Chapter 114: It’s Not
Wu Xiulian, seeing You Ruxu, froze. She rushed over, her eyes wide with surprise, “Xu Xu, you…”
You Ruxu said, “Aunt, let’s go home.”
She stopped Wu Xiulian from going back inside with a look, holding her hand, knowing she wanted to explain to Yu Qiao, but Wu Xiulian had done this for her, for her…
Wu Xiulian paused for a moment, then quickly helped You Ruxu take off her soiled jacket, covering her with her own. You Ruxu’s hair was a mess, her face stained with food, yet her expression was calm, as if nothing had happened, “Auntie has every right to be angry.”
Wu Xiulian only noticed the cut on You Ruxu’s hand after cleaning her up.
She looked at You Ruxu.
You Ruxu pulled back her hand slightly, “It was an accident.”
“Xu Xu.” Wu Xiulian’s voice choked with tears. “I’m so sorry!”
You Ruxu said, “It’s not your fault, Aunt.” She said, “Let’s go home, Chen Xiang is waiting for me.”
Wu Xiulian’s eyes were filled with tears. She nodded and helped You Ruxu into the car.
It had been a long time since You Ruxu had been home. During her stay at the hospital, she missed the apartment she shared with Zhou Tianzui. Wu Xiulian stood in the living room, looking around, the apartment clean and tidy. You Ruxu went to change. Wu Xiulian, holding the first-aid kit, cleaned and bandaged You Ruxu’s wound when she came out. You Ruxu seemed numb, her expression blank and impassive.
Wu Xiulian looked at her, putting the first-aid kit aside after she finished, and called out, “Xu Xu…”
“Aunt,” You Ruxu said, “Zhou Tianzui and I will work things out.”
This child…
Wu Xiulian looked down.
You Ruxu said, “Should we go to the TV station?”
Wu Xiulian drove her there. Chen Xiang, seeing them, was surprised, “Teacher You, what happened to your hand?”
“It’s nothing, just a small accident. Have you prepared everything?” You Ruxu looked at Chen Xiang, a faint smile on her pale face, like a white rose blooming in the winter wind, delicate yet resilient, a quiet strength beneath the fragile exterior.
Chen Xiang couldn’t help but stare.
She thought You Ruxu was truly blessed, beautiful, with a captivating voice, even looking stunning when sick, it was unfair! And most importantly, her work ethic, clear and pure, her talent undeniable, truly deserving of the nickname, You Jiaoyue (You Bright Moon).
You Ruxu looked at her, “Chen Xiang?”
Chen Xiang returned to her senses, “Yes?”
She smiled, “Then let’s go.”
The other colleagues were curious, but knowing the rules of an anonymous interview, they suppressed their curiosity, watching as Chen Xiang wheeled You Ruxu out. On the way, Chen Xiang said, “Teacher You, is there anything wrong with the interview script?”
You Ruxu took the script, having read it once before. Chen Xiang had made some minor adjustments last night, “Why did you change this part?”
“I thought the question was too harsh.” Chen Xiang said, “I tried to put myself in her shoes. The interviewee was only four or five years old back then, her mother had just died, it was a traumatic experience, if she wasn’t thinking clearly and said something, it’s understandable. And the blame shouldn’t be entirely on her, even the police didn’t convict anyone, it was just the public outcry…”
Partly because of the media’s sensationalized reporting, exaggerating the story, combined with the irrational public, that had blown the incident out of proportion.
You Ruxu said, “Wrong is wrong, being young isn’t an excuse.”
It was precisely because of the lack of evidence that they couldn’t press charges back then, her words becoming the final straw, her “accusation” the only “evidence” during the height of the scandal.
Although her statement wasn’t officially used by the police, the damage was done.
Chen Xiang said, “But…”
“Change it back.” You Ruxu said, “And this part too.”
Chen Xiang said, “Okay.”
You Ruxu looked down at the script, then as they reached the interview location, she said, “Let’s change the location.”
Chen Xiang was surprised, “To where?”
You Ruxu said, “To my apartment.”
Chen Xiang thought for a moment, “Is it because the interviewee doesn’t want to come here?”
You Ruxu said, “Something like that.”
“Okay.” Chen Xiang said, “As long as the interview happens, I don’t mind.”
After all, the news was already out, if the interviewee backed out now, she would be in trouble, so even changing the location ten times wouldn’t be a problem.
Chen Xiang turned the car around and drove towards You Ruxu’s apartment. On the way, she asked, “Teacher You, what does this interviewee do?”
You Ruxu looked out the window, “A reporter.”
“A reporter?” Chen Xiang paused, “A colleague? Still working in Jindu?”
You Ruxu said, “Yes.”
Chen Xiang’s surprise was evident. Her curiosity about this interviewee intensified. When they arrived, You Ruxu held her bag, and Chen Xiang said, “Let me carry that…”
You Ruxu said, “It’s okay, it’s not heavy.”
“But your hand and leg are injured.” Chen Xiang said, “I don’t want you to overexert yourself!”
You Ruxu smiled faintly. Chen Xiang carried the bags and followed You Ruxu into the elevator, “Why is she at your apartment? Teacher You, did you two know each other before?”
You Ruxu said, “You’ll find out soon.”
