Chapter 40.2
The week before final exams, Shen Sijin took a day off to rest at home because she was exhausted. Her “rest,” however, consisted only of grading papers at home.
Halfway through grading, a teacher called her.
“Little Shen, that student Xiao Sen from your class was just taken home by his father. His father hit the child once, and judging by the look of his father, it seems he’s going to drag him home to continue hitting him.”
“What?” Shen Sijin put down her pen.
“We couldn’t stop him. The boy didn’t resist and went back with him. Could you go to his house and check on him? It would be terrible if his father seriously injured him.”
“Okay, I’ll go take a look.”
“Alright, if the situation is serious and you can’t handle it, call me. I’ll call the police.”
Shen Sijin remembered the boy’s injuries. Were they caused by his father?
She quickly put on a jacket and opened the door.
Just then, Che Gulai was driving out. Seeing her urgency, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
Shen Sijin ignored her and continued walking forward.
Che Gulai blocked her path with her car. “I’ll drive you.”
Shen Sijin was about to refuse, but she remembered that taking the subway to the boy’s house from here would take an hour. Her area was relatively remote, making it difficult to get a taxi. By the time she arrived, Xiao Sen might be severely injured.
In desperation, she gritted her teeth, opened the car door, and sat in the back seat.
She gave Che Gulai an address.
Che Gulai didn’t hesitate and sped up.
Half an hour later, Shen Sijin quickly got out of the car and walked into an old, dilapidated apartment complex.
Che Gulai followed her.
The complex was very old. The stairwell was damp and dark, emitting an unpleasant odor.
Shen Sijin quickly walked up to the sixth floor, breathless. She knocked on the door.
The soundproofing was poor. Even with the door closed, they could hear muffled sounds of striking and cursing inside.
“Xiao Sen!”
The noise inside seemed to quiet for a second.
“Open the door. It’s me, Teacher Shen.”
After a few seconds, the door opened.
Xiao Sen’s bruised face appeared before her. His forehead was cut and bleeding profusely.
He whispered, “Teacher.”
“Your forehead.” Shen Sijin frowned. The next second, the man’s curses filled the air.
“Who’s the busybody!”
Xiao Sen’s face changed. A man climbed up from the floor. He also had several injuries, suggesting he had been fighting his son. His eyes were bloodshot from drunkenness. Seeing Shen Sijin, he spoke viciously. “Who’s this stinking woman!”
Che Gulai frowned, looking at the man with cold, menacing eyes.
Xiao Sen turned his head and said fiercely, “Shut up.”
The man scoffed. “The dog-son’s got a temper now, snapping at his old man for a stranger.”
He walked forward, clenching his fist, ready to hit Xiao Sen.
Shen Sijin quickly pulled the child behind her and dodged.
The man was too drunk. He stumbled forward and crashed to the floor.
He cursed loudly. “Stinking slut! Who the hell are you? I’m disciplining my son. What the hell’s it got to do with you!”
Shen Sijin said calmly, “I am his teacher.”
“Bullshit teacher!” The man used the table to get up, his face fierce. He grabbed a broken stick nearby and swung it straight at Shen Sijin.
Xiao Sen rushed out, trying to shield Shen Sijin. Che Gulai immediately grabbed an ashtray from the table and smashed it onto the man’s hand. The man cried out in pain and dropped the stick.
He was too drunk to stand steady. Che Gulai saw him staggering and kicked him to the ground.
The man fell onto the floor like a dead pig, groaning in pain.
Che Gulai looked at the man with utter indifference, then turned to Shen Sijin. “Let’s go.”
Shen Sijin nodded. “Xiao Sen, come with me.”
Shen Sijin wanted to take him to the hospital, but she disliked hospitals. They reminded her of her past, and as she neared the hospital, her breathing grew labored.
Che Gulai noticed, but said nothing. Before getting out of the car, she pressed Shen Sijin back onto the seat. “I’ll take him.”
Shen Sijin refused to stay, but Che Gulai became firm. “I’ll be back soon.”
“You.” Che Gulai looked at the young boy. “Come with me.”
The boy followed Che Gulai inside.
Twenty minutes later, Xiao Sen and Che Gulai emerged.
Since it was near dinner time, Shen Sijin took him to eat first.
“Teacher, I’m sorry.” The boy’s face was covered in injuries. Bandages were scattered over his handsome, youthful face, making him look pitiful.
