“No… no matter what…”
“I must see Student Gu one last time before he leaves.”
Ai Lian walked cautiously toward Gu Yebai and Gao Hongyi.
Her movements were slow and stiff, like a light-fearing animal that instinctively dreaded the brightness it yearned to be near.
It had to be said—she was truly ugly.
Gao Hongyi studied the girl’s face once more.
If a person was ugly and possessed a sharp, cruel self-awareness of it, then staring at that face for a long time was a form of cold torture in itself.
Yet, Gao Hongyi couldn’t help herself.
Ai Lian was a girl, after all.
And a girl meant a potential enemy.
One could not afford even a moment of laxity or a shred of pity toward an enemy.
No matter how humble or insignificant the other person appeared, they could still become a threat.
Gao Hongyi suddenly remembered her initial feelings.
In her original plan, no matter what kind of person Uncle Bai was or what environment he was in, she would fall for him.
Because of this, she needed to observe Ai Lian’s every move even more closely, especially those eyes.
It was difficult for a person’s eyes to lie.
Did those eyes also hide a sense of attachment and desire for Uncle Bai?
She would see for herself.
“Uncle Bai…”
Gao Hongyi gently tugged at Gu Yebai’s sleeve, her voice soft and obedient.
“It’s okay. You should listen to what she has to say.”
“After all, she’s a friend from Linchen whom Uncle Bai wants to say a proper goodbye to.”
“I won’t say anything more.”
Gao Hongyi offered a docile, sensible smile, naturally placing herself in the role of a supportive partner.
At the same time, she kept her eyes locked on Ai Lian out of the corner of her vision.
Just now, when Ai Lian saw their intimate gesture, her body clearly gave a slight tremor.
‘Is she sad?’
Seeing the person she liked being held by someone more beautiful, more perfect, and more deserving—such a sight must be unbearable.
If she could trigger even a hint of darkness in the depths of Ai Lian’s heart and cause Uncle Bai to be completely disappointed in her, that would be a good thing.
Gao Hongyi did not want Gu Yebai to have even a sliver of goodwill toward any female other than herself.
“Student Gu…”
Ai Lian swallowed hard, looking both pitiful and awkward.
“Thank you.”
“Really… thank you so much.”
Her voice trembled slightly.
While her face was certainly not pleasant to look at, her voice was not bad.
It was actually quite clean and soft.
Gao Hongyi evaluated her calmly and indifferently in her mind.
“Student Gao might not know, but Student Gu was the only one who didn’t participate in the bullying or join the group in isolating me back in our class.”
“Isolating someone like me gave them a false sense of belonging.”
“A group needs an enemy. As long as they have a common enemy, even cowards can hide behind the crowd and shout recklessly, pretending to be brave.”
“So, in my eyes, bullies are all cowards, and — “
Ai Lian suddenly revealed a cold sneer that did not match her outward appearance.
“They are a group of evil cowards who should be erased and eliminated.”
“And Student Gu, who went against those cowards, is like an angel—a savior.”
“I don’t actually have much hatred for those bullies, because those are the rules of the world.”
As she sat there, her tone remained calm, but her aura underwent a subtle change.
“In my eyes, Student Gu is someone who can change the rules, someone worthy of standing in front of everyone forever.”
“A heart that empathizes with the weak is very, very precious—far more precious than gold.”
Ai Lian turned her gaze toward Gu Yebai once more.
‘Can you not bear to leave?’
Gao Hongyi did not want to hear such an answer.
In her expectations, Ai Lian should have been hysterical and miserable, acting as if she couldn’t survive once Gu Yebai left.
That would have fit the definition of “selfish.”
However, Ai Lian only smiled.
“I am indeed reluctant to see you go.”
“Student Gu taught me various subjects and even accompanied me on cleaning duties, sharing work that wasn’t even his to begin with.”
“But I shouldn’t become an emotional obstacle for him. I am happy for his departure.”
Gao Hongyi saw it then.
Hidden in the depths of Ai Lian’s pupils was a budding affection.
It was somewhat humble, but it contained even more obsession.
In Gao Hongyi’s original script, she had hoped Ai Lian would say something selfish, like not wanting Gu Yebai to leave Linchen.
That way, she could deny her without hesitation.
Yet Ai Lian remained incredibly dignified.
Even though she was just an ugly girl.
“It’s wonderful that Student Gu can leave Linchen.”
“I’m just a humble passerby whom you happened to treat with kindness in your life. You deserve a better future.”
“If I could, I would repay you, but my family is poor and I am ugly. The only thing I can do is offer you my heartfelt blessings.”
“I believe you will find happiness, Student Gu.”
“But…”
Gu Yebai’s face turned slightly pale.
“If I leave like this, will things be… very hard for you?”
Ai Lian shook her head.
“No, Student Gu taught me to be strong. I can face my high school life on my own now.”
She took a deep breath.
“I know what Student Gu is worried about, so I’ll just tell you straight.”
“I won’t commit suicide because of the bullying. I will study hard and improve little by little. One day, I will definitely leave Linchen too.”
At this point, her tone became exceptionally calm.
“So, please go first, Student Gu. Linchen doesn’t suit you. You deserve to go to a better place.”
Her gaze finally shifted to Gao Hongyi.
“Also, thank you, Student Gao, for being there.”
“I believe Student Gu will surely be happy.”
Gao Hongyi blinked, then flashed a flawless, polite smile.
“Do you really not have even a single thought of wanting to keep Uncle Bai here?”
“Not at all,” Ai Lian replied firmly.
“Tell me, if two people were being punished together and were about to be beheaded, how do you think they would behave?”
Gu Yebai and Gao Hongyi both shook their heads.
“They would die very quietly. They wouldn’t struggle or complain. They would bow their heads to the executioner in peace.”
“Why?”
“Because one person shares the anxiety of the other, and so both can face death.”
“But suppose one of them is pardoned. The person who was supposed to be executed alongside them would curse them venomously.”
“‘Why were you saved? Why do I have to die?'”
“That is the darkest, most vicious side of humanity, and the side I loathe the most.”
“What if it were animals? Suppose you lead two sheep or two cows to a slaughterhouse and tell one of them its companion can be spared. What would happen?”
“The sheep or cow being led to its end would bleat or low with joy.”
“So please, just go, Student Gu. If you can think of me occasionally amidst your busy life and contact me once in a while, I will be satisfied.”
“I’m truly happy. I suppose I am that sheep, bleating with joy at the final moment.”
“So, let us say our final goodbye, Student Gu.”
“And thank you, Student Gao. I believe you will surely give Student Gu happiness.”