Chapter 6: Just a Teacher’s Task

After school, in the Ninghai High School faculty office.

Sunset filtered through the slanted blinds, bathing the room in warm orange hues; in the corner of the office, a middle-aged teacher with faint white at his temples was bent over, flipping through that day’s newspaper.

Knock knock knock—three light raps shattered the office’s quiet.

“Come in.”

The teacher responded without looking up; the door eased open, and Lin Zhiyi hurried inside.

“Teacher Ma, you wanted to see me?”

Old Ma adjusted his glasses.

“You’re here? Have a seat.”

He gestured to the chair beside him.

Lin Zhiyi sat as instructed; Old Ma lifted his thermos for a sip of tea, then spoke leisurely.

“小Lin, your grades have held steady in the top ten of the grade all through freshman year—every subject teacher praises you as a fine sapling.”

Lin Zhiyi nodded to show he was listening.

“Teacher, you’re calling me about the scholarship, right?”

It was the most likely reason he could think of.

He cut straight to it.

“…If that’s it, I think I don’t need to apply.”

A flicker of awkwardness crossed Old Ma’s face; he chuckled ruefully.

“You kid, always so direct.”

He shook his head, crow’s feet crinkling at his eyes.

“But I didn’t call you here for that today.”

“Then… what?”

Lin Zhiyi asked.

Old Ma pondered for a moment, as if weighing his words.

“How have things been lately… any difficulties in life?”

His gaze held genuine concern; as homeroom teacher, he knew this student’s family situation well.

“…I’m fine, really.”

Lin Zhiyi said softly.

Two lifetimes had sharpened his eye for sincerity, and the worry in Old Ma’s eyes was real.

“I’ve noticed you always keep to yourself, hardly mingling with classmates.”

Old Ma continued.

“It’s not just me—several subject teachers have mentioned it too.

So… what I’m saying is, um… how about considering joining a club?

You’re the only one in the whole class not signed up for any.”

Lin Zhiyi felt baffled.

He’d been summoned to the office for this?

He couldn’t see the point in joining a club; he’d rather use his time more efficiently—like earning some pocket money, taking Lin Yingyuan out for treats.

Hobbies weren’t a big deal in his life, at least not now.

Old Ma seemed to read the boy’s mind.

“I know your family situation, and I get that you’re more mature than your peers.

You might think this stuff is trivial, but actually, the benefits of interacting with others are more than you imagine.”

“With grades like yours, joining a club and exchanging study tips with others wouldn’t just help them—it’d boost your college apps too.

Once you’re out in society, teamwork is essential; getting a head start on adapting can’t hurt.”

Seeing the boy fall silent, Old Ma added,

“If crowds bother you, pick a small one—like the chess club or astronomy society; they’re quiet activities.”

Old Ma rattled off some options he thought suitable, sounding like a salesman.

“The teacher isn’t forcing you to make friends—just hoping… you have someone to chat with.”

He paused, then said,

“Your parents, seeing how outstanding you are, would surely want you to be happy too.”

The office wall clock ticked steadily; the boy’s gaze shifted slightly, touched by some word or another.

“I…”

“You’re always alone—is it because you’re afraid others will gossip if they know your situation?

Actually, the teachers and students in the know all admire you.”

He patted the boy’s shoulder with feigned casualness.

“Just do the teacher a favor and give it a try? You can quit anytime if it’s not for you.”

With the conversation at this point, Lin Zhiyi could only curve his lips in helpless surrender.

“Alright… since you’ve put it that way, Teacher…”

He raised his hands in mock defeat.

“That’s the spirit!”

Old Ma beamed, his face screaming satisfaction.

“I’ll send you the club directory later.”

He lifted his tea cup contentedly, though the brew had gone cold.

Lin Zhiyi agreed, stood, bid him a respectful farewell, and headed out.

As he reached the office door and went to pull it open, it suddenly swung inward from the outside; a girl with shoulder-length hair nearly collided into his chest, a breeze carrying the fresh scent of fruit washing over him.

“Sorry.”

She murmured.

Their eyes met at point-blank range for an instant, then they sidestepped each other; in that moment, Lin Zhiyi felt the pretty face looked vaguely familiar, but he truly didn’t know her.

“Teacher Ma~ Where’s Teacher Manman?”

The short-haired girl entered the office with light steps, her voice like a crisp wind chime—sweet and vibrant.

“She just stepped out; sit there and wait a bit.”

Old Ma said.

“I heard you bombed the baseline test in your class today again?”

The girl scratched her head, letting out a few guilty dry laughs.

“Ahaha…”

Old Ma shook his head with a sigh, earnest in tone.

“If I’d had a gentle, pretty homeroom teacher like Manman back in the day, I’d have hung myself from the beam, studying fifteen hours a day without complaint.

But you—you’re always giving her headaches.”

“It’s not like that!”

The girl shot back immediately, though her eyes crinkled into crescents.

“Maybe Manman just likes me too much—calling me to the office on purpose just to chat?”

Old Ma peered at her over his glasses.

“Oh? Then why is it always tutoring sessions?”

“Th-that’s… hehe… guy stuff—don’t pry into girls’ business…”

Lin Zhiyi eased the door shut softly behind him, muffling their voices as he headed to the classroom.

The corridor lay quiet; by the time he’d been held up, everyone else had cleared out.

Pushing open the classroom door, he saw the blackboard half-erased; Cheng Xiran stood at the podium, rinsing the eraser in a basin of water.

Lin Zhiyi first glanced at her hands—slender and clean, knuckles defined, even more pristine with the dampness—before meeting her eyes, only to find those eyes already regarding him calmly.

He suddenly realized how striking Cheng Xiran’s eyes were—not pure black, but like ink soaked in water, cool yet laced with a hint of softness.

Blame his past life’s cowardice; he’d always looked away first, missing this view until today.

Reborn, no longer liking her, he could finally meet her gaze squarely.

Lin Zhiyi realized he’d lingered too long and averted his eyes, thinking: She hasn’t left yet?

Looks like she’s on duty today.

Why just her?

Wasn’t duty usually for two people?

—This thought hit him, and he glanced at the blackboard’s bottom right corner, just as he’d suspected.

Duty for today: Cheng Xiran and Lin Zhiyi.

Me?

Well… sorry about that—totally forgot.

Vanishing for so long, dumping all the two-person cleanup on his secret crush—correction: former crush… talk about darkly romantic.

But how’d it end up him and the class monitor again? Coincidence?

Lin Zhiyi hurried over.

“Sorry, Teacher Ma held me up for a talk—left you to handle duty alone.

Let me take the rest.”

She’d already finished most of it; he’d handle whatever was left.

Cheng Xiran handed him the rinsed eraser, shook her head with a soft hum, and smiled as she asked,

“Teacher Ma wanted a word? What crime did you commit?”

“The sin of being a loner.”

Lin Zhiyi grinned too.

“Old Ma issued a death order: I have to join a club—no more isolating myself from the entire school.”

Cheng Xiran pressed her lips together, bowed her head, her shoulders quivering faintly; even from a distance, Lin Zhiyi could hear her soft laughter.