With Teacher Zhang’s approval, Cen Jin and Li Wu walked out of the office one after the other.
In the corridor, students scattered like birds returning to their nests. Within moments, they had all returned to their classrooms, leaving no one in sight.
Cen Jin stopped at the white railing, and Li Wu halted beside her.
The woman turned back, her expression stern: “You’ve become something now.”
Li Wu remained silent, completely lacking his previous composure, appearing entirely different from how he’d been in the office.
“Going home,” Cen Jin smiled faintly, “Did you go home?”
Li Wu spoke softly: “No.”
“Where were you last night?” Cen Jin looked at him, her gaze inadvertently caught by the boy’s eyelashes, for they were truly too long and thick, especially as he kept his eyes half-lowered, displaying two small fans of raven-black feathers.
Li Wu remained silent.
Cen Jin just stared at him calmly, speaking evenly: “Class has already started, and I need to get to the company. How much more time do you want to waste – both yours and mine?”
The youth finally raised his eyes: “I was in the dormitory the whole time.”
“Then why did the teacher look for you?”
He confessed honestly: “I covered for my roommate.”
Cen Jin was slightly taken aback: “Why?”
Li Wu said: “No reason.”
“…” Cen Jin was speechless for two seconds, then gave him another chance: “Why?”
The same three-word question, only with doubled pressure.
His throat moved slightly, and Li Wu’s words were gradually pried out: “Because my roommate didn’t come back.”
“So you just cover for your roommate?” Cen Jin didn’t know how to evaluate this, “Are you some kind of pushover? Since when does friendship require this kind of obligation, this kind of service?”
“It was a special situation.” He still resisted explaining the specific reason.
Cen Jin’s lips tightened for a moment, no longer wanting to look at this stubborn wall of a person, her eyes shifting to the balcony outside: “Just now in the office, you meant for me to help cover up your lie?”
Li Wu didn’t deny it: “Mm.”
“Did you think I would be willing?”
Li Wu instinctively wanted to say no, but the words took a turn before reaching his lips. He said: “I don’t know.”
Cen Jin was instantly frustrated: “If I were your parent, I might be yelling at you right now, believe it or not.”
“Mm.” He docilely accepted the criticism.
It was precisely this attitude that left Cen Jin with nowhere to direct her force, only able to anxiously fume, finally exploding from holding it in, beginning to vent meaninglessly: “You’re going to be the death of me. Did I bring you to Yi High to do these things that anger me?”
Li Wu neither explained nor talked back, only saying: “I’m sorry.”
Suddenly a gust of wind came, stirring both their hair.
A strand of hair stuck to Cen Jin’s lips. She brushed it away, about to tuck it behind her ear when the wind came again gently, and that strand stuck back.
Cen Jin had applied lip gloss today, her lips moist and full, but unfortunately encountering this hellish weather, the decoration became useless, even counterproductive.
Especially when she looked up and met the youth’s slightly smiling eyes.
The accumulated authority instantly collapsed, and Cen Jin was thoroughly annoyed: “What are you looking at?”
Li Wu quickly averted his eyes, his ears gradually turning red.
“What does it feel like to kiss a girl?” – suddenly only Cheng Rui’s words from yesterday remained in his head.
Li Wu became uncomfortable all over.
Afraid of encountering such an awkward situation again, Cen Jin put both hands behind her head, pulled out a strand of hair, and swiftly tied it into a low ponytail.
Just as she was about to speak, recitation sounds came from a nearby classroom. Cen Jin’s heart instantly softened, calmed down, and worried that Li Wu would miss his lessons, she hurriedly asked: “What class do you have this period?”
Li Wu said: “English.”
Cen Jin sighed inwardly, glancing at the office door: “No more talking, go tell Teacher Zhang and hurry back to class.”
“Okay.”
…
Teacher Zhang wasn’t the type of teacher who liked to make things difficult for people to showcase her professional value. After Li Wu bowed his head and apologized a few times, the matter was considered over.
Watching Li Wu leave the office, Cen Jin chatted with Teacher Zhang for a few more moments, inquiring about Li Wu’s situation at school.
Fortunately, according to the head teacher, apart from this small incident, his performance in all other aspects was impeccable, whether in studies or daily life.
Cen Jin felt somewhat relieved. Just as she was about to say goodbye, still feeling concerned, she asked the teacher again: “Teacher Zhang, would it be possible to help Li Wu change dormitory rooms?”
Teacher Zhang showed surprise: “Why?”
“From my observation during this period, his current dormitory environment isn’t beneficial for his studies or growth. You understand Li Wu’s situation is different from other children – he came from the mountains, and many things are new to him, even tempting. I’m not his real family, I can’t supervise him constantly, and I certainly can’t support him forever. The college entrance exam is one of the few fair paths, so I hope there can be fewer distractions, letting him focus whole-heartedly on completing this journey, looking back without regrets.”
Cen Jin spoke calmly, thinking she had expressed her implications clearly enough, hoping Li Wu’s head teacher would understand.
Teacher Zhang pondered for a moment, then smiled back: “Miss Cen, you’re wrong to say that. Isn’t every child unique? It’s just that in your eyes, your child seems especially special. Children are independent, and have personalities, even if their backgrounds, personalities, and grades differ. To us teachers, they only have one identity – that of students. I’ll look into and consider the situation you mentioned, but I must correct your concept. Not to mention now, when Li Wu goes to university and enters society in the future, that environment will be even more mixed, impossible to guard against completely – what will you do then? Miss Cen, don’t make yourself so tense, excessive restrictions aren’t good for your child and will only distance your relationship.”