Chapter 52: Infirmary

“It’s you!”

Wu Xiaoyue collapsed to the ground, but since she fell against Lin Xinyuan and another girl, the impact was cushioned by both of them, so she barely got hurt.

She was nearly insane now, thinking about how her reputation at school would be ruined beyond repair, unable to control her emotions, desperate to vent.

Trembling, she got back up and immediately spotted Lin Xinyuan lying on the ground.

She recognized her instantly.

This was the androgynous one who always hung around Qin Nanfeng!

Whenever she saw this girl, Wu Xiaoyue thought of Qin Nanfeng, and then recalled the video that had just played.

Looking at the girl’s even more delicate face…

A surge of malice flooded her mind.

Maybe Lin Xinyuan wasn’t involved, but what did it matter? At this moment, Wu Xiaoyue was convinced Lin Xinyuan was connected to this.

They had to be in cahoots with Li Tang!

So you’re going to die too!

Wu Xiaoyue’s face twisted as she lunged at Lin Xinyuan.

The other girl who had fallen looked terrified, quickly scrambling to her feet and leaving, unwilling to get caught in this needless disaster.

“Haha, you androgynous freak! You and that slut Li Tang are deliberately messing with me, right? I’m going to tear your face apart!”

Lin Xinyuan was still dazed when suddenly a powerful force slammed toward her face like a shadow.

Her pupils shrank as she hastily covered her face, afraid her eyes would be hurt.

Like a boulder crashing down, Lin Xinyuan felt as if her bones might break.

Wu Xiaoyue pressed down on her, both hands attacking her fiercely.

“I’m not… ah…”

Her hair was yanked, her neck squeezed hard by Wu Xiaoyue’s grip; sharp nails dug into her pale skin, blood staining the black nail polish.

“Bitch! Bitch! Go be a ladyboy in Thailand! You androgynous monster, deformed freak, hahaha! Sewer rat, die! Just die! Hehehe!”

Wu Xiaoyue was reckless, gripping the girl’s beautiful swan neck, laughing wildly.

Her crazed state made people around her keep their distance, afraid to get caught up in the chaos.

Lin Xinyuan felt like she was suffocating, her whole body aching, darkness swirling before her eyes.

Am I about to die?

She never expected this would be her end… If only she hadn’t gotten involved…

But maybe it was fine like this…

After all, it was already this bad…

Just as Lin Xinyuan was thinking this—

Suddenly! The weight pressing down on her seemed to be shoved off, and her breathing gradually returned.

“Cough, cough…”

Lin Xinyuan clutched her neck, coughing painfully.

Her whole body trembled in pain as she struggled, then finally lost consciousness…

“Hurry! Take her to the School Infirmary!”

“Wow, this is like attempted murder!”

“This is going to be interesting!”

“By the way, did anyone notice that girl is pretty?”

“Tch, pretty but you didn’t go help anyone earlier, did you?”

“Feels like I’ve seen this girl before… maybe she’s in our class.”

A familiar world, timeless, only deep blue water beneath her feet and drifting specks of light in the air.

It felt like she had been here countless times, wandering leisurely, following traces from before.

There was that crooked-necked tree again, that figure too, but this time ‘it’ was different.

She sensed that ‘it’ changed along with her.

A graceful figure, blurred like a goddess, yet impossible to look upon directly.

“Lin Xinyuan.”

An ethereal voice came again, just like last time, but without the static interference, so Lin Xinyuan could hear it clearly.

Lin Xinyuan? Me?

She couldn’t speak yet, but ‘it’ seemed to understand her thoughts.

The figure turned, still impossible to see clearly, ‘it’ nodded.

“I…”

Lin Xinyuan struggled to speak but, as before, could only force out one word before the familiar falling sensation returned.

“You will be reborn with a completely new identity.”

The falling sensation intensified.

Lin Xinyuan felt she was losing control over her body.

