Waterbound Love - Chapter 24

During Du Bai’s second lecture, she heard an old piece of news: the director had indeed been dismissed. This was within Du Bai’s expectations, even though she wasn’t entirely clear on the industry’s rules, she wasn’t naive either. While she maintained an indifferent attitude towards her own existence, anything that threatened her would be met with resistance. Using privileges to solve problems was an effective method, and since many coveted these privileges, why not use them? Du Bai wasn’t one for unnecessary nobility.

This power play was quite intense, allowing Du Bai to maintain her distinct approach.

When Du Bai saw Yaoyao, she couldn’t help but frown. She had thought it was over that day, but it seemed more complicated. Holding to her promise to Shao, Du Bai didn’t pay much attention to Yaoyao, treating her with the same distant attitude as other classmates.

After class, Du Bai felt a little dizzy. Wei Qingqian was being pestered by Rumor and was too preoccupied to notice Du Bai’s odd behavior.

Walking on campus, Du Bai was reminded of her own university days and began wandering aimlessly. Unknowingly, she ended up in a remote area. By then, her vision was beginning to blur. Shaking her head mockingly, she thought that if this workload was enough to make her feel this way, she must be quite useless. She shook her head and decided to leave quickly but found the former director blocking her path.

“Oh, Ms. Du, enjoying a warm walk in the sun?” Du Bai knew another battle awaited.

“Why, Mr. Zhang, what a surprise.” Hearing herself call him Mr. Zhang, his expression twisted. Having struggled hard to attain the director’s position, losing it so abruptly left him filled with resentment.

“How dare you! If it weren’t for you, I’d still be comfortably seated in the director’s chair.” With that, he revealed a contorted expression.

Du Bai remained unfazed, her cold demeanor only further angering the former director, though she herself wasn’t too confident. Du Bai couldn’t understand how this fool had managed to become a director. If she could bring him down, she could completely destroy him. No wonder he dared to openly exploit newcomers; his incompetence was likely the cause.

“If you know it was me who brought you down, aren’t you afraid that I could make things even worse for you?” Seeing the ex-director’s face flicker with rage, Du Bai knew he was a small fry. With some analysis, he could be dealt with easily. “You’re still a teacher now, with a stable job. If you offend me today, you might lose even that. Think carefully.” Du Bai noticed a moment of hesitation in the former director’s stance. She knew that if she gave him an out, the situation could be defused. But instinctively, Du Bai didn’t want to back down; she scorned having to bow to someone like him.

The former director was initially intimidated, but seeing that Du Bai wasn’t giving in, his face darkened. He realized that she commuted by taxi every day and assumed she was just a kept woman. Even if he did something to her now, she wouldn’t dare expose him. Besides, he thought he had something on her. Emboldened by this, he decided to make a move, itching to grab hold of Du Bai.

Watching the changing expressions on the ex-director’s face, Du Bai sensed trouble. Outwardly calm, she looked for the perfect opportunity to strike.

As the ex-director lunged at her, Du Bai threw him over her shoulder, slamming him to the ground. She should have seized the moment to knock him out but, having already been at the end of her rope, she was now barely holding herself up. Her vision blurred as she saw him get back up. Laughing bitterly at the thought of ending up at the mercy of such scum, she vowed it wouldn’t happen. She didn’t mind going down fighting.

“What are you doing?” A female voice suddenly cut through the tension. Though trying to sound composed, Du Bai could hear the tremor in her tone.

“Run! Go find Rumor and ask him to come save me.” Du Bai shouted, gambling on the former director’s knowledge of Rumor. Judging by Rumor’s notorious reputation at school, internal warnings must have been issued. Watching the retreating figure, the former director collapsed in frustration, and Du Bai knew she had ultimately won.

“What is your relationship with Rumor?” The former director glared at Du Bai, his eyes filled with suspicion.

“That’s not something I can discuss with outsiders. Why don’t you wait until he gets here, and he can explain it to you?” With that, Du Bai walked over to a nearby bench and sat down calmly. It was only then that the former director noticed a certain nobility about her, one that made her untouchable. Thinking of Rumor’s impending arrival, he panicked and decided to flee.

Watching the former director’s frantic departure, Du Bai exhaled a breath of relief. In truth, calling for Rumor was her last resort. If the former director had thought carefully about her situation, she would have been in even greater danger. Du Bai had counted on his panic, and luckily, her gamble paid off. With one last breath, Du Bai slipped into unconsciousness.

When she opened her eyes again, Du Bai couldn’t help but smile. She had lost count of the number of times she had awoken to the blinding white of hospital lights.

“You’re awake. Are you feeling any discomfort?” Du Bai looked around, noting there were no other people, and sensed her confusion. “I started running away but felt something was wrong and came back. If the director had attacked you, I was going to knock him out. But instead, I found you passed out on the bench.”