“Why are you saying that?” Shen Sijin saw he wasn’t eating and helped him with some food.
Che Gulai sat on the side, arms crossed, watching the boy with cold eyes.
“Because I’m always causing you trouble.” The boy kept his head lowered.
“Don’t think that way. I am your teacher.”
“Thank you.” The boy raised his head, looking at Shen Sijin. “Teacher, you are the first person who has been kind to me. No one else has ever cared.”
Shen Sijin smiled. “Just study hard and repay me that way.”
She avoided asking about his relationship with his father, afraid of upsetting him. Che Gulai, however, didn’t care for such sensitivities. Thinking of what the boy’s father was about to do to Shen Sijin just now, she felt extremely annoyed.
“What’s the deal with your father?” Che Gulai asked directly.
Shen Sijin frowned in displeasure. “You…”
The boy spoke casually. “My dad likes to drink. When he drinks, he hits me. Then I hit him back.”
Che Gulai’s tone was cold. “And then every time you get hit, your Teacher Shen has to go check on you, and eventually, she might get hit too.”
“Che Gulai!” Shen Sijin raised her voice.
The boy’s eyes were cold. “I won’t let that happen.”
Che Gulai’s expression was detached. “That’s good to hear.”
Shen Sijin’s face was not looking well now.
After dinner, she told the boy not to go home for the time being and asked if he had somewhere to stay.
“I’ll stay at my friend’s house.”
“Good.” Shen Sijin said. “Contact me if you have any problems.”
“Mhm.” The boy suddenly asked, “Teacher, is the sister next to you your family?”
“No,” Shen Sijin’s expression was calm. “She’s my neighbor.”
Che Gulai’s already cold face became even colder.
Hah. Neighbor.
Their relationship wasn’t even considered friendship.
The boy walked away, then turned back and said seriously, ” Teacher Shen, thank you.”
After the boy left, Che Gulai said, “I’ll drive you back.”
“Weren’t your words too harsh for a child just now?” Shen Sijin didn’t move.
Che Gulai was silent for a moment, leaning against the nearby wall. “No, they weren’t.”
“Why do you care so much about people who have nothing to do with you?” Che Gulai didn’t understand. “What if that maniac’s stick had hit you just now? The boy is just your student, nothing more. There’s no need to go to such lengths to provoke a madman’s son out of misplaced kindness.”
“That’s enough.”
Che Gulai refused to stop, her voice cold. “You saw for yourself what kind of person his father is. If you go again, you won’t be so lucky to dodge him.”
“Can you please think about your own safety before indulging your compassion?” Che Gulai couldn’t tolerate any more signs of Shen Sijin being hurt in reality. She didn’t want any more accidents for Shen Sijin.
Even the slightest, most minuscule accident was unbearable to her.
“Che Gulai,” Shen Sijin stood on the street corner, looking at her. “Do you want to know why?”
“Because he is my former self.”
Che Gulai’s expression was startled. “What?”
Shen Sijin’s eyes held a faint, resigned look. “I was just like him before, often injured, yet no one ever cared about me.”
She looked up at the busy street, her voice distant. “I really wished someone would care more about me back then.”
Not indifference, not adding fuel to the fire, just someone to look at her wounds.
“I…” Che Gulai opened her mouth. “I never cared about you before, did I?”
Shen Sijin shook her head gently. “Never.”
“You were just like everyone else.”
Che Gulai’s previous assertiveness vanished. She was completely deflated, like a burst balloon.
She lowered her eyes. “Was I really terrible to you?”
“It doesn’t matter if it was good or bad,” Shen Sijin said. “To you, I was just the object of your hatred. How could you be kind to me? It’s perfectly normal.”
Shen Sijin didn’t want to talk about this anymore. “Thank you for driving me here today. I will pay you for the fare.”
“Why do you always insist on giving me money!” Che Gulai raised her voice, her cold composure breaking. “Is it because you don’t want to owe me?”
Shen Sijin looked at her, neither confirming nor denying.
“It was my pleasure!” Che Gulai ignored the people around them. “I was willing to do this! I don’t want compensation from you! Shen Sijin, why do you have to be like this!”
“You know my answer.”
“I don’t want to know!” Che Gulai pressed her thin lips together. “I don’t want to know ever again.”
“I’ll drive you back.” She tried to grab her hand, but Shen Sijin dodged her.
