Chapter 31

Chapter 31

"Hey, have you heard? Lin Xingshu from Class 3 pushed a classmate down the stairs!"

"Who? Lin Xingshu? No way! He has such a good reputation at school. Teachers and students all like him."

"Oh, you don’t know. Xie Guan surpassed him to get first place in the monthly exam. That day, during the parent-teacher conference, Lin suddenly lost his temper. Xie Guan went after him to comfort him, but who would’ve thought Lin not only rejected Xie Guan’s kindness but also pushed him down the stairs!"

"Ah, really? Lin Xingshu doesn’t seem like that kind of person..."

"What do you know? You can know a person’s face but not their heart. Xie Guan was seriously injured when he was pushed—he broke his leg and suffered a concussion. He just had orthopedic surgery and is still in the hospital."

Lin Xingshu had just arrived on the third-floor hallway when he overheard a group of students huddled together, chattering about him and Xie Guan. His body stiffened for a moment before he quickly lowered his gaze, putting on a calm facade. But his tightly clenched fists around his backpack straps betrayed his true feelings.

When the others noticed him, they immediately fell silent. Yet their judgmental and scornful looks remained fixed on him. Some of the bolder ones even whispered to their companions right in front of him.

"How can he still come to school? Shouldn’t there be disciplinary action for something like that?"

"My friend knows him. I heard that in junior high, he often..."

"I didn’t push him—!"

Lin Xingshu could no longer control his emotions, roaring hoarsely. He gripped his backpack straps tightly, slowly raising his eyes to scan every face around him.

These people—some were his classmates, others he had merely crossed paths with—were all so familiar, yet now they felt like strangers.

Before this incident, he was the golden boy everyone praised. Now, over baseless accusations, they were slandering and spreading rumors about him behind his back.

"You say you didn’t push him, but so many people saw it. It’s an undeniable fact that you pushed him."

A voice spoke up from the crowd. Lin Xingshu looked toward the speaker—a girl from the neighboring class, someone he used to get along with well.

His teeth dug into his lips, turning them from pale to red.

"Saw it? Which of your eyes saw it? You claim to have witnessed something I never did. Spreading rumors truly just takes a loose tongue."

"Even now, you’re still making excuses. Lin Xingshu, I truly misjudged you. I never thought you were this kind of person."

The girl looked at him, shaking her head with exaggerated dismay, as if she had truly witnessed everything firsthand.

"Why should I admit to something I didn’t do? Even if, for argument's sake, I *had* pushed Xie Guan, that’s between him and me. What does it have to do with you? If you care so much about him, why don’t you go visit him in the hospital?"

"You—!"

The girl’s eyes reddened with fury at his retort, filled with resentment—completely different from her usual friendly demeanor.

"Well, there are no cameras on that staircase anyway. No one can say for sure. Whether he pushed him or not, he knows the truth in his heart..."

Lin Xingshu shot her a cold glance before turning and entering the classroom. The girl and her companions continued to slander him outside, but Lin Xingshu ignored them completely, returning to his desk to study.

Head bowed, he pulled out his textbooks to review, acutely aware of the strange looks his classmates were giving him. His nose began to sting, tears welling up in his eyes. He bit his lip hard, forcing the tears back.

He *really* hadn’t pushed Xie Guan.

But no one was willing to believe him.

These were classmates he’d spent three years with, yet now they were turning against him with harsh words over something like this—not a single one willing to trust him.

"Lin Xingshu, the homeroom teacher wants to see you in the office."

Lin Xingshu froze, quickly wiping the corner of his eye before standing up. The stares followed him as he left, and the moment he stepped out, the classroom erupted in chatter.

"What do you think the homeroom teacher wants with him now? Could it be about disciplinary action?"

"Probably. It’s been over a week. There’s got to be consequences. And Xie Guan’s family is influential—who knows how his parents will make things difficult for him? Oh, he won’t be forced to withdraw, will he?"

The students’ voices rose and fell, unaware that Lin Xingshu had heard every single word.

He paused at the door, his hands slowly clenching into fists at his sides. Taking a deep breath, he headed toward the office.

No matter what the homeroom teacher said, he wouldn’t admit to it. Why should he confess to something he hadn’t done?

"Homeroom teacher, I’m so sorry for the trouble my child has caused..."

Even before reaching the door, he heard his mother’s apology. Lin Xingshu stopped outside, and through the slightly ajar office door, he saw his mother sitting across from the homeroom teacher, her face etched with worry.

The homeroom teacher sighed. "I don’t know what Lin Xingshu was thinking, but whether he pushed him or not, we can’t be sure. We’ll have to wait until Xie Guan, the person involved, returns to school to clarify."

"Yes, that’s why I’m here today. I’d like to ask for leave for my son to take him to visit Xie Guan in the hospital. If the other party doesn’t pursue it, that would be even better. The college entrance exams are right around the corner... Teacher, do you understand my concern?"

