"It's me, Wang Li. Don't you recognize me?" Wang Li suddenly remembered something and touched her own face. A hint of sadness flashed in her eyes. "Well, I've been tanned from living in the countryside these past few years. My own mother almost didn't recognize me."
After speaking, she reminded Zhixia, "It was at Gao Meiyun's wedding. I almost fell into their trap, but luckily you reminded me. Do you remember?"
"It's you! I'm really sorry, it's been so long, and I didn't remember," the girl replied. She was the one who had delivered the marriage gift to Gao Meiyun, and she was also the girl who was implicated by Gao Meiyun when she framed Fourth Brother for being a hooligan in the previous life.
At that time, she had returned from the countryside to visit her family, and Gao Meiyun had gathered them together and drugged them. Later, Fourth Brother was arrested for his hooliganism, and she jumped into the river because of the rumors and pressure while pregnant.
In this life, without Gao Meiyun's existence, there was no connection between her and Fourth Brother. They both went on with their own lives.
Speaking of what happened back then, Wang Li couldn't help but sigh, speaking softly to avoid being overheard.
Another familiar person entered, causing Zhixia to frown.
The world was indeed small. Gao Second Sister had unexpectedly been admitted to the university as well, and by chance, she was in the same class as her, sitting a couple of rows behind.
During class, Zhixia could still feel a gaze fixed on her that didn't waver.
It wasn't until the moment Gao Qingcheng's name was called during self-introductions that Gao Second Sister stood up.
Zhixia was a bit confused. Was she impersonating someone? Or did she change her name?
Regarding the events in An Le Village, besides the Gao family, she couldn't recall much. She had no idea if there really was a person named Gao Qingcheng.
After class, Gao Second Sister stood in front of Zhixia's desk. Clearly, she also hadn't expected such a coincidence, and her demeanor seemed more uneasy.
"Zhixia, can we talk outside?" Gao Second Sister asked, her gaze pleading. It was evident that she didn't want others to know about their relationship.
Well, as the victim, Zhixia's reputation was tarnished, but as the perpetrator's sibling, Gao Second Sister was even more ashamed.
Zhixia pondered for a moment and nodded, standing up and walking out.
Gao Second Sister followed behind her, and both of them walked at a brisk pace, quickly arriving on a path within the campus.
"Younger sister, I didn't expect this coincidence either. We're in the same class. What do you think?" Gao Second Sister's attempt to please was obvious, and her tone contained an element of testing.
In truth, she was also puzzled. How could a person who hadn't even set foot in a school be admitted to a university? Was it really that easy to get into college?
She didn't bother pondering how Zhixia had been admitted. She only regretted not choosing a different place to go if she had known Zhixia was also attending Jincheng University.
"I'm not your younger sister, Gao Second Sister. Mind your words," Zhixia said. "Also, I assume you didn't ask me to come out just to exchange pleasantries?"
Gao Second Sister awkwardly smiled and straightforwardly said, "Zhixia, what happened in the past was a mistake on my family's part. You've already taken your revenge. Let's forget the past and move on, never mentioning it again. What do you think?"
She was mainly afraid of Gao Qingcheng retaliating against her. After all, there was a clear difference in their identities now, and she could only endure whatever the other party wanted to do to her.
Seeing how she was trying to please him now, Gao Qingcheng couldn't even recall her previous aggressive and fierce demeanor in front of him.
He turned his head and noticed a pool of water just to the left of the small path. Gao Qingcheng casually pointed at it, "If you really want to reconcile, you can jump into the water here. How about that?"
Gao Second Sister's face instantly changed, and she stared stiffly at Gao Qingcheng. "Don't joke around, Gao Qingcheng. It's still the first month of the year, and if I jump into the water here, I'll freeze to death."
Although the sun was shining today, there was still a noticeable chill in the air. She was wearing a padded jacket and trousers, and jumping into the water would render her completely immobile.
Gao Qingcheng smiled and his gaze suddenly turned cold. "I'm not joking, Gao Second Sister. Do you remember the scene when you pushed me into the river that winter? The surface of the river was still frozen, and at the moment I sank into the water, I truly felt like I was going to die. So tell me, how can I let bygones be bygones?"
