Chapter 132

When they returned, Li Xiu took a taxi, and Mo Yin rode with him.

They sat in the back seat, each looking in a different direction.

Li Xiu had his injured hand treated briefly at the school’s health office. Before reaching the dormitory, his phone rang.

“What’s going on? Why did you skip evening self-study and end up injured?”

“A classmate had a special family situation. I went to help and got accidentally injured.”

“What do you mean? Did you get into a fight helping a classmate?!”

“No, it’s complicated. I’ll explain when I get back to the dorm.”

“Alright, this time you better give me a reasonable explanation. Don’t make up lies like last time!”

Li Xiu hung up and took a few steps, noticing Mo Yin not far ahead, likely having heard his conversation with his parents just now.

“Everything sorted out?”

After getting off the car and entering the school, Li Xiu went to the health office while Mo Yin headed in the opposite direction, now carrying an extra school bag, probably heading back to the classroom.

Li Xiu lifted his arm. “All good now.”

Both of them returned to the dormitory together.

Li Xiu preemptively cautioned, “My family keeps a close eye on me. They know everything that happens at school and will likely thoroughly investigate your family situation after tonight’s incident.”

“You seem quite similar to your family,” Mo Yin remarked.

It was a surprisingly insightful comment, but Li Xiu smiled, seemingly happy. After the smile faded, he fell silent.

Mo Yin was silent too.

His earlier words could apply to Li Xiu or himself.

Realizing this sent a shiver down his spine. Was he slowly losing his sanity too?

In his memory, before he was ten, although his family environment wasn’t great, it was still manageable. At that time, his father’s illness wasn’t as severe, allowing him to work outside and appear relatively normal as long as he avoided deep social interactions, appearing only as a somewhat gloomy but honest person.

What would his student days have been like a few years earlier?

Quiet, reserved, afraid of revealing his illness, always solitary, seen by others as an unpredictable oddball.

Mo Yin experienced his first insomnia in the school dormitory.

He lay on his side in bed, staring fixedly at the back of the chair pushed into the desk in the darkness. The two iron bars protruding from the back of the chair evoked unsettling thoughts. He considered getting out of bed to move it but restrained himself, realizing how neurotic that thought was, then turned over and closed his eyes.

The next day, the homeroom teacher expressed concern for Mo Yin. Mo Yin assured him everything was fine. The teacher patted his arm and said no more, encouraging him to do well in tomorrow’s competition.

It was Li Xiu, the one who had helped out, who received unusually intense “attention.”

As he had expected, his family thoroughly investigated Mo Yin’s situation and exactly what had happened the previous night. His father, over the phone, didn’t oppose Li Xiu’s actions and basically agreed.

“It’s good that you have compassion and are willing to help classmates. I’m glad. But next time, should you perhaps inform us beforehand? Do you know how worried your mother and I were yesterday?”

Li Xiu didn’t argue because debating would only lead to one outcome, so there was no point in arguing. He readily admitted his mistake, promising not to repeat it.

His good attitude didn’t lead to the matter being dropped. His father started questioning whether he admitted too quickly, wondering if it was sincere or perfunctory.

So Li Xiu tactfully raised a small objection, but his father, with over twenty years more life experience, countered him without allowing any room for argument. Li Xiu acknowledged this, saying he understood, and the conversation ended amicably.

He was completely familiar with the whole process, even predicting what his father would say and his tone of voice.

Honestly, he harbored no resentment or dislike toward his parents. He had no negative feelings toward them.

Observing them, he rated his parents as average among the families around him. They weren’t as remarkably open-minded and respectful of their children as some parents, nor were they as neglectful and devoid of warmth as the worst ones. At least he had seen Mo Xuemin yesterday and couldn’t say his parents were among the worst.

The problem wasn’t with others; it was with himself. He just didn’t know how to solve it, or maybe he didn’t even have the interest to try. He was simply suffering in a kind of existential loneliness, a strange feeling where he wasn’t just unhappy but not even actively discontent. Sometimes, he felt a strange urge to destroy something.

He had tried everything positive: being a good student, a good son, a good classmate, excelling in academics, being filial to his parents, and building good relationships. None of it made him happy. Perhaps he had been pursuing the wrong goals. Yet, his rational mind, or his intellect, told him that decadence was the most foolish way to “pursue freedom,” assuming he even knew what he wanted.