"Of course, I do. Don’t worry— Oh? Lin Xingshu, you’re here. Why are you standing outside? Come in quickly."

The homeroom teacher finally noticed him at the door and quickly stopped the conversation, gesturing for him to enter.

"I didn’t push him."

Lin Xingshu stood rigidly in the doorway, lips bitten tight, fingernails digging into the doorframe, his eyes filled with stubborn defiance.

"You child, hurry up and come with me to the hospital to apologize to Xie Guan."

His mother immediately moved to pull him along, but before she could take his hand, he jerked away, staring intently at her.

"I said, I didn’t push him! I won’t apologize to him!"

"You—!"

His mother’s face flushed with anger, but she insisted on pulling his hand and dragging him out of the office. She practically hauled him away; no matter how much he struggled or explained, his mother never once turned back to give him a glance.

"Mom, it wasn’t me! He fell on his own! I never pushed him! I’m your son! Why won’t you believe me?!"

"Enough—!"

His mother suddenly turned and roared at him, her usually well-cared-for face twisted in fury. "How am I supposed to believe you? With just your word? No surveillance, no witnesses—how can I trust you? Tell me!"

Lin Xingshu stared at his mother in disbelief. "I’m your son. Don’t you know what kind of person I am? I can handle others slandering me, spreading rumors—but you’re my *mother*. How can you not believe me?"

"Nothing in this world is truly trustworthy—not work, not family relationships. Even if you’re my son, I can’t just easily believe you. Not unless Xie Guan himself admits you didn’t push him!"

"Come with me!"

She dragged him, gripping his wrist so hard it ached. In all his life, his mother had never been this furious with him—and it was over something that never even happened.

As they struggled, he saw the disdainful looks from the crowd, mingling with his mother’s cold indifference and unreasonableness. It was like the web Xie Guan had spun in his dreams countless times, trapping him completely, crushing the air from his lungs.

*

Outside the hospital room.

"Once we go in, don’t say anything. Let me do the talking. If I tell you to apologize, you apologize. Understood?"

Lin Xingshu said nothing, head bowed, fingers tightly interlaced, knuckles whitening.

*Creak*—

The ward door was pushed open, and his mother carefully stepped inside with him. Lin Xingshu wearily lifted his eyes, only to see Xie Guan's left leg held up in traction.

Xie Guan lay on the hospital bed, eyes closed, his forehead wrapped in bandages, his face as pale as paper, as if all life had left him.

Hearing their footsteps, Xie Guan slowly opened his eyes. The moment he saw Lin Xingshu, his eyes instantly brightened, and he immediately tried to sit up. His mother quickly stopped him:

"Xie Guan, there's no need to get up. We just came to see you... Xingshu, go on, say hello to Xie Guan."

Lin Xingshu remained silent, stubbornly staring at Xie Guan, his lips pressed tightly together.

Xie Guan managed a weak smile. "Auntie, you shouldn't have gone out of your way. It’s nothing serious. I’m fine."

"Ah, you’re always so considerate. Xingshu, why aren’t you apologizing to Xie Guan?"

"Why should I apologize for something I didn’t do?"

"You—!"

His mother gave him a frustrated look. Sensing the tension, Xie Guan quickly interjected, "Auntie, please don’t argue with Xingshu because of me. This wasn’t his fault. I accidentally fell down the stairs—it had nothing to do with him. Please don’t misunderstand him."

As he spoke, Xie Guan lowered his gaze, his already pale face looking even more sickly. Lin Xingshu bit his lip, staring at him with resentment, his eyes filled with indignation.

He hadn’t forgotten the smug smile Xie Guan had given him when he was being carried to the infirmary—so brazen, showing no trace of pain, completely unlike the frail figure before him now.

Xie Guan was a master of deception.

"Oh... if that’s the case, then that’s good. Then..."

Xie Guan understood his mother’s unspoken meaning. He nodded slightly and smiled at her. "Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to set the record straight with the teachers and classmates. I absolutely won’t let Xingshu be wrongly accused. But... I’d like to talk to Xingshu alone for a moment. Auntie, could you...?"

"Of course, of course! I’ll go out now. Xingshu, I’ll wait for you in the parking lot. You talk properly with Xie Guan!"

Having gotten the answer she wanted, his mother hastily left the ward, shooting Lin Xingshu a meaningful glance before she went.

In an instant, only Lin Xingshu and Xie Guan remained in the room.

Once his mother was gone, Lin Xingshu stopped pretending. He let out a derisive snort, crossing his arms as he sat opposite Xie Guan, staring coldly at him, a mocking smile curling his lips.

"You must be thrilled, having everyone turn against me."

Xie Guan slowly pushed himself up, lacing his fingers over his chest as he gazed at Lin Xingshu with a smile. His jet-black eyes were unreadable as he spoke quietly:

"I didn’t make them turn against you."

