malicious

"Look, it's him..."

"Really? He looks so respectable..."

"I heard he was in jail for eight years! A murderer!"

"How could Qin Zhou have such a brother? It's terrifying..."

"Stay away from him, who knows if he'll suddenly go crazy..."

The voice was low, yet it carried a malicious sharpness, like countless tiny needles piercing Qi Shuo's back.

He could feel the gazes from the windows and doorways—curious, disdainful, fearful, gloating—sticking to him like a tangible object, making him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.

His hands, clasped together on the desk, were slightly white at the knuckles from the force. He lowered his eyelashes, staring at a small, crooked basketball pattern that Qin Zhou had carved with a compass on the desk, trying to isolate himself from the outside world and forcibly suppress his surging emotions.

He couldn't get angry, he couldn't lose his composure. This was school, Jin Jie's class, an important occasion for Qin Zhou and Song Yungui. He couldn't ruin all of this because of himself.

The most important thing he learned during his eight years in prison was patience.

He must endure injustice, endure pain, endure loneliness. At this moment, he must continue to endure.

On the podium, Sister Jin seemed to have noticed the unusual commotion outside the classroom and the subtle exchanges of glances between some parents inside.

Her sharp gaze swept over the students gathered outside the window, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, but she quickly regained her composure, continuing her explanation at the same pace, only her voice was deeper and more powerful than before, as if she wanted to use this power to subdue the crowd.

Just then, the back door of the classroom was gently pushed open a crack from the outside, and a head peeked in. It was Chen Huan, the vice class monitor. She looked a little nervous, quickly walked to the podium, and whispered a few words to Sister Jin.

Sister Jin's face instantly darkened. She nodded, signaling Chen Huan to leave first, then took a deep breath and said into the microphone, "Parents, please wait a moment, I need to take care of something."

Her gaze swept seemingly unintentionally in Qi Shuo's direction, carrying a hint of barely perceptible reassurance, before she quickly walked out of the classroom.

The parents in the classroom exchanged glances and began to whisper among themselves. Qi Shuo's heart sank.

He knew that what was bound to happen would eventually happen.

Outside the classroom, in the hallway.

Led by a few notoriously troublesome boys from the science class, a group of more than a dozen people gathered around the pale-faced class monitor and several students from their own class who were trying to maintain order. Their voices were not loud, but they were full of provocation.

"Chen Huan, move aside! We're just curious and want to ask that 'big brother' inside how he raised such an 'outstanding' younger brother as Qin Zhou?" A tall boy with a buzz cut said sarcastically. He was on the school basketball team and usually didn't get along with Qin Zhou.

"Yeah, right! Share your experience! Let's learn from him and see how we can be like him... um, go in for some advanced training and come out with such 'aura'?" A skinny boy next to him chimed in, causing a burst of suppressed laughter.

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Chen Huan's face turned red with anger. "This is a classroom! A parent-teacher meeting is in progress! Please leave!"

"What's wrong with having a parent-teacher meeting? Can't parents exchange educational experiences at a parent-teacher meeting?" Zhao Qiang scoffed, deliberately raising his voice to make sure it could reach the classroom. "We've heard that this 'parent' inside is incredibly experienced! Eight years! Tsk tsk, that educational experience is unmatched by most people!"

The parents in the classroom heard it clearly and immediately erupted in an uproar.

Shocked, confused, and disgusted gazes were all directed at Qi Shuo, who was sitting by the window.

Qi Shuo's back was stiff, and his hands on the table were clenched into fists.

He could feel the blood rushing to his head, his ears ringing, a fire of humiliation, anger, and powerlessness threatening to engulf him. Eight years… those two words were like the most vicious curse, haunting him no matter how hard he tried to escape them.

Just as the atmosphere became tense and chaos erupted inside and outside the classroom, Sister Jin appeared at the classroom door. Her face was as cold as ice, and her gaze, like two knives, shot straight at the troublemakers.

"What are you doing?!" Sister Jin's voice wasn't loud, but it carried the unique, unquestionable authority of a homeroom teacher, instantly drowning out all the noise.

