Lin Qingping and Gu Juncheng

Chapter 306 Pendant

Lin Qingping glared at her, ignoring her words. Judging from her boastful tone, she was sure she would say something.

Chen Xia held up two fingers, "Double!"

"Double?" A thought flashed through Lin Qingping's mind. Could it be that Chen Xia earned double the money? Did she and Gu Juncheng both make money? She couldn't help but chuckle, "You certainly know how to make money!"

Gu Juncheng said she was obsessed with money, but she thought Chen Xia was the one who was obsessed with money!

Chen Xia was quite surprised. "How did you guess that?"

Then a hint of sadness appeared in his eyes, "College students are just different, they're exceptionally smarter."

"Get to the point! If you don't, I'm leaving!" Lin Qingping pretended to get up.

Chen Xia had a listless expression. "You guessed it already, so what else is there to say! You asked me to take care of him, didn't you? My goodness, he only remembers me. Don't let him cling to me. I don't want to spend the rest of my life taking care of a blind man. I told him I just took the money to visit him every day and told him not to overthink it."

Lin Qingping recalled Gu Juncheng's words: "Is Chen Xia hiding something from me?"

He couldn't help but sneer.

So that's how it is! Indeed, I'm telling the truth, very honestly...

"Then he'll pay you to keep him company, right?" Lin Qingping chuckled.

Chen Xia rolled her eyes. "Why would I need to accompany him? He heard me say that you paid me to take care of him, and he said he would give me money too, and that I only need to visit him once a day."

After Chen Xia finished speaking, she leaned her face forward and said, "Of course, that doesn't stop me from deliberately trying to annoy you in front of you. Who told you to live such a good life? Tell me, what makes you so special? Is it because you're prettier than me? I don't think so. It's because of my relationship with Chengzi. We grew up together, and he doesn't even remember you! Tell me, what makes you so special that you live such a dazzling and glorious life, while I live like a mouse?"

“However…” Chen Xia sat back down smugly, “I’m just as radiant as you now. Do you know how much this outfit I’m wearing cost at the Capital Department Store?”

Lin Qingping certainly knew; how could she not know? It was produced by Ruixiang!

"Lin Qingping, I don't want Chengzi anymore, he's yours!" Chen Xia waved her hand, as if she had once possessed Gu Juncheng. Now, having seen more of the world, she truly didn't care for Gu Juncheng anymore. Among the men in Gu Family Village, Gu Juncheng was undoubtedly outstanding, but in the capital, having seen such a vast world and so many men, Gu Juncheng seemed like a country bumpkin compared to them. Besides, although Gu Juncheng was on the government payroll, he was still paid a salary; how much could he possibly earn?

Nevertheless, Chen Xia didn't forget to tease Lin Qingping, "But speaking of which, I really don't understand you two. It's true what they say, 'Birds of a feather flock together.' Are you two just burning money? Although I care about your meager earnings now, if there's another opportunity to make money like this, call me again! Let me tell you, I'm the best actor right now. I can act however you want me to!"

Lin Qingping: ...

Lin Qingping never imagined that she would have this day, and that Chen Xia would laugh at her!

"Give me back the money!" Lin Qingping slammed the IOU for the deposit she had just paid onto the table.

Chen Xia was immediately dejected, but quickly perked up again, "Lin Qingping, instead of asking me to pay you back, I'd rather give you a way to make money! Gu Juncheng doesn't remember you anyway, so why don't you come with me? I'll introduce you to rich people, and I'm telling you, they're richer than you can imagine!"

"Save your breath!" Lin Qingping put away the IOU. "Remember, I'll come after you for this! And don't come looking for me again if you get caught next time! I will never do this unprofitable business again!"

Chen Xia retorted, "I've given you so much information, and you're still losing money?"

Lin Qingping didn't say anything more to her, packed her things, got up and left.

The so-called secrets of Chen Xia were not of much value to her. Apart from the fact that Gu Juncheng also paid Chen Xia money, which she had not expected, she guessed more about the other things than Chen Xia had told her. However, some of the things Chen Xia said today did confirm her guesses.

Lin Qingping went back to school for classes in the afternoon, but did not stay at school that night; she went home after school.

No one was home. Lin Qingping guessed that Sister Zhao and Gu Youlian were eating at the shop with their child. She wasn't in the mood to go to the shop, so she cooked herself a bowl of noodles, took a shower, and went back to her room to rest.

The middle drawer of the desk in the room was locked; it was where she and Gu Juncheng used to keep their valuables.

She lay down for a while, then got up and sat at her desk. She opened the drawer, and all of Gu Juncheng's things were gone; she had packed them all up and thrown them back to him.

