Winter Returns

Chapter 21 Death Threat
—Go to hell.

Naked malice was frozen in those two words, and the beautiful European-style castle model was smashed to pieces.

People around were whispering:

"what happened……"

"I didn't see it..."

Who came in first?

"Don't talk nonsense, it has nothing to do with me. I've been like this since I came in, you can ask me if you don't believe me..."

A vacuum seemed to have formed around the castle's block fragments, and a group of people stood far away, some curious and some surprised, but none of them dared to take a step forward.

Ruoping followed and took a look, her tone becoming complicated:
"Why is it targeting her again? It was the same thing with the scarf last time. What did Gu Qiu Mian do to deserve this... Hey, where are you going?"

Zhang Shutong had already pushed aside the shoulders of the people around him and squatted down next to the building blocks. He took out his phone, snapped a picture, picked up the piece of white paper, glanced at it, and then crumpled it into a ball.

The white paper was just ordinary A4 paper, clean and spotless, without a trace except for those two words. He continued to look down and examine it closely, brushing aside the colorful pieces on the ground with his hands, only to discover that it wasn't just broken—

At the entrance of the castle, there used to be a Lego miniature dressed in a dress, looking pretty, hidden among the branches of green ivy on both sides. He used to jokingly call it a princess. Now the miniature has been broken in half in the middle, and the plastic part that serves as the head has been crushed.

He glanced at his phone again; in the photo he had just seen, the little princess's corpse was placed right between the words "Go to hell."

Zhang Shutong piled the building blocks together, his brows furrowing slightly.

What he was certain of was that this was a change that had never happened in his previous life.

why?
And what does "go to hell" mean?
Just like last time when my scarf was torn, was it revenge between classmates, or...?

Death threat?

In an instant, he thought of the murder case four days later, but what connection could these two things have?
He was trying to sort out his thoughts when Ruoping squeezed through the crowd, interrupting his reflection:
"Put it in here..."

She found a plastic bag somewhere, sighed, and squatted down to help put the building blocks away, her expression one of exasperation:
"Why are you rushing forward like that? Haven't you learned your lesson from the scarf incident yet..."

Of course, Zhang Shutong couldn't tell her his suspicions, so he just made up a story while he was busy:

"What else can I do? She'll cry and throw a tantrum, and I'm her deskmate now, so I'm the one who'll suffer too..."

In just a few words, the two had finished putting away the building blocks. He looked up and saw that Gu Qiumian probably hadn't returned to class yet.

"That's true. I wouldn't have helped her if it weren't for you." Ruoping always had a sharp tongue but a soft heart. "Then tell me, who wants revenge on her? They're classmates, there's no need for such a deep grudge, right?"

Zhang Shutong did not respond.

He saw a person.

He placed the plastic bag on the bookshelf, his gaze fixed on one spot. "Go find the homeroom teacher first..."

After speaking, Zhang Shutong strode out of the crowd. The other person saw him and tried to leave, but this time he didn't succeed. He grabbed the jacket of the boy named Zhou Ziheng and frowned, saying:
What exactly was it that you mentioned this morning?

Zhang Shutong didn't have a deep impression of him, perhaps because he wasn't very noticeable in class. But now, after taking a closer look, he was short and stocky, with dark skin and very little white in his eyes, which were also dark. He was also a little hunched over, which meant that he usually kept his head down.

"What do you want from me? Let go..."

The distance between the two closed in an instant. The other person was stunned for a moment, tried to break free, but failed.

Zhang Shutong simply looked directly into his eyes:

"If you don't tell now, you'll have to tell the homeroom teacher later."

At this moment, the two of them had become the focus of the crowd, attracting countless gazes. Zhou Ziheng said urgently:

“Zhang Shutong, let me tell you, don’t take advantage of your good relationship with the homeroom teacher…”

“Yes, so what?” Zhang Shutong interrupted him crisply. “So you did it?”

"What does this have to do with me? Don't talk nonsense..."

"Then tell me, now."

The other party finally couldn't hold on any longer and stammered:

"It really wasn't me. I just saw someone writing Gu Qiu Mian's name on the partition when I went to the restroom this morning..."

"continue."

"Then a cross was put next to her name..."

Which cubicle?

"I...I didn't notice..."

"Go on."

"There's really nothing else. I saw it and wanted to tell her, but she didn't believe me. What could I do? I clearly told her, but she just found me annoying, and yet you all still doubt me!"

As they were talking, Zhou Ziheng suddenly became agitated. He forcefully pulled his hand away from Zhang Shutong's, tearing his coat askew.
"Then why should I be suspected when I'm the good guy? I want to know who I offended, whether I told her this morning, whether she didn't take it seriously, whether something really happened. If that's the case, what does it have to do with me!"

