Piranha Plant (17)

After graduating from junior high school, Song Xinran and Jin Yaming took Cai Chunmei away from Yong'an Town because they both got admitted to the key high school in Yongyuan County. They rented a room together in the county town.

However, Song Xinran and Jin Yaming were not in the same class, and they never went to school together. They lived in the same room, but they were like people from two different worlds. None of their classmates and teachers at school knew about their relationship.

Song Xinran worked very hard, and she kept warning Jin Yaming that if they failed the exam, they would be stuck here forever, with no future, and the suffering they had endured in their childhood would continue throughout their lives.

In the second half of his freshman year, Song Xinran's grades were among the top five in his class, and the class report card was printed out and posted on the wall at the classroom door.

When Song Xinran was listening to the lecture attentively that day, a tall and thin man stood at the door, with his hands behind his back, wearing a tight Zhongshan suit, and a silver pen in his jacket pocket, like a warning of danger.

The man was in his late forties, with a thin, long face that looked stern and serious, and a sharp light in his small eyes.

Song Xinran knew him. He was the school's principal, Yu Wenqiao. He was always there to give lectures on various occasions and was even said to be the nightmare of all the students in the school.

But Song Xinran clearly felt that he was staring at her, and the gaze was so strong that she unconsciously wanted to escape.

Mr. Cheng, the Chinese teacher and class teacher, noticed the dean at the door. He put down his textbook, walked down from the podium, and greeted with a smile at the door: "Dean, what can I do for you?"

Yu Wenqiao glanced at the report card on the wall and asked, "What's the name of the girl in the middle of the front row?"

Teacher Cheng turned his head to confirm and replied, "Song Xinran."

Yu Wenqiao looked at the report card again. "I'm in the top five, and my grades in all subjects are very good, but my Chinese is seriously lagging behind. What's going on?"

"The director said that some students have strong deductive and logical thinking abilities, but lack language talent. For example, Song Xinran is this type. However, we will make up for it."

"Whether you are a Chinese teacher or a class teacher, you must do a good job of preventing bias in one subject."

Yu Wenqiao looked past Teacher Cheng and back into the classroom.

"I know." Teacher Cheng always felt that he was smiling, with a strange smile on his lips that made people feel cold, but it was not easy to detect. He also smiled reluctantly.

In the first semester of her second year of high school, Song Xinran was called to the Academic Affairs Office. Sitting in the office was Yu Wenqiao. He sat solemnly, sternly, and looked at her with sharp eyes.

Song Xinran lowered his head and asked, "The director wants to ask me something?"

"What's the situation with the tuition? It's been delayed until now. I have called the finance office several times, otherwise the school would have persuaded you to cancel the payment long ago."

"Thank you, Director... I'm sorry," Song Xinran lowered his eyes, "I've been preparing the money and will definitely pay it in time."

Yu Wenqiao picked up her student resume and said, "Why don't your parents come to school? Your situation is quite special. I must pay you a home visit when I have time."

"Director," Song Xinran raised her eyes, her eyes were hazy, like the morning woods, the sun just pouring in, the light was beautiful, her voice was also particularly pleasant, "My parents are very busy, they may not be able to take care of my studies, I hope the director can help talk to the school a few more times, the tuition fee is almost enough, really."

Yu Wenqiao's gaze lingered on her small, fair cheeks. His expression was serious, but the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, as if he was smiling, but that smile was uncomfortable.

He stood up slowly. The office was quiet and silent. After Song Xinran entered the room, he was asked to close the door. At this moment, the office was more like a closed space, a space for only the two of them.

Yu Wenqiao's steps were extremely light, just like when he usually went to enforce school discipline, and his steps made the sound of a cat's gait.

Song Xinran's breathing suddenly became heavier. In school, the students were very afraid of Yu Wenqiao. Over time, she also developed some fear of him.

Yu Wenqiao stopped in front of her and his smile slowly spread, but Song Xinran did not dare to look him in the eye.

"The situation at home is understandable, and I'm not unreasonable. I'll give you some time to make up for it."

His tone was much lighter than usual when he was scolding her. Because he was very close to her and he was tall, he pressed most of his body against her. The hot air from his mouth mixed with the smell of cigarettes blew across her face.

Song Xinran held her breath and replied, "Thank you, Director."

"Hmm." He hummed softly and raised his hands. His two bony hands stopped in front of her, but he didn't move forward. It was as if he was measuring her. He smiled and said, "You should also pay attention to your appearance. School is not like home."

Song Xinran was wearing a white floral shirt, khaki pants, and old sneakers. Yu Wenqiao looked her up and down again, and slowly, his fingers pinched her collar.

Song Xinran's nervous heart suddenly began beating rapidly and his face turned pale.

Yu Wenqiao pinched her collar and pulled it to smooth out the wrinkles, saying with satisfaction: "That's much better. OK, let's go back."

Song Xinran bowed, stepped back, and his legs felt a little weak as he walked out the door.

Then she slowly calmed down, looked up at the distant sky, and a relaxed smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

A few days later, Song Xinran paid the tuition, including Jin Yaming's tuition.

