Unbearable - Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Yu Wei’s peripheral vision shifted slightly as she pressed her lips together.
“My home.”
Along the way, people kept greeting Yu Wei. The crowd jostled and shoved; some looked directly at her, others tried to be discreet, yet all eyes inevitably fell on her, creating a strange, silent tension.
Whether Yu Wei didn’t notice or simply didn’t care, she just kept walking forward on her own.
Once they left the school gates, the crowd scattered in twos and threes. With no more people in the way, Yu Wei picked up her pace, her long legs moving swiftly.
The school was an old prestigious private institution, and the surrounding area had developed into a cluster of snack stalls and commercial streets. Behind the snack street lay an old village-in-the-city, with crumbling buildings piled upon each other like the skeletal husks of dead coral—dense and chaotic. It wasn’t large, but once you entered, it was difficult to find your way back out.
Yu Wei kept walking deeper into the maze.
Yu Wei hesitated for a moment, worried she might not know the way, so she had no choice but to continue following.
The old shopfronts along the alley were lined with faded signs—one read “Funeral Wreaths & Shrouds,” the neighboring one was for photo printing and copying.
The doors were all shut, no customers in sight, and no one bothered soliciting business.
“There’s no road ahead,” Yu Wei panted, legs weak from the chase.
Yu Wei turned around, frowning. “You secretly filmed me yesterday. Today you’re tailing me. What exactly do you want?”
“I didn’t… I was afraid you’d get lost…” Yu Wei stammered, then froze, realization dawning on her. Her ears flushed red with embarrassment. “You’re trying to shake me off, aren’t you…”
Her voice grew quieter the more she spoke. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. No wonder Yu Wei had been walking so fast and winding through alleys.
Her cheeks and even her neck flushed hot.
“Do you think I’m crazy?” Yu Wei snapped, her voice cold. “Stop following me.”
Yu Wei didn’t move. “Mom’s been feeling really guilty ever since she lost you at the hospital. She was so, so happy when you came back. So…”
“So what?” Yu Wei cut her off, snorting impatiently. “She lost her child, so she’s full of guilt and pain, and I’m supposed to satisfy their selfish desires because of that? Why? We’re just strangers with mutual needs. Stop trying to play the peacemaker.”
Yu Wei stood stunned, speechless.
Yu Wei turned and walked ahead.
“Stop right there.” Suddenly, three men blocked the alley, smirking and swaying their heads. Their eyes scanned over the two girls.
“Lend us some cash, will ya?”
Yu Wei’s hand at her side curled into a fist.
“How much?” she asked, pulling out her phone. “Scan the code.”
“You kidding, girl?” The men exchanged glances and sneered. “Scan it so you can report us later? Cash only. Hand it over.”
“I don’t have any cash,” Yu Wei frowned.
“Too bad for you,” one man sneered, ignoring her phone. His eyes glinted as he looked the girls up and down, then reached out toward her.
Before Yu Wei could react, she felt her collar being yanked to the side, and then a foot slammed into the man’s groin.
Yu Wei’s gaze turned sharp. “Get lost.”
“Fvck!” The man bent over in pain, his face turning pale and red in waves. “F#ck you!”
Yu Wei exploded in rage and charged.
“I called the police,” Yu Wei said, holding her phone tightly. “The station’s nearby. They’ll be here soon.”
“B*tch!” the man swore, eyes fierce as he lunged toward Yu Wei. “You think I believe that sh1t?”
Yu Wei backed up. Yu Wei grabbed a small stool from a fruit stand and smashed it over the man’s head.
A dull thud, followed by a scream.
Bl00d streamed between Yu Wei’s fingers.
She stood holding the stool, its rough wooden corner stained red. Her expression was fierce, ready to risk everything.
“Say it again. Get lost!”
Another thug ran toward Yu Wei, but Yu Wei turned just in time.
The guy who had been hit picked up a stick by the wall and swung it—there was a whooshing sound.
Yu Wei only saw a blur pass her vision, followed by a heavy thump.
Yu Wei dropped to one knee beside her, trembling and groaning.
Yu Wei’s grip on the stool tightened.
“The cops will be here soon,” Yu Wei clutched her pants, voice shaking.
The thug glanced between her phone and Yu Wei’s bloodied weapon, then cursed and tossed aside his stick.
“You b*tches are dead. Just wait.”
The three men fled.
Yu Wei didn’t chase after them.
Yu Wei let go of her clothes and slumped, her vision still dark and hazy, breathing raggedly.
