Chapter 12: Staring for a Long Time but Still Unable to Understand

Mo Liping and I stared at it for a long time, completely bewildered as to what it meant.

A familiar woman appeared by the car window, beaming as she waved at me. I was baffled, so I rolled down the window and leaned out to get a better look. It was Pi Tiantian.

Her hair was dark and glossy, cascading loosely around her shoulders, making her look radiant and beautiful. Her petite face was fair, her brows and eyes delicately defined, and she wore a shoulder-baring dress. She wore no stockings, and as the breeze caught her, she seemed to drift and sway with an ethereal, elusive quality. Seeing the window open, she called out enthusiastically, "Hi, Zhengtai! You didn't even tell your sister you were being discharged so I could come pick you up!"

I didn't actually know her well—I had only met her once at the hospital—so I couldn't muster much enthusiasm, though I felt compelled to be polite. "What are you doing here?"

"I went to the hospital and found out you’d been discharged. I figured I might find you at the school gate."

Finding no common ground, I asked, "Didn't you leave for university?"

She smiled, brushing back her hair to deliberately show off her grace, and said, "I haven't registered yet. I’ll be studying here in the city anyway, so we can still meet. Once I’m settled, I’ll take you to see the university. Who knows, you might be able to get in too!"

In truth, I had already taken the university entrance exams, and my grades were abysmal—I failed all seven subjects. I had no one to blame but myself; I spent all my time thinking about romance instead of studying.

But Pi Tiantian only saw me as Zhengtai, speaking as if our past history meant nothing. I was deeply confused. My mind remained that of a man trapped in a woman's body, and I particularly favored Zhengtai's physique—her golden, flowing hair, the blue school uniform she wore, her relaxed and cheerful demeanor, and her clean, fair skin.

Just as Mo Liping had said, "She’s so beautiful! Why is she so beautiful?"

Seeing that I remained silent, Pi Tiantian waved goodbye. The car remained parked at the roadside, and I watched the lady, waiting for a long time, though I wasn't sure what for.

Mo Liping and I sat in the car for an hour. All the students had gone home, and even the parents near the gate had left, yet I could still see the lady talking to the school guard.

Leaning out of the window, I could clearly see the large characters painted on the cement wall by the school gate, and the red "No. 5 Middle School" sign atop the ten-story building. I still didn't understand what was going on, and I couldn't help but stare at the lady.

For some reason, she began gesturing wildly and arguing with the guard, looking quite agitated.

Mo Liping couldn't sit still any longer; she opened the car door and stepped out. I followed quietly. As we got closer, I saw a man in his forties wearing a uniform, with a frog-like face—he was indescribably ugly.

Mo Liping frowned and asked, "What's going on? Everything was fine, why are you arguing?" The man ignored her.

Zhengtai’s mother turned back to Mo Liping and said, "Look at this! What kind of guard is this? I’ve been waiting here forever, just trying to ask about Mr. Wang’s situation, and he’s acting all high and mighty, telling me to leave and not to interfere with his work! What have I interfered with? Can’t I just ask a question? My child was discharged late, so I just wanted to let them know so she can come to class tomorrow..."

So that was it. I was furious. What was so great about being a guard? Did he think he could bully a woman? I pulled a long face, glared at him, and shouted fiercely, "Can't you just answer a question? What exactly is your job? Careful, or I'll smash your dog head in!"

Seeing that I was just an outsider—and a girl at that—daring to talk back, he grew indignant and shouted, "Who are you? Should I call the cops and have you arrested?"

I had been itching to fight ever since we were at Mo Liping’s place. I had two wooden sticks tucked in my waistband, and they were driving me crazy. Between my physical injuries and my pent-up frustration, I was desperate for an outlet. I pulled out a stick, gripped it tightly, and swung it hard at his neck.

He dodged it. I jumped up and delivered a flying kick to his midsection with my left foot. He sidestepped and grabbed my leg. Suddenly, my internal wounds tore open, and the pain was excruciating. I struggled to pull my leg back, but he lifted it and shoved me hard. I stumbled backward, tripped over something, lost my balance, and fell to the ground, my sticks flying out of my hand.

Zhengtai’s mother was fiercely protective of her daughter. Seeing me knocked down, she widened her eyes and yelled, "I’ll fight you to the death!" She rushed at him, pushing and shoving, but she didn't know how to actually fight.

