Redemption from the Abyss: The School Beauty Insists on Pulling Me Out of the Mire

In June, the plum rain season in Wuhan is like a moldy fever.

At 10:30 p.m., the torrential rain pounded on the corrugated iron roofs of the old shantytown, creating an unsettling noise.

Xie Wang climbed the muddy stairs, his mood at its lowest point.

The convenience store bag he was carrying was so tight that his fingers turned white. Inside were two rice balls that were about to expire—his dinner for the day, which cost him a total of three yuan and fifty cents.

The new clerk at the convenience store looked at him like he was a thief, which annoyed him.

The "Happy Community" is not happy.

This was the earliest resettlement housing in Jiangcheng, and now it is a scar on the city.

It's very noisy around here.

The couple on the second floor were smashing plates and cursing, the old smoker on the third floor was coughing like he was about to die, and the TV on the fourth floor, which only had static, was making a deafening noise.

Xie Wang ignored this and lowered the brim of his hat.

He stopped abruptly when he reached the sixth floor.

The sixth floor is the top floor; above that is a leaky rooftop that even stray cats usually avoid.

But today, there was an extra breathing sound in the dimly lit hallway.

It was very faint, but to Xie Wang, who was always on high alert, it was crystal clear.

Xie Wang tensed up instantly, his previously relaxed muscles suddenly tightening, and his hand in his pocket gripped the sharp key.

Is that drunkard father causing trouble again? Or are those debt collectors back at the door again? I broke one of their ribs last time, and they're back so quickly?

He pressed himself against the wall, silently turning the corner, his cold gaze sweeping towards his own front door.

The next second, he was stunned.

A person was huddled inside the pile of moldy cardboard boxes in front of their own house.

It's a girl.

Soaked to the bone, the blue and white school uniform of Jiangcheng No. 1 Middle School clung tightly to his body, outlining his still slightly trembling back. His expensive black leather shoes, covered in the black mud of the old neighborhood, looked completely out of place.

Hearing the noise, the girl looked up abruptly, as if startled.

With the faint light filtering through the vent, Xie Wang could see her face clearly.

Her skin was a pale, unseen white, and her features were as delicate as a porcelain doll. At this moment, raindrops clung to her face, and her hair was disheveled and stuck to her cheeks, giving her a breathtakingly broken appearance.

Xie Wang's eyelids twitched.

He recognized this face, or rather, everyone in Jiangcheng No. 1 High School recognized it.

Su Qinghe.

The class monitor of Class 1, Grade 11, a top student who consistently ranks first in the grade, and the eldest daughter of the Su Group.

That white swan that never looks at the stones on the roadside when it walks.

At this moment, the swan was huddled in the garbage heap in front of his house, its face pale, but its eyes were fixed on him, showing no sign of crying.

Xie Wang's vigilance dissipated by half, replaced by a sense of absurdity and disgust.

He walked over, looked down at her, his voice hoarse and filled with undisguised mockery:

"You've come to the wrong place, class monitor?"

"The wealthy area is in the east of the city. This is a slum. It's a place where a pampered young lady like you should hold your nose and avoid. Go out, turn right, and go downstairs. Goodbye."

After saying that, he didn't even bother to look at her and went straight to insert the key to open the door.

"Thank you, classmate Xie Wang."

Su Qinghe recognized him as the school's notorious bottom student. His voice trembled slightly, clearly from the cold, but his tone was calm. "Open the door."

Xie Wang didn't stop moving; he turned the key once.

"On what grounds?"

Without turning his head, he said, "Do we know each other well? Or are you here to help alleviate poverty and just want to see my living conditions?"

"There are two people chasing me downstairs."

Su Qinghe stared at his retreating figure, speaking quickly but logically, "I don't know them. I secretly ran away to clear my head today, but I didn't expect to run into thugs. If I go down now, I'll definitely be cornered. There are no security cameras in this neighborhood, and the security booth is empty. I don't want to gamble."

Xie Wang turned his head, looking at her with a half-smile: "So? You think I'm a good person?"

He turned around, leaning against the door, arms crossed, and sized her up with a malicious look: "Su Qinghe, aren't you usually quite arrogant?"

"Look carefully at who I am. I'm the worst student in the whole school, a slacker, and trash."

"You've just escaped one danger only to fall into another; has the rain damaged your brain?"

Su Qinghe pursed her lips, her clear, cold phoenix eyes staring directly at him without flinching.

"I have a home, but I can't go back."

"Xie Wang, I only need to hide for ten minutes. During these ten minutes, you can pretend I don't exist, and I will never interfere in your affairs."

Xie Wang scoffed inwardly.

That's just how young ladies are; they ask for favors with such self-righteousness, as if it were a business transaction.

He even pulled out the key, pretending to close the door and lock her out.

"Not interested." Xie Wang pointed to the stairwell. "Don't hide near my door; I'm afraid of getting into trouble."

Just then, the iron gate downstairs was kicked hard, with a loud "bang" that seemed to shake the entire building.

Then came the sound of hurried, chaotic footsteps—thick-soled leather boots pounding on the concrete floor—which sounded ominous.

"Damn it, I saw them running this way!"

"There are no police in this area, and that girl is so young and radiant, she's definitely a top-tier beauty."

"Hurry up, don't let anyone see!"

The cursing and swearing echoed up the empty corridor, growing closer and closer, carrying a fierce, bandit-like aura.

Su Qinghe's fingers tightened instantly around the strap of his schoolbag, his knuckles turning white.

She didn't beg him again, but just bit her bloodless lips tightly, her body stiff.

She's gambling.

Betting that this "crazy guy" who's at the bottom of the class isn't actually crazy.

Xie Wang frowned, listening to the commotion downstairs, his anger rising rapidly.

Noisy.

These scumbags, do they really think this is a public toilet? They can just come and go as they please?

The footsteps approached the fourth floor and were already climbing to the fifth floor.

You could even hear the old lady on the fifth floor opening her door and yelling at someone, only to be yelled back at by the other person.

Xie Wang clicked his tongue, a hint of irritation flashing in his eyes.

He didn't want to cause trouble, but he hated even more these scumbags running rampant here.

"Come in."

The voice was low, but it left no room for argument.

Before Su Qinghe could react, a large hand grabbed his wrist.

That hand, used to typing on a keyboard year-round, had long, strong fingers, but they were also cold.

An irresistible force swept over her, pulling her inside like a chick being lifted up.

"Bang!"

The heavy iron gate slammed shut and locked from the inside.