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On Sunday, Zhuang Zi’ang sat in the grassy area where he used to fly kites with Xiao Butterfly, staring blankly at the calm river.
He remained there for the entire morning.
As noon approached, his phone rang.
He eagerly pulled it out, only to feel disappointed when he saw the caller ID: it was his father, Zhuang Wen Zhao.
“Dad, what’s up?” Zhuang Zi’ang’s tone was cold.
“Come home for lunch. Aunt Qin has made a feast,” Zhuang Wen Zhao said in an unusually gentle tone.
“Oh? You guys have good food? When did you start thinking of me?” Zhuang Zi’ang chuckled lightly.
“You’re still my son. It’s been a while; shouldn’t you let go of your anger? Do you really plan to never come home again?” Zhuang Wen Zhao raised his voice.
“Dad, just say it directly. Is there no one to clean the house, or no one to do the laundry?” Zhuang Zi’ang cut straight to the point, uninterested in pleasantries.
Over the years, he had done countless chores in that house.
Mopping, washing windows, doing dishes, and laundry—he had even learned to fix pipes and clean the range hood, living like a housekeeper.
Now that he had been gone for over a week, the mess had likely been left for Qin Shulan; she must be complaining quite a bit.
After a pause, Zhuang Wen Zhao spoke in a low voice, “Actually, Yuhang’s teacher told me that if his grades keep slipping, he might have to repeat a year. Since you’re doing so well in school, why not come back and tutor him?”
“Why doesn’t he just hire a tutor?” Zhuang Zi’ang asked.
“Hiring a tutor costs money,” Zhuang Wen Zhao replied immediately.
Zhuang Zi’ang sneered coldly. In his father’s eyes, he had always been just free labor.
If there wasn’t something he needed, it was as if his existence didn’t matter.
“Your precious son doesn’t focus on his studies at all. It would be pointless to have anyone tutor him.” Zhuang Zi’ang felt like hanging up.
“Why do you say that about Yuhang? Are you still angry about what happened last time?”
“He’s still a kid. You can’t really hold it against him, can you?”
“You’re an adult now; can’t you be a little more magnanimous?”
Zhuang Wen Zhao’s temper was clearly rising as he launched into a series of soul-piercing questions.
The phone was on speaker, and Qin Shulan’s complaining voice drifted through the receiver.
“Even though Yuhang called you a loser, you slapped him.”
“No matter what, hitting someone is worse than just shouting at them!”
“We’re not going to pursue this matter anymore, yet you still hold a grudge and refuse to come home to help your brother with his studies. You’re not fulfilling your responsibilities as an older brother at all.”
…
In her eyes, Zhuang Zi’ang was being petty, lacking any sense of generosity.
A child insults you a couple of times; it doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg. Was it really necessary to harbor such grudges?
Zhuang Zi’ang took a deep breath and unleashed a torrent of words into the phone.
“Your precious son is no different from a pig in my eyes. What kind of spring and autumn dreams are you having, asking me to tutor him?”
“No, no, he’s not even as good as a pig. At least a pig shows gratitude when fed by its owner; he’s nothing but an ingrate.”
“Of course, neither of you are any good either, wasting air while alive and wasting land when dead.”
…
After venting thoroughly without giving Zhuang Wen Zhao a chance to respond, Zhuang Zi’ang decisively hung up.
What a relief; he could now enjoy an extra bowl of rice at lunch.
Hearing the dial tone from his phone, Zhuang Wen Zhao’s face turned a deep shade of anger.
He couldn’t understand how his usually obedient son could go so far off the rails.
Qin Shulan fumed, “Look at the beast you raised! He dares to scold us; is there any law left?”
Zhuang Wen Zhao slammed his fist onto the coffee table. “I’m going to beat him to death!”
After sitting by the river for a while longer, Zhuang Zi’ang received a call from Li Huang Xuan, who asked if he wanted to come over for dinner. Zhuang Zi’ang casually made an excuse to decline.
He feared seeing Li Huang Xuan’s happy family; jealousy might twist his heart.
While other children were born into the things he had to fight for with all his might, he ended up with nothing but ridicule.
However, from a certain perspective, Zhuang Zi’ang had to thank his father and stepmother.
They popped up occasionally to remind him just how cold the world could be and how thin human feelings were.
There really was no need to cling too tightly.
…
On Monday, a vibrant red flag rose slowly on the playground.
During the morning assembly, the school leaders summarized the monthly exam results from the previous week and rambled on a bit.
Zhuang Zi’ang had a restless night and found himself yawning while standing in line.
Lin Mu Shi’s gaze was fixed on him, never leaving for a moment.
She was terrified that Zhuang Zi’ang would suddenly collapse and never wake up again.
When it was time for the student council representatives to speak, Class 9 once again missed out on the moving red flag, leading to a chorus of complaints.
“I told you, Xie Wen Yong is just not up to the task.”
“Under his so-called brilliant leadership, our class’s discipline and cleanliness were a complete mess last week.”
“Without comparison, there’s no harm; now I finally understand just how outstanding Zhuang Zi’ang really is.”
…
Hearing these comments, Xie Wen Yong felt a sharp pang in his heart.
Xie Wen Yong had put in all his effort, yet he felt he was only worthy of being a shoe-shiner for Zhuang Zi’ang.
Now, he finally admitted that there was indeed a significant gap between him and Zhuang Zi’ang.
By the time the fourth-period class meeting rolled around, Xie WenYong found himself facing yet another round of criticism.
Standing at the podium, he struggled to explain and defend himself, but his arguments fell flat.
In a moment of frustration, he threw the chalkboard eraser aside.
“Fine, I’ll resign! Whoever wants to be class monitor can take the position!”
This was meant to be a tactical retreat, as he thought the class would persuade him to stay.
However, the majority of the students’ gazes immediately turned to Zhuang Zi’ang, filled with expectation.
Zhuang Zi’ang reluctantly stood up. “Our class didn’t earn the moving red flag, and everyone has a responsibility. We can’t blame Xie WenYong alone; let’s not be too harsh on him.”
He knew the real reason behind their failure.
It was Xie Wen Yong’s lack of authority and inability to command respect that led many to deliberately oppose him, creating obstacles that caused the class’s performance to decline.
Zhuang Zi’ang then looked at Xie Wen Yong. “Since you’ve taken on the role of class monitor, don’t give up so easily. Put your heart into it for the class, and show everyone your sincerity; they will surely support you.”
“Easy for you to say! Why did you give up?” Xie Wen Yong immediately shot back.
“I had my reasons,” Zhuang Zi’ang sighed helplessly.
“Cut the act. Don’t try to lecture me,” Xie Wen Yong retorted defiantly.
“Enough, Xie Wen Yong!” Lin Mu Shi stood up angrily. “I won’t allow you to speak to Zhuang Zi’ang like that.”
Xie Wen Yong was taken aback.
The melody of “Yijianmei” played in his mind.
Why was the school beauty suddenly defending Zhuang Zi’ang?
“Zhuang Zi’ang has done so much for us; what right do you have to question him?” Lin Mu Shi glared at Xie Wen Yong with tears brimming in her beautiful phoenix eyes.
The other students were equally perplexed, whispering among themselves.
“Lin Mu Shi wasn’t like this with Zhuang Zi’ang before.”
“When Zhuang Zi’ang was pursuing her, she was indifferent. Now she’s suddenly changed her mind?”
“A woman’s heart is as deep as the ocean, Zhang Wuji’s mother said, the prettier the woman, the more deceitful she can be.”
…
Zhuang Zi’ang kept giving Lin Mu Shi warning glances.
He hoped she wouldn’t act impulsively and reveal that secret.