Meanwhile, in the Qinglin High School dormitories, Ye Yuhuan was still burning the midnight oil. She had read the few documents she’d specifically selected back and forth more than a dozen times.
Finally, she came to a conclusion: it was real.
Thanks to the vigorous promotion by the Cosmic Beauty Garden, the “Care for Lin Qi” anonymous tip box was far from empty. However, it was filled with specious content that, upon closer inspection, turned out to be nothing more than absurd speculation.
Yes, speculation. The reason for using this word was that all the anonymous letters were written from a third-person perspective, usually starting with “I have a friend” or “a classmate” and describing their recent abnormal behavior and overly close interactions with a teacher.
Most of it was just baseless rumor. After on-site inquiries and secret investigations, they discovered that some of the whistleblowers were just doing it for fun, some wanted to scare a teacher, and the rest were simply paying so much attention to the campaign that their overactive imaginations led to misunderstandings.
Only the letter in her hands was different. Its contents seemed much like the others, but compared to the descriptions of events in the other letters, this person expressed their classmate’s pain and struggle in much greater depth and detail. The feedback afterward, however, was that this particular classmate was in good spirits. In reality, the one in the class with emotional issues was another female student, who had reportedly developed depression from the immense pressure of the approaching college entrance exams and had already gone home to rest.
However, this emotionally troubled female student didn’t appear in any of the third-person tip letters. After all, she was a scholarship student admitted based on her grades, who had always just buried her head in her studies. After entering her third year, she watched as her well-off classmates either greatly alleviated their exam pressure with bonus points from various competitions or had already secured spots at prestigious universities abroad. It wasn’t hard to imagine how the combination of peer pressure and the tension of the approaching exams could make someone emotionally unstable.
This kind of thing happened often at Qinglin. The rich kids jokingly called it “the third-year tribulation of the scholarship students.”
If they got through it, they would take Qinglin’s money and happily go to university. If they couldn’t, they would have to bear the consequences of a failed gamble.
This female student, Liu Meng, was likely in the same situation, and this tip letter was probably just a crude joke.
This was the conclusion the investigators had reached.
But Ye Yuhuan didn’t think so. If her guess was correct, this letter was Liu Meng’s own story, written in the third person.
As for whether it was true or not, she would probably need to meet with her in person.
Three days later, Ye Yuhuan helplessly watched the three little tails trailing behind her. One of those tails, Song Zhiqing, was secretly dissatisfied with the other two.
As members of the same monitoring team, Ye Yuhuan naturally had no reason to hide her discovery. With Shen Wei’s return to school, their team was finally complete, and they were scheduled to officially start their duties the following week.
The only consequence was that Ye Yuhuan’s original plan to meet Liu Meng alone was shot down on the spot by Song Zhiqing’s exclamation, “What? How can you go alone?”
If Song Zhiqing hadn’t held them back, Wang Hao and Cui Xueying would have probably come along too. But even though they didn’t, their constant updates in the group chat made their presence keenly felt.
As for the other two big shots, ever since Song Zhiqing discovered she had inexplicably become their wingman, she didn’t really want to see them. Her past admiration and worship for Shangguan Xianxian had all turned into speechlessness.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t as quick-witted. Shangguan Xianxian hit her with a barrage of reasoning that left her dumbfounded. By the time she came to her senses, Shangguan Xianxian was already discussing what gift to buy for the visit.
Meanwhile, Ye Yuhuan had been sent away early on by a certain Shen, who was hopelessly devoted to her girlfriend. When she returned, a fully formed plan was already laid out before her.
Oh well, Ye Yuhuan comforted herself. Anyway, these two are very reliable. I don’t need to worry about anything going wrong.
Liu Meng’s family was reasonably well-off. They couldn’t compare to the average at Qinglin, of course, but they were comfortable by general standards. Both her parents were middle school teachers, and she had earned good grades since she was young. Her reason for attending Qinglin wasn’t simply for the money, like Ye Yuhuan; rather, her parents wanted their daughter to experience Qinglin’s so-called dignified and elegant character-building education.
Before coming here, Ye Yuhuan had already spoken with Liu Meng’s parents, using the pretext of visiting a classmate.
As for Liu Meng herself, there was currently no effective way to get in touch with her.
After entering, they gave the gift for Liu Meng to her parents and, amidst the couple’s repeated thanks, sat down somewhat reservedly on the living room sofa.
Ye Yuhuan looked at the starkly closed bedroom door and sighed.
If that letter was really written by Liu Meng, it meant she wasn’t completely cut off from the outside world. She just wasn’t willing to communicate with anyone right now.
Liu Meng’s parents sat awkwardly across from them. They were a kind and generous couple who had taught conscientiously at a public middle school for many years. They had never seen so many eye-catching girls at once—it wasn’t just their looks, but also the aura they exuded. Despite their young age, they showed none of the impatience common in teenagers. The couple guessed this must be the bearing of a Qinglin student, and their regret about sending Liu Meng to a private school lessened slightly.
Little did they know that the four of them were a rare sight even at Qinglin.
After exchanging some polite pleasantries with Liu Meng’s parents, Ye Yuhuan said apologetically but firmly, “Uncle, Auntie, could you please give us a moment alone? We have something we want to say to Liu Meng, and she might not be willing to listen if you’re here.”
Liu Meng’s parents exchanged a troubled look. “Can we ask what it’s about?”
Ye Yuhuan shook her head. “Sorry, we can’t say.”
