Chapter 25 - ARTTEDSBGT Chapter 25

Two days later, the weather had changed, and it started raining. The rain was as fine as cow’s hair, and a late spring chill had arrived. The old pear tree in the Li family’s courtyard had blossomed, with its snow-white flowers visible from a distance. Li Zhizhi stood on the veranda, gazing into the distance when w.a.n.g Pozi approached, scolding her, “Young Miss, why are you standing here in the wind? Be careful not to catch a cold.”

Li Zhizhi smiled and replied, “I was admiring that tree. It’s so beautiful.”

w.a.n.g Pozi glanced at the tree and said, “That old pear tree has been here for many years. It was already here when I entered the household.”

The Li family’s ancestors originally lived in Qianzhou, and it is said that a certain grandfather dreamt of an immortal planting a pear tree before partic.i.p.ating in the imperial examination. Later, he indeed achieved a top rank and was listed on the imperial list. The family moved to the capital and brought along a pear tree, planting it at the entrance of the ancestral hall. Since “pear” and “Li” sound alike, the better the pear tree bloomed, the better it was considered for the Li family’s fortune. Therefore, the Li family took great care of this tree and had dedicated gardeners looking after it.

Li Zhizhi enjoyed the view for a while and then headed towards the dining hall. After a two-day break, it was time to go back to Mingyuan for school.

From a distance, she saw Li Suwan talking to her older brother Li Xingzhi. Initially, Li Xingzhi was speaking, and Li Suwan was silent, with her head bowed and tears in her eyes. After a while, Li Xingzhi noticed her tears and couldn’t believe his eyes, asking, “Did I say something wrong just now?”

The reason for this was that Li Suwan had been dragging her feet today, seemingly reluctant to go to Mingyuan for school. Li Xingzhi found it strange and naturally wanted to find out why. It turned out that Li Suwan was worried that the incident at the Spring Outing Feast would be gossiped about by their cla.s.smates, and she would become a subject of ridicule.

Li Xingzhi carefully explained to her and advised her not to overthink it, mentioning Li Zhizhi in pa.s.sing, suggesting that Suwan and Zhizhi could go to school together and ignore what others might say. Moreover, Li Zhizhi had already faced more cold glances and misunderstandings that day, and she didn’t seem to mind. So, why should you?

To Li Xingzhi’s surprise, Li Suwan pouted and said with a melancholic look, “It seems that my brother cares more about her.”

Li Xingzhi didn’t particularly like hearing Suwan say such things, as he always felt he owed a lot to Li Zhizhi. Wanting to make it up to her, he said, “Zhizhi is just like you, my little sister. Of course, I care about her.”

He tried to convince Li Suwan to be considerate of Li Zhizhi, saying that the problem was of her own making, trying to protect her friend but ending up getting herself into trouble. Zhizhi was the one who was affected by her actions.

Before he could say more, Li Suwan burst into tears. Normally, Li Xingzhi would have been anxious and tried to console her, but today he just felt utterly puzzled.

Li Xingzhi thought, “Wasn’t it you who caused this situation in the first place? You were the one who wanted to protect your friend, but now it’s affecting you. Zhizhi is the one who got caught up in it.”

Without waiting for him to say anything, Li Suwan, with a teary voice, said, “Brother, you should go and comfort Zhizhi. I’ll be fine.”

Li Xingzhi…

It was like talking to a brick wall. He was on the verge of laughing out of exasperation. He took a deep breath and said, “If Zhizhi really starts crying like you did, I’ll go comfort her later.”

With that, Li Xingzhi turned and walked away, his steps quickening. Just as he reached the intersection, he saw Li Zhizhi waving at him, smiling, and saying, “What a coincidence, Brother Xingzhi! Hurry up; we’ll be late for school.”

Li Xingzhi took a moment to compose himself, walked up to her, and carefully examined her. Li Zhizhi looked puzzled and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Li Xingzhi asked cautiously, “Is everything okay with you?”

