The School Beauty from the Next Class Insisted I Confess - Chapter 37

“Are you looking at Xiaoshu?”

Superintendent Liang emerged from behind Xu Qingfeng. The woman, in her forties, looked a bit weathered and was simply dressed, burdened by the toil of managing so many children every day.

“Yes, I am.”

Xu Qingfeng knew she was about to have her questions answered.

“She’s a poor child. Her parents died in a car accident a few weeks ago. Her only relative is her maternal aunt. Alas.”

Superintendent Liang couldn’t help but shake her head when she mentioned Gu Wenshu’s aunt.

“Why is she still here if she has a relative?”

Xu Qingfeng’s inner self resisted calling this an orphanage, and she carefully avoided the word in her speech. With so many children around, she didn’t want any of them to accidentally overhear and feel sad.

“She refused to have her aunt as her guardian and chose to come here instead.”

Gu Wenshu is ten years old this year, and legally, she has that right.

A self-made choice. Xu Qingfeng carefully observed the girl again. In her, Xu Qingfeng saw forbearance and determination.

This was indeed the kind of decision that child would make.

Superintendent Liang had a good impression of the young girl in front of her. She knew they were kind people when the two girls took Qiqi out to play during the Mid-Autumn Festival. As for them exchanging contact information and promising to visit the children, she hadn’t taken it seriously. Young people’s words are often casual.

From a distance, laughter occasionally drifted over. The girls, at their most rebellious and self-conscious age, were playing “Eagle Catches Chickens” with the children or patiently telling them stories.

She hadn’t expected them to take the visit so seriously. Even though she knew it was a last-minute decision, she admired their resolve. The items they brought were things the children needed daily, and their genuine care for the children was more precious than money.

So, when she saw Xu Qingfeng’s confusion, perhaps out of sympathy for Gu Wenshu and not wanting her to be misunderstood, or perhaps wanting to see if this mature-acting girl had any ideas, Superintendent Liang chose to share the story.

Superintendent Liang laughed at herself in her mind for having such a thought.

After Superintendent Liang’s account, Xu Qingfeng had a rough idea of the girl’s background.

Gu Wenshu’s father was an only son from an ordinary working-class family. His parents had passed away a few years ago, leaving his wife and child as his only family. That’s why he preferred to live in an elevator building filled with the atmosphere of daily life; it made him feel the warmth of home. He felt that as long as his family was together, that was enough, and he never changed this even after earning more money later on.

As for Gu Wenshu’s maternal grandparents, they had passed away more than twenty years ago. The two sisters (Gu Wenshu’s mother and aunt) had been called “jinx ghosts” and lived with relatives.

The two sisters were vastly different—one driven, the other apathetic. But they were still family. Gu Wenshu’s mother couldn’t bear to see her only sister suffer. Although Gu Wenshu’s maternal aunt had been irresponsible since childhood, her mother always gave her the best of everything. After growing up, she gave her sister a lot of the money she earned, raising her to be robust and corpulent.

To encourage her sister’s independence, Gu Wenshu’s mother finally realized her mistake and cut off financial support to her sister a few years ago. Unfortunately, kindness can breed resentment, and her aunt harbored a grudge ever since, cutting off almost all contact over the years.

Because the above situation changed after Gu Wenshu was born, her aunt also deeply resented her. She never showed her a kind face when she was little, and Gu Wenshu had not seen her aunt since she was old enough to remember.

After the police notification, Gu Wenshu temporarily stayed with her aunt. The guardianship was to be formally transferred after the funeral. The girl had initially agreed, but changed her mind after a few days.

When the police confirmed the child’s decision a few days later, Superintendent Liang went to meet Gu Wenshu for the first time. The girl’s expression remained cold, completely unmoved by her overbearing aunt.

“You ungrateful little wretch!”

Her aunt was cursing the poor girl who prevented her from getting the money.

“And you bunch of beggars, trying to steal my money!”

Gu Wenshu’s aunt pointed at Superintendent Liang and the lawyers.

The woman’s eyes were full of fury. Her plump figure was clad in an ill-fitting, cheap fur coat she bought to show off, believing she was about to become a rich lady.

That stupid, unfeeling mother of the little wretch cut off her money, forcing her to go out and work. She didn’t know how tiring it was—completely different from the luxurious life she was used to, where she just had to hold out her hand for food and clothes. How could she not hate her?

She hadn’t mistreated the child these past few days. What was wrong with letting her share a room with her son?

Once she got her hands on the inheritance and bought a big house, she would kick the brat out to the stairwell, or just abandon her, and the whole family would move to Country A.

Her foolish sister’s family was truly stupid. With all that money, they insisted on living in this flat apartment with so few rooms. In her opinion, they should have bought a villa. Spacious and grand.

She heard that the two deceased fools drove back overnight from the next city to celebrate the little wretch’s birthday. Serves them right they died! But her good sister was really biased, having made a will early on, leaving all the assets to her daughter.

Hahahahahahaha, but in the end, it would all be hers!

Yet, all this was about to be ruined by this little wretch.

Peng Lingxiang, Gu Wenshu’s aunt, was furious just thinking about it. She would never forgive anyone who cut off her source of wealth.

She rushed forward, throwing a tantrum. Her husband and son, both greasy, obese, and heavy-faced, glared at the staff.

“Mom, I don’t want to sit here anymore! Is it done yet? Let’s go home and make this cheap girl do my homework.”

The child’s voice sounded like a demon, full of vulgar language at such a young age. She wondered who taught him that.

