Mandatory care

Lu Panji choked back at the word "noisy." He turned back to scratch his head at his paper in frustration, but he couldn't help but secretly glance at Jiang Yibai. His brother Jiang was acting so strangely today. He'd actually taken the initiative to teach the second-highest grade, and even stood so close to him! The way he spoke...hiss! Lu Panji rubbed his arms, goosebumps breaking out.

Jiang Yibai ignored him. He leaned back in his chair, his fingers unconsciously twirling a pen, his eyes staring blankly ahead. His mind was still on the scene just now—Lin Xiyan's slightly red earlobes, her eyelashes fluttering as she whispered a rebuttal, and that final, clear "thank you."

A little... not enough.

He glanced at his phone on the table and suppressed the urge to go over and tease the man again. He couldn't rush, or he'd be in trouble if he scared him off. He had to take it slow, like feeding a cat, letting him get used to his presence, to his proximity.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to focus back on his paper, even though there were few things he needed to correct.

The discussion in the classroom gradually died down. Most people had finished their revisions and started to work on their own things. Occasionally, a student would ask the teacher a question.

Jiang Yibai kept an eye on the corner.

Lin Xiyan still had his head lowered, pen in hand, comparing it to the draft Jiang Yibai had just written for him, correcting the mistakes bit by bit, his expression focused. Occasionally, he would pause and look at a certain part, as if trying to digest it. His serious expression was a bit dull, but also a bit... cute.

Jiang Yibai felt his throat was a little dry. He picked up the water glass and took another sip.

After a while, he saw Lin Xiyan put down his pen, carefully folded the revised paper, and put it in his folder. Then, instead of immediately picking up the book for the next subject as usual, he sat there, his fingers pinching the zipper of his school uniform, sliding it up and down unconsciously, his eyes a little blank, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

It started again. That state of isolating myself.

Jiang Yibai frowned. Just when he was showing some signs of life, he withdrew again?

He stood up again without hesitation.

Lu Panji learned his lesson this time. He didn't say anything, but just stared with wide eyes at his brother Jiang as he walked straight towards the corner again.

Jiang Yibai walked over, this time not approaching so abruptly. He stopped beside Lin Xiyan's desk, curled his fingers, and tapped the surface with his knuckles.

Two knocks.

Lin Xiyan snapped back to reality and looked up. Seeing him again, a flicker of surprise flashed across his eyes, along with a subtle glimmer... a glimmer that he himself might not have been aware of? Like some kind of anticipation?

"Have you finished grading the papers?" Jiang Yibai asked, his voice returning to its usual coldness, but if you listened carefully, there was something else hidden underneath.

"...Yeah." Lin Xiyan nodded, and his fingers subconsciously touched the folder.

"Do you understand everything?" Jiang Yibai asked, his eyes fixed on his face, not missing any subtle expression.

Lin Xiyan felt a little uncomfortable being stared at by him, so she looked away and said "hmm" softly.

"Okay," Jiang Yibai seemed to be waiting for this. He very naturally pulled out the English workbook for the next class from his desk, flipped to a page, and pointed his finger at one of the cloze questions. "This question, the second blank, what do you choose? Why?"

He asked the question confidently, as if the person who had just given the sticky lecture was not him.

Lin Xiyan was stunned. He looked at the question, then at him, his eyes confused, as if he didn't understand why the top student in the grade would ask him an English question. This question wasn't difficult.

"You... won't?" he asked in a low voice, a little incredulous.

"No." Jiang Yibai remained calm and looked back at him calmly, "Hurry up and tell me."

Lin Xiyan looked at the question hesitantly, then looked at Jiang Yibai with an attitude of "I just want to listen to you", so she had no choice but to lower her head, get close to the exercise book, and read it carefully.

He was very focused when he looked at the questions, frowning slightly and reading the options and context in a low voice.

Jiang Yibai stood beside him, looking down at him. He could see the soft top of his hair, his eyelashes as thick as a small fan. Closer, he could smell the faint scent of soapberry, mixed with the sweetness of freshly drunk milk.

"Here," Lin Xiyan looked at it for a while, then stretched out her slender white finger and pointed at a clue word in the article. "This adverb indicates a transition, so the preceding word should be..."

