Chapter 41

A few days before the final exams, Shen Sijin got busy.

After the final exams concluded, Shen Sijin and the students could finally take a break.

“Don’t run around recklessly during the holiday, and remember to finish your homework,” Shen Sijin reminded the class about the vacation details.

The students were so excited that their chatter drowned out Shen Sijin’s words.

It took the class president asking everyone to quiet down for the noise level to drop slightly.

Shen Sijin understood their mood and couldn’t help but smile. “In summary, please ensure your safety and complete your homework on time.”

“Especially you, Lin Ziyan and your group. Don’t let me see a single page untouched.”

Lin Ziyan cheekily accepted the warning. “Got it, Teacher Shen.”

“Alright, class dismissed.”

As soon as the words were out, the students in the class said in unison, “Goodbye, Teacher Shen,” and then bolted out the door.

Shen Sijin still had some matters to attend to at school. After she was officially on vacation, a few young teachers suggested going out to sing and relax.

“Little Shen, come with us,” a young female teacher put her arm around her.

“Ah, I…” Shen Sijin was still unaccustomed to gatherings like this.

“It’s fine, Little Shen. Just come out and have some fun.” A young male teacher adjusted his glasses. He knew Shen Sijin was a bit introverted and disliked meeting people. “If you’re afraid to go alone, you can bring a friend.”

Someone else agreed, “Yeah, Little Shen, come play with us. It won’t be complete without you.”

The teachers all liked Shen Sijin. Her personality was gentle like a lamb, she was attractive, and seemingly guileless. Being the youngest, most people were quite protective of her.

Since they all said so, it would be rude for Shen Sijin to refuse again.

“Alright,” Shen Sijin smiled. “I’ll go.”

“That’s the spirit,” the female teacher pinched her cheek and said with a laugh.

That afternoon, Bai Mingyu returned. She had been staying at Shen Sijin’s place for the past few days. Shen Sijin was happy to have her. Bai Mingyu hadn’t asked what happened to her over the years, nor why she had transmigrated again. She didn’t ask anything, and the two interacted like normal good friends.

Shen Sijin told Bai Mingyu about the outing. Bai Mingyu responded with a casual shrug, “Go ahead. I’ll go with you.”

“Won’t it be awkward for you to go alone?” Shen Sijin asked worriedly.

“Don’t worry about me.” Bai Mingyu handed her a bag of cherry tomatoes she had brought back. “I can talk to anyone, anywhere.”

“That’s good then.”

In the evening, Bai Mingyu drove Shen Sijin to the designated entertainment venue. The two entered the private room.

“You’re late, Little Shen,” someone said.

“Traffic jam,” Shen Sijin smiled apologetically. She gestured to Bai Mingyu. “This is my friend, Bai Mingyu.”

“Hello, everyone.” Bai Mingyu greeted them easily, as if they were old friends.

Everyone in the room enthusiastically greeted her.

The two sat down. Bai Mingyu was outgoing and quickly blended in with the group.

Shen Sijin smiled faintly, watching them talk and laugh.

Everyone in the room, except Shen Sijin, could drink. They were all in their twenties. Having shed their usual serious teacher roles, they were letting loose, drinking one cup after another.

Shen Sijin could only drink fruit tea.

Halfway through the evening, Bai Mingyu pulled Shen Sijin out to the restroom.

“The teachers at your school can really hold their liquor, huh?” Bai Mingyu commented, laughing, as she washed her hands at the sink.

Shen Sijin smiled. “You can drink quite a bit yourself.”

“It’s from years of practice,” Bai Mingyu put her arm around her and walked out. “I drink all the time to secure investments for my films.”

“Don’t drink too much,” Shen Sijin warned worriedly.

“I know.”

As the two walked out, they ran into someone.

Shen Sijin lowered her head, instinctively saying, “Excuse me…”

“Che Gulai?”

Bai Mingyu frowned, looking at the woman in front of her. She said irritably, “What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you followed us.”

Che Gulai ignored her. Her eyes were fixed entirely on Shen Sijin.

Shen Sijin’s eyes were calm, but she still avoided looking at Che Gulai.

Bai Mingyu pulled Shen Sijin’s hand and walked past Che Gulai. “Let’s go, Xiao Jin.”

Che Gulai turned around, watching Shen Sijin’s back.

She was here today for a celebratory dinner for her employees. She hadn’t expected to run into Shen Sijin.

