"Ningning, Iâm the asshole, Iâm the one whose brain was filled with water. It wasnât on purpose, please, just forgive me this one time!" Qin Cuifen grabbed Sheng Ningâs clothes, her eyes growing crazier.
"What thick skin this person has." Lu Dabao expressed disgust.
"Exactly! She just cursed Sheng Ning and now sheâs running to her for help. Sheng Ning, you shouldnât pay her any attention." Wu Youli said angrily.
"Shut up!" the hatred in Qin Cuifenâs heart found no outlet, and she angrily turned back, her eyes bloodshot as she glared at the two. "Itâs all your fault, all of you, these fair-weather friends, who made Ningning turn against me. If not for you, Ningning would still be a good friend to me right now."
"Fuck!" Lu Dabao was about to lose his mind with anger and rolled up his sleeves, ready to start a fight, but Wu Youli held him back fiercely.
"Get out!" Sheng Ning shouted, silencing the whole room; all three turned to look at her.
"Qin Cuifen, weâre enemies, not friends! You can leave now! I donât want to see you again. Otherwise..." She paused, revealing a sinister smile, "Otherwise, Iâll have you thrown in jail, then you wonât have to worry about going back to your hometown ever again! You canât go back even if you die, and even if you get out of prison, youâll just die alone, tortured by illness!"
Qin Cuifen shuddered violently; she saw seriousness in Sheng Ningâs eyes. She believed that Sheng Ning might really do it.
"Youâre ruthless!" She gave up completely, realizing that Sheng Ning wouldnât help her, and ran outside.
"You get along so well with Hai Lan, why not go to her for help? Sheâs the Hai Family Miss; it would only take a greeting from her to help you, right?" Sheng Ning said offhandedly.
Qin Cuifen turned back, giving her a puzzled look. She knew very well what kind of person Hai Lan was; that kind of person would never help her.
Thatâs why she was so persistent in seeking help from Sheng Ning.
"Who else can you turn to now, if not her?"
"I... I can also turn to Shen Jian..." Qin Cuifen wanted to say Shen Jianguo, but she knew nothing about the Research Institute. It was several hours away by car; where could she find him? Besides, Shen Jianguo had always been infatuated with Sheng Ning. Would it really be useful to approach him?
It seemed she really had no choice but to seek out Hai Lan!
*****
Having left the dormitory area, Qin Cuifen looked increasingly disheveled. She wandered around the courtyard before finally getting to the reception to make a call after a long wait.
She didnât know the Hai Familyâs phone number, but she had always been aware of the General Union Courtyardâs number. They were all direct lines; just by calling there, she could reach Hai Lan.
Qin Cuifen dialed the number with shaky hands, and a cold voice came through.
"Iâm looking for Hai Lan; Iâm her friend. Please, call her for me!"
"What kind of friend are you?" the person on the line asked skeptically.
"Iâm from her Song and Dance Troupe. Itâs urgent; please help me out!"
"Just a moment!"
In the General Union Courtyard, Chen Huaying hadnât gone back since leaving the Hai Family; instead, she sat on a stone bench by the road.
In the summer, the blooming flowers made sitting on a stone bench a perfect spot to cool off. But in the dead of winter, she had waited for half an hour, and it was far from comfortable.
If Hai Lan didnât come out soon, she would freeze to death!
Chen Huaying stood up, jumped around on the spot, and still felt cold. She couldnât help but walk back and forth. She didnât know how things were going on Sheng Ningâs end; Hai Lan was likely to be fooled, but it was uncertain whether Qin Cuifen would be.