Chapter 54: When Are You Going to Pay Me Back?
In the evening, as the sun was setting in the west, Zhou Wanfeng walked along the road with her hands in her pockets, her steps even. Half her face was hidden in her collar, and the hair on her forehead was blown up by the wind, revealing a fair and full forehead.
She listened to the rustling of the branches in the wind, her gaze calm. She had thought she would be sad or feel some other emotion, but in the end, there was nothing. She enjoyed the quiet of this moment, and she also liked walking quietly on the road like this, moving forward with a clear mind, without having to look back and worry about who was following her.
At the same sixteen, she felt a sense of relief, as if the wrinkles of her life had finally been smoothed out.
In her past life, whether she was locked up in a high-walled courtyard or treading on a tightrope, she had always been searching for this feeling.
Although she knew that she had her flaws, that she and Yun Jingya were not on the same path, and that their intersection was only temporary, she had been clear about it from the beginning.
She could both help Yun Jingya when she was crying, and also use her kindness to make her cry.
At South Lake Mansion,
Yun Jingya took a shower and washed her hair. After drying her hair, she lay down on the clean and soft big bed, and suddenly she didn’t want to get up.
She hugged the quilt and rolled around on the bed. It had a warm smell of the sun, and she wished she could just crawl in and sleep soundly.
But soon, Yun Jingya got up and took out a notebook and a pencil from her backpack. She had to pester Wanfeng to check the answers with her.
She couldn’t be like Wanfeng, who could just move on after the exam and do other things with a clear mind. Wouldn’t everyone think about their scores and their ranking after the exam?
In short, in Yun Jingya’s heart, this aspect of Wanfeng was incredible, or rather, her heart was incredibly strong.
She walked up to the attic in her slippers, and the higher she went, the more she could feel a cold air hitting her. Yun Jingya couldn’t help but shrink her neck and call out with a giggle, “Wanfeng, what are you doing?”
The door to the attic was ajar. The lights were not on, and it was dark inside.
“Wanfeng, are you sleeping?” Yun Jingya said in a small voice, pushing the door open and poking her head in. When her eyes had quickly adjusted to the environment, she saw that there was no one in the room. Even the quilt on the big bed was flat. No one was sleeping.
The room was as if it were drafty. The air felt cold, like a cellar, without a trace of human presence.
Yun Jingya quickly turned on the light.
The room was instantly bright. She walked to Zhou Wanfeng’s desk and could see a thin layer of dust on the top.
She rubbed her finger on it, and it was greasy.
The quilt on the bed was cold to the touch. Compared to her own soft, feather-like quilt, Zhou Wanfeng’s was like a rag, rough and damp.
Yun Jingya’s nose tingled. She hurried downstairs.
She was not a fool who didn’t understand anything. A wave of unprecedented anger welled up in her heart. She had so carefully brought Wanfeng home, and this was the result.
She ran downstairs in one breath, but she couldn’t see Wanfeng’s figure. Yun Jingya knew that Wanfeng had left.
She pushed open the door to the Go room and asked in a voice that was on the verge of tears, “Grandma, where’s Wanfeng? Have you seen Wanfeng?”
“She’s gone,” Yang Yijun said, taking a deep breath.
Yun Jingya turned and was about to rush for the main gate, but Yang Yijun stood up and quickly pulled her back. “Don’t chase after her. She’s long gone.”
“Why? Grandma, why are you treating Wanfeng like this?” Yun Jingya said, pushing Yang Yijun away and questioning her with angry eyes.
Yang Yijun’s expression was grim, and her attitude was also very cold and sharp. “Because I don’t want you to continue to associate with her. You are you, and she is she.”
Yun Jingya looked at her suddenly unfamiliar grandmother, and tears suddenly streamed down her face. “Wanfeng has helped us so much. Even if she’s a guest, she should be treated with warm tea and a hot meal. Grandma, this is what you’ve taught me since I was a child. But the quilt in the attic is damp, and there’s dust on the table… Grandma, how could you do this?”
Seeing Yun Jingya’s sad face, Yang Yijun felt a pang of pity and wanted to help her wipe her tears, but Yun Jingya took a step back, her eyes filled with disappointment.
