South City No.
1 High School, Shanghai
“You slut!
Stop pretending to be dead!” The sharp voice echoed through the deserted washroom, “Do you think a few slaps are enough for you to escape?”
Inside one of the school’s older washroom blocks, four girls surrounded a figure lying motionless on the cold tiled floor.
Water had soaked her from head to toe.
Her school uniform clung heavily to her body, her long black hair was dishevelled across her face, and her glasses lay several feet away, one lens cracked from the earlier beating.
Fresh bruises were already forming along her arms and cheek.
She hadn’t moved for several minutes.
The room was unusually quiet.
Only the occasional drip of water from a broken tap disturbed the silence.
One of the girls, Chen Yutong, nervously glanced down at the girl.
Then she looked towards the girl standing in front of them, “Sister Yuyan…” Her voice trembled, “Why isn’t she moving?”
The other two girls exchanged uneasy glances.
Wang Yuyan however merely scoffed, “That bitch is good at pretending.” She walked closer, “Don’t tell me you actually believe she’s unconscious.”
Yuyan crouched beside Wanqing and pushed a strand of wet hair away from her face and placed two fingers beneath Wanqing’s nose.
A faint breath brushed against her fingertips.
For the briefest moment, relief flashed through Yuyan’s eyes.
She’s alive.
But the expression disappeared almost instantly.
She sneered, “See?
She’s still breathing.
I knew it.” She stood and looked towards Chen Yutong, “Yutong, go get another bucket of water.”
Chen Yutong’s face immediately paled, “Another bucket?”
“Yes.” Yuyan’s tone brooked no argument, “Pour it over her and wake her up.
I’m not finished with her yet.”
Chen Yutong hesitated, “Sister Yuyan…”
“What?”
“I-I think this lesson is enough.” She swallowed nervously, “She won’t dare go near Brother Yifan anymore.
We already scared her badly.”
Another girl, Li Xinyan, nodded hurriedly, “I think Yutong is right.”
She glanced at Mu Wanqing, “What if something really happened to her?
What if she died?” Her voice became quieter, “This washroom block although far from the main teaching buildings, but the school has surveillance cameras.
We were seen following Mu Wanqing here.
If something happens to her, we could all be held responsible.”
The instant those words left her mouth, Wang Yuyan’s expression darkened, “Enough!”
The sharp shout made both girls flinch.
Yuyan looked from one to the other, “Chen Yutong.
Li Xinyan.” Her eyes narrowed, “Are you two on my side or hers?”
Neither girl answered.
Yuyan laughed coldly, “Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten what this bitch did to me?” She pointed towards Mu Wanqing, “She actually had the nerve to go to my Brother Yifan and ask him to help her with a mathematics problem.” Her voice dripped with contempt.
She spat the word as though it were an insult, “Who does she think she is?”
Yuyan’s expression twisted with jealousy, “She was obviously trying to seduce him.” She looked at the other girls, “Didn’t we find all those love letters in her bag?
You all saw them, didn’t you?”
Chen Yutong and Li Xinyan exchanged another glance however Yuyan wasn’t giving them a chance to answer, “She has been shamelessly following him for three years.
And now, on the very last day of school, she suddenly comes to school dressed differently, puts on makeup, takes off those ridiculous bangs and oversized glasses…”
She crouched beside Wanqing again.
Her fingers caught the wet hair covering Wanqing’s face and pulled it aside.
Yuyan stared at her.
Even she had to admit that without her thick-framed glasses, oversized uniform, and deliberately unkempt appearance, Mu Wanqing’s face was striking.
Her features were delicate and skin was pale.
Her long lashes rested against her cheeks.
Even unconscious, there was an inexplicable softness to her face.
Yuyan’s expression became uglier, “Look at her.” Her voice dropped into a bitter whisper, “Such a vixen’s face.” She gave a mocking laugh, “Who would have thought that beneath those ugly bangs and those ridiculous glasses, there would be a face like this?”
She grabbed Wanqing’s chin, “You hid it for three whole years.” Her eyes burned with resentment, “And today, on the final day of high school, you suddenly decided to dress yourself up and show everyone what you really look like.”
