Zhang Shutong referred to "that incident" as the scarf incident.
It was probably after a gym class. Everyone returned to the classroom, and Gu Qiumian found that her beloved scarf had been stepped on by someone.
If it were just one footprint, it would have been fine. But one end of the scarf was almost torn apart, and there were several black handprints on it. In this case, it couldn't be explained as just accidentally stepping on it.
It was clearly intentional revenge.
She first let out a pained "ah," looked at her classmates in a state of helplessness, her eyes already starting to turn red. Then, anger surfaced on her face. She walked to the podium in a few steps, threw the scarf down, and asked loudly:
"Who did this? Come out now!"
The classroom suddenly became quiet.
At the same time, a person stood up in a state of hesitation.
"You?!"
"No, I was going to the restroom..."
Before the person could finish speaking, he was yelled at by Gu Qiumian and sat back down glumly.
The room was as silent as a grave. The reputation of the young miss was not just for show. The people who were quietly chatting also quickly shut up.
"I didn't see..."
"Me neither..."
This was the first time everyone had seen her lose her composure like this. They were all a little scared.
You know, when she was provoked by that boy, although the result was very serious, she just left with a cold face.
Everyone was afraid to make a sound, but sometimes, silence was also a form of disregard.
Besides some students who hadn't reacted yet, there were also some people who felt that she had been too much during the class change incident. This was a small matter and there was no need to make a big fuss about it. But at this time, they didn't dare to say anything. They just kept their heads down, which was a silent protest.
If it were any other girl, a few good friends would have gathered around her, comforting her and helping her vent her anger.
But Gu Qiumian had no friends. She just stood there alone on the podium, biting her lips hard, wishing she could stare at every single person's face.
At that time, Zhang Shutong and Du Kang were gathered together. The few of them looked at each other, and Ruoping was the first to grab Du Kang's ear:
"Hey, what are you looking at me for? Even if I had a beef with her, do you think I would do something like this?"
"Ouch, ouch, ouch. I'm sorry, sis, big sis. I really didn't mean that..."
Only then did Ruoping let go, pouting her lips:
"The young miss is throwing a tantrum. We're in for it. Qingyi, guess who did it?"
"Can't guess. We just got back, but I didn't see anyone absent. It must have been done before gym class."
"What about Shutong? Hmm? Are you daydreaming?"
Before he could open his mouth, he saw a boy suddenly stand up. He was one of Gu Qiumian's secret admirers. The other party pointed at him:
"Zhang Shutong stepped on it. I saw him. After he stepped on it, he even deliberately picked up the scarf."
At that time, Zhang Shutong was stunned.
Because from the moment Gu Qiumian walked onto the podium, he had been thinking about one question:
Did he step on it or not?
He was the last one to leave that day. The class teacher asked him to write a seating chart during the break, which was supposed to be the class leader's job, but the class leader had taken a leave of absence, so it became his;
By the time he was done, he rushed through the aisle, and the scarf was lying on the floor, only half of its tassel showing.
He originally remembered not stepping on it and just picking it up. But he was in a hurry at the time, and now that someone was pointing him out, maybe his foot really did touch it a little. Even he himself couldn't be sure anymore.
This was the most helpless situation. It seemed like it was not related, and yet it seemed to be a little related. There was no way to explain it clearly.
Only then did Gu Qiumian remember him, this "traitor." She gritted her teeth, her voice a few decibels higher, filled with intense anger:
"Did you do it?"
"I think I might have stepped on it... but I didn't tear the scarf."
"Then you're saying! Why did Zhou Ziheng say he saw you? Is he lying?"
The boy named Zhou Ziheng was her deskmate. He had always been attentive to her, so his credibility was much stronger than his.
"He's definitely the one! I happened to go back to get something and saw it."
Zhou Ziheng's voice got a little louder.
"Hey, you two stop wrongly accusing people! I'm saying your deskmate framed him!"
Ruoping also stood up.
Gu Qiumian ignored her and walked straight toward him, throwing the scarf onto his desk.
Only then did Zhang Shutong see that there were not just footprints on it. It was also covered in some sticky stuff, like snot.
Gu Qiumian's eyes were just staring at him intently:
"Zhang Shutong, did you do it or not?"
"...It wasn't me."
"Then what did you say just now? And now you don't dare to admit it?"
"I mean, I might have stepped on it," Zhang Shutong felt a tingling sensation on his scalp, "but what's on this is definitely not from me. Just calm down..."
But Gu Qiumian couldn't hear what he was saying anymore:
"Why did you do something like this? This scarf was from my mom, she..."
"I didn't do it."
"I just want you to apologize. I won't tell the teacher. I hate people who do something and then don't have the guts to admit it!"
"..."
"Disgusting!"
"I told you, this one thing, it wasn't me."
He also said each word deliberately.
That's how he was back then. He couldn't be pushed around. He believed that the clear-minded were self-justified, and he was also not a person who would comfort others.
