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WFILIYCATU - Chapter 31
🕑 Added 2025-03-05 11:50:31 +0000 UTCIn recent months, Xuejiao had been studying tirelessly. The changes brought by her arrival had significantly altered the trajectory of this world, so much so that Xuejiao nearly forgot the original storyline.
In the original plot, Xuejiao disliked studying, and Li Sitong had passed away. Cheng Shuo, burdened with guilt, indulged her unconditionally.
Gu Xuejiao had learned that Gu Shiyun and Cheng Mingze were going to participate in a math competition together. Furious, she went out drinking with Li Wei and others, got drunk, and ended up getting into a fight. Cheng Shuo had to intervene, leaving Cheng Mingze to attend the competition alone.
It was this very night that Cheng Mingze had stayed in a hotel near the competition venue. However, he had been lured out by another participant and locked in the most remote laboratory of No. 1 Middle School.
Gu Shiyun had also been locked in. She had followed Cheng Mingze when she saw him leave the hotel, unaware that she, too, would be trapped.
As a result, neither of them could participate in the competition the next day.
However, that incident had brought them closer. Out of guilt, Cheng Shuo later turned a blind eye to their developing relationship. Otherwise, with Li Sitong no longer around, Cheng Shuo would never have approved of Cheng Mingze and Gu Shiyun being together.
Xuejiao’s pupils dilated slightly as these memories came rushing back.
She had to intervene.
First, because she couldn’t ignore the situation knowing what would happen. Second, she refused to let Gu Shiyun use this incident to manipulate Cheng Mingze emotionally.
They were currently locked in the laboratory of No. 1 Middle School.
Xuejiao instinctively pulled out her phone to call Li Sitong but hesitated. How could she explain how she knew they were at No. 1 Middle School?
Biting her lower lip, she decided to send a text instead:
"Mom, I’m heading to No. 1 Middle School to find my brother. Maybe he went there to familiarize himself with the place beforehand?"
After sending the message, she quickly put her phone away and dashed out of the hotel.
"Gu Shiyun, I’m sorry. I got you involved in this..." Cheng Mingze’s voice was hoarse as he apologized in the pitch-dark room.
It was so dark that they couldn’t see anything.
Gu Shiyun’s voice trembled slightly, though she tried to sound firm: "It’s okay... I should have called the police before rushing in..."
Cheng Mingze shook his head, though he knew she couldn’t see him. "It’s not your fault. I’m the one who caused this mess."
"Mingze-ge, do you think we’ll... die here?" Gu Shiyun’s voice cracked, betraying her fear.
"No," Cheng Mingze replied firmly. "They just don’t want me to compete. They’re not trying to kill us. My parents will come looking for us. At worst, we’ll miss the competition tomorrow, but we’ll get out of here."
"That’s... good!"
The room fell into silence.
After a while, Cheng Mingze heard soft sobbing. Though the darkness concealed everything, he could tell it was coming from Gu Shiyun’s direction.
"Gu Shiyun? Are you okay?" he asked cautiously.
"Mingze-ge, I’m scared... wuwuwu..." The sobs grew louder.
Cheng Mingze frowned but eventually moved toward her voice. He sat down beside her, only for Gu Shiyun to throw her arms around him and bury her face in his chest, trembling as she cried.
"Don’t be afraid. I’m here," Cheng Mingze sighed, trying to comfort her.
Suddenly, the room flooded with light.
Both of them froze.
Gu Shiyun’s expression shifted to surprise, while Cheng Mingze exhaled deeply in relief. "Someone turned the lights back on. Someone’s here."
There was a loud banging noise from the door.
Startled, Gu Shiyun tightened her grip on Cheng Mingze. "Mingze-ge! What’s happening?"
"It’s okay. They’re probably here to save us," Cheng Mingze reassured her, though his tone carried a hint of uncertainty.
The banging continued, and then—bang!—the lock fell off, and the door was kicked open.
Standing at the doorway, holding a hammer, was a girl in a No. 7 Middle School uniform. Her hair was slightly disheveled, framing her delicate face, which appeared almost luminous under the light.
Cheng Mingze’s heart skipped a beat.
Xuejiao raised an eyebrow at the two figures inside.
"Cheng Mingze, you owe the school for that door," she said flatly.
The aftermath was handled by the police and the school. Although Xuejiao had damaged the door of No. 1 Middle School, the fact that it had been used by a student from another school to trap others was a far more serious issue. No one brought up the broken door again.
The boy responsible for locking Cheng Mingze and Gu Shiyun inside was handed over to the authorities. Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong wanted to reprimand their children for running off, but they ultimately decided against it.
With the competition the next day, rest was their priority.
Xuejiao fell asleep as soon as they returned to the hotel, but Cheng Mingze and Gu Shiyun lay awake, unable to stop replaying the events of the night in their minds.
