Warmth led Jian Yiling into the hospital room.
"Jian Yiling, why have you returned with your feigned sympathy once again?"
Jian Yunzhuo remained furious; upon seeing Jian Yiling, his eyes blazed with anger.
Warmth's heart ached intensely. She wished to intervene but was halted by Jian Yunchen's gaze.
The more she tried to intercede, the more it seemed to inflame Jian Yunzhuo's dissatisfaction with Jian Yiling.
In this conflict, it was best for Warmth not to speak on Jian Yiling's behalf.
Faced with Jian Yunzhuo's accusations and wrath, Jian Yiling neither defended herself nor explained. She listened quietly, absorbing all his grievances and anger with a serene expression and eyes as clear as a pristine mountain spring.
In that moment, not only was Warmth's heart softened, but even Jian Yunchen furrowed his brow.
"Jian Yiling, do not think this matter will simply end here! I will never forgive you! I will never forgive you! No matter what you do, I will never consider you my sister again!"
Jian Yunzhuo raged for a while, eventually either exhausting himself or finding it pointless to continue facing Jian Yiling's unresponsive demeanor.
"Mother, let me take care of Yunzhuo today. You haven't been home for several days; please go home and rest for the night," Jian Yunchen suggested at an opportune moment.
Warmth nodded, not offering pleasantries.
She indeed needed to return home for a proper bath; for the past few days, she had only used a nearby hotel and, fearing to be away from Jian Yunzhuo for too long, had always rushed back and forth.
"Then I will trouble you."
As Warmth approached the door, she deliberately slowed her pace to allow Jian Yiling to catch up.
Once outside the hospital room and in the parking lot, Warmth reached out and gently touched Jian Yiling's head.
"小 Ling, you are doing well; I am very proud of you. Understand that your brother is angry; let him express his frustration. This hurdle will pass, and as long as you remain obedient in the future, he will eventually accept you…"
Tears streamed from Warmth's eyes.
Seeing her two children in such turmoil was like a knife twisting in her heart. As Warmth's tears became visible, Jian Yiling felt she should wipe them away.
But halfway through reaching out, she hesitated and let her hand fall.
Noticing Jian Yiling's hesitation, Warmth looked down at her.
Gazing into Jian Yiling's clear eyes, Warmth's sobs broke forth, and she enveloped Jian Yiling in a tight embrace.
For the past few days, she had refrained from showing any sign of sorrow in front of Jian Yunzhuo, fearing it might affect her son's mood.
At this moment, she could no longer contain herself.
Once tears began to flow, they cascaded like a flood, not ceasing until her heart's bitterness was exhausted.
Jian Yiling, embraced tightly, felt her body go rigid.
Without experience in such situations, Jian Yiling did not know what else to do besides allowing Warmth to hold her.
After a long pause, Jian Yiling finally reached out and embraced Warmth.
Warmth's body was warm; the tears that fell were warm as well.
After a long while, Warmth's tears subsided, and she spoke softly to Jian Yiling, "Little Ling, be good from now on, always be good. Promise Mommy, okay?"
"Mm." Jian Yiling quietly agreed.
Warmth wiped her tears away. "Did I scare you just now? It's my fault for crying. Your father will soon contact someone to perform your brother's surgery. Your brother's hand will be fine soon, so there's nothing to be too upset about."
Warmth's words were meant to comfort Jian Yiling and herself.
With her seven-day leave over, Jian Yiling had to return to school. Today was Monday.
At this moment, the hottest post on the Shenghua High School campus forum was still about Jian Yunzhuo's injury and the possible involvement of Jian Yiling.
Because Jian Yiling had been absent from school for an entire week, people began to speculate whether she had been expelled.
[Jian Yiling's absence on the seventh day seems to increase the likelihood that she has been expelled.]
[If I were her, I wouldn't even have the face to return to school.]
[Indeed, to harm her own brother like that, such a person doesn't deserve to live. It's a pity for Jian Yunzhuo, the talented young man. I was looking forward to hearing him play the piano at the school's cultural evening!]
[Jian family's siblings are all exceptional. I really don't know how Jian Yiling turned out like this.]
[The disgrace of the Jian family, the rat's droppings that spoil a pot of porridge!]
On the way to school, Jian Yiling sat in the back seat, her laptop on her lap, briefly browsing the campus forum.
At that moment, a new message popped up on the computer.
