Chapter 11
After Christmas, a regional joint exam was held, and the entire high school department participated. For a while, students could be seen everywhere in Tianyin College, memorizing words in the morning, reading books while walking, and even discussing math problems while going to the toilet. All student club activities were stopped, and the student union also cancelled its weekly meeting. So, after Christmas, until the end of the joint exam, I didn't see Ling Hanfeng again.
After the joint entrance examination, it was the New Year’s Day holiday. The day before the holiday, Ling Hanfeng sent me a text message, asking me how I was going to plan my holiday. My reply was - "Go home."
However, after sending this text message, I unpacked my packed luggage and put the things inside back to their original places in the dormitory, with no intention of going home at all.
Because, before Ling Hanfeng sent me the text message, when I was about to go out with my luggage, I received a call.
A call from my mom.
"Junjun, don't come back during the New Year's Day."
The first sentence on the other end of the phone stunned me. My home is far from the college, and I rarely go back on weekends. I thought I could go back and spend three days with my mother during the New Year's Day, but I didn't expect this to happen.
"Mom, what's wrong?" I had a bad feeling in my heart, and I hurriedly asked, "Did something happen at home?"
The only response I got was a suffocating silence. I anxiously urged a few more times before I heard the voice from the other end again, weak and feeble, with a bit of sobbing.
"Junjun, that group of people is here again."
I felt as if I was hit in the chest by a heavy punch. I couldn't catch my breath and my mind went blank. I knew that the "group of people" my mother was talking about were debt collectors. Before my father was falsely imprisoned, he had served as a guarantor for someone. Not long after he was imprisoned, the debt collector ran away. The debt collector soon found my house aggressively and forced my mother to pay back the debtor who had run away. We were penniless, so how could we have extra money to repay the high debt? We could only hide from place to place and moved many times. Those days of fear and hiding will always be an indelible shadow in my heart. After several twists and turns , I finally settled down with great difficulty. I didn't expect that the peaceful life would be disturbed so soon.
I said that life is far more tragic than the most tragic drama you can imagine. Unexpectedly, the stories I told Lu Yuxiang were all true.
"They have been blocking our door for many days. I am hiding at your aunt's house now, trying to find a way to raise money. Junjun, don't worry too much. Mom will find a way to make them leave, but for your own safety, you must not come back before the storm subsides!"
After I hung up the phone with my mother, I immediately went into combat mode. I went to the bank and transferred all my savings to my mother, then I called all the bosses I had worked for part-time in the past, but unfortunately I didn't find any good part-time jobs.
In desperation, I could only contact Lu Yuxiang - he has a wide range of connections and a more flexible mindset. He was the first person to bring me the idea of making paper roses. After asking around, Lu Yuxiang really introduced me to a good business - reselling jewelry.
"I have an uncle I know who is currently processing jewelry. You can buy jewelry from him at cost price and then resell it to the next buyer. The difference in price is quite considerable, but it is more laborious and troublesome." Lu Yuxiang said, "But you can't buy too little, otherwise they won't ship the goods. If you want to do this business, you must prepare some initial capital, at least... around 10,000."
I gasped, "So many?"
"Yeah, if you want to make a lot of money quickly, this is the only way you can do it right now..." Lu Yuxiang paused, "Chi Junjun, did something happen to you? I've never seen you so eager to make money."
"...Oh, it's okay." I said perfunctorily, "Thank you, Lu Yuxiang."
The person on the other end seemed to want to say something, but I had already hung up the phone.
The initial capital of 10,000 yuan...
Where on earth am I going to get this ten thousand dollars?
After pondering all night, when the first ray of morning light broke, I finally came up with a solution.
——A method that I am very reluctant to implement, but at this point, it is the last straw...
With this method, I quickly obtained an initial capital of 10,000 yuan and successfully contacted suppliers.
I spent the three days of New Year's Day in the streets and alleys looking for sales. Although the process was not smooth, I was not discouraged. As long as I persisted, I believed that I would see results.
The New Year's Day holiday is over, students have returned to school one after another, various club activities have resumed, and the work of the Student Union has also returned to normal.
But on the day of the regular meeting, I did not go to the Student Union office. Instead, I sent a text message to Ling Hanfeng asking for two weeks of leave, saying that my academic performance had declined recently and I would go to a cram school outside the school after school to make up for the lessons.