“I need to go to school for a bit.” Shen Sijin took a step back. “You go back first.”
“I’ll drive you.”
Shen Sijin didn’t want her to. She was about to speak when someone called her name.
“Xiao Jin!”
Bai Mingyu got out of a car and ran up to her, saying in disbelief, “Xiao Jin, is that really you?”
Shen Sijin stuttered, “Mingyu?”
Bai Mingyu was ecstatic. “Xiao Jin, oh my God, you didn’t die?”
“Bai Mingyu.” Che Gulai narrowed her eyes, realizing something. “You’ve been following me.”
Bai Mingyu sneered. “So what?”
No wonder Che Gulai felt like someone was following her recently.
Since Shen Sijin’s death, Bai Mingyu had been looking for ways to cause trouble for Che Gulai. She was only tolerated because she was Shen Sijin’s friend and Bai Yu’s sister.
Now she was tracking her.
Bai Mingyu grabbed Shen Sijin’s hand. “Xiao Jin, I’m taking you home.”
Che Gulai’s voice was cold. “Bai Mingyu, don’t interfere.”
“Who’s interfering?” Bai Mingyu scoffed. “You, a murderer, have the nerve to say that. How disgusting.”
Che Gulai’s exquisite face contorted slightly.
Bai Mingyu pulled Shen Sijin toward her car.
“Shen Sijin!” Che Gulai felt a sudden panic.
“Che Gulai, I’ll have Tan Yao give you the car fare. Thank you for driving me today. Goodbye.” Shen Sijin said this and got into Bai Mingyu’s car.
Che Gulai clenched her fists. This feeling of being abandoned was terrible. Her fingernails dug sharply into her palms.
She stared coldly at the departing car, her expression freezing over.
She felt incredibly wretched right now.
Che Gulai got into her own car and hit the steering wheel hard. She didn’t know what she was angry about.
Was she angry that Bai Mingyu had shown up and taken Shen Sijin away, or that Shen Sijin refused to listen to her?
She figured she was angry at herself.
Angry at her own stupidity.
Remembering Shen Sijin’s words that she had longed for someone to be kind to her, but she had let her down.
She truly had never cared for Shen Sijin.
She knew it was her fault. There was no defense. She was not a good person.
But…
Was there truly no chance left for redemption?
Che Gulai rested her head on the steering wheel, her head drooping weakly. Her dark hair was messy and disheveled.
She was unwilling to accept it, yet powerless.
She could only hit the steering wheel hard again.
As soon as they got into the car, Bai Mingyu hugged Shen Sijin.
“Xiao Jin…”
Shen Sijin was rigid in her embrace. She didn’t know how to face Bai Mingyu.
Bai Mingyu hugged her for a long time, then released her. “I won’t ask what happened in the past. I only have one question: Are you the Shen Sijin I know?”
Shen Sijin nodded.
Bai Mingyu smiled, tears rolling down her face. She hugged her again. “Xiao Jin, I don’t care how absurd things got in between. I’m just happy you’re alive.”
Shen Sijin raised her hand and patted her back.
Shen Sijin took her home and poured her water.
“How did you find this place?” Shen Sijin was curious.
“Someone anonymously sent me a handmade Garfield embroidery for my birthday last year,” Bai Mingyu said, drinking her water. “It was you, wasn’t it, Xiao Jin?”
Shen Sijin realized she couldn’t hide it. “It was me.”
After her transmigration, Shen Sijin had anonymously sent Bai Mingyu gifts every year, but she never revealed herself.
“You’re the only person who knows I like Garfield. I was curious, so I checked the surveillance to see who it was, but you were completely covered. I couldn’t see anything.”
Shen Sijin smiled.
“I always had a feeling it was you, for no reason, even though you were dead back then.” Bai Mingyu held the cup. “Then I noticed Che Gulai kept driving to this area. I heard she was looking for someone. After you died, I kept trying to cause trouble for her. I wanted to see who she was looking for so I could cause trouble for that person too.”
Shen Sijin let out a small laugh.
That was exactly the kind of thing Bai Mingyu would do.
“Then I saw you. At first, I couldn’t believe it. I thought I was mistaken, so I didn’t dare to approach you.”
Bai Mingyu smiled. “I’m so glad I wasn’t mistaken.”
Shen Sijin smiled too.
“But…” Bai Mingyu frowned. “Why is Che Gulai always looking for you and pestering you? She even lives next door. She’s a plague!”
