Returning to High School to Save My Wife - Chapter 36

She was a ship sailing through a thick fog, her future a blur, not knowing where she was headed. Her destination might be the coast, or perhaps she would capsize into the depths of the ocean during a collision, becoming a shipwreck that no one would ever salvage.

How many more people would she have to burden? How many more debts of gratitude would she incur?

 

Jiang Yuan lowered her eyes and wiped away her lingering tears. She deleted the line of text she had written and exited the WeChat chat interface with Liang Qi. She was now the class monitor and had He Wei’s phone number, so she could completely handle the request for leave herself.

 

So, she dialed He Wei’s number. The phone rang a few times before it was answered. A strange man’s gentle and polite voice came from the other end, accompanied by the sound of a child crying.

 

“Hello?”

 

Hearing a stranger’s voice, Jiang Yuan instinctively gripped her phone and pursed her lips. It took a long time before she said, “He, hello.”

 

“Are you looking for Teacher He? She is resting. If you have any business, just tell me and I will pass it on to her.”

 

“May I ask who you are?”

 

“I am her husband, and also the homeroom teacher of the class next to hers. Your Teacher He has been quite exhausted lately and went to sleep very early after coming home. I will tell her when she wakes up later.”

 

“Um, okay. I am Jiang Yuan from Class One, Grade Eleven. I want to ask Teacher He for some leave. I have some matters at home, so I might need to be away for a while.”

 

“I take the liberty of asking, what is the matter? If the leave is for a long period, it must be approved by the school leadership, and if necessary, you will need to provide a certificate for the leave.”

 

“It is, my mother is sick and in the hospital, and she might need surgery.”

 

“If the leave exceeds three days, you must have the hospital issue a certificate. Is it convenient for you to get one from the hospital?”

 

“I, I haven’t spoken to the hospital yet. Can I take three days first? If I need to continue my leave, I will find a way to have the hospital issue a certificate.”

 

“Alright. Just remember to let us know in time.”

 

“Um, thank you, Teacher.”

 

“Is there anything else?”

 

Jiang Yuan was startled, but quickly remembered something and said hurriedly, “Teacher, regarding my family matters, could you please ask Teacher He not to tell the other students?”

 

“You can rest assured about that. We do not discuss the private family matters of students with others.”

 

“Then thank you, Teacher. I, I have nothing else. I’m sorry to bother you.”

 

“No problem.”

 

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yuan stared at the screen. Her nose tingled, and tears fell without warning.

 

This was what a normal, happy family looked like, wasn’t it? No family was quite like hers. As the tears became more turbulent, Jiang Yuan buried her face. Why couldn’t a family like that belong to her? She had never done anything bad, never harmed anyone, and never wronged anyone. Why was fate so cruel to her?

 

She also wanted a complete family. She wanted parents who got along harmoniously and loved her. She wanted to live the life of an ordinary student instead of always running around just to make a living.

 

It was unknown how much time had passed, but she cried until her tears were nearly dry before she slowly lifted her clean face from the darkness. She remembered she needed to send a WeChat message to Liang Qi.

 

[Yuan: Liang Qi, I have some matters to attend to here and have asked Teacher He for a few days of leave. Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious. It’s just that my dad has some things that need handling, so you don’t need to come over.]

 

Liang Qi found out about Jiang Yuan’s leave on Tuesday morning. She had already been asleep at 11:00 PM and hadn’t seen the message Jiang Yuan sent her. The next morning, she rushed to school and only remembered to check her phone when she realized Jiang Yuan hadn’t come to class. Jiang Yuan had personally asked He Wei for leave and even specifically explained the situation so that Liang Qi wouldn’t worry. When Liang Qi messaged her, Jiang Yuan replied, and the replies seemed normal. Therefore, Liang Qi was at ease and didn’t think any further of it.

 

[Yuan: You just focus on listening to the lectures.]

 

This was what Jiang Yuan had specifically urged her to do.

 

[Cookie Biscuit: Got it. I’ll explain the key knowledge points to you later.]

 

The bell for class hadn’t rung yet, and the classroom was unexpectedly lively.