I thought the other party would ask me a lot of questions, but they just said "Oh" and approved my leave.
The reaction is quite cold. Humph, you even said you wanted to date me.
Such a thought flashed through my mind, but this slight sense of loss was soon swallowed up by the idea of doing everything possible to make money.
All the love and affection are just passing clouds in my eyes now, worthless.
——At least that’s what I thought before I saw Ling Hanfeng again in the academy.
That was the day after I sent the text message.
During the morning break, I was walking towards the playground amidst the bustling crowd. Suddenly, I felt like someone was staring at me. When I turned around, I saw Ling Hanfeng standing on the grass by the roadside.
He had no expression on his face, just staring at me. I wanted to turn my head and pretend I didn't see him, but he had already waved to me.
Many people had already noticed Ling Hanfeng's appearance. He greeted me with such a clear purpose that immediately, all eyes around him turned to me.
I couldn't play dumb anymore, so I had to bite the bullet and squeeze through the crowd and walk up to him.
"Long time no see." He nodded at me and smiled.
I avoided his gaze and looked down at my toes. "Not that long, only about ten days."
The atmosphere was a bit cold. I didn't know what Ling Hanfeng's expression was, but when he spoke again, his tone was indeed a bit doubtful.
"You don't look well... did something happen?"
I shook my head quickly: "No."
"real?"
"Um."
Realizing that my behavior might be a little abnormal, I looked up and tried to force a smile.
"Thank you for your concern, but I'm really fine. I just didn't get enough rest last night and I'm a little tired."
Ling Hanfeng didn't say anything. He stared at me for a while and asked slowly, "...Are you bothered by what I said on Christmas Day?"
I froze for a moment.
"I thought..." He stopped midway through his speech.
It was the first time I saw a look of regret on this person’s face, and for a moment I even thought I was seeing things.
"…I was too abrupt and it bothered you. I'm not that sensitive. If you reject me, I can accept it calmly, so there's no need for you to hide from me like this."
I opened my eyes slightly, and after a while, I heard my own voice.
"Oh, no." I said, my voice dry , "I'm not hiding from you, really." I quickly turned my head to look in the direction of the playground and waved to him, "Our class is about to gather, let's go first, we'll talk later."
That can really be called "escape".
Even if I was stuck in the crowd for a long time, I could still feel that person's eyes locked on me.
He must have noticed something was wrong, but I didn't have the energy to hide it.
I thought I was free and easy enough, but after meeting him, I realized how guilty and cowardly I was in front of him.
I don't want to hide from you. But now I really don't dare to face you.
——Because I’m afraid.
Trembling with fear and treading on thin ice, it was the first time I prayed so devoutly to a god I had never believed in.
I hope that matter won't be exposed.
--Please do not.
More than a week passed in a flash, and I contacted my mother several times during this period.
My mother always tells me not to worry about money, but I simply cannot feel at ease.
Fortunately, the jewelry reselling business has finally picked up a bit, which is the only thing that can bring me some comfort these days.
On this day, after school, I returned to the dormitory, put away my schoolbag, and was about to go outside the school to contact sales merchants when I suddenly heard a voice coming from the side.
"Chi Junjun."
As I stared in astonishment, Ling Hanfeng walked out from behind the sycamore tree next to the dormitory building. Just like the last time we met, he still had no expression on his face and just looked at me. Although we were staring at each other calmly, I suddenly felt terrified.
"Hello...long time no see." I stammered.
"Where are you going?" he asked suddenly.
I brought up my previous excuse for asking for leave: "…to take extra classes outside of school."
Ling Hanfeng looked at me and narrowed his eyes: "Empty-handed?"
I was shocked, but I reacted quickly: "...Well, they will provide teaching materials and information. Speaking of which..." I quickly changed the subject, "Why are you here? Do you have something to talk to me about?"
"You missed the student council meeting."
"I've already asked for leave, and you approved it."
"I will approve it because there are no important events in the External Relations Department recently, so it doesn't matter if you are absent. But as the head of the External Relations Department, you should attend today's regular meeting."
My heart sank, but I remained calm on the surface.
"Oh?" I smiled casually, "Are there any new activities in the near future? Do you need my cooperation?"