“You think Grandma is being cruel? But you can’t judge Zhou Wanfeng by her age. You’ve only seen her surface. Grandma has seen the dark side of her heart. How can I be at ease with you being in contact with such a person? Jingya, she makes Grandma feel scared and terrified. How can a person be so calm? In the end, she and Zhou Zhiru are father and daughter. Blood ties can’t be denied. She’s just as terrifying.”
But Yun Jingya shook her head vigorously. “Grandma, you don’t understand her at all. She has never deliberately hurt anyone. Don’t you think Wanfeng is pitiful, Grandma? I know that her mother passed away when she was very young, and her grandmother, even her father wanted to escape from her. Her father is in Yunhai City, but he has never gone back to see her. Wanfeng grew up alone. She’s just used to being alone, and she’s adapted to the loneliness. As long as you’re good to her, she can feel it, and she will also pay attention to you and repay you in her own way.”
Tears streamed down her face. Yun Jingya shouted at Yang Yijun sadly, “How could you do this? I worked so hard to bring her back. How could you chase her away like this? She helped our family! Grandma, you’re too selfish, too cold-hearted! I hate you for being like this! How did you become like this?”
Full of disappointment, Yun Jingya vented her inner anger. Ignoring Yang Yijun’s explanation, she ran straight to the third floor.
“Jingya, don’t be in a hurry! Walk slowly, don’t run! Be careful not to fall!” Yang Yijun said, watching the person who was rushing upstairs, terrified that she would fall.
Yun Jingya went upstairs to change, and then came down quickly with her backpack.
“Jingya, where are you going so late?” Yang Yijun wanted to stop her, but Yun Jingya dodged. “To the rented house.”
Yun Jingya was determined to leave, and Yang Yijun couldn’t stop her at all. Watching Yun Jingya run out the main gate, she slumped onto the sofa, her eyes sparkling with tears. Jingya’s words had undoubtedly hurt her.
Selfish? Cold-hearted?
After a moment of sadness, Yang Yijun looked up at the large house, and suddenly found it so empty and quiet. Yun Lan’s mind was full of Zhou Zhiru. She hadn’t left the hospital for a moment, and had completely forgotten that she still had two children.
She just wanted Jingya to have a smooth life in the future. Zhou Wanfeng was an unstable factor, too dangerous and unreadable. Her methods and schemes were all frightening.
Yang Yijun couldn’t forget how Zhou Wanfeng had used Jingya to transfer to a sports school in junior high. She was a lion with its eyes closed. You thought she was asleep, but in reality, she was just letting her prey get closer.
Jingya had run away from home, but a strange thought arose in the depths of Yang Yijun’s heart. Jingya was different from Yun Lan. When she grew up, she would have her own opinions and ideas.
Zhou Wanfeng was making noodles in the rented house. Just as she was done, the doorknob turned, and Yun Jingya came in with her backpack, her nose red from the cold. Seeing the noodles, tears welled up in her eyes, and a smile appeared on her lips. “Give me a bowl. I’m hungry too.”
There was only one bowl of noodles, which was divided into two small bowls.
The two of them sat at the dining table, each eating their own. Zhou Wanfeng didn’t ask Yun Jingya why she had come, and Yun Jingya didn’t ask Zhou Wanfeng why she had left.
After eating, Yun Jingya took the initiative to wash the dishes. The water was cold, but she hadn’t forgotten about checking the answers. She grabbed a notebook and a pencil and went up to Zhou Wanfeng, asking with a smile, “Wanfeng, what’s the answer to this question on your math test paper…”
Zhou Wanfeng took the pen and wrote down the answer.
Yun Jingya studied it for a while, then poked her again. “Wanfeng, you’re not doing this right. Look here…”
After checking the math, they moved on to the English.
Zhou Wanfeng had to admire Yun Jingya. She had practically memorized the entire test paper. She even knew the ABCD options for a multiple-choice question clearly.
“Did you memorize the test paper?”
“It just stuck in my head after I did it. But I got this question wrong. How many points will I lose?”
“Three points.”
“Ah? So many! I’m finished! My ranking will definitely drop a few places.”
Yun Jingya was a little clingy to Zhou Wanfeng. Before, she would eat lunch at a table with the other girls in the class, but now she would always wait for Zhou Wanfeng.
Jiang Chen was very popular in the class. He got along well with both boys and girls. In his own words, after spending three years of junior high with a dog like Lu Qing, your tolerance and patience would improve, and you would also be able to give others emotional value.
