Chapter 18 Part 2

Chi Nuan entered the service hall, where a young Little Police Flower asked, “What can I help you with?”

Chi Nuan pulled out her phone but hadn’t spoken yet when two men passed behind her. The Little Police Flower called out, “Chief Li.”

Li Suo nodded and escorted his companion all the way to the hall door.

“Trouble you with A-Hui’s matter.”

“No problem at all—you coming in person… Give my regards to Old Cao.”

Chi Nuan heard every word. The Little Police Flower asked again what she needed, and Chi Nuan shoved the phone back into her pocket.

She wandered out of the Police Station in a daze, stood on the bustling street, clenched her fists, and burst into uncontrollable sobs.

Her mind replayed Gu Ningzi grabbing the rain-slicked window frame and flipping inside to save her—but useless as she was, Chi Nuan couldn’t help her at all.

She didn’t know how she made it back to school. Chi Nuan burned with confusion until clarity returned two days later, at dusk.

Zhao Jingjing checked the thermometer: “Fever’s gone down.”

Xu Dan leaned by Chi Nuan’s bed, touched: “Class Monitor, you’re usually so quiet, but you care about your classmates this much.”

Chi Nuan sat up, weak all over as she rubbed her brow, not understanding: “What do you mean?”

“You, burning up like that these past two days—even in your sleep, you kept calling Gu Ningzi’s name.”

Chi Nuan’s nose was still stuffed, her voice thick: “…Did I?”

Xu Dan nodded, then added: “Cao Pinhui transferred schools. His family came this afternoon to handle the paperwork.”

At the name “Cao Pinhui,” Chi Nuan instinctively shrank back. Processing the words, she let out a surprised “Ah”: “He transferred?”

“We didn’t believe it at first—specially checked with Xue Wen.” Xu Dan pulled up her chat with Xue Wen for Chi Nuan to see. “See? Xue Wen confirmed it. Cao Pinhui’s still in a coma, but his family rushed the transfer.”

Chi Nuan looked anxious: “What about Gu Ningzi? Any news on her?”

Xu Dan shook her head: “Can’t reach her, haven’t heard. Xue Wen’s pretty tight-lipped—couldn’t get anything.”

Du Min slung an arm around Xu Dan: “No news is good news, right? Think about it—Cao Pinhui’s family is so powerful, and they backed down. Maybe Gu Ningzi…”

Du Min and Xu Dan exchanged glances, both seeing the disbelief in the other’s eyes. Xu Dan gasped: “Holy shit! Does Gu Ningzi have connections up top?”

Zhao Jingjing laughed: “Cao Pinhui’s mom was yelling about bankrupting them, destroying their family—and now they slink off with a transfer? What’s that saying—there’s always a bigger fish!”

Du Min sighed: “What a huge fish that must be!!! …No, wait—the law is the embodiment of justice. Gu Ningzi’s clearly in the right; Cao Pinhui must’ve done something shady!”

Xu Dan: “Right, Nuannuan, don’t you know Gu Ningzi’s family? If you’re that worried, just go check on them.”

Her words jolted Chi Nuan. She swung her legs off the bed but stood too fast, dizziness hitting her.

Zhao Jingjing caught her quick: “No rush. We brought you some congee—it’s still warm in the thermos. Eat first.”

…

By the time Chi Nuan reached the yard outside Gu Ningzi’s Home, night had fully fallen.

She couldn’t walk fast; every step brought waves of sweat.

No lights shone from the house. Chi Nuan tried the doorbell several times, but no one came.

The house was probably empty. Chi Nuan knew it deep down but couldn’t bear to leave just like that. She sat on a roadside bench, silently watching the dark mansion. Later, she pulled out her phone and dialed Gu Ningzi’s number for the umpteenth time.

Same as before: switched off.

Chi Nuan sat stunned until a message from Xue Wen came through.

“Chi Nuan, feeling better?”

Chi Nuan typed a few words, deleted them, and called Xue Wen directly.

Xue Wen picked up fast, sounding a bit flustered: “Chi Nuan? Did I wake you?”

“No,” Chi Nuan said. “I’m better now.”

Xue Wen explained: “I’ve been with Aunt Cheng these past few days. After A-Hui’s incident, she’s been emotionally unstable, and Uncle Cao’s work might change too… It’s all a mess, so I haven’t come to see you. Sorry.”

Hearing her bring up Cao Pinhui unprompted, Chi Nuan pressed her throbbing temple, suppressing the nausea roiling inside, and asked: “…How’s Cao Pinhui?”

“He woke up, got hospitalized for treatment—taking it slow,” Xue Wen sighed lightly. “He brought it on himself; no sympathy there. But seeing him lying there half-dead like that… it’s a bit heartbreaking.”

Xue Wen skirted around Chi Nuan entirely. Chi Nuan guessed neither Gu Ningzi nor Cao Pinhui had mentioned her to anyone.

Chi Nuan hated Cao Pinhui. Though she knew Xue Wen was innocent and clueless, she couldn’t help feeling a distance.

Chi Nuan stayed silent, and Xue Wen continued: “It’s just… the three of us—me, A-Hui, Da Yue—we grew up together, always close… Sigh, dating A-Hui before was just foolish.”

Chi Nuan had no desire to respond and didn’t know how to steer the topic to Gu Ningzi without being obvious. Xue Wen’s explanations grew more awkward, silence stretching over the line until Chi Nuan heard her ask: “…I heard Gu Ningzi hasn’t come back to class?”

“Ah…” Chi Nuan said, stunned. “No.”

Xue Wen hesitated, paused, then said, “Oh.”

Chi Nuan looked back at the mansion. From Xue Wen’s tone, Gu Ningzi seemed fine—but where was she? Not back in class; where had she gone?

…

The new week, still recovering from her illness, Chi Nuan coughed now and then, her face pale. In class, she zoned out repeatedly, glancing at Gu Ningzi’s still-empty seat.

After morning classes ended, He Liwen called her to the office.

Three girls stood before He Liwen’s desk. Teacher Zhuang from Class 2 sat beside her on a stool, while an unfamiliar teacher-like figure stood by the desk with arms crossed.

The atmosphere was tense.

Seeing Chi Nuan arrive, He Liwen introduced the stranger: “This is Teacher Gao, homeroom teacher for Grade 10 Class 3.”

Chi Nuan said, “Hello, Teacher.”

At Chi Nuan’s voice, two of the three girls turned to glance at her.

—Chen Wan and her tall classmate?