Chapter 111: Absence

He Chuan looked at her with a cryptic, half-smile. "Lacking confidence?"

Cheng Hui: "..."

She was indeed lacking confidence; if she had any, she wouldn't be so easily manipulated by him. Moreover, she had truly done something that displeased him. If there was any shame to be felt, it was her own, for the way she had acted in front of him—not because of being with him.

Although He Chuan was thirty, he maintained a great physique. From the outside, his age was hardly an issue. Besides, if she truly liked him, Cheng Hui didn't mind the age gap.

He Chuan took out a cigarette. As the lighter flicked, Cheng Hui instinctively looked at him. He took a leisurely drag, withdrew his gaze, and said with calm eyes, "If you don't really want to talk, I won't force you."

Cheng Hui: "..."

"I don't want to coerce you; there’s no point. If you’re unwilling, I can send you back."

Cheng Hui wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out. She had been waiting for him to speak first, as she truly didn't know where to begin. He Chuan didn't give her that chance; he stood up and started walking toward the entryway. Panicked, Cheng Hui jumped up and called out, "Wait!"

She grabbed his sleeve, clutching it tightly, and whispered, "I haven't said anything yet."

"I thought you didn't want to talk."

"That's not what I meant. I didn't mean that, He Chuan."

He Chuan seemed to sigh. "Then what do you mean?"

She said anxiously, "I want things to be like they were before... just like before..."

He Chuan remained silent. Seconds ticked by as he waited for her to continue. Cheng Hui’s heart pounded. He wouldn't show his hand, and she couldn't guess what he was thinking. She hadn't overthought it; it was simple—she wanted to reconcile and stop the friction between them.

She softened, lowered her head, and let her hand slide from his sleeve to tentatively hold his palm. He didn't pull away, which gave her the courage to grip tighter. "Just consider that I was young and naive, will you forgive me? I don't want to fight with you anymore. I want to make up."

She had laid her heart bare, but she didn't know how he would react. He might still be angry, or perhaps he despised her fickle nature—how she had rejected him so decisively before, only to crawl back now. Who knew if he would use this to settle old scores?

But if he wanted to settle old scores, she would accept it. At worst, he would toy with her again like last time; she would have no room to complain.

He Chuan didn't know she had already braced herself for the worst. He didn't speak; he just turned, looking down at her head. He raised his hand, only to draw it back and let it hang at his side without touching her.

He Chuan was truly cold now, offering no response. Cheng Hui was frantic. She had said everything she could, and now she was at a loss for words. She tugged at his sleeve, desperate for any reaction, but He Chuan remained unmoved.

He asked, "Do you still like Tang Que?"

"Huh?" She was lost in her own thoughts and didn't catch it.

"Do you still like Tang Que?"

Cheng Hui: "..." She paused for a few seconds. "Not anymore..."

He Chuan asked again, "Then do you like me?"

"..."

The shift was too fast. Cheng Hui couldn't keep up with his train of thought. How could she say it to his face? She felt tongue-tied. If she nodded, it wasn't quite right; if she didn't, he would surely be displeased.

She felt a sense of pathetic submissiveness wash over her—whenever he was unhappy, she lowered herself to please him. Was this how he felt when he used to coax her?

Realizing this, she didn't feel pathetic anymore; she felt she had gone too far. She told herself to stop keeping score and just treat it as repaying him for looking after her all these years. That thought made her feel better. She stood tall before him and said with determination, "I can't say I love you deeply, but I've grown accustomed to having you around. He Chuan, I'm telling you sincerely: I've become used to you."

Habit is a terrifying thing. Over the years, He Chuan had spent so much energy watching her grow from a snot-nosed little girl trailing behind him into the graceful young woman standing before him today. It had indeed stirred his heart.

He Chuan looked down at her, his voice hoarse. "So what then..."

He wanted a result, not empty, sweet words. Anyone could say those. He wanted her bottom line.

Cheng Hui simply hugged his waist and pressed her face against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. She closed her eyes and said, "Don't leave, and don't go abroad. I'll explain things to my brother, and I won't hide from you anymore."

The scent of him was familiar. She sniffed secretly, catching a clean, subtle fragrance that made her heart skip a beat.

