Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Shengpei’s dorms were double rooms with luxurious amenities.

Two large beds sat side by side, separated by a white nightstand.

Compared to an ordinary high school dorm where eight students shared one room, the conditions were far superior.

And yet, at that moment, I was frowning at my own bed.

The blanket I had folded neatly before leaving that morning had been yanked apart. My pillow and bedding were soaked, dripping water onto the floor.

The clothes that had been hanging in my wardrobe had been thrown haphazardly across the ground.

Several footprints, each with a different tread pattern, were clearly stamped across my printed nightgown.

The locked drawer in my desk had been smashed open. The bronze bell I had carefully stored inside had been tossed onto the floor and had rolled through the dust.

My open notebook was covered in filthy words like “slut,” “drop dead,” and “cockroach.”

I crouched down, picked up the bronze bell, and wiped it clean.

Then I took a clean length of red cord from my schoolbag and tied it around my ankle again.

My roommate stood trembling, then handed me a white nightgown.

“Chen Wan, you… you can wear this for now.”

Her eyes darted away. Her voice shook, and she was too guilty to look at me.

I paused, then reached out and took the nightgown from her.

Qi Shan had dirtied my clothes at noon. Whatever my roommate’s motives were, I did need something clean to wear right now.

I changed into the nightgown in the bathroom.

It was pure white, with a smooth, draping fabric. I flipped through the tag.

It was designer.

I walked out of the bathroom.

My roommate’s face was pale as she stammered, “Chen Wan, the dorm supervisor needs to see you. She wants you to go downstairs and find her.”

I gave her a long, deep look.

She shrank her neck back, lowered her head awkwardly, and twisted her fingers together without saying another word.

With practiced ease, I braided my loose hair into two plaits and let them fall over my chest.

Then, calm and unhurried, I opened my schoolbag and took a thin silver bracelet from the inner compartment, winding it carefully around my wrist.

My roommate kept glancing toward the door. Her voice had turned anxious.

“Chen Wan, hurry up. It won’t be good if you keep the dorm supervisor waiting too long.”

I arched a brow, stood, and walked outside.

As I passed the desk, my hand brushed silently over my roommate’s water cup.

My younger sister’s silver chain struck the clear cup with a cold, crisp chime.

I glanced back at her. She had her head down, busy sending a text, and hadn’t noticed.

When the brave are angry, they draw their blades against those stronger than themselves.

When cowards are angry, they draw their blades against those weaker than themselves.

I can understand protecting yourself.

I don’t demand that anyone step up for what is right.

But if you choose to push a friend off a cliff with your own hands, then don’t turn around and pretend to be a pitiful little thing forced into it.

You are the perpetrator, not the victim.

Since you’re so blind you can’t recognize your own place-

Then you don’t need those eyes anymore.