When those people saw Sister Jin, their arrogance immediately diminished, but they still stubbornly said, "Teacher Jin, we didn't do anything, we just... we just wanted to ask this 'parent' some questions."

"Asking for a question?" Sister Jin sneered, walking step by step in front of them. Her powerful aura made the tall boys unconsciously take a half step back. "Making a scene at the classroom door and disrupting the normal proceedings of the parent-teacher conference, is this how you ask for a question?!"

"Ms. Jin, we didn't spread any rumors!" the boy nicknamed Skinny Monkey retorted stubbornly. "Everyone's saying it! They say he's a convict! He's killed someone! How can someone like that come to our parent-teacher conference? What if..."

"Shut up!" Sister Jin interrupted him sharply, her voice suddenly rising with unprecedented anger, "Is this the quality you students of Beicheng No. 1 Middle School have?!"

Her sharp gaze swept over every student watching the commotion in the corridor, including some from other classes who had rushed over after hearing the news: "Let me tell you, the person sitting inside is Qi Shuo, the older brother of my student Qin Zhou! He's here to attend his younger brother's parent-teacher conference and to share in the joy of Qin Zhou and Song Yungui's excellent academic achievements! His past is none of your business to make unwarranted comments and slanders!"

Sister Jin's voice was strong and resonant, echoing in the corridor: "Everyone has their own past, what matters is the present and the future! Qi Shuo now abides by the law, earns a living through his own labor, and cares about his younger brother's growth. He is sitting here today, a qualified and respectable parent! And what about you? Gathering a crowd to cause trouble, using hurtful words, is this the 'propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame' you've learned?!"

His words were forceful and resounding, leaving Zhao Qiang and the others blushing and speechless. The students who had been watching the commotion in the corridor also lowered their heads, feeling ashamed.

Just then, a clear and calm voice came from the classroom doorway:

"Teacher Jin, it's okay."

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that Qi Shuo had stood up at some point and walked to the classroom door. His face was expressionless, his eyes were as calm as a deep pool, but his face was paler than usual.

He looked calmly at Zhao Qiang and the others, and slowly spoke. His voice was not loud, but strangely, it silenced everyone.

"What they said is true."

One sentence, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, left everyone stunned.

Facing the shocked, fearful, or curious gazes, Qi Shuo continued in his calm tone, "Eight years ago, I was indeed sentenced to eight years in prison for intentional homicide. I was just released not long ago."

He admitted it. He admitted it so calmly and frankly.

The corridor was deathly silent. Everyone was speechless, stunned by his bluntness.

Qi Shuo's gaze swept over the crowd, finally landing on the tall boy's face: "So, I can understand why you are afraid of me and hate me."

He paused, then suddenly changed the subject, his tone still calm but carrying a heavy weight: "But what does this have to do with my brother Qin Zhou's excellence? And what does it have to do with Song Yungui's excellence?"

He raised his hand and pointed to the thick stack of certificates on the desk in the classroom: "Those certificates were earned by Qin Zhou and Song Yungui through their own hard work and sweat. Their achievements and their honors are clean and pure, and cannot be tarnished."

His gaze sharpened, fixed on Zhao Qiang like a hawk: "You question their efforts and tarnish their honor because of your prejudice against me? Is this what you call 'justice'?"

Qi Shuo withdrew his gaze, looked at Sister Jin, and softened his tone, carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue: "Teacher Jin, I'm sorry to have troubled you. The parent-teacher conference... I may not be able to continue attending. I accepted Qin Zhou and Yun Gui's certificates on their behalf, and I'm proud of them. I'll be leaving now."

After saying that, he looked away from everyone, turned around, and walked straight through the silent crowd toward the stairwell. His back was straight, his steps steady, yet he exuded an indescribable loneliness and desolation.

He was still relieved that Qin Zhou and the other kids had gone to play basketball, and that Song Yungui had gone to find Qin Zhou after his speech, otherwise things would have been even more difficult to handle today.

"Xiao Shuo!" Sister Jin called out with heartache.