He Chuan couldn't hold back anymore. He gripped her shoulders. "Cheng Hui, can I trust your words?"

"Yes, of course it's true." Fearing he was still unhappy, she added, "It's not shameful to be with you. I was just cowardly and afraid—afraid that everyone would disapprove."

He Chuan nodded. He could understand that; she was young. If she made a mistake, he could forgive her, no matter how many times, simply because she was Cheng Hui.

However, he felt that forgiving her too easily would be a mistake. He didn't intend to let her off the hook; even if it was just a facade, he had to make her learn her lesson so she wouldn't repeat it.

He snatched her by the collar and pulled her back, saying expressionlessly, "It's late. I'm taking you back to school."

Cheng Hui: "Huh?"

This was a deviation from the ending she had envisioned. Just like that, he was sending her back? He hadn't given her a clear answer or said he forgave her. All her heartfelt words had been for nothing.

He Chuan had drunk some beer, though it didn't hinder him. Cheng Hui, however, had sipped some fruit wine. When she leaned in close, He Chuan could smell the faint, lingering scent of it on her breath—or perhaps it was just his imagination.

He left her waiting outside the door while he went in to grab his phone, car keys, and her small bag. He tossed the bag to her, his dark, stagnant eyes sweeping over her face. "Let's go," he said coldly.

Cheng Hui clutched her bag, biting her lip and looking at his back with grievance. She wanted to say more, but feared it would be in vain, so she stayed silent.

They walked to the parking garage in silence. She was so lost in thought in the elevator that she didn't notice him stop suddenly. She crashed into his back, stumbled backward, and nearly fell. She rubbed her forehead and let out a soft cry of pain.

He Chuan glanced back at her. "Are you blind? Can't you look where you're going?"

Cheng Hui was stunned, feeling deeply wronged. "I'm sorry. I'll stay further away from you so I won't bump into you..."

His tone was so harsh. When had she ever been treated this way? Well, she had endured plenty of his coldness before, but never like this tonight—she had swallowed her pride, yet he remained indifferent. What was she supposed to do?

Watching her zoned-out expression, He Chuan sighed inwardly. He wondered when she would ever be a bit smarter. Forget it; the current situation wasn't bad. Being too smart wasn't necessarily a good thing.

He unlocked the car, and as he got in, he saw her head to the backseat. He frowned—he clearly wasn't satisfied with that—but seeing her miserable expression, he swallowed his words. Forget it.

Just as he was about to start the car, his phone rang. It was from the doctor in charge of He Wei’s care. A call this late meant an emergency. He answered.

The doctor said, "Mr. He’s condition is unstable. Can you come to the hospital now?"

"I'll be there immediately."

He hung up and told Cheng Hui, "Get out of the car." He didn't want her involved in his family's affairs and wouldn't take her to the hospital.

Cheng Hui: "..."

"Something came up. You go back first." He meant for her to go to his apartment and wait, but Cheng Hui misunderstood. She froze, feeling abandoned, and replied woodenly, "Okay."

He Chuan didn't have time to explain. Once she stepped out, he handed her the keys and drove off.

Not long after he left, Cheng Hui, feeling utterly defeated, began to cry. She wiped her tears as she walked toward the elevator. She didn't want to go to his place. Why wait for him to come back and berate her again?

The elevator light flickered, startling her. She pressed her back against the wall. The light flickered once more and then went pitch black. She was plunged into darkness.

She fumbled for her phone, tears dropping onto the screen. She turned on the flashlight and tried to call someone, but there was no signal. She was trapped. She remembered the emergency call button and pressed it.

At this hour, the security guards monitoring the cameras should see the elevator malfunction. After pressing the button, she crouched in the corner, afraid to move and too tired to cry.

...

When He Chuan arrived at the hospital, the doctor told him, "Mr. He suffered a sudden convulsion an hour ago. He's stable now, but I suggest hiring a 24-hour private nurse."

After He Wei was hospitalized, Mrs. He had tried to prevent proper treatment, as she had bribed the hospital staff to work against He Chuan. Once He Chuan found out, he went directly to a doctor he trusted. Mrs. He had objected, but He Chuan had shut her down. She couldn't act too openly, so she had to accept the change.

