RAHHSFL - Chapter 95
Extra 2 (Part 1) - What If
"Okay, let's discuss the couplet in the poem 'Ascending'..."
Class 1, Grade 11, prestigious high school in C City. Midsummer. The buzzing of cicadas and the occasional bird soaring through the clear blue sky filled the air outside the fourth-floor window.
Qin Juran, sitting by the window, having just finished the last math problem, felt her phone vibrate.
She opened it. A message from Jia Beibei: [Ju Ju, we’re not going to the KTV tomorrow night. Reserved a private party room at the Grand Hyatt. We can stay all night!]
[All night?? Aren’t we supposed to be in class??]
[? Tomorrow is Saturday. Are you already on UK time?]
… Qin Juran checked the date. It was indeed Saturday. She was leaving for the UK in three days. And she had, once again, missed the entire Chinese literature lesson.
She opened her workbook and checked the answer to the last math problem – perfect score.
[Anyone else coming besides our class?] she messaged Jia Beibei.
[A few of Zhao Zhen’s friends, Su Xue Zhang from Grade 12, and Xiao Ming, the tagalong. That’s it.] Jia Beibei replied.
[Probably.] she added.
[Probably??]
Jia Beibei: [I know you can’t stand Chen Xue, but we’re leaving soon. And your dad specifically said she might also be going to the UK next semester. This is our last chance to see her. If she comes and tries anything, we’ll shut her down. Okay, Your Highness?]
Chen Xue was a girl from another class. The Chen and Qin families were close, and Qin Juran's father had always encouraged them to be friends. But Chen Xue, though short, was full of drama, perhaps jealous of Qin Juran, constantly causing trouble.
Tomorrow was Qin Juran's farewell party, organized by her classmates. Most of her close friends would be there. As for Chen Xue, she would probably seize this last opportunity to stir up some drama.
Whatever, Qin Juran thought, putting her phone away.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the last class on Friday. Half the class let out a collective sigh of relief, eager for the weekend. Before Qin Juran could even pack her things, Zhao Zhen and his friends burst into the classroom. "Hurry up, Qin Juran! We got you a gift! Put it on and don’t take it off! Keep rocking it in the UK!”
Qin Juran kicked his chair, then grabbed her water bottle, pretending to hit him. Jia Beibei quickly intervened, looking at Qin Juran. "What’s with the fancy dress? You’d be the campus beauty even in your school uniform, no makeup, in the UK.”
Zhao Zhen nodded in agreement. "True. It’s a good thing you’re leaving. I heard another school is planning to redesign their uniforms because you make ours look so good."
As a prestigious private school, their uniforms weren't the typical baggy, ill-fitting kind. The girls’ summer uniform was a navy blue skirt, white shirt, and tie.
Qin Juran, almost 5'7", with her naturally good looks and simple ponytail, looked every bit the innocent, first-love campus beauty in her uniform.
Too bad her personality didn’t match.
Jia Beibei and the others continued to tease her. Qin Juran slung her backpack over her shoulder, raising her chin. "Let’s go. Have the dress delivered to my apartment tonight. I’ll consider it Zhao Zhen’s farewell gift. And don’t bother planning anything extravagant tomorrow. I’m treating.”
The class erupted in cheers. These were her close friends, friends of friends. In a prestigious school like theirs, no one lacked money. They just wanted a proper send-off.
Qin Juran didn’t want the atmosphere to get too sentimental, joking with them for a while longer. As she reached the school gate, she saw a black Bentley waiting. She paused, unconsciously adjusting her backpack strap.
Jia Beibei, also surprised by the Bentley, asked, "Is your dad back, Juran?”
Qin Juran shrugged. "I don’t know. I’ll see you guys later.”
She got into the car, instinctively scanning the seats. Besides the driver, no one else was there. A flicker of anticipation vanished.
Uncle Liu, the driver, looked at her through the rearview mirror, smiling. "Don’t worry, Miss. Mr. Qin asked me to pick you up and take you to the airport in a few days. He’s working on a project right now. He’ll visit you in the UK as soon as it’s finished."
"How long has he been working on it?"
"I’m not sure. It’s a rather sudden project. He seems to be taking it very seriously."
