Chapter 27: Don't run away, come here.
Her voice was a little hoarse, as if her mouth and lips were no longer used to the syllable "brother".
Cheng Mingdu paused, staring at her for a while, seemingly trying to discern the truth and falsehood in the tone of her words, which seemed so incongruous with her appearance.
After a long while, a barely perceptible gentleness emerged.
His originally cold expression was gently touched by this tearful cry, like warm water under ice being disturbed by swimming fish, softening slightly in the chilly spring air.
The wind continued to blow through the crowds and traffic, but at this moment, the surrounding noise became the background sound of breathing, like distorted white noise.
Ye Yuying stood frozen for a second, then suddenly realized that she looked absolutely terrible.
Bleached hair, a loose-fitting school uniform, and even the corners of her mouth seemed ready to be stained with the smell of smoke.
"I'm back."
He responded softly, his voice carrying an unintentional warmth, like a ray of sunlight shining through the mountains at dusk, quietly covering her, as if gently extinguishing an entire lonely winter.
She frantically and excitedly tried to brush her short hair aside, zip up her school uniform, and try to get back on the wrong path she had taken.
Like a homeless beggar reunited with his family, trying to tidy himself up in a short time.
The zipper on her school uniform had probably been handled too much by her in her daily life. Just as she was about to pull it all the way up, it got stuck halfway because she was pulling too hard, and she couldn't pull it up no matter what she did. She lowered her head, her ears turning bright red, looking just like a mole that had wandered into a swamp, both embarrassed and nervous.
But the more anxious you are, the more futile it becomes.
The zipper clicked and clacked, and Ye Yuying's fingertips trembled with anxiety.
A clear voice rang out, tinged with a subtle hint of sarcasm: "Stop pulling, it's already stuck."
Cheng Mingdu glanced at her struggling appearance and said something in a low voice.
Ye Yuying looked up and her eyes met Cheng Mingdu's lowered brows.
The next second, a hand pinched the front of her oversized school uniform. Just as Ye Yuying was about to look down, "hiss" was heard as the zipper of her school uniform was pulled up to her chin.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. She didn't even know how Cheng Mingdu fixed the zipper in an instant, and how he managed to do it without actually touching her.
Amid her stunned gaze, Cheng Mingdu straightened up first and tossed out a sentence: "Let's go home first and talk about it later."
She immediately snapped out of her daze and, like a little tail following behind in this surreal scene, grabbed her schoolbag and went after them.
Ye Yuying followed Cheng Mingdu cautiously, her steps much lighter than usual, as if afraid of disturbing something. She seemed like a completely different person from her usual domineering self.
She kept her head down, her ear tips still burning. The distance between her fingers and her ear was far too short, like an electric current running through her bones, leaving her heart still racing.
Cheng Mingdu walked slowly, as if he was waiting for her on purpose.
After walking for a while, he suddenly asked, "Why did you style your hair like that?"
Ye Yuying froze, her hand holding the schoolbag unconsciously tightening its grip a little.
The atmosphere was quiet for two seconds.
She finally said in a low, muffled voice, "Brother, do you think hair can represent me?"
The type of hair you wear can tell you what kind of person you are.
"cannot"
Cheng Mingdu paused slightly, glanced back at her, and answered almost without hesitation, his voice as crisp as a scythe severing absurd thoughts.
Ye Yuying was startled, raised her head, and a slight tremor appeared in her eyes for a moment.
“Ye Yuying,” he called her name, his voice lowering as if he were seriously telling her something very important, “who you are isn’t defined by your hair, your clothes, or what other people say—”
"It depends on what kind of things you've planted in your own heart."
The wind blew past the slightly turned-up collar of his trench coat, but his voice seemed to be held in his hands, very low and muffled.
"True strength is not about changing your hair, wearing random clothes, or smoking a cigarette, but about having a part of your heart that, even if it's shattered or trampled, you can grit your teeth and sew it back together."
The moment the words left her lips, Ye Yuying's heart pounded. Her eyes flickered, and she abruptly lowered her head as if trying to escape.
As night fell, the streetlights cast long shadows of them.
Ye Yuying bit her lower lip, a bitter, astringent taste filling her nostrils.
The question faded away with her silence, and Cheng Mingdu didn't press her further.
The two got into the car in silence and drove home.
