Diagnosis: Friend [Rebirth] - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

At around eleven-thirty, someone whispered, “Everyone, keep it down, it’s time to sleep.” After that, the dormitory, which had been as noisy as a wet market, slowly quieted down. Although there was still some chatter, the volume had decreased significantly.

Gu Yining spread out her blanket. Her eyelids were so heavy with sleepiness that she could hardly keep them open, so she crawled under the covers. Beside her, Tang Lin looked on in surprise. “You’re going to sleep so early?”

Gu Yining let out an “Mhm” with her eyes squinted. “A bit tired.”

The sounds of talking persisted, making it impossible to fall asleep immediately. She simply closed her eyes to rest. Once it reached around twelve o’clock and the dorm quieted down another level, only then could she truly enter dreamland.

She closed her eyes, but a vast expanse of white still filled her vision, causing her to purse her lips. The top bunk was too close to the lightbulb—especially since Tang Lin’s top bunk was located right in the middle of the room. Two large bulbs shone directly down; even with her eyelids closed, it felt like a giant sun was glowing.

Gu Yining flipped over slightly, trying to sleep on her side with her back to the “sun.” Not long after, following some rustling sounds, she laid flat again—sleeping on her side didn’t work; she felt uncomfortable lying on her heart.

The presence of those lethal lights was too strong. Gu Yining pulled the blanket over her eyes, but with her nose and mouth covered, her breathing became labored. A few minutes later, she pulled the blanket down again. Wanting to sleep but being unable to do so, Gu Yining felt like she was going insane.

Right then, someone called her: “Gu Yining.”

Gu Yining had reached her limit. She sat up abruptly, her voice carrying a trace of invisible irritability: “Who’s calling me?”

After speaking, she realized hers was the only voice in the room—Wait? Why did it suddenly get so quiet?

Beside her, Tang Lin gently patted her.

Gu Yining opened her eyes. A tall, thin girl was standing by Tang Lin’s bed, looking up at her with a gloomy smile. A pair of dark hands gripped the guardrail of the top bunk, with black dirt visible under slightly long fingernails.

Gu Yining forced herself to look away from the girl’s fingernails. She rubbed her forehead, her tone exhausted to the core: “Is something the matter?”

Wang Qiaoqiao lowered her head, seemingly speaking to the person in the bottom bunk: “Sister Rong, she’s in Tang Lin’s bed.”

The next second, two more heads entered Gu Yining’s field of vision. Gu Yining looked down at their colorful camisoles and heard the shortest of the three ask: “Gu Yining, why didn’t you come when we looked for you just now?”

Gu Yining let out a yawn: “Ah… you were looking for me?”

Li Rong rolled her eyes: “Gu Yining, stop faking. Don’t think that just because the teachers value you, I won’t dare touch you. Let me tell you—”

Gu Yining rested her chin on her hand and looked at the girl, suddenly saying: “You have food stuck in your teeth.”

This successfully cut off the girl’s rambling.

Li Rong covered her mouth with her hand. While glaring at Gu Yining, she didn’t forget to sweep her tongue over her teeth, but she didn’t feel anything. Sensing that Gu Yining might be playing her, she glared indignantly and turned to show her teeth to Qian Mei: “Is there?”

Qian Mei looked closely and pointed to her own second tooth on the left. “There.”

After sweeping her mouth and scrubbing with her hand, that tiny piece of vegetable remained stubbornly stuck. Suddenly, a cold, fair hand reached out toward her chest, holding a toothpick between thumb and index finger.

Tan Baozhu smiled, her gaze passing over Li Rong to look at Gu Yining on the top bunk: “Hurry up, Sister Rong. Our little top student is sleepy.”

Li Rong looked down at the toothpick and then glanced at Tan Baozhu. Her deathly pale face looked even whiter without makeup, her short black hair clinging to both sides of her face like a female ghost. The “ghost” met her gaze, raised her hand slightly, and her smile deepened.