"Now that it’s just the two of us, you might as well be honest. Everything you’ve done hasn’t made me feel like you actually like me. All those things you said on the rooftop that day—that was just an act, wasn’t it? Your real goal was to make me push you down the stairs. What exactly are you trying to do?"

"Pfft—"

Xie Guan suddenly burst into laughter, covering the lower half of his face with his hand. His dark eyes curved into crescents as his laughter grew increasingly unrestrained, filling the entire ward with its manic sound.

Lin Xingshu sat silently across from him, watching his crazy act. He was used to it—this was Xie Guan’s true nature.

"Baby, you’re so clever. You guessed right."

Xie Guan finally stopped laughing, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes with a wincing smile. His jet-black eyes fixed on Lin Xingshu, alight with amusement.

"But... you only got half of it right."

"I did deliberately provoke you into pushing me down the stairs. That’s why I tried to force you into being with me back then. But... everything I said was true. I really do like you. I really do want to be with you."

"Then why go to such lengths to hurt yourself?"

Xie Guan rested his chin on his hand, his fingers idly tracing his own beautiful face as his gaze raked over Lin Xingshu, desire plain in his eyes.

"Baby, I’ve told you before. I want you to have only me by your side."

As he spoke, he slowly lifted the blanket, effortlessly lowering his supposedly broken leg. Under Lin Xingshu’s shocked expression, he placed the supposedly fractured limb on the ground, lightly tapped the cast, then stood up as if nothing were wrong, leaning in close.

Lin Xingshu stared at his perfectly functional leg in disbelief. "Your leg... it’s fine?"

"Baby, I just called you clever, but now you’re being silly again."

Xie Guan gave Lin Xingshu’s cheek a gentle pinch, his voice tender. "Did you forget? I’m not human. My healing is fast. I don’t need a cast—I can set my own bones."

"You—!"

Xie Guan’s smile deepened as he watched Lin Xingshu’s face turn red with anger.

"See? All I did was fall down the stairs. No one saw what really happened, and there’s no evidence, yet they all insist you pushed me, describing it so vividly as if they witnessed it themselves. Everyone wronged you—even your own mother refused to believe you."

"Among those who accused you were classmates you were close to, even some who once admired you. But because of this made-up story, they’ve all started hating you. How disgusting and fake they are."

He reached out, his cold fingertips caressing Lin Xingshu’s cheek, his touch gentle as he gazed at him with adoration.

"Only I will always believe you, no matter what you do—whether you hurt me, betray me, anything. I’ll always love only you. Everything I’ve done was to help you see their true nature. I never wanted to isolate you."

"Baby, do you see them for what they are now? Will you believe me... Ghk—!"

Before he could finish, Lin Xingshu lost control. He grabbed Xie Guan by the throat, his grip so tight the veins on his hands bulged. He forced Xie Guan backward, slamming him onto the bed as he choked him violently, his eyes red with rage.

"Xie Guan, you monster! Monster! You’re insane—! You’re nothing but a pervert! A lunatic!"

Lin Xingshu’s voice was hoarse with rage. Xie Guan’s face turned red from lack of air, yet he didn't resist at all. He simply lay there, staring at Lin Xingshu with a smile—one that, to Lin Xingshu’s horror, looked almost pleased.

Xie Guan’s breathing became labored as he watched the veins in Lin Xingshu’s hands bulge from the pressure. Slowly, he raised his own hand, his fingers tracing the raised veins with disturbing gentleness, his eyes dark with desire.

"Do you want to choke me to death, baby?"

"What a shame... this won’t kill me. But baby, you’re making me feel so good..."

Lin Xingshu’s eyes widened in shock. He abruptly released Xie Guan, his chest heaving. Xie Guan sat up leisurely, crossing his legs, the foot in a cast swinging lightly as if amused.

"Pervert! You’re a pervert! A madman!"

"Yes, I am."

"But baby, I really don’t understand. Now that you know their true nature, why do you still refuse to leave them? Am I not better than them?"

"Why won’t you just look at me?"

Lin Xingshu stumbled backward, collapsing into a chair. He buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking with muffled sobs.

"Stop... just stop..."

Tears streamed uncontrollably between his fingers. His entire body trembled, his cries muffled, his vulnerability completely exposed before Xie Guan.

Xie Guan’s smile faded as he watched. Slowly, he moved closer, reaching out to gently stroke Lin Xingshu’s trembling back.

"I’m sorry..."

"Get away from me!"

Lin Xingshu knocked his hand aside, furiously wiping his tears before standing abruptly and storming out of the ward without a backward glance.

Xie Guan kept staring at the door long after Lin Xingshu had left, the light in his eyes fading gradually. Slumped down on the bed, he curled into himself, pulling the blanket over his head like a hurt animal. His face was ghostly pale, his dark eyes empty, his lips turned downward. A tear rolled down from the corner of his eye as he pressed his face deeper into the sheets, his body shivering slightly—whether from pain or something more, it was impossible to tell.