Shen Sijin was silent. “I don’t know either.”
Bai Mingyu sneered. “Whatever her intentions, Xiao Jin, you absolutely cannot go soft on her again.”
“Che Gulai is an absolute scumbag. You finally have a new life. You absolutely cannot let her deceive you this time.”
“I know.”
A person couldn’t be fooled forever. Shen Sijin wouldn’t be either.
“Anyway, let’s not talk about that. I never thought you’d become a teacher, Xiao Jin.”
“What about you?”
“Me?” Bai Mingyu shrugged. “Just making occasional movies and documentaries. Let me tell you, I ran into someone in my industry.” Bai Mingyu gossiped excitedly. “Her partner is also a woman. They’re raising a child together. I’ll introduce you someday.”
Shen Sijin looked down and smiled softly. “Is that so?”
The two friends, reunited after a long separation, sat and talked for a very long time.
Bai Mingyu temporarily moved in here. Sometimes, she would go to school with Shen Sijin. Other times, she would constantly find fault with Che Gulai next door, using her close friendship with Shen Sijin to provoke her.
Che Gulai would give her cold stares.
Bai Mingyu found it incredibly satisfying.
Che Gulai was extremely annoyed these days. Shen Sijin had sent her a sum of money through Tan Yao—the car fare and the cost of caring for the dog.
The calculations were meticulously clear.
Che Gulai looked at the money, wanting to tear the bills up.
Tan Yao saw her intention and quietly hid the money.
And then there was Bai Mingyu, constantly provoking her. Yet, Che Gulai couldn’t say anything because she was afraid of upsetting Shen Sijin.
Che Gulai, who was notorious for her vengeance, had never endured such humiliation.
Her face was cold when she went to work these days. Her subordinates didn’t dare to speak. Xiao Xu quietly pondered which day would be lucky for her to resign.
When the boss’s love life goes badly, the only ones who suffer are the employees.
Xiao Xu didn’t understand. Why was the boss so obsessed with someone who just happened to look like the deceased Shen Sijin?
She’s not even the real Shen Sijin.
Xiao Xu thought the current Shen Sijin just coincidentally looked like the dead woman in the CEO’s heart.
She couldn’t help but sigh. The CEO was never this caring when Shen Sijin was alive, but now that she was dead, she had gone mad.
Xiao Xu didn’t dare to speak her thoughts out loud.
Che Gulai was working at home today. Xiao Xu was helping her process documents nearby.
It suddenly became lively outside. Xiao Xu was curious and vaguely heard Shen Sijin’s voice.
Xiao Xu quickly said, “Ms. Che, can I go out and see?”
Che Gulai: “Mhm.”
Xiao Xu went to the balcony.
Shen Sijin had made a lot of desserts. Bai Mingyu couldn’t eat all of them alone, so she was giving some to the neighbor’s children.
Shen Sijin’s desserts were delicious. The children loved them and thanked both Shen Sijin and Bai Mingyu enthusiastically.
Some parents, in return, brought their own homemade snacks for them.
Bai Mingyu saw Xiao Xu and deliberately raised her voice. “Xiao Xu, my Xiao Jin made some desserts. Want me to bring you some?”
Xiao Xu quickly waved her hands. “No, no need.”
She returned to the room and saw Che Gulai’s face was practically frozen solid.
Shen Sijin’s desserts used to be made only for her.
Now, everyone except her could eat them.
The tables had turned. A million insects seemed to be gnawing at Che Gulai’s heart. The nameless fire was consuming her.
Her heart rate was irregular.
Xiao Xu shivered, wanting to stay as far away from the CEO as possible.
“Why didn’t you want her dessert?” Che Gulai suddenly asked her coldly.
“What?”
“Do you think her desserts taste bad?” Che Gulai’s face was extremely dark. A torrent of anger was bottled up inside her. If she didn’t let it out, she might spontaneously combust.
“They’re delicious…” Xiao Xu said weakly.
I haven’t even tasted them, damn it.
Xiao Xu roared internally.
The CEO was terrifying.
Bai Mingyu looked at Che Gulai’s balcony, feeling incredibly smug.
“What are you laughing at?” Shen Sijin asked her after handing out the last dessert.
Bai Mingyu blinked.
“I’m laughing at someone who can’t get what they want and can only secretly sulk at home.”
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