The Female Lead Keeps Forcing Me to Take My Meds [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Come Here and Let Me See 

Anshi No. 1 High School was located in a prosperous area, just across the street from the city’s largest stadium, where major events were often held.

The campus occupied a vast area. The junior and senior high sections were contiguous, and most senior high students were promoted directly from the junior section, so most people were familiar with each other.

Because the conditions for external enrollment into the senior high section were strict, it was difficult for those not promoted from the junior high to attend the school. Only a small number of transfer students came each year.

Cheng Zhishu was one of this year’s few transfer students. Unlike the others, she transferred halfway through the semester, her learning progress was different, and she often felt out of place among the other students.

Building such a large campus in this expensive, prime real estate area, with a founding history tracing back over a century, showed its extraordinary strength.

A school that had existed for so long inevitably had seldom-visited nooks and crannies. These corners, easily overlooked by others, were prone to harbor secrets and trouble.

The sun was setting now, the molten gold of the dusk fading. Weeds grew tall in front of a locked iron gate.

The security guard, who had checked the surveillance, said: “According to the footage, the end of the corridor where she disappeared leads right here. If you turn left at the fork, you can hop the wall to the internet cafe behind the school.”

This area was abandoned, so there was naturally no surveillance. The back gate camera broke ages ago and was merely a prop now.

Shangguan Yin surveyed the surroundings: “Is this the place?”

Shangguan Yin was a good student. The worst disciplinary action she’d ever committed was passing notes in class. She could hardly imagine what rule-breaking entailed.

Looking at the weeds that were as high as her shins, she began to doubt whether she should be looking for Cheng Zhishu down the street behind the school.

The security guard suddenly felt the urge to pull out a cigarette. He glanced at the person who had followed them and pulled his hand back.

Remembering that this was someone the Principal treated with utmost respect, the security guard straightened his attitude slightly: “I told you, finding her in the internet cafe would be faster than searching this place. Junior high students love crossing over here and then hopping the wall to leave…”

Xi Congshuang: “Open the gate. I want to go in and look. She’s a good girl; she wouldn’t go out to surf the net.”

The security guard felt that parents these days were overly dramatic, stubbornly refusing to believe their own children skipped class, only to be humiliated later when the child was caught in an internet cafe.

Besides, it was almost time for his shift to end, and he was eager to go home for dinner.

The security guard said: “This is a derelict building that’s been abandoned for a long time. No one comes here. It’s full of junk. Why go inside?”

Xi Congshuang said with impatience: “I equipped her room with the latest generation of electronic products, and I never restrict her use. Nothing outside can compare to what I gave her.”

“Less talk. Open the door quickly.”

“…”

This reason was indeed compelling.

The security guard pulled out his phone: “The key to the old building isn’t with me. I have to call and ask who has it.”

Shangguan Yin looked down at the phone in her hand—the other one belonged to Cheng Zhishu, and it was indeed the newly released model this year.

Thinking back, Cheng Zhishu got it even before the launch date. The product launch event for this phone was held a month ago, and it was officially released three days ago.

Cheng Zhishu showed up with the phone shortly after transferring, a full half a month before its official release.

She had previously worried that Cheng Zhishu would have to live cautiously under the Young Miss, as she had witnessed Xi Congshuang’s temper firsthand, albeit from a distance at a crowded banquet.

Now, Shangguan Yin thought: I wonder if Miss Xi needs another adopted sister? Even an adopted daughter would be fine, QAQ. My godmother is Orange (Cheng Zhishu)!

Shangguan Yin thought: People are so fickle.

The rumors misled me!

In what world is this ‘cowering under the thumb of the Young Miss’?

Xi Hanran, who arrived a step later, was carrying a bottle of mineral water. She was truly thirsty and had gone to buy water immediately after getting out of the car.

Trailing behind her was a middle-aged woman with glasses, walking hurriedly with a tote bag slung over her shoulder.

The woman recognized her and was surprised: “Miss Xi, Xiaoyin, why are you here? Didn’t you say Zhishu was missing? Has she been found?”

Shangguan Yin quickly replied: “Orange’s exam room was arranged in the special class at the very end. We checked the surveillance and saw her head here alone. The fork in the road to the left is the wall to the back gate. Miss Xi says she wants to open the gate and check inside the derelict building.”

Because Cheng Zhishu was a transfer student, her previous score was 0, and monthly exam results were used for class assignments. It was normal for her to be assigned to the special class area.

Xi Congshuang: “I don’t believe she would hop the wall. Even if she did, she wouldn’t forget to take her phone and school bag.”

The homeroom teacher’s expression turned serious: “I also believe Zhishu wouldn’t hop the wall. We should check all possible locations.”

However…

She last saw Xi Congshuang five years ago at the school anniversary. At that time, she gave a speech as an outstanding alumna, was personally hosted by the principal, and donated a batch of air conditioners to replace the old ones.

Now, times had changed. The spirited young woman from back then was confined to a wheelchair, her eyes cast down, radiating an inexplicable gloom.

The security guard reached out to rattle the massive iron gate. The thick chain rattled loudly, and the lock showed no sign of having been opened; it was rusted.

