CHAPTER 626: CHAPTER 625: A GUILTY CONSCIENCE

Because of this unexpectedly upsetting incident, everyone’s mood wasn’t great! After escorting the two girls back to the dormitory, Han Mingyue and Lu Huai also parted ways at the school gate.

Lu Huai wandered aimlessly alone on the street, and before he knew it, he had reached the entrance of the game arcade.

Don’t think that with the increasing number of internet cafes, arcades have lost their appeal; they still retain a unique charm and have not vanished in this century.

Lu Huai, who was looking for something to vent his frustration, almost unthinkingly walked in! After buying a handful of coins and stuffing them into his pocket, he found an empty machine and started playing.

The clanging noise of button-smashing in the arcade, along with the loud sound effects of the machines, meant that it was almost impossible to hear other people’s conversations unless you were very close.

But coincidentally! While Lu Huai was playing a single-player game of "Hook Captain," two older boys suddenly joined in as well.

The two machines were right next to each other, with only room for one person in between. As they were playing, the two started chatting.

"You see how packed Sincere Internet Cafe is today! We even made a special trip from Qi University! Yet First High School’s café is full to the brim too!"

"Hey, we came out too late, man! Right now is peak time for internet usage. Anyway, we’re planning to pull an all-nighter, so starting with some arcade games is fine! Around 9 o’clock, I guess there will be some machines free."

"Yeah! We can only start with arcade games for now, where else can we go! By the way, I heard that Lao Hong from your dorm has not been having a smooth time lately!"

"Heh! You heard about that too?!"

"I also heard that the girl’s parents made their way to our school! You know the inside story, tell me about it!"

"Oh, well, isn’t it just that! After getting his little girlfriend pregnant... once the father-in-law found out, he started extorting them!"

"Extortion? What’s that supposed to mean?! They’re making him pay for the... thing?"

"Of course, man! And it’s not just about covering the full cost of the surgery! Our dorm mates have heard him complaining several times, saying that the girl’s parents are even demanding ’nutritional fees,’ ’youth damages,’ and stuff like that..."

"Ho! What did Lao Hong say?"

"What else can he say?! He just has to come clean to his family! You know what Hong Ruixiang is like! Always online or picking up girls, even eats at the little diner next to the dorm on credit! He doesn’t have any money!"

"Sounds about right..."

Lu Huai, who had originally been listening as if it were just some juicy gossip, was suddenly stunned when he heard the name "Hong Ruixiang."

The guy is Hong Ruixiang! So his girlfriend, wouldn’t that be—Gu Qing!

A sudden realization flashed through his mind! Linking it to what he heard about Gu Qing taking a week off from an old middle school classmate, Lu Huai’s meridians seemed to have cleared!

It was unexpected that the reason for her leave was fake! And such a big issue had arisen...

Though he could scarcely believe it, Lu Huai still turned his head to confirm with the others, "Excuse me, you’re students from Qi University, right?"

"Yeah! What’s up?!" replied the boy who was closer to Lu Huai.

"No, nothing!" Lu Huai quickly shook his head, "It’s just that the name Hong Ruixiang sounds a bit familiar to me."

"Ah! You’re from First High School, right!? He must have gone there for some performance!"

"Oh! Right! Now I remember! It’s him! Is what you just said about his girlfriend true?"

"His girlfriend is from your First High School, man! Of course, it’s true! If you don’t believe it, you can go ask the girl yourself!"

Lu Huai: "..."

——

Having learned this piece of news, Lu Huai couldn’t sleep well the entire night! First thing the next morning, he rushed to Class Two’s entrance to intercept Zhen Yu.

After finishing breakfast and going upstairs, Bai Xue and Zhen Yu saw Lu Huai standing like a door god at the entrance of Class 2.

"What are you doing standing here?" Bai Xue asked.

Lu Huai said solemnly, "I have something to discuss with Zhen Yu!"

Bai Xue was taken aback! And then her tone suddenly became awkward!

"Then you guys go ahead! I’m heading back to the class!"

Zhen Yu, the innocent bystander, glanced at Bai Xue’s hastily retreating figure and said to Lu Huai without a hint of sympathy, "What is it, just say it!"

But Lu Huai reached out to pull Zhen Yu’s arm, "We can’t talk about it here! Come with me!"

"Slap!"

"Hisss!" A sharp sting on the back of his hand made Lu Huai quickly retract his "claw"! "Why did you hit me?!"

Zhen Yu gave him a cold look, "Talk is talk! Don’t pull me!"

The aggrieved Lu Huai: "...Hurry up and come with me!"

---

Leaning on the windowsill at the end of the corridor, after hearing Lu Huai’s words, Zhen Yu said indifferently, "That’s all?"

"Is that not serious enough for you?!" Lu Huai retorted indignantly with eyes wide open.

Zhen Yu nonchalantly replied, "Serious or not, it depends on who it concerns! What’s this got to do with us?"

"Uh," Lu Huai was at a loss for words.

Yeah! This matter would indeed be quite serious for the people involved! But it seemed to have nothing to do with him and Zhen Yu.

However, it seemed a bit incorrect to say that. It really didn’t matter to him, but who knew what Zhen Yu thought...

"So, you don’t hate her? She’s repeatedly caused trouble for you so many times!"

"Hate? Ha!" Zhen Yu once again strongly felt that Lu Huai was just a child who hadn’t grown up! A typical adolescent!

"You think this is a TV show? These are just trivial matters, and you think they’re worth my hatred? How could I have so much spare time?!"

Lu Huai scratched his head, feeling awkward, but couldn’t help admitting, "You kind of have a point there..."

"Just keep this to yourself!" After dropping this line, Zhen Yu walked straight past Lu Huai.

As she entered Class 2’s classroom, she saw quite a number of people gathered around Gu Qing’s seat in the first row!

There were both boys and girls, all expressing their concern for Gu Qing and asking about her life and studies during the leave of absence.

Seeing Zhen Yu was about to pass by in front of her, Gu Qing, for some reason, intentionally raised her head, wanting to catch Zhen Yu’s eye!

But Zhen Yu didn’t dodge or avoid the gaze and looked back at Gu Qing openly and directly!

With just one look! Gu Qing shifted her gaze away, with a pounding heart, feeling utterly insecure!

A slow smile crept onto Zhen Yu’s face, a smile filled with deep meaning.

Deep down she couldn’t help thinking, "No wonder there is a term in this world called ’a guilty conscience’! It turns out one really shouldn’t do things that can’t withstand scrutiny! Once done, the consequences will be like Gu Qing is now! Tormented by guilt..."