When Gu Qiumian first came over, he was a semi-party to the incident, so he naturally felt a bit smaller than her. But the other party later had an attitude of questioning a sinner, which made him annoyed.
From this perspective, it was indeed not wrong to call him "cool and aloof" back then. If Gu Qiumian's face was as cold as frost, Zhang Shutong's face would only be colder than hers.
As they spoke, her eyes turned red again:
"I never offended you, did I?"
"I never provoked you either."
"Why did you..."
"Are you done or not?"
Both sides were talking past each other, holding in their anger. Someone started to mediate:
"How about you tell Teacher Song, Qiumian?"
"Yeah, class is about to start. It's useless to waste time here..."
Some also took the opportunity to vent their dissatisfaction:
"She really thinks she's a big deal. She's not the principal's daughter or anything..."
"What did you say?"
Gu Qiumian suddenly turned her head.
That person didn't dare to speak anymore. After a long pause, he whispered:
"You're so capable, why don't you have your dad change your class too..."
And this was the sentence that ignited the powder keg.
But it blew up on himself:
"...Fine. Since you won't admit it, aren't your parents working under my dad too? I'm going to tell my dad!"
After saying that, she wiped her face and turned to leave.
As soon as she left, a few of his friends and other classmates came over to comfort him;
Ruoping was so angry that she started swearing;
Qingyi and Du Kang also stood up and went to the side of the boy named Zhou Ziheng, complaining:
"What were you talking about? This isn't how you play the hero. It's impossible for Shutong to do something like this..."
He couldn't remember what else was said, only that it was very embarrassing. He just went to the rooftop and stayed for a whole class.
It wasn't because he was wrongly accused, but because that sentence about his parents felt like an insult to his young mind. It made him feel red-faced.
His parents originally worked at the geological bureau. A few years ago, because Mr. Gu wanted to develop the small island, he partnered with the city to establish a project and specially set up an exploration office on the island.
From this perspective, the reason he transferred to a school on the small island was indeed greatly related to Gu Qiumian's family.
But to say that he was working for her dad was an exaggeration. Logically, that threat was the most insignificant one, but it stayed in his mind for a long time.
Perhaps it was something that he had deliberately glossed over, but at that moment, it was revealed in all its raw and naked truth.
But it was also impossible for him not to be a little worried. What if it really got his family involved?
He tried to ask his parents a few times indirectly, but the expected "revenge" never came. Instead, they looked at him with a strange expression.
He also felt a bit heavy-hearted on those school days. A teenager's imagination is incredibly rich. For example, he thought about being blocked at the school gate by Gu Qiumian's minions, or being knocked out and tied up in a car by her family's driver. He really did consider these possibilities.
And even if they couldn't deal with his family, it didn't mean they couldn't deal with him at school. Mr. Gu had a wide network of connections. Considering the fate of the boy who told the dirty joke, it was possible that he would be transferred to another class or have to stay at home for a few days.
But in reality, none of these things happened.
To be honest, Zhang Shutong never understood why.
Gu Qiumian came to school the next day. She didn't seek revenge on him, nor did she press for the truth. It was as if nothing had happened.
She was the same as usual. She always wore that mended scarf, would bring a lot of snacks and occasionally share them with others, and would also draw on the window. She would laugh at her own ugly drawings;
The only difference was that when they passed each other, she would neither give him a cold face nor glare at him. Their relationship, which was once a few words, became one of complete disregard.
Zhang Shutong was a bit stubborn back then. He was holding a grudge, wanting to find the real "culprit" and then tell the other party the truth in a dignified manner;
But he never expected that that would be the last time the two of them ever spoke. The anger that had been simmering in his chest dissipated with an unexpected result, and this conflict became a memory that was completely sealed in his heart.
After many years, when he recalled it again, he no longer felt angry. He only felt that there must have been a better way back then. If he had to draw a conclusion, it would be that the scarf was very important to Gu Qiumian.
There are some things that you hold in your heart for many years. You won't deliberately remember them, but once they pop into your mind, you will rack your brain trying to figure out what was right and wrong, and what a better way would have been... All the methods are in vain. In fact, what you want is not the right or wrong or the result, but a feeling of regret for the things that cannot be undone.
When he was a teenager, Zhang Shutong developed a way of classifying people—of course, he didn't use it anymore—the specific process was:
If he encountered a special or a mysterious person, he would match their words and actions with characters from novels and comics he had read. If he could find a match that was close enough, he would classify them into a template, and he would pretty much understand them.
He had once tried to classify Gu Qiumian. The conclusion he came up with was that she was a cool and aloof young miss, but he later found that it wasn't right. She was more like a person who didn't care about most things. Since she didn't care, she didn't have to expend energy, which gave people the feeling that she was aloof.
For example, at this moment, he always felt that Gu Qiumian was glaring at him. But when he really met her gaze, it proved that Zhang Shutong was overthinking it.