He held his phone to his ear, speaking loudly: “Yes, the key to the derelict building… not with you? If not with you, then where? You asked… What? Teacher Zheng is in a meeting and can’t be asked?”

The campus was very empty at this time, and the security guard’s voice carried far, startling the tired birds on a nearby tree branch, who flapped their wings and flew away.

Xi Congshuang looked up at the thick chain: “If you can’t find the key, can I cut the chain?”

The homeroom teacher, who was about to call someone to help find the key: “What?”

Xi Congshuang: “I don’t have the patience to keep waiting. I’ll pay for the replacement chain and lock, no matter the cost.”

The moment she finished speaking, someone carrying an electric saw arrived. It was the driver, Xiao Li, bringing a professional worker.

Xi Hanran, who was taking a drink of water from her bottle: “Pfft—”

She wiped her mouth and asked in shock: “Seriously, Xi Congshuang? Are you that sure she’s inside?”

When did she even ask Xiao Li to find a saw operator?

This is going to cause too much of a commotion.

Xi Congshuang raised her hand and pointed to the wall covered in ivy: “Didn’t you see? A section of the wall there is missing. The ivy has marks from being stepped on and dragged. There’s a sandbag on the ground. It was clearly used to assist in hopping the wall, then stepping on the recess to climb in.”

At Xi Congshuang’s prompting, Xi Hanran did notice the anomaly there. Moreover, the marks on the ivy looked like they weren’t from just one time, as it was less dense than in other areas.

The security guard was startled: “Impossible! We patrol the school every day. We’ve never seen anyone go to the derelict building.”

“You want me to cut this, right?” The worker, carrying a fully loaded tool bag that jingled as he walked, cut the iron chain in a couple of quick motions. It clanged to the ground.

“All set. The door is open.”

The large gate, which hadn’t been opened in who knows how many years, was pushed open. Xiao Li scanned a code on his phone to pay the worker, telling him to leave.

He turned to grab Xi Congshuang’s wheelchair handles to push her inside, only to see the wheelchair shoot out with a ‘whoosh,’ moving faster than a human could run.

Xiao Li: “…”

…

The security guard’s voice had not been heard by the people inside, but the sound of the electric saw cutting the chain faintly reached the washroom of the derelict building.

However, it was chaotic inside, and no one heard the commotion outside. They were stepping on the damp floor, eager to rush out.

Suddenly, a scream rang out, which quickly turned into a muffled groan.

“Why did you push me!”

“She’s crazy! She poked me with a mop head!”

“Who knows what was washed with that mop! Ugh—that’s disgusting! So much dust!”

“My camera! My camera is going to break!”

The locked door was forcefully flung open. Several students rushed out, all of them partially wet.

They were all wearing the school uniform, looking panicked. They were frantically running out but stopped as if they’d seen a ghost.

Someone screamed: “A ghost! A wheelchair ghost!!!”

Every school had similar legends, such as the school being built on a mass grave, using students’ yang energy to suppress the yin energy, or that people had died on certain unused floors or buildings, and they would be haunted at night.

This school was no exception. It was by chance that these few discovered this place. They had come here many times to secretly smoke. Their courage was not particularly great, easily broken. They stood rooted to the spot, hugging each other and screaming.

Cheng Zhishu quickly chased after them: “I said, give me back my things…”

She stopped mid-sentence, her expression the exact same as the others who had run out—seeing a ghost, but with an added layer of disbelief.

Xi Congshuang gripped the joystick, sizing up the figure not far away.

Her face was a bit dirty, her uniform was also dirty, and her trouser legs were wet, but her spirit was good. Seeing Xi Congshuang, she seemed like a startled animal.

Xi Congshuang’s gaze dropped to the object clutched in Cheng Zhishu’s hand. Her eyes showed a hint of novelty and scrutiny, as this was a departure from the Cheng Zhishu she had previously seen.

She was neither compliant nor meekly good-tempered. Her face showed clear anger.

She held a stick, which looked very much like a mop handle. However, since no one had been to this area for so long, the water hadn’t stopped, but the cleaning tool hadn’t been used in so long that it had broken, leaving only a stick after a few swings.

Because the mop head had fallen off.

The moment she saw Xi Congshuang, Cheng Zhishu’s mind went blank. She seemed to be thinking of nothing, yet many things flashed through her brain.

In the end, only two large words floated in her mind: “Oh no.”

For some reason, Cheng Zhishu instinctively felt that Xi Congshuang liked the pure, innocent type of person.

She was definitely not that type right now.

Would this side of her make Xi Congshuang dislike her?

“Found her! She’s here!” A shout came from behind, drawing in more people.

It was laughable that the people with two functioning legs were not as fast as Xi Congshuang. In a flash, she had disappeared. They only managed to catch up by hurrying.

Finally, following her silhouette to the location, they indeed saw several students standing by the corner building, in a place untouched by the setting sun.

The sun was gradually sinking. The sky was darkening.

The slanting sunlight stretched Xi Congshuang’s shadow long. Cheng Zhishu stood in the shadow, at a loss, her face streaked with dust.

Observing Cheng Zhishu’s face, dirty like a calico cat, Xi Congshuang reached out her hand to her: “What are you standing there for? Come here and let me see.”