Chapter Thirty-two: Crisis Strikes

  Today is the last night patrol of a week-long school, I still haven't fully recovered, this virus is really stubborn, after five days of rest at home, I still feel weak all over from time to time, did that low fever burn my brain's motor nerves? During this period, I received several calls from Yu, he heard that I was bedridden with illness and didn't force me to go out, it can be said that I benefited from the disaster.

  Ji Dong and Ruo Xi are indeed close friends, after that they took turns to help me check the school every night, previously I said I wouldn't bother them again in the future, but it turned out that I completely left this mess to them. However, at least they can also enjoy a world of two people, although it's just in that place with no atmosphere.

  "Can you really? You were still dazed in the morning and found Zhang Ye Yu together?" Ruo Xi looked at me with a skeptical face.

  "Yeah, I've already looked for him. Don't let your nagging ruin our sweet outing, I'm afraid of getting struck by lightning!" I threw her a dazzling smile, "Don't worry! Am I that fragile?"

  "So we won't go then? Ji Dong seems to have something on today too, he said he's going to postpone it, and is worried that you can't handle it alone."

  "Off you go! You two can be my parents, always keeping an eye on me! Besides, I've already found Yu, so you can rest assured!" I patted my chest, looking like nothing could faze me. Actually, I hadn't looked for Yu at all - this was a small matter that I could handle myself. To put their minds at ease, I just went along with what they said.

  That day's first rain was followed by several days of overcast weather, although summer rains are as precious as gems, I still prefer the warm sunshine on a clear day. Today finally cleared up, and feeling cooped up at home, I wanted to go out for a stroll. After repeatedly assuring Yilian that I'm fine, I took advantage of the fact that it wasn't yet completely dark and stepped into the long-awaited fiery sunset.

  The warm wind came suddenly, the air was filled with dry heat, and even walking slowly made me feel like I was steaming with sweat. The discomfort in my body also disappeared. It seems that I should have gone out for exercise a long time ago. Illnesses are indeed nurtured, this saying is really reasonable.

  I finally arrived at school after a long and tiring journey, the sky was gradually darkening, the campus was still bustling with activity in the last few minutes before evening self-study, the security room door was wide open, Uncle Liu was comfortably leaning on the long bench, seeing me come in, he pointed to the tools already prepared on the table, and carefully examined me for a while: "Hey, you're that little girl who came on the first day? Didn't they change shifts halfway through? You're still here! It's all the last day, huh!"

  I smiled awkwardly, not wanting to say too much: "Yeah, I'm busy." I don't know if Uncle Liu is a big mouth or what, but if he tells Teacher Bai about this, will I get scolded? It's not like I did it on purpose. If I wasn't always dazed and confused all day, I wouldn't have entrusted them with this matter either.

  I stepped out of the door and followed the same route as the first day, walking into the dark stairwell, reenacting the grand opening scene. Then, following the previous sequence, I turned on the lights and took a look around, but the classrooms were still the same, with no noticeable differences. Tonight, the stars filled the sky, seemingly washed clean by the rain, making them appear especially bright. The golden star was also high in the sky, still radiating its dazzling beauty. With more than an hour to go before 10 o'clock, this patrol duty left a lot of free time with nothing to do, and I didn't feel like going back to the duty room either. The dormitory was also closed for summer vacation. As I pondered where to spend my time, my gaze finally locked onto a reflective point high up: Ah! I can go to the rooftop!

  The tenth floor teaching building has a relatively broad view, the night scene of the small town is all in sight, and the city is shrouded under colorful neon lights, full of vitality. Great literature.

  Leaning on the iron railing by the eaves, the warm wind blows against my cheeks, blowing my hair, very comfortable. Looking up at the starry sky, there is no moon tonight, and the golden stars are particularly bright, while the other stars are just embellishments. Looking towards the literary museum, the outline of the building is hidden in the quiet night color. That night may have been a turning point, allowing me to experience Zhang Jieyu's unknown side - that gentle and sunny boy whose beloved father was taken away by his best friend's mother. During that time, he must have been extremely painful inside. Perhaps because of this, his aunt also became sharp-tongued, causing Jieyu to lose his father's love and mother's care too early, finally choosing to wear a mask of revenge. Ji Dong should be unable to bear watching him become like this, so he is willing to replace his mother in bearing Jieyu's hatred. On the other hand, he also gave up living with his mother and stepfather together.

