Chapter 83 Chapter 83 The Gears of Destiny
Xueying was lying on the hospital bed. The pain in her body was far less than the blow brought to her by the cold reality that followed.
The first thing to arrive was the official notice from the school.
Because her "personal conduct issues" have had a negative impact on the school's reputation, the school has decided to cancel her eligibility for this year's national scholarship and all school-level scholarships.
At the same time, the places for admission to graduate school of the school that had been basically confirmed were also officially rejected.
The cold words in the email, like a poisoned dagger, pierced deeply into the area on which she depended for her survival and which she was most proud of.
The scholarship and admission to graduate school—these were the most realistic steps she had taken to escape her family's misfortune, earned through nearly exhausting her life's efforts. They were the most radiant part of her pristine resume.
Now, it's all ruined.
She seemed to be able to hear the gloating sneers behind her back from those who had once envied her and had been stepped on by her.
Immediately after Xueying was discharged from the hospital, she tried to find Yu Sixie for a final "explanation" and "reconciliation", but was blocked by Yu Sixie in person downstairs of the Lihe Group headquarters.
That day, he had just come out of an important meeting, followed by several senior executives, with a cold and powerful aura.
Xue Ying rushed over without caring about her image and stopped him, her face a carefully embellished expression of vulnerability and deep sorrow:
"Boss Yu... No, Si Xie... I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong... I was confused about the child, I was too scared at the time... But my feelings for you are real! From the first time I saw you..."
Yu Sixie stopped and didn't even ask his subordinates behind him to move away. He just looked at her calmly in front of everyone. There was no disgust or anger in his eyes, only a complete, condescending indifference, as if he was looking at an insignificant object that had nothing to do with him.
"Miss Xue."
He interrupted her, his voice clear and cold, without any emotion, "I think I've made it very clear before. I never have, and will never have, any interest or feelings for you outside of work."
He paused, as if to completely crush her last shred of fantasy, and said each word like a verdict:
"If your abilities and ambitions were used in the right place, you might have achieved something. But unfortunately, you're using your mind in the wrong direction. Apart from the unpleasant interactions we once had because of Yu Ziche, there is no other possibility between us. Please don't appear in front of me again, and don't bother my family anymore."
After saying this, he didn't even look at her again. He walked straight past her and disappeared behind the revolving door with his subordinates who were holding their breath.
The employees who occasionally passed by cast glances at him, some with curiosity, some with contempt, and some with pity, which were like countless fine needles, piercing Xueying's body to pieces.
She froze in place, the carefully maintained expression on her face completely shattered, leaving only immense embarrassment and despair.
He didn't even bother to hate her. That kind of complete indifference made her feel more humiliated and suffocated than any insult.
Regret, like a surging tide, finally broke through all her psychological defenses at this moment and completely drowned her.
She regrets it!
I regret that I was blinded by jealousy and greed, and used all my intelligence and talents to climb up, calculate and take shortcuts!
She could clearly do as Xitong said, relying on her own abilities and hard work, step by step, although it would be hard, but she would walk uprightly, and win true respect and her own future.
She also hated herself for being stupid!
I hate myself for pinning my hopes on a loser like Yu Ziche and a cold-blooded man like Yu Sixie!
She thought that she could influence the wealthy families with her beauty and scheming, but she forgot how ridiculous and vulnerable her little tricks were in the face of true absolute strength and class barriers!
She is like a clown, complacent in the beautiful dream she has woven, but shattered into pieces by reality.
She hated her original family which was like a quagmire even more!
If she didn't have such a father and such a mother, why would she have such a morbid desire for money and status?
Why are you so insecure and so eager to grab anything you can to climb up?
But now, everything is over.
Academically, his future is ruined.
Having lost her scholarship and admission to graduate school, she didn't even know how to face her future studies and the heavy financial pressure.
Emotionally, she became a complete joke.
In Yu Sixie's eyes, she was just a troublemaker who was self-indulgent and had evil intentions.
She lost her child, her clean reputation, her hard-earned connections and resources, and also...
That bright future that could have been achieved through hard work.
Xue Ying walked in a daze on the bustling streets, surrounded by bustling crowds and dazzling neon lights, but she only felt cold all over, as if she was in a desolate ice field.
She had been so close to the world of her dreams, so close that it seemed within reach. But in the end, because of her own greed and stupidity, she pushed everything away with her own hands and fell back into a bottomless abyss even lower than the starting point.
This regret, like a thorn in her flesh, will accompany her for a long, long time.
What slapped her in the face was not only Yu Sixie's cold rejection and the school's punishment, but also the heaviest and most ruthless slap in the face from fate for all her wrong choices.
…
Almost everyone in the research group had left, leaving only Xitong still sorting out the data from the afternoon discussion.
Under the light, her profile looked focused and calm.
Liu Lianzi lingered at the door for a long time, her nails digging deep into her palms, before she finally mustered up the courage and knocked on the open door.
"Senior Sister Xitong..." Her voice was as thin as a mosquito.
Xitong raised her head and was a little surprised to see it was her, but she nodded gently: "Lian Zi? Is there something wrong?"
Liu Lianzi walked in, head lowered, not daring to look into Xitong's eyes, fingers nervously twisting the corners of her clothes.
"I... I'm here to apologize." Her voice was choked with sobs. "Before... before, those things Xueying asked me to do... the documents, the data, and... and spreading those rumors... I was involved in them all. I'm sorry, I'm really sorry..."
She finally expressed the heaviest guilt that had been accumulating in her heart, and her shoulders trembled slightly because of her suppressed crying.
Xitong listened quietly, without showing much surprise on her face.
She put down the pen in her hand and said calmly: "I know."
Liu Lianzi suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with tears and surprise.