Studying became everything to Song Xinran. She studied hard day and night, and urged Jin Yaming to study. She wanted to leave here as soon as possible and live in a bigger place.

One day after school, she saw from afar Jin Yaming being bullied by two boys. Jin Yaming did not resist, so he was pushed to the ground and the two boys hit him in the mouth with their fists.

He immediately spat out a mouthful of blood. After several rounds of punches and kicks, Jin Yaming lay on the ground motionless, and they left with satisfaction.

Song Xinran walked over slowly. She didn't understand why Jin Yaming didn't resist. She remembered that he would fight back hard when he was a child.

Pulling up his arm, Jin Yaming raised his bloodstained cheeks, and a smile appeared from the corners of his cracked mouth.

Song Xinran said worriedly, "Why did you fight? I'll take you to the hospital."

"Forget it, these few blows are nothing." Jin Yaming smiled again, "I didn't fight back on purpose. I didn't want to hold you back."

"You have to run too!"

"Where can you go? You don't know who the gangster is, it's the one who threatens you to make you her girlfriend. I went to warn him. He thought I was your enemy and asked someone to beat me up. I was worried about something big, so forget it."

A breeze blew over, sticking his hair to the blood on his face, making him look stubborn and resilient.

Due to malnutrition, his hair is yellowish and a little curly.

In the evening, Song Xinran prepared ointment for him and applied iodine solution little by little on the corners of his mouth.

Jin Yaming endured the pain but looked at her with a smile in his eyes.

"What are you looking at?"

"To be honest, I think I've fallen in love with you, too."

"Humph, study hard and don't think about those useless things."

When it was time, she took his palm, wrote a "20" on it with iodine, and asked him, "Is the day after tomorrow your birthday?"

"Yes, number 20."

"I'll cook you some longevity noodles."

Jin Yaming smiled shyly and shook his head, "No thanks."

"Twenty will be our lucky number from now on."

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye I am in the third year of high school and have entered the tense stage of exam preparation.

However, Yu Wenqiao talked to her many times during this year, and even used various methods to get close to her, guide her, and promise her benefits.

Until this day, Yu Wenqiao found her again. His expression was calm, but with a hint of comfort, as if he had found something interesting.

He held a document in his hand, as if he had just finished reading it. He put it down and looked at Song Xinran again, "Do you know why I came to you this time?"

"I don't know." After a long period of contact, she had already seen through Yu Wenqiao's character, and she would not even address him with respect in private.

"It's a pity. The school is planning to expel you. You may not be able to take the college entrance examination this year or in the future."

Song Xinran was shocked. In the past three years, she had been well-behaved in school and focused on her studies. She just wanted to be admitted to her ideal medical school. Yu Wenqiao's words made her anxiously worried. He was the dean of studies. If he really wanted to set a trap for her, she might not be able to win.

But she had to listen to Yu Wenqiao's tricks. If it was a false accusation, she would never admit it even if she died.

Yu Wenqiao said in a tone of frustration: "I don't understand. Your father was an honest farmer who has passed away, but you wrote in your family history that your father is currently engaged in traditional Chinese medicine. Your mother was just a rural woman who has passed away, but you wrote that she was engaged in medical care. Also, your adoptive father raised you for many years, why don't you mention it? You don't even understand the gratitude of kneeling down to suckle your mother. I won't say anything else. I just want to ask, why do you have to lie?"

Song Xinran was already starting to panic. She had indeed concealed something when filling out the information. She didn't want her family to be so miserable compared to other classmates. She had to live the most complete life from the day she left Yong'an Town.

She thought no one would care about all this, but Yu Wenqiao turned it up. She couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong with these? What if I fill it in incorrectly?"

"So what? Cheating has violated school rules. I suspect your test scores are all fake. Go back and wait for news. I will make your information public."

Song Xinran's heart was bleeding with pain, and her eyes were getting moist, as if a knife was slowly cutting her.

"Why, why don't you leave? I still have work to do." Yu Wenqiao was trying to shoo people away.

She remained motionless, but her moist eyes were so pitiful that Yu Wenqiao stared at her intently.

He picked up the folder, walked deliberately toward the door, and turned his head. "Think about it again. I'll be in Room 305 of the French Sycamore Hotel at 10 o'clock tonight. I'll review your materials again and announce them tomorrow."

He once again looked at her thin and pretty back and her gently shaking shoulders. He grabbed the door handle of the office and walked out with a faint smile.

At ten o'clock in the evening, a petite figure appeared in the French Sycamore Hotel. It was far away from the school and would not be noticed, but the girl's steps were a little unsteady.

At ten o'clock, Yu Wenqiao sat in a chair in the hotel room, staring at the door. After a few minutes, "Knock knock knock", there was a knock on the door.

He asked casually, "Who?"

There was no sound outside the door. He seemed to be sure that she had come and smiled: "Come in, the door is not closed."

Song Xinran pushed the door open, but her movements were slow, as if she had experienced a huge inner shock, and the expression on her face was very stiff.

"Close the door." Yu Wenqiao suppressed his inner turmoil and gave the order calmly.

