Chapter 5
When I returned in the afternoon, Ye Hua had already cooked the rice and was simmering it in the pot. She had gone downstairs to walk the dog.
Jian Sheng quickly ate a bite, washed all the dirty bowls and plates, and skillfully cleaned the room. After doing all that, he picked up the straw mat and blanket on the living room floor and carefully walked into the small study that he had just tidied up yesterday.
This little study was the place her grandfather loved to spend the most when he was alive. Her grandfather was a university professor who had been to the battlefield before. He loved to study historical sites, but unfortunately, he never got to go out and explore before he died.
The study was only the size of a toilet, but fortunately it could fit a bed and a table. The most eye-catching thing was the bookshelf embedded in the wall, with each shelf crammed with books, but Ye Hua wouldn't allow her to touch them.
She tidied up the room, sat on the creaky iron folding bed, and watched as the sky outside gradually darkened. She drew the simple curtains made of bed sheets, turned on the light, and slowly took off her clothes.
Her arms were covered in shocking scars and bruises, new and old combined, a gruesome and terrifying sight. Jian Sheng put down her clothes and stared expressionlessly at the wounds. Some had scabbed over, but today, when that man ripped them open, they reopened.
She had only been in Jiangzhou for a few days, and her wounds weren't treated very well; they couldn't withstand much further strain. Who knew that bad luck would strike...
Suddenly, a heavy thud came from the living room—the sound of the heavy iron door.
"Grandma, I'm back!" A clear voice rang out from outside the door.
"Grandma?" The voice lingered for a moment at the doorway across the street, then quickly entered Jian Sheng's room. The wooden door opened from the outside in. "Grandma..."
The shouting stopped abruptly, replaced by an awkward atmosphere and a prolonged silence.
Jian Sheng had already put on her clothes. She looked up at him, and the face that had been peeking in from outside the door went from smiling to stunned to angry.
Then, Jian Qingyao's face darkened, and he opened the door: "You've come to Jiangzhou."
His tone wasn't very friendly, but he was still polite: "Have you seen Grandma?"
"She went downstairs to walk the dog." Jian Sheng said this and then didn't say anything more. Jian Qingyao left the house on her own, and thoughtfully closed the door behind her.
Ten minutes later, Ye Hua returned, and a terrifying scream erupted outside the door: "What did you say?"
"What's wrong with you? Why did you let her study in Jiangzhou?" Jian Qingyao's voice was sharp, as if it could penetrate the eight-story building.
Why didn't anyone consult me?
"My dad clearly told you not to associate with this crazy family. Are you senile or what? Why don't you listen?"
Jian Sheng leaned against the wooden door, his body gradually sliding down until he finally sat on the ground.
The argument outside the door went on for who knows how long before Ye Hua finally managed to calm Jian Qingyao down.
Jian Qingyao is the son of Ye Hua's second son. His family is relatively well-off. In the early 2000s, they brought their parents from the rural area of Jizhou and bought them a house to live in. Since their grandfather passed away, it has been inconvenient for the two young people to work in other provinces. Only Jian Qingyao, who attends a boarding school, occasionally comes back to visit his parents.
Jian Sheng's father, Jian Zihua, is Ye Hua's eldest son. In his youth, he was a thief who cheated Zhou Yilian out of her, resulting in the birth of Jian Sheng. He boasted about how good he was to her and how he wanted to start a business, but in the end, he swindled all of Zhou Yilian's money. Only after Zhou Yilian died did he stop, but he also became depraved and neglected Jian Sheng.
It was Ye Hua who suggested that she come here to study.
Because Jian Zihua simply couldn't afford to support her, because he had already spent all the living expenses Zhou Yilian had saved up for Jian Sheng, and even had Jian Sheng collect bottles to support him.
The sounds outside the door subsided, replaced by a stern warning.
“My father is absolutely right. Your pity will ultimately lead to tragedy because of Jian Zihua!”
Jian Qingyao's voice was firm and resolute.
Separated by a wooden door, inside the door.
Jian Sheng's face was completely buried between his knees.