A dead end, a dead end with no way out.

*

In Class 2, the students were accustomed to seeing the top student stand guard at their classroom door, waiting for the second-ranked student to finish lunch.

Gossip was something everyone enjoyed, regardless of their grades. Especially when academic pressure was high, they loved discussing unconventional topics to relieve stress.

As Class 2 students walked out, they whispered among themselves.

“If that person were a girl, I’d seriously suspect they were dating.”

“Can’t we broaden our horizons? Is there a possibility that it’s not just about guys and girls dating?”

“Damn… does that count as broadening our horizons?”

Amidst laughter and gossip, Zhong Jiaming looked up at the door. Li Xiu stood casually at the classroom entrance, greeting those he knew from Class 2 with a friendly smile. The surrounding students chuckled oddly, and Li Xiu responded amiably.

As the school’s top student, Li Xiu never acted proud or distant. He got along well with his classmates and stood in stark contrast to the school’s second-ranked student. Others couldn’t understand how the two could be friends. More surprising than Li Xiu’s initiative was Mo Yin actually acknowledging Li Xiu.

As the only student from a poor background in the entire school, Mo Yin had attracted considerable attention upon his arrival. The announcement of poor students being displayed on the bulletin board during lunch breaks and between classes always piqued people’s interest.

Many had tried to befriend Mo Yin, like Mo Yufan.

Their motives varied: some out of sympathy, others to learn from him and understand how Mo Yin progressed so rapidly.

Unfortunately, all had failed.

Last week, the fight between Mo Yufan and Mo Yin had spread throughout all grades from seniors to freshmen. After various versions of the gossip circulated, one thing remained consistent: they used to sit together but had become enemies. Everyone agreed that someone like Mo Yin was best left alone if you couldn’t handle the repercussions. It had been a year since senior year started, and everyone hoped it would pass calmly.

How did Li Xiu manage to approach someone so difficult to “crack”?

Today, Li Xiu was wearing the autumn school uniform, a long-sleeved shirt even though the weather wasn’t cold. He was the only one in class wearing a shirt, his broad shoulders and slim waist making him look handsome in it, which caused some teasing from his classmates.

When queuing for food in the cafeteria, someone accidentally bumped into Li Xiu’s arm. Li Xiu said nothing, but the person froze under Mo Yin’s cold gaze from ahead.

Li Xiu told Mo Yin, “It’s nothing.”

Mo Yin gave Li Xiu an equally cold look and walked away with his tray.

The person realized something and asked Li Xiu, “Are you hurt?”

Li Xiu replied, “It’s nothing serious.” He grabbed his meal and went to find Mo Yin, and the person noticed Li Xiu was only using his left hand to carry the tray.

Later, someone mentioned that Li Xiu had injured his right arm when he returned to the dorm last night, and it looked similar to Mo Yufan’s injury, like a bite.

Everyone started speculating again. School life was dull, so there was always gossip to lighten the mood. They figured Li Xiu, like Mo Yufan, was probably bitten by Mo Yin.

“Brave souls…”

Liang Jianhao was always fond of gossiping and teasing Zhong Jiaming, “Hey, are they some kind of training camp? Give us some info, Physics Prince.”

Zhong Jiaming frowned, “What do you mean by ‘training camp’?”

“Just kidding.”

Zhong Jiaming lowered his head, wondering why Mo Yin treated Li Xiu so differently. It was senior year, everyone focused on their studies, so there was no need to think about such things. But who could completely control their emotions?

Liang Jianhao rested his head on the desk and remarked, “Hey, if you really see him as a girl, he’s actually quite good-looking.”

Zhong Jiaming shot him a glare, and Liang Jianhao shot one right back, “Just kidding, come on.”

“Isn’t this boring?”

“Yeah, it’s boring. But boredom leads to idle chatter.”

Zhong Jiaming turned away.

Liang Jianhao kicked his chair, “Good luck in the match tomorrow.”

Just as Zhong Jiaming was about to turn back, Liang Jianhao chuckled, “By the way, find out some gossip for me while you’re at it.”