Now lying in the drawer are the divorce certificate, the bloodstained note with the emergency call sign she wrote, various other documents, and several boxes containing necklaces.

One of them was a gift from Zhiyuan, and the other three came from Gu Juncheng.

She picked up the necklace that wasn't in a box. She had found it on the ground for her birthday this year. The pendant on the necklace was very unique; it was shaped like a spinning top, just like the spinning tops that boys used to play with when they were little in her hometown.

She gripped the pendant, the sharp point of the spinning top poking her finger. A cold laugh rose in her heart again: Gu Juncheng, very well, so you don't remember anything? A spinning top?

If the pendant of this necklace had been a butterfly, a heart, or any other style that could be seen anywhere, she wouldn't have been so shocked when she picked it up from the ground.

However, it is a spinning top.

She's really looking forward to the day she sees Gu Juncheng and smashing this spinning top right in his face!

However, she could not see it.

Gu Juncheng disappeared.

There was no one in sight.

This departure meant that it went straight from April to the end of the semester.

Exams are coming up and summer vacation is just around the corner. Qingcha Capital University Store is also going into holiday, and Gu Youlian is making preparations to take Xiaomai to see Dugen.

Lin Qingping left the exam room with Zhong Xiaoxiao after finishing her last exam.

Zhong Xiaoxiao seemed to be in a good mood these past two months. Lin Qingping asked Zhong Xiaoxiao about her family affairs many times, but Zhong Xiaoxiao avoided the topic, always saying that everything was fine, that her child was very well-behaved, and that her husband treated her exceptionally well. The only problem was that her mother-in-law was a little unhappy about her going to university, but it wasn't a big issue, as her husband was on her side.

After Zhong Xiaoxiao said that, Lin Qingping had no choice.

Maybe I'm overthinking it? Zhong Xiaoxiao's marriage is indeed very good.

As soon as they stepped out of the teaching building, they saw Gong Jing and He Xin waiting for them under a tree outside the building. They were very happy to see them come out.

He Xin wanted to treat them to a meal.

“We haven’t gotten together since we came back last time. I also borrowed Lin’s notes and have been wanting to thank Lin and catch up with him. Everyone has been busy with their own things. Now that the exams are over, can you give me a chance to thank you?” He Xin said with a smile.

Lin Qingping thought it was a good idea!

She looked at Zhong Xiaoxiao.

Zhong Xiaoxiao's eyes flickered with panic, but she forced a smile and said, "Why don't you go with Lin Qingping? I won't go..."

Gong Jing grabbed her hand, "Oh, don't do that. We've finally finished the exams, what else could you possibly want? It's no fun with the four of us missing you!"

Zhong Xiaoxiao thought, since there are four people in total, then... let's go!

When Gong Jing saw that she had agreed, she happily took her arm and said, "Let's go! Today we're going to make He Xin bleed!"

He Xin smiled and called Lin Qingping to go with him.

They were all students, so they ate at a restaurant outside the school.

The weather in June was very hot. Since it was the last day of exams, there were quite a few students out relaxing, and the restaurants were all full, so the owners put tables outside.

"Let's sit outside, it'll be cooler there!" Gong Jing took the initiative and sat down, then ordered a lot of dishes without any hesitation.

Zhong Xiaoxiao sat next to Lin Qingping, looking very nervous and restless.

"What's wrong, Xiaoxiao?" Lin Qingping sensed something was off about her.

Zhong Xiaoxiao seemed startled and quickly said, "No, it's just that the weather is too hot!"

"Here, everyone, have a bottle of soda to quench your thirst." He Xin brought them some Arctic Ocean soda.

"Thank you." Zhong Xiaoxiao held the soda bottle in both hands.

Lin Qingping even felt her hands trembling. "Xiaoxiao, are you sick?"

"No...no! It's just too hot, and I was really nervous during the exam, so I haven't calmed down yet!"

Zhong Xiaoxiao's nervousness gradually subsided as the dishes were served one by one, and she finally began to chat and laugh with the three of them.

When asked about their summer vacation plans, He Xin and Gong Jing both had plans to go on field trips. Lin Qingping's time, needless to say, had already been booked by Wu Tianjiao, who was going to be her workhorse!

Only Zhong Xiaoxiao was going back to her hometown, saying, "The children... miss me."

Zhong Xiaoxiao sounded somewhat ashamed; of the four people, she was the only one with a child…

Gong Jing said, "Xiaoxiao, to be honest, out of the four of us, I admire you the most! You're a mother now, and you still have the courage to take the college entrance exam, and you did so well! We really can't help but admire you."

"Really?" Zhong Xiaoxiao was clearly surprised that Gong Jing would say that.

"Of course it's true!" He Xin and Lin Qingping said in unison.

