Part Three, Chapter 10: Nightmare

n her sharp side to Lu Kuo before, so he looked at her as if he didn't know her and said:"In your eyes, am I, Lu Kuo, this kind of person Gu Ruanruan, no matter how incompetent I, Lu Kuo, am, I would...Xu Haichen is the class monitor of their class, and her communication skills are evident. When giving her advice on study, use a way that doesn't make her feel offended and very considerate of her self-esteem.

"Thank you, I understand. I will try my best to integrate into the group in the future." Chen Ling replied politely with a smile. She knew right from wrong and wouldn't refuse others' kindness.

Xu Haichen, seeing this, quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

He has a refined and elegant demeanor, speaking with clarity and logic: "Chen Ning, our teachers and classmates are all very kind. If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to reach out to me or any of your classmates."

It has been almost three months since the start of the semester. Although Chen Ling didn't say anything, her financial situation was evident in her daily life. She wasn't trying to hide it either. She had planned to get a part-time job to cover her living expenses while studying at university, but her campus was located far from the city center and there weren't many good part-time opportunities nearby. As a result, she hadn't found a suitable job for several months after school started and had to rely on the card that Song Jingye gave her.

Song Jingye would transfer 3,000 yuan to her card every month. It was way too much for her, but she still planned every penny she spent and never wasted anything.

Life went on in its usual way, and she gradually calmed down, devoting all her energy to learning and self-improvement, waiting for the winter vacation to return to the Northwest.

That day, she was studying for her final exams in the library as usual. Suddenly, Zheng Ke, who she hadn't contacted for a while, sent her a WeChat message: "I'm at the school gate, come out and have dinner with me."

Zheng Kekang was recalled and joined a new unit. He was so busy that he could barely keep up. Before this, they only occasionally chatted on WeChat. This time was the first time he came to see her.

Chen Ning hastily packed up her books and rushed to the school gate.

Zheng Ke saw her from afar and shouted, "Xiaoning, come back! Don't run so fast. Slow down."

Chen Ning had lived in this unfamiliar place for a semester. Seeing him again, it felt like seeing a relative, an overwhelming sense of excitement.

Especially when he got close, he said, “You’re still so thin. When our Captain Song sees this, he’ll say I haven’t taken good care of you.”

As soon as Chen Ling heard the name "Captain Song," the joy she had felt earlier upon seeing him was replaced by another emotion: a wave of longing, dense and overwhelming.

"Has he returned to the base from the border" I remember him saying it would be for two months.

"I'm back." Zheng Ke took her to a restaurant in the city center for dinner. This was Chen Ling's first time into the city since she came back to school.

When eating, Zheng Ke repeatedly glanced at her, as if he had something to say, but held back. He just ordered a table of dishes: "Eat more."

"Isn't this too much"

Zheng Ke seems to really like spoiling her. Back when they were in high school, he also bought a big bag of snacks for her.

But this time, perhaps it was Chen Ning's illusion, she saw a hint of pity on his face

"Let's send Song a video." Zheng Ke said, and immediately took out his phone to make a video call to Song Jingye.

Chen Ling turned to look back, her whole heart was pounding, she blushed with nervousness and anticipation.

Song Jingye picked up the phone almost immediately, his tone neutral: "You took her out to dinner"

"I'm eating." Zheng Ke said, then turned the camera back to Chen Ling.

Chen Ning was caught off guard, feeling clumsy and awkward. Her voice stuttered as she said, "U-uncle, hello."

It was as usual, but something felt off. I thought they both seemed strange today, like they had something to tell me.

But he didn't say anything, just nodded and asked, "Are you getting used to school again"

"Adaptation."

"Spend the money on your card. Whatever you want to spend, go for it. If you have any left over, I'll give you double that every month after. And so on." Song Jingye said, leaving no room for argument. She wasn't being harsh; she just wouldn't listen otherwise.

He knew the cost of studying in Beijing. Since he decided to support her through university, he didn't want her life to be worse than other children's, a bit like a protective father towards his daughter.

"Too much, I can't afford it."

Then learn from the flowers.

For Chen Ling, her daily expenses basically revolve around three meals a day. She buys ordinary skincare products that just moisturize, and she changes clothes every season with two sets being enough. At most, she buys some books. She really doesn't know how to spend money.

She was afraid that he would really give her double the money later, so she decided to withdraw a fixed amount each week and put it into another bank card. She would wait until after she graduated from university and then repay him all at once.

After handing the phone to Zheng Ke, they chatted briefly before hanging up.

Zheng Ke put down his phone and chatted casually while eating: "Isn't your school in the city center"

"The freshmen stay in the new campus for their first three years. Seniors and graduate students move to the old campus downtown."

It's quite a distance, it would be inconvenient to ask you out for a meal.

"Isn't this delicious"

Zheng Ke saw that she was indeed adapting well, so he felt relieved. After dinner, he drove her back to school.

It was past 9 o'clock in the evening when I returned to school.

As they were parting, Zheng Ke suddenly called her back: "Xiaoning, come back."

"Do you know why Captain Song gives you so much money every month"

He's trying to tell you that you, like all girls your age, can live a normal life.

Chen Ning's eyes suddenly warmed, "I know."

"Go on in, study hard, and give me a call if you need anything." Zheng Ke gave her another reminder. They all treated her like their own younger sister.

Chen Ning waved goodbye to him and walked towards the dormitory.

Today, I feel like his attitude is off. His eyes look a bit like they did when she was first rescued from the mountains.

Only when she got back to her dorm room did the answer come to her.

At past nine, the dorm was bustling with her roommates' activity. But the moment she pushed open the door, the noise vanished, replaced by pitying looks directed at her.

"What's wrong" she asked.

Although she was an outlier, her roommates were all very kind and never showed any pity for her poverty.

The monitor spoke first: "Ninghui, we all know."

The dormitory monitor handed her the phone, displaying a news article. A human trafficker, xx, had been caught and confessed to his crimes of trafficking women and children. Below was a list of people he'd trafficked through her, including Chen Ling’s name. Chen Ling typed three words: her own name.

A woman's face, deeply etched with the passage of time, appeared at the very top of the page. Chen Ning's hand, clutching her phone, trembled uncontrollably, and her heart clenched into a tight knot, as if she had been pulled back into that nightmare from which there was no escape.

That was last summer. She went to school alone and needed to take a bus to the neighboring city to catch a train first. She only had over two thousand yuan from her summer job, so she chose the cheapest transportation.

She was met at a bus station in the next city over.g's words, she replied, "Bottom line Doting without a brain You misunderstand Teacher Shi. He's very principled."Zhang Cheng chuckled twice, then suddenly as if remembering something: "I just wanted t...