Qi Shuo paused for a moment, but did not turn around. He simply raised his hand and waved gently to indicate that she should not worry, then continued downstairs and disappeared around the corner of the stairs.

He left. Leaving behind a group of stunned students in the corridor and parents in the classroom with mixed feelings.

Jin Jie stared in the direction Qi Shuo had disappeared, her eyes slightly red. She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her surging emotions, and turned to face the students in the corridor. Her voice regained its composure, yet carried an undeniable sternness: "All students who participated in the disturbance and spread rumors today, come to my office tomorrow morning during self-study! Now, everyone, disperse immediately! The parent-teacher meeting continues!"

Under Sister Jin's intimidating presence, the crowd quickly dispersed. The corridor returned to silence, but a sense of oppression permeated the air.

Inside the classroom, the parent-teacher meeting continued. Ms. Jin tried to maintain her composure and continued her explanation. However, many parents' minds were clearly no longer on the meeting's content. They whispered among themselves, their eyes frequently glancing at the empty seat, their expressions complex.

At this moment, Qi Shuo had already walked out of the teaching building. The afternoon sun was still bright, shining on him, but he felt no warmth at all. He walked to a deserted corner, leaned against the cold wall, slowly squatted down, and buried his face deeply in his knees.

His shoulders trembled almost imperceptibly.

How much courage does it take to admit those words?

How strong a will it takes to face those disdainful looks?

He thought he was strong enough, but when his scars were torn open in public, the pain was still excruciating.

Why is it so difficult to just attend my younger brother's parent-teacher conference in peace and quiet?

He didn't know how much time had passed when a pair of familiar sneakers came into view. He looked up, and through his blurry, tear-filled eyes, he saw Qin Zhou's face, which was etched with anxiety, anger, and heartache. Behind him stood Song Yungui, Cheng Rui, and Lin Zhiyu, all with equally worried expressions.

"Brother Shuo!" Qin Zhou's voice trembled with tears. He hugged Qi Shuo tightly and patted his back forcefully. "I'm so sorry, Brother Shuo! It's all because of me! If I hadn't insisted that you come to the parent-teacher conference..."

Qi Shuo closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of his younger brother's embrace, shook his head, and said in a hoarse voice, "It's none of your business."

The world still harbors too much malice towards him.

Song Yungui silently handed over a pack of tissues.

Qi Shuo took the bag, wiped his face, took a few deep breaths, and tried to calm himself down. He stood up, looked at the two boys in front of him, and forced a smile: "I'm fine. Let's go home."

"Go home? What home?!" Qin Zhou said angrily, his eyes red. "I'm going to settle accounts with those bastards!"

"Xiao Zhou." Qi Shuo pressed his shoulder, shook his head, his eyes tired but firm, "Don't cause trouble. What will you change by hitting them, besides getting trouble for yourself?"

"But that's what they said about you!" Qin Zhou growled in frustration.

"We can't control what others say," Qi Shuo said to Qin Zhou earnestly. "But we can control ourselves. You and Yun Gui, let your results speak for themselves, that's more important than anything else. You were both great today."

Qin Zhou quieted down, kicked the wall hard, and didn't say anything more.

That sudden storm was like a boulder thrown into a lake, the ripples it stirred up lasting a long time.

When Qi Shuo left the school with Qin Zhou and Song Yungui, his steps were much heavier than when he arrived. The sun was still bright, but it seemed as if there was an invisible haze between them, unable to penetrate the chill in their hearts.

As soon as he stepped out of the teaching building, Qi Shuo paused almost imperceptibly. His gaze swept past the noisy crowd and landed on the figure standing quietly under the sycamore tree not far away.

Tan Huaiyu.

He stood there quietly, dressed in a neat school uniform, his figure slender, as if he were about to blend into the dappled shadows of the trees.

He didn't try to get closer as usual, nor did he show that deliberately obedient smile. He just quietly looked at Qi Shuo, his amber eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions—heartache, guilt, worry, and a deep, helpless sorrow.

That gaze, like a fine needle, gently pricked Qi Shuo, not intensely, but with a lingering, aching sensation.