Irreversible - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: An Angel’s Tenderness (Part 3)

Su Nanfeng, however, had no intention of letting it go: “I think you do need it.”

She and her group blocked Gu Xizhou’s path. Ding Yi shot a glance at the “little fatty” Wang Yiren, who timidly stepped forward and placed her hand on Gu Xizhou’s water basin, looking fearful. “Gu Xizhou, let me just wash them for you.”

Gu Xizhou looked at Wang Yiren. Seeing that cowardice on her face, for a moment, it felt like she was looking at her future “self.” Her heart ached. She asked herself internally: If I hadn’t chosen to bite back in the restroom that day, would I be the one today forced by Ding Yi to wash others’ dirty clothes?

The answer was a definite yes. If she had worried about Gu Jing’s job and hadn’t fought back, Wang Yiren’s present would be her own.

Gu Xizhou turned to Su Nanfeng, her expression very calm. “Is it because if I don’t agree to let you ‘help’ tonight, you’ll go back and find ways to torment Wang Yiren instead?”

Su Nanfeng reached out, pulling Wang Yiren into a half-embrace and rubbing her hair like one would a pet dog. She said with a smile, “How could that be? Our Nanfeng is all about ‘student unity’ now.”

Gu Xizhou let out a cold laugh. With various scenes from her dreams flashing through her mind, her gaze became fearless. “Su Nanfeng, hearing that word from your mouth is exceptionally ironic. Your so-called ‘unity’ is nothing more than using your family background and barbaric violence to coerce others.”

Su Nanfeng’s face instantly darkened. “Gu Xizhou, don’t be ungrateful.”

Gu Xizhou didn’t let go of her basin. Looking at the brutality in Su Nanfeng’s eyes, she thought of another, completely different pair of eyes, and her fear began to dissipate. “That’s right, I’m just someone who never learned how to be ‘grateful’ to people like you.”

Though only a sixteen-year-old girl, after sharing the memories of another “future self,” she possessed a maturity and weariness beyond her years. “That’s why I can’t flatter you, fawn over you, or suck up to you like the people around you, only to become an accomplice to your evil. Out of all these people standing by your side, which one actually likes you for who you are and chose to be your friend?”

Su Nanfeng’s expression turned even uglier. Ding Yi’s face changed as she raised a fist to charge at Gu Xizhou. “You dead shorty, what did you just say!”

Su Nanfeng was quick, letting go of the little fatty to grab Ding Yi. “Shut up!”

Gu Xizhou’s heart chilled. Thinking of the eyes she had met at dinner, her mind uncontrollably recalled the image from her dream: Su Zhiyi lying in the bushes, covered in blood. That woman, drained of all life by torment, staring blankly at the sky with hollow eyes. Endless loneliness, regret, and despairing darkness had enveloped her. And the origin of all that came from the person in front of her, who had personally planted the seeds of hatred.

Whenever she remembered that dream, a sliver of hatred would surge in young Gu Xizhou’s heart. She hated Su Nanfeng, and she hated the “other self” who had been unable to protect herself in her youth.

Gu Xizhou’s eyes turned bloodshot. She turned to Ding Yi, who was being held back by Su Nanfeng, her gaze icy. “Ding Yi, do you dare to say you’re friends with Su Nanfeng because you sincerely like her? Your family makes small components for medical devices and needs the Su family to provide a massive market. That’s why you follow her every whim, listen to her every word, and act as a dog by her side.”

“Gu Xizhou!” Being exposed so bluntly, Ding Yi’s face flushed red; she wanted nothing more than to tear the girl apart.

Su Nanfeng was burning with rage, but remembering her sister’s words, she forced herself to endure it. Gu Xizhou looked at Ding Yi being held by Su Nanfeng as if looking at a dog on a leash. She gave a mocking snort and turned to the others. “And you people, surrounding her… I imagine you also want something from the Su family. Even if you don’t, the Su family has money and power. Ordinary students don’t dare provoke her, so you can use her name to order others around, just like you’re ordering Wang Yiren. It starts with running errands, cleaning classrooms, and washing clothes—then it’s buying things with allowance, copying homework…”

“And if that’s not enough, you can just use them as punching bags to vent your adolescent restlessness.”