Qin Juran gave a faint smile. When it came to business, he always took things seriously.
"Let’s go home, Uncle Liu. I’m fine," she said, putting on her Bluetooth earbuds and opening a video of an English lecture on her iPad.
Uncle Liu glanced at her through the rearview mirror. She was undeniably beautiful, but despite being only 17, there was an aloofness about her, a maturity beyond her years. She was all smiles and laughter with her friends, but alone, her face was a mask of indifference.
As they drove, nearing Chengjing Manor, Uncle Liu frowned, noticing a taxi in the rearview mirror that seemed to have been following them since they left the school.
It was Friday evening rush hour, and the school was in the city center, so he hadn’t paid much attention at first. But Chengjing Manor was in a secluded, upscale residential area, taxis rarely seen there.
As they turned another corner, Qin Juran also noticed Uncle Liu looking back. She took off one earbud. "What's wrong, Uncle Liu?”
He tilted his chin towards the rearview mirror. "Miss, has anyone new moved into Chengjing Manor recently?"
Qin Juran looked back, seeing the taxi still following them, not too close, not too far. She shook her head. "How long has it been following us?"
"Since we left the school, I think. Is it one of your classmates? There seems to be a girl in the car."
Qin Juran checked her phone; no new messages. They were almost at the entrance to the manor. Uncle Liu asked if he should stop and ask, but Qin Juran frowned slightly and whispered something to him.
"Are you sure you’ll be alright, Miss?"
"Don’t worry."
They drove into the manor, Qin Juran getting out of the car, Uncle Liu driving away. A while later, Qin Juran walked out, seemingly without having gone home, her black backpack still slung over her shoulder.
She went into a convenience store, bought a few things, then, as if she had somewhere else to go, turned into a narrow alley.
The alley led to a small shopping area near the manor. Qin Juran walked briskly, then, just as she was about to turn a corner, suddenly stopped and turned back.
It was early evening, the alley dimly lit. The sudden movement startled the girl who had been following her.
Qin Juran, not giving her a chance to escape, walked towards her, blocking her path. "Are you following me?"
The girl, caught off guard, startled, instinctively leaned against the wall.
A few golden-tinged clouds drifted across the sky, the soft summer light illuminating the alley. Qin Juran finally saw her clearly.
She looked like a university student, or perhaps a bit older, dressed in a stylish pink and white suit, a bow tied at her collar, her A-line skirt and high heels accentuating her figure. Her skin was fair, her features delicate. She was very beautiful.
Qin Juran paused, not just because of the girl’s beauty, but because she felt like she had seen her somewhere before.
And the girl's gaze, fixed intently on her.
Qin Juran cleared her throat, taking her foot off the wall where she had been leaning. "Who are you?"
Ruan Nan glanced at her watch.
She looked at Qin Juran, 17 years old, a high school student. The school uniform looked like something out of a magazine on her, her high ponytail accentuating her aloof beauty.
Ruan Nan’s eyelashes fluttered.
"Do you know me?” Qin Juran, recovering from her momentary surprise, asked, her usual confident demeanor returning.
So she was this confident even at 17.
Ruan Nan pursed her lips and nodded.
"Who are you?” Qin Juran asked, slightly unnerved by the girl’s enigmatic smile.
"I heard you’re leaving tomorrow. I wanted to attend your farewell party.”
They stood close, Qin Juran noticing a faint scent of lime coming from the girl.
Qin Juran scoffed. "Do you even know my name?” Qin Juran leaving for the UK wasn't exactly a secret, but why would a stranger want to attend her farewell party? Was it newsworthy or something?
"Qin Juran, Class 9, Grade 11," Ruan Nan said, even correctly stating her class.
Qin Juran frowned. "Who are you?"
Ruan Nan, her fingers tightening imperceptibly, looked calmly into Qin Juran’s eyes. "I’m Chen Xue's… cousin. She can’t make it tomorrow, so I’m attending in her place.”
Tsk.
The mention of Chen Xue annoyed Qin Juran further, but it also piqued her interest. She looked at Ruan Nan, her eyes narrowing. "I’ve been to Chen Xue’s house countless times. I’ve never heard of her having a cousin.”
