Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
After hanging up the phone, Qin Zhiâaiâs mother hurried out of her bedroom to the door; however, she immediately went back to her room when she realized that she had forgotten her wallet.
Qin Zhiâai frowned and asked, âMom, whatâs wrong?â
âJiayan...â Qin Zhiâaiâs mom had already walked back to her room before finishing.
Qin Zhiâai frowned harder and walked fast to catch up with her mother at the bedroom door. âJiayan? Whatâs happened to Jiayan?â
âThe dean at his school just called me and told me Jiayan was caught cheating on his English Proficiency Level Six test. Heâll not only be disqualified for the test, but itâll also go on his record.â Her mom ran to the door with her wallet in her hand as she talked. As she was changing her shoes, her eyes got red.
Cheating? How could Jiayan cheat?
He had been super smart since he was little. He never had to study for tests to get a good grade. The English Proficiency Level Six test should have been easy for him. He had no reason to cheat.
Qin Zhiâai hurriedly dried her hair, saying, âMom, wait for me for a minute. Iâm coming with you.â Even though she hadnât eaten yet, she was going. As she ran back to her bedroom to change her clothes, her mother urged her to hurry as she moved faster toward the front door.
Once on the road, they quickly hailed a taxi. On their way to Jiayanâs school, Qin Zhiâaiâs mother held onto her hand and nagged her.
âCan you tell me why Jiayan would cheat on his test?â
âHeâs going to graduate soon. If the school puts this on his record, what company is going to hire him?â
âXiaoâai? Do you think we should buy some kind of gift for the dean?â
Qin Zhiâai had no idea how to answer any of these questions. As her mother began to panic, she remained calm while trying to comfort her mother. âMom, donât scare yourself. Letâs go find out what actually happened first. Besides, Jiayan may not have cheated on the test.â
Qin Zhiâai paused, recalling the words that Liang Doukou had told her on the night she was leaving the hospital after Old Master Gu was rushed to surgery.
Qin Zhiâai went quiet before saying more. Her mother became confused and turned to say to her, âXiaoâai, what are you thinking?â
âNothing,â Qin Zhiâai said, shaking her head and smiling to reassure her. She turned to look out of the window.
I hadnât left China that day, and Gu Yusheng had been in a car accident.
I then called Xiaowang and Lu Bancheng to let them know what had happened to Gu Yusheng.
Liang Doukou must have learned through them that I hadnât left. Could she have done something to Jiayan?
She married Gu Yusheng as she had always wanted to. Why would she be so mean to my family and me? Or am I just making too much of this?
...
When they arrived at the school, Qin Zhiâai quickly paid the taxi driver and went to the deanâs office with her mother.
Several teachers were gathered around Jiayan, lecturing him as they walked in.
Qin Jiayan in his white shirt quietly stood within the group of teachers, while looking down and remaining silent.
They stopped lecturing Qin Jiayan when they saw Qin Zhiâai and her mother walked in.
One of the male teachers, the student dean, was not nice when he greeted Qin Zhiâai and her mother. He even pretended he did not see Qin Zhiâaiâs mother reaching her hand out to shake hands. With a dour expression, he ignored her hand and proceeded to explain to them what had happened.