[Dr. F.S., when will you be available to meet? We are very interested in the content you provided. However, you know that online communication alone is not sufficient for us to fully trust you.]
Jian Yiling quickly typed a response: [I'm currently unavailable. Please contact me online for any questions. I have submitted the relevant papers to CNS.]
Soon, another message came: [CNS takes at least three months from review to publication, which is too slow. If you have other ways to prove your credentials, it could save more time.]
It was clear that the other party seemed quite anxious.
If Jian Yiling were indeed the talent they needed, they should contact her offline as soon as possible, ideally recruiting her directly.
Jian Yiling replied: [Sorry, I am currently handling other matters.]
After a pause, the other party responded: [Then we will continue to maintain contact online.]
At least the online communication should not be interrupted.
[Okay.]
After sending the reply, Jian Yiling closed her laptop and put it into her backpack.
The driver dropped Jian Yiling at the school gate, and she got out of the car.
The autumn sun warmed her as she walked toward the school with her backpack.
As soon as Jian Yiling appeared at school, she drew the attention of her peers.
Due to the pushing incident, Jian Yiling had become known throughout Shenghua High School as the "malicious younger sister."
Seeing her reappearance, the crowd's expressions were mixed, with some casting inquisitive or hostile glances at her.
Mo Shiyun also arrived at around the same time, getting off the bus, when her classmates immediately pulled her aside.
"Shiyun, Shiyun, Jian Yiling is back at school! You have a good relationship with Jian Yunzhuo; do you know why Jian Yiling can return to school safely after pushing her brother down the stairs? Doesn't the Jian family care?"
Mo Shiyun smiled faintly. "Sorry, I don't know about this matter. However, if I were in the Jian family's position, I would want to minimize the impact of the incident as well."
The classmates, upon hearing Mo Shiyun's words, found them reasonable and nodded in agreement.
"You're right. I heard that the Jian family favors Jian Yiling over her brother. Now it seems true. This constitutes deliberate harm, and yet she can still return to school without consequence."
The female student, although she did not receive any information from Mo Shiyun about how the Jian family planned to deal with Jian Yiling, nonetheless deduced from Mo Shiyun's words that Jian Yiling was indeed the one who pushed Jian Yunzhuo down the stairs.
The student, named Zhu Sha, who was in the same class as Mo Shiyun and Jian Yunzhuo, served as the literature class representative in their senior year experimental class. Her grades in literature were exemplary, and her other academic achievements were commendable as well. With an average appearance, she maintained a fairly amicable relationship with Mo Shiyun.
Zhu Sha had taken an interest in Jian Yunzhuo and had even tried to approach him through Jian Yiling, his sister, believing that winning the favor of Jian Yiling would bring her closer to Jian Yunzhuo. However, Jian Yiling had completely ignored her, dismissing her advances without any courtesy.
Naturally, Zhu Sha was unwilling to accept this rejection. She couldn't understand why her affection for Jian Yunzhuo was considered delusional, while Jian Yiling was given no thought. Zhu Sha's attempts to get close to Jian Yunzhuo through Jian Yiling had failed, and instead, she had incurred a great deal of frustration.
Thus, Zhu Sha turned to ingratiate herself with Mo Shiyun.
Compared to the devilish temperament of Jian Yiling, Mo Shiyun's demeanor was like that of an angel.
Zhu Sha continued to press Mo Shiyun, "By the way, Shiyun, do you think we can visit Jian Yunzhuo? Many students have prepared get-well cards for him, but you're the only one in our class who still has contact with him and knows which hospital and ward he's in."
Mo Shiyun replied, "Jian Yunzhuo should probably rest without visitors for now. It's best to let him recuperate peacefully."
Mo Shiyun understood Zhu Sha's intentions but was unwilling to let Zhu Sha's desires disrupt Jian Yunzhuo's well-being or damage their relationship.
Zhu Sha appeared disappointed, "Well, at least you could take the get-well cards we've made to Jian Yunzhuo! Our not visiting won't bother him, will it?"
Seeing Zhu Sha's dissatisfaction, Mo Shiyun reassured her, "In a few days, when his mood improves, I'll ask him if he'd be open to having us visit him on the weekend."
Zhu Sha's mood brightened immediately, "Shiyun, you're wonderful! You're so much better than Jian Yiling in every way—looks, academic achievements, and character!"
Mo Shiyun smiled, "Just make sure she doesn't overhear you."
