A Cold and Aloof Top Student Is Relied Upon - Chapter 42

Chapter 42: The Past

◎Fragments◎

Gu Zhu’s single word, “Okay,” was like a koi fish from a fish tank dropping into a pond. Its tail stirred up ripples in Bai Tan’s heart, swimming joyfully. So for the next few days, she acted as if she were marking her territory, coming over every day to pat her future bed, as if to say, Wait for me to come and favor you.

On the very last day of final exams, Bai Tan had already packed up her bedding and moved it over, claiming that she was afraid Gu Zhu would change her mind and wanted to secure her spot first.

Compared to the people in dorm 512, who were watching the spectacle with great interest, Gu Zhu was speechless, feeling that she really did want to go back on her word.

It was as if her dorm room were some kind of luxurious and rare villa. The more the mover-in smiled joyfully, the more her face turned red, afraid that the onlookers would say something to cause a “social death.”

Fortunately, everyone just thought the two girls were very close. Since they often studied together, living together would be convenient. They only half-heartedly lamented their fate of being disliked by the young mistress.

To soothe their “fragile” hearts, the young mistress waved a hand and decided to treat them to a meal. There was a seafood street stall in Haiyun Port with a great reputation. People who had just finished their exams should feast to their hearts’ content.

She instructed her driver Xiao Zhang to switch to two business vans to pick everyone up. Once they were all ready, the group prepared to set off.

Gu Baozhi had already returned to town and was originally going to pick her up. But when she called, Chang Yuehua pulled the phone from her hand and told Gu Zhu to have fun with her classmates and friends during the holiday, say her goodbyes, and then come home. She reassured her not to worry about her mom and that she would send her home tomorrow.

Gu Zhu held the phone,愣了愣. She subconsciously looked at Bai Tan, and seeing her glance left and right before turning to her with a slightly fawning smile, she also smiled. She said to the person on the phone, “Mom, I’m going out to eat with my classmates. I’ll let you know when I get home.”

In the hallway, the girls from 512 heard and immediately swarmed forward, chirping into the phone’s receiver in high-pitched voices. “Auntie, auntie, we’re going out to eat together! We’ll be good and go home afterward, don’t you worry!”

The different, but lively, voices made the person on the other end of the line fall silent for a second. Then, a slightly awkward but gentle voice came through. “Okay, okay, okay. Have a good time, all of you, and be safe.”

“Okay, okay, we know! Thank you, Auntie!”

Gu Zhu saw them giggling and jumping up and down, clearly very happy with their performance. She couldn’t help but turn her head and look down, a slight smile on her face. Behind her in the corridor, the molten gold of the setting sun seemed to drape a layer of beautiful, smooth wings over her, so beautiful that it made one want to capture her silhouette.

“Click.” Someone was quick with their hand. As Gu Zhu looked over, You Lili’s phone was propped up in front. Qin Tianai, Gu Xiaoxi, Gu Xiaojuan, Huang Tingxi, Li Ruoruo, Lu Na, and Bai Tan next to her were all framed in the shot.

“3-2-1, Is the watermelon sweet?”

“Sweet!”

Just as the shutter was about to click, Gu Zhu put down her phone and mimicked them, making a “V” sign next to her cheek. In that moment, she felt as if she had truly eaten the sweetest part of a watermelon, the pure, sweet flavor lingering in her chest.

It was like she had truly crawled out of a crack that had never seen light. The damp, lingering air from the deep hole seemed to no longer cling to her.

It was already eight o’clock when they finished their meal. The street stall’s reputation wasn’t just for show. They burped and prepared to head back, their stomachs full. As they walked back to the parking spot, they saw a flashy yellow Porsche sports car. As they were quietly marveling at it, a person suddenly got out of the car.

It was a woman with a certain age and experience. A suit jacket was draped over her shoulders, and she wore bright red lipstick and sunglasses, which still looked intimidating in the night.

“Hi, I hope I’m not interrupting!” The woman took off her glasses, looking instantly familiar.

Seeing Zhu Li again felt both unexpected and unsurprising. Perhaps because she was prepared, this time her emotions didn’t fluctuate as much. Gu Zhu lightly clenched her fist, quickly suppressing the momentary wave of unease.

Her momentary oddness was noticed by Bai Tan. Looking at this not-so-unfamiliar woman, Bai Tan was very surprised that Zhu Li would have any connection to Gu Zhu in this “18th-tier” small town so far from Hong Kong, let alone one that seemed quite unusual.

“Xiao Zhu, if you don’t mind, let me give you a ride home.”

The woman in front of her spoke with a not-quite-standard Mandarin accent, smiling warmly and speaking kindly. But Gu Zhu remained cold and unwilling to speak, leaving the girls standing by the road to look at each other.

The girls didn’t quite understand the situation, but they instinctively crowded in front of Gu Zhu, as if afraid the woman would come and snatch her away. Zhu Li laughed and spread her hands. “Don’t be nervous. I’m Xiao Zhu’s aunt. The young mistress Bai knows me too. I’m not a human trafficker. Kids, if you don’t believe me, you can look up my information online. Here, this is my business card.”

She pulled a pink and gold business card from her pocket and handed it to the girl at the front. You Lili took it and searched the information on her phone. “Chang Sheng Group of Hong Kong. Its business spans nearly 30 countries worldwide, one of the most influential multinational conglomerates in Hong Kong.”

“Zhu Li, CEO of Chang Sheng Group.”

It was the first time they had encountered a person of such high-end background, and the girls were stunned for a moment. Then they realized she had called Bai Tan “the young mistress.” Their hearts jumped. So the young mistress really was from an extraordinary background. She truly was a top-tier young mistress.

