Chapter 16: The Escape It was like the pain of her adolescence, it always happened like this…
Their story began with the first frost, unfolded in the height of summer, and ended in the depths of winter.
On the day of Frost's Descent, the Jiangnan region was experiencing its first chill, and the wind blowing through the alleyway carried a sharp, biting cold.
Thirteen-year-old Ye Yuying and her mother got out of the black car and stood behind her mother at the entrance of the Cheng family mansion.
The soles of her shoes were frozen stiff, her fingers were tucked into her sleeves, and she gripped the faux leather handbag tightly. She was wearing a bright but cheap wool coat, its color was bright, its texture was stiff, and the label on the back of the collar made her neck itch, but she dared not reach out to scratch it.
That was her last shred of dignity before winter arrived, and she was grateful it wasn't deep winter, otherwise she would have been embarrassed.
Jiang Xinxue stood in front of her, her head slightly raised, her shoulders tense. The brown wool coat she was wearing had been worn for three years; it was a bit old, but clean and crisp, and it cost her a lot of money that she had saved up for a long time.
Underneath her coat was a cheongsam, her makeup was light but dignified, and her face carried a tense, commanding presence, as if she had hidden all her dignity between her brows and eyes.
Every loose thread in this outfit corresponds to a few decent banknotes.
The Cheng family's old house was as quiet as a sleeping temple, with high walls, red tiles, and gray bricks that shimmered with a faint mist.
An elderly butler stood outside the wrought iron fence, his temples gray, dressed in a traditional suit. He bowed slightly and gave them a brief greeting: "Young Master Cheng just returned to the country the day before yesterday and is still adjusting to the time difference. He is resting for now—Master is waiting in the back hall."
His words were calm, but he did not allow them to enter through the main gate. Instead, he turned to the side and made a "please" gesture, leading them around the front courtyard and into the inner courtyard through the east wing path.
Jiang Xinxue's expression remained unchanged; she merely smiled faintly, as if she had expected this. She nodded slightly: "Thank you for your trouble."
After saying that, she turned around and glanced at Ye Yuying, her eyes unhurried but containing a hint of warning.
Ye Yuying immediately lowered her head and softly greeted, "Hello, Uncle Butler."
At that moment, her voice was like freezing rain falling on withered branches—crisp and tender, but lacking in strength.
She could already foresee how Jiang Xinxue would scold her for this imperfect greeting tonight, and the thought made the skin on the back of her neck tense up for a moment.
Maple leaves fluttered to the ground in the courtyard, and a gust of wind blew past the copper bells under the eaves, making them ring crisply.
The world of the Cheng residence is mysterious and enigmatic. In the long and deep corridors, everything is laid out in an orderly manner. The gates of the mansion seem to stretch on forever, making one feel dizzy.
Jiang Xinxue waited for many years and finally got her wish, stepping into this mansion that did not exist in her destiny, but before that, she had paid a huge price...
"Please wait a moment, Madam." The maid served tea, her words respectful but her tone as indifferent as a routine matter.
Ye Yuying didn't dare to sit down, but stood obediently beside Jiang Xinxue.
But she couldn't stand still; the discomfort of the clothing label made her itchy and restless, so she could only peek out into the courtyard to distract herself.
The tall attic stood silently under the winter sun, with a few yellow leaves swirling and falling.
She only snapped back to reality when someone appeared from behind the screen, a sound came from behind her, and her mother gently patted her.
"Call someone."
Her tone was gentle yet serious, and only she could sense the reprimand within it.
She paused for a moment, then slowly stood up straight, placing her hands together in front of her. Her voice was clear and audible, carrying just the right amount of obedience, concealing the sharpness in her eyes and the bewildered thoughts in her heart. Before she could even see the other person's face clearly, she had already bowed and greeted them.
Hello, Uncle Cheng.
A man's voice rang out, strong and energetic, with a hint of affability, as he replied, "Okay."
The voice was clean and gentle, but not affectionate.
Ye Yuying looked up and saw a middle-aged man in front of her. He was tall and straight, and instead of wearing a formal suit, he was wearing an exquisitely tailored Chinese-style outer garment with the hem hanging down casually, which showed the composure unique to those who had long held a high position.