There was no surprise on her face, nor was there any intention of questioning him with a hint of excitement. She just stood there expressionlessly, as if she were stating a very ordinary fact:
"Move your chair so I can get in."
At this point, it would be a bit hypocritical to change seats again. Zhang Shutong pulled his chair forward a bit, and he felt a gust of fragrant wind pass behind him.
He looked at Gu Qiumian again. Miss Gu had returned to her old spot, but her new deskmate was a boy who didn't know his place, and what's more, they had a bit of a grudge. So she must not have been in a good mood.
She just placed her backpack on the desk and started packing her things without saying a word.
She didn't speak, and Zhang Shutong was happy with the peace and quiet. There were some girls whose thoughts he could figure out at a glance, and there were some he could never figure out, regardless of their age. Gu Qiumian was the latter. So he wanted to save some brain cells.
Besides, he had a more important thing on his mind—
He couldn't keep his promise to Du Kang anymore. The seat next to and in front of Lu Qinglian had already been taken, but the seat in front of the one in front of her was still empty.
He was also lucky that the top few students in the class were all girls, and no one was thinking about that seat for now.
Although it was a bit of a joke from the beginning, he had already promised.
Besides, as long as it was still empty, Zhang Shutong had a way.
He looked at the front door again. There happened to be a boy who hadn't lined up yet. He brazenly shouted to the class teacher:
"Teacher, can you put me next to Ding Xiaoxiao?"
Ding Xiaoxiao was the girl sitting in the seat in front of the one in front of Lu Qinglian.
Song Nanshan's gaze moved from the ranking list. He looked at him:
"Spit it out."
"I can't see very well lately. I think I'm shortsighted, and I want to sit closer to the blackboard."
"Get lost. What are you thinking? I know you're lying. If you can't see the blackboard, go sit against the wall. There's an empty seat over there. If not, get a chair and sit next to the podium."
The boy gave a forced smile and said no more.
Zhang Shutong couldn't help but laugh. He felt that Lu Qinglian was like a cultivation treasure in a sect. The closer you were to her, the faster your experience points would increase. The seats next to her were almost a must-have for all the disciples.
At this moment, he heard Gu Qiumian finally squeeze out a sentence after a long time:
"What are you doing over here?"
She liked to add a particle at the end of her sentences. Her tone was clearly very flat, but when she said it, it would always have a little more ripple.
Why do girls like to get to the bottom of things?
Zhang Shutong thought to himself.
But since he couldn't figure out what she was thinking, he answered nonchalantly:
"I'm cold."
"Stop pretending."
"It was a complete accident?"
"Tsk."
Gu Qiumian let out a small "tsk," as if she was specifically waiting for him to ask, "Why are you tsk-ing?"
Zhang Shutong had no time to ask her.
He was paying attention to the movement at the front door. Although he didn't want to use outside means, the class teacher had just read another name, and it was a boy;
The other person's eyes lit up when he heard it, and he didn't hesitate. He quickly rushed toward that empty seat.
He raised his hand, knowing that he couldn't wait any longer. He had to use his special privileges:
"Teacher Song, I have something to say."
"Oh, it's Shutong. Speak," Teacher Song said without looking up, like an emperor listening to a minister's report.
Zhang Shutong rarely said such a long sentence:
"I've been tutoring Du Kang recently. I want to reserve a seat closer to the front for him so it's easier to go over problems."
The class teacher laughed when he heard this:
"You two tutoring? More like fishing."
Saying this, he casually said:
"Go ahead, do whatever you want. Just don't throw notes around in class."
Zhang Shutong heard this and wadded up his school uniform, throwing it forward. The uniform flew in an arc and landed right next to Ding Xiaoxiao, startling the girl;
And the boy whose name had just been called was just a few steps away from the seat. He was instantly frozen in place, in a dilemma.
He was unwilling to give up, but if he went there, a school uniform was already occupying the seat, wouldn't that expose his intentions?
In the end, he found another seat with a full-on look of resentment.
Sorry, sorry.
Zhang Shutong could only pretend he didn't see it.
He could still hear the boy who was allegedly shortsighted asking indignantly, "Then why is Du Kang allowed to do that? Teacher, look at Zhang Shutong!"
But Zhang Shutong felt that he was saying, "Your Majesty, no! These two are as vicious as wolves. They must not be spared. They should be executed!" And then he was just waiting to roll up his sleeves and clean up the king's side.
Teacher Song shrugged, also looking innocent: "He needs to be tutored. How about I find someone to tutor you too? Don't leave after school today?"
"Never mind..." The other party immediately fell silent.
Zhang Shutong mourned for him for a few seconds.
Although it was a bit different from what he had originally promised, Du Kang was also planning to sit in the front or back row. He probably wouldn't mind being a little further forward. Besides, there was always the next monthly exam.
Next time for sure, yes, I really mean it.