Li Zhizhi chuckled and replied, “Nothing’s wrong.”

“Good, then,” Li Xingzhi breathed a sigh of relief. He had truly been scared by Li Suwan’s tears earlier. He asked with concern, “About the Spring Festival Banquet, are you…?”

Li Zhizhi was momentarily surprised, then casually said, “Big brother, you didn’t have to worry. It’s a minor matter, and with time, no one will remember it.”

Her calm and composed att.i.tude comforted Li Xingzhi. He couldn’t help but wonder why there was such a stark difference between her and Li Suwan, even though they were around the same age.

Unconsciously, the balance in Li Xingzhi’s heart began to shift, or perhaps it had been shifting for a long time.

…

Mingyuan.

Li Zhizhi arrived neither early nor late, and there were already many students in Mingde Hall, each engaged in conversations with familiar faces. When she entered, everyone secretly glanced at her, but no one showed any unusual reactions.

Li Zhizhi went to her desk, and someone approached her. Surprisingly, it was Jiang Ziyu. She couldn’t hide her excitement and asked mysteriously, “Why didn’t Li Suwan come to the school today?”

“She’s here,” Li Zhizhi said, somewhat surprised. She usually took a longer route, so Li Suwan would often arrive earlier. Li Zhizhi glanced at Li Suwan’s spot and saw that she wasn’t there. She probably felt embarra.s.sed and didn’t want to show her face after the awkward incident when she got off the carriage. This thought made Li Zhizhi want to laugh.

“There’ll be quite a show in a while,” Jiang Ziyu said, her face filled with excitement.

Li Zhizhi raised an eyebrow and asked, “What show?”

Jiang Ziyu nodded towards Li Suwan’s desk and puckered her lips, enjoying the misfortune, saying, “Just watch.”

Not only her but also several other girls nearby were whispering and gossiping, occasionally laughing. Su Tangyu asked in confusion, “What’s going on?”

Li Zhizhi looked over and then noticed that on Li Suwan’s desk, a piece of paper with the word “Flower Thief” was neatly written. She was taken aback.

“Who wrote that?” Su Tangyu couldn’t help but chuckle. “This is really unethical.”

“Who knows?” Jiang Ziyu had a look of someone enjoying a spectacle and said, “She usually acts all haughty and unapproachable, looking down on everyone, imitating Zhao Shan’s att.i.tude but lacking the confidence. She’s offended so many people. Once the news of the Spring Festival Banquet incident spreads, many will be making fun of her behind her back.”

Su Tangyu hesitated and said, “I actually feel that the flower might not have been picked by her, after all…”

Jiang Ziyu pulled her and said, “Regardless of whether she picked it or not, she clearly intended to frame someone. You shouldn’t be defending her.”

While they were talking, Li Zhizhi smiled and expressed her trust, saying, “I also believe in Sister Wan’er. Maybe the flower wasn’t picked by her.”

Jiang Ziyu was momentarily speechless and couldn’t help rolling her eyes, muttering quietly, “What can I say to you? You’re too forgiving.”

As they were talking, a group of people entered the room, including Li Suwan, Zhao Shan’er, and Xiao Man. They behaved as usual, chatting and laughing, as if nothing had happened, until Li Suwan saw the words on her desk.

Everyone in the Mingde Hall immediately fell silent, waiting to see her reaction. Li Suwan’s face suddenly turned extremely pale. She stared at the piece of paper with large words, which stung her like a sharp knife. Her lips trembled uncontrollably, and she clenched her hand into a fist, her nails digging into her palm. She slowly raised her head and, with red eyes, looked at the people around her, asking, “Who did this?”

Everyone averted their gazes and didn’t make eye contact with her, except for Li Zhizhi, who looked at Li Suwan with a serious expression as if she wanted to savor her current state.

