Being a Tutor to a Rich, Psychopathic Young Lady - Chapter 41

Chapter 41

When the crowd realized she was a family member and made way for her, Shi Mingyue saw the ground covered in bl00d. Zou Huiqin’s eyes were wide open, her hands hanging down, and bl00d was still dripping and flowing.

Shi Mingyue tried to stand up. She stood up, fell, and stood up again. Her legs were so weak that her body was uncoordinated. She yelled, “Mom, Mom, Mom!”

“Let, let the family member come through.”

“Oh, she’s just a child.”

“The dad is probably dead. The mom fell on her back. I don’t know if there was a cushion, but I don’t know if she’ll survive.”

Everyone watched as Shi Mingyue stumbled and chased after the surgery department, yelling “Mom.” The things in her hands were shattered. She wanted to catch up, but she couldn’t.

A family member helped her and took her to the right place.

The person was pushed into the emergency room.

People were walking back and forth in the corridor. The police also came and asked a few questions. Shi Mingyue was as if her soul had been drained. She couldn’t answer a single word. Her phone rang, but her hands were trembling and she didn’t have the strength to pick it up.

Finally, the doctor said, “I’m sorry, we did our best.”

They couldn’t be saved. Both of them were dead.

Shi Mingyue was in a daze. She didn’t cry. She wanted to go and see her mom but couldn’t stand up. The police officer reached out and put his arm around her twice. Finally, he helped her to a chair to sit down.

Later, her aunt and uncle rushed over. They saw Shi Mingyue sitting on the chair, completely lost. They called her name, but she didn’t respond. Her aunt squatted down and saw that her pants were torn at the knees, and the bl00d had already clotted. Her elbows and legs were all bruised.

Her aunt helped her downstairs and told her uncle to handle the procedures. Shi Mingyue followed her uncle around the corner to see her mom for the last time.

She didn’t look good, but her eyes were closed.

When she came out, she collapsed again. Her ears were filled with “Mingyue, Mingyue.” Shi Mingyue still couldn’t tell who was calling her. She felt as if she had seen her mom jump. She seemed to have called her name when she jumped.

When she came out, it was already dark. Her aunt went to the ward to pack Zou Huiqin’s things, but she couldn’t get in. She was told that the ward was still being investigated.

Her aunt came down again to look for Shi Mingyue. Shi Mingyue was sitting on a stone chair under a camphor tree, hugging a thermos with a cracked corner.

That night, the police came to tell the family the results of the investigation. Someone had seen Shi Chongbin taking off the window before her parents fell. They had stopped him in time. Shi Chongbin said his wife’s bracelet was stuck and didn’t pay attention. In the end, he fell from the chair. Her mom, in a hurry or something, grabbed him, and they fell down together.

Then the police asked her, “Your mom had a gold bracelet, right?”

The police found the box that held the bracelet in the ward. The forensic department checked it. It had Zou Huiqin’s and Shi Chongbin’s fingerprints on it. The police asked again. Shi Mingyue gave a blank “oh” and then nodded. “Yes, that’s right.”

Her mom had never worn that bracelet. It couldn’t have been stuck there. But what did it matter? It didn’t seem to affect the outcome.

“There’s something else. Your dad had 100,000 yuan in his hand. He’s been beaten a lot recently. His card-playing friends said it had something to do with your sister. Your sister hit him. Do you know about this?”

Shi Mingyue shook her head, her voice hoarse. “I don’t know. He’s lying. My sister has been in school for a long time. My mom said he was beaten because he lost money gambling.”

The police said something else. People from the hospital also came.

The hospital staff brought the video from outside.

The responsibility for this accident had to be determined. From the looks of it, it had nothing to do with the hospital. The hospital’s windows had safety limiters installed. The patient had forcibly removed it. The medical staff were also patrolling. The first time a conflict occurred, the hospital also told the family to have someone watch over them 24 hours a day. It met the medical safety standards.

At this point, it was very clear. They were the main ones responsible for this accident. You wouldn’t die if you didn’t seek death. You couldn’t stop them.

Shi Mingyue said “okay.”

Everything happened very quickly. Her aunt and uncle paid a high price to hire a car to transport Zou Huiqin back. They were in such a hurry that they didn’t even have time to order a coffin.

In the end, they took out her grandma’s coffin. They wiped Zou Huiqin’s body and changed her clothes. A funeral hall was set up at her grandma’s old house. As for Shi Chongbin, no one cared about him here.