That feeling again…

Just before losing consciousness, the ethereal voice sounded almost human once more, whispering playfully.

“The damned riddler finally explained it~ you agree, right!”

“Next time… maybe you’ll open your heart…”

“Hehehe~”

“Well… goodbye for now?”

Falling into darkness…

……

She woke from the darkness, slowly opening her eyes.

A somewhat glaring incandescent light made Lin Xinyuan squint.

“Lin, you’re awake?”

Li Tang was scrolling through videos, watching the girl in the hospital bed closely.

Noticing Lin Xinyuan finally woke up, she hurried forward.

Lin Xinyuan recalled the words from her dream and stared at her still-scratched pale hand, murmuring, “New life… does that mean me now…”

Li Tang didn’t catch it well: “Huh? New life? What new life?”

“It’s nothing, I… am I in the School Infirmary?” the girl smiled weakly, shaking her head slightly, her voice hoarse as she looked around.

“Yes!”

Li Tang nodded eagerly and helped Lin Xinyuan sit up, no longer bothering with the earlier question.

She propped the pillow upright against the headboard and helped the girl lean against it.

Suddenly recalling something, Li Tang ran out shouting, “Xue Teacher, Lin is awake! Come take a look!”

Footsteps echoed…

Minutes later, after some fuss and questions from the female attendant on duty, Xue Teacher finally nodded:

“There’s no serious injury. Just remember to apply the medicine daily.” She glanced at the scab and bruises on Lin Xinyuan’s neck and sighed softly.

“Where did this girl come from? Such a strong grip… was there a grudge? Luckily, no serious damage… such beautiful skin…”

“Ah…” Li Tang lowered her head, feeling guilty.

It was their fault… getting Lin Xinyuan hurt… but luckily nothing serious, or it would have been unforgivable…

“By the way, Lin, do you live on campus or off?”

“Xue Teacher, I live off campus.”

“Lin, it’s late now. If you live off campus, don’t go back tonight. Rest here! It’s not safe for girls to be out at night.”

“Is that okay? Teacher, won’t it affect your work…” Lin Xinyuan hesitated.

Xue Teacher shook her head, “Don’t worry, it’s fine! There’s a bathroom here.

Stay overnight, and I’ll open the door at 8:30 tomorrow morning.”

“Yeah! Just sleep here!” Li Tang agreed eagerly.

Lin Xinyuan looked at them both, thought for a moment, then nodded, “Alright… I guess…”

It was already getting dark outside.

Going back alone now would worry everyone, and honestly, she was scared herself.

Besides, she wasn’t a boy anymore…

“Okay, Lin, rest well here. Just lock the door at night,” Xue Teacher said approvingly as the girl finally agreed.

She glanced at her watch.

“It’s nearly nine o’clock, not early. I’m off for the night! Eat something and rest well! Don’t stay up too late! Li Tang, take good care of your classmate. I’ll come early tomorrow!”

“Got it! I’ll take good care of Lin!”

“Goodbye, Xue Teacher!”

Bang! The door closed gently.

Li Tang watched Xue Teacher leave, then hurried back to the bedside.

Sitting on a plastic stool, she looked at the girl’s pale face, feeling ashamed.

“Sorry, Lin! It’s all my fault you got hurt… please forgive me and Yan Ge, okay?”

Li Tang glanced up now and then, unable to look directly at the girl, her expression sincere.

Lin Xinyuan smiled faintly, the pallor making her look even more tragic, shaking her head.

“I’m fine, it’s not your fault. It’s just my bad luck for getting involved…”

“How can it be your fault? We’re responsible too! And we should have stopped that bitch earlier! Didn’t expect Wu Xiaoyue to go crazy like that!”

Hearing Wu Xiaoyue’s name, Li Tang’s expression suddenly changed.

Her eyes flashed coldly, and her delicate, pretty face twisted into a bitter smile.

“But you know… after doing that, she won’t be around much longer… hmph hmph…”