First Year, Class Three and First Year, Class Six were not on the same floor, and the end of the last class was not always at the same time. But every time in the cafeteria, Lu Qing would find them.
When asked why he didn’t eat with the people in his own class,
“Who wants to eat with a bunch of pigs?” It was a good thing the people in Class Six couldn’t hear. Lu Qing’s mouth was like that. No one could get the better of him in a verbal sparring match.
With that, he secretly looked up at the eating Zhou Wanfeng.
He would eat a couple of bites, then look up again, open his mouth, and then close it. He would take a mouthful of rice and then couldn’t help but look again.
Zhou Wanfeng looked at Lu Qing. He had been sizing her up several times, as if he had something to say, but he wouldn’t say it. “What do you want to say?”
Lu Qing was choked. He thought to himself, Who is so direct? But since Zhou Wanfeng had asked, he was even more embarrassed to say it. He had wanted to ask her what was wrong with her a while ago, but how could he open his mouth?
His gaze shifted to the left and right.
Yun Jingya, Wang Feili, and Jiang Yi were also there, apart from Jiang Chen.
“Hey, guys, I’m here,” he had just been thinking of him, and he had come over with his tray from another table.
“What are you talking about?” Jiang Chen sat down. Seeing that everyone else was looking at Lu Qing, he also looked over with curiosity.
All he saw was Lu Qing looking at him sideways, his annoyance not at all hidden.
“Bro, have a piece of meat. Don’t look at me like that. I’m scared,” Jiang Chen said, quickly picking up a chicken leg and putting it on Lu Qing’s tray.
Jiang Yi, on the side, swallowed a mouthful of food. “Lu Qing, what do you want to say to Wanfeng? You’ve been looking at her.”
Lu Qing glared at Jiang Yi. The annoying Jiang brothers.
Wanfeng? He was still on “Qingkong.” Weren’t they just junior high school classmates? He didn’t even use her surname.
That’s not right. Why did he care so much? Lu Qing was startled and subconsciously shook his head vigorously, as if his brain had been damaged. He glared at Jiang Yi.
When had he been staring? He had only glanced at her a few times.
“Yes, what do you want to say to me?” Zhou Wanfeng could feel that Lu Qing had something to say to her. He had opened his mouth several times.
Now, even Yun Jingya and Wang Feili were looking at Lu Qing with curiosity.
Seeing that everyone was staring at him, especially when Wang Feili said jokingly, “Did you also find that Zhou Wanfeng is very different?” as if she were the only one who had discovered it, and was also hoping that someone else would be as discerning as her.
His mind was in a mess. Lu Qing looked up and happened to meet Zhou Wanfeng’s gaze. His heart suddenly pounded like a drum, as if those eyes could eat him. “Just… just that day you… you took my money. When… when are you going to pay it back?”
Lu Qing wanted to die. He lowered his head and ate fiercely.
Zhou Wanfeng was taken aback. She suddenly remembered.
Jiang Chen had the biggest reaction. He choked and coughed, a look of disbelief on his face. Lu Qing asking for money back? The sun had risen from the west.
He looked directly at Zhou Wanfeng and asked in surprise, “How much did you borrow from him? To make him so concerned?”
Zhou Wanfeng frowned and recalled, then looked at the eating Lu Qing. “How much did I take from you that day?” She couldn’t remember.
Lu Qing ignored everyone, stood up with his tray, and walked away in a huff, angry with himself.
Everyone watched him walk away, looking at each other.
“Why did he leave in a huff?”
“How much money was it?”
In the classroom of First Year, Class Six, Lu Qing was at his seat, his chin propped up on one hand, in a daze. The thought that he had actually asked Zhou Wanfeng for money in front of everyone,
he immediately slapped himself on the head in annoyance, lightly. If it were heavy, it would hurt.
Jiang Yi had to go to the competition teacher at noon now, so Zhou Wanfeng could only go back to the classroom, get the money, and find the classroom of First Year, Class Six.
Lu Qing felt that he had no face to see anyone and was lying on his desk in annoyance. Knock, knock, knock. The desk was knocked a few times. He hid his face even deeper. “Go away. Don’t bother me. I’m very annoyed right now.”
