Chapter 16: Disappointment
1935 Words
The rain kept getting heavier, and I was drenched, looking like a drowned rat. I watched the dozen or so people standing next to Qian Guang. You only realize how terrifying a tiger is when it shows its claws. Qian Guang didn't make a move, but he was still frightening. The people around him were like mutes, but mutes who could fight.
Qian Guang walked over to me, held the umbrella over my head, and I looked at Qian Guang. He glared at me and said, "Not giving you face is the same as not giving me face."
He said this in a very cold way, which made me feel extremely oppressed. I really didn't expect to hold such an important position in Qian Guang's heart. But at the same time, this also left me very confused. Can I really be so important to Qian Guang?
He looked at Wang Gui sitting on the ground and said, "Take him to the hospital. These hands still need to cut stones. A useless person who has lost his purpose, even if we can treat him well for a while, it won't last a lifetime."
I looked at Wang Gui, and he looked at me. The gratitude on his face went without saying. I nodded, Zhuzi drove the car over, helped him in, and took us to the hospital. In the car, I watched Qian Guang and that group of people standing in the rain, and honestly, I really envied Qian Guang. This is what a big brother is like...
With a word from the elder brother, the younger brother will charge like an army, no matter what kind of enemy stands in front of them, they will brave fire and water.
When they arrived at the hospital, the doctors bandaged Wang Gui and performed a series of surgeries. This ordeal lasted all night, and it wasn't until the next morning that Wang Gui was admitted to the ward.
I stood by the window, watching the drizzling rain outside, and Wang Gui said to me, "Why did you save me?"
I didn't look back at Wang Gui; I said, "I just saw myself..."
"Heh, really? Misery loves company, huh? Damn it, in this world, the rich can bully the poor, and we can't even speak the damn truth. Damn..."
Wang Gui was cursing, trying to vent his dissatisfaction, but it was futile. I said, "My approach is different from yours. When others bully me, I endure it, but I keep it in my heart. I will work hard, and when I become successful, I will repay everyone for how they treated me. Complaining is useless."
Wang Gui looked at me, smiled, and tied up his non-mainstream long hair, saying, "I'll follow you from now on."
I said, "Why didn't you say you were following Brother Guang?"
Wang Gui said, "You are like a timely help in the snow, he is like adding flowers to a brocade, it's different. Without you, he might not even bother to look out. Without you, there wouldn't be a well-off Wang Gui on the streets today, only a useless person."
I looked at Wang Gui. He is a person who clearly distinguishes between gratitude and resentment. Although he is not mainstream, he is a decent guy. I said, "Alright, brothers in hardship, no need to say more. When I make money, I will definitely not let you go without a share. If there's a bite, we'll share it."
Wang Gui smiled and didn't say anything. I turned around and left the ward. I saved Wang Gui and offended a big shot. Although it didn't seem worth it, it was actually very important to me. At least I knew my importance in Qian Guang's eyes.
Given this, I am very wary of this woman, Xiao Mi. She seems to be sowing discord, instilling the idea that Brother Guang is very dangerous. This puts me in a dilemma; it seems this woman is really only good for a fling, not for deep friendship...
It was already the third day since I returned to Kunming, and the rain was still drizzling. That's how Yunnan is—either sunny or rainy. I went back to the classroom, and my phone received a text message. I glanced at it; it was a notification from my linked bank card—two hundred thousand had been credited.
Seeing this number, I excitedly spun around a few times in the classroom. I didn't say anything; I just felt very, very happy. This was the first money I had earned, and its significance wasn't just in the amount but in the greater hope it gave me.
It's just that I didn't get carried away. I sat down and looked at those numbers. If I had had those two hundred thousand back then, then today it wouldn't be two hundred thousand that came in, but two million. I didn't have enough capital, so I earned very little. Now that I have money, I can gamble on my own, but I know that Qiang won't let me gamble on my own. He wants to control me, I can feel it.
No matter how Qian Guang views me, I must have enough capital to protect myself. Even blood brothers can turn against each other. If Qian Guang turns against me in the future, I would be like a chicken ready to be slaughtered to him.
I must develop my influence...
While I was deep in thought, someone pushed me. I looked up and it was Cheng Na. I really dislike Cheng Na. It's not that she's not pretty, but she's too fierce. I don't like gossipy women.
"Why didn't you come?" Cheng Na asked me.
I frowned, suddenly recalling something. It seemed I had promised Xuanling to attend her birthday party. I had forgotten. I said, "Something came up, and I got delayed..."
