Chapter 50: Confrontations and Quiet Support

Lunch break finally arrived, and Lin Duo, hand-in-hand with Shen Jing’an, left the classroom. Unexpectedly, a slightly plump figure was already blocking the corridor. Who else could it be but Wang Linshu?

He had dark circles under his eyes, clearly having not rested well, and his voice was hoarse. “Lin Duo! Why aren’t you replying to my messages!”

Lin Duo pretended not to hear, attempting to walk past him, but he abruptly grabbed her wrist. Wang Linshu’s voice, husky with a hint of desperation, pleaded, “What happened yesterday was my fault. Can you forgive me?”

“Let go!” Lin Duo struggled to break free, but her strength was no match for his. “Let go! My wrist hurts!”

Many students in the corridor paused, their curious gazes fixed on them. This feeling of being gawked at, like an animal in a zoo cage, intensified Lin Duo’s humiliation, and tears welled up in her eyes. “Wang Linshu! I truly misjudged you!”

Just then, a tall figure stepped between them. It was Cai Jingyao. “Hey, she told you to let go, didn’t you hear her?”

“What business is it of yours!” Wang Linshu, nearing the edge of his sanity, glared at him with bloodshot eyes.

Cai Jingyao frowned and seized one of Wang Linshu’s arms. Being a basketball player, his wrist strength was immense. Wang Linshu cried out in pain, his grip on Lin Duo’s wrist naturally loosening. Lin Duo finally broke free, hurrying away with Shen Jing’an by her side.

Wang Linshu immediately moved to follow, but Cai Jingyao blocked his path. “No matter what, Lin Duo is a student in our Class 5. You’re not allowed to bully her casually.”

“Get out of my way!” Flames of anger burned in Wang Linshu’s eyes.

Cai Jingyao sneered. “What, you want to fight me? You, a little fatty?”

By this point, Lin Duo had reached the stairwell and did not hear the rest of the conversation. Shen Jing’an, meanwhile, was fiercely defending her roommate. “That dead fatty! He usually seems so honest and mild-mannered, but he acts so recklessly! I’d reject him too! Alright, alright, there are so many people around. Don’t cry now; save your tears for the dorm, okay? Be good!”

Back in the familiar comfort of their dorm room, Lin Duo could no longer hold back her emotions. She buried her face in her pillow, beginning to sob softly. Shen Jing’an, ever thoughtful, continuously handed her tissues, discarding the soaked ones as she offered endless comfort. “There, there, try to look on the bright side! Just look at you, all tear-streaked and delicate; even I, a girl, feel a pang of sympathy. By the way, want some cookies?”

Lin Duo lifted her tear-stained face and nodded vigorously.

Perhaps sorrow amplified her appetite, for Lin Duo, who usually had a small stomach, devoured an entire box of cookies in just a few bites. She didn’t forget to reach out for more. “Another box!”

Shen Jing’an, feeling a little pained, retrieved another box from the bedside cabinet and handed it over. “Save half of this one! I haven’t had lunch yet either.”

With her stomach full, Lin Duo’s mood seemed to improve. She finally stopped crying, dabbed away her tears with a tissue, and began to confide in Shen Jing’an. “I really can’t agree to be with him. Why can’t he understand me? We were deskmates for a year in junior high, and I truly didn’t want to lose such a good friend, which is why I kept in touch with him. But I never imagined he’d treat me like this. Must I really cut all ties with him forever?”

Shen Jing’an naturally sided with her roommate. “Exactly! If a girl doesn’t like a boy, not even the Jade Emperor as a matchmaker or the Buddha’s persuasion can change her heart. But those boys just don’t get it; they always think that as long as they persevere and are willing to give, they’ll definitely win over the girl they like. Hmph, how naive! Get dressed!”

Although their individual expressions differed, they found common ground in their stance. Holding each other’s hands, a camaraderie akin to wartime comradeship blossomed between them.

****

At 1:20 PM, Lin Duo returned to class. However, the moment she stepped through the door, countless gazes shot towards her, accompanied by a murmur of whispers.

Under Shen Jing’an’s repeated reassurances, Lin Duo had managed to calm herself. She tried to act normal, sitting at her desk, picking up her textbook, and doing her best to ignore the various comments.

A moment later, Cai Jingyao approached Lin Duo’s desk. “I heard about what happened last night from a friend in Class 6. That Wang Linshu really went too far. Drunkenness is no excuse. If he dares to bother you again, you can just call me. You have my number.”

After entering high school, Lin Duo’s phone had gained many contacts, including several class committee members and girls from nearby dorms.

Lin Duo’s feelings were, in fact, quite conflicted. She hesitated before asking softly, “Um, thank you for what you did at noon, but what happened afterward?”

“Afterward? That kid actually tried to lay hands on me, but his friends pulled him away.” A look of disdain crossed Cai Jingyao’s face as he spoke. “Luckily that brute didn’t actually strike, or he would have been in for a world of pain today.”

In terms of height and physique, Cai Jingyao indeed far surpassed Wang Linshu.

“Um, we’re all classmates, so it’s better not to resort to violence. Otherwise, the teachers will get angry…” Deep down, Lin Duo still felt a little worried for her old deskmate.

“Don’t worry, I would never strike first. But if he doesn’t know what’s good for him, that’s another matter entirely.” With that, Cai Jingyao flashed his signature sunny smile. “Also, don’t forget about the cheerleading squad. How many girls you can unite depends entirely on your personal charm.”

The third period in the afternoon was math. Teacher Lu walked to the podium and, instead of rushing into the lesson, began to speak. “At the beginning of the semester, I mentioned that we teachers generally adopt a neutral stance on puppy love—neither supporting nor opposing it. You’ve reached an age where many things cannot be suppressed; trying too hard to block them can actually backfire. This is known in psychology as the ‘bridge-burning effect.'”

“However, you are students, and your studies come first. Your parents work hard to provide for your education so that you can get into good universities, not to pursue some so-called passionate romance. Therefore, even if some of you like each other, you must be mindful of the boundaries and the impact, and not feel the need to broadcast it to the entire school.”

“Alright, enough said. Now, please turn to page 133 of your textbooks…”

Although the homeroom teacher didn’t name anyone specifically, many students still secretly glanced in Lin Duo’s direction. Lin Duo could only mentally repeat, ‘He’s not talking about me, he’s not talking about me,’ trying her best to focus on her textbook.

The day passed quickly. While other students might gossip behind her back, they maintained an innocent and friendly demeanor in front of Lin Duo. After evening self-study, the study committee member, Sun Shida, walked to Lin Duo’s desk and stated expressionlessly, “Oral practice, coming or not?”

“Going! Of course, I’m going!” Lin Duo had always been diligent about her studies.

The night was still hazy as the two sat in a small, lush pavilion. Sun Shida was exceptionally prepared today, pulling a printed document from his backpack and handing it to Lin Duo. “This is a beginner’s oral English tutorial I found online. I’ll teach you from it from now on. Hmm, first, read these few words; I want to check your pronunciation…”

Today’s oral English session ran overtime once again. Sun Shida didn’t finish explaining the first part of the tutorial until nearly 11 PM, and throughout the entire process, he spoke of nothing unrelated to studying.

After he finished teaching, Lin Duo politely thanked him. “Teacher Jessica said it was half an hour every day, but you spent so much time on me. Thank you so much!”

“Hmph, whose fault is it that your oral English foundation is so terrible?” Sun Shida never minced his words. “I need to rush back to the dorm to continue studying. You should go.”