Chapter 171: The Truth Revealed

Xu An'an was still immersed in her sorrow, unaware of Jiang Lie’s unease. Jiang Lie quickly composed himself and gently patted her on the shoulder. “Let’s go. I’ll take you to eat.”

“I have no appetite.”

Xu An'an sat up and pushed Jiang Lie slightly. “You don’t need to worry about me. I want to be alone for a while.”

Understanding her mood, Jiang Lie didn’t insist. He gently stroked her hair before stiffly heading toward the hospital.

Once Jiang Lie truly left, Xu An'an tapped her head lightly.

How ridiculous to be so sentimental!

Oh well, she’d sit for a while longer before eating.

“Hello, are you Miss Xu An’an?”

Suddenly, a man in a suit appeared, pushing what looked like a high-end meal cart.

Xu An'an nodded uncertainly. “May I ask who you are?”

The man smiled warmly. From the cart, he pulled out a simple table and set it up, placing various hot dishes on it. “Second Master sent me to deliver your lunch.”

Hearing it was Jiang Lie’s messenger, a sharp ache flickered in Xu An'an’s nose.

“Where is he?”

“Sorry, I’m not sure.”

“That’s alright. How should I return these when I’m done?” Xu An'an looked at the spread before her; it was as if she were dining in a restaurant.

Passersby cast envious glances, making her feel even more embarrassed.

The man, with a white napkin on his hand, was courteous. “I’m not far away. When you finish eating, just leave everything here.”

He paused, then added, “Second Master asked me to pass along a message.”

“What message?” Xu An'an asked with a hint of hope.

“Second Master said, even if the sky falls, you must eat well.”

Having delivered the message, the man quietly stepped away, not wanting to disturb her meal.

Xu An'an’s eyes stung, and tears welled up.

She regretted more and more letting Jiang Lie leave just now; her heart twisted with remorse.

Without hesitation, she called Jiang Lie—whether to apologize or thank him, she had to talk to him. She yearned to see him.

The line rang and rang, but no one answered.

Perhaps he was busy. If he were angry, he wouldn’t have sent someone to deliver lunch.

Xu An'an didn’t want to disturb him further and focused on eating.

After the meal, she rested under a tree, then received a message from an old classmate with the principal’s private number. Eagerly, she dialed.

An hour later, Xu An'an’s expression was dark as she went upstairs.

Xie Che saw her and urged her to leave. “The police have taken Teacher Gao’s three children away. Gao is furious now; she definitely doesn’t want to see you.”

Perhaps disturbed by the noise outside, Gao even ran out barefoot, her hair disheveled, looking like a madwoman.

If Xie Che hadn’t restrained her, she might have lunged at Xu An'an.

Gao’s eyes were bloodshot, her grim expression like a venomous snake baring fangs, her lips pale. “Xu An'an, when you couldn’t pay tuition or afford food, and your mother was sick needing treatment, I helped you! Yet you reported my children to the police?”

“You ungrateful wretch! You are nothing but a cold-hearted traitor!”

“If I knew you were so malicious, I never would have cared for you. I should have let you and your mother starve on the streets!”

Unaware bystanders overheard and naturally sided with Gao, condemning Xu An'an as heartless and ungrateful.

Xu An'an smiled bitterly, her gaze icy.

“You helped me?” she scoffed.

“Do you dare claim that during those three years of study, you Gao Yun alone helped me, without selfish motives or putting on a show to earn ‘Outstanding Teacher’ accolades?”

“Then who is Yang Ping?”

The furious Gao seemed doused with cold water, frozen in place. Her flushed face instantly paled.

Her eyes darted nervously. “I—I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Xu An'an sneered. “Stop pretending. I called the principal and found out everything. The one truly helping me behind the scenes was Teacher Yang Ping.”

“Yang Ping is the one who does good deeds quietly, while you shamelessly steal credit, fooling all of us! Every holiday, you accept gifts from so many students and feel no shame?”

“Looks like your cancer is your karma.”

Dark clouds churned in Xu An'an’s eyes as she closed in. “Do you dare deny that you deliberately slandered Yang Ping, forcing her to leave the school? Afraid your deception would be exposed? Why don’t we call Yang Ping here now for a confrontation?”

Hearing Yang Ping’s name, Gao panicked, stammering.

In the next moment, she fainted.

Doctors and nurses rushed forward to carry her into the ward.

The crowd dispersed.

However, Gao’s reputation in the hospital was ruined. Many who had once sympathized with her now believed she got what she deserved.

Xie Che looked at Xu An'an with concern. “Are you alright?”

He reached out to embrace her.

Xu An'an’s guard rose sharply; she stepped back but accidentally hit her lower back against a railing, wincing in pain.

“I’m fine.”

Seeing her avoid him so completely, Xie Che was displeased. Had he not been there, how else would she have uncovered Gao’s true nature?

And yet, not a single word of thanks?

His face darkened. “An'an, no matter what, Gao is so ill now. Why can't you speak to her privately?”

Xu An'an looked up, finding his words foolish.

“She stormed out of her ward and raged like a lunatic. If I hadn’t known the truth, I’d have been the one spat upon just now. Did Gao ever consider me?”

Xie Che seemed like a different person now. Xu An'an didn’t want to argue. Her mood was terrible. She turned and walked away briskly.

But each step felt heavy.

She didn’t want to take another step—just find a quiet corner to sit and rest.

The hospital corridor bustled with people. Xu An'an wore a blank expression, concealing her inner collapse, remembering how once, when Yang Ping was slandered by Gao, she hadn’t stood up for her.

Yang Ping’s disappointed gaze haunted her.

Back then, unaware of the truth, she had only found Yang Ping annoying and felt uneasy under that look.

“Miss, are you alright?” a nurse approached, noticing her staggering and nearly fainting.

Xu An'an leaned against the wall, shaking her head.

Not wanting to trouble others, she turned and entered the fire escape, sitting down without hesitation, leaning against the wall.

At that moment, Xu An'an longed deeply to see Jiang Lie.

And Jiang Lie truly appeared.