Chapter 108: Ning Xiaoxiao Has Returned
The next few days were quite relaxing for Ning Xiyue — hardly anyone came for treatment, so the entire clinic was just her and Li Xiuxiu.
Li Xiuxiu was a diligent girl. She had somehow found an old medical book from somewhere and would sit alone in the clinic reading it. Whenever she encountered something she couldn’t understand, she would proactively come and ask Ning Xiyue — there was hardly any need for Ning Xiyue to worry about her.
Li Xiuxiu would even occasionally share snacks with Ning Xiyue, always knowing her boundaries and never overstepping, which made their time together very comfortable.
And so, Ning Xiyue’s days as a barefoot doctor were fulfilling and happy.
Since only a few people came for treatment each day, she spent most of her time making medicine from the fresh herbs that Comrade Ji and her brother had gathered from the mountains, reading books, or zoning out — which, for her, meant entering the system to study, focusing particularly on beauty and health-preservation techniques. During this time, she even managed to concoct a face cream — moisturizing and nourishing when applied to the skin.
Sometimes, when little Dog Egg came to get his bandages changed, she would tease him a little.
And the gossip-loving “auntie squad” from the drying team — with whom she’d gotten familiar earlier — often came over to chat and share stories. Ning Xiyue and Li Xiuxiu would join them to talk and listen to the team’s latest gossip.
And right now, they were doing just that.
The moment Auntie Liu arrived, she brought big news.
“Xiyue, I just passed by and saw that troublemaker Ning Xiaoxiao from your zhiqing dorm has returned. She’s gotten a lot thinner and changed too. She used to pretend to be all weak and pitiful, but now the way she looks at people is all cold and sinister — scary, really. You’d better be careful and not let her hurt you.”
“Alright, I’ll definitely be careful.” Ning Xiyue’s lips curled in a slightly amused smile. Ning Xiaoxiao had finally returned.
Auntie Zhang, looking like she was about to reveal some juicy secret, asked, “Do you all know why she only came back after more than a month?”
“Why?” Li Xiuxiu cooperated and asked.
Auntie Qian urged, “Old Zhang, stop keeping us in suspense — hurry and tell us!”
Ning Xiyue chimed in at the right time, “Auntie, tell us quickly, we’re dying of curiosity.”
“Yes, tell us!”
Everyone was giving Auntie Qian the attention she wanted.
“My cousin’s nephew’s friend has a connection at the police station. He said that Ning Xiaoxiao didn’t behave herself at all during re-education through labor. Either she was picking fights with people, or she was muttering to herself about how she was the most powerful person.”
Auntie Qian spat as she continued spilling the exclusive gossip she had:
“And once, while doing labor reform work on the farm, someone who got up at night heard her mumbling something about ‘Heaven’s chosen this’ and ‘the stone, you’re here,’ and she had this creepy smile on her face. Anyway, everything she did sounded and looked completely abnormal. Plus, she wasn’t working seriously, so they detained her on the farm to keep doing hard labor — that’s why what was supposed to be ten days turned into a whole month.”
Li Xiuxiu rubbed the goosebumps on her arms. “Don’t tell me she’s gone crazy.”
Auntie Liu shook her head, recalling the scene she had just seen. “She didn’t look crazy today — probably faking it to get out of working.”
But Ning Xiyue, hearing Auntie Qian’s words, became more cautious — especially at the mention of “the stone, you’re here.” It made her thoughts race.
She didn’t think Ning Xiaoxiao was simply rambling nonsense. The things she muttered were, in fact, things that actually existed in the “bad script.”
From her own experience over this time, Ning Xiyue had come to realize that this world seemed to be a fusion of a “bad script” and a “real script.” Chen Yechu was the genuine female lead, with the strongest halo, while Ning Xiaoxiao was the inferior female lead. When the two met, the halo gradually weakened.
So, upon hearing those words, Ning Xiyue’s thoughts went deeper.
Could it be that Ning Xiaoxiao had another prophetic dream? Or was there something wrong with that string of stones? Or something else entirely?
This time, Ning Xiyue would have to pay extra attention to Ning Xiaoxiao — she couldn’t let anything slip.
When lunchtime came, Ning Xiyue left the clinic with Little Gray, eagerly heading toward the zhiqing dormitory.
She was going to meet Ning Xiaoxiao face-to-face.
As soon as she reached the entrance, she heard a commotion inside.
“Ning Xiaoxiao, what’s your problem? You’re back from labor reform — then just live your life properly. Nobody’s even said anything to you. But the moment you return, you’re glaring at me like I owe you money. If you want to fight, just say so — I’ll be happy to oblige.”
That was Chen Yechu’s angry voice, cold and sharp.
“Why shouldn’t I be angry at you? Have you even thought about what you’ve done? Who was it that flirted with men, making them all circle around you? And then you act all aloof and self-righteous. Ha! Shameless — and you still dare to talk about me.”
“Ning Xiaoxiao, what nonsense are you talking about?”
Well, well — after staying away for a while, Ning Xiaoxiao was no longer pretending to be a delicate little flower. She was fighting back with sharp words.
Ning Xiyue couldn’t help but be a little impressed by her audacity — she was actually confronting Chen Yechu head-on. What gave her that confidence?
Confidence?
Suddenly, the dorm erupted into shouts — men and women yelling and screaming.
Ning Xiyue quickened her pace and stepped into the zhiqing dorm.
Someone must have shouted something, because the chaotic scene seemed to freeze like someone had pressed a pause button. Everyone turned to look at Ning Xiyue as she stepped inside.
Ning Xiyue blinked, confused. “Why are you all staring at me? Did I become even prettier today?”
Ning Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes and snapped, “Even if someone did get prettier, it sure wouldn’t be you. With that ugly scar on your forehead, don’t even think about looking good.”
Ning Xiyue shot her a cold, dagger-like glance. “Seems like you’ve forgotten who gave me that scar in the first place. What’s wrong? Done pretending to be weak and pitiful for sympathy? Now you’ve decided to stop acting human altogether? Ning Xiaoxiao, you really never learn.”
“I’m sorry.” Ning Xiaoxiao’s eyes flashed with momentary fear. She backed down and lowered her head to apologize — though a trace of hatred flickered in her eyes.
Ning Xiyue studied her carefully, her confusion deepening. She hadn’t even taken the brick out, so why was Ning Xiaoxiao backing off and apologizing on her own?
From the looks of her, Ning Xiaoxiao didn’t seem possessed, reborn, or swapped with someone else.
Ning Xiyue shot questioning looks at Chen Yechu and Liu Yao nearby, silently asking what was going on.
Both of them shook their heads — they had no idea what was up with Ning Xiaoxiao now.
Comrade Wang Jiandong shuffled up behind Ning Xiyue and whispered, “She seems like someone’s been advising her — not afraid to speak up, yet knows when to back down.”
After saying that, Comrade Wang Jiandong quietly walked away.