“Seriously bad luck. Running into her even here,” Bai Mingyu muttered under her breath.

Shen Sijin didn’t say anything.

The two returned to the private room. The teachers inside were already drunk and stumbling around.

A male teacher saw Shen Sijin enter and slurred, “Little Shen, where have you been? You haven’t had a single drink. Come on, drink.”

The male teacher was completely drunk and acting foolishly. Shen Sijin quickly refused. “No, no, I can’t drink.”

“Just one glass.”

Bai Mingyu interjected. “Hey ​stolen content​buddy, my friend really can’t drink. I’ll drink for her.”

“No way, drinking with you is boring…” The male teacher was tipsy. “Little Shen hasn’t had a single drink. That’s not right.”

Shen Sijin had a headache.

This male teacher was a good person when sober, but when drunk, he became a nuisance.

The male teacher moved to put the glass to Shen Sijin’s lips. Before Bai Mingyu could intervene, the door to the room was pushed open.

Che Gulai stood in the doorway and said coldly, “I’ll drink it for her.”

Che Gulai had only intended to see which room Shen Sijin was in. She happened to overhear their conversation through the door. Remembering Shen Sijin’s delicate stomach, she pushed the door open without a second thought.

Everyone in the room looked toward Che Gulai.

“Who is that?” someone mumbled drunkenly.

Bai Mingyu narrowed her eyes and whispered, “The persistent ghost.”

Shen Sijin sighed, wondering why she ran into Che Gulai everywhere.

She had clearly told her to have no contact with her, yet here she was again, [Read on BaiLianTales]showing off in front of her.

She suspected Che Gulai hadn’t listened to a word she said.

Shen Sijin felt both helpless and annoyed.

Che Gulai constantly pushing herself into her sight only brought back painful memories. No genuine warmth remained.

What was this like?

It was like a piece of rotten pastry that she didn’t want, but someone was forcefully trying to give it to her, insisting that she loved it.

But that affection was a thing of the past. All that was left now was repulsion.

The male teacher was too drunk to open his eyes. “Where are you from?”

Che Gulai didn’t speak. She walked over, took the glass the male teacher was offering Shen Sijin, and drank it in one gulp.

The male teacher saw someone else drink on Shen Sijin’s behalf and didn’t care. He continued to pour drinks for Che Gulai.

Che Gulai drank it all.

The male teacher quickly passed out and collapsed on the table. Only the three of them in the room were still sober.

“Shen Sijin.” Che Gulai looked at her. “I have something to give you.”

“Hold on.” Bai Mingyu looked at Che Gulai with ill intent. “Sister Gulai, let’s have a drink. We’ve known each other for so long, but we’ve never drunk together.”

Shen Sijin tugged on Bai Mingyu’s sleeve. “Mingyu.”

“Do you want me to drink with her?” Che Gulai suddenly asked Shen Sijin.

Shen Sijin was confused as to why the subject was directed at her. Before she could speak, Bai Mingyu answered for her. “Why are you asking her? I’m asking you.”

Bai Mingyu hinted, “Can’t Sister Gulai drink? I remember you used to take Xiao Jin out drinking.”

Che Gulai knew Bai Mingyu was referring to the time she deliberately took Shen Sijin drinking, causing her to have a severe stomach issue.

“Fine,” Che Gulai sat down. “I’ll drink with you.”

Bai Mingyu ordered several bottles of strong liquor and poured Che Gulai a full glass. “Drink up.”

This was high-proof liquor, not ordinary beer. A few bottles would probably kill someone.

Shen Sijin felt they didn’t need to take [bailiantales.com]it so far. Bai Mingyu quietly squeezed her hand, signaling that she was fine.

Che Gulai glanced at Shen Sijin and drank without blinking.

Bai Mingyu continued to pour for her. Che Gulai just drank silently.

Bai Mingyu’s tolerance for alcohol was astonishing. After drinking so much, she was only slightly flushed. Che Gulai’s tolerance was decent, but she couldn’t handle strong liquor. After a few glasses, her stomach began to burn.

Clutching her abdomen, a dizzy thought struck her: Did Shen Sijin feel this terrible back then? How did she endure one glass after another, despite the stomach pain, eventually leading to hospitalization? And Che Gulai hadn’t even cared about her.

Just thinking about it filled Che Gulai with endless regret.