Xitong looked at her, his eyes clear, without any blame, only a hint of understanding: "The way you looked at me before, and those troubles that were too 'coincidental', I could feel it. But I didn't expect you to tell me on your own initiative."
"I...I can't pretend nothing happened anymore."
Liu Lianzi's tears flowed even harder. "Every time I see you, Senior Sister, being so outstanding and willing to help me, even when something happened at home... I feel so sad and I look down on myself..."
Xitong took out a tissue and handed it to her: "It's all in the past. The fact that you came to apologize shows that you and she are not the same kind of people."
This sentence was like a warm current, but also like a thorn, making Liu Lianzi's mood even more complicated.
She took the tissue, wiped her tears haphazardly, and took a few deep breaths, as if she had made some kind of decision.
"Senior Sister," her voice was still very soft, but with a desperate tremor, "I... I have actually... always been very... paying attention to you."
Xitong raised her eyebrows slightly, waiting for her to continue.
Liu Lianzi's cheeks flushed abnormally, and her eyes avoided, but she couldn't help but glance at Xi Tong quickly: "At first, it was because Xueying always picked on you, and I... I inexplicably disliked you a little. But then... later, I watched you give a report on the stage, so confident, so dazzling; I watched you patiently help your junior brothers and sisters solve problems; I saw that even after losing your memory, you were still so strong and hardworking... I... I just..."
Her voice became smaller and smaller, almost inaudible, but the special feeling that went beyond admiration and friendship was clearly conveyed at this moment.
It was a mixture of admiration, inferiority and an unspeakable attraction.
"I know this isn't right, and it's weird..."
Liu Lianzi lowered her head even lower, her ears flushed red. "I just... just wanted to tell you. I'll feel better if I tell you. I'm sorry to bother you, Senior Sister."
After she finished speaking, she didn't dare to look at Xitong's reaction again, and almost ran away, leaving behind a panicked back.
Xitong stood there in a daze, looking at the empty doorway. After a long while, she shook her head helplessly and very lightly.
She didn't expect that behind Liu Lianzi's apology, there was such a secret and heavy emotion.
This sudden confession made her feel even more complicated than the previous open and covert attacks.
She sighed softly and turned her attention back to the data in front of her.
…
The days flow forward like a trickle of water, calmly and fully.
Xitong's doctoral life is on track, with her time filled with coursework and project research.
At home, after that incident, her relationship with Yu Sixie seemed to have entered a deeper level of tacit understanding and trust. Without too many words, they could understand each other's intentions with just a glance.
Her relationship with Yu's father and mother became more and more natural and harmonious. They would discuss current affairs and share interesting stories together. Occasionally, Yu's mother would ask her to arrange flowers and drink tea together, enjoying the rare leisure time.
At school, after that abrupt apology and implicit confession, Liu Lianzi did as she said and did not do anything inappropriate again.
She just became more silent, but she was also silently paying attention to Xitong in her own way.
Sometimes after class, Xitong would find that her water cup had been refilled with warm water without her knowing; sometimes she would casually mention a hard-to-find document, and it would appear in a conspicuous place on her desk the next day; when working in a group, Liu Lianzi would always take the initiative to undertake the most tedious and basic work without any complaints.
Her eyes would still follow Xitong, but there was no longer any jealousy or calculation in them, only a quiet, almost pious protection.
Xitong felt the silent kindness and did not point it out. She also kept a proper distance and showed respect.
Everything seems so peaceful and orderly.
Until one ordinary morning.
Xitong got up early as usual and prepared to go for a morning run with Yu Sixie.
However, when she was standing in front of the sink brushing her teeth, an unexpected and strong feeling of nausea suddenly surged up from her stomach!
She immediately leaned over and retched a few times into the sink, but nothing came out. She only felt her throat tighten and tears welled up in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Yu Sixie, who was tying his shoelaces, came over immediately upon hearing the voice and patted her back worriedly.
Xitong rinsed her mouth, stood up, waved her hands, and her face turned pale: "It's okay, maybe... maybe I didn't sleep well last night, and I feel a little nauseous."
Yu Sixie frowned and observed her expression carefully: "Do you want to go to the hospital?"
"No need, don't make a big deal out of it." Xitong took a few deep breaths and felt the nausea slowly subside. "Maybe it's just my stomach feeling uncomfortable. I'll be fine after drinking some hot porridge."
She didn't take this little incident to heart.
Maybe it's because of the recent academic pressure, or maybe it's because the unsatisfactory survey data yesterday made her a little anxious and affected her stomach.
However, in the next few days, this inexplicable symptom did not disappear, but became more frequent.
Sometimes in a crowded elevator, when she smelled some strong perfume, she would suddenly feel dizzy and her stomach would churn.
Sometimes in the cafeteria, when she saw the greasy food, she would lose her appetite instantly even though she was originally starving.
There was even one time when she was in class and suddenly felt extremely tired and sleepy. She almost couldn't hold on and fell asleep on the table. This was extremely abnormal for her as she had been full of energy in recent years.
Xitong just thought it was a warning from the body because he had been overworked recently.
I went to the pharmacy and bought some mild gastrointestinal medicine and vitamins, but didn't tell Yu Sixie for fear that he would worry.
Although Yu Sixie noticed that Xi Tong seemed to be easily tired recently and her appetite was not as good as before, he just thought it was due to the heavy workload and told her to get more rest without thinking about it.
Life continues to run on its established track.
Xitong attended classes, did research, and wrote reports as usual, went home as usual, and felt Liu Lianzi's silent, distanced care as usual.
She planned the direction of the next phase of research, discussed the details of the W City project with Luo Xuanji, and worried about her grandmother's illness...
She had no idea that these subtle physical changes were not caused by fatigue or stress.
The gears of fate always quietly start to turn when people are least prepared.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
