Back Then, I Adored You

After hanging up the phone, Qin Zhi’ai’s mother hurried out of her bedroom to the door; however, she immediately went back to her room when she realized that she had forgotten her wallet.

Qin Zhi’ai frowned and asked, “Mom, what’s wrong?”

“Jiayan…” Qin Zhi’ai’s mom had already walked back to her room before finishing.

Qin Zhi’ai frowned harder and walked fast to catch up with her mother at the bedroom door. “Jiayan? What’s happened to Jiayan?”

“The dean at his school just called me and told me Jiayan was caught cheating on his English Proficiency Level Six test. He’ll not only be disqualified for the test, but it’ll also go on his record.” Her mom ran to the door with her wallet in her hand as she talked. As she was changing her shoes, her eyes got red.

Cheating? How could Jiayan cheat?

He had been super smart since he was little. He never had to study for tests to get a good grade. The English Proficiency Level Six test should have been easy for him. He had no reason to cheat.

Qin Zhi’ai hurriedly dried her hair, saying, “Mom, wait for me for a minute. I’m coming with you.” Even though she hadn’t eaten yet, she was going. As she ran back to her bedroom to change her clothes, her mother urged her to hurry as she moved faster toward the front door.

Once on the road, they quickly hailed a taxi. On their way to Jiayan’s school, Qin Zhi’ai’s mother held onto her hand and nagged her.

“Can you tell me why Jiayan would cheat on his test?”

“He’s going to graduate soon. If the school puts this on his record, what company is going to hire him?”

“Xiao’ai? Do you think we should buy some kind of gift for the dean?”

Qin Zhi’ai had no idea how to answer any of these questions. As her mother began to panic, she remained calm while trying to comfort her mother. “Mom, don’t scare yourself. Let’s go find out what actually happened first. Besides, Jiayan may not have cheated on the test.”

Qin Zhi’ai paused, recalling the words that Liang Doukou had told her on the night she was leaving the hospital after Old Master Gu was rushed to surgery.

Qin Zhi’ai went quiet before saying more. Her mother became confused and turned to say to her, “Xiao’ai, what are you thinking?”

“Nothing,” Qin Zhi’ai said, shaking her head and smiling to reassure her. She turned to look out of the window.

I hadn’t left China that day, and Gu Yusheng had been in a car accident.

I then called Xiaowang and Lu Bancheng to let them know what had happened to Gu Yusheng.

Liang Doukou must have learned through them that I hadn’t left. Could she have done something to Jiayan?

She married Gu Yusheng as she had always wanted to. Why would she be so mean to my family and me? Or am I just making too much of this?

…

When they arrived at the school, Qin Zhi’ai quickly paid the taxi driver and went to the dean’s office with her mother.

Several teachers were gathered around Jiayan, lecturing him as they walked in.

Qin Jiayan in his white shirt quietly stood within the group of teachers, while looking down and remaining silent.

They stopped lecturing Qin Jiayan when they saw Qin Zhi’ai and her mother walked in.

One of the male teachers, the student dean, was not nice when he greeted Qin Zhi’ai and her mother. He even pretended he did not see Qin Zhi’ai’s mother reaching her hand out to shake hands. With a dour expression, he ignored her hand and proceeded to explain to them what had happened.