His gray hair, streaked with white, brushed against his temples. His brows and eyes were deep and serene, his gaze authoritative without being angry. Yet, as he sat down, he broke the silence and gave her a slightly tired but warm nod.
She knew—this was the male head of the Cheng family, and also her mother's first love, whom she had waited for for many years, Cheng Jianian.
The Cheng family of Rongcheng, a surname that had never been part of her life's trajectory, now found itself intersecting with her like rivers flowing into the sea.
The man asked a few questions with concern, patiently inquiring whether Jiang Xinxue had adapted to the climate and food of Chengdu.
A gentle smile appeared in Jiang Xinxue's eyes. Countless times, Ye Yuying wished that her mother's gentle smile could also belong to her.
But years later, she resigned herself to her fate. Because she had half her father's blood flowing in her veins, she would never be seen by her mother. All she could see was the disgust that her mother often showed in her eyes.
"Everything is fine. It's just that Yuying is getting older and more sensible. Once her grandmother is feeling better, I'll send her back. She's closer to her grandmother." Jiang Xinxue's tone was calm, and her expression was quite appropriate.
That sentence was clearly meant for Cheng Jianian.
"Let him stay here for now. The old man is getting on in years, and Yuying is a young girl. It will be easier to take care of him here."
Cheng Jianian's words were a true promise to her to stay.
Jiang Xinxue, however, showed a look of shame on her beautiful face. "Thank you for your trouble, Jianian. I won't let her cause trouble for anyone."
Ye Yuying lowered her head and didn't say a word; even her breathing seemed thoughtful.
Within her limited understanding, she vaguely sensed something, realizing that her existence was absolutely awkward.
After all, it was Jiang Xinxue who married into the family, and she had no background whatsoever, so it was definitely a case of marrying up, plus she had a child to support her...
She could feel like a porcelain cup being placed on a coffee table, being examined—whether it had cracks, whether it was genuine, and whether it was suitable to be kept.
Perhaps it's more like a puppy being chosen, judged by whether she's obedient enough, won't cause trouble, or make a mess, in order to determine if she can become a suitable pet.
Before being sent away by Jiang Xinxue, she had always been living under someone else's roof.
Looking up, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that a tall, slender figure was slowly appearing on the terrace at the end of the courtyard. He was backlit, wearing a thin cardigan, his casual and modern attire somewhat out of place in this rule-bound mansion, yet he was like a breath of fresh air from across the ocean in this oppressive space.
Out of the corner of my eye, his features were not clearly visible. He rested his elbows lightly on the railing, maintaining a quiet and languid presence.
That day, I don't know if he was woken up by noise or just happened to wake up early, but he stood by the window, listening absentmindedly to the people below exchanging pleasantries.
“That must be Mingdu, he truly is a handsome man,” Jiang Xinxue said, looking towards the terrace, her voice low and gentle, yet revealing a complex tenderness. “He looks a lot like you when you were young…”
Cheng Jianian glanced at her in the direction of her gaze, but didn't say anything. He just raised his chin slightly. Jiang Xinxue's gentle nature in front of him seemed to be very pleasing to him.
"He just got back. By the time he adjusts to the time difference, school should be starting soon," he explained calmly.
Ye Yuying followed their gaze and looked over again. It was the first time she had looked at Cheng Mingdu with such a direct look. Perhaps it was because it was a group greeting that she dared to be so blatant.
The sunlight wasn't strong that day, but it created a faint halo behind him. He wore a gray-blue sweater and loose casual trousers, his shoulders were clean, his hair was slightly damp, and he had a pair of aloof and unfathomable eyes. His expression was casual, with a hint of fatigue. He just lowered his head slightly, as if he was thinking, or as if he was in a daze, or as if he had just woken up from a dream.
He showed little interest in the scene before him, gave a polite nod to the crowd, and then turned and walked slowly into the house, his steps heavy and deliberate.
Seeing his steady steps, Ye Yuying subconsciously filled in the sound of his footsteps in her mind.
Jiang Xinxue glanced at Ye Yuying.
She was momentarily stunned. Although she had been rehearsing the names of all the family members in private, she hesitated for a moment before saying it out loud, and then awkwardly greeted him, "Hello, brother."