He began to explain, his voice was a little soft and uncertain at first, but as he spoke, his speech became smoother, his logic clearer, and he grasped the key points accurately.

Jiang Yibai didn't listen to what he said at all. He was only watching his lips move and listening to his clear and gentle voice. The itchy feeling in his heart came back.

"...So you should choose B." Lin Xiyan finished speaking, raised her head, and looked at Jiang Yibai, as if waiting for confirmation. Her amber eyes sparkled, with a hint of the glimmer of concentration after explaining.

Jiang Yibai was caught off guard by those eyes, and his heart skipped a beat. He hastily looked away, looking at the exercise book, and mumbled, "Not bad."

Lin Xiyan seemed to be relieved, but pursed her lips a little embarrassedly.

"And this question," Jiang Yibai pressed on, pointing to another question. "What do you think about this reading comprehension question about the main idea?"

He was just making small talk, wanting to hear him say a few more words and watch him immersed in something and no longer shrinking away.

Lin Xiyan lowered his head again and read the article carefully. This time, he didn't hesitate as much. After reading for a while, he organized his words and analyzed it quietly.

Jiang Yibai still didn't really listen to what was said. His eyes fell on his eyelashes that trembled slightly as he spoke, and on his lips that were slightly pursed because of his concentration.

Occasionally, a classmate would pass by and look at them curiously. Jiang Yibai would give them a cold glance, and those people would immediately walk away.

The entire corner seemed to have formed a subtle aura that belonged only to the two of them.

Lin Xiyan finished the second question and looked up at him again.

Jiang Yibai still said: "Yeah, almost."

He closed the exercise book, as if finally satisfied, but he stood there without moving.

Lin Xiyan looked at him, with a questioning look in her eyes, and a subtle hint of dependence? It was as if she had become accustomed to his sudden appearance and questions.

Jiang Yibai's Adam's apple rolled, and he suddenly spoke, his voice low enough for only the two of them to hear: "What do you want to eat tomorrow morning?"

Lin Xiyan was completely stunned, her eyes slightly widened, as if she didn't understand what he was saying. Her ears began to turn red at a visible speed.

"Ah?" He uttered a short breath.

"Soy milk? Or porridge? Or something else?" Jiang Yibai asked, his tone as casual as if he were discussing a topic. "That shop also has rice balls."

“No… no need…” Lin Xiyan hurriedly shook her head, twisting her fingers together, “I… I can do it myself…”

"About bringing an extra portion." Jiang Yibai interrupted him, his tone flat but with an air of impermissibility. "Soy milk, please. Hot."

After saying this, he seemed to have unilaterally finalized the matter. Without giving Lin Xiyan another chance to refuse, he turned around and left with the exercise book.

Lin Xiyan froze in place, staring at his back. His ears were red, and his lips moved several times, but in the end, he said nothing. His heartbeat was just pounding, fast and loud, vibrating his eardrums.

Jiang Yibai returned to his seat and threw the exercise book back onto the table, feeling his palms sweat. He even felt that his previous move was a bit harsh, like a bully being force-fed.

Lu Panji turned her head and looked at him with a complicated expression, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

"What are you looking at?" Jiang Yibai said coldly.

"Brother Jiang," Lu Panji couldn't help but asked in a very small voice after holding it in for a long time, "Are you...are you..." He wanted to ask "Are you attracted to her?", but facing Jiang Yibai's face that had no expression but inexplicably revealed a bit of fierceness, he didn't dare to ask.

Jiang Yibai glanced at him and said, "What is it? Shut up."

Lu Panji shrank his neck and turned back, muttering to himself: It's over, Brother Jiang is definitely not normal.

Jiang Yibai leaned back in his chair, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the knuckles that had just tapped Lin Xiyan's desk.

The second step of the support plan is compulsory care.

It should be... okay, right?

He turned his head and looked towards the corner.

Lin Xiyan was still sitting stiffly with his head down, but one of his hands was unconsciously touching the piece of table top that he had just knocked with his knuckles.

Jiang Yibai's lips curled up slightly.

It seems that the effect is okay.