Chapter 101: The Storm Gradually Subsides 1

  Hou Jingya looked at her cousin's warm smile and didn't say anything else. After all, he had always been like this. She walked into her own room to listen to some music and relax a bit, she felt that socializing was really tiring, so sometimes she also sympathized with her father and mother.

  Ji Feng stood far away, quietly thinking about some things from the past. Lu Zhenfei and Li Zhengyang would often tease him for having a sister complex, but it wasn't like that. They had only gotten to know each other after becoming upperclassmen, and they didn't know that he actually harbored feelings of guilt.

  This thing, if it's to be said, dates back to when they were six years old. He and his cousin were playing in the garden on a cold winter day. His cousin was making a fuss about playing hide-and-seek, saying she heard the little girl next door and a group of kids playing, but not letting her join in, saying she had an illness that might relapse at any time.

  He listened with some heartache, so he agreed to play hide-and-seek with his cousin. As long as he didn't go too fast, nothing would happen to her; their mothers had repeatedly warned them about this before. His cousin had congenital heart disease, so she was physically weak. Her mother never let her play with others, fearing that she might be bullied and affect her condition. He felt at ease playing with his cousin, but when he grabbed her from behind, she took a step back and accidentally fell into the swimming pool in the garden.

  At that time, I was so scared that I was stunned. It was Aunt Wu who happened to pass by and saw it, and rescued my cousin. After being rescued, my cousin didn't move at all, her lips were purple, and according to Aunt Wu, she was breathing very weakly, and had to be rushed to the hospital immediately. My aunt cried so hard that she almost fainted, and my mom picked up a feather duster and wanted to hit me. I didn't cry at all because I knew I had really done something very wrong.

  Later, the little aunt and uncle hastily sent their niece to the hospital. After a long time of emergency treatment, she finally came out, but in his memory, he only remembered that the red light was always on, and his heart was always hanging. Later, it snowed outside, and his cousin liked snow, saying she wanted him to accompany her to build a snowman and throw snowballs. But now, it's unknown whether there will be such an opportunity again. From then on, his favorite season became winter. At that time, he silently told himself that if his cousin woke up, he would take care of her for the rest of his life, but he didn't think that this would require him to repay with his whole life. Maybe this is fate.

  Later, the cousin was in danger for several days before she recovered, and it was all because of her own carelessness. The cousin's body became even weaker, and a minor cold would require hospitalization. When the cousin woke up, the first thing she did was look for him, and she told him that she didn't blame him. If this is really what the cousin wanted, he would definitely help her achieve her wish. He didn't dislike Nanshao, this girl, and even had a little crush on her, so be it.

  Although I'm walking on the campus path, there are still people talking about me, but after all, I'm not a celebrity, it's impossible for everyone to know me, let alone the third-year students who are busy preparing for the college entrance exam. Who has time to talk about this broken thing? It's just a laugh and then forget, in one ear and out the other.

  As long as they don't stare at me on the road, I'll pretend to be unaware of this matter and continue my usual three-point life of going to class, eating in the cafeteria, and returning home. As Ji Feng Yuan said, "The clear will be clear, and the turbid will be turbid." Since I'm not a renminbi (RMB), how can I make everyone like me? Thinking this way makes me feel much more relaxed, and my usual spirit has been restored.

  Last night at home, Dad and Mom had already heard from Lu Zhanfeng about the situation, so they were worried that I would think of something bad, and specially found me to talk.

  "Dad said to me with a serious and long tone: 'Baby, actually, if you don't think about the future, you'll have worries in the present. I've also heard about what happened at your school, don't take it too seriously. I know you never want Mom and me to worry, but if your cousin hadn't told us, we wouldn't have known. Don't worry, we'll definitely go to your school and ask your class teacher for an explanation. Our baby is only in the first year of junior high, how could she be a girl with a heavy heart and impure thoughts? Our baby is the kindest and most innocent. And what's so great about that Dai Junyi, just because he comes from a rich family, looks good, and has good grades? Our family isn't weak either! I'm still the general manager of the Grand Hotel, and Mom is now a partner at Niuliya, she'll be opening her own store soon. We'll make a big show of it then, see who dares to call our baby a wild girl, blinded by money. We won't stoop to the level of those little brats. Dad will back you up, so just relax.'"

