Chapter 218: Han Ning’s Breakdown and Su Qinghe’s Worry

Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Han Ning’s Breakdown and Su Qinghe’s Worry

It was Han Ning, who had run off the stage in tears.

She felt utterly miserable as all the hurt and frustration she’d been bottling up lately came flooding back.

’Why did things have to turn out like this?!’

’All I did was reject Gu Yifan’s confession! Why is he treating me like this?!’

She couldn’t understand it. How could Gu Yifan treat her this way? He once promised he would always be by her side, no matter what!

But!

What about now?!

He’s the one who’s hurt me the most!

That liar!

Liar!!!

The more Han Ning thought about it, the more wronged she felt, until she finally broke down and began to sob her heart out.

At that moment, she desperately wanted to go home...

...

An unknown amount of time passed before Han Ning finally stopped crying. Her beautiful eyes were now red and terribly swollen, and the delicate makeup she’d been wearing was completely ruined.

She had cried for so long that she still let out an occasional, uncontrollable sob.

It was easy to imagine just how devastated she was.

—

「11:30 PM.」

Han Ning sat alone by the lake, staring into space for a long time.

After a little longer, her gaze finally focused. She took a phone in a pink case out of her pocket.

After a moment’s hesitation, she dialed a number.

"RING—RING—"

After a few rings, the call was answered.

"Hello?"

"Xiaoning’er, you’re calling so late. Is something wrong?"

A mature woman’s voice came from the other end of the line.

Who else could it be but Han Ning’s mother, Ye Wanqing!

Hearing her mother’s voice, Han Ning felt a sting in her nose as all her feelings of hurt and frustration came rushing back.

"Mom..."

she said softly.

Han Ning did her best to suppress her emotions, but her voice still quavered as if she was about to cry.

On the other end of the line, the perceptive Ye Wanqing, who was washing dishes, paused. She could tell something was wrong with her daughter’s voice, so she asked casually, "Xiaoning’er, how is your military training going at school? Are you getting along with your classmates? Is anyone bullying you?"

This quick succession of three questions was her subtle way of probing into her suspicions.

Hearing this, Han Ning felt even more aggrieved, and her eyes, which had just stopped crying, welled up with tears once more.

She bit her lower lip, fighting back the tears. It was late, and she didn’t want her mother to worry.

"Huuu..."

Han Ning took a deep breath, composed herself, and said, "My classmates are all nice. No one’s bullying me."

Ye Wanqing could tell her daughter wasn’t telling the truth, but she didn’t call her out on it.

The reason was simple.

Her daughter simply didn’t want her to worry.

Besides, she trusted her daughter. She knew that whatever had happened probably wasn’t a huge deal; otherwise, with her daughter’s personality, she would have already blurted it out.

"Oh, I see!"

"As long as you’re okay. Getting along with classmates isn’t like being at home; you need to keep that proud little temper of yours in check."

"But remember, if someone at school really does bully you, as long as you’re in the right, you give it right back to them. We don’t start trouble, but we’re not afraid of it either!"

"If there’s anything you can’t handle, you tell me, and I’ll fly right over to sort it out for you!"

"And another thing!"

"Xiaoning’er, if you ever get tired out there or feel homesick, you can come home anytime. Your dad and I will be waiting for you!"

"Just remember that home will always be your safe harbor, and your dad and I will always be your strongest supporters. That’s all that matters!"

Ye Wanqing said in a soft, gentle voice.

At these words, Han Ning couldn’t hold back any longer. The emotions she had suppressed for so long erupted, and tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.

"Mom..."

she cried into the phone.

"Hm?"

Hearing her daughter’s sobs, Ye Wanqing could no longer remain calm.

"Oh, Xiaoning’er, don’t cry, don’t cry."

But the more she said this, the less Han Ning could control herself, and her sobs only grew louder.

"Hey now,"

Ye Wanqing quickly tried to soothe her. "What’s wrong? Did someone bully my little girl? You tell me who it was, and I’ll go settle the score!"

"Mom..."

Han Ning said through her tears, "I want to come home..."

"What?"

Ye Wanqing was taken aback.

’Looks like I was wrong!’

’My daughter really is being bullied at school!’

"Alright!"

"Don’t cry, don’t cry anymore."

The ever-doting Ye Wanqing couldn’t possibly remain calm now. She nodded and said, "I’ll take a flight first thing in the morning to come get you."

...

「Meanwhile.」

In a small, detached courtyard house behind the faculty housing at Jinling University.

Gu Yifan was still awake.

He stood smoking by the wooden railing on the second floor. The glowing red tip of his cigarette flickered in the darkness, and the pale blue smoke that drifted upward quickly dissipated into the night air.

"Knowing her, she shouldn’t be this fragile, right?"

Gu Yifan muttered to himself.

He then shook his head, stubbed out his cigarette in a nearby ashtray, and turned back toward the bedroom.

"Hm?"

As soon as he entered the bedroom, Gu Yifan was startled to see Su Qinghe staring intently at him. "Su Hanhan, why are you still awake?" he asked.

"I... I can’t sleep..."

Su Qinghe shook her head slightly. After a moment’s thought, she asked in a small voice, "It’s so late... She’ll be okay, right?"

"Uh..."

Seeing that Su Qinghe was still worried about Han Ning, Gu Yifan was at a loss for words.

"Well... I spoke with Old Sun earlier. The university is having someone keep an eye on her, so don’t worry."

Gu Yifan decided not to hide it and told her directly.

"Oh."

Su Qinghe nodded. "So... have they found her?"

"Yeah. They said Han Ning is back in her dorm. She’s fine, so don’t worry,"

Gu Yifan replied.

"Oh, okay."

Su Qinghe nodded.

"Alright, it’s late. Let’s get to sleep,"

Gu Yifan said with a helpless shake of his head.

"Mhm..."

Su Qinghe nodded obediently.

CLICK!

The light went out.

The room was instantly plunged into darkness...

After some time had passed,

Gu Yifan was slightly taken aback when he heard the steady sound of Su Qinghe’s breathing next to him.

’This...’

’Just a minute ago she was too worried to sleep, and now she’s out? How long has it been?’

Gu Yifan turned his head, using the moonlight filtering through the window to look at the sleeping Su Qinghe. Seeing her adorable, simple-minded expression, he couldn’t help but shake his head with a resigned smile.

’What a silly girl,’ he thought.

...