Zhong Jiaming forcefully dragged his chair forward, making enough noise to attract attention from all around. He felt a bit embarrassed, avoiding eye contact and discreetly glancing up to find someone in the front row who remained unmoved, seemingly indifferent to anyone except a few.

Mo Yin was truly unaware of the casual chatter among his classmates. Unlike Li Xiu, he remained unapproachable. After evening self-study, Li Xiu walked back to the dorm with him and asked, “Did the hospital contact you today?”

“No.”

Mo Yin’s expression clearly showed he didn’t want to discuss it further, so Li Xiu didn’t press on.

After a few steps, Mo Yin couldn’t help but yawn. He had tried to suppress it but ended up yawning twice.

Li Xiu asked him, “Didn’t sleep well last night?”

Mo Yin didn’t reply.

He had tossed and turned for a long time last night, memories of the past invading his mind, repeatedly dragging him into a quagmire. The more he tried to sleep, the more his efforts were in vain. His mind was filled with scenes of Mo Xuemin going mad on the rooftop. Rarely had he been so distracted in class, struggling to keep his eyes open and feeling mentally exhausted. It was clear he hadn’t rested well, burdened by immense mental stress.

Back in the dorm, Mo Yin lay down immediately after washing up.

With a competition tomorrow, he needed rest—complete rest. He felt unusually nervous, chaotic moments he couldn’t control always arose during critical moments in his life. It seemed like fate was against him, determined not to let him have an easy time. No, he couldn’t think like that; such thoughts were the precursor to paranoia.

It wasn’t all bad; at least Mo Xuemin had shown up yesterday, not today, giving him a day’s buffer.

“It’s all in the past…”

Mo Yin muttered to himself, closing his eyes tightly. Strangely, the drowsiness that had plagued him during the day suddenly vanished without a trace, replaced by a vivid image in his mind.

It was a pair of eyes, hollow yet intense, silently staring at him.

Mo Yin sat up abruptly, a cold sweat breaking out on his back. The urge to sleep had vanished, leaving only exhaustion.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

Mo Yin got out of bed, knowing it was Li Xiu. Right now, no one dared to approach him except Li Xiu.

Mo Yin wasn’t sure how he appeared to others, but judging from Li Xiu’s expression, it wasn’t good.

“What’s up?” Mo Yin found his voice hoarse, but it didn’t matter.

“Can’t sleep?” Li Xiu asked.

Mo Yin didn’t deny it. In front of Li Xiu, he had almost nothing left to hide.

Li Xiu took a wad of tissues from his pocket and handed them to Mo Yin.

Mo Yin was a bit puzzled. “What’s this for?”

Li Xiu grabbed his wrist, lifting his hand and placing the tissues in his slightly curled palm. Mo Yin then felt something inside the tissues. He unfolded them to find white pills.

“Short-term sleeping pills,” Li Xiu said.

Mo Yin was slightly taken aback. He looked up at Li Xiu. “How short-term?”

“You should sleep for about six hours.”

Mo Yin eyed Li Xiu suspiciously. At this point, he still maintained a basic sense of competition towards Li Xiu and didn’t rule out the possibility of him playing tricks. Call it paranoia, but he stuck to it.

Li Xiu seemed to understand his expression, smiled, and said, “Wait here.”

He turned away, and Mo Yin held onto the tissues and followed.

Li Xiu took out a pillbox from his desk drawer in his room. Mo Yin stood beside him and noticed the box was clean, without any labels. Li Xiu opened it, and Mo Yin leaned closer, sniffing the scent of the pills inside.

“Exactly the same,” Li Xiu said with a smile.

He took out a pill, and swallowed it directly, with a practiced motion. After his Adam’s apple bobbed, he opened his mouth to show Mo Yin his tongue.

Mo Yin didn’t take the pill from the tissues. Instead, he took the pillbox from Li Xiu’s hand, shook it, and took out a pill, mimicking Li Xiu by swallowing it. The pill was dry, dissolving slightly in his saliva, leaving a lingering taste on his tongue.

Li Xiu leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, and asked, “How do you feel?”

Mo Yin replied expressionlessly, “Bitter.”

Li Xiu chuckled. “Then let me treat you to a piece of candy.”