Was this not the same as her own experience from her previous life? It was the same thin sheet of paper with large ink characters, surrounded by mocking and disdainful looks, as if countless sharp knives cruelly exposed her vulnerability piece by piece.

Was this for revenge?

At this moment, Li Zhizhi stared at Li Suwan without any expression on her face. Of course, it was for revenge, but it didn’t bring her much satisfaction. Because those things had already happened, like old wounds that had penetrated her body. Even though they had scabbed over and she had relived her life, the wound still bled and hurt, reminding her of what she had experienced.

In the gradual decay and corruption, it eventually turned her into the person she despised the most.

Li Suwan met Li Zhizhi’s gaze and naturally saw the indifference and hatred in her eyes. She mistakenly took it as a provocation and grabbed the piece of paper, her eyes red, and said, “You wrote this.”

Li Zhizhi looked at her in silence and then shook her head. “No.”

Li Suwan didn’t believe her at all. She choked back tears, and in an agitated tone, she said, “It must be you! You just—”

“It’s definitely not Zhizhi!” Su Tangyu stepped in and interrupted her. “When Zhizhi came in earlier, that piece of paper was already on your desk.”

“Just so,” Jiang Ziyu chimed in, “There were so many people watching, it’s clear that it wasn’t Li Zhizhi who did it. You shouldn’t make baseless accusations like you did during the Spring Banquet.”

This remark had a hidden meaning, and Li Suwan was at a loss for words, unable to say a word. In the end, she angrily tore up the announcement paper and then broke down, covering her face and weeping.

Zhao Shan’er surveyed the crowd, one by one, saying, “You’re not telling us who did this right now, but let me find out, and none of you will get away with it.”

No one responded, and several girls looked at each other, finally directing their gazes at another girl in light blue attire. The implication of their pointing was clear, and the girl was taken aback. She quickly lowered her head and turned to leave, but Zhao Shan’er sternly stopped her, “w.a.n.g Lingyue!”

w.a.n.g Lingyue froze in place, and without a second thought, Zhao Shan’er raised her hand and slapped her, saying arrogantly, “Even when you hit a dog, you should consider its owner. Who gave you the guts?”

w.a.n.g Lingyue was extremely frustrated but didn’t dare to strike back. She just covered her face with her hand, glared at the girls who had pointed at her, and then turned and ran out.

Li Suwan cried for a while, and it wasn’t until Wu Jiangshu arrived that she stopped. w.a.n.g Lingyue also returned, her face bearing a red handprint. This prompted a few light laughs from the people around her, and she had to cover it with a book, lowering her head in frustration.

This little incident had pa.s.sed, and no one benefited from it. Zhao Shan’er, in an unprecedented move, consoled Li Suwan with a few words and even gave her a few of her favorite hairpins as a gesture of reconciliation. Their relationship seemed closer than before.

“Zhao sister.”

Zhao Shan’er turned around and saw Li Zhizhi. She looked puzzled and asked, “Is it you?”

Li Zhizhi held her book bag, gave a faint smile, and the golden rays of the setting sun cast an exceptionally sincere and touching light in her eyes. She said, “There’s something I’ve been hesitating about for a long time, and I’m not sure if I should tell you, Zhao sister.”

Curious, Zhao Shan’er asked, “What is it?”

Li Zhizhi looked around and whispered, “Zhao sister, can we talk somewhere else?”

Once the two of them reached a secluded corner, Zhao Shan’er asked, “Alright, what is it? Why are you being so secretive?”

Li Zhizhi looked at her, hesitated, and said, “Actually, that day, when Suwan sister gave me that flower, she also said something.”

Zhao Shan’er felt a tightening in her chest and asked, “What did she say?”

“She…” Li Zhizhi bit her lip and hesitated, then said, “She said the flower was from you, Zhao sister, and she was just pa.s.sing it on.”

Zhao Shan’er was taken aback, and then she realized the implications. She could barely contain her anger, “She told you that?”