Liu Meng’s father hesitated for a moment before saying, “I’m sorry, Student Ye. You know that our Meng’s condition is unstable right now, so we really can’t rest easy. Please try to understand our position as parents. We’re very grateful that you came to see her today. When she’s better, I’ll have her thank you in person.”
Shangguan Xianxian and Song Zhiqing wanted to try to persuade them again, but just as they were about to speak, Shen Wei spoke first, loudly addressing the door. “Senior Liu Meng, I know you’re listening. We’re from the Art Club. If you want to talk to us, knock twice. If you don’t, knock once. But before you decide, I want to remind you of something: you were the one who wanted to communicate with us in the first place.”
Song Zhiqing was about to scold Shen Wei for her overly harsh words. If Liu Meng had really suffered something like that, they couldn’t be too careful in how they treated her.
But very soon, the door was knocked on twice.
Song Zhiqing’s face was full of surprise. It really worked?
Ye Yuhuan whispered in Song Zhiqing’s ear, “Shen Wei is using reverse psychology.”
Liu Meng’s parents’ reaction was even more dramatic. They were crying with joy. To be honest, if it weren’t for Liu Meng occasionally taking the food they left outside her door and the faint sound of running water in the middle of the night, they wouldn’t have even felt the presence of a third person in the house. The couple quickly stood up, giving the girls their space. Before leaving, they said expectantly, “Please, you must talk some sense into our Meng.”
The four of them nodded solemnly.
When only the five of them were left in the house, Ye Yuhuan spoke to the door. “Senior Liu Meng, are you willing to talk to us now?”
The room was silent.
Ye Yuhuan continued on her own, “Senior, you should have seen the message I sent you online. If not, you can look now. I hope you can trust us. We genuinely want to help you.”
After about twenty minutes, under the gazes of the four girls, the lock clicked open.
In the silent room, it sounded like a clap of thunder.
Immediately after, a faint voice came from inside. “I don’t look very good right now, so I won’t come out.”
After a moment, Liu Meng’s voice became even quieter, almost inaudible unless one listened intently. “I want to report the third-year, class two history teacher, Chen Guanhua, for molesting a student. I don’t know if he’s a repeat offender. I’m not as smart as Lin Qi; I couldn’t find evidence. All I have are the text messages he sent me. I don’t know if it’s enough, but it’s all I have.”
As soon as she finished speaking, they all fell silent. When Ye Yuhuan had stated her guess, they had all hoped it was true. If it was, not only could it solve their current predicament, but it would also prove that their efforts and persistence were not meaningless.
But now, actually facing it, they suddenly wished it was all fake. If only Liu Meng had just been playing a simple prank like the others. If only her life were still as stable and peaceful as before. If only none of it had ever happened.
During the time they could only wait, they could clearly smell a foul odor seeping out of Liu Meng’s room. It was a testament to the dazed and listless life she had been living these past few days. Before this, the person Ye Yuhuan and the others had seen through her classmates and on social media was a clean and pretty girl with beautiful handwriting.
Now, she was hiding behind a door, too ashamed to be seen.
A heaviness even more suffocating than what she’d felt watching First Love Paradise rose in Song Zhiqing’s throat. She didn’t even dare to cry out loud now, for fear of disturbing the girl inside.
Shangguan Xianxian’s already icy tone now felt even colder, and everyone knew that this chill now had a specific target. “Senior Liu Meng, don’t worry. We will investigate this matter thoroughly and make sure Chen Guanhua receives the punishment he deserves.”
Liu Meng hummed in acknowledgment. “I’ve said everything I needed to say. You can leave now. Thank you very much. It’s just… I can’t express my gratitude properly right now. I’m sorry.”
But at that moment, Ye Yuhuan stood up. Liu Meng’s room wasn’t far from where they were sitting, and with her long legs, Ye Yuhuan reached it in just a few steps. She pushed the door open, and the filth inside was instantly exposed by the light pouring in from the living room: uneaten food, worn clothes scattered everywhere, and a disheveled girl.
Liu Meng shrieked from the corner like a ghost struck by sunlight. Ye Yuhuan wasn’t startled. She walked steadily to her side, squatted down, and hugged her. Ye Yuhuan’s usual body wash was citrus-scented, and as the fragrance enveloped Liu Meng, she gradually quieted down.
Ye Yuhuan patted her back while saying softly, “Senior, the bad guy will be punished. But don’t forget, the name of our campaign is ‘Care for Lin Qi.’ You are the most important one. So I can’t just watch you suffer here and ignore it.”
“Senior, let’s get you cleaned up, okay?”
“Everything will be okay.”
Liu Meng’s body stiffened. She didn’t dare struggle too much, afraid that the filth on her body would soil the incredibly beautiful girl before her.
After a long while, Ye Yuhuan felt her give a slight nod in her arms, accompanied by a faint, kitten-like whimper.
Perhaps from the moment she unlocked the door, she had been hoping for this.
Outside the door, the three young ladies, all of whom were more or less neat freaks, watched in shock. Ye Yuhuan had always been a beautiful and delicate person. This wasn’t to say she was meticulous about her clothes and makeup, but that she was born with a beautiful and delicate appearance that made one feel she was untouched by dust. This impression was, of course, quite extreme and could even be classified as a prejudice. But regardless, no one could have imagined Ye Yuhuan would voluntarily hug a girl who reeked.
Shen Wei murmured, “Ye Yuhuan… she…”
“…is so beautiful,” Shangguan Xianxian finished.
Song Zhiqing nodded repeatedly.
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