"Then why did you run this morning?" Zhang Shutong didn't bother arguing with him about these things.

Zhou Ziheng clenched his fists, staring intently at the building blocks in the bag, his dark face flushed red. He then glared angrily at Zhang Shutong and shouted:

"Then I'd like to ask you who you are, Zhang Shutong. Who do you think you are to Gu Qiumian? Why do you come here asking all sorts of questions when she's in trouble? I just don't want to talk about it, okay? If she wanted to ask, she would have come to me herself. So you're the only good person in the whole world?"

Zhou Ziheng yelled and was about to leave, but as soon as he took a step, he found the door blocked by two boys:

"Hey, no, you're acting all wronged. Are you out of your mind? It's such a simple thing, why don't you just say it directly? You're just making a fuss because you're guilty."

Du Kang suddenly appeared out of nowhere and started to chime in without caring about anything else; he's the kind of person who sides with his own people regardless of right or wrong.

Qingyi also remained silent with a blank face, his dead fish eyes were very intimidating, and the two of them standing next to Zhou Ziheng looked like they were bullying him;

Only at this moment did Zhang Shutong feel a headache. He didn't care about what Zhou Ziheng said. Whether it was grievance or venting his anger, although he could hear the hidden malice in it, his current concern was not the other party. He didn't care about Zhao Ziheng or Li Ziheng.
However, Du Kang and his companion's blocking of the way could easily escalate the situation, so he waved his hand, indicating that the two did not need to help.

Zhou Ziheng indeed stormed out the door. Du Kang watched his retreating figure, muttering curses.

"Shutong, didn't you realize that he looks honest, but what he said just now was just a dirty trick, putting you in a difficult position..." Zhang Shutong could tell from his words, but keeping quiet was the best response. Otherwise, should she beat him up or confront him face to face? She didn't feel anything, but her two best friends were unhappy and she had to say a few words to appease them.
Zhang Shutong suddenly felt a bit dumbfounded. He repeatedly said that he was fine. The three of them went to the restroom together and found Gu Qiumian's name in the third stall. He took a picture with his phone and even compared it with the handwriting on the A4 paper, but still couldn't find anything.

Zhang Shutong only wants to confirm one thing right now—

Is this revenge plot connected to the murder?

And why did this happen before, but only after it was retrospectively brought to the fore? What was the trigger?
While he was pondering his business, Du Kang chuckled and leaned over, saying, "Brother, so you really have feelings for Gu Qiu Mian. Isn't this a perfect example of a hero saving a beauty? Qingyi and I have to help you too."
Qingyi nodded solemnly and said that a man's mission is... Zhang Shutong quickly told the two older brothers to shut up, hoping that the school bell would ring soon and take them away.

As if the heavens had heard his request, the bell rang the next moment. The two waved goodbye with lingering reluctance. Zhang Shutong stayed in the restroom for a while longer before returning to his seat. Surprisingly, Gu Qiumian was also there.

He had expected the girl to throw a tantrum on stage, just like last time when her scarf was stepped on, and demand to know who did it;

Or they could go directly to the homeroom teacher to complain, which would make the situation much more serious. If it were just a castle being smashed, it would be fine, and the "culprit" could be caught and could simply say it was an accident. But if the words "go to hell" are added, it would no longer be a simple school conflict.

Gu Qiu Mian neither threw a tantrum nor complained, and unlike last time, she didn't have red eyes. Instead, she sat in her seat with a cold face, arranging the materials needed for the next class, as if she were still in the dull and mundane campus life.

It was similar to when she was reading aloud in the morning and chatting with her girlfriends.

Or did no one tell her at all?

Thinking this, Zhang Shutong glanced at the plastic bag on the bookshelf again. Even if no one told her, she should still be able to see such a big block castle gone.

He then realized that there was no teacher on the podium, and everyone around him was whispering about what had just happened, including some gossip. The class monitor called out several times, but to no avail.

Zhang Shutong actually wanted to ask Gu Qiumian directly if she had any clues, such as who she had recently had a conflict with... perhaps she could deduce something from that.
Even he could realize that it was inappropriate to say such a thing, and he should have considered the feelings of the person involved, especially since Gu Qiu Mian was a girl who was not easy to talk to.

He was just thinking of a tactful solution when he saw Song Nanshan walk in with a sullen face;

He moved with lightning speed, slamming the door shut with all his might, startling everyone into a moment of complete silence.

"You don't need to attend this class. If you can't even be a decent human being, what's the point of going to school!"