Her uncle asked, “Should we have your sister come back?”

Her aunt said, “Why ask her? She’s also a child. We’ll decide.” As she spoke, she walked to Shi Mingyue, hugged her, touched her head, and pinched her ears to call her soul back. “It’s alright, Mingyue. It’s alright. Don’t be scared. It’s alright.”

She was in her senior year of high school. An accident happening at this time would have a big impact on her. Her aunt called Shi Fanxing. After hanging up, she said, “If your sister is smart, holding on to this anger and getting into a good school would be worth it. Your mom didn’t lose anything.”

Zou Huiqin’s whole life was a “loss.” She had good grades, but because of the preference for sons, she fell for Shi Chongbin after he supported her for one year of high school. No matter how much he hit her, she wouldn’t leave. She loved him to death.

Fortunately, her love for her children was a little more. After Shi Chongbin hit and killed her third child, she gave up on him and no longer had any hope.

Shi Mingyue looked up at the sky. Her aunt saw her move and was relieved. She comforted her, telling her that this had nothing to do with her. Shi Chongbin would die today or tomorrow. Her aunt said that her mom had called her a few days ago, asking her how Mingyue and Xingxing could stay away from Shi Chongbin in the future.

Her aunt replied, “Why don’t you just stay away from him?”

Zou Huiqin: “That won’t work. He’ll find me.”

Her aunt cursed at her, telling her not to think about it and just stay away. At that time, she thought Zou Huiqin was just stupid and couldn’t leave Shi Chongbin. She cursed at her a few times. Who knew that she would use this method to bind the two of them together so they couldn’t be separated, and she would drag Shi Chongbin to his death…

The two were buried separately. Shi Chongbin had brothers and sisters. They were quite united. They came to her grandma’s house and pretended to negotiate to bury him. Her aunt put her hands on her hips and yelled at them, saying that they would never see him again after death. Mingyue and Xingxing would never go and see him in this life.

After cursing, her aunt told her, “Your uncle and his family went to the hospital and caused a scene. The hospital said they would compensate 30,000 yuan. We didn’t want it at first, but if the hospital really compensates it, the money will never get into their hands. After your mom is buried, if they don’t take the initiative to give us the money, your uncle and I will go and get it. We have to leave some money for you two. If they cause a scene, the doctors will sue them. It’s best if they don’t get a single penny and go to jail! Shameless!”

This world was so ironic. Because she was being transported back to her maiden home to be buried, and because she was a woman, besides her relatives and a few nearby villages, not many people came to pay their respects. Shi Chongbin’s side was lively, with many tables for the funeral banquet.

Her aunt patted her on the shoulder to comfort her. Shi Mingyue said, “I just think it’s unfair.”

“What’s fair or unfair? Your mom was forced to a dead end.”

One was a senior in college and the other was in her senior year of high school. She was also sick. Shi Chongbin was getting more and more aggressive. The only way to get rid of him was to die. Who could have known what Zou Huiqin was thinking and what decision she had made in her heart these past few days?

Or, if she had noticed at that time and said something to her, would there have been a moment when she could have pulled her back?

Shi Mingyue carefully recalled if there were any missing details. She thought and thought. Every day was a normal day. Her extra worries were just… that Xiao Dengqu was going home, which was a little annoying.

Shi Mingyue received an unexpected call. Xiao Chengyue called. He knew that both of Shi Mingyue’s parents had passed away.

The bodyguards were still watching after Xiao Dengqu left. It was just that Zou Huiqin personally went to pick up the person. They didn’t hit people up close. They were lurking in the corridor, listening for movement. When they heard the sound, the person had already fallen from the building. Of course, they didn’t dare to tell the young lady. They immediately called Xiao Chengyue to inform him.

Xiao Chengyue said, “Do you have money for the funeral?”

Shi Mingyue said, “Yes.”

Xiao Chengyue said, “I haven’t told Xiao Dengqu about this.”

Shi Mingyue said she knew.

She didn’t ask why.

The call was hung up. Shi Mingyue’s hands were trembling. She gripped them tightly.

…

Shi Fanxing came back from school that day. The two sisters didn’t say a word. They silently burned paper. They took turns keeping watch at night. In the morning, Shi Fanxing’s eyes were very swollen. She had a harder time accepting it than Shi Mingyue. She started crying as soon as she spoke. “Sister, are you scared?”