Chen Xiang couldn’t contain her curiosity, “Is it someone, I also know?”
You Ruxu looked down, not answering.
Chen Xiang swallowed, her heart pounding, she felt like she was on the verge of discovering the truth, just waiting for the door to open.
The door opened.
No one was inside.
Chen Xiang looked around, puzzled, “Teacher You, where is she?”
You Ruxu looked at her and said, “She’s right in front of you.”
“Where? Isn’t it just…” Chen Xiang’s voice trailed off, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at You Ruxu, speechless.
“Teacher You, why did you come to Jindu?”
“Teacher You, why did you become a reporter?”
You Ruxu just looked at her quietly.
Chen Xiang stood there, frozen.
She was stunned, having covered countless news stories, but this was definitely the most shocking. After a long moment, she finally managed, “You?”
You Ruxu nodded, “It’s me.”
Chen Xiang’s mind was in a whirl, a thousand questions, a thousand words, but she didn’t know where to begin. Finally, she asked, “Then, does Dr. Zhou know?”
You Ruxu pursed her lips.
Zhou Tianzui lay in bed, Yu Qiao hadn’t visited all morning. She frowned and looked at her phone, it was just past ten o’clock. There was a noise at the door, and she looked over, Yu Qiao walked in, carrying a bag.
Yu Qiao’s face was grim as she placed the thermos on the table. Zhou Tianzui asked, “Mom, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Yu Qiao said, “I made you lunch, have you eaten breakfast yet?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Yes, why didn’t you answer my calls this morning?”
“I left my phone at home, I was out shopping.” Yu Qiao said, “I’ll pour you some chicken soup, let it cool down a bit.”
Zhou Tianzui watched her busy herself around the room.
Yu Qiao seemed to have aged considerably in the past few days. She used to dye her hair whenever she saw a gray strand, not wanting Zhou Tianzui to think she was old, worried about her. Now, her temples were gray.
Zhou Tianzui said, “Mom, don’t bother, just rest for a bit.”
Yu Qiao placed a bowl of soup on the table and sat down on the chair beside her bed. It was a single room converted into a double, the beds separated but without a curtain. Yu Qiao sat between the two beds, looking at Zhou Tianzui.
Zhou Tianzui could move a little now. She tried to sit up slightly, and Yu Qiao adjusted the bed’s height. Zhou Tianzui lay back down. The ward was quiet, neither of them speaking, the silence stretching, until Zhou Tianzui finally said, “Mom, you should lie down on the other bed if you’re tired.”
“I’m not tired.” Yu Qiao asked, “What did your director say?”
The director had visited again this morning. He had initially disapproved of her resignation, and now, with the work journal surfacing, he disapproved even more. The hospital also knew about her father’s case, the commendation and the raise still stood.
Yu Qiao said, “You can’t resign.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Mom, we’ll talk about this later.”
“Later?” Yu Qiao sat on the edge of her bed, her face grim, “Then what do you want to talk about now?”
Zhou Tianzui looked at her.
Yu Qiao said, “About Shi Ran?”
Zhou Tianzui’s expression changed slightly.
Yu Qiao said, “You thought you could hide this from me forever?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “I didn’t.”
She and You Ruxu had agreed to tell Yu Qiao after the interview, she hadn’t expected Yu Qiao to find out first, “Did she tell you?”
“She came to our apartment this morning.” Yu Qiao said, “Xiao Tian, you did well, you did so well.”
Zhou Tianzui was speechless.
Yu Qiao said, “Seeing me being so kind to her, all these years, how did it make you feel?”
Yu Qiao continued, “It made me sick to my stomach, Xiao Tian, forgetting about your father, making a fool out of your mother, all for a woman?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Mom, I didn’t forget about Dad.”
“Didn’t you?” Yu Qiao’s tone was calm, a calmness that was more unsettling than any outburst, “When did you find out, that she was Shi Ran?”
Zhou Tianzui met Yu Qiao’s gaze.
Yu Qiao leaned closer, looking at Zhou Tianzui intently, “Just now? Or when you first met?”
Zhou Tianzui closed her eyes.
Yu Qiao said, “You knew all along?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Mom, I did know, but listen to me, it’s been so many years since Dad’s incident, we’re both tired, now that the truth is out, I don’t want to dwell on the past anymore…”
“Is it because you don’t want to dwell on the past, or because she’s You Ruxu, that you don’t want to dwell on it?” Yu Qiao’s voice was cold, her words like needles piercing Zhou Tianzui’s heart, “You don’t want to dwell on it, have you even asked me? Do you even remember what we went through all those years?”
“I remember.” Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ll never forget, I remember what we went through, I know how much you suffered, and yes, it was hell for both of us, but do you think she had it easy? Her pain was no less than ours!”
Yu Qiao said, “She deserved it!”
Zhou Tianzui’s anger flared, “Deserved it? She was only a child back then!”
“Even a child should be held accountable for her actions! She’s the reason your father died without clearing his name!”
Zhou Tianzui’s voice rose slightly, “Dad wasn’t the only one who died!” Her eyes reddened, “Her mother also died!”
Slap!
Zhou Tianzui’s head snapped to the side, a red mark appearing on her pale cheek.
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