“Be patient, my precious son, almost.”

Peng Lingxiang never thought studying was useful. Her son was tall and strong, much better than that frail bean sprout. What was the point of studying when you had money?

The staff understood the situation right away. After stopping the commotion, Gu Wenshu’s parents’ legal team stepped in to handle the matter. Legally, they or her parents’ friends could also become the girl’s guardians.

Gu Wenshu refused. She chose to go to the welfare institution. As for the inheritance, it would be notarized, and she would gain the right to manage it when she reached adulthood. During the interim, if a major event required money, such as a severe illness or higher education tuition, funds could be advanced. The legal team had arranged everything; she just needed to be at the welfare institution.

In reality, she could occasionally live at home, but she was still a child, and Superintendent Liang was busy. Even with a nanny, no one felt entirely at ease. Fortunately, she could live independently when she turned sixteen.

Gu Wenshu’s parents had planned far ahead for her. Perhaps they had considered what would happen to their precious daughter if they were no longer around, but they never expected the misfortune to truly strike.

The procedures were completed quickly. Superintendent Liang led the silent Gu Wenshu to “Weicheng Sunshine.”

It happened to be soon after the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Qiqi saw Gu Wenshu always sitting alone, staring into the distance, pondering. Qiqi wanted to be her friend. She took out a piece of candy Xu Qingfeng had bought for her and offered it to the seemingly cold person, showing her kindness.

She had been saving this candy for a long time, reluctant to eat it.

“Here, have this. You’re welcome.”

Looking at the girl smiling foolishly in front of her, the precocious Gu Wenshu felt the person in front of her should always remain this way.

If she were like her, she wouldn’t be happy.

She wanted to protect this innocent smile.

She took the candy and put it in her mouth.

“It’s sweet.”

“Right? I love it. This is my last one, but it’s okay. The big sister said she would come to see me and bring me delicious food. I’ll share some with you then.”

Qiqi smiled. The person accepting her candy meant they were friends, and she had a new friend.

“Oh, by the way, what’s your name?” Gu Qiqi finally remembered to ask.

“Gu Wenshu.”

Her eyes softened considerably, no longer as vacant as before.

“Okay, Gu Wenshu. Can I call you Xiaoshu? We’re friends starting today. Don’t be sad, just smile a little.”

Gu Qiqi said excitedly, smiling.

“Okay.”

Her tears instantly fell. Gu Wenshu was just a child after all. No matter how strong or intelligent, how could she not be sad after everything she had been through? After holding back for so long, the moment the person in front of her said friends, the heart that had been disguised as stone completely broke.

Someone genuinely cared about her.

“Oh no, why are you crying? You can’t cry after eating candy!”

Gu Qiqi became flustered, trying to wipe the tears from her new friend’s face.

“Okay, I won’t cry.”

Gu Wenshu slowly stopped crying.

“Heh, I didn’t think you could cry.” Gu Qiqi had hesitated for a long time about whether to approach her. The girl a year older than her seemed like a little adult, and she was a bit scared.

But recalling her experience with the two older sisters, she felt she should be brave.

Her bravery was like finding herself a bodyguard. Wherever Gu Qiqi went, Gu Wenshu followed, never leaving her sight.

Gu Wenshu wasn’t being clingy. She hadn’t been there long, but she had noticed that the other children were all excluding Gu Qiqi.

She had to protect her.

Xu Qingfeng was touched by the suffering but also sensed something was amiss. Logically, the situation seemed resolved. The little girls could accompany each other and grow up well—wouldn’t that be good? Why did Superintendent Liang seem so worried?

“Superintendent Liang, is there something else going on?”

Xu Qingfeng asked cautiously.

“Alas, I didn’t intend to say anything, but this matter is really weighing on me.”

Superintendent Liang chose to speak up. Perhaps the smart young person in front of her might have a better idea.

“Her aunt hasn’t given up.”

As soon as she said this, Xu Qingfeng understood the current predicament. The following words, however, left her stunned. How could people like this exist?

She didn’t know who gave the couple the idea, but realizing that force wouldn’t work legally, they resorted to insincere pretense.

In the past few days, Peng Lingxiang had been frequently seen visiting her niece with large bags, trying to win Gu Wenshu over with a soft approach to trick her into transferring guardianship.

Gu Wenshu was clear-headed and not deceived. She firmly refused and always avoided them. Superintendent Liang wanted to stop them from coming, but the couple was so overwhelming that she couldn’t stop them, and legally, they couldn’t refuse the child’s only relative from visiting.

The first time, they brought things, but Gu Wenshu didn’t take them. Superintendent Liang thought the other children might be able to use them. Upon inspection, they were all wholesale junk food—a large bag probably cost only ten or so Yuan. As for the clothes, they were clearly for a plump little boy and even had a few holes.

The subsequent visits lacked even the pretense of politeness; they didn’t bother bringing anything. With each visit, their initially somewhat pleading demeanor grew increasingly aggressive, complete with curses and insults.

When they left yesterday, they said, “Just you wait and see.”

Superintendent Liang knew they wouldn’t dare commit a crime in broad daylight, but seeing their fierce glare, she was constantly afraid.

What if something happened? What should she do?

Xu Qingfeng was also thinking. This hidden danger could not be left alone. Was there any solution?

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

In the midst of her thoughts, the main gate of “Weicheng Sunshine” was violently pounded.

The urgent and violent knocking terrified the children who were playing.

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