Chapter 37 Why Haven’t You Left?

“Move aside and open the door! Don’t make me do it myself.” At the doorway, Chen Ciyi’s voice was clearly impatient, his tone even colder than before.

But the girl seemed to still be stubbornly blocking the door, her voice continuing relentlessly, “No, I haven’t finished. Let me tell you, she’s nothing but a universally disliked troublemaker. She got beaten up for stealing someone’s eraser, got beaten up for stealing money—she totally deserves being bullied. Anyone who gets involved with her ends up unlucky. Even her closest friend couldn’t take it anymore and started avoiding her. And her dad? A drunken good-for-nothing. Her mom often hides from people with bruises on her face. With a family like that, she’s just a lunatic…”

The words from the girl at the door struck Xu Yannuo’s heart like a knife, one after another. Those memories she didn’t want to recall, the things she deliberately avoided thinking about—she had believed that starting high school would be a fresh beginning, that she could forget the humiliating past and the horrifying details that sent chills down her spine every time they resurfaced. She thought she had already forgotten, that those wounds had healed, and even if she still remembered, it wouldn’t matter—just an insignificant scar.

But now, hearing someone reopen those scars, she realized the wounds had never truly healed. Beneath the surface, they had only festered deeper.

She had always told herself it didn’t matter, that she was used to it. Yet, hearing it from someone else’s mouth now, the scars burned with pain. The truth was, she had never gotten used to it—she even wished no one would ever know about her past again! She never wanted to remember those things anymore.

But why couldn’t those things just stay in the past? She was the victim—what had she done wrong!

Xu Yannuo took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions as much as possible. She comforted herself, thinking it was okay, it was okay. Hadn’t she always wanted Chen Ciyi, that annoying pest, to stay away from her? Hadn’t she always thought he talked too much, caused too much trouble, and was impossible to shake off? Well, wasn’t this better now? After hearing what others had said about her past, he would finally run far away, right? After all, even her close friends from middle school had started avoiding her without hesitation.

Besides, Chen Ciyi was someone who couldn’t stand her, and she couldn’t stand him either. And this afternoon… She recalled the words she had said to him: “Am I that close to you? If you’re bored, go bother someone else. I really don’t have the mood or energy to keep fighting with you, and I won’t in the future either.”

Xu Yannuo smiled bitterly. Now he must dislike her even more. Maybe he had already turned away in disgust, and by the time she returned to the classroom, his seat might have already been moved.

Xu Yannuo silently cried. She hadn’t cried when she was hit earlier, but now, her tears flowed uncontrollably. It wasn’t because she was sad or upset, nor was it because she knew Chen Ciyi would leave. It was a kind of despair towards life.

No one in her world would come to rescue her, and she couldn’t escape either!

No matter how hard she tried or what she became.

Xu Yannuo lay on the ground, quietly closing her eyes, waiting for the sounds at the door to fade away, waiting for Hei Yanxian and the others to vent their anger enough, so this pointless provocation could finally end.

However, she suddenly heard two “bang” sounds from the doorway—one dull, like a body hitting the wall, and the other a loud crash. Immediately after, it sounded like small metal objects fell to the ground, producing a few crisp bouncing noises before coming to a stop.

A gust of wind blew through the doorway, allowing fresh air to circulate, yet the atmosphere inside instantly froze. Xu Yannuo opened his eyes in surprise and turned his head toward the entrance.

Before her, the doorway was dimly lit. Chen Yizhi stood at the entrance, frowning as he looked at her—at her disheveled form collapsed amidst a pile of cleaning tools.

Xu Yannuo had no idea what Chen Yizhi must be thinking of her now. Though she didn’t know why he hadn’t left, perhaps it was just curiosity—wanting to see just how badly she’d be bullied at school. Hadn’t he always had that kind of curiosity?

Now it was confirmed. But what after this confirmation? And what about those words he’d just overheard?

Xu Yannuo withdrew her gaze, dodging as she turned her head away. Pressed down by the three girls behind her, she couldn’t escape, so she could only bury her head in the sand like this, pretending not to see.

But after averting her eyes, the footsteps nearby didn’t fade away. The punches and kicks from the three girls behind her also ceased. She only heard a few sounds of someone falling to the ground, as if someone had been pushed over. Then, someone gently tugged at her arm—so very lightly, as if afraid of breaking her.

Before she could turn her head, Xu Yannuo heard Chen Ciyi’s anxious voice beside her, “Are you okay? Can you get up?”

Xu Yannuo paused for a moment—he hadn’t left!

Afterwards, she turned her head and immediately spotted Chen Ciyi crouching beside her, his brows furrowed with a look of concern as he watched her.

“Why didn’t you leave?”

Xu Yannuo pondered for a moment—given their current relationship, had he stayed to confirm just how miserable she was? Her mind was racing with wild speculations when Chen Ciyi’s voice sounded beside her again, urgent and clearly laced with anger, “What the hell are you thinking about all day? My deskmate got bullied like this—where the hell would I go?!”

Xu Yannuo froze involuntarily. He… was worried about her? After hearing all those words, he hadn’t left but instead came to check on her?

This time, Chen Ciyi didn’t ask her again but directly grabbed her arm, swept her up in a bridal carry, and ran toward the infirmary.

After Chen Ciyi quickly descended one floor, people started appearing, and the sound of commotion could be heard. Xu Yannuo’s previously muddled mind finally reacted—this was the direction to the infirmary. And now, in the school hallway, though most students were out eating at this time and the corridor wasn’t crowded, if he kept running while carrying her like this and got seen, the rumor mill would immediately go wild again. She hurriedly struggled a bit, urging Chen Ciyi to put her down.

At first, Chen Ciyi was still worried, but after hearing Xu Yannuo’s explanation and confirming she was truly fine, his anger-dazed mind sobered up slightly. Then, at the third-floor stairwell landing, he set her down.

After putting her down, Chen Ciyi still insisted on taking Xu Yannuo to the infirmary, but she refused. First, she was fine, and second, she didn’t want the infirmary teacher reporting the incident to their homeroom teacher—it would only stir up unnecessary drama without solving anything, and in the end, Xu Yannuo would just get her parents called in.

Chen Ci recalled the words the girl had just said to her and didn’t press Xu Yannuo further. She simply took off her school uniform and tossed it to Xu Yannuo.

Xu Yannuo was taken aback for a moment, recalling what had just happened. Her white school uniform top had been stepped on a few times, and the storage room floor was covered in dust. By now, she must have black and white stains all over her, making her look quite conspicuous.

Xu Yannuo glanced at him, said thank you, and slipped on his oversized school uniform.