The next morning, I had just arrived at the office and was still reviewing my lesson plans when someone approached and called out:
"Yen Thuong."
I looked up and saw another teacher from my department. I stood up and nodded politely:
"Is there something you need, sir?"
He gave a faint smile, his voice indifferent:
"Nothing major. A transfer student has been assigned to your class. I brought him here."
Then, he leaned to one side.
A boy stepped out.
The moment I saw him, I paused slightly.
Not because of anything particularly striking about his appearance, but because of a vague feeling of familiarity…
But what caught my attention most was the boy's demeanor.
His head was bowed low.
His shoulders were slightly hunched.
His hands clutched the hem of his shirt as if trying to hold onto a last shred of security.
On the arm visible beneath his sleeve, there were a few bruises that hadn't yet faded.
I didn't need to ask to guess.
The teacher finished handing over the assignment and left, leaving the room quiet with only me and the boy.
I stepped away from the desk, deliberately lowering my voice so as not to sound too intimidating:
"What's your name?"
The boy was startled, as if called unexpectedly. It took him a while to stammer:
"My… my name is Chu Xichen."
Hearing that name, I was slightly shaken.
Chu Xichen.
In the original novel… this is the male protagonist.
I remained silent longer than necessary.
Just a moment, but for the boy in front of me, every second seemed suffocating.
"Teacher… teacher?"
His voice trembled slightly.
I saw in his eyes the familiar anxiety, the eyes of a child who was all too familiar with being disliked and ostracized, and always prepared for the worst.
In his head, he was probably thinking:
Just another one. I regained my composure, pulled a chair closer, and softened my voice:
"Come sit here."
Chu Xichen hesitated for a long time.
Finally, under my patient gaze, he timidly sat down, his back still stiff.
I took the first-aid kit from the cabinet and gently treated the scratches on his hand.
From beginning to end, Chu Xichen said nothing, only his body trembled slightly with each touch.
After bandaging, I looked up and saw him staring at me.
"...Why did you help me, teacher?"
I paused for a second.
Chu Xichen lowered his head, his voice fading:
"You're a jinx. Anyone near you… will encounter bad luck. If I help you, I'll also be implicated."
I frowned.
"A jinx?"
I looked directly at him, my voice serious but not harsh:
"Who told you that?"
Chu Xichen pursed his lips, remaining silent.
I didn't press further. I stood up, took a small cake from my desk drawer, and placed it in front of him:
"Eat it. Don't let yourself get hungry."
He looked at the cake for a long time.
He wanted to take it but was afraid.
Finally, under my resolute gaze, he dared to reach out and take the cake with both hands, as if it were something very precious.
I led him to class.
On the way, I sighed softly in my heart:
He really is… a poor child.
In front of the whole class, I only briefly introduced him:
"This is our new classmate, Chu Xichen. From today onwards, he will be studying with you all."
No fuss.
No unnecessary explanation.
"You can choose where you want to sit."
Chu Xichen nodded and quietly went to the least noticeable corner of the classroom.
I began lecturing as usual.
While lecturing, my eyes unintentionally met Han Yuqi's gaze.
He was looking at me, and when our eyes met, he flinched and looked down.
I pretended not to notice, continued my lecture, and thought to myself,
"Ah Qi is really… adorable."
At lunchtime, I brought the meal I had prepared and placed it next to Han Yuqi's seat.
He glanced at it coldly:
"I don't need it. You can take it away."
I calmly replied,
"If you don't want to eat it, you can throw it away."
Then I turned and left the classroom.
I knew he would accept it.
Han Yuqi would never waste food.
Thinking of him eating the food I prepared, I couldn't help but curl my lips slightly.