Ruan Nan cleared her throat, not missing a beat. "I’ve been studying abroad. I rarely visit her family."
Qin Juran clearly didn't believe her. "ID card.”
Ruan Nan hesitated for a moment, then opened her bag and handed over her ID card.
Name: Ruan Nan. Born in 1996… 24 years old…
Qin Juran quickly ran through her memories. She couldn’t recall any connection between Chen Xue and "Ruan Nan.”
But the girl’s gaze was so sincere, and she had so readily produced her ID. A 24-year-old, a university graduate, surely wouldn’t go through all this trouble just to mess with her.
Qin Juran returned the ID card, raising her chin. "Then why were you following me?"
Ruan Nan blinked, her eyes wide. "I lost the contact information for my uncle’s driver. He and my aunt are out of town, and I don’t know where to go."
"So you came to me?" Qin Juran was slightly amused.
Ruan Nan nodded.
A 24-year-old, traveling to an unfamiliar city for her cousin’s classmate's farewell party, with nowhere to stay.
Seriously…
Qin Juran was now starting to believe she really was Chen Xue’s cousin. Their level of intelligence seemed about the same.
She took a pen and paper from her bag, scribbled down an address, and handed it to Ruan Nan. "This is Chen Xue's address. That’s all I can do for you.”
"Don’t bother coming to the farewell party tomorrow. My friends and I don’t like Chen Xue, so there’s no need for you to endure our displeasure on her behalf. If Uncle Chen asks, just blame it on me.”
She slung her backpack over her shoulder and turned to leave. Ruan Nan quickly called out, "Wait, Ju Ju…”
"?"
"Qin Juran," Ruan Nan corrected herself, holding the piece of paper, her ankle twisting slightly as she hurried after Qin Juran. "Qin… classmate, there’s only a butler at my uncle's house. I haven't been back in a while. I… I don’t want to stay there…”
Qin Juran glanced at her ankle. "Just take a taxi from here. There are plenty of hotels downtown."
"I… I don't want to stay in a hotel alone…” Ruan Nan said, her ankle throbbing, making her slightly unsteady.
"..."
"Could I wait at your place for a while?" Ruan Nan asked, her eyes wide and pleading.
?
"Do you think my house is safe?” Qin Juran asked, a strange question escaping her lips.
Ruan Nan paused, and Qin Juran cleared her throat, looking away. "I don't like being alone with strangers. Sorry, Jiejie.”
She had emphasized the word "Jiejie," older sister, hoping this "cousin" would remember she was 24, not 14.
"But the forecast says it’s going to rain tonight," Ruan Nan said, looking up at the sky.
It was clear and sunny.
Qin Juran was about to comment on the predictability of C City's weather when, out of nowhere, a flash of lightning lit up the sky.
Followed by a long rumble of thunder.
…
Qin Juran looked at Ruan Nan, whose expression seemed to say, "See? I told you. Want me to summon another lightning bolt just to prove it?" Qin Juran, finding the whole situation surreal, cleared her throat. "Well, since it’s going to rain, you should get going. They sell umbrellas at the convenience store.”
She turned to leave, but after a few steps, she heard something fall behind her. She turned around to see Ruan Nan crouching on the ground, her bag beside her, one knee on the pavement, her short skirt barely covering her.
"What's wrong?" Qin Juran asked, stopping.
Ruan Nan didn't answer.
Qin Juran paused, then walked over to her and asked, "Did you twist your ankle?"
Ruan Nan looked up, her face pale. "Qin Juran, my stomach hurts."
Her long eyelashes fluttered as she looked at Qin Juran, who, suddenly flustered, asked, "Why does your stomach hurt all of a sudden?"
"Probably because you scared me.”
"..."
Dark clouds gathered overhead, the city seeming to shrink beneath them. Qin Juran looked at Chen Xue's cousin crouching on the ground…
She adjusted her backpack strap, completely oblivious to the fact that Ruan Nan, from her angle, had a clear view beneath her skirt.
After a few more seconds, Qin Juran crouched down, her annoyance momentarily forgotten as she offered the stranger a gesture of trust. "Why don’t you come to my place for a bit?"
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