Chapter 70: The Unraveling Mystery of Liu Hong’s Forgiveness

“Brother Liu, wait for us!”, “Run slower.”

After Liu Hong loudly called out Lin Qing’s name, the voices of his two younger companions, Zhou Lin and Wang Jian, immediately followed.

This instantly drew the students’ attention, and they curiously shifted their gazes towards the commotion.

Zhou Lin and Wang Jian’s voices were unsteady, punctuated by continuous gasps as they hurried after Liu Hong.

As Lin Qing watched Liu Hong sprint towards him, he suddenly remembered their Saturday trip to the amusement park. Besides his own interactions with Su Yao, there had been Liu Hong, the unfortunate soul.

After Su Yao had knocked out the female ghost, she had simply locked the ghost and Liu Hong together.

The incredibly shrill screams from Liu Hong at the time clearly indicated he had been terrified. Now, was Liu Hong here to settle a score?

If that were the case, it wouldn’t be so bad.

Even being bullied by Liu Hong and his problematic friends would be far preferable to continuing to deal with Su Yao…

“Where are your hands? How dare you treat my little… *cough cough*, don’t you dare bully students from our class.”

However, what followed was entirely unexpected.

After Liu Hong rushed over, instead of confronting Lin Qing directly, he spoke in a rather unpleasant tone, ordering the girl pulling Lin Qing’s sleeve to let go.

His gloomy expression, coupled with the rumors surrounding Liu Hong at school, made the girl who had been questioning Lin Qing quickly release her grip.

She certainly didn’t want to incur the wrath of a ‘mad dog’ like Liu Hong.

She had simply seen Lin Qing as an easy target, someone so timid they wouldn’t even dare to speak up.

She had merely wanted to score some points with Su Yao.

There was no need to invite additional animosity.

Yet, after hearing Liu Hong’s words and glancing at Lin Qing, who stood silently rooted to the spot, the girl rolled her eyes and retorted, “We’re all in the same class.”

She had never seen Liu Hong and Lin Qing on good terms before; how had they suddenly become so close?

Lin Qing, the quiet, gloomy boy who usually didn’t have a single friend, now not only had Su Yao actively greeting him, but even Liu Hong was looking at him differently.

Could Lin Qing possess some unique quality?

Otherwise, how could he have captured the attention of both Su Yao and Liu Hong, both seemingly eager to cozy up to him?

‘It seems I’ll have to observe Lin Qing more closely from now on to uncover the truth,’ she thought.

“Soon, you won’t be.”

While the girl was still eyeing Lin Qing with curiosity, and before Liu Hong could respond, Su Yao suddenly spoke.

This caused everyone’s gaze to swivel towards her, wondering what Su Yao meant by her statement.

The girl who had spoken earlier was defending Su Yao; surely, she wouldn’t turn against one of her own!

Receiving their collective stares, Su Yao’s smile remained, though a thoughtful expression crossed her face, as if she were confirming something before she continued.

“A few days ago, I heard the school is organizing a temporary experimental class for short-term, high-efficiency training. Wang Meng is already on the candidate list.”

“Oh my god, is that true?!”

Wang Meng, who had been as bewildered as everyone else, immediately covered her mouth with a hand, her eyes shining with excitement after hearing Su Yao’s words.

She hadn’t imagined she’d be lucky enough to enter an experimental class.

Though she was only in her second year of high school, the college entrance exam was just over a year away.

Being able to join such an efficient experimental program would undoubtedly boost her scores significantly.

Of course, it was also due to her own excellence that she had been selected.

“Wang Meng, congratulations! You’ll have to treat us to a meal later!”

“Now you’re going to become a top student!”

“An experimental class, who else gets to go!”

“I hope I can get in too.”

No one doubted Su Yao’s words about the high-efficiency experimental class; they were all engrossed in the novelty of it, brimming with anticipation about their own chances of joining.

As the crowd, having heard the news, gathered around Wang Meng, Su Yao’s smiling expression remained unchanged, yet her eyes quickly grew cold.

The time for pranks was over; it was time to return to reality.

Su Yao disliked anyone coveting what was hers.

This feeling was profoundly unpleasant.

Now, Lin Qing was hers, and no one else should even think of getting close to him.

As for the experimental class…

A problem that could be solved with a single sentence was hardly a major concern for Su Yao.

Wang Meng could enter the suddenly appearing experimental class, but when it eventually disbanded, she wouldn’t be able to return to her original class.

It was time to say goodbye in advance.

“Alright, let’s not get too excited yet. We can talk more about it once we’re back in class! I originally planned to tell you later, but it slipped out. Everyone, keep it a secret, okay~”

With these thoughts, Su Yao raised a forefinger to her lips, then, instead of lingering, she turned and walked away.

Like a born queen, she departed, carrying the lively atmosphere with her.

Lin Qing watched Su Yao’s retreating back, a thought forming in his mind: ‘The experimental class must be fake, right?’

Lin Qing realized that Su Yao was utterly inscrutable.

Moments ago, she had allowed Wang Meng to bother him, calmly observing the commotion from the sidelines.

Now, she had abruptly pushed Wang Meng away, making her disappear from the scene.

What could have caused such a sudden change of heart?

“Wang Meng’s grades aren’t even good. How did she get into the experimental class? That’s so unfair!”

“Zhou Lin, do you want to get into the experimental class?”

“Wanting to is one thing; being able to is another. If I actually got in, my mom and dad would be so happy they’d throw a banquet.”

“…”

After Zhou Lin and Wang Jian’s voices faded, Lin Qing no longer watched Su Yao’s retreating figure.

Instead, he remembered that another problem remained unresolved.

Liu Hong.

After the amusement park plan failed, Lin Qing had only sent a text message and received no reply from Liu Hong.

He had assumed Liu Hong was so angry he hated him too.

However, it now seemed that this wasn’t the case at all.

This left Lin Qing somewhat puzzled, wondering what had transpired for Liu Hong not to be angry in the slightest.

Observing Liu Hong’s current state, he still seemed a bit dispirited.

Clearly, the female ghost in the haunted house had left him with an unforgettable memory.

“Go on, shoo! You two, scram. I need to talk to Lin Qing for a bit.”

Just as Lin Qing thought of Liu Hong, Liu Hong waved his hand at Zhou Lin and Wang Jian, then sidled up to Lin Qing, looking like a close brother.

Liu Hong hesitated for a moment, but then he spoke to Lin Qing.

“Lin Qing, I’m really sorry. The plan failed the day before yesterday because of me.”

With that, Liu Hong directly admitted his mistake, his face etched with regret. It was as if a large fish had washed ashore before him, and just as he joyfully ran to claim it, a massive wave had swept it back into the sea.

All that remained were a string of footprints on the sand and Liu Hong’s wounded heart, weeping.

Upon hearing Liu Hong’s words, Lin Qing’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.

He hadn’t expected Liu Hong to say such a thing.

‘Considering he’d mistaken his relationship with Su Yao for a familial one, could Liu Hong have overthought something again?’