backpack in front of her. After all, academics were what she valued the most, right?

“…”

“During self-study period, the physics teacher handed out another set of practice test papers. Don’t you want to go back and work on it?”

His words struck a chord within her tightly wound emotions. Suddenly, she grabbed her bag and threw it forcefully to the ground. It made a dull thud as it hit the floor, kicking up a layer of dust.

Tao Yi Xi could not suppress the hotness welling up in her eyes. “I don’t want to! So what if I get first place? I still can’t control anything!”

Gu Jing Yuan was taken aback by her sudden outburst and tried to console her, “Alright, alright, you don’t have to study if you don’t want to. You’re already a soon-to-be student at Tsinghua University. There’s no harm in not studying for a day.”

“I’m not.”

“What?”

“Tsinghua University is about to withdraw their offer.”

Tao Yi Xi bit hard on her lower lip, turning paler than she already was. “I’ve worked so hard for so long. But so what?”

Since he wanted to stay, she would be the one to leave.

After squatting for so long, there was a numbing sensation in her calves. When she stood up, a tingling feeling prickled through her limbs, and when she took a step forward, she stumbled and had to grab onto the rusty railing to stabilize herself.

Behind the railing was the emptiness that loomed around high-raised buildings.

Gu Jing Yuan’s nerves jumped. He shot up and walked quickly toward her, holding onto her arm.

“Let go,” she waved her hand, trying to free herself.

“I just want to help you to the bench over there.”

In this long-standing, historically rich campus, the rooftop was rarely visited. Who knew when was the last time this rusty railing had been inspected for its structural integrity?

Her long-suppressed emotions finally broke through due to his stubborn persistence. She exclaimed, “Can’t you just leave me in peace!”

She pushed him away with both hands. Without his support, her body weakened and started to fall. Just as she was about to hit the ground, he swiftly caught her in his arms.

“Who allowed you to carry me! Do I have to explicitly tell you to get lost for you to understand?!”

With an uncertain future looming ahead, Tao Yi Xi, in a fit of frustration, broke down and decided to smash the pot and break the ladle²This idiom conveys the idea of abandoning restraint or acting out in frustration., jabbing harsh words at him.

Gu Jing Yuan held her with one arm and dragged his backpack across the bench to wipe off the dust from the surface that had not been sat on in a long time, before gently setting her down.

He crouched down in front of her. Looking up at her, he spoke earnestly, “This matter will be resolved, I swear on it.”

Tao Yi Xi did not look back at him. She did not believe a word he said.

Gu Jing Yuan pursed his lips and let go of her hand. “Then you sit here for a while. I’ll wait for you at the door.”

Before he left, he picked up the backpack she had thrown to the ground.

As the night grew darker, Tao Yi Xi looked up at the sky. She was unable to see any stars in the night sky. The night was as bleak as her future.

Tao Yi Xi slumped on the worn-out bench, expressionless. She let her mind go blank, allowing the overwhelming sense of loss to permeate her.

For so many years, she had been studying, walking on eggshells trying to please others, calculating her every move… Her nerves were always taut, but hope kept her going. Now, everything was ruined. With the snap of the last strand of hope, a surging sense of exhaustion overwhelmed her, leaving her too tired to move.

Time seemed to rewind to the day she had her first encounter with school violence. She lay on the ground, covered in numerous injuries, ignored by everyone, disdained by her mother, and abandoned by friends.

She closed her eyes, memories swirling in a chaotic blend in her head.

Suddenly, she felt a warmth in the palm and back of her hands.

Opening her eyes, she saw his wide hands covering the back of hers, and in her palms was a cup of her favorite milk tea with the straw already inserted.

“Have some milk tea.”

Gu Jing Yuan’s forehead was damp with perspiration. Afraid that she might leave before he got back, he sprinted all the way to the shop and back. Even delivery services could not keep up with his speed. Seeing her still there upon his return, his heart finally settled down.

Noticing that she did not resist and she continued to hold onto the cup, he slowly let go of her hand. Just as he was about to obediently return to the door to keep watch, he suddenly stopped.

Tao Yi Xi stared at the cup of milk tea in her hands momentarily before taking a slow sip. The warm liquid with its familiar sweetness stimulated her senses and her tears started to roll down her cheeks uncontrollably. 

Before she could wipe them away, someone else had already used their thumb to gently brush away her tears.

“Don’t cry.” When she cried, his heart ached. He wanted to rip the person who made her cry into a million pieces.

However, the moment he said that more tears started streaming down Tao Yi Xi’s face. Gu Jing Yuan felt utterly helpless.

She sobbed, “Why didn’t you leave? Why do you even care about me? Don’t you hate me?” 

She bombarded him with questions, seemingly irrational, hoping to make him leave.

“I don’t hate you, how can I hate you?” he said. “I can’t express how much I like you, let alone dislike you.”

“Then why did you bully me before if you didn’t hate me?”

Gu Jing Yuan choked up; people always had to pay the price for the wrongs they had done in the past.

“I’m sorry. I apologize for all the stupid things I did before,” he replied, rubbing his nose. He looked somewhat embarrassed, but his eyes were sincere and bright, shining in the dim night.

She wept even harder.

Flustered, Gu Jing Yuan blurted out subconsciously, “I was wrong, I was wrong…”

“You’re not wrong, I am in the wrong. I deserve it.”

Those people used campus violence and public opinion to put pressure on and ruin her, destroying her chances of entering Tsinghua University. 

But was she any better than them?

She also used manipulation to make him obedient and play with his feelings. The better he treated her, the more ashamed she felt. She feared that one day the the truth would be exposed and his subsequent rejection.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” She apologized while sobbing. She unconsciously clutched onto his collar, scrunching it into a mess.

“You’re not in the wrong.” Gu Jing Yuan wrapped his arms around her, letting her cry on his broad shoulders. He gently stroked her long hair, feeling a pang of heartache.

With her forehead against his shoulder, she wept until she was exhausted. Leaning her face against his shoulder, she sniveled. His shirt was stained with her tears and snot, she had never appeared so disheveled before.

After Tao Yi Xi calmed down, she closed her eyes in embarrassment. She should not have been so fragile. However, she had to admit that she felt much better after crying.

Gu Jing Yuan did not mind his wet clothes as he asked her softly, “Shall we go back, hmm?”

“En.” She hummed with a nasal tone.

She stood up, took out some tissues from her bag, and tried to clean his shirt, but no matter how she wiped, she could not get rid of the damp spots.

“Sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me. I’m very happy,” he told her.

Tao Yi Xi fell silent.

“When you cry and make a scene, I can tell that that’s the real you.” Gu Jing Yuan thought for a moment, feeling that his words did not come out quite right, he hastily added, “I don’t mean for you to cry per se…”

Gu Jing Yuan’s words became more jumbled the more he tried to explain. Tao Yi Xi stepped forward and hugged him, silencing him.

Perhaps, in front of him, the mask she wore had long since fallen off.

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Translator Blistz has something to say:

Belated Xmas and a Happy New Year to all my lovely readers! May 2024 treat everyone kindly and those who set goals and resolutions be able to achieve them! 

One of my goals is to be able to complete FP before 2024 ends!

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