 

“Have you heard? Cheng Zhuocheng and Yue Suxin are together.” “Really? Wasn’t Cheng Zhuocheng pursuing Jiang Yuan?” “It’s true. The two of them came to school together today. Yue Suxin was even feeding fruit to Cheng Zhuocheng.” “Tsk tsk, they just got together and they’re already so clingy?” “Don’t say that, I think they’re quite a match. Seeing them walk together is quite pleasing to the eye.” “When they entered the school gate this morning, a lot of people saw them. The atmosphere gave me goosebumps.” “Being so high-profile, aren’t they afraid the teachers will find out?” “Yue Suxin’s dad is very well-acquainted with the principal. Who would dare say anything to her? Cheng Zhuocheng’s family is also very rich. Is there anything that money can’t settle?” “I said it before, the gap between Cheng Zhuocheng and Jiang Yuan’s family backgrounds is so large, how could they possibly be together? Even if they dated, they would have broken up sooner or later.”

 

Liang Qi was in the first row and heard the gossiping voices in the classroom clearly. She couldn’t help but feel surprised. Cheng Zhuocheng and Yue Suxin were together? Although Liang Qi wasn’t close to Cheng Zhuocheng, she knew he had put a lot of effort into pursuing Jiang Yuan and had zero interest in Yue Suxin. Why would he suddenly date her? Instinct told her that Yue Suxin had likely slandered Jiang Yuan behind her back again.

 

She turned her head and asked Duan Shuyu in the back row, “When did those two get together?”

 

Duan Shuyu covered their faces with her hand and told her secretly, “I heard it was just last night. Cheng Zhuocheng sent Yue Suxin home and they talked all night. They came to school together this morning.”

 

Liang Qi was stunned. “That fast?”

 

Duan Shuyu nodded. “Yeah, everyone is very surprised.”

 

Liang Qi asked, “Did something happen between them?”

 

Duan Shuyu replied, “Who knows. Anyway, I haven’t heard anything.”

 

Liang Qi glanced in Yue Suxin’s direction and saw her talking to Chen Jiayue with a face full of smiles. She had even replaced her hairpins with two brand-new ones, and her whole state seemed refreshed. Seemingly sensing Liang Qi’s gaze, Yue Suxin looked toward Liang Qi’s position, curled her lips slightly, and raised her eyebrows triumphantly. Even her voice became much louder.

 

Out of sight, out of mind. Liang Qi quickly looked away.

 

Seeing that Jiang Yuan hadn’t come, Duan Shuyu asked curiously, “Where is the class monitor? She didn’t come to class today?”

 

“She took leave,” Liang Qi replied. “What happened that she took leave? She took a day off last week too.” “I don’t know, she didn’t say. But she should be back for class soon.”

 

That was what Liang Qi originally thought. However, she waited one day, then two days. Until the third day, Jiang Yuan still hadn’t come to class.

 

It was now Thursday. Because Jiang Yuan hadn’t come to class for several days, rumors about her leave began to spread in the class. Even while eating in the cafeteria at noon, students from other classes were discussing it.

 

“Does everyone know? That girl Cheng Zhuocheng was chasing hasn’t come to class for three days.” “Why? Could something have happened at home?” “Don’t be so surprised. I heard from people in Class Five that she used to take leave frequently.” “Maybe it’s because Cheng Zhuocheng stopped chasing her and she couldn’t take it.” “Who knows? She strung Cheng Zhuocheng along for so long, probably trying to play hard to get. She didn’t expect the fish wouldn’t take the bait and that he’d go straight to Yue Suxin.” “Sigh, she must regret it. I heard her family still owes money. If she had gotten together with Cheng Zhuocheng earlier, maybe the debt would have been paid off.” “Her parents are divorced. To be honest, who would chase someone like that? Cheng Zhuocheng was confused before.” “You can’t say that. Jiang Yuan is indeed very good-looking. Cheng Zhuocheng isn’t short of pursuers, so it’s normal that he took a fancy to her.”

 

On the other side, Tan Zhiyan heard these discussions and instinctively exchanged a look with Qiao Shuxue before looking at Liang Qi. She cleared her throat and said as quietly as possible, “Qiqi, your deskmate.”