Shi Mingyue asked, “Scared of what?”

Shi Fanxing couldn’t speak properly. She kept sobbing and crying, covering her face with both hands. “I know you actually loved Mom a lot. You just don’t say it. Mom also said that you cared about her the most. You must be very scared.”

Shi Mingyue blinked. She walked over and touched Shi Fanxing’s forehead. “Don’t cry. We’re going to move the coffin soon.”

Her cousin also came back to be a filial son. He took care of a lot of things. He ran around and did all the heavy lifting, trying to make things easier for his two cousins.

The two of them, as filial daughters, had to walk in front. When they were buried, the two of them knelt next to the grave. The weather, which had been cool for a few days, turned sunny today.

After the burial, Shi Mingyue and Shi Fanxing didn’t leave. They sat next to the grave. Their grandma was helped away. Their cousin was squatting at the end of the road. At noon, the sun was very hot, making their faces hurt. Shi Mingyue got up and called Shi Fanxing. Shi Fanxing kowtowed hard on the ground. When they reached the end of the road and were about to turn, Shi Mingyue looked back. Just three days ago, she was still alive in front of her eyes. Now, she had become a mound on the green grass. Her body would gradually rot and turn into bones. There would never be a lively voice or a warm breath again.

On the way back, Shi Fanxing saw her sister close her eyes tightly, tears streaming down her face. She pursed her lips, and her arms tensed up, trembling under the scorching sun.

Shi Fanxing walked over and held her sister’s hand. She felt sorry for her sister too. She had to go through everything. She couldn’t imagine what her sister was going through inside.

When they arrived at her grandma’s house, Shi Mingyue went to sleep. She woke up in the evening. Her aunt’s family had cleaned up the funeral hall. Her aunt was in the living room discussing with her uncle that after they finished the busy farming season, they would go to Shi Fanxing’s school and rent a house to take care of her so she could study. She told her uncle to go and inquire about places to rent.

Her cousin was about the same age as Shi Fanxing. His grades were terrible. He had been in the worst school. He didn’t even pass the minimum score for a regular high school. Now he couldn’t stay in school and was directly studying smart home appliance technology.

Shi Fanxing ran over and asked Shi Mingyue if they should trouble their aunt. Shi Mingyue nodded. Shi Mingyue called her advisor and said that she would go to school as soon as she finished handling the family matters.

Her aunt didn’t keep her for long. She sat with her for a while and told her to call if anything happened.

The next morning, her aunt cooked. When Shi Mingyue left, she kowtowed to her aunt. Her cousin drove them. Shi Fanxing went to her school first. Finally, she dropped Shi Mingyue off at the bus station. Her cousin called out to her, “Sister, call me if you need anything. Don’t keep it all in.”

Shi Mingyue nodded.

Memories flooded her mind. Shi Mingyue recalled the first time she went to college. At that time, Zou Huiqin was holding her suitcase and wanted to talk to her, but she didn’t want Zou Huiqin to see her off, and she didn’t want to see Zou Huiqin cry.

Sitting on the green train, Shi Mingyue looked out the window again. She really, really wanted to find that feeling of hope and anticipation she had before, but everything she saw was blurry, as if a thread had been pulled out of her.

It was so, so painful.

Why didn’t she turn back then?

Even just for a glance.

If she hadn’t been so cold, if she had tried a little harder, and given her a little hope, like when she was a child, writing her a letter and telling her that she would take her away and they would escape far, far away. Maybe she would become very powerful and be able to drive Shi Chongbin away.

Shi Mingyue didn’t want to remember, but her mind was flooded with all the good things Zou Huiqin did. She went to school to see her, washed her sheets, and worried that she wasn’t eating enough or wearing enough clothes.

Her heart hurt so much. She pulled down the table tray and lay on it, covering her chest. The pain made her feel like she was going to die…

…

Shi Mingyue only remembered to pay her tuition after she returned to school. She tidied up her dorm and then went to find her advisor.

A few days ago, it was time to pay tuition. The advisor couldn’t get in touch with Shi Mingyue. She asked a few of her roommates and finally got in touch with Cheng Jin. Cheng Jin just paid it for her.

The advisor said that the professor who was mentoring her called a few days ago and told her to call him back. The advisor also said, “I saw that Cheng Jin has been asking about studying abroad for her master’s degree. Are you sure you don’t want to get a guaranteed spot for your master’s? Your grades are very good. It would be a shame to just find a job. You can go a little further.”

