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Chapter 5 – Come back home
In the afternoon, after physical education, it was time for dinner. Students who had just finished class filed into the cafeteria one by one. Chi Tang took the plate and prepared her dinner. She turned and walked over when she noticed Luo Zhengli eating, talking, and laughing.
“Do you have You Yu clothes?”
When Luo Zhengli realized it was her, she lowered her face and said, “Her school uniform is gone, what’s that got to do with me?”
“I said her clothes were gone, and you just said the school uniform. You are amazing,” Chi Tang said.
“Anyway, I don’t know, you can check if you want,” Luo Zhengli remarked brazenly. She then ignored her and returned to her conversation.
Chi Tang smirked and walked away with the dinner plate. She just asked. She was not committed to assist You Yu in obtaining justice. If You Yu wanted justice, she should be able to obtain it without her help.
But she didn’t like Luo Zhengli, that moron.
Chi Tang returned to the bedroom after eating and found You Yu washing her tea-stained jacket in the sink. They changed and cleaned two sets of school uniforms. You Yu had already changed into one of her school clothes. When You Yu saw her, she stopped and said, “I removed your school clothes. Do you want me to wash them for you?”
“There’s no need,” Chi Tang said.
You Yu nodded and continued to clean the stain with expertise and care.
Chi Tang endured but could not hold back, asking, “Where did you get your school uniform?”
“The big garbage can by the toilet,” You Yu said.
Chi Tang: …
She assumed it was Luo Zhengli and she wondered whether she had hidden it where she usually store her belongings. Now it appeared that she had been wrong.
Chi Tang’s face went completely black.
You Yu glanced at her as though she understood something, so she elaborated “This tea stains a lot. At the time, I hadn’t finished washing it.  It was presumably thrown out there since it was filthy.”
That’s what You Yu had thought at the moment, and she found it after rummaging among the nearby bushes and garbage cans.
Fortunately, it had recently been cleaned up, the garbage can was full of dusty leaves, and the school uniform had not been heavily stained when it was placed there.
Chi Tang: ” How are you so skilled?”
She wondered, “Did You Yu come across such things before?”
She was so calm that she didn’t seem to realize she was being pushed out and pranked, and she didn’t seem to mind.
Chi Tang’s mood dropped. She wouldn’t be so calm if it were her. She would to cause a scene. She would figure out who had lost and stolen her things. That was the reason she didn’t make it through her last school.
She was isolated by the other students after she found her missing phone at the desk of a well-known classmate.
Song Fangcao came over in the evening for self-study and said, “You Yu’s school outfit was not taken by Luo Zhengli. She bumped across someone else who stole and tossed away You Yu’s school uniform, but she had difficulties with you, so she didn’t say anything.”
Chi Tang enquired: “What are you trying to tell me about this? It’s not my school uniform that was lost. Tell her yourself when You Yu returns.”
Every night at this time, You Yu was still studying in the classroom and would return after the lights were turned down.
Luo Zhengli hurried in from the outside as soon as Chi Tang finished speaking, “It’s not your school uniform that was lost? What?  Do you think you are a flower-protecting messenger?”
Chi Tang kicked the table and glared, “You say it again?”
The loud noise startled both Luo Zhengli and Song Fangcao. Luo Zhengli’s momentum slowed down. Song Fangcao pushed her out when she noticed her eyes were red and she was going to cry again.
No one mentioned it again after that, and You Yu didn’t either, save that her school outfit had a few more tea stains.
The only thing that had changed was that You Yu started to bombard her with questions on a regular basis. Chi Tang had the lowest math skills. Every time, You Yu would push a notepad and give her the advice and prior steps.
Chi Tang gave the notepad a hard look and said, “I don’t want it.”
She could hear the rustling of You Yu’s writing next to her pause, sound, and pause again, as if a person was roaming and hesitating. It was incoherent for a long time before becoming coherent again. Then she saw the newly shoved notepad, and this time there was more than just the problem-solving method but also the answer.
“I don’t want it.”
When You Yu took back the notepad, her writing speed was a little slower, like a heavy footstep when someone departed.
Chi Tang turned her head and scowled instinctively when she saw her school uniform. She seemed oddly concerned with her school uniform these days, perhaps not the school uniform itself, but the reason she was wearing the school uniform on such a hot day. Even though she knew the rationale was ridiculous, she couldn’t help but be concerned.
It was pouring again, which is really annoying.
They had seven days off as the eleventh holiday approached. Even if students had to make up classes later, they were happy at not having to go to class for a week. Everyone was looking forward to the end of the school year and the start of the summer vacation.
Except for You Yu, there was no tranquility in the classroom before school ended in the afternoon, and a few kids with high marks couldn’t settle down and study.
She didn’t seem to be returning home. The principal came to advise her that she should be cautious when she remained at school alone over the holidays.
Chi Tang, like her, had no desire to go on vacation or return home.
Her new house was still foreign when she left, but when she returned with her suitcase, she realized she was familiar with the awful scent of a mixture of numerous smokes, alcohol, and perfume. Her father invited all of his friends to his house to play cards, and a room full of men and women chatted and played cards.
The same could be said for her former house. The “home” created by the comparable fragrance and environment gave her a sense of comfort and peace of mind.
“What brings you back?” H er father snatched the card and gazed up at her, shocked.
“I’m on vacation,” Chi Tang said.
She’s grown accustomed to her parents failing to recall the school’s varied holiday plans.
Her father didn’t say anything further when she replied, and his attention was drawn back to the table. With a laugh, he pulled a few cards and flung them on the table. Chi Tang took the luggage upstairs, away from the smog of the place.
Her bedroom door was open, and a strange woman was sleeping on her bed.
Blood rushed to Chi Tang’s head in a burst. “Why is there someone in my room!” she exclaimed as she went downstairs.
“Your Aunt Liu was tired and went upstairs, but you weren’t at home, what’s wrong?” her father asked.
Chi Tang shook in rage: “You bring everything on, why don’t you lift yourself up, you have to disgust me? Huh?”
The buzz and bustle of playing cards abruptly stopped, and everyone was silent, looking at the father and daughter.
“How did you talk to your father?” Her father was so enraged that he dropped the card, stood up, and walked toward her.
Hot white pain made it way through Chi Tang’s body as her father’s hand connected with her cheek. Her cheek reddened and tears starred to pool in her eyes. Without a word, Chi Tang left the house, ignoring her father who was calling for her.
Chi Tang strolled along the sidewalk. There were few people on the street due to the rain. She didn’t open the umbrella and pulled up the sweater’s cap to cover her head, obscuring most of her face.
She strolled down the street, sitting by the bridge’s railing, and for a brief minute considered jumping off, but she didn’t.
The world was so big that you couldn’t see the other side at a glance; there are people and homes everywhere, but she had no idea where else she may go or where she could sleep safely.
Near the bridge, there were various businesses selling garments that light brightly in the dark. One of the shops was quite small and just sold underwear.   Chi Tang had been staring there in a stupor for a long time before she reacted.
She was reminded of You Yu. How did she manage to survive this long?