From that day on, Ye Yuying began to re-examine herself at midnight and suddenly realized that, without knowing when, she had been hiding far more secrets in her heart than she had imagined.
*
The next day, when she entered the classroom, her silver hair caused quite a stir.
Those who used to enjoy chuckling and whispering behind people's backs remained silent this time.
Her gaze was colder than the color of her hair, giving her an unapproachable look.
She had barely sat down, not even had her bottom warm, when her homeroom teacher called her to the office.
In the old teaching building's office, a thin crack appeared in the long-neglected wooden door, and the hinges creaked.
“Ye Yuying,” the homeroom teacher said, flipping through her report card, her tone revealing obvious disappointment and impatience, “you’ve been late and leaving early again lately, and your clothes and appearance are getting worse and worse.”
Ye Yuying lowered her head and listened quietly, her eyelashes motionless.
"I've called your parents three times, but no one answered," the homeroom teacher said bluntly.
Ye Yuying suddenly remembered that Cheng Jianian had recently taken Jiang Xinxue on a vacation abroad, so it was impossible to get through to him on the phone.
Now that Jiang Xinxue is in her late twenties and has found love again, she naturally wants to cling tightly to the Cheng family and happily live the life of a pampered old lady in a wealthy family.
She thought to herself how lucky Jiang Xinxue had disappeared in time, otherwise it would have been troublesome.
The homeroom teacher slammed her pen on the desk, her eyes sharp. "Someone must be there next Wednesday, otherwise—"
The homeroom teacher abruptly changed the subject, her gaze hardening, "The school is considering expelling you."
Ye Yuying almost laughed. "What do you mean by telling me to give up? What terrible crime have I committed?"
She believed she hadn't provoked anyone; those she scolded until they cried were people she caught gossiping behind their backs in the bathroom.
The homeroom teacher didn't expect her to talk back. After a pause, her voice turned cold: "Attitude issues, discipline issues, school spirit issues—any one of these alone is enough for you to write a self-criticism."
"Oh," Ye Yuying replied indifferently, as if she were listening to something that had nothing to do with her.
The homeroom teacher stared at her, trying to discern any fear or remorse on her face, but found nothing. She was like a stubborn rock eroded by years of wind and rain, rough and rigid, showing no sign of breaking, completely unyielding.
"Anyway, your parents have to come. I have to talk to your parents in person." The homeroom teacher said this last sentence, seemingly knowing that further discussion would be futile. He could only wave his hand coldly and say, "Go out."
As Ye Yuying picked up her schoolbag and walked out of the office, she caught a glimpse of the densely packed figures on the playground outside the window. She felt a strange sense of isolation, as if she were tightly sealed in a layer of transparent plastic wrap, and everything outside seemed irrelevant to her.
The door slammed shut behind her with a loud bang.
*
As the days went by, Ye Yuying remained unhurried and continued to maintain the status quo.
Her days at school were like the garbage time before a dynasty collapsed—meaningless, and she even wished for it to be destroyed as soon as possible.
My grandmother called not long ago; her back injury has healed, and she can get out of bed and work again.
Chengdu is a big city, but she doesn't like it as much as Jiang Xinxue.
She thought that if she really got expelled, it would save her trouble. She had long forgotten the excitement she felt when she saw the list of students admitted to Rongcheng No. 1 High School. She just thought that going back to Qingcheng to attend a private junior high school and helping her grandmother sell vegetables at the morning market would be a good idea.
A few months ago, she was afraid of being sent away by Jiang Xinxue, but now, she wants to leave on her own.
Qingcheng, where my maternal grandmother lives, is her only home.
That evening, the sky was overcast, and a light, damp drizzle fell on the courtyard.
When Ye Yuying came home from school, she quickly wiped her shoes on and went inside.
She was carrying her schoolbag, planning to sneak back to the attic so as not to stay in the living room for even a minute longer.
She froze as soon as she turned the corner of the corridor.
It was unusual for Cheng Mingdu to appear in the side hall at this time. He was wearing a dark gray sweater, with one hand in his pocket, tilting his head to make a phone call. His expression was minimal, but his tone seemed to maintain politeness.
As soon as he hung up the landline, he looked directly at Ye Yuying, who happened to be passing by.
He had heard the noise earlier and only looked at her after hanging up the phone.