No… the most shocking thing was that she said she was Gu Zhu’s aunt?

Wait… that didn’t make sense. With such a powerful family background, why was Gu Zhu in the poverty assistance program every year?

Could there be some secret of the rich and famous? The girls’ expressions became strange, and their gazes at Zhu Li grew more and more like they were looking at a potential criminal.

Kids’ expressions were too easy to read. Zhu Li couldn’t be bothered with them, her gaze focused solely on Gu Zhu. “Let’s go. If we go back too late, your mom will probably get angry.”

That knowing tone and the look of being in control made Gu Zhu feel disgusted. She knew Zhu Li was subtly threatening her. If she didn’t go this time, the next time she would probably show up directly at their door.

In Bai Tan’s concerned and worried gaze, she shook her head slightly. “You take them home first. I’ll be fine.”

Seeing the other girls wanting to speak, Gu Zhu opened the car door for them. “Go on. It’s getting late. I’ll let you know when I’m safe.”

Xiao Zhang was already waiting, ready to take her place. After the girls got in the car, he remained outside, waiting for Bai Tan’s instructions.

Gu Zhu waved at them, exchanged a look with Bai Tan, and nodded at her before walking over to Zhu Li’s car.

Zhu Li opened the door for her. Just as she was about to get in, Bai Tan suddenly called out to her.

The black business van was like a giant beast. The tall green plants along the roadside blocked the light, leaving only the faint glow of the red taillights. In the dim light, the girl’s figure was slender and thin, yet so courageous and fearless. Her calm and composed demeanor seemed to break through the darkness.

“Ms. Zhu, remember to protect my person well.”

Zhu Li raised an eyebrow at her, hooked her sunglasses with a smirk, put them back on her head, and got into the car. She started the engine, backed up, turned around, and the roar of the sports car seemed to be a scornful response to her.

Bai Tan’s expression sobered. After dropping off each girl one by one, she pulled out her phone and called Luo Ning, who had asked for time off to go somewhere. The signal finally connected after a long time. A tired, hoarse voice came through the receiver.

Bai Tan frowned. “Are you sick?”

The person on the other end paused, then cleared her throat. “No, the food was too sweet and it got stuck in my throat. What’s up?”

“Zhu Li from Chang Sheng took Gu Zhu. Help me find out what’s going on with the Chang Sheng Group right now. I remember the siblings were fighting to the death over the family fortune, so how does she have time to wander around here?”

Luo Ning was stunned, her voice rising. “What are you saying? Gu Zhu left with her? How could Gu Zhu possibly know her?”

What did she mean? Bai Tan was also shocked. “Are you saying Gu Zhu shouldn’t know Zhu Li?” But the two of them clearly knew each other already. Bai Tan now guessed that at the July 1st gala, Gu Zhu’s panic was because she had seen Zhu Li. And tonight, although her reaction wasn’t as extreme, she was clearly against her.

What was Gu Zhu’s true background? If Zhu Li said she was Gu Zhu’s aunt, didn’t that mean Gu Zhu was Zhu Li’s brother’s daughter?

She remembered that Gu Zhu was an abandoned baby. So what roles did Luo Ning and Zhu Li play in all this? And why did they both seem to care so much about Gu Zhu? Did Gu Baozhi know?

Bai Tan couldn’t imagine how shocked Gu Zhu would be when she learned the truth. She gripped her phone tightly, not even hearing Luo Ning’s hasty goodbye and her promise to “be right back.”

On the other side, Gu Zhu sat in the passenger seat, driven by Zhu Li to an unknown location.

She pursed her lips, touching the wooden charm on her bag. After the owner gave it to them, Bai Tan thought something was missing and carved two nicknames on the back of the charms: “Bamboo” and “Little Water.” She said “Little Water” was her childhood nickname because the five elements of her birth chart were missing water. The charm she had was carved with Bai Tan’s nickname.

The car was stuffy and quiet. Gu Zhu kept her head down, her bag blocking the side of the seat closest to the driver, as if it were a silent protest.

As they drove, Zhu Li turned her head to look at her from time to time, her gaze fixed on Gu Zhu’s quiet demeanor. Finally, she broke the silence in the small space. “You really look so much like your mother.”

There it was again, that same sentence.

Gu Zhu didn’t say anything, but she was surprised to realize that she no longer reacted to the words in the same way. Today, she wasn’t wearing her thick glasses and wasn’t as afraid of the other woman’s too-deep and nostalgic gaze.

“However, your mother’s personality was completely the opposite of yours. She was more lively than you, more talkative than you. In her eyes, everything became vibrant and interesting. She had a free spirit and an eye for beauty. Her paintings were always filled with passionate emotion. Did you know she was quite a famous painter abroad?”

“Are you really not curious about her at all?”

“No.” No matter how much admiration, relief, nostalgia, or affection was in her tone, Gu Zhu remained unmoved. Her voice was cold, like she was splashing a bucket of cold water on her. “She’s a taboo in our family. No one mentions her on holidays, and no one ever goes to see her. Do you want to know where she’s buried? Do you know what her last words were before she died?”

“Screeeeeech—” The tires screeched on the pavement, making a harsh sound. Zhu Li slammed on the brakes, stopping the car on the side of the road. She turned her head to look at the girl full of cold indifference, her eyes wide with disbelief. Outside the window were sparse lights, and in the dimness, those cool, clear eyes pierced her with a freezing light. In her shock, Zhu Li heard her say:

“She said, she hated me to death.”

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