The guard grabbed her hair, pulled her down, and punched her in the stomach, forcing her to crouch in pain.

A crowd of onlookers began to gather at the school gate, forming a thick wall of people.

Mo Liping stood on the sidelines, waving her arms and screaming, "Assault! He's assaulting us!"

The guard was stunned. He realized he hadn't done that, and he grew fearful.

I scrambled up from the ground, retrieved my wooden stick, and rushed at him, regardless of the consequences, swinging it repeatedly at his head.

*Thump, thump.* He didn't even try to dodge. After taking several blows to the head, he collapsed to the ground, rolling around while covering his face.

I jumped up and stomped on him wildly, unleashing all the pent-up rage in my heart.

The situation was becoming dangerous. Mo Liping saw the risk and pulled me back with all her might, pleading, "Stop! If you kill him, we'll be in real trouble!"

Someone in the crowd shouted, "Call the police and let them handle it!"

Only then did I snap out of it, looking around blankly.

Mo Liping whispered something into my ear, then pulled Zhengtai’s mother up, cursing at the guard as they retreated.

I helped them along, eventually getting the lady into the car and driving away quickly.

The sticks were back in my waistband. They had proven quite useful; hadn't they become a dual-purpose weapon?

As Mo Liping drove, she kept cursing while glancing at the sticks tucked in my waist. She was sensitive to that object. She hadn't expected Zhengtai to use them to fight, but this act had clearly helped Zhengtai’s mother, unintentionally bringing us closer.

"Auntie, what were you waiting for at the school gate?"

"Oh, it was just..."

The lady, wearing a sheer long dress, was thirty-five and still possessed a youthful charm. Though her features were average, with makeup, she looked like a seductress—no less attractive than Mo Liping.

Mo Liping thought about it and felt it had been unnecessary; since I had been hospitalized and hadn't been in school, it was obvious I was still under care.

"Auntie, if you want Zhengtai to go to school, just come tomorrow. There’s no need to hunt down Mr. Wang at the school."

I took out my phone to see if it had been damaged in the fight. It read 2:30 PM. "Where are we going to eat?"

Zhengtai’s mother wanted to save face. She thought for a moment and said, "Let's find a small restaurant, just something casual. My treat!"

Mo Liping had other plans. She needed a place with parking, which small restaurants usually lacked. "Let's go to my place! I'll whip something up for us."

It wasn't that Zhengtai’s mother was stingy; she was just weighing which option was more sensible. Usually, she just bought food near their residential complex and hadn't ventured further out.

"Fine, you arrange it."

She took her phone from her bag, dialed, and after a moment, Zhengtai’s father’s voice came through: "What's wrong?"

The lady hesitated. "We aren't coming home for dinner. Sort something out yourself!"

"Alright, I understand." The line went dead.

The BMW sped off, soon arriving at Mo Liping’s new residential district. We got out of the car.

Zhengtai’s mother looked around, letting slip some things she shouldn't have: "This garage is huge! In our complex, cars are just parked in the courtyard, all messy."

Mo Liping, wanting to learn more about Zhengtai’s family, asked, "Auntie, what brand is your car?"

The question was incredibly awkward. The lady took a long time to answer: "We don't have a car. We were going to buy one, but Zhengtai’s grandmother’s hospitalization cost so much that we’ve had to keep putting it off."

I had never been to Zhengtai’s house and knew nothing of her family's social standing. I whispered into the lady’s ear, "Mo Liping has ten million in her bank account!"

Zhengtai’s mother was shocked. How could such a young girl earn so much money?

I whispered again, "Her husband gave it to her."

Zhengtai’s mother understood. Who didn't rely on their husband? She was no different. She pondered for a moment and asked, "Xiao Mo, where does your husband work?"

Mo Liping thought about it; Zhengtai knew, and would tell her sooner or later, so she might as well introduce him: "Auntie, my husband runs his own company."

I couldn't help but mutter into Zhengtai’s mother’s ear, "Her husband is an eighty-year-old man!"

The remark struck a chord with the lady. She had a vague memory from the hospital and couldn't help but ask, "Is it that old man I met at the hospital?"

Mo Liping looked embarrassed. She clutched her small purple purse and walked forward a bit before saying, "He might be old, but he’s rich."