Du Bai nodded. “How did you find me?” Seeing Du Bai’s sharp gaze, the person blushed and looked down. “I-I was following you.” Realizing the awkwardness, she quickly looked up, “No, no, I wasn’t stalking you, I just-”

“It’s fine. Can you get me a glass of water?” Du Bai closed her eyes, resigned to the inevitable.

Just then, the door burst open, and Shao and Tinna stormed in. Du Bai looked up, surprised to see Shen Yan and Lian Yinyun following them. The air in the hospital suddenly felt thin, tinged with a sharp scent.

“Why are all of you here?”

“They called me. We were at somn having drinks, so we came together.” Shao glanced at Du Bai, relieved to see her uninjured.

“Who dares to act recklessly under my watch!? I’m going to make them pay!” Tinna fumed, her face practically aflame with anger. Du Bai, feeling a piercing headache coming on, helplessly massaged her forehead. “Sister, you’re about to get married. If your fiancé sees your true colors, who knows if he’ll bolt in the middle of the night.”

Seeing Du Bai speak so casually, Tinna knew she was alright. Rolling her eyes, she retorted, “If he runs off, we’ll just swap you into his place at the wedding. One ready bride, one stand-in groom-what a convenience!”

A remark that should have been a joke instead made the room tense. Only then did Du Bai realize some jokes should never be made.

“Isn’t Du Bai with Shao?” Yaoyao, who was pouring water, innocently asked.

“Who said they’re together?” Lian Yinyun replied, immediately realizing her slip and started fidgeting with her clothes. Du Bai felt a warmth at Lian Yinyun’s concern but, catching Shen Yan’s complex gaze, she felt a mix of emotions. It was a bittersweet moment, and Tinna, rather than intervening, sat back casually, enjoying the unfolding drama.

Du Bai and Shen Yan locked eyes for a long time, Du Bai silently sighed and gave Shao a look that said “I did my best.” She then sat up, ruffling Yaoyao’s hair gently. “Silly girl, I was just joking.”

Seeing Yaoyao’s watering eyes, Du Bai could only shake her head in exasperation. “I’m warning you, don’t you dare cry.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Yaoyao clung to Du Bai, sobbing, “You bad person, if you don’t like me, just say so. Why do you have to lie to me?” Du Bai, feeling powerless, gently patted her back and tried to comfort her, though something inside her seemed to crumble a little. “No, no, how could I not like you?” she cooed, trying to soothe with her touch. She then signaled Tinna for help. While Tinna originally intended to assist, she held back upon seeing Lian Yinyun. Why should Du Bai be the only one who gets hurt? Today, she wanted Lian Yinyun to see that Du Bai had admirers too. With a resigned shake of her head, she exposed a look of feigned helplessness.

Du Bai, completely unaware of Tinna’s internal reasoning, gritted her teeth. This woman just loves watching the drama, doesn’t she? She continued to calm the sobbing Yaoyao in her arms.

Yaoyao suddenly stopped crying and stared at Du Bai, her eyes filled with a hopeful gleam. “I really like you. Will you be my girlfriend?” Her eyes were shining with endless hope as she looked at Du Bai. At that moment, Du Bai wanted to bang her head against the wall, thinking, “Sis, please just continue crying. At least then I know how to comfort you.”

Instinctively, Du Bai glanced at Lian Yinyun, but the latter’s expression was as serene as ever, as if this had nothing to do with her. She was just tugging on Shen Yan’s sleeves. That scene stung Du Bai’s eyes more than any bright color could. She closed her eyes slowly, only to realize from the cheers around her that she must have nodded her head. Yet, she would never know how Lian Yinyun’s face had turned deathly pale and how her hands trembled the moment she did.

Lian Yinyun had a fleeting moment of envy towards Yaoyao, the girl enjoying a place that once belonged to her. If she too could throw herself unreservedly into Du Bai’s arms, would Du Bai comfort her the same way? But she wasn’t Yaoyao; she could never be so reckless. A glance at Shen Yan beside her brought a bitter, helpless smile to her lips. Timing was indeed a cruel thing, making one want to cry.

Perhaps, caring too much leads to losing oneself, obscuring all truths. Perhaps, having seen reality, one instinctively chooses to escape.

The influence Lian Yinyun had on Du Bai was so profound that Du Bai overlooked Shen Yan’s feelings. She did not see Shen Yan’s equally pale face or her clenched fists. “Have I not done enough?” Shen Yan thought. “If I too could cast aside my dignity and give my all, would it be me by her side now?” But some things are unchangeable. Shen Yan cared too much about too many things, torn between hesitation and uncertainty. Although a primary thread still held everything together, it had already frayed into diverging strands, losing its decisiveness. In the end, she could never have what she wanted.

“I’ll go take care of that scumbag,” Shen Yan said abruptly, then walked out, leaving the space filled with Du Bai’s presence. Yet she wondered if she could ever leave Du Bai’s world.