As for the nurse, Mrs. He was adamantly against it, claiming she would provide personal care—yet she was nowhere to be found tonight.

He Chuan finished checking on He Wei and immediately called his assistant to hire a trustworthy nurse. With the hospital affairs settled, he finally remembered Cheng Hui. He had left in such a hurry that he hadn't checked on her.

He drove back to the apartment, but when he went to the elevator, he saw a yellow "Out of Order" sign. He frowned and had to take the stairs.

When he reached his apartment, there was no sign of Cheng Hui. The place was empty, cold, and lifeless—not a trace that she had ever been there. He tried calling her, but her phone was off.

Where had she gone so late?

He Chuan irritably loosened his collar, grabbed his car keys, and went back out. He went to the security office to check the surveillance footage. The guards knew who he was—a major investor in the building—and didn't dare refuse him.

He saw that shortly after he left for the hospital, Cheng Hui had entered the elevator, it had malfunctioned, and she had been trapped for over half an hour before being rescued. After that, she had walked away, never coming to his place. No wonder the apartment was empty.

...

Cheng Hui wandered the streets aimlessly. Her phone was dead, and she couldn't call a taxi. She had a few hundred in cash, but there were no cabs in sight. She couldn't go back to school. Cheng Jiu lived nearby, but if she went to him, he would ask a million questions. If he found out she had come from He Chuan’s place, it would cause trouble. Forget it, she would just keep walking. If she could catch a cab, great; if not, she’d find a hotel.

She wasn't helpless; why be so sad or scared? If He Chuan hadn't bullied her, she wouldn't be wandering the streets right now. The more she thought about it, the more resentful she felt. Ever since He Chuan had entangled himself in her life, she hadn't had a single day of luck.

She didn't know how far she had walked. A barbecue stall was still open. She sat down, ordered some food, and asked the owner to borrow a charging cable. She ordered two beers, and finally, she felt a bit better.

Once her phone had enough charge, she paid the owner and called a ride-hailing car back to school. Her phone died the moment she arrived at the dorm.

She snuck into her room, terrified of waking her roommates. She didn't even shower, just kicked off her shoes and collapsed into bed. Despite feeling sticky and uncomfortable, she fell asleep instantly.

...

The next morning was Tang Huaihuai’s class. Cheng Hui showered early, but the moment she sat in the classroom, she started nodding off. She didn't even hear Tang Huaihuai call her name during roll call until a classmate nudged her awake.

Tang Huaihuai stood at the podium, staring at her. "Cheng Hui, what were you doing last night? Sleeping in my class first thing in the morning? Your parents didn't send you here to sleep."

Cheng Hui, already exhausted and irritable, was annoyed at being singled out. Though she knew she was in the wrong, she didn't like being lectured by Tang Huaihuai, so she ignored her.

"It's clear your family background is good enough that you don't need to work hard to live comfortably. You are an exception. I hope the rest of you don't follow Cheng Hui’s example. Her life is not yours. Since you’re here, you should strive to improve, not waste your youth."

"Cheng Hui, sit down. I have nothing left to say to you."

Cheng Hui didn't sit. She had her pride, and she stood straight, eyes locked on Tang Huaihuai. A classmate whispered, "Cheng Hui, sit down. The teacher told you to sit."

Cheng Hui refused. She had been humiliated enough, and being scolded in front of everyone was the last straw. She snapped, "I admit I slept in class, and that was my fault. But Teacher Tang, do you have any room to talk, being someone else's mistress? What right do you have to lecture me? With your morals, how can you even call yourself a teacher?"

The room went dead silent. The students gasped, and whispers broke out, especially among those who knew the truth.

Tang Huaihuai narrowed her eyes, remaining outwardly calm. She smiled. "Cheng Hui, are you lashing out because I criticized you? So you’re making up lies to slander me?"

"Whether it's a lie, you know better than anyone. If you don't want people to know, don't do it. I can take responsibility for what I said. Can you? Can you dare to say you aren't a mistress that everyone despises? That you didn't destroy someone else's relationship?"

...

Cheng Hui was suspended, and her parents were called in.

