A Stand-in Alpha Awakens - Chapter 18

The third-period bell rang, and the noisy corridor was instantly silenced as if someone had pressed a mute button.

Standing in the sunlight, Song Wushuang turned her body stiffly. She followed the tail end of the bell’s ring through the long gallery, past the classrooms, and turned toward the restroom located a short distance behind the building.

The girls’ restroom, which had been crowded just minutes ago, was now empty and so quiet that a dropped needle could be heard.

Song Wushuang stood before the faucet closest to the entrance, absentmindedly scrubbing her sweaty hands. Her nail accidentally grazed the back of her hand, leaving a white scratch. As if she couldn’t feel it, she kept her head down, cupping water to wash her face.

The cold tap water splashed against her skin—scalding from the sun or perhaps some other irritation. The sharp temperature difference made her reflexively flinch and brought her back to her senses.

The communal paper towel dispenser on the wall was empty. Song Wushuang turned her head with a frown, saw that the dispenser on the other side was also empty, and her furrowed features finally contorted into an expression of rage.

With a loud smack, she slapped the plastic box to vent her frustration.

The transparent plastic couldn’t withstand her fury and cracked with a long, thin fissure. The disgust in Song Wushuang’s eyes deepened. She pulled her hand back irritably, but seeing dust on her palm only made her more annoyed.

The dust marks were obvious; there was no way out but to wash again. But with no paper towels available and unable to bring herself to wipe her hands on her school uniform, she could only shake her hands resentfully and use her wet fingers to wipe the water droplets from her lower cheeks.

The water she couldn’t wipe away trickled down the tip of her chin and fell onto her uniform, leaving shallow damp marks.

Song Wushuang’s gaze fell on the wet patch of fabric, and the hands held at her sides tightened inch by inch. Jiang Lu’s expression while checking the necklace flashed through her mind—so serious, meticulous, cold, and heartless…

Now that the necklace was returned, the only connection between her and Jiang Lu was that sum of money.

But why! She had only entertained a thought that perhaps wasn’t great!

Song Wushuang bit her lower lip, suddenly looking up to glare at herself in the mirror. What she saw in her mind’s eye, however, was Liang Shuang following Jiang Lu around with such a smug look.

“Liang Shuang!”

In the easternmost classroom on the fifth floor of the Xiuyuan Building, the history teacher braced both hands on the podium and said, “You’ve memorized the key points I marked last class, right? You start, Liang Shuang. Once you’re done, the student behind you will continue.”

“…” Liang Shuang blinked, closed the textbook she had just opened, and stood up.

Jiang Lu had accidentally locked eyes with the history teacher just now; she thought she would be the one picked to start. Seeing it was Liang Shuang, she pursed her lips to suppress a sense of unmerited relief and kept her head down in her book.

After class, Liang Shuang let out a long sigh and slumped onto the desk, full of grievance. “My luck has been terrible these past two days. Why do all the teachers like to pick on me? Especially history.”

“Jiang Lu, you have no idea. I spent so much time memorizing those points that I dreamed I traveled back to ancient times last night.”

Jiang Lu laughed. “Which dynasty?”

Liang Shuang said expressionlessly, “Every dynasty. A ‘Quick Transmigration.’ No, it was more like a ‘Flash Transmigration’—flashing in and out of different eras. It was exhausting.”

Jiang Lu patted her shoulder sympathetically. “You poor thing.”

“I think so too.” Liang Shuang buried her face in her arms, unwilling to face reality.

Jiang Lu reached into her desk and fished out an orange candy to hand to her. “Want one?”

Liang Shuang peeked through the gaps in her fingers. Seeing the item in the transparent wrapper, she propped herself up and said, “I’ll take it. But seriously, I’m still not hungry yet.”

Jiang Lu was surprised. “You’re skipping lunch?”

“No way, I didn’t say that.” Liang Shuang tore open the wrapper and popped the candy into her mouth. The rich orange flavor exploded, the sweet and sour taste stimulating her taste buds and barely waking her depressed spirit.

As the hard candy shattered between her teeth, Jiang Lu patted Liang Shuang. “Restroom?”