Zhong Xiaoxiao's eyes even welled up with tears. To hide it, she quickly raised her Arctic Ocean soda bottle and said, "Thank you all. I... I'll toast you!"

She was genuinely grateful.

At this top university, she always felt inferior, thinking that she was no match for her classmates in any way. She never expected that she would be worthy of praise in their eyes.

He Xin was the first to clink bottles with Zhong Xiaoxiao. Lin Qingping and Gong Jing were a step behind; by the time they picked up their bottles, He Xin's bottle had already bumped into Zhong Xiaoxiao's.

However, in that small step of slowness, a hand suddenly darted out and slapped the two bottles hard.

With a loud crash, Zhong Xiaoxiao's bottle was knocked to the ground, followed by her scream.

Then, Zhong Xiaoxiao's wrist was pulled and twisted, and she was unable to move at all.

"Ah—it hurts—" Zhong Xiaoxiao screamed, her face turning deathly pale with pain, and large beads of sweat dripping down her face.

The person who grabbed Zhong Xiaoxiao was her lover, Liu Dong.

"Liu Dong! What are you doing? Let go!" Lin Qingping shouted angrily.

But Liu Dong completely ignored him. The next moment, he grabbed Zhong Xiaoxiao's hair, his face contorted in pain. "You slut! So that's why you didn't want me to pick you up! You were cheating on me with another man here! If I hadn't come today, would I have been cuckolded?"

Zhong Xiaoxiao was in pain and ashamed, tears streaming down her face. "No, no, I didn't, Liu Dong, let's go back and talk about it, okay? I beg you, let's go back and talk about it! You can do whatever you want back there, just don't make a scene here, okay? I beg you... Ah—"

Zhong Xiaoxiao screamed again as Liu Dong raised his foot and kicked her in the stomach.

Zhong Xiaoxiao was kicked to the ground.

The other three went to help, but He Xin was the closest. Just as He Xin's hand was about to touch Zhong Xiaoxiao, Zhong Xiaoxiao panicked and frantically waved her hands at He Xin, crying and shouting, "No! No, no!"

She shouted as she crawled on the ground to avoid him.

Lin Qingping's heart clenched at the sight; just how terrified she was of Liu Dong!

Lin Qingping picked up Zhong Xiaoxiao and held her in her arms. Liu Dong tried to pull her away, but Lin Qingping turned her body so that her back was to Liu Dong, protecting Zhong Xiaoxiao.

He Xin and Gong Jing also stood in front of them, blocking Liu Dong.

"Who are you? Hitting someone is against the law!" After He Xin and Gong Jing were injured that day, they were taken back to the capital by their families and never saw Liu Dong again.

Liu Dong laughed cruelly, "Is it illegal for me to hit my own wife? It's you two having an affair that's illegal!"

Liu Dong is a person who is both ignorant of the law and a tyrant.

You can't reason with this kind of person!

Lin Qingping only protected Zhong Xiaoxiao and wanted to take her away, signaling He Xin and Gong Jing to cover for her.

But how could Liu Dong let them leave?

He Xin was a frail scholar and an artist, while Gong Jing was a girl. They were both unable to stop Liu Dong, and Lin Qingping's hair was also pulled by Liu Dong.

With a tug, he desperately pulled Lin Qingping backward.

"Call the police! Call the police station!" Lin Qingping felt a throbbing pain in her scalp, but she didn't let go of Zhong Xiaoxiao.

Zhong Xiaoxiao cried in Lin Qingping's arms, "Lin Qingping, let me go, let me go with him, let me go with him...!"

Lin Qingping hugged her even tighter, a single thought firmly forming in her mind: We've already suffered such a huge loss today! We must protect Zhong Xiaoxiao no matter what!

Other students in the store noticed them, and several boys came over, partly to break up the fight and partly to help the girl.

But Lin Qingping's hair was in Liu Dong's hands, and the more the boy pulled, the more pain Lin Qingping felt.

Liu Dong even boasted, "My wife is having an affair! I'm only here to catch the adulterers! Everyone else, mind your own business!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the people who wanted to help hesitated.

He Xin and Gong Jing were still trying. He Xin kicked Liu Dong hard, and Gong Jing even used her teeth to bite Liu Dong's hand. However, Liu Dong kicked her away, sending her crashing heavily into a chair.

Liu Dong is cunning and ruthless. He only has one thing in mind: he holds onto Lin Qingping's hair tightly. As long as he holds on, Lin Qingping will be at a disadvantage.

"He Xin, bring me the scissors!" Enraged, Lin Qingping decided to give up on her hair!

No sooner had she finished speaking than another scream rang out, and Lin Qingping's scalp tingled with relief.

The scream came from Liu Dong.

Lin Qingping turned around and saw a tall figure.