Cheng Mingdu paused for a moment, seemingly finally noticing the movement below. He turned slightly to the side and raised his eyes, as if to confirm whether a strange voice was real.
At that moment, she felt a sudden sense of disharmony—Cheng Mingdu's world seemed to have nothing to do with her. He was like someone standing on a latitude she could never reach, while she was just an outsider barely standing on the threshold.
She subconsciously straightened her back, just about to lower her head again, trying to hide her gaze, when she unexpectedly met those eyes.
Cheng Mingdu actually turned around. His gaze fell on him from upstairs across the courtyard. There was no contempt in his eyes, just a faint scrutiny, as if he were recognizing the face of a stranger.
Sunlight streamed through the corridor, casting dappled patterns on the lattice window behind him. He stood in the light, his figure appearing exceptionally detached and aloof.
Finally, just when everyone thought he wouldn't respond, he subtly nodded his chin, turned around, and went inside.
Later, Ye Yuying learned that Cheng Mingdu was indifferent and had no feelings for her and her daughter. His small response was just a polite gesture out of consideration for her young age and innocence.
But she always remembered the moment his calm eyes met hers; that glance felt like a cool breeze brushing against her heart, briefly relieving the intense itching on her back.
After that, her life began to change little by little.
She secretly memorized the name.
Cheng Mingdu.
This name will take root in her destiny, causing wounds, and eventually become the chapter she least wants to recall in her midnight dreams.
She will always remember this day when she was thirteen, the day of Frost's Descent. She stood in the Cheng family mansion wearing the last decent clothes she owned. Her mother's eyes held a suppressed ambition, while she was gentle and tender towards her new husband.
Cheng Jianian was steady and reserved, Cheng Mingdu was upright and honest, while she herself... was just a lost and confused child.
The wind was cold that day, and her body, wrapped in gorgeous clothes, shivered from the cold. Yet she had to stand straight because she didn't want anyone to see that she was actually very afraid.
I don't know exactly what I'm afraid of, but I'm afraid of entering this house, afraid of leaving this house, afraid of the coldness of human relationships here...
What I fear even more is that my rotten life will fester incongruously within this magnificent mansion.
That night, before going to sleep, she was finally able to take off her "glamorous clothes" in the temporary guest room. Looking in the mirror, her back was covered in red marks, which made her itch for a long time.
In the middle of the night, she tossed and turned on the unfamiliar bed. Outside the window, the wind rustled through the bamboo shadows, and she could hear the faint sounds of a maid tidying up in the next room.
She recalled what Jiang Xinxue had said in a low voice after dinner.
"When your dad gets out of jail, you can go back there."
She buried her face in the pillow and suddenly began to cry silently.
*
After a short rest, the Cheng family originally wanted to arrange for Ye Yuying to attend a private junior high school, but Jiang Xinxue resolutely refused to trouble the Cheng family.
They refused, citing Ye Yuying's poor grades and the discrepancy in the textbooks, and that she would be better able to adapt to a regular school.
Jiang Xinxue found her old classmate and hastily enrolled Ye Yuying in an unknown junior high school.
The school was in the south of the city, not far from the Cheng family's home, only a ten-minute drive away, but Jiang Xinxue took her on the bus.
Jiang Xinxue repeatedly emphasized to herself: "Yuying, you have to be sensible. Although the Cheng family is rich and good to us, those are their resources. If you really enjoy them, it will make your mother feel awkward."
Laishan Middle School is located behind an old residential area, and the plaque at the school gate has faded.
On the day I transferred schools, it was drizzling, the sky was overcast, like a pot of stew that hadn't been opened for a long time, dull, bland, and without a way out.
Jiang Xinxue dropped her off at the school gate and stopped there. Her friend, Uncle Li, who was the dean of students at the school, came to pick her up and led her to his class.
She straightened the collar of her school uniform slightly. The uniform was issued by the school and was loose and thin, making it look like borrowed clothes on her petite body.
All her former "decency" faded away on this rainy day, but she felt that this was her true self.