On Monday morning, a light drizzle began to fall outside. Jian Sheng grabbed a black umbrella and hurried to school.
After entering the school gate, she slowed down. There weren't many students on the road; most of them had already been sent in by their parents. Jian Sheng was still wearing her worn-out white sneakers, walking in on the ground as wet as possible.
The rain intensified, the raindrops sizzling against the umbrella, producing a sound like oil being poured into a pan—not unpleasant, but somewhat oppressive, like a heavy weight settling on her agitated heart.
She hates rainy days.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept past behind me.
"Amazing!" A boy burst in from out of sight. "It was drizzling when I left, but it's pouring now that I'm at school."
Jian frowned and silently moved to the side, but the person suddenly stopped.
"Excuse me, which class are you in?" The voice was clear and cool, like a clean spring in summer, refreshing and soothing.
The umbrella, which had been lowered to a low position, came to a stop. Water droplets on the eaves formed a small circle as the rain intensified.
She didn't say anything, but took two steps forward, raised the umbrella slightly, and covered the tall boy in front of her.
Chen Zhou was stunned when he saw the umbrella being handed to him; the umbrella instantly kept him dry.
“I…I’ll take it?” he said.
The umbrella wasn't very big. As he stretched out his hand, the rainwater on the top of the umbrella fell directly onto Jian Sheng's back with his large movement, seeping into her school uniform collar and sliding down her skin, chilling her to the bone.
Jian Sheng gritted his teeth; half of his body was soaked.
"I'm so sorry." Chen Zhoujing took the umbrella and then realized it. He moved closer to her and tilted the umbrella towards her until it completely covered her.
He was so tall that his head was blocked, but the rain swished against Jian Sheng's face from the side, but it was as if it didn't hit him at all.
"Hey classmate, you're a bit aloof," Chen Zhou exclaimed in surprise. He had never seen anyone so cold before.
Jian Sheng remained silent.
However, Chen Zhoujing had already recognized her when she raised the umbrella: "I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean to. Our class teacher called me, and I secretly went to play ball. I was afraid she would scold me, so I was in a hurry and didn't notice the person above."
“I wanted to look for you, but it was already afternoon when I left the office, and there weren’t many students at the school.”
"I'm so sorry, it didn't rain this afternoon, let me treat you to some water," he added.
His gaze unconsciously drifted to the skinny, pale-faced guy next to him, who looked malnourished. He felt there was something strange about this guy. He was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and a jacket in the middle of summer, didn't say a word, seemed afraid of people, always kept his head down, and had a gloomy demeanor.
Jian Sheng spoke up this time, her long eyelashes fluttering a few times, and she said nonchalantly, "No need."
The person next to her was like a giant furnace; she felt inexplicably hot when she was near him, and he talked too much.
She had barely finished saying no when he kindly said, "How can that be? What class are you in? I'll go to the convenience store to buy you some water during this long break and bring it to you later."
"No need," Jian said simply.
"Yes, yes, let's get to know each other. I'm from Class 23 of Senior High School." Chen Zhoujing said earnestly, "My name is Chen Zhoujing, Chen from the east of the ear, Zhou from traveling around the world, and Jing from the sound of alarm."
The two got closer and closer, making Jian Sheng very uncomfortable. She moved to the right again, but the man, oblivious to her presence, moved closer. He moved with her, as if he didn't notice, until she gave up struggling.
"No need to be so polite. We're good brothers now that we've met. Besides, it was my fault to begin with. Tell me quickly, what class are you in?" Chen Zhou asked anxiously.
“Class 23 of Senior High School.” Jian Sheng stared at the water dripping from the tip of the umbrella, splashing small droplets as they touched the puddles on the ground before quickly merging together.
As soon as she finished speaking, Chen Zhoujing let out a soft groan.
"Holy crap, it's you! You're that pretty new transfer student."
The two had reached the teaching building. Jian Sheng stood at the top of the stairs, head down, quietly waiting for him to close the umbrella.
As Chen Zhoujing closed his umbrella, he said, "The monk... He Shang told me about it yesterday."
