Chapter 23: The boy and girt who arrived early

Tuesday, the second day of school.

Lin You’s adaptability and self-discipline far surpassed that of his peers.

He woke up early, completely unlike the typical elementary school student who needed their family’s prompting.

“Grandma, I’m off to school.”

After brushing his teeth, washing his face, and eating breakfast, the boy shouldered his small backpack and prepared to leave.

“The sky isn’t even fully bright yet. Youyou, go play for a bit first. You don’t have to go so early.”

It was not even seven o’clock, and the sky outside was still dim. His grandmother was worried her good grandson might encounter some danger outside.

“It’s okay. I’ll go to the classroom early to study.”

Lin You mainly didn’t want to go to school during peak hours. If he went earlier, he would encounter fewer peers.

“Then you must be careful. Look both ways before crossing the road, wait…”

His grandmother couldn’t win the argument against her grandson and could only give him a few caring reminders.

The boy went to school alone.

As soon as he stepped out the door, a refreshing, cool breeze greeted him.

The quiet surroundings also made Lin You’s lips curl into a smile unconsciously.

With light steps, the boy, like an agile cat, skillfully used the terrain to take the shortest route to Baiyun Elementary School.

The two-kilometer journey took about fifteen minutes on foot.

The section that worried parents the most was undoubtedly the road with its constant traffic.

However, these difficulties were no match for the precocious and sensible boy.

Before long, Lin You arrived at the school.

His timing was perfect; the gatekeeper had just opened the school gates.

“Well, you’re here early, little one. This is the first time someone has come to school so early.”

The gatekeeper was an elderly woman who greeted the boy with a smile.

“Good morning, Auntie!”

Lin You wasn’t afraid of adults and greeted the gatekeeper politely.

Unlike children, most adults would sympathize with the little boy’s flaw.

“So polite. Have you had breakfast yet? I still have some meat buns here.”

The sensible and sweet-voiced boy immediately won the gatekeeper auntie’s favor, and she enthusiastically invited him to have breakfast with her.

“No, thank you, I’ve already eaten. I’ll go to my classroom now!”

The boy never carelessly accepted the kindness of others.

“This little fellow is really nice. It’s just a pity about that red birthmark on his face. Otherwise, he could have been a child star on TV.”

Only after the boy had walked far away did the gatekeeper auntie mutter to herself sympathetically.

The school building, classroom of Grade One, Class Two.

Lin You was the first one here!

The sun hadn’t even risen yet. The sky was gray, and the classroom was dim.

‘Ah, wrong one.’

Lin You subconsciously walked to a brand-new desk. Just as he was about to sit down, he abruptly realized this spot didn’t belong to him.

His mood, which had been quite good, soured. Lin You walked to the fourth group, to the lonely desk at the very back.

‘Will Yuxiu be the second person to arrive?’

Lin You sat on his stool, his elbows on the desk, his palms cupping his cheeks. His thoughts unconsciously drifted to the few peers at school who were willing to treat him kindly.

At Yuxiu’s house.

“Mom, it’s time to take me to school.”

As if in response to Lin You’s anticipation, Yuxiu also woke up early. After brushing her teeth, washing her face, and eating breakfast, she immediately asked her parent to take her to school.

Her home was a bit far from the school, nearly four kilometers away.

“Hehe, I’ll take you to see Classmate Lin right away. Don’t be in such a hurry.”

Mother Zhong teased her daughter with a smile.

“Stop it. I’m going to school, not specifically to see Classmate Lin.”

Yuxiu was already wearing her little white backpack. Probably embarrassed by her mom’s words, she gripped the straps at the bottom of her bag tightly.

“Let’s go!”

Mother Zhong rode her small electric scooter to take her daughter to school.

At the school gate.

“Well, the students are certainly diligent today.”

The gatekeeper auntie loved to chat. Seeing Yuxiu arrive, she struck up a conversation.

“Auntie, am I the first one here today?”

Yuxiu realized she seemed to have arrived too early. There wasn’t a single peer at the school gate.

“A boy came even earlier than you. He arrived over ten minutes ago.”

The gatekeeper auntie responded truthfully.

“More than ten minutes earlier than me? That’s way too early.”

Yuxiu became interested in the student mentioned by the gatekeeper auntie.

‘Could it be Classmate Lin?’

For some reason, she thought of Lin You. Yesterday afternoon, she had also arrived very early, but the boy had been even earlier.

Without asking the auntie any more questions, the girl dashed into the campus.

Whether it was Lin You or not, the answer would soon be revealed.

The quiet girl soon arrived at the entrance of the classroom for Class Two.

‘It’s not him? It is Classmate Lin!’

Yuxiu made the same mistake as Lin You. She had first looked at her own seat and, seeing the neighboring desk empty, thought she was mistaken.

Until she saw Lin You’s figure in the corner of the classroom.

‘It’s Classmate Zhong.’

Lin You also noticed her and lowered his head guiltily.

Yesterday, during the seat change, he hadn’t been able to stand firm with Yuxiu. It weighed on his conscience, and he was ashamed to face her.

Yuxiu put her backpack in her desk drawer and immediately walked towards the boy’s seat.

Tap, tap, tap…

The girl’s little white shoes made a crisp sound as they hit the floor.

“Good morning, Classmate Lin!”

Yuxiu’s open and graceful greeting was a stark contrast to the silent boy.

“Morning.”

After a second’s hesitation, Lin You responded distractedly.

“Why are you looking down? Am I that scary?”

Yuxiu simply sat down in the seat in front of the boy. They could have been face-to-face, but the boy kept his head lowered.

“I’m sorry.”

Lin You apologized subconsciously. This was for yesterday.

“Why are you suddenly saying that?”

Actually, after her mother’s guidance and a night’s sleep, Yuxiu no longer blamed the boy for yesterday’s events.

“It’s about yesterday at noon, not being able to… with you.”

Lin You felt like a traitor who had let Yuxiu down.

“The seat change was arranged by the teacher, it had nothing to do with you. I stopped being angry a long time ago.”

Yuxiu immediately stated that she had moved on.

“Classmate Lin, lift your head and talk to me. It’s a bit rude like this. I’m going to get angry.”

Yuxiu had been eager to see Lin You because she wanted to show off her new haircut.

It turned out that the girl had gone to the salon yesterday and had her waist-length hair cut to shoulder-length. This way, she could break through Lin You’s “I don’t make friends with girls” defensive shield, right?

“Don’t be angry.”

Lin You didn’t want to offend the girl, so he had no choice but to lift his head.

What came into view was Yuxiu’s pretty and delicate little face.

A naturally beautiful person looks good in any hairstyle.

“Have you noticed anything different about me?”

The girl casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Classmate Zhong, you cut your hair.”

Such a simple question was, of course, no challenge for Lin You.

He just didn’t understand why Yuxiu would get a boyish short haircut. Wasn’t she afraid of being laughed at by the other girls?

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