The new school didn't welcome her, not even bothering to pay attention. Her homeroom teacher gave a casual introduction, and she found an empty seat in the last row by the window. The windowpane was cracked, and water droplets slid down the cracks, like the endless, unbearable winter days of Chengdu.
Nobody knows her, and she doesn't want to know anyone.
She knew that Jiang Xinxue had "hidden" her.
Jiang Xinxue put her in this school like putting an eyesore of a porcelain cup into the bottom cabinet, not hoping she would shine, but just hoping she wouldn't cause trouble.
*
Jiang Xinxue did not let her stay in the main building, but arranged for her to live in a side room attic not far from the main house, saying it was to "give the child a quiet learning environment." But Ye Yuying knew in her heart that it was just a pretext to avoid suspicion.
That attic was originally used by the Cheng family to store miscellaneous items. It had been tidied up but the ceiling was low and there were even some mottled damp marks on the walls.
The windows weren't airtight, letting in drafts every time it rained, and the window frames were always piled with withered leaves. But she didn't mind; instead, she felt this place was like her own little fortress, belonging to no one and undisturbed by anyone.
She went to and from school on time every day, entered the house through the side gate, and quietly returned to the attic after school. She didn't say anything unnecessary, didn't take the initiative to approach anyone, and ate very carefully. She would often put down her chopsticks after only two or three bites and say that she was full, for fear of displeasing her mother and being scolded when no one was around.
She learned to exist quietly, like a piece of transparent glass, with a very low profile, placed on the margins where no one knows her, silently gathering dust.
Cheng Mingdu never appeared in her sight again, and never participated in dinners. It seemed that he had his own separate time zone.
It's not uncommon for her to not eat enough for dinner—she has no appetite in front of everyone and is worried about making a mistake, so she can only reduce the frequency of eating.
Cheng Jianian would occasionally ask, "Children are growing, is this much food enough to fill them up?"
She nodded silently.
Over time, she developed a habit—quietly going downstairs late at night, tiptoeing into the kitchen, opening the refrigerator, taking out a bottle of milk, and two rice balls that the maid had prepared during the day.
She sat on a small wooden stool by the kitchen counter, which was the servants' rest area, a spacious and simple place where they usually rested in the afternoon.
She didn't turn on the lights because the light from the yard lamps was sufficient. She hugged her knees, drinking milk and eating slowly.
She didn't think it was a big deal. At least, in this corner where there were no eyes or judgments, she could eat her meal in peace, slowly and deliberately, without having to worry about politeness or decorum.
That night, she went downstairs as usual. The moonlight was dim, and only a small lamp was lit in the kitchen.
She had just opened the refrigerator and bent down to unscrew the cap of the milk bottle when she heard light footsteps behind her—unhurried, with a nonchalant rhythm. She instinctively turned around, her movements slightly flustered, and she almost spilled the milk.
Cheng Mingdu was standing at the kitchen doorway, a black sweater draped loosely over his shoulders, his eyes expressionless as he quietly watched her.
Ye Yuying seemed frozen in place, her feet gripped tightly by strange hands that seemed to grow from the ground, unable to move, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.
He walked in without breaking the silence, but went to the sink, poured himself a glass of water, took a sip by the kitchen island, and then suddenly looked down at her, as if searching his mind for her face.
She didn't say anything, only subconsciously hiding the milk behind her back, her face slightly flushed. Silence was her only way to deal with the awkwardness.
Soon, her mind slowly processed what was happening. Remembering Jiang Xinxue's instructions on manners, she immediately stood up straight and awkwardly greeted, "Hello, brother."
Cheng Mingdu's gaze fell upon her, as if he could easily see through the deliberate training in her actions, and he said bluntly, "Don't worry, Jiang Xinxue isn't here, you don't need to act."
His voice was neither loud nor soft, but it still startled her. Before she could even grip the milk bottle tightly, it wobbled slightly, making a gurgling sound, and almost fell to the ground.
Originally, it was thought that Cheng Mingdu was someone detached from the story of Cheng Jianian and Jiang Xinxue, and that they had never even spoken to each other. However, he seemed to have seen through the essence of the matter completely, leaving no room for anyone to hide.
No wonder Jiang Xinxue kept reminding herself to be absolutely respectful to the Cheng family father and son, and to remain polite even if questioned.