Zhang Shutong could tell that her homeroom teacher was genuinely angry.

He could vaguely guess the reason. It wasn't because Gu Qiumian's background put a lot of pressure on him, but because one of his students had done such a thing, which disappointed her.

Then Song Nanshan called out three names: Gu Qiumian, Zhang Shutong, and Zhou Ziheng.

Perhaps it was what happened between him and Zhou Ziheng during the long break that reached Song Nanshan's ears.

"Everyone go study first. The class monitor will go to the podium to supervise. I'll stay in the office. If I hear anyone talking, they don't need to stay in the classroom!"

He sternly rebuked them, calling the three out of the classroom. Zhang Shutong observed Gu Qiumian's reaction. The girl stood up and walked out of the classroom indifferently. Many eyes were drawn to her, but she didn't look at anyone and didn't say a word throughout the whole process.

Upon arriving at the office, Zhang Shutong was first asked by Song Nanshan about the reason. He gave a brief explanation—actually, there wasn't much to say; Zhou Ziheng's so-called clue was just the name on the partition.

Song Nanshan asked them a few more questions before softening his tone and looking at Gu Qiumian:
"Qiu Mian, how about this? I'll definitely help you find out who did it, and I'll make sure they don't get away with it. Don't get angry, I'll contact your dad now..."

Gu Qiu Mian coldly shook her head:

"No need, he's outside, I'm fine."

"Have you had any arguments with anyone these past few days... I mean, have you suspected anyone?"

"No."

"When Zhou Ziheng told you this morning..."

“That kind of person can only do this kind of thing.” Gu Qiumian interrupted expressionlessly, “Teacher Song, I said I’m fine. I have dozens of toys like that at home. There’s nothing to worry about.”

"Where's that A4 sheet of paper?" This was the part that gave Song Nanshan the biggest headache; he didn't even know how to bring it up. "You probably didn't see it, but it has..."

"I don't know what's written on it either."

But Gu Qiu Mian continued indifferently:
"Since they're not nice anyway, why should I make myself unhappy? So you don't need to tell me."

"But last time..."

“I know, but they are not comparable.”

Zhang Shutong guessed that Song Nanshan was referring to the scarf incident when he said "last time." He recalled that during the argument, Gu Qiumian had said that the scarf belonged to her mother... He didn't hear the second half of the sentence clearly before he was interrupted.

Zhang Shutong saw Song Nanshan breathe a sigh of relief. Putting himself in the teacher's shoes, he realized that the homeroom teacher didn't know about the murder that would happen a few days later, so it was difficult for him to connect the "go die" on the paper with a human life. He could only think of it as a vicious act of revenge.

Gu Qiu Mian wasn't very agitated at the moment, which made it easier for him, as her teacher, to handle the situation—though only slightly.

"Zhang Shutong, come here too. Since that's the case, let's get to the bottom of things today."

Song Nanshan, not forgetting his role as peacemaker, beckoned to him and said to Gu Qiumian:
"I know you two had a conflict before, and I haven't found a suitable opportunity to talk to you. Now that you're deskmates, you need to get along well. Do you hear me? I'm talking to you, Zhang Shutong!"

After saying that, Song Nanshan glared at him, seemingly annoyed that he was being tactless. Zhang Shutong didn't need to be stubborn about this. Just as he was about to speak, he found that Gu Qiumian seemed not to hear him.

She seemed not to have heard what Song Nanshan had just said, and just stared at the homeroom teacher's face, not even glancing at herself:

"Teacher, if there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

After saying that, he turned and left without waiting for Song Nanshan to say anything. Song Nanshan was a little helpless, but he still had to go to the class to find people later, so he waved to signal him and Zhou Ziheng to go back.

Zhang Shutong thought to herself, "There's only one thing you didn't expect. Not only is the scarf incident still unresolved, but I also offended Ruoping again this morning. Now, with both old and new grudges combined, how could she possibly give me a pleasant look?"

But now is not the time to say that. Zhang Shutong left the office, only to find that Gu Qiumian was not heading towards the classroom at all. She was standing at the top of the stairs.

The two were back to back when he suddenly heard the girl's calm voice:
"Did you pick up the blocks for me just now?"

Zhang Shutong hummed in agreement, somewhat unsure of her meaning, and was waiting for what she would say next when he heard the clattering of boots on the steps behind him.

It turned out she had already gone down the stairs and didn't respond, making one wonder if she had even heard them.

He then returned to the classroom, and the entire next class was spent amidst Song Nanshan's furious questioning.

However, they were at a loss.

Zhang Shutong did not see Gu Qiumian return by the time school ended at noon.

(End of this chapter)