Hearing about a mental hospital.
Cheng Man had been much quieter along the way, but a dark glint flickered in her eyes, and she kept muttering, "It's all your fault, it's all your fault."
From time to time, she would punch and kick Jiang Sui.
Until Jiang Sui took her to the hotel.
Because Jiang Sui came to Wuzhen for school, Jiang Chenghua had acquired a small local hotel. Since Jiang Sui didn't feel like staying anywhere else, he just stayed there.
There was a room specially arranged for Cheng Man, and after she got her in...
As soon as Jiang Sui returned to his room, he received a call.
"Jiang Sui."
The girl shivered, as if frozen. For a moment, Jiang Sui wondered if he had dialed the wrong number, but he was certain it was Su Qing's number, and for a moment, he was stunned.
Looking at the light rain falling outside the window, his restless heart felt a slight relief.
"Have you go home? Something urgent happened, so I didn't take you home."
His voice was somewhat gentle. Jiang Sui untied a bag nearby and pulled out a few oranges, wanting to taste them.
But before he could peel the oranges, they fell to the ground, rolling everywhere.
"Jiang Sui, I in pain."
A low, sniffling sound, like a wounded cat, left Jiang Sui completely stunned.
"Where are you!"
Trying to make his voice as clear as possible into Su Qing's ears, he remained as calm as possible.
Jiang Sui's fingers tightened around the phone, his eyes darkening.
"I'm under that sycamore tree, you know, Jiang Sui."
Su Qing's words shattered, and his heart felt like it was being gripped by a pair of large hands, his breathing becoming rapid.
"I know. Don't move. I'll be there soon."
Jiang Sui's breaths were tense with every second.
Because it was raining, and the rain was getting heavier, it was difficult to get a taxi.
The boy's face was filled with anxiety. He didn't hang up, but kept comforting the girl on the other end.
"Su Qing, don't be afraid. I'll be there soon."
The boy's voice, heavy with breaths, spoke loudly, worried the girl couldn't hear him.
In his haste to leave, he'd forgotten his umbrella. His clothes were soaked, and the rain clung to every part of his body.
The taxi that finally stopped refused to take him.
His slender fingers were frantic, fumbling several times before he finally pulled his wallet from his pocket and pulled out a large wad of red bills.
"Hurry up, sir! Excuse me! Hurry up! Thank you!"
Anxiety was evident on his face.
The driver mumbled a few words before finally pulling up.
Jiang Sui couldn't hear anything on the other end of the line except the sound of rain and wind.
Even though there was no sound, Jiang Sui never stopped talking.
"Don't be afraid, I will be there soon."
"I know where it is. Just stay still and don't hang up. I'll be there soon."
"Hide under a tree, okay? I will be there soon."
He kept telling the girl he was almost there, urging the driver on.
Jiang Sui had no idea what he'd see.
But when he got out of the car and sprinted to the base of the sycamore tree, he couldn't help but freeze.
Under the sycamore tree.
In the darkness, a small shadow shone from an old-fashioned flashlight, drenched in the rain, directly onto the girl's face.
The red, swollen marks glared across her pale face.
Su Qing hugged herself tightly, her school bag in her arms, her arms wrapped around her legs, and she squatted in the corner, like a broken doll.
She hung her head in silence.
"Qing Qing."
Jiang Sui could no longer find his voice. The girl looked up, her lips piercing with bloodstains, and she pursed them slightly, offering him a smile more painful than tears.
His heart felt like it had been stabbed countless times.
It pain just as much.
It pain so much.