Gao Second Sister took two fearful steps back, looking at Gao Qingcheng's serious expression. Indeed, she wasn't joking.
The water in the lake by the side of the path was clear, and there were stones scattered along the shore. The environment here was much better than the small pond at the village entrance.
At the very least, the lake's surface hadn't frozen over.
But this wasn't simply a matter of the environment. Jumping into the water in this cold weather would cost her more than half her life.
Gao Qingcheng hadn't forgotten, and she hadn't forgotten either. The year Gao Xiaocao was rescued from the lake, she fell ill for a full half month. Even after she recovered, Gao Second Sister mocked her as a wretched person who couldn't even die.
Recalling those past events, Gao Second Sister really wanted to slap herself hard.
"What's wrong? Are you scared now? When you pushed me into the water back then, you didn't hesitate like you are now, Second Sister. Show some courage, won't you? Or is it that you only have the courage to do wicked things, but when it comes to yourself, you lack determination?" Gao Qingcheng continued to provoke her. "Think about how hard you worked to get into university and the efforts you've made over these years. With just a word from me, I can turn it all into nothing..."
Splash.
Gao Second Sister actually jumped in.
The icy lake water soaked her clothes, and Gao Second Sister began to sink. Soon, the water was over her head.
"Someone fell into the water! Quick, someone fell into the water!"
There were many people on the campus, and someone quickly noticed that Gao Second Sister had fallen into the water.
Gao Qingcheng calmly watched as Gao Second Sister was finally grabbed by someone with a stick and pulled ashore. Then, she calmly walked away.
A new class began, and several seats were empty in the classroom.
Wang Li hurriedly ran back from outside, panting as she stood in front of the platform. "Hey, have you heard? Gao Qingcheng from our class fell into the water. Did you all hear about it?"
Some people who knew about the incident quickly began to recount it, and Wang Li hurriedly leaned in to listen.
Perhaps due to the incident of someone falling into the water, there was no teacher present in the classroom.
Halfway through the class, Teacher Zheng finally arrived and called out from outside the door, "An Zhixia, please come to the office."
Wang Li tapped her arm with her finger and asked, "Do you know why Teacher Zheng wants you to go to the office?"
An Zhixia shook her head, closed her textbook, and stood up to leave.
In the office, An Zhixia knocked on the door and entered, asking, "Teacher Zheng, did you need something from me?"
"An, please have a seat first."
After An Zhixia sat down, Teacher Zheng spoke, "Did any classmates see Gao Qingcheng talking to you for a long time before she jumped into the water?"
Since someone had witnessed it, there was no point in concealing it. An Zhixia nodded and said, "Yes."
Not knowing what others were saying, An Zhixia didn't dare say much and just answered honestly.
"Does that have anything to do with you regarding her jumping into the water?" Teacher Zheng asked again. "Or let me rephrase it, can you conveniently tell me what you were talking about before she jumped?"
"It has nothing to do with me," An Zhixia replied. "We didn't say much, just a few casual words. I don't know why she suddenly jumped, maybe Teacher Zheng can ask Gao Qingcheng."
An Zhixia's response was fine, but her attitude towards the classmate who fell into the water was clearly cold, a kind of coldness that shouldn't even exist towards a stranger.
Teacher Zheng paused for a moment and explained, "An, I'm not suspecting anything when asking you these questions. It's just that Gao Qingcheng was speaking to you moments before she jumped into the water, so I naturally have to ask."
"I understand that. I will actively cooperate with the investigation," An Zhixia said.
Her words sounded good, but Teacher Zheng didn't feel that she was cooperating much.
After smiling, he said, "Alright, since it has nothing to do with you, you can go back for now. I will investigate further with Gao Qingcheng."
An Zhixia stood up and left the office, returning to the classroom without showing any signs of panic.
She wasn't afraid to ask Gao Second Sister either. Gao Second Sister wasn't foolish. She had jumped into the lake to reconcile with herself, so how could she possibly offend herself again?