For some reason, Li Rong’s heart began to throb. Her hand trembled slightly as she took the toothpick, as if the person before her really was a ghost. It wasn’t until she picked the vegetable out and looked back at Gu Yining’s lively face that she felt like she had returned to the human world where she could boss people around.

Li Rong said: “How did you end up sleeping on our classmate Tang Lin?”

Gu Yining: “…” (Think: Speak properly! Was your primary school Chinese taught by a PE teacher?)

Li Rong didn’t notice the ambiguity in her words. Seeing Gu Yining’s difficult expression, she assumed she had successfully humiliated her. Growing even more excited, she felt she had to reveal something. She glanced at the girl hiding behind Gu Yining with her head down and said sarcastically, “Oh, Tang Lin is so kind. Seeing your blanket was wet, she so generously invited you to sleep together.”

Li Rong sneered, “Gu Yining, don’t you know? The person who poured water on your mattress was none other than Tang Lin.”

The other two giggled along. The three of them walked out of the dorm with their arms crossed and hips swaying.

Now it was truly quiet.

Someone peeked out and asked: “Is that true? Tang Lin?”

Tang Lin lowered her head, shrinking into a ball against the wall. If her physical abilities allowed it, she would have unhesitatingly shrunk into the wall itself and sealed it tight with cement.

“What’s true or false?” Gu Yining said loudly. “The words of those three have zero credibility. You’re better off believing the sun rises in the west than believing them.”

A soft poke touched her arm.

Tang Lin kept her head down and whispered: “I’m sorry.”

Gu Yining shrugged indifferently and said in a voice only the two of them could hear: “It’s okay, I don’t blame you. They’re so vicious; if you didn’t do it, they would have retaliated against you. You were just looking out for yourself.”

She patted the slightly trembling shoulder. “Even though you poured the water, you still invited me to your bed, gave me cake, and apologized. You’re already very good; I don’t blame you.”

Gu Yining took her hand, her thumb gently squeezing the warm palm, and whispered: “Besides this, are there other ways they bully you?”

Tang Lin said nothing. Her wrist felt cool; Gu Yining looked down to see a few tears landing on it.

Late at night, Yang Lei got up to use the restroom. As she climbed down the ladder, she noticed a light shining through the curtain next door. She tiptoed to the bed and whispered: “Jiang Qing, you’re not asleep yet?”

She had already woken up from one round of sleep.

The curtain was pulled back, revealing a small face. Jiang Qing said: “I’ll read a bit more and go to sleep soon.”

Yang Lei nodded. “Then sleep early.” She turned toward the restroom.

Inside the curtain, several exercise books sat on a small folding desk, with a lamp standing in the corner. Jiang Qing sat cross-legged, leaning back against her folded blanket.

She was thinking about Gu Yining.

She had to get Gu Yining recognized by the Gu family as soon as possible. Every extra day Gu Yining stayed at No. 9 was an extra risk.

After leaving No. 9 today, Jiang Qing didn’t go straight back to school. Instead, she entered a roadside internet cafe. In the space filled with the smell of cigarettes and sweat, the clerk at the front desk looked up at her clean school jacket and then went back to his business: “Are you an adult?”

Jiang Qing stood tall: “Yes.”

Without looking up, the clerk tossed her a card with a computer account and password. “Go on in.”

Jiang Qing found a vacant computer, opened the browser, and searched for matters related to Gu Group industries—she wanted to see if she could find contact information for the Gu family. After copying several phone numbers, she called them one by one. They weren’t answered by the Gu family, but by secretaries. She tried asking to speak to Chairman Gu or to pass a message regarding the missing young miss of the Gu family, hoping he would call back.

The lady on the phone said “Mhm” and “Okay” for a long time, then asked one question before hanging up: “Your voice sounds quite young. Forgive me for asking, but are you an adult?”

Jiang Qing knew this plan would likely fail. Sure enough, after waiting from dawn until dusk, she didn’t receive a single call.

What should she do?

She couldn’t openly tell others; the interests within the Gu Group were complex, and she didn’t want competitors to find out before Gu Yining’s family did. But currently, she had no direct contact info, and if she went to the company in person, they definitely wouldn’t even let her through the door.