She released her, “You thought nobody would understand what you were doing?” Yuyan stood, “I know exactly what kind of trick you’re playing.”
Her fingers slipped into the pocket of her school blazer and closed around something cold.
A small surgical blade than appeared in her hand.
She had taken it from the school infirmary earlier that afternoon.
At first, she had only intended to frighten Wanqing with it.
She wanted to force her into this isolated washroom and teach her a lesson.
But now…
Her eyes travelled towards Wanqing’s face.
A strange, vicious thought slowly formed in her mind.
The other three girls froze.
Lin Kexin’s eyes widened, “S…Sister Yuyan…” She stared at the blade, “What are you planning to do?”
Yuyan turned the blade between her fingers, “Nothing much.” She smiled, “I just want to ruin her face.”
The room fell silent.
Li Xinyan immediately stepped forward, “But…”
“Enough.” Yuyan interrupted her, “There will be no problem.” She looked at the three girls with absolute confidence, “Do you think the Wang family is some ordinary family in Shanghai?” Her chin lifted proudly, “I am the youngest daughter of the Wang family.”
She tapped the blade against her palm, “With my father and elder brother is behind me.
Even if something happens, do you really think anyone will dare touch me?”
She glanced at Wanqing with disdain, “And what are you afraid of?” Her voice became contemptuous.
“She’s just some poor nobody from the old slums.” She laughed, “An orphan with no family and no backing.”
Yuyan’s expression was full of arrogance, “If we really have trouble, her adoptive parents can be spoken to.” She waved the blade dismissively, “With a little money, people like them know very well which side they should stand on.”
The three girls exchanged glances and their hesitation slowly disappeared.
Yuyan was right, the Wang family was powerful.
And Mu Wanqing?
She was nobody.
What could someone like her possibly do?
The three girls relaxed.
A few even began smiling, now they were waiting for a good show, but none of them noticed the faint movement of Wanqing’s fingers.
Her consciousness had begun returning slowly.
The first thing she felt was cold.
A bone-deep cold that seemed to have seeped into every part of her body followed by pain from her back into her skull.
Wanqing’s brows tightened and breathing became uneven.
She heard few Muffled and distant voices, but couldn’t understand a simgle word.
Her head felt heavy, as though someone had filled it with water.
She tried to move and the sensation startled her.
I can move she thought.
Memories suddenly crashed into her mind.
A black BMW, Mu Qinglan, Shen Ruoxi, Shen Zeyu and those men dressed in black.
Suddenly her blood boiled as she remembered everything and her eyes flew open.
They were unfocused and bloodshot.
For several seconds, she couldn’t see properly.
Everything around her appeared as vague shapes.
But her mind had already seized upon one conclusion.
They’re here.
They’re going to kill me again.
Fear slowly turned instantly into rage so violent that it drowned out the pain.
She felt something within reach and she grabbed it.
Before anyone could react, Wanqing surged upward.
“What…?!”
Her fist connected with the nearest figure.
Wang Yuyan immediately screamed, “Ah…!” As she stumbled backwards, “What the hell?!”
Wanqing didn’t hear her and her vision was still blurred.
Her breathing came in ragged gasps.
She couldn’t tell who was standing around her.
She only knew that someone was trying to kill her, again.
And this time, she refused to die quietly, “You’re trying to kill me?” Her voice was hoarse, “You dare try to kill me?!” She swung her fist and legs violently.
The sudden attack sent one of the girls crashing into a sink.
Another stumbled backwards, screaming, “W…What happened to her?!”
Wanqing barely understood what was happening herself.
She was no longer thinking and was simply fighting.
Her body moved on instinct.
Someone grabbed at her shoulder so she twisted violently and shoved the person away.
Her wet hair flew across her face.
But she didn’t care about anything and kicked at another figure.
The girl fell hard onto the tiled floor, “Ah!”
Yuyan stared at Wanqing in disbelief, “This…
this bitch…”
Wanqing’s eyes finally began adjusting to the dim room.
But her mind had not yet caught up with reality.
All she could remember was the sensation of being stabbed again and again.