“Let’s go.” Liang Shuang checked the time, pulled out the textbook for the next period to set it ready, and left the classroom.

By the end of the last morning period, Liang Shuang’s stomach finally felt the sensation of hunger. Walking to the cafeteria, Jiang Lu stared at her midsection and asked, “What are we eating?”

Liang Shuang crossed her arms under her chest and stared expressionlessly toward the cafeteria. “Don’t look at my stomach like that. It really is empty now.”

“I wasn’t doubting it,” Jiang Lu said. “I just simply wanted to ask what you’re eating.”

Liang Shuang replied, “Pork hock rice with cold-dressed cucumber.”

“That hungry?” Jiang Lu was surprised. Because the portions for pork hock rice were so large, Liang Shuang rarely bought it unless she was starving.

“Exactly.” Liang Shuang nodded.

Jiang Lu gave a thumbs-up and split off from Liang Shuang once they entered the cafeteria. “I’m going to get the chicken-wing stuffed rice.”

After another night and half a day, Su Mengrui finally couldn’t take the hunger anymore.

Seeing her daughter go without food or water for so long, Su Ying was frantic with worry. Coming downstairs and seeing Bai Yue, the Old Matron, and the others sitting at the dining table waiting for the meal made her seethe with anger.

She turned back to the study door upstairs, patting it with concern. “Ruirui? Are you hungry? Is there anything you want to eat? Mommy can bring it in for you, okay?”

The injury at the corner of Su Mengrui’s mouth hadn’t disappeared. she was worrying about how to call for someone without being discovered when she heard Su Ying’s voice. She lunged to the door in delight. “Mom? Mom, have them make something light and leave it at the door for me!”

“Something light?” Su Ying was confused. “The kitchen made your favorite Sichuan Pepper Chicken today. How about I—”

Before she could finish, Su Mengrui interrupted, “No, no, just give me something light, Mom. I don’t want to eat anything spicy right now!”

“Okay, okay, wait there. I’ll have someone bring it up immediately!” Su Ying responded from outside.

Su Mengrui leaned against the door panel and let out a slow breath. When Jiang Lu’s fist had hit her face that night, her teeth had cut into her cheek. She didn’t notice it when she wasn’t eating, but now that her appetite was back, even just talking made her mouth hurt. Eating spicy food in this condition would be pure self-torture.

The staff worked quickly, and within minutes, a light, stomach-soothing lunch was brought up. Su Ying, unable to set her mind at ease, wanted to wait by the door to see her daughter, but for some reason, Su Mengrui stubbornly refused to see her.

This made Su Ying feel incredibly bitter, and her voice carried a sob as she spoke: “Ruirui, are you blaming Mommy for not speaking up for you in front of your grandmother? Are you mad that I’m just watching you be locked up?”

Su Mengrui was irritable from hunger. Hearing Su Ying refuse to leave, she leaned against the door to persuade her helplessly: “No, I never thought that, really. Don’t overthink it. Just go eat, okay?”

How could Su Ying believe that? Let alone a spoiled girl like Mengrui—if Su Ying herself were locked up this long, she’d be fuming.

“Fine, I’ll go eat. After lunch, I’ll go find your grandmother. Don’t worry, Mommy will definitely do her best to get you out early.” Su Ying let out a long sigh and called for the maid to go downstairs with her.

“Hey—” Su Mengrui wanted to say there was no need, but then she remembered that school was starting soon and she really should get out early, so she stopped herself and leaned against the door, listening to the footsteps fade away.

Once she was sure everyone was gone, she turned the lock, pulled the door open a crack, and dragged the tray inside.

However, what neither mother nor daughter expected was that Su Ying’s “best efforts” wouldn’t pay off until the following evening, when the Old Matron finally relented and lifted Su Mengrui’s grounding.

In the brightly lit living room, the Old Matron’s fair but wrinkled face was set in a displeased frown. “It’s understandable for young people to love to play. I’m not an unreasonable old woman. But what kind of behavior is it to have no rules at all? You’re her mother—no matter how well you preserve yourself or how young you look, you’re turning forty this year. Try to act like a mother, will you!”