A turning point appeared on Thursday afternoon.

On Wednesday afternoon, on the green plastic turf, Yang Lei broke into a light sweat. The weather was hot, and she felt sticky after running a few laps. After the PE teacher shouted a righteous “Dismissed,” Yang Lei rushed toward the restroom.

The next second, Jiang Qing pulled her back. She asked in confusion: “Jiang Qing, what are you doing? I need to wash my face.”

Jiang Qing reminded her: “Wash in the classroom building. Ms. Jian wants us back in the classroom; she has something to tell us.”

After the first period in the afternoon, Jian Wenxin entered the classroom. After instructing that the upcoming PE class would be free activities, she asked the students who received the “Chuyang Foundation” scholarship to return to the classroom for instructions.

Yang Lei slapped her forehead: “Oh, I almost forgot.” She changed direction and pulled Jiang Qing toward the teaching building. “Let’s go, I’m dying of discomfort.”

A few minutes later, about twenty people were seated in the classroom. Seeing that everyone was there, Jian Wenxin walked to the podium.

The “Chuyang Foundation” was a scholarship set up by social philanthropists specifically for high school students with difficult family backgrounds and excellent grades. Specifically at Anhe No. 2, it was a fund that interfaced with the top two classes of each grade.

Anhe No. 2 implemented a streaming system; Class 1 and Class 2 were called “Rocket Classes,” housing the top one hundred students in the school. Classes 3 through 6 were experimental classes, 6 through 15 were regular classes, and classes from 16 onwards were art and liberal arts classes.

Jiang Qing had entered the school with excellent grades and had been receiving the “Chuyang Foundation” scholarship since the 10th grade. It provided seven thousand yuan a year, the largest amount among all high school scholarship programs. Because it was sponsored by philanthropists, the school required every subsidized student to write a thank-you letter each semester, to be sent collectively by the school.

“This year, the thank-you letters won’t be sent by the school. This time tomorrow, the donors will visit the school, and you will hand the letters to them personally.” Jian Wenxin explained the time and place for tomorrow’s event and urged the students: “It’s best to write the letters today. Don’t procrastinate and wait until tomorrow noon to start.”

Thursday afternoon.

Jiang Qing arrived at the activity room early as scheduled. In the bright light, students sat upright in uniform. The front few seats were empty, and the electronic screens around the room were playing a promotional video for the “Chuyang Foundation.”

A magnetic broadcast voice came from the speakers. Images flashed on the screen: “Building dreams and helping people grow, the ‘Chuyang Foundation’ has been dedicated since its inception to… As a leading enterprise, the Gu Group bravely shoulders social responsibility…”

—!

Jiang Qing suddenly became alert. Gu Group? Did I hear wrong, or… is it a homophone?

Looking at the screen again, it had jumped to another scene, and the subtitles had changed. Jiang Qing took a deep breath and stared unblinkingly at the electronic screen. Unfortunately, the information didn’t appear again for the rest of the video.

Could the “Chuyang Foundation” be a scholarship project of the Gu Group? If so, who would be the donor coming today? …Gu Rui? Or Gu Shao?

Gu Rui was old and wouldn’t attend such an event; Gu Shao was the heir being groomed and was too busy to attend such a minor activity. Given the nature of a scholarship event… it was most likely that person. But Jiang Qing wasn’t sure if that person had entered the Gu Group to work yet.

Jian Wenxin clapped her hands to stop the whispering and reminded everyone that the donors were about to arrive. Jiang Qing withdrew her thoughts and rested her gaze randomly on the desk in front of her.

The sound of footsteps approached. The gentle voice of the Dean came from the corridor. Jiang Qing looked down at the envelope on the desk, which had a few beautiful cursive characters on the front.

Suddenly, a figure drifted past her. Jiang Qing smelled a faint, refreshing scent of perfume. Jian Wenxin’s voice followed: “Let us welcome the donor representatives with a round of applause!”

