The pair entered the hospital and after making a few enquires, they were led away from the wards and soon entered a very cold space.
Lu Mingyu couldn't stop shaking her head as she kept muttering that it wasn't true as the pair followed a nurse down the lonely corridor.
Harrowing howls soon echoed throughout the morgue.
The pair had learnt that Cheng Yifei took her own life earlier that morning. As they were told this, Qin Qianyu recalled the call Teacher Mu received.
"He must have received word then about Cheng Yifei's suicide,"
The nurse relayed to them what had happened before she did so.
Cheng Yifei had been told that the poisoning had burnt through most of her internal organs, her voice box was also destroyed, she wouldn't be able to talk ever again let alone sing.
Her life expectancy also dropped, if she's lucky, she'll stay alive for another 5 years at most with ongoing palliative care.
As Cheng Yifei was being told all this, she just lay in her bed her mind was blank, she didn't know how she could live her life from then on.
Her thoughts became dark. The doctor left her there alone to attend to other patients.
She posted a message on her social media accounts. It was the last time anyone would hear from her.
The message was in the form of a video she had taken prior to attending SIC. It was of her hopes and dreams of the future.
The video started and it showed a very modest room. It was decorated sparely with only a few of her favourite things.
She grabbed some clothes that were in the shot and tossed them into a corner.
She settled down behind her large instrument, the guzheng, she looked dead into the camera and smiled brightly.
"Throughout life we all have dreams, small dreams, big dreams even grand dreams. The same goes for hope . . "
Cheng Yifei smiled into the camera and after she readjusted her seating position, she continued,
" . . This is why we do things like working hard, that's why we sacrifice many things that many others find weird like matters of the heart. It's so we can realise our dreams, it's so we can turn our hopes into reality."
"The great thing about hopes and dreams is when you've realised them, you can have another, you really can! No one can stop you from doing so."
"My dream right at this moment is small and doable, my hope is a little more ambitious, but, I truly believe it'll happen. Hehe!"
"My dream is to continue working hard on my music because it's you, dad, that's working hard with your own body daily so I can realise my dreams. My hope, I hope that everyone will love and deeply appreciate my music because it's a straight reflection of my feelings for you."
"So father, this song is called Seasons of solace and it's written just for you. I love you."
After Cheng Yifei finished her monologue she gave a sincere smile to the camera before she started playing her guzheng.
The video had subtitles that explained her thoughts when she created this piece she wrote for her father.
The song was broken into sections that were representative of the seasons, but flowed as a single piece.
Summer, this was represented by quick and flurried strokes, like a person rushing to get things done, so not to be burnt by the hot sun.
In Cheng Yifei's mind she pictured her father busying himself as he laboured under the hot sun all for her sake.
This is what she envisioned and wanted this section to represent.
Autumn, the strokes slowed, becoming less busy and more melodic. It was reminiscent of leaves in a breeze, and of the leave less trees still standing tall albeit a little underdressed. It was all alone, but strong willed.
She imagined the days cooling, her father braving the high winds alone but determined.
This was representative of her father, his own sacrifice for her. In her mind he always stood tall waiting for her in the cold nights whenever she had night lessons.
It didn't matter how cold it was he stood there tall and with out complaint.
Winter, the strokes became chaotic as she mixed in several plucks of the strings that where reminiscent of thunder. The cadence changed as did the emotional valence.
It shifted from that chaotic nature to melodic jaunts.
In her mind, she pictured her father keeping vigil over her so she wouldn't fret of have anything to fear. No matter how harsh, he'd be there to shelter and protect her.
This section represented the guilt she felt for her father. He had to be all these things and more so that she could concentrate on doing well without minding what life would throw at her.
Spring, the strokes and melody became lively and energetic. It was like swallows darting in the skies above fluttering here and there without a care but still with a purpose.
Cheng Yifei imagined that her father was like these birds. His purpose was because he loved her, he was able to endure all those harsh and often times unforgiving seasons for such a simple reason. Love.
This video was the last thing she posted with a simple message for her father.
"Forgive me for going first. I'm sorry. If it's at all possible that reincarnation exists! I truly hope to be your daughter again. I love you so much dad."
As Qin Qianyu comforted Lu Mingyu, the doors to the morgue swung open and four people led by a nurse walked in.