Cheng Mingdu didn't say much, as if he was too lazy to explain or ask her why she was "acting." He knew exactly what Jiang Xinxue was thinking, but he had no intention of exposing her.
He glanced out the window; the wind hadn't stopped, and the kitchen window wasn't closed tightly, causing the sticky notes in the corner to rustle in the wind. He went over and closed the window.
The room fell silent.
Ye Yuying felt that tonight was not a good time for dinner, so she silently put the milk back, closed the refrigerator door, and prepared to leave.
He turned around, his gaze falling on her again:
"Jiang Xinxue actually treated you so badly?"
Ye Yuying lowered her head: "...No."
"I was wondering why there were always two fewer rice balls than usual every day. Are you not eating them today?" His tone remained calm and indifferent, without a trace of reproach.
She pursed her lips, a hint of genuine panic in her eyes, and said somewhat awkwardly in a low voice, "I'm sorry, I thought those rice balls were for everyone..."
But she had a strange feeling in her heart. She could even remember that the taste of the rice balls was different every day and that they were delicious. She often reminisced about them and even occasionally thought about putting one in her schoolbag when she went to school.
“…That compartment in the refrigerator holds the rice balls I made.” He said casually, without any reproach. “The rice balls are changed every day. It would be a waste if you didn’t eat them. Jiang Xinxue brought you here, so there’s no need to skimp on these two rice balls for you.”
Cheng Mingdu seemed unconcerned about these incidents. He walked to the refrigerator, opened the door, took out three rice balls, placed two in front of her, turned and left the kitchen, leaving her with only his back view.
After Cheng Mingdu left, Ye Yuying finally felt relieved, and the atmosphere suddenly became less tense.
She stood there holding the rice ball for a long time, pondering what to do. She was mostly analyzing whether Jiang Xinxue would find out. If she didn't, she could peel off the rice ball's packaging with a clear conscience and enjoy the crispy seaweed inside, letting the small rice ball fill her hungry stomach in the middle of the night.
She was somewhat confused. Cheng Mingdu should dislike Jiang Xinxue because he saw through Jiang Xinxue's intention to use emotions to change social class, and she was brought by Jiang Xinxue—he should resent her.
However, despite their awkward relationship, she felt that Cheng Mingdu's cold attitude actually showed more kindness than her own mother.
Ye Yuying sat back down on the small kitchen stool. Nightlight slid in through the gap in the curtains, casting a slanted beam of light on the floor.
She warmed the two rice balls in her hands, not in a hurry to eat them. Instead, she held the milk, gently shook the bottle, and listened to the sound of the milk sloshing inside. Only then did she begin to feel that the scene of meeting Cheng Mingdu earlier was real.
“The rice balls are changed every day, it’s a waste if you don’t eat them.” — He said this so naturally.
It was neither pity nor charity.
That tone even made her feel for the first time that she didn't need to feel guilty for eating two rice balls.
Her stomach finally relaxed in the quiet night. Carefully peeling off the plastic wrap, a familiar aroma of rice and sesame wafted out. The rice grains were soft and sticky, still retaining their texture. It was hard to imagine how the rich flavor of the rice ball could have been made by someone from such a distant place.
She couldn't imagine it, but the two rice balls were one of the few sources of comfort in her anxiety.
She ate in small bites, as if holding something precious, reluctant to finish it too quickly.
All she could hear was the ticking of the clock, the rustling of leaves in the wind, and the unconsciously muffled swallowing sounds as she chewed.
*
After that day, she never saw Cheng Mingdu again at midnight, but the rice balls in the refrigerator were replaced every day.
There are always several rice balls lying quietly in the refrigerator. When she opens the packaging, she can catch traces of Cheng Mingdu's presence in this mansion from the daily changing smells.
He always carried an air of mystery and elusiveness.
After a week of school, some of the things Ye Yuying feared still came to pass.
Someone ran over to her during break and told her that Ge Jie invited her to watch a good show together after school.
Ye Yuying was completely confused, but she had already discovered the current state of group dynamics in the class within the past week.