Her fear transformed into something darker, “You want me dead?” She staggered forward, “Then I’ll kill you first!” Her voice echoed through the washroom, “I have nothing left to lose!”
She grabbed the nearest girl by the hair.
Wang Yuyan screamed, “Let go of me!”
Wanqing didn’t let her hair go and pulled her forward and slammed her against the tiled wall.
Bang!
The sound reverberated through the empty room.
The other three girls stared in horror.
This wasn’t the timid Mu Wanqing they knew.
She was more like a cornered animal.
Desperate, furious and terrifying.
Wanqing dragged the girl backwards and shoved her towards the others.
They all stumbled together, falling into one another.
Wanqing stood over them, breathing heavily.
Her eyes were still red.
She looked less like a frightened student and more like someone who had crawled back from the grave itself.
“Tell me why do those people want me dead?” Her voice was low.
All four girls were dumbfounded, what was she talking about?
They thought.
When no one answered Wanqing’s expression darkened.
She grabbed the nearest girl’s arm again and dragged her towards one of the toilet stalls.
Wang Yuyan froze for a moment, but than desparatly tried to free herself and than screamed at others, “Lin Kexin, Chen Yutong, Li Xinyan, help me.
This bitch is going to kill me.” She desparatly cried and did everything to free herself, but Mu Wanqing’s grip was simply too tight.
Her face had gone pale.
She stared at Mu Wanqing as though she were looking at someone she had never seen before, “Wanqing…” Her voice trembled despite her attempt to sound threatening.
“Let me go right now.
If you don’t, I will make sure you die a horrible death.” She tried to pull herself free, “My father and elder brother will never let you off.
Do you understand?”
The words horrible death seemed to strike something deep inside Wanqing and her expression once again changed and she tightened her grip around Wang Yuyan’s wrist.
“Then let’s see.” Her voice was low.
“Who dies the more horrible death?”
Yuyan’s eyes widened.
For a moment, she simply stared at her.
What is wrong with this bitch?
Wasn’t Mu Wanqing supposed to be timid?
For three entire years, Wanqing had been the girl who lowered her head whenever someone spoke harshly to her.
The girl who always sat alone and tried to disappear into the corner of the classroom.
She always hid her most of the face behind those untidy bangs and enormous glasses and nobody had even known what she truly looked like.
Until today.
Today was the final day of high school and for some reason, Wanqing had arrived looking completely different.
Her hair had been properly styled, and face lightly made up, and without those oversized glasses and messy bangs covering her features, she had stunned almost everyone who saw her and caused an uproar throughout the school.
Today entire day, the school forum was filled with the discussion about Mu Wanqing’s heavenly beauty, no-one has expected such a divine beauty was hidden amongst all the students, completely out of everyone’s eagle eyes.
And not only that, but she also became quite daring to go to Si Yifan to help herself with a math question.
And that was exactly what had infuriated Wang Yuyan.
Until yesterday, hardly anyone had paid much attention to Mu Wanqing.
Of course, there had been bullying.
A few students would occasionally mock her.
Yuyan and her friends would sometimes corner her, throw away her books, spill drinks on her uniform, or make cruel jokes at her expense.
Sometimes it went too far.
But Wanqing had never fought back or complained.
She simply endured it.
As far as Wang Yuyan was concerned, that meant Wanqing deserved it.
After all, in their eyes, she was the perfect punching bag.
Someone who would never retaliate and would swallow every humiliation and return to her seat with her head lowered.
But the person standing before Yuyan now was nothing like that girl.
“Let me go!” Yuyan struggled again.
Wanqing didn’t even blink.
Suddenly…
Bang!
She kicked open the door of one of the toilet stalls.
Seeing this Yuyan froze, “What are you doing?”
Wanqing didn’t answer.
She grabbed the back of Yuyan’s neck.
The moment Yuyan felt those fingers tighten around her, a terrible sense of dread filled her chest.
“No…” Her eyes widened, “No, Mu Wanqing!” She finally understood and her face turned in horror.
“Wait!”
Wanqing however didn’t listen anything and pushed her face all the way into the toilet bowl making Yuyan screamed, “NOOOOO!”
The sound echoed through the washroom and the other three girls stood frozen.
