Chapter 2 Gu Cheng’s Plea at the School Gate
I didn't know how to respond to Gu Cheng's words.
So I ran.
I left Gu Cheng at the security booth by the school gate and ran straight into the school.
I rushed into my homeroom teacher's office, Teacher Sun, and hugged her waist tightly.
"Teacher, I'm wrong. I don't want to drop out. I want to study!"
Teacher Sun jumped at my sudden action. She was holding my dropout application form in her hand.
She seemed to be about to go find the grade director to sign and stamp it.
And once that red seal landed, it was over.
So the rest of the events blurred in my tears.
I hugged Teacher Sun, who was about the same age as my mother, like clinging to a life raft.
In one breath, I poured out my parents' death and my own situation.
I dumped out all the embarrassment and helplessness I had bitten my teeth and refused to tell anyone about.
I had never dared to speak before because I was afraid of being looked down on, more afraid of being pitied.
Now that I had relived it once, I had nothing to fear anymore.
And Teacher Sun's expression gradually shifted from disappointment and annoyance to sympathy and helplessness.
"Okay, ah, okay, don't cry..."
Her hand that had been about to push me away finally landed on my back, patting me lightly and soothingly.
"This dropout application form... I can pretend I never saw it, but there's one thing I must make clear to you."
"Some classmates reported to me recently, saying he saw you in some unsuitable places outside the school at night."
Teacher Sun grew serious again.
"Gu Yan, Teacher isn't asking now if that's true. I only tell you that if you still want to study in school, you must cut off all ties with that place. Our school doesn't accept students like that. Do you understand?"
I was stunned.
In the past life, to be safe, I had indeed gone through the nightclub interview first, paid the 1000 yuan deposit, and then handled the dropout at school.
I hadn't expected it to be seen and reported by the teacher.
No wonder Teacher Sun's attitude had been so cold when I processed the formalities back then, and the school's procedures had been so swift.
They must have all thought I had fallen to the bottom and given up on me long ago.
So I quickly raised my head and earnestly guaranteed again.
Teacher Sun's expression eased, but she didn't immediately tear up the dropout application form.
Instead, she pressed it on the table right in front of me.
"Okay, Teacher believes you. But the next part still depends on your performance."
I had temporarily solved the dropout issue.
I had just walked out of the school gate when I saw Gu Cheng gripping the iron gate railing, looking eagerly toward the teaching building.
"Sister!"
At the sight of me, his pretty little face brightened slightly, like a puppy seeing its owner.
Gu Cheng ran over to me, his gaze falling on my empty hand. He hesitated and extended his small hand.
"Sister... can I hold your hand?"
I didn't move, nor did I speak.
He tried to hook his fingertip into mine.
I still remained expressionless.
Because I was thinking about something.
Something... that in the past life I had never done, something that would turn the world upside down.
Seeing that I didn't pull away, Gu Cheng relaxed a little, and the corners of his mouth secretly curled up into an arc.
We walked in silence.
I took Gu Cheng on the bus to an old neighborhood.
It was one of my father's relatives, and by seniority I should call her Aunt.
In the past life, during my most difficult times, her family's phone had always been unreachable.
And later, when Gu Cheng became famous, her family was the first to appear, pushing me aside.
They had been eager to send Gu Cheng various "intelligence-boosting" ads, taking a cut and making a fortune.
Standing in front of her house now, I pressed the doorbell repeatedly.
"Come, come! Stop making noise, it's broad daylight—"
"Gu, Gu Yan? What are you doing here..."
"Aunt, I'm not here to borrow money."
I pushed Gu Cheng forward a step. "I have something to do. Gu Cheng will stay here with you for a few days. I'll come back to pick him up in a few days."
"Huh? Why would I want to babysit for you?!"
Aunt shouted sharply. "Besides, looking at how quiet and gloomy he is, it just feels unlucky! No way, no way, take the kid away quickly!"
I didn't argue with her at all and turned to run.
"Hey, what's wrong with this child? I already said my place is inconvenient... Hey! Hey!!"
"Sister? Where are you going? Do you not want me anymore? Sister—"
I ran fast and didn't look back.
My second stop was "Hui Huang Ren Jian," the nightclub.
It was daytime now, so the nightclub wasn't open yet.
But that wasn't a problem.
I knew the place well and slipped around to the back alley. From behind the fire hydrant, I took out the spare key.
As soon as I unlocked the door, I ran into the manager who had just finished using the bathroom.
He froze. "You're... the new girl? Wait, how did you get in?"
I went straight to the point and bowed deeply to him.
"Sorry, Manager Wang, I lied before when I said I was already 20. I'm still in school. After thinking it over, I decided I should go back to school. Could you... refund that 1000 yuan deposit for me?"
That 1000 yuan was all my private savings, my last money.
In my mind, I had expected it to be at least half. That way, my monthly food expenses would be covered.
But over ten years of experience told me that if I wanted half, I had to ask for the full refund to leave room for bargaining.
Sure enough, the shock on Manager Wang's face vanished.
"Refund? Do you think this place is a charity? I'm the one who got scammed by a student like you. I didn't even call the cops to arrest you. Get lost, or I'll call security!"
I didn't give up and kept pleading shamelessly. "How about 700? Is that okay? Manager Wang, please. I really need this money. Just consider it a favor."
"Be friends? Who the hell wants to be friends with a poor student..."
Manager Wang had wanted to refuse outright, but when he eyed me up and down, especially lingering on my chest and legs, a greedy look made him change his mind.
"But, like, since you mention it, I know girls like you probably got into this line because of something bad at home. How about this? Tonight come over, don't have to drink with anyone, just stand there as a vase. I'll refund the deposit."
I hesitated.
This deal sounded too good to be true. I would get all my money back just for standing one night.
But I had just promised Teacher Sun I would cut off all ties...
Manager Wang softened his tone again, speaking mysteriously. "Don't hide it from you. Tonight there's a big client coming. We cleared the whole place just to serve him."
"Think about it. If you're lucky and he takes a fancy to you, you won't need to study that trashy book anymore. You'll fly straight to the branch as a rich lady! How about it? Deal?"
I slowly nodded in agreement.
I saw mockery and contempt flash through Manager Wang's eyes.
But I didn't care.
Because I had vaguely guessed who the "big shot" coming tonight was.
—Lu Congzheng.