Chapter 12: The Power of a Cup of Water

After the train had been running for a day, it was time for dinner. Tan Yanlu pulled Jiang Pan Yu to go to the restroom. On their way back, they saw a steward pushing a meal cart and fetched two cups of hot water.

Looking at the scene before her, Jiang Pan Yu couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

Shen Shilei had her legs stretched out on Jiang Pan Yu’s seat, her shoes dirtying the seat, and she looked half-asleep.

Duan Zheng, seeing them return, shrugged helplessly, making a gesture of being powerless.

Shen Shilei noticed Jiang Pan Yu and Tan Yanlu had returned and said to Jiang Pan Yu, “I’m sleepy, let me sleep for a while. I can’t sleep sitting up. You can stand for a while, and if your legs get sore, you can squeeze in with them.”

Jiang Pan Yu thought to herself that Shen Shilei was treating her like a pushover.

This wouldn’t do. She was always the one bullying others; when had it ever been the other way around?

Jiang Pan Yu looked down at her cup of water, wondering if she should just go hard and pour it over Shen Shilei’s head.

Before she could act, Tan Yanlu’s face darkened: “Comrade Shen, please sit properly. If you’re going to occupy Pan Yu’s seat, I’ll have to call the steward to reason with you.”

Shen Shilei still didn’t take her legs off the seat: “Why are you butting in? It’s not your seat, and she didn’t say she minds. Hey, shorty, you’re not that selfish, are you? Let me sleep for a while, I didn’t mean to, but I really can’t sleep sitting up. If you have the spirit of Lei Feng, what’s the big deal about standing for a bit?”

Shen Shilei retorted at Tan Yanlu and then turned to glare threateningly at Jiang Pan Yu.

Perhaps in Shen Shilei’s mind, this short, skinny, childlike Jiang Pan Yu wouldn’t dare to do anything, especially since Jiang Pan Yu had been scolded by her at the train station earlier and hadn’t said a word.

Jiang Pan Yu didn’t even respond to Shen Shilei. She stepped forward and directly poured the water from her enamel mug over Shen Shilei’s head.

It was hot water, and although it had cooled a bit, it was still scalding. The hot water touching the skin was painful.

Especially since it was summer, and everyone was wearing light clothing, the hot water covered a larger area of skin.

Shen Shilei immediately jumped up, screaming, “What are you doing? How dare you pour water on me, I’ll kill you!”

As she spoke, Shen Shilei raised her hand to slap Jiang Pan Yu’s face.

Tan Yanlu and Duan Zheng were both shocked by Jiang Pan Yu’s actions.

They hadn’t expected Jiang Pan Yu to be so direct, not even bothering to reason with Shen Shilei, and just taking action to deal with her.

Seeing Shen Shilei about to hit someone, Tan Yanlu and Duan Zheng wouldn’t just stand by. Tan Yanlu pulled Jiang Pan Yu behind her to protect her.

Duan Zheng stepped forward and grabbed Shen Shilei’s flailing arms.

The commotion quickly drew the attention of other passengers, and the steward soon arrived: “What’s going on? Please keep quiet and don’t disturb the other passengers.”

Shen Shilei shook off Duan Zheng’s hand and pointed at Jiang Pan Yu, saying, “It was her! She splashed hot water on me. Look at my clothes, my hands, and my face—it’s all red!”

At this moment, Shen Shilei was truly in a sorry state. Her hair was wet and clung to her face and neck. Her thin clothes, soaked with water, clung tightly to her body, revealing that her figure was actually quite good.

The train attendant frowned and turned to look at Jiang Pan Yu, only to find that she had already moved to stand beside Tan Yanlu. Jiang Pan Yu looked at the attendant with teary eyes, appearing pitiful and innocent, like a well-behaved child.

Jiang Pan Yu nervously twisted the corner of her clothes and spoke in a soft, trembling voice, “I… I didn’t mean to. She… she took my seat and wouldn’t let me sit down. She told me to stand for a while, but I accidentally lost my balance, and that’s how the water spilled on her. I… I really didn’t mean to. I’m sorry, truly sorry. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have gone to get water. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have spilled it all over her. I… I won’t dare to drink water again.”

Tan Yanlu blinked but said nothing, not refuting Jiang Pan Yu’s words. Duan Zheng opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing Jiang Pan Yu’s pitiful, wronged, and sad expression, he decided against it. After all, it was Shen Shilei who had acted wrongly first. If she hadn’t tried to bully Jiang Pan Yu, this wouldn’t have happened. So, in the end, it was Shen Shilei’s fault. Perhaps it was better for him to stay silent. If Shen Shilei could learn from this experience and stop bullying others, it would be good for her, wouldn’t it?

The train attendant, after hearing Jiang Pan Yu’s explanation, felt that the girl probably hadn’t done it on purpose. On a crowded and bumpy train, accidents like this were bound to happen.

“You’re lying! You did it on purpose! There are so many people here watching, and you’re still lying through your teeth. You shameless!” Shen Shilei exploded in anger.

However, Tan Yanlu and Duan Zheng, the first witnesses, remained silent. The surrounding passengers hadn’t paid much attention to what had happened initially. It wasn’t until Shen Shilei screamed and jumped up that they noticed the commotion. But since no one had seen whether Jiang Pan Yu had spilled the water intentionally or accidentally, they also stayed quiet. Especially when Shen Shilei’s loud shouting was contrasted with Jiang Pan Yu’s “pitiful and delicate” demeanor, many people believed that Jiang Pan Yu hadn’t done it on purpose.

Seeing that no one believed her, Shen Shilei shouted furiously, “Are you all blind? And you, and you, are you all blind?”

Tan Yanlu and Duan Zheng, who were being pointed at and scolded by Shen Shilei, naturally didn’t speak up for her. Tan Yanlu calmly said, “All I saw was you taking Pan Yu’s seat and making a mess of it. Attendant, look for yourself—the seat is covered in mud.”

Shen Shilei wanted to continue arguing, but the attendant cut her off, “Enough, comrade. Please calm down.”

With so many people watching, it’s impossible that everyone is blind. Since it was an accident and the person has already apologized, it would be meaningless to keep making a fuss.

Also, please don’t occupy someone else’s seat and disrupt public order.

Nowadays, we emphasize equality for all. Since they paid for their ticket, they deserve to have a seat. Please clean their seat now.”

Shen Shilei was so angry that she was gasping for breath. Fortunately, she wasn’t completely foolish and didn’t continue to make a scene.

Under the watchful eyes of the train attendant, she took out a handkerchief and cleaned the mud off Jiang Pan Yu’s seat, finally bringing the matter to a close.

Shen Shilei’s outburst not only failed to achieve justice but also tarnished her image. The people in the same train car looked at her with strange expressions.

Shen Shilei was so upset that she cried, but no one went to comfort her.

Although Duan Zheng and Shen Shilei were neighbors, he knew all too well what kind of person she was.

If it weren’t for their parents’ insistence that they should help each other, Duan Zheng wouldn’t have wanted to share the same train with her—she was nothing but trouble.

Duan Zheng felt that he had done his duty by protecting Shen Shilei and ensuring she didn’t get beaten up when she caused trouble. Beyond that, he wasn’t willing to do more.

Jiang Pan Yu and Tan Yanlu certainly wouldn’t comfort her either, and the others didn’t know Shen Shilei well enough to offer any solace.

Jiang Pan Yu and Tan Yanlu exchanged a knowing smile, everything understood without words.

After this small incident, the already familiar relationship between the two became even closer.