Ge Jie is like a big sister in the class. She is young and her grades are average, but no one knows what kind of powerful family she has. She is arrogant and domineering at school and has a group of loyal followers. She is someone that even the teachers dare not discipline.
Ye Yuying didn't understand the meaning of the song. Thinking it was better to avoid trouble, she went to wait for the bus as soon as school was over. When the bus came, she jumped on and left.
When she came to school the next day, she sensed that something was wrong. As she walked to her seat, the whole class stared at her gloomily, and the air was oppressive, making her instinctively uneasy.
She walked to her seat with her head down, put down her schoolbag as usual, pulled out a chair and sat down, trying to be as quiet as possible.
But those gazes didn't look away; instead, they pierced her back like nails.
She felt a stickiness on her trouser legs and was about to turn around to check when she discovered that her school uniform trousers were completely stuck to the stool. Someone had put super glue on her stool.
"Who did it?" She had barely uttered the question when the whole class erupted in laughter, drowning out her anger.
Amidst the gloating faces of the crowd, she spotted Ge Jie in the distance. She sat demurely with a serene smile on her face, making it hard to associate her with the name "Big Sister".
Ge Jie's "sisterhood" sat in their seats, as if watching a good show.
She wanted to go to the toilet after class that day, but her pants were stuck to the toilet. So she had to go to the dormitory teacher for help, chair and all, amidst the laughter of the crowd.
Later, they brought her a new school uniform to change into, which barely resolved the problem at hand.
What was most frustrating was that she went to report it to the homeroom teacher, but there were no surveillance cameras in the classroom, and everyone denied it outright. In the end, she could only receive a few verbal reprimands during class.
She had a vague feeling that it was because she had offended Ge Jie that the other party wanted to put her in a bad light. Even if Ge Jie did not apply it herself, it must have been at Ge Jie's behest.
After the afternoon PE class, everyone returned to the classroom and prepared to take out their history textbooks. Ye Yuying discovered that the history textbook she had just taken out of her schoolbag had been slashed beyond recognition with a knife.
Upon opening the pencil case, all the pre-sharpened pencils had their tips violently broken off, and the ink-filled fountain pens had ink squeezed out, making a mess of the pencil case.
She still went to the teacher, but the homeroom teacher looked down and flipped through the register. Her expression didn't change much. She just said calmly, "You're new here too. There might be some misunderstanding. Be careful in the future and don't get into conflicts with your classmates."
In a single sentence, with a light touch, she was seemingly pushed directly from the position of "victim" to "troublemaker."
Ye Yuying stood at the office door, clutching the ink-stained pencil case and the ink stains on her hands that she couldn't wash off, remaining silent for a long time.
The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant and chalk dust, and the homeroom teacher didn't even look up.
Her fingers, hanging by her sides, tightened slightly, and she softly replied, "I understand."
*
In the days that followed, Ye Yuying lived an extremely quiet life. She stopped talking to anyone, didn't look at anyone more than once, and even her gaze became lower than before.
They didn't try the same trick again because she was wary of everything. No one bothered her at her seat anymore, and she even packed her schoolbag and took it with her to the playground during PE class.
But her desk drawer started to mysteriously accumulate crumpled pieces of paper—some were doodles, others were trash stained with the oil from spicy snacks.
Some of this malice stemmed from her not obeying Ge Jie's "invitation" that day, while some came from her background—perhaps Ge Jie inadvertently revealed that she was a transfer student from a small town and had no powerful connections in Chengdu.
But she didn't question Ge Jie or argue with her, because all the bullying happened in the shadows, and she had no evidence.
*
On Friday, after school, she waited for the bus as usual.
She was relieved that the weekend had finally arrived, allowing her to temporarily end these inhuman days.
It was getting cold, and the wind made her eyelids tingle. She stood by the old bus stop sign with her schoolbag on her back, watching the crowds go on and off.
Someone approached her from behind and stepped on her backpack strap. She stumbled forward, caught off guard, and nearly collided with an oncoming car.
Turning around, I saw that it was Ge Jie's underlings who did it.
Ge Jie wore a trendy down vest today, with the collar turned up to cover half of her face, and she didn't seem to mind the cold standing in the wind.