Seeing this…
Li Xinyan’s face turned white.
Chen Yutong covered her mouth.
Lin Kexin stumbled backwards.
For several seconds, none of them could believe what they were seeing.
Chen Yutong was the first to break and rushed towards the sink and vomited.
The contents of her lunch came up almost immediately.
Li Xinyan turned away, gagging violently.
“What…
what is she doing?” Lin Kexin’s legs trembled, “This is insane…”
Wang Yuyan struggled desperately, “Mu Wanqing!” Her voice was muffled and panicked,”Let me go!”
She pushed backwards with everything she had.
But Wanqing’s grip was frighteningly strong.
Wang Yuyan’s eyes filled with tears.
The arrogance from moments earlier had completely disappeared, “Please…” Her voice broke, “Mu Wanqing, I’m sorry.” She was crying now, “Please let me go.”
Wanqing heard the desperate plea and the world around her suddenly began to change.
Her vision, which had been hazy since she woke, slowly cleared.
She blinked and for a moment her breathing stopped.
The person she was holding had long black hair, wasn’t he supposed to be a man?
Wanqing’s fingers loosened, “What…is going on?” Her voice was barely audible.
She slowly looked around, the washroom felt strangely familiar.
She had seen this place before.
But where?
Her mind struggled to make sense of it.
Then she heard the voice of the person she was holding, “Mu Wanqing…
Please…”
Mu Wanqing froze.
The voice was unfamiliar.
She looked down at herself and the moment she saw what she was wearing, her heart began pounding.
Wasn’t she already dead?
She was certain of it.
Then…
Where was this place?
Wanqing abruptly released Yuyan.
Yuyan immediately scrambled out of the toilet compartment and rushed towards the washbasin and began retching.
The other three girls quickly moved away from Wanqing as well, pressing themselves against the opposite wall as though distance alone could protect them.
Wanqing looked at the four girls, all wearing school uniforms.
All staring at her as though she had suddenly turned into a monster.
Her gaze dropped to her own clothes and her fingers began trembling, “This…” Her lips parted, “This is…”
Her breathing grew faster.
She suddenly remembered.
She knew this uniform.
She had worn it every day for three years.
Although it’s been fifteen years, she could still very well remember it.
Mu Wanqing’s eyes widened, “No…” She rushed towards the mirror above the washbasin.
The other girls screamed the moment she approached.
“Ah!”
“Run!”
“Get out!”
They scrambled towards the door.
Even Wang Yuyan, who had always considered herself fearless, didn’t dare stay.
Within seconds, all four girls had fled the washroom.
Mu Wanqing however didn’t notice them as she stood before the mirror, and stared.
The girl reflected in the glass stared back had a Long, damp black hair, a pale, delicate face, Clear eyes, smooth skin withoit any wrinkles.
There was no sign of aging, only youthfulness.
She looked young.
She slowly raised a trembling hand and touched her cheek.
Her fingertips moved across her jaw, then her forehead, her lips and than her eyes.
Her breathing became increasingly frantic.
“How is this possible?” She stumbled backwards and collapsed onto the tiled floor.
She stared at her hands.
Although calloused and rough, they were still the hands of a teenager.
She suddenly remembered something.
Her back.
Wanqing’s hand immediately went behind her.
The exact place where the men had stabbed her.
She touched it but found nothing.
No wound, blood or scar.
She pressed harder.
Still nothing.
Then, just to make sure, she pinched the skin on her stomach and…
“Ah!”
Pain, real pain.
She quickly withdrew her hand and her eyes widened.
Pain meant she was alive.
Wanqing stared at herself for several long seconds.
Then an absurd thought appeared in her mind.
One she had encountered countless times while reading novels.
A thought so ridiculous that she almost laughed.
“Could it be…” Her voice was barely a whisper, “Have I been reborn?”
She looked around the empty washroom and suddenly, memories began surfacing.
The old toilet block behind the school’s sports field.
She knew this place.
Her heart began pounding harder, “South City No.
1 High School…” She whispered.
She looked down at her uniform again.
Then at her reflection, “If this is really…” Her lips trembled, “…then have I returned to my high-school days?”
A strange silence settled over her.