Chapter 167: Return to Hangzhou (2/2)
“You did not approach her?” Chen Xiaolian knitted his eyebrows.
Roddy sighed. “I really wanted to. However, after thinking about it, I decided not to.”
“… … …” Chen Xiaolian looked into Roddy’s eyes.
Roddy’s expression revealed his feelings of distress. “Even if I did approach her, then what? Strike up a conversation with her? Get to know her? Be friends with her? Then what? Our current state and life is one that is miles away from hers. She is already an ordinary person. Even if… what happens after that? I may have to enter an instance dungeon on that very day and die. We are now inhabitants of two different worlds. If I get together with her, I will only bring problems into her life.”
They sat inside a rock garden behind the school’s sports field. There, Chen Xiaolian sat by Roddy’s side while Lun Tai and Bei Tai sat on a piece of rock.
It was already time for class and there was no one else within the sports field.
“I did not expect you to return to school.”
“I did not expect you to return to school either.”
The two youngsters looked at each other and revealed a smile of tacit understanding.
“It seems that our choice is the same,” Chen Xiaolian sighed.
Roddy spoke in a whisper. “This is the only place where I can feel… truly alive.”
After saying that, Roddy stood up and said. “Come on; let us head back to class. I have yet to hand in my tuition fees. As for you, going absent on your first day, you are in for a scolding.”
The two of them laughed.
Lun Tai and Bei Tai informed them that the two of them will be heading back and bring Xia Xiaolei to continue his training in the fitness centre.
Chen Xiaolian and Roddy went back to the class together.
As expected, the first lesson was the language lesson by the homeroom teacher. Chen Xiaolian was thoroughly lectured by the teacher. Roddy on the other hand, smiled as he produced a medical certificate for sick leave that he had prepared beforehand. Thus, he was able to waltz through the hurdle.
Thus, Chen Xiaolian was punished to stand alone for the first class.
During the period of time between lessons, Chen Xiaolian complained to Roddy. “You cunning bastard, to think that you would have a medical certificate prepared.
“Be careful, going absent on the first day will surely earn you a spot in the teacher’s blacklist.”
However, during the second lesson… something unexpected occurred.
As the mathematics teacher was drawing a geometric pattern on the blackboard, Chen Xiaolian’s mobile phone suddenly rang.
The classroom was originally silent. The unexpected ringing sound from the mobile phone thus attracted a great deal of glances from the students. Several of the boys secretly gave Chen Xiaolian a glance, which conveyed the words ‘you’ve got guts’.
Sure enough, the thin female mathematics teacher slapped the ruler down onto the table and she furiously shouted. “How many times have I said it? Do not turn on your mobile phones when in class! Who is it? Hurry up and turn it off!”
Chen Xiaolian hastily pulled out the mobile phone. After taking a glance at it, he lost his composure.
The incoming call was from Hangzhou.
“Are you still not going to turn it off?” The mathematics teacher glowered at Chen Xiaolian.
Chen Xiaolian sighed inwardly and let out a bitter smile as he stood up. Then, he rushed out of the door. “I am sorry teacher, it is an emergency!”
“Hey! What are you doing? Where are you going? You!”
Chen Xiaolian stepped into the corridor and answered the phone.
“Hello?”
“Hello, are you Chen Xiaolian?”
It was an unknown voice, but one that contained seriousness.
“Err, I am he,” Chen Xiaolian was momentarily surprised.
“I am calling from Hangzhou City XX District XX police station,” This person’s voice sounded grave. “Do you know of someone called Da Gang?”
Da Gang?
Chen Xiaolian immediately answered. “I know, he is my friend.”
“Then, would it be convenient for you to come over for a bit? Something happened to your friend. There are some matters that we need you to help out with,” The other person said in a very cautious manner. “Your number is the only one we can find in his phone book.”
Chen Xiaolian’s heart gave a thump!
“Excuse me, what happened to him?” Chen Xiaolian frowned.
“He is involved in a physical injury case,” The other person spoke in a considerate tone. “He was hurt and is now in the hospital…”
“I will head over immediately! Please give me the address!” Without showing any hesitation, Chen Xiaolian decided.
…
As Chen Xiaolian was walking into the classroom, the mathematics teacher glowered angrily at him.
However, she then saw Chen Xiaolian walking to his seat to pack his things into his bag before quickly running out again.
“Hey! What are you doing?” The mathematics teacher became livid.
“Teacher, I have an emergency!” Chen Xiaolian replied without looking back.
Before the mathematics teacher could say anything, Roddy too grabbed his backpack and ran out.
“And what do you think you are doing?”
“Teacher! I may have to go save the world!”
Mathematics teacher: “… … …”
Save… the world???
…
As Chen Xiaolian was rushing out of the school building, Roddy managed to catch up to him.
“What happened?”
“There has been an incident. I need to go to Hangzhou,” Chen Xiaolian thought about it. “Why did you come?”
Roddy looked at him and smiled wryly. “Hangzhou? It must be something to do with Han Bi then?”
“No, I made a new friend in Hangzhou. Something happened to him.”
Roddy sighed. “I will go with you then. Besides, there is nothing going on in school.”
Chen Xiaolian considered the matter.
However, before he could say anything, his mobile phone rang again.
It was an unknown phone number from Hangzhou.
“Hello?”
“Roddy? Is that you?”
Chen Xiaolian was stunned.
However, he quickly recognized the voice as Yu Jiajia’s.
As to why Yu Jiajia had called him Roddy… he quickly recalled that it was his own doing.
“How did you get my number?”
“I…” Yu Jiajia’s voice was filled with anxiety and tears. “Something has happened to Da Gang. In the hospital – before he lost consciousness, I asked him if there is anyone who could help. He gave me this number. I… I…”
The girl was about to break into tears.
Chen Xiaolian’s face instantly distorted. “How is he?”
“The surgery had just finished. He is still in intensive care,” From her voice, it was clear that she was sobbing. “You… can you…”
“I am coming over immediately,” Chen Xiaolian took a deep breath. “Do not hang up first. Calm down and tell me what happened.”
As he spoke, he made a few gestures toward Roddy. Roddy quickly understood and pulled out his own mobile phone to buy train tickets for Hangzhou.
Through the phone, Yu Jiajia’s voice sounded flustered.
“Da Gang… he was stabbed. Wu wu wu wu… the doctor said that he lost too much blood. He is now in a dangerous situation. He might end up dying.”
…
[Trivia: The college entrance exam they take after Year 3 of the senior stage decides which college they will go to (or none) and is a very important turning point for public students in China.]