She smiled and said, "New guy, you're really good at pretending. You haven't said a word for days, but you run to the teacher's office whenever something happens. You're quite something."
Ye Yuying didn't say anything, but quietly took a step back, trying to avoid her.
Her eyes were lowered, her fingers gripping the strap of her backpack tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force. She knew that the other side outnumbered her and that responding would only provoke them, while silence might save her from further harm.
Ge Jie sneered, glancing around as if searching for an audience. She slowly approached, her voice low but threatening: "What are you pretending to be so high and mighty for? You think you can get away with it by not saying a word? Don't be so naive."
Ye Yuying's heart pounded like a drum, but she still didn't look up. She knew that Ge Jie's goal was to make her lose control so that she could find an excuse to hit her. As long as she didn't respond, she wouldn't let the other party succeed.
Just then, a bus slowly pulled up and the doors opened. Ye Yuying quickly stepped onto the bus without hesitation, stood in the middle of the carriage, and tried her best not to look at Ge Jie outside the window.
To her surprise, when she turned around, a whole group of them had come up to her, surrounding her with menacing eyes, their gazes filled with mockery and provocation.
The other passengers in the carriage were either looking down at their phones or gazing out the window, seemingly oblivious to the tense atmosphere. Ye Yuying felt a deep sense of powerlessness and loneliness.
The doors closed, and the bus slowly pulled away from the station; they dared not cause trouble on the bus.
She was at a loss, unsure of what would become of her today.
She couldn't think of a solution the whole way. As the bus approached its final stop, she still didn't dare to get off, but there were fewer and fewer passengers on the bus.
She missed the opportunity to get off at the station near the Cheng family's residence and was filled with regret.
The carriage became empty, her heart raced, and her breathing became rapid. She knew that the final stop was approaching, and her situation would become even more dangerous.
Finally, the bus stopped at the terminal station, leaving only her and Ge Jie and a group of others silently facing off.
Before she could ask for help, the bus driver turned off the engine and got off to smoke.
A hand swiftly covered her mouth, and the crowd rushed forward, instantly dragging her off the bus, her eyes filled with despair.
She struggled, trying to call for help, but her voice was muffled. Her heart was filled with fear and despair.
In this unfamiliar city, she felt a profound sense of helplessness and panic for the first time...
Ten minutes later, the crowd dispersed, and Ye Yuying walked down the street, pale-faced and disoriented. She was too far from the station and could only follow the street signs somewhat aimlessly toward the Cheng family's house.
Her new school uniform was torn out of shape after only a few days of wear, and her hair was also messed up during the struggle, with a lot of hair being pulled out.
This is a common tactic used by girls in fights: pulling hair. It's definitely effective.
She struggled to break free from those restraints because she was confident that she had always been a fast runner and that as long as her legs were free, they would never catch up with her.
But today she was restrained by a group of people. After struggling, she was exhausted and unable to resist. Her arms were pinned behind her back from both sides, forcing her to face Ge Jie.
Ge Jie never participated in the struggle; her gaze held a somewhat eerie tranquility, as if even when punished, someone was willing to take the blame for her to show their loyalty.
Thirteen-year-old Ye Yuying couldn't understand the underlying reasons for bullying among her peers at school. There was probably no particular reason; it was simply due to an excessive sense of self.
But today she must become the sacrifice.
Knowing that the situation was unfavorable to her, Ye Yuying even took the initiative to seek peace.
Ge Jie revealed a harmless smile, her voice gentle yet cruel: "Too late, you have no chance, unless you take two slaps from me, how about that?"
Ye Yuying froze, as if her soul had been ripped away in that instant.
It's not that she had a peaceful life growing up; quite the opposite, it's because she was so careful that she never gave anyone a reason to harm her. She knew how to read people's expressions, when to keep quiet, and when to bow her head. She had developed a survival instinct—to be extremely humble in exchange for peace.
Because no one in this world would stand up for her.
But at this moment, all the forbearance was dismissed as a joke by a single, casual remark.
The two girls behind her held her shoulders, one on each side. The movement was small, but enough to strip her of her last shred of dignity. She looked around at the faces, all of them excited, numb, and indifferent—as if she weren't human, but a defeated NPC in a game, with only the "punishment" option left to choose from.