 

Liang Qi put down her chopsticks, stood up suddenly, and walked toward the neighboring table.

 

“What are you all saying?”

 

Her voice wasn’t particularly loud, but it clearly stunned everyone at that table.

 

“Who are you?” one of them asked, looking her up and down with disdain.

 

“I’d like to ask who you are. Do you even know Jiang Yuan?”

 

“Who said I know her? I.”

 

“If you don’t know her, why are you talking? Do you think it’s glorious to maliciously speculate about a classmate behind her back?”

 

Liang Qi’s tone was aggressive, leaving the group at the table dazed. The student who had been leading the gossip stood up angrily. “What do you mean? We weren’t talking about you. Does this have anything to do with you? Mind your own business.”

 

Seeing this, Qiao Shuxue stood up and walked over, pulling Liang Qi’s arm with a slight frown. “Qiqi.”

 

Liang Qi ignored her and met the person’s gaze with a cold expression. “You use hearsay to slander people, do you have no shame? Do you dare to repeat what you just said loudly? Let everyone hear exactly how you speculate about your classmates.”

 

“You, you.”

 

“If your families never taught you not to gossip behind people’s backs, please tell them to go back and study more so that their children don’t continue to embarrass them in public!”

 

Liang Qi’s attitude was firm and her words were clear. Her aura was even more potent than a homeroom teacher’s anger, causing all the surrounding students in the cafeteria to focus on this table. The student who had stood up didn’t know how to argue back for a moment and was nearly moved to tears.

 

“If I hear these words again, I will invite you to the school broadcasting room to say them to the entire student body.”

 

Liang Qi dropped those words and felt she had no appetite left. Just as she was preparing to return to her seat, a familiar, soft call came from behind her.

 

“Liang Qi.”

 

The voice was very thin, pierced by a sense of fragility.

 

Liang Qi stopped her pace and looked up to see Jiang Yuan standing a few steps away at the entrance of the cafeteria. She was very thin. Her already fair skin looked even paler, and her entire being seemed much more haggard, as if the stinging sunlight outside could wither her away.

 

Liang Qi’s heart suddenly sank.

 

In a daze, she remembered the heavy rain when they first met. Jiang Yuan’s body had been just as thin then, and her moist eyes in the rain looked as if they had cried ten thousand times. It was so similar to when they had parted.

 

“Thank you for your company.” “In the days to come, I hope you love yourself well. Take care.”

 

Under the blazing sun, the memories were blown away by the wind and rain, turning into a strong urge to protect her. Liang Qi suddenly stepped forward quickly, stopped in front of her, stretched out her arms, and embraced her.

 

At that moment, it was as if she had entered the forbidden land in her wife’s heart that no one could intrude upon, pulling that thin body from the mire of filth.

When Liang Qi arrived home, she heard the sound of Liang Jinsong making a phone call from the study.

“I cannot interfere in this matter. You know that you are no longer under my jurisdiction, so my stepping in would be considered an abuse of power.”

 

“A major mistake in your work is usually investigated by a team specially dispatched from another department. If things go well, there will be a deduction in pay. If not, a demotion is a possibility.”

 

“How about this? I will contact Old Chen for you to see if he can help.”

 

“Don’t thank me yet. I can only help pass on the message. I heard that the report reached Old Mr. Xiao’s side, and it is very likely that the police will get involved. If things are truly as you described, there might still be a chance, but if you have hidden anything, no one can help you.”

 

“Old Yue, you often acted against the rules when you were under me. Back then, I transferred you to Old Zhu precisely because I was afraid something would happen to you. Their department does not have as many rules.”

 

“Fine, I will speak with Old Chen first.”

 

Liang Jinsong seemed to be discussing work.

 

Liang Qi intentionally waited outside the study for quite a while. It was not until Liang Jinsong finished the call and pushed the door open to leave that he noticed her standing at the doorway.

 

“Qiqi?” Liang Jinsong was somewhat surprised as he turned off his phone screen. “What are you doing standing outside the door?”

 

“Dad,” Liang Qi called out sweetly, “don’t I have something I want to talk to you about?”