Su Ying kept her head down and listened, not daring to look up or talk back, though she was utterly unconvinced and full of resentment. She couldn’t accept her mother scolding her in front of the younger generation, yet she lacked the courage to resist.

Sitting nearby, Bai Yue was unfazed. Seeing Su Ying’s face turn red, she casually pulled out her phone to check her messages.

Against a vibrant chat background, a message stood out: When are you coming home?

She thought for a moment and typed: Tonight if it’s quick, tomorrow morning if it’s slow. Go to sleep first, don’t wait for me.

The reply was instant: Okay.

Followed by: Goodnight, baby.

Bai Yue exited the chat and saw the time displayed at the top: 21:15.

Two minutes ago, after evening self-study, Jiang Lu and Liang Shuang had proactively slowed down to the end of the line. After leaving the teaching building, they wound through the small path beside the supermarket and finally hid under the cover of night by the school wall.

Now, the two were whispering about what Liang Shuang should buy after she climbed out. Jiang Lu wasn’t a picky eater. Knowing this was Liang Shuang’s first time violating a school rule like this, she whispered understandingly, “Just buy whatever is convenient, I’m fine with anything.”

“Alright, I’ll just buy based on what I want to eat then.” Liang Shuang pulled out a small pack of wet wipes and stuffed them into Jiang Lu’s hand. “After I go out, help me wipe away my footprints.”

Jiang Lu chuckled. “No problem.”

“I’m going then.”

“Need a hand?”

“No.” Liang Shuang waved her off. She took a short run-up, stepped against the wall to scramble to the top, and surveyed the surroundings. Confirming no one was there, she gave Jiang Lu a quick signal and jumped down, running toward the nearby snack stalls.

Jiang Lu stood inside the wall, tilting her head for a long time until she barely found a faint footprint. Cooperatively, she pulled out a wet wipe and gave the spot a vigorous scrub.

Liang Shuang was efficient. Just as Jiang Lu finished wiping the footprints and was swatting away mosquitoes, the agreed-upon signal sounded from the other side of the wall.

Jiang Lu looked up in surprise, wondering why she was back so fast.

Liang Shuang scrambled back over the wall and landed lightly. Standing before her, she said, “I worked it out with the boss. She’ll send the food over once it’s ready.”

“Huh?”

Liang Shuang: “Yeah, right at this spot. They have tools—ladders and hooks. We just wait here.”

Jiang Lu marveled, “Good idea!”

Liang Shuang said honestly, “It wasn’t my idea. The boss suggested it herself. I just paid a five-yuan delivery fee.”

Jiang Lu blinked. “That boss is sharp!”

Liang Shuang laughed. “Right? I thought so too. Let’s eat here before heading back to the dorm.”

“Okay.” Jiang Lu had no objections. They had discussed this before; Chen Xueyao was the discipline monitor, and this wall-climbing business couldn’t be brought to her attention no matter what, so they didn’t plan to include their other roommates for now.

The snack stall boss was even better at business than expected, arriving faster than promised. After Jiang Lu caught the steaming late-night snack under the wall, she gave a delighted thumbs-up.

The boss was quite smug. “Only my place offers this delivery service right now. Remember to message me on WeChat next time you want to eat!”

Liang Shuang responded, “Will do!”

At a stone bench not far from the dorms, Jiang Lu and Liang Shuang lowered their heads to dig into their food by the dim light. Both ate quickly, and the small bowls were empty in a blink.

Jiang Lu was drinking the juice the boss had given for free when she glimpsed a black shadow in her peripheral vision. She hurriedly pulled Liang Shuang down to crouch below the stone bench. “Hey, there’s a teacher on duty.”

Liang Shuang looked back in confusion. After scanning the area and finding no light, she patted Jiang Lu’s hand away. “No way. The teachers on duty all carry high-powered flashlights. Look, where is anyone?”

“Nobody?” Jiang Lu craned her neck to look back. Sure enough, she found nothing.

But she had clearly seen something just now.