Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s

Chapter 988: Chapter 988: Fire at Home

An Hao stepped on the snow accumulated on the ground, making a creaky, crisp sound. The green pines in the yard were all weighed down by the thick snow on their branches. When the wind blew, the pines swayed gently, shaking off the snow.

Winter had come again, and another year was about to pass.

An Hao took a deep breath, exhaling the gloom that had been heavy on her chest for days, feeling much better. Her steps also became much lighter.

Deciding to take advantage of her improved mood, she resolved to go to class first. After class, she intended to confront Lei Linxuan and earnestly ask what she had decided.

Whether to stand up and admit her mistake!

As An Hao entered the classroom, she heard her classmates buzzing with endless discussions.

She couldn’t make out the specifics of what everyone was talking about, but three words were crystal clear—Lei Linxuan.

”An Hao, you’re here? Come over here.” Gu Shuangshuang was discussing Lei Linxuan with Zhang Juan and hurriedly waved An Hao over upon seeing her enter the classroom.

”I heard everyone in class discussing Lei Linxuan. What happened?” An Hao sat down, unwrapping her scarf and setting it aside.

”Lei Linxuan has been really unlucky lately,” Gu Shuangshuang said with a sigh. ”Did you know? The school started investigating the plagiarism issue! Lei Linxuan became really flustered after hearing about it. Later, she came to me yesterday, asking me to take her to your place to find you. She said she wanted to speak with you in person and make things clear.”

”And then?” An Hao pressed.

”Upon hearing it might concern your paper, of course, I had to take her. But before we could go, she received a telegram from home! As soon as she read it, she burst into tears. She borrowed some money from us and went back home. It seems there was a fire at her house.”

After Gu Shuangshuang finished speaking, Zhang Juan added, ”I also got a wire from my family, saying her house burned down terribly, a fire gutted the house. Now they really have nothing left.”

”How could a fire start just like that?” An Hao felt truly sorry for Lei Linxuan. ”How are they going to live now?”

”That’s why...” Zhang Juan hesitated for a long time but finally expressed her thoughts, ”about the paper, could you perhaps not pursue it for now? Otherwise, I’m worried Lei Linxuan might break down.”

Having grown up together in the workers’ housing compound, Zhang Juan’s feelings for Lei Linxuan were always different from others’.

”How could that be okay?” Gu Shuangshuang disagreed with Zhang Juan’s suggestion. ”No matter how pitiable she is this time, we can’t just overlook her responsibility. Plagiarism is plagiarism.”

”I feel the same way. She made a mistake; she shouldn’t expect me to pay for it.” She wasn’t Saint Mary, clearly able to confess yet remaining silent.

A fire had cost her everything, but could that become her excuse to cling to the honor that was not rightfully hers?

”I’m... I’m so sorry... maybe I went too far,” Zhang Juan realized she had misspoken and quickly stopped talking.

The whole day’s classes were over.

An Hao and Gu Shuangshuang left together.

Qin Jian had been at home these past few days, so An Hao wasn’t staying in the dormitory. After parting with Gu Shuangshuang, she walked alone toward the school gate.

She had just shouldered her backpack and reached the main gate, not yet spotting Qin Jian, when she saw Lei Linxuan approaching her.

Not having seen her for a few days, Lei Linxuan had lost a lot of weight, and her face was noticeably more haggard.

The moment Lei Linxuan saw An Hao, she instinctively wanted to avoid her.