I thought Xuanling's birthday party would be the same whether I was there or not. I probably didn't matter much to Xuanling. Suddenly, Cheng Na slapped me hard, which really pissed me off. I stood up and said, "Cheng Na, you're f*****g crazy..."
With this shout, everyone was looking at me, as if I had returned to the public eye. However, judging by the disdain and contempt in their eyes, this kind of return really can't be considered a good reputation.
"Zhao Fei, do you know how much of a jerk you are? I already told Xuan Ling that you're a scammer who doesn't even pay back borrowed money. How could you possibly attend her birthday party?"Your promises are like s**t, once out, they're gone. She didn't listen, saying you're not that kind of person. She stood there foolishly on the road waiting for you. Do you know how heavy the rain was that night? It was all to wait for you. Now Xuan Ling has a high fever in the hospital, and you're acting like nothing happened. Are you a jerk or what?" Cheng Na pointed at me and scolded.
I found it unbelievable to hear, really, I never thought Xuanying would be waiting for me in the rain that night. I felt very embarrassed; I never imagined she would do that. I said, "Without me, can't you manage on your own?"
"That day, everyone went to celebrate Zeng Hong's birthday. Do you know how she bullied Xuan Ling? She got that bastard Huang Qin to cause trouble at the election site. Xuan Ling didn't even finish her speech before they humiliated her. Xuan Ling considered you a friend, really. She didn't expect you to help her, but you didn't even show up. And on her birthday night, besides me, no one else came. She believed you would come, really, but you didn't
I furrowed my brows, feeling a mix of emotions inside, Zeng Hong... Huang Qin...
I said, "Is Xuanling over there?"
"Hospitals, you owe her an explanation and an apology..." Cheng Na said.
I nodded, left the classroom, and went to the hospital with Cheng Na. In the hospital ward, I saw Xuan Ling. She was so small and really pitiful, her lips pale, her beautiful smile looking very pale. My memories of Xuan Ling have always been of her persuading me to join this club, join that club, or giving me this mentor's notes, that mentor's notes.
I always thought she did these things just to impress the school teachers and pave the way for her future election as student council president, but now it seems I was a bit mistaken...
I leaned against the door, Cheng Na woke up Xuan Ling. She looked at me with a very disappointed expression in her eyes. I said, "I'm sorry, that day, that day..."
"You are very busy, I know, you go ahead and take care of it..." Xuan Ling said.
Her words were very cold, but looking at her sad expression, it was strange, as if she was more hurt. Cheng Na said, "Why does Xuan Ling treat you so well? Always caring about you? Is she a saint?"
I looked at Cheng Na, and I didn't know why, but I looked at Xuan Ling. She was holding Cheng Na, hesitating to speak. Cheng Na said, "She likes you, she has you in her heart. When you were doing well, she watched you from afar. But in your eyes, there was only Zeng Hong. Every day after class, you would proudly ride in Zeng Hong's family's car home. You never paid any attention to Xuan Ling. But after yourNothing is left, your studies are abandoned, friends have distanced themselves from you, would Zeng Hong still be willing to let you ride in her car?The only one close to you who helps you is Xuanling. Are you blind?Can't you see?
I looked at Xuanling; she felt very embarrassed and closed her eyes. I was a bit confused. Before my dad passed away, I was quite a standout science student in college, well-liked by many people. At that time, I was very close to Zeng Hong, and I thought I was part of her circle. My dad also drove a luxury car, even though it belonged to someone else, but I had a sense of vanity in my heart, so I never paid attention to any girls
I looked at Xuanling. She wasn't the school beauty, nor did she come from a wealthy family like Zeng Hong, but she was very cute and kind-hearted. She liked me, and I should have been happy, but I couldn't be happy because I had lost my confidence.
I smiled and said, "Xuanling, I'm not a good man. Don't like me anymore, it's not worth it. Really, there are plenty of people at school who are pursuing you. Find someone suitable for you."
Xuanling listened to my words, and tears instantly fell, one by one, like pearls, flowing down her pale face.
"Xuanling, you really have lost your mind. A man like this pushes away the woman he likes. Even if you two end up together, you won't be happy because he's weak and cowardly. He's scared, but he knows his own limitations. He knows he can't shoulder that responsibility, and this is his way of compensating you. He didn't waste your time," Cheng Na said harshly.
Cheng Na's words are really sharp; every sentence makes my heart burn, as if being whipped. I looked at Xuan Ling, and she was staring at me with wide eyes, but I still turned around and left.
Xuanling is a good girl, really, I can't hold her back...
- Writer
