The bell signaling the end of class rang, and Qian Xiaoguo seemed to jolt awake from a dream. She suddenly grabbed Mian Mian's hand, pleading tearfully, "Take me away, I don't want anyone to see me like this, please, please!"
As if stimulated, Qian Xiaoguo clutched Mian Mian's arm with all her might, her nails digging into her flesh. Mian Mian felt a piercing pain and quickly soothed her, "Okay, I'll take you away now. Don't worry."
Mian Mian hastily helped Qian Xiaoguo up. Qian Xiaoguo's legs felt weak, but she still tried her best to cooperate, getting up and following her out.
As classmates gradually left the classroom, they looked at the two girls with curiosity. Qian Xiaoguo dared not meet their gazes, but she felt that everyone was laughing at her. In an instant, the ridicule and mockery surged, almost suffocating her.
Mian Mian supported her, and they struggled their way to the school gate. During class hours, the gatekeeper wouldn't allow anyone to leave. Mian Mian could only say that Qian Xiaoguo had a severe stomach ache and that a teacher had approved her leaving school.
Only then did the gatekeeper open the gate.
Once outside, Mian Mian hailed a taxi and left the school with Qian Xiaoguo. Mian Mian asked, "Tell me the truth, Xiaoguo, what exactly happened?"
"It's nothing, Mian Mian, thank you. You can go back to school after you drop me home," Qian Xiaoguo said numbly.
Outside, she finally felt like she could breathe. Inside the school, the disdain and mockery from those people were driving her mad.
"You call this 'nothing'? Qian Xiaoguo, are we still friends? Is it that hard to tell me the truth?" Jiang Mianmian was almost driven crazy by her.
"Mianmian, I want to process this on my own. I know you're doing this for my own good, please give me some space," Qian Xiaoguo tried her best to keep her expression calm.
Mianmian was so angry she didn't know what to say, but she also knew Qian Xiaoguo was right.
"Fine, then I'll take you home. I won't leave until I see you safe."
Qian Xiaoguo wanted to say it wasn't necessary, but in the end, she closed her eyes and said nothing. She was trembling all over. Thinking about what had just happened in the restroom, she felt utterly disgusted. She felt so disgusting about herself right now!
She didn't deserve to be friends with a good girl like Mian Mian.
"Mianmian, Yun Buji... he didn't touch you... I mean, did he hug you?" Qian Xiaoguo asked, trembling.
"He hugged me when we were escaping. He carried me on his back later. What's wrong?" Mianmian looked at her with concern.
"No, I was just curious." Qian Xiaoguo's head was spinning. Now she realized how terribly wrong she had been. The person she thought was good was actually scum, and the person she thought was bad turned out to be a gentleman.
Indeed, her intelligence wasn't as good as Mianmian's. Mianmian could distinguish between scum and gentlemen, but what about her? She was like a fool, unable to discern anything.
If it weren't for Zhao Ke, she wouldn't have suffered such a terrible ordeal.
"Qian Xiaoguo, try to think positively and be strong. There's nothing in this world that can't be solved. We're still young, and life is long. A few bumps in the road are nothing, understand?" Mianmian earnestly tried to comfort her.
"Mmm, I understand." Qian Xiaoguo responded perfunctorily. She felt her life was ruined. She was too young to endure such cruel events. Now, all she saw was darkness, with not a single ray of light.
Mianmian comforted her all the way home and only left after ensuring she was resting.