The other two students’ faces changed drastically as they looked at Su Nanfeng. “Nanfeng, we…”

Su Nanfeng’s face was like still water, her eyes fixed on Gu Xizhou as if waiting to see what other foul things she would say.

Gu Xizhou finished her wave of mockery and met Su Nanfeng’s murderous gaze. “See that, Su Nanfeng? These are the rotten people surrounding you. Because you are a rotten person yourself, you attract nothing but scum.”

The insult was harsh, and Su Nanfeng was livid. She let go of Ding Yi, walked up to Gu Xizhou, and grabbed her collar, lifting her up aggressively. “So what!”

What if they weren’t sincerely by her side? She did whatever she wanted. Whoever made her unhappy, she’d have her people take care of them. At school, she was the center of attention, the high-and-mighty “Emperor.” Sincerity? Not even a dog would want that. As long as people were with her, she didn’t care if they were gods or ghosts—if they were useful, that was enough.

She was just that kind of person. What did it matter?

Su Nanfeng gritted her teeth, her logic completely incinerated by the fury of having her insecurities exposed. Clenching her jaw, she growled, “Gu Xizhou, do you believe I’ll beat you so hard this time that you’ll be looking for your teeth on the floor, unable to take care of yourself?”

Since her mother and sister already knew she was a “bad kid,” what did it matter if she was a little worse? She had been pretending for too long; her violence had nowhere to go, so she might as well let it out. Her mothers were divorced and had never cared for her—it was a bit late for them to start saying they loved her now, wasn’t it? Her life was their creation; even if she killed Gu Xizhou and went to jail just to make her mother sad, it would be only natural. Her existence, her malice, and her “badness” were her revenge against her irresponsible parents!

In that brief moment, Su Nanfeng, blinded by rage, had thought of every possible dead-end for her short youth.

But someone thought faster.

Gu Xizhou didn’t hesitate for a second. She swung the water basin in her hand with full force at Su Nanfeng’s head. “Then let’s fight!”

CLANG! The heavy basin slammed into Su Nanfeng’s head.

Su Nanfeng was dazed by the blow. Staggering, water droplets dripping from her hair, she looked at Gu Xizhou in disbelief. “Are you looking for death?”

No matter how much Su Nanfeng had been trying to restrain herself, she couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed Gu Xizhou and threw a punch straight at her face.

In that split second, 0820 struck a deal with young Gu Xizhou: “A brief contract—let me take over your body. I know how to fight!”

Gu Xizhou didn’t even think before replying: “Deal!”

The moment they swapped, Gu Xizhou’s aura transformed instantly. She became like a wolf lurking in the wilderness. As Su Nanfeng’s fist swung down, she stepped to the side, dodged the blow, and struck back with lightning speed, landing a heavy punch on Su Nanfeng’s face.

Su Nanfeng cried out in pain. Before she could regain her balance, Gu Xizhou grabbed her wrist, twisted her arm behind her back, and slammed her head-first against the sink.

THUD…

Su Nanfeng’s forehead hit the wall tiles with a heavy sound, turning purple and swelling into a large bump instantly as blood seeped from broken capillaries. Since the age of seventeen, 0820 had studied free-sparring and other martial arts; she was gifted in physical combat. Facing Su Nanfeng—who had strength but no technique—0820 handled her with ease. Her movements were as fast as a lightning strike, leaving Ding Yi and the others stunned.

Ding Yi snapped out of it and kicked at Gu Xizhou. “Holy crap, you dead shorty!”

Gu Xizhou moved quickly, grabbing Su Nanfeng and pulling her in front of herself as a shield. With that move, Ding Yi’s kick landed squarely between Su Nanfeng’s legs.

Su Nanfeng let out a near-death shriek: “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!”

Ding Yi froze on the spot, her face turning pale. “…”

Gu Xizhou held Su Nanfeng’s arms pinned behind her back, using the tall girl’s body as a shield. She let out a cold laugh. “What do they call that? A good hit is nothing compared to a good catch?”

Gu Xizhou let go, pushing Su Nanfeng toward Ding Yi with an icy tone. “Better get her to the infirmary. Otherwise, if she’s broken, I don’t know what price your family will have to pay to compensate the Sus.”