Jian Sheng thought he was going to say something, but the man suddenly said, "Don't worry, brother. Even if the school doesn't officially allow dating, there are still quite a few people doing it in private. I'll keep your relationship with Lin You a secret."
"no......"
"Don't worry, I'm a very reliable person. You go up first." Chen Zhoujing interrupted her, handed her the umbrella, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Could you take my bag up with you too? I need to use the restroom. Thank you."
"I've been a bit constipated lately," he added, before walking into the side corridor.
Jian Sheng took a breath, watching his back as he hugged his schoolbag and carried the umbrella that was stuck together with the rain.
It's not necessary to tell her everything...
She turned and went up the stairs back to her classroom.
At this moment, Class 23 of Senior High School was in complete chaos. Several students who hadn't finished their homework yesterday still hadn't finished, and they were desperately looking for someone to copy their homework. Their wails mingled with the sound of rain outside, creating a desolate scene.
Jian Sheng silently carried Chen Zhoujing's schoolbag and went in through the back door. She originally wanted to walk to her seat and ask her deskmate Chen Zhoujing where her seat was.
Suddenly, a student near the door exclaimed, "Holy crap!"
Startled, Jian Sheng took a step back. Her classmates, who were busy with their own things, all turned to look at her, and she lowered her head awkwardly.
The man said, "Why are you carrying Chen Zhoujing's schoolbag?"
His backpack is so easy to spot; it's the latest model from the most popular brand right now. He bought it the same month it was released, so his financial strength shouldn't be underestimated. He's also a bit of a germaphobe and doesn't like anyone touching his things.
Jian Sheng was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to go in or out. Everyone's eyes were on her, making her feel as if she had been stripped naked and stared at, which was incredibly shameful.
"Zhao Chengyang, what are you yelling about?" Lin You walked in through the front door. "Everyone back to your seats, the teacher will be here soon."
As soon as she spoke, the few people who had been making a fuss fell silent, but many eyes were still fixed on her. Jian Sheng disliked this feeling and resented herself for not knowing how to speak.
"You should go back to your seat too, Jian Sheng," Lin You said.
Jian Sheng looked up and nodded at her, then picked up his backpack and prepared to walk to his seat.
"The teacher is here, the teacher is here." Someone teleported in through the back door and bumped directly into Jian Sheng's thin back.
Jian Sheng staggered a few steps from the impact, her heart nearly leaping out of her chest, and her back trembled with pain.
"Hey, are you alright, new classmate?" Chen Zhou was shocked when he saw who it was, and mentally slapped himself.
Jian Sheng leaned against the empty table behind her, bent over a few times to recover, and then stood up. She turned around, looked up, and saw Chen Zhou's panicked face.
A few seconds of silence.
"The two of them smelled of gunpowder."
"The new classmate is stirring things up; Chen Zhoujing has gotten into trouble again," someone in the front row whispered.
When Chen Zhoujing saw Jian Sheng's face fully revealed, his pupils contracted slightly. He forgot to speak for a moment, still holding the drink in his hand.
Her face was already pale, and now her eyes were filled with a hint of resentment. Coupled with her gloomy temperament, she exuded a sickly aura. Her eyes were beautiful and clear, and a mole was faintly hidden above her brow bone under her thick, wispy bangs.
The phrase "morbid beauty" popped into his mind for a moment.
During the standoff, Jian suppressed his anger and let out a heavy sigh: "Your schoolbag."
She reached out and shoved her schoolbag into his arms, then turned and went back to her seat.
Chen Zhoujing missed and his schoolbag fell to the ground, but he remained frozen in place until He Shang pushed him from behind: "What are you standing there for? Your schoolbag fell to the ground. Your mother is here, and if it gets dusty, she'll find another excuse to scold you."
Chen Zhou snapped out of his daze, placed the drink he was holding on the empty table behind Jian Sheng, turned around and picked up his backpack from the ground. He patted the dusty spot on the backpack where it had fallen to the ground with his long, slender fingers, and tossed it behind the chair.
He has offended the new classmate three times in a row; he deserves to die.
Chen Zhoujing settled down in his seat and stared at Jian Sheng's back.
How am I supposed to give this drink to someone...?
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