Shi Mingyue didn’t directly refuse as she had before. She said, “I’ll think about it.”

The advisor also knew about her family situation. In her sophomore year, Shi Mingyue’s grades were good enough to apply for a direct PhD program. It was a great opportunity, but because of the family accident, she missed it. The advisor said, “Don’t miss a good opportunity this time, or you’ll regret it later. Don’t forget to contact your professor. He’s mentioned it several times.”

Since her freshman year, Shi Mingyue had participated in every competition with a prize. She got the national scholarship every time, and she had enough papers. There was nothing to worry about.

Although Shi Mingyue was in a daze, she knew what was going on in her heart. She nodded. “I know. I’ll seize the opportunity. Thank you, Teacher.”

“…Hmm, how’s your mom?” the advisor asked.

Shi Mingyue didn’t say anything. The advisor’s tone became much gentler and told her to go eat.

Shi Mingyue went to the bathroom to wash her face. She wiped her hands and transferred the tuition money back to Cheng Jin. She said she would treat her to dinner tomorrow.

When she returned to the dorm, she contacted her professor. She didn’t get to know her professor through the school. At first, she took on design projects to make some extra money, and her professor contacted her.

The professor had a video conference with her and talked for a long time. Shi Mingyue didn’t have any classes in her senior year. The professor asked her to help out in the lab first. Shi Mingyue subconsciously said, “I’m a little busy. I have to work.”

After saying that, she was stunned. “I’m sorry, I’m not that busy anymore. A lot of things have been taken care of.”

“Don’t forget to go through the procedures,” the professor said.

After hanging up the phone, Shi Mingyue opened WeChat. There were a lot of messages accumulated. She needed to look at them one by one. It took her a long time to focus.

When she got to the end, she didn’t know why, but she suddenly thought of something Zou Huiqin had said. “Mingyue has loved airplanes since she was little.”

Her tone was so cautious and proud. At that time, Shi Mingyue just said “mm.” Now that she thought about it, it was a farewell.

She hadn’t dreamed of Zou Huiqin these past few days. Before, when she came home and went back to school, she would have nightmares. She would dream of being hit, and she would dream of Zou Huiqin being hit. She would hide in the closet, covering her ears and not daring to come out.

One time, she pushed open the closet and crawled out. Zou Huiqin was squatting on the ground, gluing the wings of a small airplane for her. Then she said, “Mingyue, I’ll take you to buy another one at the market tomorrow.”

Besides not leaving, Zou Huiqin never broke a promise to her. She always did what she said she would do. Shi Mingyue had always felt that she hated her and had to stay far away from her.

She never expected…

Shi Mingyue wiped away the tears on her keyboard, cleaned up her dorm, and took a shower.

She replied to Xiao Dengqu’s message: I’ll come to your house the day after tomorrow.

Xiao Dengqu: Can’t you come tomorrow?

Shi Mingyue: I have something to do at school.

Xiao Dengqu: Okay.

Shi Mingyue took a picture of the contract and sent it to her, showing that it was already signed. Xiao Dengqu: I’ll come to your school to get it tomorrow night.

Shi Mingyue: I won’t be at school tomorrow.

Xiao Dengqu: Mm-hmm.

Shi Mingyue took a shower and lay down to sleep. She woke up in the middle of the night and went to the bathroom to throw up. She looked at her phone. Xiao Dengqu: Come early. I miss you a lot.

The next morning, she went to her professor’s lab. After a brief introduction, Shi Mingyue started learning and helping out.

At noon, she bought food to eat. Maybe because she was used to being frugal, she ate the cheapest noodles. In the afternoon, she went to the lab again. There were some things she didn’t understand, so she went to the library.

In the evening, she met Cheng Jin at a hot pot restaurant behind the school. Shi Mingyue was treating. She pushed the menu to her. Cheng Jin said she had a group deal on Meituan and would use her own.

Shi Mingyue said, “Order whatever you want. It’s fine. We can use the group deal later.”

Cheng Jin saw that she wasn’t right. She asked, “What’s wrong? Your mom’s condition…”

“I’m getting a guaranteed spot for my master’s at school. I’ve already joined the lab. I’ll be helping out in the lab in my senior year.”