Ling Hanfeng looked at me silently. His gaze had never been so sharp before, making me feel embarrassed and trembling.
After a long time, he finally spoke.
"There were some problems with the accounts of the External Relations Department."
His voice was so soft that it seemed like it could be blown away by a gust of wind, but when it reached my ears it sounded like thunder, and a cold voice rang out in my heart.
——Look, what is supposed to come has finally come.
I know there is no need to quibble anymore.
Ling Hanfeng would come to me, he must have figured out everything.
He would not do anything without confidence, especially since the nature of the matter was very serious.
I lowered my head and whispered, "...I'm just borrowing it temporarily. I'll be able to pay it back soon."
"This money" is the ten thousand yuan I used as initial capital.
The funds raised by the External Relations Department will be deposited into a public account. I am the director of the External Relations Department. This account was originally opened by me, and I know the account number and password by heart.
Originally, after the Christmas event ended, the bank card of this account had been taken away by the accountant of the Student Union. However, perhaps because it coincided with the joint entrance examination and New Year's Day, the accountant did not have time to change the password. He also did not know that I had opened online banking when opening the account. So when I had no way to raise money, I thought of secretly transferring 10,000 yuan from the card through the Internet, and then quietly returning the money after the funds were recovered.
"Borrowed temporarily?" Ling Hanfeng laughed in anger. "Can this be a reason for you to use the public account privately? Do you know how bad the nature of this matter is? Well, even if I believe you, but if others find out, can you completely clear yourself of the suspicion of 'embezzling public funds'? Once the school finds out, do you know how serious the consequences will be? Do you want to be expelled?"
Ling Hanfeng was already roaring when he spoke, which showed how angry he was.
I don't know how he discovered the problem with the account, but from the sound of his voice, he is the only one who knows about it.
"I didn't embezzle the money..." After a long while, I said with difficulty, "I will pay the money back in a few days."
"This is not about money!" Ling Hanfeng interrupted me, "Tell me, why do you want to do this? I need a reason."
I think my face must be very pale now, because Ling Hanfeng suddenly softened his voice, as if he realized that his previous performance was too intense.
"Because of lack of money?" he asked.
I nodded slowly and mechanically.
"How much is missing?"
I kept silent. What would it matter if I said anything? That was a number that a student could not afford.
"Don't think too much. If you really have any difficulties, you can just tell me and I will do my best to help you."
His voice was sincere, but it sounded particularly harsh to me.
If I wanted to get charity and beg for sympathy and help as a weak person, I would not have concealed my family situation when I enrolled in school, and I would not have tried every means to earn extra money to supplement my family income!
So, even though I knew in my heart that the other party had good intentions, my strong self-esteem still prevailed, and I blurted out the words in a stiff voice.
"No, I don't want to owe you a favor."
Ling Hanfeng was obviously stunned for a moment.
"You don't want to owe me a favor?" He stared at me as if he were looking at a stranger. "So... you would rather take the risk of embezzling public funds than let me help you?"
I was speechless, which was considered as my agreement.
There was a suffocating silence. Only the cold wind lingered between the two of us, as if the whole world had been silent at this moment.
"Ah."
The silence was broken by a soft laugh, like a sneer, or like self-mockery.
Ling Hanfeng's shoulders trembled slightly and he smiled silently. The evening sunlight flowed quietly from behind the treetops. In the backlight, I couldn't see his expression clearly.
"I thought we were already very familiar with each other." He seemed to be talking to me, but also seemed to be talking to himself, "It seems... I was just being too sentimental."
I have forgotten how we ended this unpleasant negotiation that evening.
I only remember that when that person turned and left, I seemed to hear the sound of something breaking. So clear, so crisp, like the ringing sound of a bell waking someone up from a dream.
There was no sadness, nor any exaggerated heartbreak. I just stood downstairs of the dormitory building, quietly watching the figure disappear in the afterglow of the sunset, as if melting into a falling dream.
Then I turned around and walked out of the school while thinking about how many sellers I would visit tonight.
It's really no big deal, that's just who I am. For money, I can do anything... Miss Gold Digger.
If I really have to say what I feel, it would probably be a little regretful, a little bit...regrettable.
——I was so regretful that my eyes became wet involuntarily.