Their talk made me realize that the girl’s father is acquainted with the principal of the art school. Because of this connection, Li Liang managed to get a job at the art academy after returning to the city. This is considered a climb up the social ladder, no wonder he’s so submissive in front of his wife.
Su Ling could not swallow her resentment, so she had her brother beat Li Liang up real hard one night.
Somehow, the affair between Li Liang and Ye Qing got exposed at school, and these days, student-teacher relationships are taboo.
This put the two involved in a panic.
Ye Qing didn’t show up for work this week, making it quite apparent.
For two consecutive weeks, this continued, giving Lin Wan a perfect excuse.
Early Saturday morning, Lin Wan waited at a key intersection for Ye Qing. Sure enough, around nine o’clock, Ye Qing appeared in front of Lin Wan, looking exhausted and with dark circles under her eyes.
Running into Lin Wan here was unexpected for Ye Qing, given how stressful these past few weeks had been; it was not only Lin Wan who hadn’t crumbled, even she herself had become entangled.
"Xiao Wan, what are you doing here? Let’s go to the shop together." Ye Qing forced an unnatural smile and tried to link arms with Lin Wan.
Lin Wan turned aside, avoiding her, and smiled, saying, "There’s no need to go to the shop, business hasn’t been very busy lately, and I’m finding it difficult managing too many people. You didn’t give us a heads-up for the past two weeks when you didn’t come; we thought you weren’t coming anymore. Here’s your pay from a couple of weeks ago that you hadn’t collected. I heard your studies have been intense recently; we’re here for learning, so you should focus on your studies. Don’t let this little money delay your education; if that’s the case, it would be hard to explain to your uncle and aunt when we go back." Lin Wan stuffed two yuan into her hand.
"Xiao Wan, my studies aren’t too stressful, these two weeks I didn’t come because... I wasn’t feeling well, but I’m better now. I will definitely come to work on time from now on." Two yuan a week makes eight in a month, plus school subsidies, sometimes she could even buy a piece of clothing with the leftover. Such a good deal couldn’t be lost.
"Sick?" Lin Wan looked at Ye Qing with concern and said, "Studying and working really takes a toll, being healthy is fundamental for revolution. Seeing you weak , you’ve certainly been exhausted these past few months." As Lin Wan spoke, she quickly took out another two yuan and placed it in her hand. "Use this money to get yourself some supplements, take good care of yourself, don’t wear yourself down. You don’t need to come to the shop anymore; focus on your studies."
Lin Wan seemed genuinely worried, which confused Ye Qing into actually listening to Lin Wan’s words and turning back.
Once her mind cleared, Lin Wan was nowhere to be seen. Ye Qing spat out and cursed Lin Wan, "Who cares to be your little worker? It’s just some stinking money, hardly worth anything."
Last week, Li Liang’s wife caused a scene at school; unexpectedly, his wife turned out to be fierce, pulling out a handful of Ye Qing’s hair, even making her scalp bleed.
Now the whole school is mocking her.
Li Liang has connections at the school, the leadership dared not anger him, instead they issued Ye Qing, an unknown student, a disciplinary notice.
Hmph, Ye Qing is not someone to be bullied easily.
If I can’t have peace, none of you can expect it either.
Lin Wan was quite relieved to get rid of the hassle that was Ye Qing.
At the shop, she specially called her brother and mother into a private room. She recounted the recent events to them, of course leaving out how she drove Ye Qing away, pretending Ye Qing just stopped coming on her own.
"Unexpected, how could such a good girl get involved in something ."