In that instant, Ye Yuying instinctively took half a step back, almost wanting to turn around and run away.
But it was too late.
She didn't know what she was feeling guilty about under Cheng Mingdu's gaze.
Cheng Mingdu stared at her, his expression calm to the point of being indifferent, and slowly said, "Your homeroom teacher just called."
Ye Yuying was utterly bewildered: "How could she possibly have gotten here..."
On second thought, it was probably the backup phone number I filled out when I enrolled, and I couldn't help but feel a little resentful.
She was also puzzled by the inexplicable panic in her heart at this moment. Even though the other party did not show any reproachful look, she still felt helpless.
Ye Yuying instinctively wanted to turn and leave, so as to avoid any conversation.
But Cheng Mingdu slightly tilted his head and, with an extremely soft and slow sentence, sealed off her escape route.
"Don't run, come here."
The voice wasn't loud, and it didn't carry any anger, but it made my palms feel colder than if I'd been drenched in freezing rain.
Ye Yuying, carrying her schoolbag, froze for several seconds before stiffly turning around, her steps as slow as if she were walking on cement, and walked towards Cheng Mingdu.
She gritted her teeth, trying her best to maintain the indifference and nonchalance on her face.
But as she got closer, she heard him let out a very soft sigh.
It was as if a mountain rain was about to fall, or an avalanche was imminent.
Ye Yuying wished she were temporarily deaf, and her eyelashes trembled.
She stood in front of Cheng Mingdu, her gaze straining upwards, revealing a smile that was half defensive and half stiff.
"What's wrong?" she asked, her voice dry and hoarse.
Cheng Mingdu didn't speak immediately, but just looked at her quietly, his eyes conveying a strong sense of presence.
A few seconds later, he asked:
"Are you deliberately trying to get expelled from school?"
She couldn't immediately tell whether Cheng Mingdu's statement was a guess or a conclusion.
Ye Yuying was silent for a moment.
My lips twitched, as if I wanted to laugh, but I found that I couldn't.
In the large side hall, only the sound of rain pattering against the eaves remained.
This year's spring rains seem particularly urgent.
She opened her mouth, intending to reply with "It doesn't matter," but her throat felt blocked, and she couldn't utter a single word.
The word was stuck in her throat, making her feel extremely uncomfortable and causing her mouth and tongue to feel numb for a moment.
Her eyes inexplicably reddened for a moment, and she made a swallowing motion.
After much hesitation, she finally spoke, but her voice wasn't as confident as she'd imagined. It was like a faded acrylic painting, patchy and weak, tinged with a sigh: "I want to go back to Qingcheng, my hometown..."
This was a bit too much for her to say, making her voice sound weak.
The words had barely left his mouth when the large side room lost its warmth amidst the sound of rain, and the air began to freeze inch by inch.
Cheng Mingdu didn't move.
He barely moved his eyelashes, as if trying to discern the emotion behind those words.
A few seconds later, he spoke in a very calm voice:
"Because you had a bad time in Chengdu, right?"
It wasn't a accusation, nor a pity, and you couldn't even detect any emotion in it.
He simply asked a question calmly.
She gritted her teeth, hesitating whether to nod.
Chengdu is a large, bustling, and noisy city, yet there is no place that truly belongs to her.
“I grew up in Qingcheng, and now that I’m used to it, that’s where my home is.”
A wave of sour air surged up from her stomach, making her feel suffocated.
His gaze lingered on the top of her head for a long time before he spoke, his tone neither fast nor slow:
"Ye Yuying".
She looked up and subconsciously responded.
“If you want to leave,” he paused, his voice extremely soft and slow, “you’d better leave properly.”
“You can withdraw from school and transfer schools through the proper procedures. If you are expelled because of a mistake, it will not look good on your record.”
Cheng Mingdu's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a steady hammer, dullly striking her heart, making her feel a little flustered.
"I don't plan to go to high school. I just want to go home and stay with my grandma. My academic record... shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Is she afraid of these things? She plans to end her education after completing nine years of compulsory education, which seems to be the answer to life for her and many of her peers in Qingcheng.
Many people can help their families or go out to work when they turn sixteen. Jiang Xinxue only finished half of junior high school, and she also felt that this would be her way home.
Like a curse passed down through generations of families, no one can escape it.
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Author's Note: 50 red envelopes [Cat emoji]
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