The day He Li was found acting off was a rainy one.
The spring rain lingered, washing every green leaf in the garden. Su Cui listened to the shouts from the playground as groups of students ran past in their class formations.
After a while, a few sharp whistles sounded from the crowd, and the groups gradually dispersed.
Su Cui rolled up the rag in her hand, enjoyed a cup of honey yuzu tea as usual, and then strolled over to the area near He Li's classroom.
By the time she had polished the railing between the third and fourth floors of the teaching building to a gleaming shine, He Li walked out of the classroom alone. Su Cui was about to follow, but the railing was so shiny that the cleaning supervisor, Wang Miao, passed by, ran a finger over it, and nodded approvingly. She pulled Su Cui aside to praise her.
"Cuihua, you've cleaned this railing very well. Good job."
Su Cui had to turn back with a smile. "It's my duty."
Wang Miao nodded with satisfaction and went downstairs. By the time Su Cui turned around to look for He Li, he was already gone.
Su Cui quickly checked the men's restroom in the direction He Li had gone, but he wasn't among those waiting in line, which raised her suspicions. Usually at this time, He Li didn't go far; with only a ten-minute break, where could he be if not in the restroom?
Every anomaly leaves a trace.
When He Li returned, Su Cui noticed he was carrying a cloth bag. Her heart tightened.
Taking a bag out during break?
She immediately went up to strike up a conversation.
"Oh, classmate, you're back!" Su Cui, wearing a mask, called out warmly.
He Li turned around, looked at her cleaning uniform, and squinted. Because Su Cui had dyed her hair black and changed her eyebrows, he didn't recognize her.
"Who are you?" He Li said flatly.
Su Cui could see the gloom in his eyes and his relaxed expression, which told her something good must have happened.
So she pretended to pat her waist and said with a sigh, "You're the student who helped Sister Li carry the bucket before, right? You helped her take it to the playground, and we all saw it. Later we heard about your..." She lowered her head and stared pointedly at He Li's foot. "Oh dear, we were so sorry to hear you got hurt. It's good you're back. How's your foot healing?"
He Li hated being stared at. Annoyed by her blatant gaze, he ignored her and turned to leave.
Su Cui quickly stepped forward, carrying her bucket, and grabbed He Li's arm, muttering, "Oh dear, your foot is still limping? Are you crippled? My god, those school thugs went too far."
He Li, suddenly grabbed and hearing the word "crippled," couldn't hold back. He spun around and flung Su Cui's hand away. Su Cui performed a tactical sidestep, and the bucket tipped precisely toward He Li's bag.
With a splash, He Li's bag was soaked, half of it wet.
At the same time, Su Cui fell delicately to the ground.
"What happened?"
Nearby classmates were startled.
"Hey, are you okay?"
Some kind-hearted female students gathered to help Su Cui up.
"Oh, sorry! Sorry! Are you okay, classmate?" Su Cui, with her old, slightly hunched frame, looked flustered. Seeing she had wet He Li's bag, she apologized loudly, got up with the help of the girls, and rushed over to wipe his bag with her rag.
He Li was already furious that his bag was wet. Seeing Su Cui reach for it, his pupils contracted sharply. He jerked the bag back and frowned. "No need."
Noticing the growing crowd, he realized his reaction was too harsh, so he stepped back to block Su Cui and added, "It's fine. Wet is wet. No problem." He hurried back into the classroom.
Su Cui thanked the girls who helped her and watched He Li force himself to appear calm as he left. She was sure there was something hidden in his bag.
What could it be?
She pondered.
Meanwhile, Qian Baoyuan had also seen the scene between He Li and Su Cui from the window. He didn't notice anything off about Su Cui, but he found He Li's behavior strange.
He had been observing He Li for a while and had also noticed him taking a bag out during break, which was unusual.
Moreover, He Li always acted like a good student in public. But this time, an elderly cleaner touched him, and he flung her off without helping her up. Though he looked calm on the surface, he had scurried away in a panic.
It was as if he was afraid someone would touch his bag.
What could be in it?
Qian Baoyuan saw He Li walk back in. After class started, he slowly turned around and noticed He Li carefully putting the cloth bag into his backpack.
A wet bag, just stuffed into the backpack?
Something was definitely wrong.
Over the next few days, Su Cui noticed that He Li's relationship with the thugs had become odd. They started meeting in hidden spots, being very careful about anyone nearby, separating immediately if someone came close. This was stranger than she had anticipated.
What was going on?
It seemed like He Li and the thugs were turning from enemies into allies?
Qian Baoyuan knew more than Su Cui.
One of the thugs was his cousin. He quickly noticed the change in his cousin's attitude toward He Li. Not only did he stop complaining, but he also became much friendlier. This continued until one day, Qian Baoyuan's cousin secretly slipped him a black pill.
"What's this?"
Qian Baoyuan asked. Then he saw his cousin's very subtle, smug expression.
*
Wednesday afternoon, just before school ended.