Chapter 200

Chapter 200

◎ Withering ◎

Many people are drawn to stories of retribution. As soon as they saw this trending topic, they curiously clicked on it, only to witness a bullying incident from over a decade ago.

The post was made by a young girl. Her Weibo was simple and clean, mostly sharing travel experiences, not following celebrities or gossiping, occasionally venting about the pain of overtime work. When she posted a short essay titled "Perhaps This is Retribution," everyone learned that over a decade ago, a genius had committed suicide by jumping off a building due to school bullying.

The essay, just over a thousand words, laid bare the bloody past before the public. It wasn't just a small group bullying someone; it was almost the entire school uniting to oppress, simply because the victim was homosexual, and that era was at a critical and chaotic time regarding the openness of same-sex marriage.

The young girl was a witness. She saw with her own eyes Gu Mingyu delivering the complaint letter, which marked the beginning of this horrific bullying.

After all these years, she brought this up not to seek attention but was moved by the car accident video, because Gu Mingyu, who had sent the complaint letter, was the driver who lost his legs in that accident.

This essay stirred up a storm. Many things weren't directly done by Gu Mingyu, but many knew he was a key figure. Because Gu Mingyu was handsome and academically excellent, compared to the somewhat rebellious Yu Sixing, Gu Mingyu was idolized by many as a heartthrob.

But the sudden appearance of a genius instantly overshadowed the male idol's halo. Many knew Gu Mingyu disliked Guo Xun, especially seeing Guo Xun's timid and easily bullied nature, he deliberately troubled him several times.

If it weren't for Yu Sixing later protecting Guo Xun, Guo Xun might have been bullied by Gu Mingyu from the start.

Unfortunately, he still couldn't escape all this in the end.

Many who experienced this event back then, some even parents now, leaders in various fields, came forward to apologize, indirectly confirming the reality of that bullying.

Some confessed, some admitted their mistakes, some bluntly said they were immature back then, foolishly thinking whoever shouted the loudest in that bullying was the leader. After experiencing more, some things that were unclear back then became obvious with a little thought.

The only beneficiary of that event was Gu Mingyu, who also managed to escape unscathed from the entire incident.

No one was clean, whether they participated in the bullying or remained silent in the face of that terrible bullying. Only Gu Mingyu seemed unrelated to the whole event. Now, seeing the girl pointing out that Gu Mingyu sent the complaint letter, what else is there to understand?

Various analytical essays were posted, making netizens shudder. Overt evil is not scary because you know they are evil, and you are wary of them. This kind of hidden evil is the most terrifying, especially when such people seem to be doing well. If it weren't for this car accident, this matter might have remained hidden.

An innocent person died tragically, while the perpetrator enjoyed a bright future.

Those who have been bullied during their student years can empathize the most with such things, hence they harbor the most hatred towards bullies.

The online public opinion is terrifying. If Gu Mingyu weren't still in critical condition, he would have been beaten up many times.

Gu's mother and Gu Mingxi are also having a hard time. Neighbors are also talking about this, many pointing at Gu's mother and whispering to others, "Look, that's Gu Mingyu's mother."

Gu Mingyu was well-known in their community for his excellence. Who wouldn't want a child who excels in everything? Gu Mingyu was the child others compared theirs to.

Now that this matter is known to the public, those who grew up hearing "Why can't you be like Gu Mingyu" immediately had something to say.

Some even ran home, asking their mothers, "So, still want me to be like Gu Mingyu?"

After such cheeky remarks, a beating was inevitable. Even in their thirties, they dared not fight back against their mothers.

With the outside world like this, let alone the school. The teachers and principals had to deal with the public opinion, but the students didn't care. Class Five even moved Gu Mingxi's desk and chair to the back where the trash is placed.

Some parents even came to the school, strongly demanding that Gu Mingxi be transferred to another class. With a brother who bullied someone to death, who knows what the sister is like? They wouldn't feel safe having their child in the same class as such a person.

Thinking of their child being in the same class as such a person, they were very worried.

Looking at the chaotic school, Ji Nanxing sighed. They still couldn't change the course of these events. Even if they stopped Yu Sixing, some things still couldn't deviate from their destined path.

Xiao Ye patted Ji Nanxing's shoulder: "Some things are truly beyond human control. We've done what we could, the rest is up to fate, it can't be forced."

Zhang Yuan leaned against the railing: "Was that Weibo post really not sent by Mr. Yu?"

Xiao Ye shook his head: "I asked him, and he said it wasn't him."

Yu Sixing is not the type to deny his actions, so if he said it wasn't him, then the exposure of this matter really had nothing to do with him.

Looking at the students coming and going around them, seemingly no different from usual, Zhang Yuan said, "If Gu Mingxi returns to school, what do you think will happen to her?"

Xiao Ye: "She will face real bullying."

The previous bullying was just small-scale. If Gu Mingxi returns to school, others will feel justified in placing themselves on a moral high ground, and bullying her will no longer be done in secret. They will become even more brazen and open.