Ding Yi hurriedly caught Su Nanfeng, frantic. “Nan… Nanfeng…”

Su Nanfeng’s tall frame slumped against Ding Yi. Her black hair was disheveled, her face was white as a sheet, and she was curled over, drenched in cold sweat from the pain. “Call…” she gasped. “Call a car…”

Ding Yi was in a panic. She hoisted Su Nanfeng up and screamed at the lackeys, “Go get the instructor! Hurry!” This was a life-threatening emergency!

Amidst the chaos, the instructors rushed over and put Su Nanfeng on a stretcher to the car. The commotion in the bathhouse quickly spread upstairs. The stir started on the second floor, and soon students were pouring out, leaning over the railings to look at the military vehicle on the first floor, gossiping.

“Su Nanfeng blocked Gu Xizhou again.”

“I heard she brought ten people this time, and Gu Xizhou beat them all up.”

“Gu Xizhou even kicked her… down there…”

“Nonsense, it wasn’t her. Su Nanfeng’s lackey hit her by mistake.”

“Tsk, how tragic.”

“Truly tragic.”

The students loved the drama, and the rumors were flying within minutes.

Hearing the news, Su Zhiyi hurriedly threw on a coat and rushed downstairs, just in time to see Su Nanfeng lying on a stretcher, curled in pain, being carried away by instructors. Su Zhiyi ran over, looking at Su Nanfeng with worry. “Nanfeng, what happened?”

Su Nanfeng had been kicked hard. Her forehead hurt, her face hurt, and “down there” hurt even more. She suspected she might be hemorrhaging. Hearing her sister’s voice, Su Nanfeng lifted her head from the stretcher, her eyes teary as she complained, “Gu Xizhou hit me.”

Gu Xizhou?

Su Zhiyi looked up, searching for Gu Xizhou’s figure. Gu Xizhou and a group of female Alphas were being held by instructors with their hands pinned, forced to stand in a clearing on the first floor. In the dim night, the orange streetlights fell on Gu Xizhou’s face, making her look frail and pale. Su Zhiyi unexpectedly locked eyes with a pair of bloodshot ones and instantly understood the situation.

Oh, Gu Xizhou did it? Then it’s fine.

Su Zhiyi quickly gathered her emotions, patted Su Nanfeng’s shoulder, and said comfortingly, “Go to the hospital and rest well. Don’t cause trouble for a while. I’ll notify Mom to visit you.” Her tone shifted from concern to flat, sounding quite heartless. Su Nanfeng’s mouth twitched; she was so upset she almost cried.

Su Zhiyi sighed, not knowing what else to say, and watched from the stairs as Su Nanfeng was loaded into the car. Just then, it was time for lights out. The instructors blew their whistles, shouting harshly: “What are you looking at! Get back to your dorms and sleep! Anyone who’s late gets points deducted!”

The crowd of spectators dispersed. Su Zhiyi gripped her coat and looked at Gu Xizhou standing under the streetlamp. The tiny female Alpha stood there alone, looking thin and pathetic. Su Zhiyi couldn’t help but take one more look before turning back and silently returning upstairs.

The dormitory lights soon went out. The instructors’ whistles sounded like a death knell, driving the students into their beds. Su Zhiyi lay in bed, her heart racing as she thought of that look she caught downstairs.

Outside in the hallway, the lights were on, and instructors patrolled a few times. Once they saw the students were behaving, they returned to their own quarters. As soon as the instructors left, the quiet dorm began to ripple with whispers again.

Zhang Chuchu, sleeping next to Su Zhiyi, reached out in the dark to the edge of Su Zhiyi’s bed. “Hey…”

Su Zhiyi turned her head toward her, her dark eyes reflecting a spark of light in the darkness. Zhang Chuchu shifted closer, half-hanging off the edge of her bed, and whispered, “Zhiyi, why do you think your sister is always clashing with Gu Xizhou? It’s not like Gu Xizhou dug up her ancestors’ graves. Why target her every single day?”

Su Zhiyi’s heart sank. Recalling Su Nanfeng’s actions from those prophetic dreams, her chest ached. “I don’t know…” She let out a heavy, sorrowful sigh. “Maybe… my sister is just that bad. Regardless of whether someone provokes her or how good they are, if she doesn’t like them, she wants to crush them. She’s just that kind of…”

Rotten person!

But such a rotten person was her sister. What could she do?