Jiang Qing clapped and looked forward. Since she sat near the door, the visitors had already entered the room. There were four people; judging by their backs, there were two men and two women.

Among the group of black suits, a woman in a mint-green suit skirt was particularly eye-catching. Though only her back was visible, her posture was elegant and her temperament exceptional; she was likely the highest-ranking person among them.

Yang Lei clapped rhythmically like a machine. Looking at the woman’s beautiful back, she made a well-founded guess: She must be a great beauty.

The woman walked to the front of the tables and nodded slightly to Jian Wenxin, her thick, slightly curly long hair falling over one shoulder. She turned her shoulders slightly to face the upright teenagers and smiled: “Hello, students.”

The woman sat at the front and chatted gently with the school leaders. Yang Lei covered her lips and leaned toward Jiang Qing, whispering in admiration: “This donor is not only beautiful, but her voice is so gentle.”

Looking down, Jiang Qing saw the woman and was dazed. Only after a long while did she react to what Yang Lei had said, replying nervously: “Yes, I think so too.”

After the school leaders finished their opening remarks, a round of applause sounded. Next was the speech from the woman representing the group.

Zhou Xuening adjusted the microphone in front of her. Her gentle voice flowed through the room: “Hello, everyone. My surname is Zhou; you can call me Auntie Zhou. I am very happy to have the opportunity to see so many lovely children today…”

At the end of the speech, her gaze landed on the electronic screens. An assistant scrolled the mouse. “This is my contact information. If you encounter any difficulties—whether in life or in your studies—you can ask me.” Her voice was like an evening breeze brushing through branches, gentle and moving. “You students are like my own children; I will do my best to help you.”

As she finished, thunderous applause erupted. Amidst the enthusiastic clapping, Jiang Qing’s lips curled up slightly.

After the speech, according to the procedure, students handed their envelopes to the secretary. All students then went downstairs to take a commemorative photo in front of the teaching building. The photographer looked at the unformed group and adjusted the camera: “Squeeze into the middle! Don’t be shy, everyone stand toward the center.”

When the photo session ended, the bell rang for the end of class, and students jogged back to the teaching building. Yang Lei held Jiang Qing’s arm, sensing she was distracted. Following Jiang Qing’s gaze, the donor representative was surrounded by the crowd, smiling as she spoke with the school leaders and homeroom teachers.

Yang Lei felt Jiang Qing was exceptionally restless today. Before she could speak, Jiang Qing said: “Yang Lei, you go back first. I have something to ask Ms. Jian.”

Ask Ms. Jian? She looked busy right now, and Ms. Jian’s class was in two periods anyway. Although confused, Yang Lei let go: “Oh, okay. I’ll head back first then.”

It was late autumn. The osmanthus trees in the school were in full bloom, their tiny golden flowers emerging from the gaps in the lush green leaves. The sweet fragrance filled the air, making one feel intoxicated. Jiang Qing took a deep breath, the scent filling her nose.

She looked at Zhou Xuening in the center of the crowd. It turned out she had already met Zhou Xuening at this time.

In her previous life, Jiang Qing’s first impression of Zhou Xuening was during Gu Yining’s junior year of college. Jiang Qing had gone to Gu Yining’s house. Having just finished joking around in the bedroom, she opened the door and came face-to-face with Zhou Xuening’s beautiful face. Their eyes met, and Jiang Qing’s cheeks flushed slightly. She turned back to seek help from Gu Yining, failing to notice the stunned look in the woman’s eyes.

Gu Yining’s warm hand had slid up Jiang Qing’s waist like a snake. Gu Yining leaned against her bonelessly, her long black curly hair falling in front of Jiang Qing. Jiang Qing felt guilty and her face turned red. Gu Yining, however, was perfectly calm, greeting the beautiful woman at the door with a smile: “Auntie Zhou.”

“Jiang Qing, this is my uncle’s girlfriend, Auntie Zhou,” Gu Yining introduced. “Auntie Zhou, this is my best friend, Jiang Qing.”