บท 12: The Weight She Carries
Late into the night, while Shen Ting was deeply engrossed in her studies, the sudden sound of knocking from downstairs startled her. For a moment, she hesitated, but hearing Fang Keluo's voice at the door made her quietly sigh in relief.
Setting her book aside, Shen Ting descended the stairs and opened the iron door from within. A wave of alcohol and smoke drifted in with the night breeze, carried on Fang Keluo's figure. Seeing her drunken state, Shen Ting hurriedly reached out to support her, glancing outside to find no one in sight. A young girl, coming home alone after drinking?
Fang Keluo was slender and not particularly heavy, but with her entire weight leaning on Shen Ting, it was still quite a struggle.
After much effort, Shen Ting finally managed to get her upstairs, drenched in sweat. She took a moment to catch her breath before tucking Fang Keluo under a blanket. As she turned, she noticed large, silent tears rolling down the corners of Fang Keluo's eyes.
Shen Ting froze, momentarily at a loss, gazing at her. What had happened to make her like this?
"My heart hurts... it hurts so much," Fang Keluo mumbled in a voice thick with pain, curling herself into a tight ball, a posture betraying her deep vulnerability.
Shen Ting stood by the bedside for a while before sitting down, gently patting her back, humming a soft melody. Slowly, Fang Keluo's tense back began to relax, though her tears flowed even more freely.
Without the heavy makeup, Fang Keluo appeared even younger than Shen Ting. All her usual defiance and arrogance had vanished, leaving only a fragile, defenseless girl. She murmured softly, "You haven't lulled me to sleep in so long."
Shen Ting's hand paused briefly, then resumed its gentle rhythm. She knew that in this moment, Fang Keluo was mistaking her for Fang Qin.
"I was so childish back then, resenting you for working in that place. I wouldn't let you come to parent-teacher conferences because the teachers and classmates would talk behind my back, calling me the daughter of a prostitute."
Shen Ting's hand halted again as she listened to her broken, halting confession. She withdrew her hand, realizing that Fang Keluo simply needed someone to listen.
Sitting quietly by the bed, Shen Ting allowed the 15-year-old girl to unburden her soul.
"You knew I was being bullied, so you went to school to confront the bully's parents. That well-dressed woman looked at you with such disdain, like you were filth. It was then that I finally understood how terribly wrong I'd been."
"Why should a prostitute be looked down upon? You've never harbored ill will towards anyone, yet you endure injustice at every turn. I want to grow up—grow strong enough to stand in front of you and protect you."
"I'm not afraid of hardship, not afraid of exhaustion. I'm only afraid that all my efforts will be in vain. I want to study, but no one will give me a chance. The prejudice in this world is so powerful that it can easily kill someone's dreams—and it's considered guiltless."
"I hate the good students, with their superior airs and their condescending looks. I'm not pitiful; I don't need their pity."
"For the first time, I fought back—and won. Seeing the fear on that person's face made me realize that fists speak louder than words."
"You're sometimes so naive, thinking that even the coldest hearts can eventually be warmed. But you don't know—there are people, heartless from birth, like ungrateful wolves, who can never be tamed."
"I loathe those gossiping behind our backs. Every time I see them, I have to fight the urge to beat them senseless."
"I just want you to be alright, for us both to be alright. But those wretched people!" Fang Keluo's breath quickened, but after a while, she exhaled, calming herself. She glanced at Shen Ting and softly said, "Thank you."
"Thank you for listening to me ramble." She said it with a bitter laugh, pulling the blanket over herself. "I was in such a foul mood tonight. If I hadn't vented to someone, I think I would've exploded."
Shen Ting gazed at the lump under the blanket, her heavy heart slightly lightened. She patted the quilt, "Don't bury yourself in there. I saw you cornering those women today—what did you do to them?" She still felt a little worried.
Fang Keluo peeked out from under the blanket, her face cold, "My brother threatened them a bit, and then I had someone beat them up. I didn't kill them, but they won't dare spread rumors about me or my mom again."
As long as no one died. Shen Ting stretched, feeling a bit more at ease. Though tomorrow was the weekend, it was time to sleep.
"As long as everything's fine, I'll head back to bed. When you wake up, make sure to drink some sugar water, or you'll have a terrible headache tomorrow." Shen Ting stood up.
Fang Keluo sat on the bed, watching her, suddenly remembering something. She called out, "Wait, I have a question for you."
"Hmm?" Shen Ting turned to look at her.
"Do you know my brother?" Fang Keluo recalled how Hongxi had subtly inquired about Shen Ting earlier that evening. Why would he be interested in her? Do they know each other?
Her brother? That man in black?
"I don't know him." Shen Ting replied, bidding Fang Keluo goodnight before walking out of the room.
[Fang Keluo's favorability towards the host increased by 30. Current favorability: 78.]
On her way back to her room, Venus 001 suddenly spoke up, the green progress bar on the display nearing full. Seeing this, Shen Ting's footsteps became noticeably lighter.
On the weekend, Shen Ting woke up early. As soon as she stepped into the kitchen, she saw Fang Keluo walking out, looking pained, and knew immediately that she hadn't drunk the sugar water last night.
"You're up early on a Sunday?" Fang Keluo drank water and massaged her temples, watching as Shen Ting entered the kitchen.
"Early morning jog. What do you want to eat?" Shen Ting asked, opening the refrigerator.
"Fried rice," Fang Keluo replied without hesitation.
Shen Ting quickly whipped up a simple egg fried rice. After breakfast, Fang Keluo left for the hospital, while Shen Ting grabbed a jacket and headed to a nearby park for a jog.
According to Venus 001's advice, regular exercise would help her sculpt her figure and enhance her poise.
On school days, Shen Ting couldn't find time to jog in the mornings, so she usually ran for half an hour after school in the evenings.
The morning park was filled with elderly people practicing Tai Chi in their traditional outfits. Their movements, though not precise, flowed smoothly and gracefully, making for a pleasant sight.
Shen Ting jogged around the park, worked up a sweat, and then found a shaded bench to rest on. The natural breeze from the woods lifted her bangs and whisked away the heat from her body.
This was one of the park's few secluded spots, where few people ventured. Shen Ting allowed herself to relax fully, immersing herself in the refreshing forest air.
The rare tranquility lulled her into near slumber, but she was startled awake by a sharp female voice.
"You're breaking up with me? Hongxi, say that again!" A girl in revealing clothes and meticulously applied makeup stared in disbelief at the boy in front of her, whose heavy yawns betrayed his boredom.
No, he wasn't quite a man yet. He was only seventeen, but his demeanor often made people forget he was still just a boy.
Hongxi yawned again. There had been trouble at one of his places last night, and he hadn't gotten to sleep until the middle of the night. The girl's hysterics only served to irritate him further, prompting him to suggest a breakup.
In truth, the breakup had been inevitable. He'd just been waiting for the right moment. The girl's tantrum provided the perfect opportunity.
Might as well resolve it now. He hated dragging things out, and this had already gone on for too long.
"We're breaking up." Hongxi enunciated each word slowly, as if worried she hadn't heard him clearly, his tone indifferent and his expression one of detached coldness.
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