Gu Shiyun was especially bitter. She hadn’t been trapped by accident. She had seen Cheng Mingze locked inside and had numerous opportunities to call for help. Instead, she had chosen to follow and lock herself in with him, hoping to gain his gratitude.
She hadn’t anticipated Gu Xuejiao would show up to ruin everything.
Damn Gu Xuejiao! Gu Shiyun clenched her fists in frustration.
Cheng Mingze, meanwhile, couldn’t stop thinking about Xuejiao standing in the doorway, hammer in hand, eyebrows raised.
He groaned softly, burying his face in his pillow.
The next morning, Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong dropped them off at the exam venue.
The two-hour math competition was grueling. Many participants struggled to finish the questions, each one requiring intense concentration. Time flew by, and before long, it was time to submit the papers.
Xuejiao packed up her stationery and exited the exam hall along with the crowd.
"Shiyun, are you okay? How was the exam?" Wu Wanjun fussed over Gu Shiyun as she stepped out, holding her protectively. Gu Jingxu stood nearby, looking concerned.
Cheng Mingze approached them with a serious expression. "I apologize for what happened yesterday. It was my fault that Gu Shiyun got involved. Rest assured, the person responsible will face consequences."
"Shiyun..." Wu Wanjun said softly, holding her daughter close.
Gu Shiyun hugged her mother and replied in a gentle voice, "Mom, it’s okay. It wasn’t Mingze-ge’s fault. The blame lies with the person who trapped us."
Xuejiao, walking out of the school gate with Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong, overheard their conversation.
"Brother," Xuejiao called out, her voice curious. "Is Gu Shiyun your girlfriend?"
Gu Shiyun’s head immediately ducked into Wu Wanjun’s arms, as if shy.
"No!" Cheng Mingze responded hastily, his tone firm.
Gu Shiyun froze. Though her face was hidden, her embarrassment was palpable.
Xuejiao tilted her head, blinking her large eyes innocently, and asked, "Why did Gu Shiyun follow you last night? Didn’t you ask her to go with you?"
"No!" Cheng Mingze responded immediately, his tone firm.
Gu Shiyun’s face turned slightly red, and she buried it deeper in Wu Wanjun’s arms. Her voice softened as she said, "I... I was worried about him, so I followed him."
"Oh..." Xuejiao feigned sudden understanding, but her expression turned skeptical. "So, you didn’t stay in the hotel last night, ran out on your own, and then got locked up with the person who wanted to harm my brother? And somehow, this is my brother’s fault?"
Her eyes widened as if genuinely curious.
Everyone was stunned, including Cheng Mingze.
Yes, Cheng Mingze hadn’t asked Gu Shiyun to follow him, nor had he put her in harm’s way. He was the intended target of the person trying to sabotage him.
Xuejiao continued, "So, my brother isn’t at fault, right? After all, he didn’t invite anyone to follow him, and he certainly didn’t ask to be targeted. Shouldn’t Gu Shiyun be thanking me? I saved him—and her too."
"Gu Xuejiao!" Gu Jingxu snapped, glaring at her.
Xuejiao blinked at him innocently. "Am I wrong?"
Cheng Mingze looked into her eyes and shook his head.
She was right. Gu Shiyun was implicated in the incident, but it wasn’t his fault. There was no need for him to offer such a humble apology.
"She’s right." Cheng Shuo suddenly laughed, reaching out to pat Xuejiao’s head affectionately. "We’re heading to the police station with your brother to file a report. Jiaojiao, shall we send you home first, or would you like to come with us?"
Xuejiao shook her head. "No, you all go. I’ll take a taxi back. I can manage."
Noticing Wu Wanjun’s darkened expression, Li Sitong felt a wave of satisfaction. She chuckled, pulling Xuejiao into a hug. "Jiaojiao, let’s send you back. Mom doesn’t feel comfortable leaving you on your own."
"It’s fine. I’ll just call a taxi. You should hurry. You have more important things to do."
Cheng Shuo checked his watch and nodded. "Alright, but be careful. We’ll have lunch together when we get back."
"Let’s go." Cheng Mingze shoved his hands into his pockets, casting a faint smile at Xuejiao.
Xuejiao froze for a moment, then returned a stiff smile.
After Cheng Shuo and the others left, Xuejiao was about to hail a taxi when she felt someone grab her arm.
"Gu Xuejiao!" Gu Jingxu’s voice was sharp.
"What?" she replied coldly, turning to face him.
"You didn’t call me ‘Dad’ even once today..." Gu Jingxu said, trying to sound patient.
Xuejiao’s expression turned frosty. "I’ve already said this before—I don’t have a father like you."
"Gu Xuejiao!" Gu Jingxu’s voice rose in frustration.
Xuejiao remained calm, her face cold and unyielding. She made no effort to continue the conversation, only waving her hand dismissively.
Gu Jingxu took a deep breath, softening his tone. "Jiaojiao, I know you still care about family. You saved Shiyun, didn’t you? Let’s have dinner together. You and your sister can take this chance to get along better."
