As expected.
For a week, Su Qing hadn't seen Jiang Sui or Hu Yifan.
The boy would still occasionally call her, asking about her studies, meals, and other family matters, occasionally updating her on Hu Yifan's recovery.
However, Su Qing didn't ask or persuade him, as she had promised Liu Ranran, about calling the police.
With exams approaching, Liu Ranran's parents worried their daughter wouldn't get into a good university. So, the girl, usually content with eating and drinking, gradually became busy. Besides taking one-on-one lessons outside of school, she also needed to learn calligraphy.
Liu Ranran told Su Qing that because she wasn't physically coordinated, had no cultural background, and couldn't play any musical instruments, she'd taken calligraphy, the most basic form. If she did better in her academic subjects, she might even be able to get into a top university.
Thus, Su Qing was left alone again in the hectic campus life, busy with classes and exams.
The bonus had already been deposited into her account on Monday. Su Qing wanted to bring it up several times, but the boy on the other end of the phone always sounded tired, so she gave up.
As usual, Su Qing took advantage of the break to go to the toilet. The girl's routine was: the teaching building, the cafeteria, and home.
Her mind was still replaying the physics problems her teacher had covered that morning. Dressed in her school uniform, with her head lowered, she didn't notice the female students standing by the sink, eyeing her with ill intent.
After washing her hands and trying to leave, Su Qing realized the door was locked.
She tugged hard a few times, but it wouldn't budge.
"Stop tugging, it won't open."
She finally came to her senses. Following the sound of running water, she slowly turned her head and looked at the several girls in school uniforms in the mirror. Whether it was the leading girl or the ones standing behind, Su Qing was certain she didn't recognize them, had never seen them before, and had no memory of them.
Rubbing her palms, she couldn't remember provoking anyone... She didn't recognize any of these people.
"Student..."
The words were still lingering.
The leading girl was tall, wearing thick glasses and a high ponytail. Her eyes held undisguised disgust.
The person following her was right behind her.
As if she understood the girl's signal, she held a thick piece of toilet paper.
…
"Little sister, we're still good friends, right?"
Before leaving, the girl reached out and gently stroked her cheek, her movements incredibly gentle.
"Don't go out there and talk nonsense, okay, little sister."
…
After an unknown amount of time, as if the bell for class rang, she lost her balance and fell into the puddle on the ground.
The cold water soaked into her trouser legs and shoes, and she shivered all over.
Her mind was devoid of thoughts.
Su Qing slowly felt a slight pain in her body. She stood up slowly, looking up at herself in the mirror. Her cheeks were slightly red.
Su Qing bit her lip and tugged at her hair with her fingers. Her dark hair fell down her face, hiding the marks. With her head lowered, others couldn't see them unless they looked closely.
Were these people also because of him?
Su Qing slowly retracted her palm and tried not to limp out. Basically, no one could tell what was wrong. When she walked out of the toilet door, the yellow sign that was being repaired on the side had been kicked to pieces.
Su Qing didn't want to be late and wanted to be back in the classroom by the bell.
But even at her fastest pace, she was still a little late.
When she got back to the classroom, the teacher had already begun lecturing at the podium. Su Qing stood outside the door for a long time, her legs numb, but the teacher continued writing on the blackboard, as if not noticing her.
"Report."
In the first half of senior year, all textbook material would be covered, and the second half would begin a comprehensive review. This class was a new subject, and Su Qing couldn't miss it. Especially since it was physics, where she was not very good at, she didn't want to miss a single class.
Su Qing finally spoke, biting her lip and lowering her head.
The school uniform was dark, and she happened to be wearing dark pants today. Back from the toilet, she had already wrung out a lot of the water stains on her body.
Perhaps her voice was too soft, and the teacher at the podium didn't hear her clearly, so Su Qing mustered up her courage.
"Report!"
Her voice was much louder than before.
As she finished speaking, she, already the center of attention from outside the door, was now subjected to even more intense stares from the entire classroom.
Even the teacher's chalk on the podium broke in half, and she turned her head, deeply displeased at the interruption, to look out the door.
This physics teacher had always disliked her, Su Qing knew it. She had difficulty answering the exercises, and even when Su Qing had first transferred, she'd occasionally asked questions, but she hadn't explained them properly.
Tang Lihui deeply disliked this lifeless girl and stared at her for a long moment.
"If you don't want to attend my class, just leave. Why are you still coming in when you're late?!"
At the doorway, Su Qing lowered her head, silent, her hair disheveled, as if she'd suffered a profound injustice, or even been bullied.
A flicker of disgust crossed Tang Lihui's eyes, but remembering she was on the podium, she suppressed her frustration.
"Come in. You don't have to come in next time if you're late."
Su Qing nodded and agreed, hurriedly trying to return to her seat.
However, she had stood outside the door for too long, and her legs and body ached, especially her hips. She barely took a step before she collapsed onto the podium with a thud.
A searing pain shot through her palms.
Tang Lihui was startled and couldn't help but duck back, her voice a little sharp.
"Su Qing, what are you doing!"
She was lying right next to her, and Tang Lihui suppressed the urge to kick that disgusting face away.
All the students in the classroom were startled, staring at Su Qing at the podium with varying expressions. She stood up, expecting Tang Li to bow.
"Excuse me, Teacher Tang."
She said this, trying not to show any sign of abnormality, and returned to her seat.
But the moment the girl looked up, Tang Li could clearly see the redness and swelling on her cheek beneath her disheveled hair. She hesitated for a moment and said nothing.
Su Qing didn't understand why she hadn't done anything. The teacher didn't like her, so she never was late for physics class...