Chapter 151
Chapter 151
Back in the original time-space.
Jiang Li took Red Infant and continued up the Safe Staircase.
Next was the fifth floor of Clear Spring Hotel-the floor of the blind Old Man.
Inside the bamboo basket outside the Red Door on the fifth floor, only one prop remained:
A fully charged cell phone.
Jiang Li picked up the phone and switched it on for a look.
The wallpaper was a photo of Han Xueping at four or five years old with her mother.
Mother and daughter had each placed flower petals on their foreheads, perfectly covering the dark birthmark.
In the wallpaper, both of them had crescent eyes and bright smiles. They looked nothing like the gloom that hung over Clear Spring Hotel.
Jiang Li took the phone with her and entered the final time-space.
The place Jiang Li broke into was the school field of Shengde Middle School.
On the podium directly ahead of the field, the principal was presenting the teachers with the Outstanding Teacher Award.
The students were gathered below, arranged neatly by class, all looking up at the scene on the stage.
The middle school principal wore glasses. In one hand, he held a written speech; in the other, a microphone.
Standing at the center of the podium, he cleared his throat, preparing to announce the final outstanding teacher.
“Ahem. Just now, we presented the Municipal Excellent People’s Teacher Award.
“The award we are about to present next is both the final award of the day and the most prestigious one!”
The microphone let out a sharp screech of feedback.
Then, amid the teasing and cheers of his fellow teachers, a male teacher with his hair parted three-to-seven was pushed toward the stairs beside the podium.
The principal continued, “The winner of our Provincial Excellent Teacher Award is the homeroom teacher of Class 25, Grade 12… Teacher Wang Defa!”
“Teacher Wang is both virtuous and talented, with rich teaching experience. He treats others with kindness while holding himself to strict standards. He is recognized by all of Shengde Middle School as a fine teacher.”
“Let us invite Teacher Wang to the stage to accept his award!”
With a modest smile on his face, Teacher Wang stepped up the stairs beside the podium in his leather shoes.
On the podium, Teacher Wang smiled kindly. After bowing in thanks, he held the red certificate and stood at the front of the stage to deliver his acceptance speech.
Jiang Li glanced toward the podium.
Those familiar features…
The current Teacher Wang was none other than the fifth-floor Old Man, only somewhat younger.
Jiang Li suddenly recalled the introduction about the guest on the fifth floor:
“The Old Man is famous for being a good gentleman.”
His fame had actually begun long ago, during his time at Shengde Middle School.
Below the podium, in the line for Class 25, Grade 12, Han Xueping tightly clutched the “Application to Withdraw from School” in her pocket.
She raised her head. In her timid eyes, a trace of determination emerged.
Soon, the award ceremony came to an end.
Han Xueping’s homeroom teacher, Teacher Wang, returned to the fifth-floor teachers’ office amid the crowd of school colleagues surrounding him with congratulations.
The students all headed toward their own classrooms.
Only Han Xueping of Class 25 gripped the application in her pocket and walked toward the teachers’ office.
Han Xueping mustered her courage, silently cheering herself on the whole way.
Just as she was about to enter the office, someone behind her grabbed her in one swift motion.
Han Xueping turned around and saw Jiang Li, whom she had met several months earlier.
For Jiang Li, the last time she had seen Han Xueping was ten minutes ago.
But to Han Xueping, three long months had already passed since she last saw Jiang Li.
“Take this with you.”
Jiang Li took out Han Xueping’s phone and placed it in her hand.
Shengde Middle School did not allow cell phones.
Seeing that some classmates nearby were looking over, Han Xueping quickly stuffed the phone into her pocket.
“Big Sister, why… why are you here?”
Shengde Middle School was strictly controlled. Outsiders were rarely allowed onto campus.
And yet the young woman in front of her always appeared and disappeared like a ghost, as if she could come and go freely both inside and outside the school.
Jiang Li noticed the bruise by Han Xueping’s ear that still hadn’t healed, and guessed that her days had not gotten any easier lately.
Jiang Li reached out and gently ruffled Han Xueping’s hair, her heart aching for her.
She leaned closer and whispered a few words in Han Xueping’s ear.
“I support you dropping out. But only if you protect yourself first.”
“I’ve already given you the phone. Use it.”
After hearing Jiang Li’s words, Han Xueping froze for a moment. Then realization flashed across her face.
“I understand. Thank you, big sister.”
Han Xueping nodded, her eyes suddenly filling with tears.
She didn’t know why this young woman was doing all this.
But she did know that this young woman… was a beam of light in her gray, hopeless world.
Han Xueping raised the back of her hand and wiped away her tears.
With her back to the crowd, she turned on the phone and swiped across the screen a couple of times.
Then she tucked the phone safely back into her pocket.
Jiang Li patted her comfortingly and gestured toward the office. “Go on.”
Han Xueping gave a soft “mm,” then let out a breath.
A moment later, she turned around, raised her hand, and knocked on the office door.
“Come in!”
A teacher’s voice came from inside.
Han Xueping pushed the door open, softened her breathing, and walked in.
Inside the office, the atmosphere was peaceful and festive.
Quite a few teachers had received the City-level Outstanding Teacher Award. On top of that, her own homeroom teacher, Teacher Wang, had even received a provincial-level award.
Han Xueping carefully walked up to Teacher Wang, interrupting the laughing chatter among several teachers.
“Teacher Wang,” Han Xueping called.
A colleague beside Teacher Wang nudged him. “Oh, look, the top student in our grade is here. Qingbei material. Better take good care of her.”
Hearing his colleague say that, Teacher Wang’s face immediately lit up with pride.
Although Han Xueping’s family was a little poor, she always ranked first in every exam. Over the years, she had brought Teacher Wang plenty of honor.
Han Xueping studied hard and was recognized by the school’s teachers as an honor student who “had a real shot at Qingbei.”
The day Han Xueping got into one of those two top universities-
Teacher Wang, as her homeroom teacher, would not only gain an even greater reputation, but also receive an extra 100,000 yuan performance bonus.
“Xueping, what did you need me for? Are you having trouble with your studies? Tell me about it.”
Teacher Wang straightened his clothes and put on a serious expression.
“Teacher Wang…” Under the gazes shooting toward her from every direction, Han Xueping looked embarrassed.
She took a deep breath. Two seconds later, she still voiced her request.
“Teacher Wang, I want to drop out.”
Han Xueping took out the withdrawal application form she had prepared in advance and presented it to Teacher Wang with both hands.
The smile on Teacher Wang’s face stiffened.
At that moment, the atmosphere in the entire office plunged from cheerful celebration to freezing point.
The office fell abruptly silent, and more and more curious gazes landed on the teacher and student.
Teacher Wang’s expression turned awkward. He clenched his fist and coughed.
A second later, he deliberately chided her.
“Tsk, Xueping, you silly child. Is this still about your classmates not cooperating when you collected homework? I’ve already scolded them. Don’t be so petty…”
“No!” Han Xueping’s face flushed bright red, and she immediately raised her voice to deny it. “It’s not because of that!”
“It’s because-because of the bullying on campus! Teacher Wang, I’m sorry, but it was your niece who led them-”
Before Han Xueping could finish speaking, Teacher Wang suddenly raised his hand and slapped her across the face, cutting off the rest of her confession.