  "Mom saw Dad say a lot, I'm still unmoved, pulled open the door and said: "Nan Zhenggang, get out of the way, you've said so much, but did you reason with my baby? You're simply not getting to the point. My dear daughter, tomorrow I'll let your dad go to school to make a scene, it's really like we're tigers who don't show our might, treating us like sick cats. Hearing what Zhang Feng that kid said, this thing has been spreading for almost half a month, what's going on? Your class teacher doesn't even give you an idea, my daughter's reputation is important! Your dad is always doing things slowly, not urgent at all, always saying I'm impatient, but can I not be anxious about my baby's affairs? I've already made arrangements with the store, Nan Zhenggang."

  Dad immediately struck a pose from his military days, standing at attention and saying: "Reporting for duty, sir. Please give your orders."

  Mom slapped Dad and said with a mix of anger and amusement: "What's going on? Since you call me the leader, listen to me. Call your secretary and postpone tomorrow's schedule. Tomorrow, come with me to No. 1 Middle School. We need to find that head teacher, what's his name, and have a good talk."

  I also cooperated and said seriously: "Report to the leader, that class teacher is called Sun Rui'an."

  "My mother said: 'No matter what Sun Rui'an is called, anyway, I don't want my daughter to suffer unjustly. Nan Zhenggang, did you hear that? You're not responding and your eyebrows are furrowed, do you have any opinion? Is our family's precious daughter's reputation not more important than your crappy job?'"

  Dad quickly comforted mom's emotions, smiling and saying: "Wife, how could that be? My earth, except for who else can turn around, but only you and our family treasure cannot be missing. And yet, except for me, everything is still operating normally. I was just thinking: the National Day holiday is coming soon, I think this matter will definitely fade away with the holiday, we'll go find the class teacher then, what can one person do to give us a good explanation? We should wait until after the National Day, if this matter hasn't passed, we'll go to school again. First, let's call the class teacher to reflect our opinions, that way we've given him enough time to solve it. When the time comes, we'll go to school and find the class teacher, or directly find the school leader if necessary. What do you think, wife?"

  As she spoke, Nan Zhenggang looked at his wife with a flattering expression. Lu Jieqiong had always been an impatient person and couldn't bear being bullied. Now that it involved her precious daughter, how could she tolerate Nan Zhenggang's words? She immediately retorted, "Nan Zhenggang, you only know how to speak nicely and pretend to be noble. Your daughter has been bullied to this extent, but you're still considering the class teacher's feelings. Why don't you consider your precious daughter's feelings for once? This kind of thing makes me, an adult, feel uncomfortable like sitting on pins and needles. How can you bear to let a teenager face such gossip? Don't you have any conscience?" As she spoke, Lu Jieqiong's eyes became red-rimmed.

  Nan Zheng said hastily: "Wife, don't worry about it, I'm doing everything for your sake, isn't that enough? I'm not worried about going to find the class teacher directly, if the class teacher can't save face, then what's the point of giving our baby shoes to wear in the future? What else do I have to worry about?" Lu Jieqiong finally stopped.

  I watched my parents argue like this, no matter what aspect it was from, it was all for me. I felt warm and fuzzy inside, other rumors and gossip were just fleeting clouds, let them drift away with the wind. Time is the best medicine after all. I coughed and said: "Dad, Mom, you don't have to go to school tomorrow, our class teacher talked to me a few days ago, he's worried that this incident will affect me, and reminded me that exams are coming up after National Day, and the number of students in our class will change again. He also promised to find out the root cause as soon as possible and give me justice, these things just take time. Besides, other people's mouths aren't something we can control, it's not like I'll lose a piece of flesh if they say a few words about me, only fools would get anxious with them, and in the end, it's us who get hurt. That's why I didn't tell you guys, just to avoid worrying about my cousin, but he ended up spilling the beans anyway. Mom, your concern makes me happy, if our class teacher really is that inefficient and can't solve this by after the National Day exams, then you and Dad should give him a little color to see, let him know we're not people to be trifled with. Mom, come give me a kiss, Dad, come give me a hug, I'm so happy...

  Dad and mom smiled and said: "We are happier with you."

  As it happens, apart from me being the heroine of this storm, those two male leads have yet to show their faces. At first, I was intimidated by the rumors that came pouring in, but now that I've calmed down, Cao Qiang and Dai Junyi don't seem like the kind of people who would sit idly by. How come they haven't taken any action until now? At the very least, shouldn't they be looking for me, the 'victim'? It's really unbecoming of them, and it's a waste that they're so handsome yet don't know how to cherish a woman.