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Zhuang Zi’ang held his phone, hesitating for a moment before dialing the contact saved as “Dad.”
The body and skin are gifts from one’s parents. (This is a traditional Chinese saying emphasizing filial piety.)
After something like this happened, it was necessary to inform him.
The phone rang for a long time before it was answered.
It was clear that the surrounding environment was very noisy.
“Dad, I got my test results back; the doctor said…”
“Is it nothing serious?” Zhuang Wen Zhao impatiently interrupted Zhuang Zi’ang.
“You’re so young; any illness will pass in a couple of days.”
“Going to the hospital is a waste of money. Do you think I earn money easily?”
“Eight bamboos, pong.” (This refers to a mahjong tile and action, indicating he’s playing mahjong.)
Hearing Zhuang Wen Zhao’s words, Zhuang Zi’ang’s heart grew colder.
If it weren’t for shared blood, he wouldn’t want anything to do with this man.
Paternal love is like a mountain. (This is a common Chinese idiom.)
His mountain, however, was more like an active volcano.
Zhuang Zi’ang sighed and continued, “Do you have my mother’s phone number?”
“No, why mention that woman? Five thousand.”
“Damn it, another winning hand.”
“I’m busy; I’ll hang up if there’s nothing else.”
Zhuang Wen Zhao hurriedly hung up the phone.
Zhuang Zi’ang listened to the busy signal, a bitter smile playing on his lips.
It’s me who has nothing left and will soon be gone.
After the age of five, Zhuang Zi’ang never saw his mother, Xu Hui, again, only speaking to her intermittently over the phone a few times.
The last time he called her was three years ago.
The call lasted 1 minute and 36 seconds.
Xu Hui went to great lengths to hide from her current husband that she had such a grown son.
Zhuang Zi’ang asked Zhuang Wen Zhao for Xu Hui’s number simply to inform her that he had only three months left to live.
After all, it was this woman who gave him life.
Even though she wasn’t entirely willing at first, having become pregnant out of wedlock, she had contemplated abortion several times.
Most professions in this world require training and exams before one can start working.
For example, driving requires a license, and teaching requires a teaching qualification certificate.
Yet to become a parent, no exams are necessary; a moment of impulse or an accident can bring a new life into this world.
Very few people consider whether that child wants to come.
From the time Zhuang Zi’ang could remember, his parents argued almost every day without end.
The furniture in the house was often in disarray, and the floor was littered with shards of glass and ceramic.
It wasn’t until he was five years old that they finally parted ways for good.
During the divorce, neither Zhuang Wen Zhao nor Xu Hui wanted Zhuang Zi’ang, as having a burden would interfere with their plans to start new families.
In the end, it was only after the intervention of his grandparents, who argued for the continuation of the family line, that they persuaded Zhuang Wen Zhao to keep Zhuang Zi’ang.
A year later, Zhuang Wen Zhao brought home a heavily made-up woman.
Two years later, they had their own son.
In a family of four, he felt like an outsider.
In fairy tales, children with stepmothers often lead miserable lives.
So Zhuang Zi’ang had been cautious from a young age, working hard at school and winning awards year after year, while also taking the initiative to do chores and care for his younger brother.
Yet to this day, his brother had never called him “brother.”
A life like this had little to hold onto.
Death might be a form of liberation.
In these last three months, Zhuang Zi’ang didn’t want to care about anyone else’s opinions; he just wanted to live for himself.
“Son, what on earth are you wearing? Aren’t you afraid Old Zhang will go after you?”
Li Huang Xuan was Zhuang Zi’ang’s deskmate and best friend, often referring to each other as father and son.
As soon as he entered the classroom and saw Zhuang Zi’ang in that floral shirt, he thought he must be seeing things.
Zhuang Zi’ang was known as the model student in the teachers’ eyes—well-behaved, rule-abiding, and someone who had never done anything out of line.
“Son, I’m sick and just wanted to change my mood,” Zhuang Zi’ang explained with a smile to Li Huang Xuan.
“Not bad, very stylish! If you add a big gold chain around your neck, it would be even more impressive,” Li Huang Xuan laughed as he teased.
At that moment, the class bell rang.
The schedule was written on the far right side of the blackboard, showing that the next two periods would be math class.
“Extinction Master” Wu Qiufang walked up to the podium, clutching her textbook.
Math class had a remarkably hypnotic effect.
Only five minutes had passed, and more than half of the students were already dozing off.
Taking advantage of Wu Qiufang’s turn to write on the board, Zhuang Zi’ang reached over and pulled out a copy of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils from Li Huang Xuan’s desk.
Flipping through the pages, he landed on a classic scene.
“The Eighteen Riders of Yanyun, charging forward like tigers amidst the wind and smoke.”
“Son, are you out of your mind? Reading a novel in Extinction Master’s class?” Li Huang Xuan whispered, unable to believe his eyes.
Zhuang Zi’ang had always sat upright and focused in class before.
Had taking a day off made him lose his mind?
Zhuang Zi’ang didn’t care about that anymore; he wanted to experience everything he had wanted to do but had been too afraid to try.
Burn, my youth.
“Young Master Murong, Chief Zhuang, and Old Monster Ding, with the three of you together, what do I, Xiao, have to fear?”
Just as Zhuang Zi’ang was engrossed in an exciting scene, he suddenly felt a wave of murderous intent approaching.
He looked up to meet Wu Qiufang’s piercing gaze.
“Zhuang Zi’ang, come up to the blackboard and solve this problem.”
Teachers at the podium often had a keen eye for spotting students’ little distractions.
Wu Qiufang was very disappointed; today, the one goofing off was actually the best student in the class.
Zhuang Zi’ang walked up to the podium, glanced at the problem, and then smoothly wrote out the solution process.
After answering, he tossed the chalk aside with a flourish: “If anyone doesn’t understand, just ask me.”
His attitude was incredibly arrogant.
Seeing Zhuang Zi’ang’s perfectly correct answer, Wu Qiufang’s face turned grim: “Zhuang Zi’ang, your math scores have always been the best in the class. Please share your learning experience. Surely it’s not by reading novels in class?”
“Teacher Wu, actually, I don’t like math at all,” Zhuang Zi’ang replied, turning around.
“What did you say?” Wu Qiufang asked in surprise.
“I said I’m completely uninterested in math. This stuff, besides torturing my brain cells, has no practical use at all. My decent scores are only due to the poor performance of my classmates,” Zhuang Zi’ang answered loudly.
These words not only challenged the teacher but also offended the entire class.
It was incredibly audacious.
Wu Qiufang slammed the podium in anger: “I’m confiscating the novel, and you’re going to stand outside the classroom and listen to the lecture.”
“What the heck, that’s my book!” Li Huang Xuan exclaimed anxiously.
“It’s fine, I’ll sneak it back from her office later,” Zhuang Zi’ang whispered.
Then, with a swagger, he tossed Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils onto the podium and sauntered out of the classroom.
The air outside was much fresher than inside.
Wu Qiufang stared at Zhuang Zi’ang’s unruly behavior, somewhat dazed.
This was the best student in this graduating class; why did he seem like a completely different person?
The classmates whispered amongst themselves.
“What’s wrong with Zhuang Zi’ang? He’s acting like a hooligan.”
“He took a sick day yesterday. He must have a fever that fried his brain.”
“You know, he was actually pretty cool just now.”
…
Zhuang Zi’ang stood in the corridor outside the classroom, admiring the sunlight illuminating the leaves and grass, a vibrant scene of life.
Such a beautiful day, wasted on this detention.
Should he just skip class?