Chapter 301: Chapter 296 Dividing Paths

He must have been beyond saving; his heart ached with pain.

Ji Tian had started attending classes at school, but she had lost the vitality she once had. She was too slow. Following the original plot, she had too little time and wanted to shorten it to do more meaningful things.

“Tiantian, are you worried about Qin Jiangsheng? Once Grandpa Bai wakes up, he’ll be fine,” Jian Chuyi voiced his concern.

Ji Tian’s eyelashes drooped as she made her decision, “Chuyi, I want to take the college entrance examination this year.”

Jian Chuyi rubbed his ears incredulously, “What? You’re just in the second semester of sophomore year and you want to take the entrance examination?! Are you joking? Moreover, most of the rich kids at our school go abroad. Are you applying for schools in the country?”

“Yes, I want to apply for Jing University. It’s not impossible to take the college entrance examination in sophomore year as long as all criteria are met. I think I meet them all.” Her tone was indifferent, as if the exam were something easily within her grasp.

After all, in another world, it was through her grades that she had risen above others.

Among so many outstanding people, she had to outshine everyone else to garner more attention.

If it hadn’t been for her, Dawn Orphanage would have been unable to continue; she used nearly seventy percent of her own salary to improve life at the orphanage so they would at least not worry about having enough to eat.

Jian Chuyi puffed up his cheeks, making a cheering gesture, “Tiantian, go for it. I believe you can do it; you’ve even surpassed Shen Zhiyi and become the top student in our school. No one can achieve better results than you now.”

“Thank you, Chuyi.”

Ji Tian immediately went to see her form teacher about this matter.

There was a process for sophomore students who wanted to take the college entrance exam early. Seeing Ji Tian’s resolve, the teacher let her go back and wait for notification.

For several days, Ji Tian received no notification; instead, she heard that Qin Jiangsheng had dropped out of school.

And Qin Jiangsheng had been released just yesterday.

It was all because Old Sir Bai had awakened and submitted a piece of evidence, leading to Qin Jiangsheng’s acquittal and release. Furthermore, there was another piece of news that Old Sir Bai had kicked Qin Jiangsheng out of the family. So now, more versions of the rumor circulated that the fire had been set by Qin Jiangsheng, and in despair, Old Sir Bai had disowned this unfilial grandson.

From that point on, he was no longer part of the Bai Family and had to leave the Capital City.

Seeing this news, Ji Tian fell silent.

Such a significant incident involving Qin Jiangsheng, and she had heard about it from others, without Qin Jiangsheng sending her a single word.

Even something as major as dropping out of school, he didn’t mention at all, as if he intended to disappear from Ji Tian’s world stealthily and sorrowfully.

Not even letting her know about his departure, she felt an inexplicable frustration in her heart.

She stood up abruptly and ran out of the classroom. Barely had she dashed out of the school when she saw Qin Jiangsheng ahead, holding a box that contained his books and a dropout certificate.

He had come and gone without a sound.

Haven’t seen for half a month, he had lost a lot of weight. He wore a thin black jacket and a hat, with a calm side profile that showed no emotion.

Ji Tian clenched her teeth and shouted, “Qin Jiangsheng!”

Qin Jiangsheng, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped, seemingly not expecting Ji Tian to appear.

Ji Tian walked up to him, thought for a long time, and still asked with a smile, “Are your injuries healed? If not, let me take you to the hospital.”

Qin Jiangsheng looked down at her, his eyes once cheerful when meeting hers, now devoid of any emotion. After not seeing her for half a month, he seemed like a different person, making Ji Tian feel a hint of panic.

After a long pause, he spoke coldly, “In what capacity do you take me to see a doctor? Can you take care of me for a lifetime?”

Ji Tian’s eyes widened in disbelief, not expecting such cold words to come from Qin Jiangsheng’s mouth.

He slightly curved his mouth in a mocking way, “I’ve seen the comments online. Once someone is labeled, even if they are innocent, they can’t clear their name. Moreover, I’m not a completely innocent person to begin with. Standing by my side, do you want to be cursed to death for the rest of your life?”

Tears welled up in Ji Tian’s eyes, but she truly couldn’t find a trace of warmth for her in Qin Jiangsheng. She clenched her fists and asked with a trembling voice, “What about me? Have you thought about me? How much I hoped during this time that you’d come out safely. I faced everyone’s accusations, unwaveringly believing in you. Even if their insults were harsh, I would argue back for you, believing that the truth would prevail one day. My elder brother said this is called bravery, but to you… it feels like I did something pointless.”

Qin Jiangsheng turned his head away and didn’t look at Ji Tian again, “It’s all in the past.”

Ji Tian’s eyes widened abruptly, tears pooling, blurring her vision, “What did you say?”

“Past? You dismiss it with a breezy ‘past’? Do the words you told me when you were eighteen still count?”

Qin Jiangsheng didn’t answer her but continued walking without looking back.

Ji Tian, not willing to give up, took a few steps forward, “Was it you who started that fire?”

“Does it matter? It’s good that it burned, your gifts are gone too.” His voice was indifferent, his expression as still as dead water.

Ji Tian still couldn’t believe it. How had Qin Jiangsheng, the person she knew, changed so drastically in just half a month? She hoped her gentle boy would come back.

Unbeknownst to her, a cold, bone-chilling drizzle had started. Ji Tian moved forward to grab the hem of his clothes, but Qin Jiangsheng sidestepped, leaving her grasping at air.

Silence was more torturous than any words.

Ji Tian’s outstretched hand froze midair; he hadn’t even given her a glance and continued walking forward.

Ji Tian no longer had the courage to follow him. Things had reached this point, how could she not understand? Qin Jiangsheng wanted to draw a clear line between them.

Just a bit more perseverance and the public voices would eventually stop. She didn’t care about the attacks online, but her efforts alone were futile. Her motivation to persist was Qin Jiangsheng, and if he also gave up, it would seem quite ridiculous of her.

“Qin Jiangsheng.” Ji Tian’s voice was hoarse as Qin Jiangsheng’s steps paused again.

She took a deep breath, her voice steady and serious, “If you take one more step, everything between us is truly over.”

His pause lasted only three seconds before he continued walking forward.

Ji Tian watched his retreating back grow further away, unable to hold back her scalding tears any longer.

She had never thought that her relationship with Qin Jiangsheng would only last until his eighteenth year. Before this, she had fantasized about attending college in Capital City with Qin Jiangsheng, taking the college entrance exam together, growing and challenging fate together.

She never imagined that Qin Jiangsheng would part ways with her so resolutely.

She had many questions she wanted to ask, but in the end, they could only be swallowed as bitter fruit. All she could do was turn and walk increasingly further away from Qin Jiangsheng.