Yu Wei set down the stool, knelt, and reached for her pants leg.
Yu Wei flinched. “It’s just a surface wound. I’m okay.”
Her voice was still soft, even as she sucked in painful breaths, pretending it was nothing.
“Are you insane?” Yu Wei looked up at her, lips pressed tight, eyes shadowed and unreadable.
Yu Wei pulled down her pant leg, bit her lower lip. “Really, I’m fine. It’ll heal in a few days. No big deal.”
“I told you this has nothing to do with you!” Yu Wei snapped. “I don’t need you getting hurt for me!”
Yu Wei stared, stunned, lost.
After a moment, she lowered her head. “I’m sorry.”
It was a scorching summer noon, the narrow alley trapped the heat like a sauna. The air had stopped moving.
Yu Wei struggled to stand, then felt an arm circle her waist.
Yu Wei’s voice was low and hoarse. “No need for the hospital.”
“Don’t move,” Yu Wei ordered.
“Sorry,” Yu Wei’s body tensed. “I don’t know why you’re angry…”
“You don’t owe me anything. Stop acting like you need to atone for something,” her voice was still cold. “If it’s about an apology, should I go die to make up for it?”
Yu Wei’s lips trembled from the pain. She exhaled softly, “…That’s not what I meant.”
Yu Wei’s face was tight, chest rising with restrained emotion. She turned her head, glancing at Yu Wei—her pale lashes were trembling, lips clenched to endure the pain.
“The police station is close. They’ll be here soon,” Yu Wei said. “Let’s get you to a hospital first.”
Yu Wei bit her lip and whispered, “…I didn’t call the police.”
“What?” Yu Wei’s face was filled with disbelief.
Yu Wei hesitated, chewing the inside of her cheek. News of Yu Wei transferring schools had already spread online, stirring up nasty rumors. Yu Wei wasn’t a celebrity, but she had been a rising star in the figure skating world. People still paid attention to her.
If the police report leaked online, it would invite more gossip and trouble.
Yu Wei chose her words carefully. “I didn’t want to be talked about.”
Yu Wei didn’t say anything. She took out her phone, reported the incident briefly and clearly, then hung up and looked at Yu Wei.
“What would they say about you? You can’t control what people say. But if you get assaulted or blackmailed, you go to the police. That’s your right. Didn’t anyone ever teach you that?”
Go to the police?
Yu Wei looked up at her blankly.
A gust of hot summer wind swept through the alley.
Yu Wei murmured, “Is that so?”
The station really was nearby. Before they could walk far, the police arrived.
They gave their statements in the car and were taken to the hospital.
After examination, there were no fractures, but there was soft tissue bruising and surface wounds. The stick had a nail that scratched her, but it wasn’t deep. To be safe, she got a tetanus shot. She was told to rest and avoid strenuous activity to help healing and prevent infection.
Yu Wei breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’ll take you home,” Yu Wei helped her hail a taxi.
Yu Wei stepped forward but didn’t walk far before she felt a gentle tug at her sleeve.
Two thin fingers held on—like a child’s.
“Back to school,” Yu Wei said. “Class has already started.”
“I got you excused,” Yu Wei replied.
Yu Wei opened her mouth, then pleaded softly, “Please don’t let my family know I got hurt.”
Yu Wei frowned, her lips pressed dryly together.
Outside the hospital, there were many people waiting. Yu Wei looked around and saw Yu Wei standing aside, her head lowered, injured leg bent, body tilted. Sweat dampened her hair, which clung to her forehead.
Her eyes drooped slightly, and her small face was half-buried in her collar.
She looked miserable and wronged.
Yu Wei gritted her teeth, hailed a taxi, and stuffed Yu Wei inside, giving the driver an address.
Yu Wei was still worrying about how to explain things to Ding Qing. If she found out Yu Wei had almost been attacked, she’d lose her mind.
But then she heard the address Yu Wei gave—it wasn’t home. It wasn’t school either.
Yu Wei looked at her, startled and confused.
Her pale pink eyes were wide and shiny.
Yu Wei glanced sideways, pressing her lips tight.
“My home.”
Yu Wei’s whole body stiffened, as if her soul had been yanked out and twisted. Her chest hollowed with a confusing mix of panic, helplessness, and anxiety.
She said, “You know… we were switched at birth. Your family…”
She didn’t know what words to use, couldn’t find the right tone, couldn’t even hear her own voice clearly.
“I know,” Yu Wei said.