Even if they are doing things no different from what Gu Mingyu did back then, they will still feel at ease, believing they are acting for justice, avenging the poor deceased genius.

The environment has the strongest influence on people. Some might initially think this matter has nothing to do with them, but as everyone around them starts bullying Gu Mingxi, those who felt it was none of their business might gradually be influenced. Influence spreads like wildfire—some taking action, some remaining silent—and eventually, the entire school might bully that one person. That is the most terrifying.

Zhang Yuan could fully imagine what Gu Mingxi would face if she returned to school and couldn't help but sigh: "She should transfer schools; she can't come back here."

Xiao Ye, leaning on the railing, sighed as well: "Unless she goes abroad, transferring to another school won't make a difference."

Given the magnitude of the incident and its sensitivity, it's safe to say the entire nation is watching. No matter where Gu Mingxi transfers, if people find out she is Gu Mingyu's sister, her fate will be the same.

Gu Mingxi has personally experienced what it feels like to grow up overnight. She doesn't dare to let her mother go home; the hospital is still safer than the outside world. Every time the doctors and nurses mention her brother's name, she can feel the shift in their gazes.

But it's still better than facing outright hostility.

Gu Mingyu has already been discharged from intensive care, but he is still not fully conscious due to the severity of his injuries. When he fully regains consciousness and realizes he has lost his legs, and the events of the past have been spread online, turning into the current situation, it's unclear if he'll be able to cope.

Gu Mingyu's company is also about to terminate his labor contract. Since Gu Mingyu was under suspension for investigation when the accident happened, the company is not liable for his accident. Now, they're just waiting for him to wake up so HR can discuss the severance package with him.

Everything is going downhill. Not only their family, but even she herself is at a loss about the future.

Using the excuse of buying food to escape the hospital room for a breather, she knows that while their family's news is all over the internet, few actually know what they look like. Sitting at the hospital entrance, she goes unnoticed, but she knows it's because she's outside. When she returns to school, what she will face will only be more terrifying.

Xiao Ye and Ji Nanxing appeared at this moment. Gu Mingxi found them enigmatic, as if they could track her down no matter where she was. Looking at the two, Gu Mingxi couldn't utter a word for a long time, finally managing to whisper a dry "I'm sorry."

Ji Nanxing: "You have nothing to apologize for; no need to say sorry."

Gu Mingxi, nervously fiddling with her fingers, asked with some fear: "Is the school spreading terrifying rumors?"

Ji Nanxing nodded: "If you return to school, even with teacher intervention, your life won't be easy. In fact, it will be harder than before."

Gu Mingxi is only sixteen, just starting high school. Her life before hadn't encountered much turbulence, but no matter how scared she is, she can't stop going to school. Her disabled brother and her mother, who is not in good health, will depend on her.

Xiao Ye added: "In this situation, even transferring schools won't help. What your brother did is very sensitive, especially among students."

Gu Mingxi had anticipated this and nodded calmly: "I know."

Even her former friends, after the incident, messaged her asking if it was true. After she replied "yes," they never messaged her again. If even former friends are like this, let alone strangers.

After a while, Gu Mingxi asked them: "Is Guo Xun's family really gone?"

Ji Nanxing: "There's no one left. Even if there are some relatives, they probably aren't close."

Xiao Ye: "Why are you asking this? Are you thinking of atoning for your brother's sins?"

Gu Mingxi didn't respond. That was exactly what she was thinking, so she fell into confusion again: "What can I do now?"

She no longer knows what to do, but she can't show this confusion and weakness in front of her mother. She can only use the excuse of buying food to escape and clear her mind.

Ji Nanxing: "First, stay in the hospital to take care of your brother. If you still want to continue your education, there are two options."

Gu Mingxi looked up.

Ji Nanxing continued, "Wait for the online news to fade away, and for the school to calm down again. Although some things will still be unavoidable when you return to school, it will at least be better than now. Alternatively, you could take a two-year leave of absence and then transfer to another school."

There is a time limit for taking a leave of absence in high school. Ideally, a three-year break would be best—waiting until this entire class graduates and leaves—so that it would mark a completely new beginning.

Gu Mingxi didn’t expect that, at this moment, it would be them standing by her side. She wiped her tears and stood up: "Thank you. I will think carefully about it."

After assessing her current condition and ensuring everything was fine, Ji Nanxing didn’t stay much longer. Once they had walked far enough, Xiao Ye asked, "Are you worried she might take her own life?"

Ji Nanxing: "It's understandable for a young girl to feel overwhelmed by all this."

Xiao Ye: "She seems okay now, but it's hard to predict what will happen when she goes back to school."

What should have been a place of learning, a stepping stone to a bright future, has now become a daunting place for some—and yet, there’s no way to avoid stepping into it.

Ji Nanxing: "Even if she goes back, nothing serious will happen. She won't take her own life."

She is like a rose that once bloomed in the garden, now withered, but with roots still intact and vitality enduring. After surviving the winter, she will naturally bloom again come spring.