Zhu Sha disdainfully huffed, "What if she does? The entire school already knows what a viper she is. Everyone's condemning her! If she tried to seek revenge on everyone who insults her, the whole school would be gone."
Previously, Zhu Sha had been somewhat cautious, hiding her criticisms of Jian Yiling, but now she was indifferent and even saw disparaging Jian Yiling as a way to vent her frustration about her idol.
Zhu Sha leaned closer to Mo Shiyun and whispered, "Shiyun, just wait and see! If Jian Yiling dares to return to school, she should be ready for some serious consequences!"
Mo Shiyun looked at Zhu Sha with curiosity, "What do you know?"
Zhu Sha smirked mysteriously, "I've already heard that Qiu Jie has announced plans to seek revenge for Jian Yunzhuo."
Qiu Jie, also known as Qiu Yizhen, was the daughter of the chairman of Shenghua High School and a dominant figure in the school. Everyone, regardless of gender, referred to her respectfully as "Qiu Jie."
Jian Yunzhuo had a fan club at school, and the president of that club was Qiu Jie.
Now that Jian Yunzhuo was injured and might never play the piano again, it was understandable that Qiu Jie would be enraged.
It seemed Jian Yiling would face considerable trouble upon her return to school.
Shenghua High School was the top private school in Hengyuan City, and admission was granted either based on exceptional academic performance or elite family background. Mo Shiyun was among those with outstanding academic achievements, while Jian Yiling fell into the latter category.
Jian Yiling, who had just started her freshman year this September, was in a regular class and was among the least accomplished students.
Upon arriving at the doorway of Class 8 for her freshman year, Jian Yiling found that many students had already gathered.
Her appearance elicited astonished and incredulous reactions from everyone.
Jian Yiling ignored them and proceeded directly to her seat.
She found her seat cluttered with belongings, and all her personal items were missing.
Jian Yiling discovered her things tossed haphazardly in the classroom's back storage cabinet.
The atmosphere in the classroom grew tense and silent.
Jian Yiling's gaze fell upon her desk mate.
Her desk mate quickly and nervously explained, "It wasn't me—it was Qiu Jie! Qiu Jie brought people to do this. I didn't dare to interfere!"
For Jian Yiling's desk mate, Qiu Jie was formidable, and Jian Yiling was not easily dealt with either.
Jian Yiling knew who Qiu Jie was. In the original story, Qiu Jie had a good relationship with the female lead, Mo Shiyun, which was rare among high school students but proved invaluable in the professional world later, as Qiu Jie had helped Mo Shiyun with several troubles.
Mo Shiyun's persona was that of a kind and well-liked girl.
As the saying goes, speak of the devil, and the devil shall appear.
Qiu Yizhen arrived with her entourage through the back door of the classroom, storming in with determination.
Upon seeing Jian Yiling, she charged forward with a fierce expression.
Qiu Yizhen was tall among the girls, with short hair, a broad face, and distinct features.
She wore an earring on one ear, easily removable, which she would take off when teachers were present and put back on otherwise, exuding an air of rebelliousness.
Jian Yiling's desk mate quickly shrank to the side, visibly anxious.
"Jian Yiling, how dare you show your face here! After causing such harm to your brother, you still have the audacity to come to school? Does your mother have any conscience? You should get as far away as possible!"
Jian Yiling's expression remained stoic, as calm and unruffled as when she faced Jian Yunzhuo's fury. Her eyes were cold and clear.
"Who told you that I was the one who pushed him?"
This was a question she asked on behalf of her past self, who, in her youthful innocence, had never had the opportunity to counter the rampant accusations with such calmness.
"What do you mean, who told me? The entire school knows it was you!"
"Who among the entire school has actually witnessed it with their own eyes? And who has evidence?"
Jian Yiling's tone was calm, each word deliberate, her voice soft yet somehow making Qiu Yizhen, who was full of bravado, speechless.
Qiu Yizhen pondered; though everyone knew Jian Yiling was the culprit, no one had come forward to claim they had seen it firsthand.
Still, Qiu Yizhen was unwilling to let Jian Yiling off the hook so easily: "Don't think that just because there are no witnesses, you can clear yourself of suspicion!"
"Bang—"
Jian Yiling's right hand slammed forcefully onto the desk, causing it to vibrate. The sound, neither too loud nor too soft, was clear enough for everyone in the quiet classroom to hear.
Then, Jian Yiling's left hand retrieved a set of surgical knives from her bag.