Cheng Jin said, “Ah.” Shi Mingyue said, “I don’t have that much money to go abroad. I know you’ll help me, but that feeling of being tied down is too strong. I can’t pay you back. I’m sorry. Cheng Jin, our study fields are also different.”

Cheng Jin was extremely sad. It felt like she had a lump in her throat. She raised her hand, placed it on the table, and wanted to grab Shi Mingyue’s hand, but she saw that Shi Mingyue had clenched her fingers.

Cheng Jin supported her face with her hand. She couldn’t say any words of blessing. She guessed that Shi Mingyue’s mom had something happen to her, so she couldn’t say any words of comfort either.

Shi Mingyue said, “I wish us a bright future, Xiao Jin.”

It took Cheng Jin a long time to respond. “I wish us a bright future.”

She just checked off two dishes. Shi Mingyue took the menu and chose a few more. The waiter served the food.

Cheng Jin said, “So there’s no hope at all?”

“I’ve also thought about it. I’d regret it if I missed you, but I’m scared. Xiao Jin, you’re excellent and very charming. From the time we met until now, you’ve always cooperated with me when we ate. I was always awkward and scared, but you were gentle and accommodating. But my ability to handle pressure is too low,” Shi Mingyue said. “I’m really thankful for you.”

“Was it that time we went to my great-aunt’s house? Did you see my parents?” Cheng Jin also guessed it. At that time, Shi Mingyue had been avoiding her.

Maybe she had thought about giving it a try, but that one time, she gave up completely.

She had no appetite for this meal. Cheng Jin was choked. Shi Mingyue poured her some water. After eating, they walked around the area.

Xiao Dengqu called Shi Mingyue. Shi Mingyue looked at it and messaged her back: A little busy.

When she got back to school, Shi Mingyue walked Cheng Jin to her dorm. Cheng Jin asked her, “Did you never want to go abroad?”

Shi Mingyue had just given her the answer. Cheng Jin also felt that asking again was redundant. With Shi Mingyue’s situation, how could she go with her?

“Why didn’t you ever say… that you were afraid I’d stay in China?” Cheng Jin said.

Shi Mingyue said, “You’re very优秀 (excellent). It would be bad if you stayed in China because of me.”

Cheng Jin thought for a moment. “You… The two of us. I actually didn’t want to fly out that much. I chose this major entirely because of my parents. But you, you really wanted to fly out, didn’t you? I remember your eyes were red the first time you gave up.” She remembered that Shi Mingyue didn’t cry. At that time, she didn’t dare to ask. Shi Mingyue had held it in for three months.

Shi Mingyue took over half an hour to walk back to her dorm.

When she got to a darker area, she replied to Xiao Dengqu’s message: I’ll come tomorrow afternoon.

When she got back to her dorm, she messaged the butler again. She said the conditions didn’t have to be that good. It was difficult to live in now. She had to rearrange her class schedule. Also, the conditions didn’t have to be that good. She wasn’t that short on money anymore. Her aunt and uncle said that her brother was still young and not in a hurry to get married. Their “not in a hurry” was not paying it back.

The butler was efficient and quickly sent her a new version: “Give me the first one you signed. The sir wants it.”

He also said, “The salary remains the same. There’s no breach of contract fee. Your studies are the most important.”

Shi Mingyue said “okay.”

After everything was settled, Shi Mingyue helped out in the lab in the morning, listened to a class for a while, and at eleven, she printed out the contract, signed it again, and took the subway to the Xiao family’s house.

It was the same shaky ride, but her state of mind was different. She looked at the lit-up advertisements in the tunnel and then at the glass opposite. She should have been debt-free and lighthearted.

But she wasn’t happy at all. She curled her lips, trying to force a smile, but she couldn’t.

Shi Fanxing messaged: Sister, eat more! Auntie came to rent a house. I’ll study hard and get into a good university. I want to fly far away too!

Shi Mingyue: Mm.

…

The door to the villa was wide open.

Shi Mingyue walked straight in. She was about to look up at the window but didn’t know why she started to feel nauseous before she even looked.

Shi Mingyue bent over, covering her abdomen with her hand.

The sprinkler in the yard was spraying a fine mist of water. The weather in Kyoto was still hot. The high temperature enveloped all the trees and flowers. The girl from before had moved from the window to the grass. Her white skirt, and even the moons, little bears, cats, and rabbits on her arms, were all wet.

Everything seemed to have changed, and yet nothing seemed to have changed.