  It's been exactly seven years since Ji Dong moved away, and he once said that he had followed Yu Wu for seven years. Does this mean they met in the same year? Was it because their parents were friends, or did the adults of the two families know each other? Is Chen Auntie trying to steal Yu Wu's father just because she doesn't have a husband herself? Even if she wants to give her son a father, she can't go around destroying other people's families! I really don't understand what these grown-ups are thinking. They have a good family and yet they don't take responsibility for it, instead having affairs one after another, and finally abandoning their families. This is too devastating for the future of our country!

  Although Zhang Jiu Yu has a bad temper, his experiences are quite pitiful. As the saying goes, "a person who is pitied must have done something to be hated." In his case, it's the opposite. He had been harboring resentment and hatred for four years, but instead of taking drastic measures to seek revenge, he seemed to have fallen into depravity himself. However, when it came to Ji Dong, he still showed some brotherly affection. Perhaps deep down, he was still a person who couldn't bear to hurt others. Having gone through similar experiences, he understood the pain and thus felt both sympathetic and indignant towards Ji Dong. He must have known that Ji Dong didn't approve of his mother's actions, which is why he cut ties with Chen Ai and willingly followed him, doing his bidding. What Jiu Yu didn't know was that in hurting Ji Dong, he also hurt himself.

  The phone in my pocket started vibrating, interrupting my thoughts. It was Donggua. They weren't busy and still had time to look for me!

  "Hey! Winter melon?"

  "Rice, I'm at the creek, my phone is out of battery! Didn't you say to let Zhang Yu go? I just saw him with Li Xiaoran together! What's going on?" Yu Xi raised her voice and shouted at me.

  "What? Oh! He also has something urgent, it's okay, it's almost time, I'll be able to get back soon." It was originally discovered, but they don't have to be so nervous.

  "I'm telling you, you can't do it alone. The other day when I was investigating with Ji Dong, there were always shadows lurking in the dark, watching us. If Ji Dong wasn't there, they wouldn't have dared to make a move. What kind of person would casually come to the teaching building? I think things are not simple, and now that I think about it, I'm still tense. It's possible that it was Li Xiaoyan's trap! Don't be so nonchalant, or you might end up dead without even knowing how!"

  "Really? Don't scare me! Am I not fine? Could it be the cram school's doing? It's always lively during class breaks here, maybe they just wanted to get some fresh air and you guys thought they were spying!" If there was any movement, I should have been able to sense it, but everything has been calm and peaceful, except for the buzzing of mosquitoes around my ears.

  "What did she say? I'm coming!" The voice receded from the receiver.

  "Rice! Where are you now? Hurry to the guard room and wait!" Ji Dong's excited voice shouted loudly, moving the phone away from his ear with a stinging eardrum.

  "Big brother, keep your voice down! I'm on the rooftop, it's safe here and the door will close soon, what are you going to do? Looking around, my eyes have adapted to the darkness, I'm alone on the rooftop, nothing special. If someone really wants to kidnap me, it won't be easy to catch me on this wide platform. Touching the small knife in my pocket, it's always good to have a self-defense measure. They're all so tense, making me a bit scared too. After school, I'll follow the crowd and walk together, should be safer that way."

  "Don't move around there for now! I'll tell Yuge about it, and I'll rush over as soon as I'm done with my business! If anything is off, you must call me immediately, got it?"

  "I get it! You guys go ahead, I'll come over later and ask you something. Zhang Yu can forget about it, he's busy too..." Zhang Yu and Li Xiaoran still had an unclear feeling, Xiaoran was after all the daughter-in-law that Yu's mother had chosen for him, having been together with him for four years, Xiaoran understood him better than I did, she must know what was really going on, maybe she could help Yu get out of his desire for revenge even better. This was still Yu's own business, although I rarely wanted to interfere in other people's affairs, the right to choose was still in his hands, he might not need me to continue being his "girlfriend" anymore...

  Hanging up the phone, my mind is a mess. What does Yu think of me? If he doesn't truly like me, then don't be gentle with me anymore. Don't keep mentioning conditions for being his girlfriend, and secretly getting entangled with Xiao Ran behind my back. Can't he just cut through the chaos quickly?

  Suddenly, a loud "bang" sound came from the stairwell, like the sound of steel colliding, and the lights inside the door also went out. This triggered my subconscious fear, my heart rose to my throat, and I listened intently, but there was only silence. My eyes were fixed on the dark and empty doorway, as if a thick black fog had rolled in, impossible to see through. After a long time, nothing like the imagined dark shadow jumped out. My nerves still didn't dare relax - what could it be? The iron handrail wouldn't make a sound for no reason, and the lights on the stairs wouldn't go out without cause!