Mrs. Cheng arrived at the school. Being called in as a parent for a college student was humiliating. Mrs. Cheng felt the same. She hadn't expected her daughter to publicly insult a teacher, but when she found out the teacher was Tang Huaihuai, her expression hardened—not just at Cheng Hui, but at the teacher as well.

The Dean was present. "Cheng Hui publicly insulted and slandered a teacher. The consequences are severe. Unless she publicly apologizes, I believe we must formally reprimand her. This damages the school's reputation and the teacher's honor."

Tang Huaihuai sat to the side, wiping away tears. She was pitiful, silent, and though few tears fell, the Dean clearly saw her as the victim.

Mrs. Cheng looked at the Dean without emotion. "This needs to be investigated."

"It's slander! Why investigate?"

"Why not? What if what my daughter said is the truth?"

"She brought her personal emotions into the classroom!"

"Dean, it seems to me that you’re the one bringing personal emotions into this. You haven't investigated, yet you claim my daughter is at fault. She never lies. I trust her. If she didn't have proof, would she call Teacher Tang a mistress?"

Tang Huaihuai sobbed, "If there is proof, please, Cheng Hui, show it to everyone."

Cheng Hui was furious, her eyes burning red. How could she show it? The person in the photos was her own father. If she revealed them, she would destroy her parents' marriage and her own home.

Cheng Hui ran out of the Dean’s office, refusing to look back. She didn't want to talk to anyone. When Mrs. Cheng called, she hung up. She didn't know where to go.

She had nowhere left. Before, she at least had He Chuan as a sanctuary. Whenever something happened, she would go to him, and he would help. She realized now how good He Chuan had been to her. At the very least, he had always trusted her unconditionally.

...

When He Chuan couldn't reach Cheng Hui, he went to the school the next day. He even contacted Tang Huaihuai, asking if Cheng Hui had been to class.

"She came," Tang Huaihuai said.

"Then where is she now?"

"Really, He Chuan? Asking me?" Tang Huaihuai laughed. "What do you take me for?"

He Chuan didn't have the patience for her games. Just as he was about to hang up, Tang Huaihuai added, "He Chuan, I know where she is. If you want to find her, I can send you the address."

The address she sent was her own apartment. It was clearly a joke. He Chuan hung up.

Tang Huaihuai wasn't worried. She sent him a text: *Cheng Hui is so upset, who knows where she ran off to. If you want to find her, you’d better hurry, or you might never see her again.*

She was deliberately provoking him, letting him run around like a headless chicken. Since he had come to ask her, it was obvious he had no idea where Cheng Hui was.

Mrs. Cheng, back home, couldn't reach her either. She called Cheng Jiu, panicked, telling him that Cheng Hui had disappeared after a dispute at school.

Cheng Jiu, abandoning his work, tried to calm Mrs. Cheng while contacting Xin Gan. Xin Gan hadn't seen her either. Sensing something was wrong, Cheng Jiu called the police, but since it hadn't been 24 hours, they couldn't file a formal missing persons report; they could only help search.

He Chuan was searching as well. Cheng Jiu contacted him. He Chuan said, "I understand. I will find her. She will be fine. Absolutely."

"I hope so," Cheng Jiu replied.

"If anything has happened to her, I will not let those who hurt her go."

...

He Chuan pulled every string he had, but in such a massive city, finding one person was no easy task.

Tang Huaihuai, knowing Cheng Hui was missing, had Tang Que contact her. Tang Que sent a text, not asking where she was, but simply asking if she wanted to drink. He wanted someone to drink with.

Ten minutes later, Cheng Hui replied: *Buy some beer and bring it over. I'm at No. 1 Middle School.*

That was the high school they had attended. Tang Que exhaled in relief, bought a dozen beers, and took a taxi there.

Cheng Hui was hiding in a small grove behind the school’s track field. It was Friday, and the students had already left. A few were playing basketball in the distance. Cheng Hui sat on a rock, counting leaves on the ground.

Tang Que saw her from a distance and walked over. Cheng Hui stared at him for a long time before saying, "You and your sister really are close."

Tang Que replied, "We've depended on each other since we were kids. It’s impossible not to be."