Chapter 203 Immoral Behavior

    Making a bit of money is truly hard. With the measly salary of just over two thousand yuan from the kindergarten, when will I ever be able to afford a decent handbag?

    Another year passed in quiet struggle, and then Qu ge was released.

    The first thing he did was find me and demand I treat him to a meal.

    Although I wasn’t keen on spending money, I feared he might hit me, so after mulling it over, I decided to go.

    We sat at a roadside diner, ordered a few small dishes, and a few bottles of beer.

    ''Why didn’t you come to see me?'' he asked without even looking up.

    ''Sigh... Qu ge, it’s not that I didn’t want to, it’s just... the prison’s so far, and I’ve got no car, no money...''

    "Enough," he said, taking a deep swig of beer before lifting his gaze to meet mine. "Xiao Ran, do you want to make money?"

    I noticed his eyes were even more terrifying than they had been six years ago.

    "Make money...?"

    "I know a way for you to earn a lot, but it depends on whether you''re willing to do it," Qu ge said in a low voice. "I''ve made plenty of connections inside and learned about some lucrative opportunities..."

    I cautiously studied Qu ge for a long moment before asking, "What would I have to do?"

    "I hear you''re looking after a bunch of kids these days, is that right?" Qu ge asked.

    "Yeah..."

    "Pick a suitable kid and bring them out to me in a couple of days," he said. "All you have to do is hand them over, and I''ll give you thirty thousand yuan."

    "That''s it?" I found it hard to believe. The task sounded far too simple—just bringing out a child? Why was the payment so high?

    "That''s it. Let me know when you’ve got it sorted." He finished his meal, cleaned his teeth with a toothpick, and looked me straight in the eye as I wavered in disbelief. "Oh, and by the way, I don’t have a place to stay tonight. Take me to your place."

    "Ah... m-my place? I... I don’t think that’s a good idea..."

    His eyes narrowed dangerously, and he suddenly grabbed my wrist with a firm, unyielding grip.

    "Xiao Ran, don’t tell me you’re thinking of breaking up with la?ozi?? Do you have any idea how long it’s been since la?ozi? has done it with a woman?"

    "Of–Of course not!" I forced a panicked smile. "I’ve already cleaned up the house, just waiting for you to come back..."

    That night, Qu ge was violent. I didn’t dare resist at all. His eyes were filled with a terrifying bloodlust, and I was genuinely afraid.

    I could shout at the police without hesitation, but someone with eyes like his? I wouldn’t dare provoke them.

    It felt like he really might kill me.

    The next morning, Qu ge left. I didn’t know where he went.

    Back at the kindergarten, I found myself in a dilemma. Though I spent my days surrounded by children, how could I possibly justify taking one out in broad daylight?

    "Ms. Xiao..." A small, hesitant voice startled me from my troubled thoughts, deepening my irritation.

    "What?" Turning around, I saw Shan Shan, the little girl, nervously holding out a cheap piece of hard candy, her tiny hands trembling.

    "Ms. Xiao... Can I... give this candy to you?... Can you not hit me anymore?..."

    Her words sent a surge of anger through me.

    I shoved her to the ground in frustration. She truly didn’t know her place.

    If she hadn’t provoked me, I wouldn’t have hit her. I was sitting there minding my own business, and yet, she had the audacity to offer me such cheap candy—was this not just asking for a beating?

    If not for all the other children watching, I might’ve lost control and beaten her to death!

    Shan Shan looked terrified but didn’t cry. She just lay there trembling on the floor.

    Just then, a teacher walked in—though I didn’t bother to remember what her name was.

    "Eh?" She immediately noticed Shan Shan lying on the floor and rushed over to help her up. "Child, how come you’re on the ground?"

    "Ms. Song... I''m scared..." Shan Shan curled up in that woman''s embrace.

    "Don''t be scared, don''t be scared. Tell me, what''s wrong?" Ms. Song gently picked up the candy from the floor and asked, "Why didn’t you eat the candy I gave you?"

    "No... I don''t want to eat..." Shan Shan clung to that Ms. Song tightly.

    I felt disgusted. This slut Song, who normally had nothing to do with our class, came in and started giving candy to the runts. Was she trying to take my place?

    At that moment, Chen Ting entered and, seeing the scene, quickly bent down to check on Shan Shan.

    "Shan Shan, what''s wrong?"

    Shan Shan didn''t speak.

    "Ms. Chen..." Ms. Song, seeing Chen Ting enter, also looked worried. "Shan Shan seems terrified..."

    Before she could finish, Chen Ting''s face darkened. She stood up and sharply demanded, "Xiao Ran, what did you do this time?"

    "I didn''t do anything." I replied coldly, "Are you blind? Can''t you see I''m just sitting here?"

    Chen Ting looked furious. She no longer paid attention to me and instead turned to ask the other children, "Did anyone see what Ms. Xiao Ran did just now?"

    The group of kids stared wide-eyed, none of them daring to speak.

    After a long pause, a little boy named Chen Moran finally raised his hand. "I saw Teacher Xiao push Shan Shan..."

    "Yeah, yeah..." Many of the children quickly chimed in.

    When Chen Ting heard this, she turned around, and shoved me off the chair.

    "Ah!" I jumped in shock. "What the fuck are you doing?!"

    "Xiao Ran, listen to me," Chen Ting said, her voice sharp with anger. "I don’t care what kind of relationship you have with the principal, but from now on, if any kid cries in front of you, the fault will always be on you." She glared at me. "I don’t care if you don’t want to take care of them, but I expect you to stay away from them from now on."

    Ms. Song was standing by, holding Shan Shan and sighing dramatically. She didn’t care about the vulnerable me but instead went over to comfort Chen Ting.

    "Alright, Ms. Chen... don’t get upset over something like this," she said, patting Chen Ting’s back. "Be careful not to scare the children."

    It was ridiculous, so ridiculous. Shan Shan was the one who provoked me, and yet I was being told to stay away from her?

    How unreasonable.

    But it was because of this conflict that I came up with an idea.

    Shan Shan only had an elderly grandmother at home, with both of her parents working elsewhere.

    She was the perfect target.

    As long as I could deliver her to Qu ge, I’d get thirty thousand yuan.

    That was a whole thirty thousand yuan! I could only make that much in a whole fucking year of work!

    Shan Shan should feel proud, because with her family situation, she could never be worth that much.

    I texted Qu ge and told him I had a target.

    Now, the plan was in motion. First, I approached Chen Ting and apologized. I told her I was in a rush at the time and that pushing Shan Shan down was purely accidental. I hoped she could forgive me.

    Naive, gullible whore.

    She actually believed me.

    "Xiao Ran, I''m not trying to target you. I really hope you’ll be kinder to the children," Chen Ting said, furrowing her brows. "Even though we deal with many children at once, to each one of them, we are their whole world. Do you understand?"

    "Yes, I understand," I nodded remorsefully. "I’ll never treat them like that again."

    Ms. Song was also in the office, giving me a knowing look. This woman didn’t seem so easy to deceive.

    "Ms. Xiao, was it really unintentional when you pushed Shan Shan?" Ms. Song asked. "When you saw her fall, why didn’t you help her up?"

    "I was too rushed at the time, and I didn’t think it through," I sighed. "You probably won’t believe me, but I’ll make it up to her through my actions. Let me personally take Shan Shan home tonight."