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With over a thousand students in the entire grade, maintaining first place for two consecutive years is no small feat.
Zhuang Wen Zhao could hardly imagine how difficult that was.
All he knew was that his youngest son, Zhuang Yu’hang, was still in elementary school, with over forty students in his class.
By looking at Zhuang Yu’hang’s exam rankings, one could easily gauge how many students were in his class.
“Mr. Zhuang, you have never attended a parent-teacher meeting, but many parents of students in our class actually want to meet you,” Zhang Zhiyuan said in a serious tone.
“Meet me?” Zhuang Wen Zhao was taken aback. “Why?”
“They want to ask you how you raised such an outstanding child,” Zhang Zhiyuan said with a mocking smile. “Isn’t that a bit ironic?”
Zhuang Wen Zhao’s expression was far from pleasant, alternating between green and white.
For a moment, he didn’t know how to refute.
From childhood to now, his method of educating Zhuang Zi’ang had been to remain indifferent and uninvolved.
He only knew that Zhuang Zi’ang’s grades seemed quite good and that he could help Zhuang Yu’hang with his homework.
He had never realized that his son could be so outstanding that others would envy him.
“Mr. Zhuang, if this isn’t enough, I can show you some photos,” Zhang Zhiyuan said.
He took out his phone, flipped to a dedicated album, and handed it to Zhuang Wen Zhao.
It contained photos of Zhuang Zi’ang’s award-winning moments from various competitions over the past two years.
He had won numerous honors not only for himself but also for his class and school.
Yet, at every award ceremony, there were no family members to cheer him on.
“Other children, even if they win a third-place prize, receive hugs and encouragement from their parents,” Zhang Zhiyuan continued.
“Every time Zhuang Zi’ang wins first place, he stands alone on the stage, enviously watching others.”
“Almost every time, it was I, his homeroom teacher, who accompanied him.”
“Please ask yourself: Are you truly a qualified father?”
Faced with Zhang Zhiyuan’s questioning, Zhuang Wen Zhao was speechless.
Listening to the teacher’s words, Zhuang Zi’ang tried hard to control himself, but his eyes still reddened.
Isn’t family affection something inherent?
Why is it that things others get so easily, he has to struggle so hard for, yet still receives nothing?
But at this moment, Zhuang Zi’ang had completely given up hope.
He no longer yearned for his father’s approval, nor did he want to see his mother, whom he hadn’t seen in years.
After all, he had never been their pride.
Silence fell over the office for a long moment.
Zhuang Wen Zhao finally spoke up, “Teacher, even though Zhuang Zi’ang’s grades are good, that is not an excuse for him to defy his parents and run away from home.”
“If I lived in a family like that, I would also run away,” Zhang Zhiyuan retorted angrily.
“What? How can you, as a teacher, say such a thing?” Zhuang Wen Zhao fumed.
“Because I am a teacher, I am still speaking to you politely; otherwise, my words would be much harsher,” Zhang Zhiyuan shot back, refusing to back down.
Zhuang Zi’ang was the best student in his class, and he had learned about his family situation in detail early on.
Upon discovering that Zhuang Zi’ang had grown up in such a twisted family environment yet still managed to work hard and stay positive, he felt an immense sense of pity.
Not everyone is qualified to be a parent.
At that moment, Qin Shulan’s phone rang, the piercing ringtone shattering the heavy silence in the room.
She answered, said a few words, and quickly hung up.
Then, she leaned close to Zhuang Wen Zhao’s ear and whispered, “Yu’hang got into a fight at school, and the teacher wants us to come immediately.”
Zhuang Wen Zhao glared fiercely at Zhuang Zi’ang. “I’ll ask again: Are you coming home or not?”
“No, that’s not my home,” Zhuang Zi’ang said firmly.
“Fine, if you’re not coming home today, then never come back,” Zhuang Wen Zhao slammed his chair, turned, and left.
Qin Shulan followed, her expression betraying an unmistakable sense of schadenfreude.
Silhouetted against the light, watching Zhuang Wen Zhao’s back, Zhuang Zi’ang suddenly spoke, “Dad, has there ever been a single moment when you felt even a little bit pleased to have a son like me?”
Zhuang Wen Zhao stopped, but he didn’t turn around or answer.
“Forget it, you can go.” Zhuang Zi’ang’s eyes lost their last glimmer of hope.
“If you don’t love me, why did you bring me into this world?”
Zhuang Wen Zhao paused for a few seconds before walking away resolutely.
After all, Zhuang Zi’ang was eighteen years old and capable of taking care of himself.
Zhuang Yu’hang, on the other hand, was only ten. If he got injured in a fight at school, he needed to be there immediately.
Only Zhang Zhiyuan and Zhuang Zi’ang remained in the office.
All the anger had dissipated.
“Zhuang Zi’ang, don’t be sad. There are still many people who love you in this world, like me and Li Huang Xuan. Think about us,” Zhang Zhiyuan gently consoled him.
“Teacher Zhang, thank you,” Zhuang Zi’ang gritted his teeth, his jaw trembling slightly.
He was trying hard to hold back his tears.
No matter how tough he pretended to be in front of Zhuang Wen Zhao, he was still a vulnerable child at heart.
“Teacher Zhang, can I take a leave of absence this afternoon? I’m in no state to attend class.”
“Okay, I’ll write you a leave slip. Take some time to relax.”
Leaving the office, Zhuang Zi’ang walked aimlessly, appearing lost and dejected.
Passing a classroom, he heard a class singing an old song with a strong sense of nostalgia.
*Little child, did you cry today?
Have your friends all left, leaving you with unbearable loneliness?
Pretty child, did you cry today?
Did you soil your beautiful clothes, with nowhere to confide?*
…
A ding! Zhuang Zi’ang’s phone in his pocket received a message.
Xiao Yudie: Zhuang Zi’ang, you big dummy, aren’t you feeling down again?
Zhuang Zi’ang quickly typed a reply: How did you know? I took the afternoon off.
Xiao Yudie: Come meet me outside the wall. It’s too high; I’m scared to jump down.
Zhuang Zi’ang quickly looked towards the northwest corner of the basketball court, but it was empty.
Tall ginkgo trees swayed gently in the breeze.
Holding the leave slip Zhang Zhiyuan had given him, he exited the school gates, took a detour, and arrived at the place where he had jumped the wall two days earlier.
From afar, he saw Su Yudie sitting on the wall.
Her small feet, clad in white canvas shoes, swung rhythmically in midair.
“The wall is so high; how did you get up there?” Zhuang Zi’ang asked curiously.
“I stole a ladder from the equipment room,” Su Yudie explained with a laugh.
Zhuang Zi’ang was even more puzzled.
Wouldn’t a school beauty like her, carrying a ladder across the playground, be caught by the security guards?
“What are you spacing out for? Catch me quickly!” Su Yudie urged.
“Oh!” Zhuang Zi’ang quickly stretched out his arms, signaling her to jump.
Su Yudie leaped, landing precisely in Zhuang Zi’ang’s arms.
She was very light, and holding her was effortless.
Gazing up close at her flawlessly exquisite face, Zhuang Zi’ang’s breathing grew heavy, and his heart pounded.
“Are you just going to keep holding me like this?” Su Yudie’s cheeks flushed.
Zhuang Zi’ang finally snapped back to reality, hastily setting her down.
The spring breeze ruffled the girl’s hair, and it also stirred the young man’s heart.