"I've already checked. She's not a resident student. No one has seen her in the girls' dormitory," Fawn said, her usual reliable gossip at hand.
"Not living in the dormitory means she's a day student," Raven scoffed, a disdainful curl to her lip and a look of despise in her eyes. "It must be because she can't afford our school's dorms. They cost 20 grand a year, not something every family can handle. As a call girl, she's only fit for day schooling." With that, she folded her arms across her chest and raised her chin, as if she had seen through everything.
Fawn didn't chime in this time.
Melinda spoke up instead, "Raven, don't talk about her like that. Everyone has their difficulties. Maybe she's also left with no choice?" Her eyes flitted around as she spoke, avoiding Raven's gaze. Her foot scraped back and forth on the ground, and her fingers twisted together. Her heart pounded like a rabbit caught in her chest, fearful that Raven would detect the cracks in her words. She knew she was playing with fire but felt compelled to continue, hoping to muddle through.
This statement seemed to confirm Vanya's identity as a call girl.
Fawn's resolve wavered.
Raven anxiously said, "Melinda, you're too kind-hearted! How can you still speak for her when you remember her arrogant demeanor in the cafeteria today?"
Melinda fell silent, like a child who had done something wrong, lowering her head, her bangs falling to obscure her face, filled with tension and unease. She bit her lip so hard it almost left a mark, her mind a whirl of thoughts. She worried about what would happen if things were exposed, whether Cliff would find out, if she would be disciplined by the school, hoping only that tonight would pass without incident.
"Hurry! Follow her, she's leaving!" Fawn's sudden interjection brought the two back to attention.
They saw Vanya walk out of the school gate, not heading straight for the subway station or bus stop, but instead towards a high-end apartment building across the street.
"That's weird. Where is she going?" Raven frowned in confusion, her eyes fixed on Vanya's retreating figure, her steps quickening to keep up.
"Right, it's getting late. She can't be going home, can she?"
Fawn and Raven murmured in puzzlement as Vanya took out a card and entered the building.
Raven, afraid of losing track of Vanya, rushed forward, almost tripping in her haste. She panted up to the security guard, only to be stopped short. "Excuse me, please show your resident ID card."
"Resident card? I, I'm here to see a friend," Raven had never heard of such a thing as a resident ID card. A flicker of panic crossed her eyes, but she forced herself to stay calm, a strained smile on her face.
"We'll need to know which building and apartment your friend lives in so we can call to verify."
"There's no need to verify! The one who just went in is my friend." Raven made up a lie on the spot, her voice trembling, her smile becoming rigid.
The security guard scrutinized Raven, and then Fawn and Melinda behind her.
"I'm sorry, but we require identity confirmation for all non-residents and must have verbal permission from the homeowner to allow entry."
The guard's stance was firm, with no room for negotiation.
Raven indignantly said, "I've never heard of needing to confirm identity just to see a friend. I told you, the one who just went in is my friend. We are schoolmates!" Her face turned red, her hands waving in the air, her emotions escalating.
"I'm sorry, please have the homeowner call us. Only then can we let you in."
The guard's tone was growing impatient.
Residents of this building were all wealthy and influential, which raised the security staff's standards as well.
Raven's anger surged. She stamped her foot in frustration. Her eyes seemed to spew fire, but there was nothing she could do. In the end, she could only glare at the security guard before slinking away.
On the way back, Fawn finally voiced her doubts, "What is Vanya's background? Not everyone can live in this building. Is she... really a call girl?"
"Fawn, what are you implying? If she's not a call girl, then is she a wealthy heiress? Don't be ridiculous. Would a wealthy heiress steal another's boyfriend?"
Raven snorted disdainfully, her face full of disbelief.
Hearing Raven's words, Fawn kept silent.
Melinda said, "Since we didn't find anything today, let's all go back..." Her voice was gentle, as if afraid to break some equilibrium, her eyes revealing a hint of relief and exhaustion.
"That's all we can do, I guess."
Raven said dejectedly, her shoulders slumping, her whole person deflating like a punctured balloon.
It was such a pity not to catch Vanya's weakness today.