She walked over carefully, still wearing the little white flowered shirt. Yu Wenqiao was very satisfied, not only with her pure and beautiful appearance, but also with her shy and slender figure. In the entire county high school and in his entire teaching career, Song Xinran was the most beautiful female student he had ever seen.

He had noticed her when she was a freshman in high school, and he had hinted at her time and again, but she was different from other girls. She liked to act cool and unsympathetic.

"Come on, walk faster." He ordered her softly.

Song Xinran lowered her head slightly and walked slowly in front of him, standing one step away from him. He couldn't wait to hold her hand. She seemed to struggle, but gave up after a little effort.

Since she had come, Yu Wenqiao knew that she had already agreed. He rubbed her palm and said, "Have you finished your homework? The college entrance examination is coming soon. Don't let your guard down."

Song Xinran slowly raised her head, and in her pitiful eyes, Yu Wenqiao saw a hint of stubbornness and coldness. On the contrary, he liked this kind of personality even more.

"Where are the materials?" Song Xinran said coldly.

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Yu Wenqiao held her little hand tightly, feeling the girl's warmth. "After tonight, I will destroy all the materials, and your life will be perfect."

"I want the materials now." Song Xinran's tone was firm and her little hands were struggling.

Yu Wenqiao was worried that she would go back on her word, so he quickly leaned aside and opened the drawer, revealing the cover of the folder. "I promise you, after tonight, you can take the materials. Tomorrow I will go to the school to stamp your resume with the official seal, and from now on, no one in this world will investigate your background again."

"You mean what you say?"

"Look," Yu Wenqiao smiled lightly. He felt that what she said was just like a pinky promise made by a child. "You still doubt me. I am very principled. As long as you listen to me, I will give you the green light."

Seeing Song Xinran's silence, Yu Wenqiao knew that she accepted it, and he would not force others.

He raised his other hand and touched her body. Unlike before, he found that his heart was beating very fast this time. As expected, she really made him moved.

He looked at her carefully, exploring her cheeks and neck. Her skin was so delicate, even her pores were clean. This was truly the invincibility of youth. He carefully picked up the buttons on her collar and tried to unbutton them slowly.

She did not resist, and showed no emotion. Yu Wenqiao's actions became more and more intense...

The next day it was still dark. Song Xinran pressed the materials tightly to her chest and rushed to the mud outside the hotel to vomit. She felt so uncomfortable that her tears could not stop flowing.

She thought she was heading towards a better life, but at this moment, everything collapsed.

She walked towards the rented house step by step in the drizzle. When she entered the house, it was quiet and silent. She knew that Cai Chunmei and Jin Yaming were still sleeping soundly.

She went to the kitchen to boil some hot water, and then wiped herself over and over again in the bathroom.

The bell for the college entrance examination is getting closer and closer, and the countdown is ticking like the second hand.

One night, after finishing reading a book, Jin Yaming secretly walked to the rooftop balcony and smoked a cigarette. He looked at the stars in the night sky and remembered what Song Xinran told him, that everyone is a star in the sky, so the future is bright.

He smiled and thought that what she said might not be true. They had lived a very hard life in those years. Would their lives really change completely if they went to college and found a job?

While he was smoking, Song Xinran also walked up to the rooftop balcony. He quickly put out the cigarette and smiled at her. He knew that Song Xinran didn't like the smell of cigarettes, and she didn't like him slacking off in his studies even more.

But this time, he found that Song Xinran did not stop him immediately. She seemed to be worried about something, and her eyes were cold.

"What's wrong, Xin Ran?" He slowly stood up from his squatting position.

"Jin Yaming. I want to kill Yu Wenqiao!"

Jin Yaming was shocked. After so many years, the memory of the murder was still fresh in his mind. He would be awakened by nightmares every time. He did not like such experiences and he tried to escape again and again. Since he left Yong'an Town, he thought his life would be different.

He had heard what Song Xinran said, that Yu Wenqiao disliked her and was targeting her. He thought that everything would be over after he passed the college entrance examination and left here.

He still remembered that he hurt someone a year ago for tuition fees. He has been scared and hopes to leave here as soon as possible.

Jin Yaming's heart was extremely conflicted, but he was also heartbroken. He saw grievance in Song Xinran's eyes, just like the grievance in her eyes when she and he walked to the top of the mountain when she was ten years old.

"Okay." He agreed to her without caring about the consequences. "What do you want to do?"

"I have collected evidence of Yu Wenqiao's bribery. You should write an anonymous letter tonight to report it. One week later, choose an evening, preferably with dim moonlight. I will lead him to the school rooftop. You hide there in advance. Just like when we were kids, we will tie him up together. Push him outside the rooftop, pull out the rope, and create the illusion that he has jumped off the building!"

Jin Yaming swallowed and carefully memorized the process.

Song Xinran's eyes were like a piece of ice, more like moonlight, "How about I asked you to learn Yu Wenqiao's handwriting?"

"You are quite skilled now."

"Write a letter of confession that Yu Wenqiao committed suicide out of fear of crime."

"Okay, Xin Ran, I've remembered everything." Jin Yaming slowly stretched out a hand, "Come here, let's look at the stars together!"