The pain she had inflicted on Shen Sijin in the past was slowly descending upon her now. Che Gulai didn’t resent it. She knew she deserved all of it.

Shen Sijin didn’t want any trouble. She gently restrained Bai Mingyu’s hand as she tried to pour another drink. “That’s enough, Mingyu.”

“Not yet.” Bai Mingyu was slightly dizzy herself. “Sister Gulai, can you keep drinking?”

Che Gulai’s face was cold. She silently drank the liquor in front of her. Bai Mingyu scoffed and continued to pour.

She was doing it on purpose.

She wanted Che Gulai to experience the discomfort she had caused Shen Sijin.

Che Gulai clearly understood her intention, yet willingly accepted it.

She kept drinking glass after glass. Her cheeks grew paler, and her eyes slowly became vacant, but she didn’t stop.

She seemed to be engaging in self-torture, frantically enduring the discomfort, as if it were a form of self-punishment.

Shen Sijin watched her, her gaze distant and sad.

She belatedly realized what Che Gulai was doing. She was trying to personally experience everything she had put Shen Sijin through in the past.

Shen Sijin desperately wanted to ask Che Gulai, What’s the point?

Punishing herself by damaging her body would only make Shen Sijin feel guilty. It wouldn’t achieve anything else.

She didn’t want anyone to be harmed because of her. She truly couldn’t bear that burden anymore.

By the end of the night, some teachers had left. Only the three of them remained in the private room.

“That’s enough, Che Gulai,” Shen Sijin said to the paper-white Che Gulai. “Go home.”

Che Gulai was in too much stomach pain to stand up and couldn’t even speak.

Bai Mingyu was also drunk, but not as severely as Che Gulai. She was just dizzy and felt nauseous.

She shot up and rushed to the restroom to vomit.

Shen Sijin looked calmly at Che Gulai. “Che Gulai, go home.”

Che Gulai was completely drunk. Her head was dizzy, making her want to just pass out, but the terrible stomach pain wouldn’t let her lose consciousness.

“Shen Sijin…” Che Gulai felt like her insides were on fire. Her voice was terribly hoarse. “Five years ago… I’m sorry.”

Shen Sijin sat on the sofa, saying nothing.

“I was wrong…” Che Gulai shook her head, trying to stay lucid. “I shouldn’t have maliciously taken you drinking.”

“Che Gulai, I don’t want to hear it.” Shen Sijin tried to stand up, but Che Gulai collapsed in pain, reaching out and grabbing the hem of her clothes. “Wait…”

Shen Sijin looked down at her.

Che Gulai tremblingly pulled something out of her pocket. Because she was too drunk, her vision was blurry. She struggled to open her eyes and handed the object to Shen Sijin.

“This is your… watch you left at my house last time.”

Che Gulai gave her the watch.

Shen Sijin habitually took off her watch while eating. Last time, when she went to Tan Yao’s house for a home visit, she unconsciously took off her watch during dinner, but forgot to pick it up because she left in a hurry.

The watch wasn’t important to her. She had already bought a new one.

She took a step back. Che Gulai’s hand fell to the floor. Shen Sijin sighed. “I already bought a new one. You can throw it away.”

Just then, Bai Mingyu finished vomiting and stumbled out, collapsing onto Shen Sijin. “That strong liquor is really high-proof. I’m so dizzy right now.”

“I’ll take you home then.” Shen Sijin supported her, glancing at Che Gulai, who was lying on the floor.

Her long, dark hair was spread on the floor, messy and covering her pale cheeks. Her eyebrows were tightly furrowed. She clutched her stomach and curled into a ball.

Her phone next to her rang. It was Xiao Xu.

Shen Sijin answered it for her and told Xiao Xu that Che Gulai was here.

After doing all that, Shen Sijin considered her involvement over.

She supported Bai Mingyu and slowly walked out of the room.

Che Gulai seemed to know she was leaving and tried to stop her, especially since she hadn’t given Shen Sijin the watch yet.

But she had no strength. Her body was weak, and her stomach felt like it was on fire.

Through her blurry vision, she watched Shen Sijin’s slender figure carefully supporting someone else, slowly walking out, just like in her dreams, receding into the distance.

Shen Sijin walked away with finality, completely forgetting that there was still someone else in the room.

It was as if Che Gulai had never existed.

“I’m sorry, Shen Sijin.”

Che Gulai lay on the floor, her voice extremely faint.

Faint like the winter wind, unnoticed by anyone.