 

“What is it? Just be direct.” Liang Jinsong had read countless people and disliked beating around the bush. Seeing Liang Qi’s attitude, he knew immediately that she was seeking a favor.

 

He sat down on the living room sofa, pulled over a chair, and gestured to Liang Qi with his hand. “Sit.”

 

Liang Qi obediently sat on the chair.

 

She cleared her throat and spoke in as natural a tone as possible to avoid letting Liang Jinsong spot any flaws. “Dad, it is like this. A few days before school started, I encountered some thugs who tried to rob me on the road. Fortunately, my classmate and her mother passed by and helped me midway.”

 

Liang Jinsong remained silent for a moment, an unreadable undercurrent moving in the depths of his eyes. “Why didn’t you say anything when it happened?”

 

“Wasn’t I afraid that you and Mom would worry?” Liang Qi spoke with some embarrassment. “You have always told me not to be so high-profile when going out, but I ended up carrying such an expensive bag that day. If I had told you, wouldn’t you have lectured me?”

 

“One thing has nothing to do with the other,” Liang Jinsong said with his legs crossed. He took a cigarette out of his suit pocket but did not light it because he remembered Liang Qi was his daughter. “Regardless of how expensive your bag is, robbery is the fault of the criminal themselves. You should not be blamed.”

 

Liang Jinsong was exactly this kind of person who judged things based on the facts and would not vent his anger on Liang Qi without reason.

 

“Cough, I know, but that is not the point. At that time, my classmate and her mother passed by and immediately came to help me, but there were several robbers.”

 

“Exactly how many?” Liang Jinsong’s fingers paused. He lifted his eyelids and stared directly at her face.

 

“Three, no, probably four,” Liang Qi quickly made up an excuse for herself, fearing he would doubt her. “The situation was urgent back then, so I don’t remember clearly.”

 

“Is that so?” Liang Jinsong asked calmly. “For such a major event, there were no news reports at all?”

 

“No.”

 

“You didn’t call the police?”

 

“I didn’t think of it at the time.”

 

“What was stolen?”

 

“A bag.”

 

“Did they rush you all at once or one after another?”

 

“They, they came all at once.” Liang Qi was almost breaking into a cold sweat. Conversing with Liang Jinsong made her feel like a criminal undergoing interrogation. Her every word and action seemed to be within his grasp, and any small scheme would be seen through.

 

“What did those three look like? Do you still remember?”

 

“One was wearing a yellow shirt and black shorts, another was wearing a T-shirt and jeans, and there was.”

 

Before she could finish her fabricated story, her words were interrupted.

 

Liang Jinsong gave a light laugh. “You can’t even remember the number of people, yet you can remember the clothing of several people so clearly.”

 

Liang Qi suddenly panicked. “Dad, that is because.”

 

“Are you making up a story for me?” Liang Jinsong narrowed his eyes. His sharp gaze seemed to pierce through her intentions. “Are you going to say next that this classmate has a family matter that needs help and you want me to do this favor?”

 

“…” It was over.

 

As expected, she still failed to deceive Liang Jinsong.

 

Liang Jinsong was not angry, however. He asked very calmly, “I will give you one chance to say what you want to say. What is actually going on?”

 

Only then did Liang Qi obediently tell the truth.

 

After Liang Jinsong finished listening, his expression did not change, which made Liang Qi even more unsure of his opinion.

 

After a moment of silence, he asked, “Is she your friend?”

 

“She is a friend and also my deskmate. She sits right next to me in class.”

 

“You should know that there is no such obligation between ordinary friends to help with a favor like this.”

 

“We are very good friends.”

 

“There is no difference,” Liang Jinsong paused for a few seconds and suddenly asked, “How long have you known each other?”

 

“Over a month, almost two months.” Liang Qi intentionally lengthened the time slightly.

 

Hearing this duration, Liang Jinsong frowned slightly.

 

Liang Qi observed Liang Jinsong’s expression and spoke truthfully. “Dad, I want to help with this.”

 

Liang Jinsong did not immediately state his position. He looked up at her and said indifferently, “Can I meet with them?”