Gong Mingxia’s days were busy and fulfilling, but when midnight dreams returned, she still often dreamed of the original owner asking her soul-searching questions.
"Why haven’t you reported it yet? I clearly got into college, so why haven’t you reported that slut?"
Only when Gong Mingxia woke from her dreams did she realize she was drenched in cold sweat, waking Cao Yuan as well, "What’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"
Mingxia thought for a moment before looking at Cao Yuan, "There’s something that has been preying on my mind."
Then, she found her examination admission ticket and some of the student registration materials from Beijing Business University from the bookshelf in the room, and handed them to Cao Yuan. After Cao Yuan carefully read them, he was stupefied.
"This person’s name is the same as yours, but the photo and appearance are different. What is this?"
Under Cao Yuan’s incredulous gaze, she nodded her head, "Yes, I was admitted that year with a score of five hundred and sixty-eight, and then I was replaced by this woman."
Cao Yuan’s eyebrows instantly twisted into knots, "Replaced? That’s not something one person can accomplish."
Mingxia nodded, "Indeed, this isn’t something one person can achieve, and besides, I was in the class of 1985. It’s already been eighteen years since then. Even though I have these documents that prove the replacement, the education and future I have lost can never be compensated for."
"You knew all along?" Mingxia nodded, "I found out in ’97. Someone told me anonymously. Later, when I went to Business University to inquire, I learned that indeed I had been replaced. That family had influence in our local area, and me, a divorced person with a daughter, simply had no power to fight against them, so I had to bear it until today."
"So now that you’re bringing it out, are you thinking of reporting it?"
Gong Mingxia shook her head, "I don’t know how to report it, nor do I know if reporting it will be of any use, but I’m not willing to just watch the imposter get away with it. So, do you have any ideas?"
Upon learning that Mingxia had made it into college but was robbed of her life, Cao Yuan’s heart felt deeply pained and angry.
He looked at Gong Mingxia and said every word deliberately, "We must seek justice for ourselves. Leave this matter to me; if you can’t handle it, I can. I have many comrades, and even in your H Province, I have contacts. You just need to be psychologically prepared that this will be like pulling up a radish and bringing out the dirt in a vicious circle. If we really expose it later, our lives will not know peace."
Gong Mingxia nodded, "I am already psychologically prepared. But now with the internet not so developed, first, please ask your comrades to quietly help me gather more substantial evidence. I feel if we find a more appropriate moment, the effect might be better." ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novelFɪre.net
Although Cao Yuan didn’t quite understand what "internet not developed" meant, Mingxia was always intelligent and never acted without certainty, so he agreed readily but still couldn’t help asking, "Is Business University a first-tier institution?"
Gong Mingxia nodded, "It is a first-tier. That person, she only scored in the three hundreds that year, I don’t even know how she graduated!"
Cao Yuan’s lips twitched, "This is truly... the height of shamelessness!"
"Isn’t it just? But it’s been eighteen years since my college entrance exam year. Many of the responsible people may not be in office anymore, and it’s even more uncertain what troubles uncovering this scandal will bring upon me. But no matter what trials and tribulations await me, I must seek this justice for myself!"