A transfer student with white hair and red eyes appearing at Haizhou No. 3 Middle School was the kind of news that could be considered a headline among students.
Although within just a few days, the news spread to other schools and piqued a lot of curiosity,
at least for Haizhou No. 3 Middle School—the party involved—the excitement had already died down.
Friday after school, walking through the campus, Zi Yan only attracted slightly more attention than usual.
Zi Yan’s collective life experience at the Chinese Haizhou No. 3 Middle School had officially reached one full week.
“Phew, finally home.”
Zi Yan genuinely felt his body weighed down like it was filled with lead.
“So tired…”
The reason he was this exhausted was that he had just taken part in Class 3-6’s end-of-week cleanup.
Class Teacher He Yanli had set a rule for four groups to rotate, with one group responsible for cleaning each week. Since Zi Yan happened to be in the group assigned to clean the classroom this week, the group leader naturally included him among the workers.
Well, actually, He Yanli had planned to let Zi Yan leave early. But Zi Yan felt leaving abruptly would be a bit rude, so he insisted on staying to help.
As a result, although his assigned tasks were only to sweep the floor and wipe the blackboard, after finishing, Zi Yan was completely drained.
And because the cleaning took longer than expected, when he hurried over to his father’s workplace for dinner, the cafeteria was already down to leftovers.
What a tragic day.
“Why don’t we go out for dinner today? Let’s go to Wanda to eat dumplings.” Zheng Quan, who hadn’t eaten yet either, suggested when his son arrived at the office.
He had overheard some younger colleagues at work—of course, “young” relative to Zheng Quan, actually new cadres in their twenties—talking about a dumpling shop at Wanda Plaza with very good food and was planning to try it soon.
“No thanks.” Zi Yan rejected his father’s suggestion without hesitation.
“What’s wrong? Not even in the mood for dumplings?”
Zheng Quan recalled that a few days ago, when he boiled frozen dumplings for Zi Yan, his son had praised them non-stop because of how fragrant they were.
“Dad, I’m just really tired right now. I just want to sleep, boo…”
Alright, alright, the kid’s got the final say.
So now, back in his room, Zi Yan lay on his bed like a soft-bodied creature, his head swimming with dizziness.
This body is really terrible.
Zi Yan silently complained to himself, burying his face in the pillow, not wanting to get up.
“I ordered dumplings for delivery.” Zheng Quan’s voice came from outside, “You go ahead and sleep first. When the dumplings arrive, I’ll wake you up.”
“Mm, thanks, Dad.” Zi Yan’s muffled voice came from beneath the covers.
……
After school and dinner, He Yanli asked Principal Wei for Zi Yan’s home address, preparing to make a home visit.
It wasn’t that Zi Yan had done anything wrong at school that week. Rather, as the homeroom teacher, He Yanli felt she should get to know the new student and his family situation better.
Although Principal Wei had already told her the general background, it was secondhand information. When Zheng Quan dropped Zi Yan off at school, He Yanli briefly met Zheng Quan as well, but it had been a rushed encounter without much conversation.
Since it was Friday and the weekend was coming with no lesson preparations, she decided it was a good time for a visit.
Also, about the seating arrangement, it would be better to discuss it face-to-face with both Zheng Zi Yan and his father.
“Phew, this should be the place.”
Standing in front of Room 501, Unit 2, Building 2 in the Haizhou Cadre Dormitory, He Yanli confirmed the door number again before taking a deep breath.
Honestly, visiting someone as influential as Zheng Quan was her first time, so she felt a little nervous.
Knock knock.
“Who is it?” came Zheng Quan’s voice from inside, seemingly chewing on something.
“Hello, I’m He Yanli, Zheng Zi Yan’s homeroom teacher. I’d like to come for a home visit, if that’s convenient?”
“Oh, Teacher He, of course, come on in.”
Zheng Quan strode over to open the door for He Yanli.
“Eh?”
Half-asleep, with a stray hair sticking up, Zi Yan was chewing on the freshly delivered dumplings and stared blankly at the homeroom teacher entering.
Eh, eh eh?
Homeroom teacher? Home visit?
A flood of thoughts crossed his mind. He thought to himself, he’d been very well-behaved all week.
How could they possibly be paying a home visit?
“Teacher He, welcome, welcome. My kid has probably caused you some trouble these days.”
Zheng Quan ushered He Yanli inside.
“Hello, Teacher.” Zi Yan put down his chopsticks and stood to greet her.
(Are father and son eating delivery together?)
Feeling the timing was a bit awkward, He Yanli glanced at the steaming dumplings on the table and said apologetically, “Sorry to disturb your meal.”
“It’s fine.” Zheng Quan smiled and waved it off.
How could it be fine? Dumplings are best eaten hot.
Zi Yan forced a smile but inwardly gave them dead fish eyes.
But he really had no other choice.
Zheng Quan led He Yanli to the middle of the living room sofa while Zi Yan stayed nearby.
(The home furnishings looked quite new, and there seemed to be no signs of a woman living here—single-parent family?)
He Yanli quietly observed and smiled. “Zheng Zi Yan is very well-behaved, a child who gives me little trouble.”
“I came today to discuss something with both you and your son.” She cut to the chase.
“Please go ahead.”
“Our child’s condition means he shouldn’t stay in places exposed to sunlight, right?” He Yanli asked.
“Hmm…” Zheng Quan pondered before answering, “It’s not that he can’t be in sunlight at all. He can manage with sunscreen, but it’s best to avoid it.”
“Then I understand.” He Yanli nodded and explained, “Our classroom seats are divided into four groups by column, rotating regularly.”
“Although the seat I originally assigned to Zi Yan was in the fourth group near the corridor, where there’s no sunlight,
after the rotation, it would be a seat in a sunny area. So I wanted to ask if it would be okay to set up a single desk on the right side of the podium for him to sit alone?”
“Eh, a single desk?” Zi Yan suddenly spoke up, surprised.
“Is it alright not to sit with classmates?” Zheng Quan asked.
“That’s also my concern.” He Yanli looked at Zi Yan, who was practically beaming with joy.
(As expected, this kid is shy and doesn’t like contact with others.)
“Hmm…” Zheng Quan pondered again, then sighed helplessly, “It can’t be helped. After all, his health condition is really an issue.”
“Thank you very much for understanding our work.”
“You’re welcome.”
“…”
Zi Yan quietly rubbed his rumbling stomach and looked at the two chatting happily beside him.
When will this be over? I want to eat!
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