Qin Qianyu noticed how disingenuous and disgruntled they were to be here. She frowned when she noticed the panicked and anxious look on one of them.
The frightened one among them was Chen Yongqing.
"Why did we have to get chosen to come down here and watch her damn body!? I could have been watching Owen Xi instead, but I have to come and keep a dumb dead bitch company! What sin did I commit to be sent here!?"
The one that spoke was Chen Yiyin, Chen Yongqing's older sister. Qin Qianyu had seen her at the stall once and learnt of her from Teacher Mu.
The siblings come from an influential family steeped in TCM and have been raised up in acupuncture and massage.
At Yan Zi Chunji, they are known as the godly hands. One excelled in acupuncture and the other in massage therapy.
She didn't have much of an impression from either sibling but that was all about to change.
"Hey! Show some respect for the dead."
Qin Qianyu uttered as she stared down the four sent to watch over Yifei till arrangements were dealt with.
"Huh!? Respect!? Why should I show respect to a coward?"
"Shut your damn mouth!"
Lu Mingyu turned and spat out horsely at Chen Yiyin.
"Huh!? You gonna make me!? Besides, I didn't say anything wrong! My brother already told me anyway, if she didn't embarrass herself then she wouldn't have ended up being targeted by them, even forcing him to back her up in a such disastrous situation."
Chen Yiyin looked at Lu Mingyu with mockery and arrogance, then cocked her head toward her brother and continued,
"I'm glad you turned her down little brother, imagine if you'd had married such a trollop!That kind of coward doesn't deserve you, our family or anyone's respect!"
Qin Qianyu cocked an eyebrow at the siblings,
"What bullshit is this now!?"
Chen Youngqing felt Qin Qianyu's burning stare on him but didn't dare look up.
Qin Qianyu nodded and snorted out of her nostrils. She had an understanding of what was happening now and it disgusted her immensely.
Chen Yongqing was trying to put distance between him and Cheng Yifei by claiming that Zhou Mi and his friends had targeted Cheng Yifei because of something she did.
But it was different to what she heard before she helped him out. Even the part about him rejecting her advances. It was easy to surmise that he had tried to impress Cheng Yifei by acting macho tow Zhou Mi and the others.
It's more likely they had recognised her as the girl with Chen Yongqing and decided to act again just to spite him more.
"Why the hell does every prick want to paint black into white today!?"
Qin Qianyu thought to herself as she eyed the interlopers. Suddenly,
"Ptooey!"
Lu Mingyu had snapped at that point, she had gathered a mouth full of saliva and spat it right in Chen Yiyin's face.
"You skank bitch!"
Chen Yiyin says as she wiped the spittle from her face. She cocked her arm ready to deliver a slap to Lu Mingyu.
Qin Qianyu stepped in and sent the girl flying into the concrete wall with a front kick to the abdominals.
"Oi! Hero Chen Yongqing! . . Why is sister talking so much shit all of a sudden?"
"It has nothing to do with me,"
Nothing to do with you!? . . You sure now!? Yifei isn't with us anymore, but, did it not occur to you that Zhou Mi and his friends will soon be examined in court and what they will say when questioned about how they came to know the victim!?"
"I . . It has nothing to do with me!"
"Hey arse lips! Have you even forgotten that I was there also!? Why is what I saw and heard different than the shit coming out of her damn mouth!?"
Chen Yongqing's face went dark as he scowled at Qin Qianyu and with a low gravely voice he uttered out,
" . . I already said it has nothing to do with me, I didn't do anything!"
"Such a hero, pushing blame onto a dead girl! Chen Yongqing! Take heed of you dare sister's words. Cowards don't deserve respect."
" . . . "
"Fuck off if you don't want to be here. Because we sure as hell don't need no hero like you!"
Chen Yongqing went over, picked his sister off the ground and helped her out of the morgue.
He cast a nasty glare at Qin Qianyu but she couldn't care any less about him or his eyes.
The other two didn't have the courage to do or say anything in case Qin Qianyu took it out on them. They both saw how her kick sent Chen Yiyin flying. She didn't stumble and fall down or backwards, she flew 10's of meters into the concrete wall, knocking her out cold.
They stayed as they were asked to do by their teachers while they dealt with the goings on at SIC and kept the body company along with Qin Qianyu and Lu Mingyu.