She suddenly spoke, her voice hoarse: "I was wrong..."
Her voice drifted through the air, her heartbeat instantly turned to dust, shattered into pieces, her childhood pride... shattered in the face of an even greater humiliation.
She spent a long time away from home, and for that long she forgot about the apology she had made. It was a painful, disappointing, and low-esteem memory that she couldn't bear to look back on.
She fully understood that she couldn't escape today.
Fortunately, her admission of defeat worked. Ge Jie didn't slap her; instead, she was told to obey her every word from now on.
And so, she was forced to become one of those numb laughers in the class, like a puppet on a string, tamed and subjugated in just a few days.
A small sports car slowly slowed down and stopped right next to her.
She was just waking up from that embarrassing memory when, as she looked up, she saw the car window rolled down and met a cold, indifferent gaze.
What are you doing here?
Cheng Mingdu sat in the driver's seat, his face expressionless, his voice not loud, as if he had just been passing by.
He still had a cold and aloof demeanor, but she felt that Cheng Mingdu was not nearly as scary as those people, and even seemed like a savior at this moment.
Ye Yuying stood there, her cheeks not having been slapped, but they felt burning hot. She didn't know if it was because of shame, but rather because she had just abandoned her self-respect and admitted her mistake in the face of bullying a few minutes earlier.
At that moment, she didn't move, as if a stone was stuck in her throat.
His brows furrowed slightly as he looked at her school uniform—the collar was torn, the cuffs were ripped, and the hem was covered in dust and dirt.
"Get in the car, I'll take you back."
This sentence seemed to strike a heavy blow against all her forbearance and stubbornness.
She finally took a step and awkwardly and silently got into his car.
The wind tousled her hair, and a pang of sadness gripped her heart. The oozing fluid from her bruised knee slowly scabbed over, but her steps began to steady.
She was never taken away halfway, never.
She didn't say another word the whole way.
He didn't say anything.
But in her memory, the road back, facing the direction of darkness, was very quiet as night fell.
That evening, the streetlights outside the car window flashed by like fleeting shadows, receding one by one.
Cheng Mingdu didn't rush to speak. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, his brow furrowing slightly, but he didn't ask any further questions.
She remained silent, her eyes lowered, as if facing an interrogation she dreaded.
The car was quiet, with only the low rumble of the engine and the sound of her heartbeat gradually slowing down. This was the first time she had smelled the patchouli and mate tea on him.
This established the place of that scent in her memory.
She seemed to find temporary refuge in this awkwardly positioned "brother".
Isn't that amazing?
Only when the car was fast approaching the neighborhood where Cheng lived did he casually ask, "Were you bullied?"
Ye Yuying's throat tightened, and her eyes suddenly reddened, but she didn't cry. She just gritted her teeth and stared intently out the car window, her eyes vacant.
Her lips moved, but unwilling to mention those humiliations, she silently shook her head.
The car was parked at the side entrance.
He didn't get out of the car, but simply said in a low voice, "Go back and treat your wound."
She subconsciously checked herself for any exposed wounds, only to find that the scrapes were actually hidden under her school uniform, and she didn't know how he had discovered them.
She pushed open the car door, and her legs went weak as she got out, almost causing her to fall. Cheng Mingdu glanced at her but didn't say anything more, simply rolling up the window and driving into the underground parking garage.
That day, Ye Yuying did not go straight back to the attic. Instead, she went around to the water room in the backyard, rinsed her knees with the tap, cleaned up the bloodstains, and then went back into the house.
She didn't turn on the light, just lay on the bed, watching the ceiling slowly sink into the night.
The wound throbbed faintly, like a corner of her heart that hadn't had time to heal, and it hurt at the slightest touch.
She didn't know if tomorrow would be worse, or if this matter would ever end.
That night, for the first time, she dreamed that she wasn't dragged off the bus, but instead jumped off early and ran into a place where no one could catch her.
In her second dream, she was captured, but she broke free, running like the wind, leaving them far behind.
But when she woke up from the dream, she was still on the run.
It was as if the pain of her adolescence would always be like this, endless.
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Author's Note: 50 red envelopes!! [Sprinkling flowers]
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