“Because I forgot to pay you back?” a cold voice rang in his ear.
Lu Qing suddenly looked up and saw Zhou Wanfeng standing next to him, the money in her hand in front of him. “I don’t remember how much. If it’s not enough, I’ll make it up to you.”
Zhou Wanfeng put down the money and went out through the back door of the classroom.
Lu Qing frowned, looking at the money on the desk, not knowing what to think. Suddenly, he grabbed the money and ran out. “Zhou Wanfeng!”
He caught up with her and stuffed the money back into Zhou Wanfeng’s pocket. He opened his mouth and held his breath, wanting to say that he didn’t want the money, but the moment he met Zhou Wanfeng’s face, all the words got stuck in his throat.
“I don’t want it. You can have it,” he said in a huff, and then ran back to the classroom. He now realized that something was wrong with him.
Why was he a little afraid of Zhou Wanfeng?
Without looking at her face, the moment he met her eyes, his heart would pound like a drum.
“What’s wrong with me?” Lu Qing touched his chest, which was kicking like a rabbit.
When Zhou Wanfeng was on vacation, she went to the Second People’s Hospital.
She was alone.
It had been more than a month since Zhou Zhiru had woken up. She had learned from Yun Jingya that he had regained consciousness and would even occasionally make a few sounds in response to others.
When you have money, you can enjoy the highest level of service, and it was the same in the hospital.
A private room, with a bedroom, a bathroom, a TV, a sofa, and everything. It looked like a small suite.
Zhou Zhiru was lying on the hospital bed. He seemed to be undergoing some kind of examination. His body was covered with electromagnetic patches connected to wires. His eyes were open, and he seemed to be looking at the ceiling. Only when he noticed someone come in did his eyes move slightly.
When he saw the person who had come, his eyes trembled.
Zhou Wanfeng pulled over a chair and sat in front of the hospital bed. She looked at Zhou Zhiru and smiled. “Good. You still recognize me.”
Zhou Zhiru’s head moved slightly. When he found that he couldn’t do anything, he lay still again. His lips moved for a long time. “Ooh, goong, see… ooh, yang, nee, jee, cheng.”
“You want to give me your company?”
Zhou Zhiru blinked, his eyelids drooping and then opening again. “Hoh.”
Zhou Wanfeng stared at him for more than ten seconds and sneered. “I thought you would have been killed in the crash. But you’re still scheming even in this state. What would I do with your company and your money? Yang Yijun is a red-eyed fighting cock. Do you want to see us fight over it?”
Zhou Zhiru’s eyes darkened.
Zhou Wanfeng reached into her pocket and took out a few yellowed receipts, and spread them out in front of Zhou Zhiru.
A few seconds later, he “ooh, ooh, ooh, eh, ooh.”
“The thing you’ve always wanted, I’ve got it. I heard that as long as the political review is passed, the personal file will be transferred to the army. At that time, even if a family member commits a crime and goes to jail, it won’t have anything to do with their children,” Zhou Wanfeng said, putting the receipts away again. “I’m planning to enlist as a volunteer soldier after I graduate from high school. I heard that the college entrance exam scores are very useful in the army.” She was still hesitating between going to university and enlisting.
“Yang Yijun is just a mother hen protecting her chicks. She has no fatal moves, but she has a lot of disgusting ones. She doesn’t want Yun Jingya to associate with me. She’s probably just enduring it. She said she would pay for my university tuition. I guess she’ll only endure it until I graduate from high school. I have many ways to make money. It’s just that I don’t put money first. Forget it. Let’s just graduate from high school first,” Zhou Wanfeng said, standing up. She looked down at Zhou Zhiru with a blank expression. “If you had acted like a father at all, you wouldn’t have ended up like this. Cold, selfish, and vicious. Unfortunately, I don’t want money, and I don’t expect fatherly love. You have nothing that I want, and I know very well what you want to do.”
Zhou Wanfeng walked to the door of the room, then suddenly turned around. “According to the information from the traffic police, you didn’t die because Yun Lan braked at the time, and she also sent you to the hospital for treatment in time. You and Yang Yijun both think she’s simple and naive. But in reality, this is what she wants. This way, she’ll never be able to leave you. The simpler a person is, the more terrifying they become when their thoughts are slightly twisted. There’s only a thin line between a genius and a madman.”