Qin Qianyu went to Lu Mingyu and wrapped her arms around the distraught girl and held her tightly,
"Cast all her words out of your mind, she isn't worth your emotions, not even hate."
Qin Qianyu emphatically stated. Lu Mingyu nodded then wiped her tears.
The room was reclaimed by silence, Lu Mingyu was still emotional but not a peep escaped her or any of the others sitting with Cheng Yifei.
A few moments later Qin Qianyu's phone started ringing.
"Waaah!"
"Sorry!"
The two other people that came with the Chen siblings exclaimed together and apologised.
The sudden loud sound scared them out of their thoughts.
"Mingyu, I'll just be right outside okay?"
"Mhm, go, I'm fine."
Qin Qianyu went out to take the call.
"Oh, mum. Is there something?"
"Yu'er! We've just arrived at SIC but there's a video and, and, and it's you! I mean it's your voice! And a man is trying to hurt you! where are you right now? Are you fine?"
Ouyang Zihan was in a fluster she along with Qin Haoran and Grandpa Wú and had arrived to surprise her, however, they arrived to chaos breaking out at the venue, then they learnt that this chaos involved Qin Qianyu.
"I'm at the hospital, . ."
"The hospital! Where! I'm coming! Ah!"
Qin Qianyu didn't get to finish her sentence when she was cut off by a panicked Ouyang Zihan after here the Qin Qianyu was at the hospital.
Qin Qianyu calmed her down and explained the entire situation as best she could including why SIC was in its current mess.
The trio decided to wait for Qin Qianyu at the hotel and left her to do what she needed to do.
"Keep yourself and Mingxi's sister well. You guys aren't alone, you know that right?"
"Mhm, thanks mum."
"Alright, we're just a phone call away if you need us, both of you."
The call ended and Qin Qianyu returned to the room with the others. Hours passed by and movement sounded outside.
Teacher Mu, two Dr Cao's, and two other men entered.
Qin Qianyu was surprised to see the doctor that had seen Grandpa Wú here, but then she saw Baobao's father standing with him and put two and two together.
"Both Dr Cao's must be father and son."
Qin Qianyu thought. She was right.
Dr Cao had asked his father to fly and escort Cheng Yifei's father here.
Teacher Mu was surprised to see Qin Qianyu and Lu Mingyu there. He looked around with a frown when he only saw two other students.
He wanted to ask, but now wasn't the time for that. One of the other men walked to where Cheng Yifei lay and broke down.
The scene became beyond somber. The raw emotions pouring out of the man with each wail set emotions to stir in everyone present.
Qin Qianyu and the others quickly realised that this man was Cheng Yifei's father.
After some time the man composed himself best he could and thank the two students, Qin Qianyu and Lu Mingyu for watching over his daughter.
He and the young doctor Cao stayed to make arrangements. Qin Qianyu and the others went to a waiting room.
Old Dr Cao nodded to Qin Qianyu,
"Miss Qin, we meet again."
"Dr Cao,"
Teacher Mu was surprised to see that Qin Qianyu knew Dr Cao. But he wanted to ask about the Chen siblings so he pulled the other aside and left the others to themselves.
"Uncle, do you know this girl!? This is the girl I was telling you about. She's the one that aced yesterday's test."
The other man exclaimed. Qin Qianyu looked and recognised him as one of the adjudicators siting on the panel.
He was the man that started marking her work after she handed it in.
"How is your grandfather doing?"
"He's well, he's here with my parents. They had came to support me during SIC."
"Mhm, from what I know, the governing bodies will be postponing the event due to what has occurred and an investigation has already been issued."
"Pressure is mounting now, Zhishi is deep but they're not alone, the other top University's are facing similar issues and many are seeking reforms."
Qin Qianyu wasn't interestedly all with the discussions. She would answer flatly or just nod to be polite. Her mind was on Mingyu and the girls current state of mind.
"Why is it only you two with Qin Qianyu and Lu Mingxi? Where the hell is Chen Yiyin and Chen Yongqing!?"
The pair told teacher Mu everything. Word for word that was uttered and action for action that was done.
Teacher Mu understood now. Chen Yongqing's mindset would be on preservation of self.
If it's made known that Cheng Yifei was set upon by those students from Zhishi because he had antagonised them, then he would be held responsible for the outcome the same as if he had committed the attack himself.
This wouldn't only damage his reputation and future, but that of his esteemed family as well.