Small note
The classroom was still quiet when the math teacher came in with a triangle ruler and a lesson plan. A piece of chalk hit the blackboard with a bang.
"Everyone, wake up! You're so listless in the first class!" the teacher shouted. "Class starts!"
A few "Hello, teacher".
Jiang Yibai sat in the back row, unconsciously spinning a pen between his fingers. Next to him, Lu Panji leaned forward, whispering to him about how much he had missed a shot during the game.
Jiang Yibai didn't listen. His eyes fell on the corner by the window two groups ahead.
Lin Xiyan sat upright, like a young poplar. He had a math book spread out before him, a pen in hand, a poised and ready attitude. But Jiang Yibai noticed that the small patch of skin behind his ear still had a hint of pale red that hadn't faded completely.
Just now under the tree, when he approached, that patch of skin turned red instantly, and it hasn't completely faded yet.
...so easily shy.
The teacher started talking about sets, basic stuff, nothing too difficult. Many people in the class started to lose focus: some were passing notes, some were reading novels, some were sneaking out their phones.
Jiang Yibai saw Lin Xiyan burying her head, taking notes quickly, stroke by stroke, and extremely neatly. It seemed like she would be missing out if she didn't copy down every word the teacher said.
So obedient, Jiang Yibai thought. Obedient to the point of being a bit rigid.
After the teacher finished explaining a concept, he tapped the blackboard and asked, "Can a student please explain how to understand this union?"
The crowd suddenly became quieter, and everyone lowered their heads, fearing that they would be targeted.
The teacher's eyes swept around the classroom.
Jiang Yibai saw Lin Xiyan's shoulders hunch, his head lowered even lower, almost hiding behind the classmate in front of him. His presence was reduced to zero.
"Lin Xiyan." The teacher chose his name and said, "You tell me."
The furry head in the corner suddenly looked up, its eyes widening slightly in surprise. He was stunned for two seconds before slowly standing up and pressing his fingers hard on the table.
The entire class's gaze was more or less focused on him. He was clearly uncomfortable being watched by so many people, his eyes lowered, staring at his desk.
"It's... the set composed of all the elements of two sets." The voice was not loud, but clear, with a barely perceptible vibrato, like a taut string.
"Yes, that's right." The teacher nodded, "Sit down."
Lin Xiyan sat down immediately, very quickly, as if relieved. He raised his hand and quickly rubbed the tip of his nose with his fingertips, which seemed to be a little sweaty.
Jiang Yibai looked at him, looking like he had survived a disaster, and the corners of his mouth moved very slightly, almost imperceptibly.
Make a mountain out of a molehill.
The teacher talked for a few more minutes and then assigned some classroom exercises for everyone to do.
The sound of flipping through exercise books could be heard in the classroom.
Jiang Yibai didn't move. This question was too easy; he was too lazy to do it. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes drifting to the corner again.
Lin Xiyan had already buried his head in writing, his face focused. As he wrote, he seemed to pause, his pen pausing as he unconsciously bit his lower lip. He pondered for a few seconds before continuing.
Jiang Yibai looked at his serious and clumsy look, and remembered how he had frowned at the physics problem under the tree just now.
This person is not stupid, he can even be said to be smart. But he is too stubborn and tends to get stuck in a rut.
After a while, the teacher started to walk around and see how everyone was doing.
He walked to Lin Xiyan, stopped, bent down and took a look.
"Well, the idea is right, but the substitution step is a bit roundabout. There is a simpler method." The teacher pointed to his notebook.
Lin Xiyan looked up and listened very seriously, then nodded.
The teacher walked away.
Jiang Yibai saw Lin Xiyan watching him solve the problem, and his brows knitted together again. He held the pen, as if he wanted to revise it, but he didn't know where to start. He felt a little distressed.
He moved his fingers and tore a small piece of paper from his draft book. He picked up a pen and quickly wrote a more concise formula, then folded it twice.
The teacher moved to the other side of the classroom.
Jiang Yibai gently poked the back of the student in front of him with the pen cap. The boy turned around, a little confused.
Jiang Yibai didn't say anything, handed over the folded note, and signaled Lin Xiyan's direction with his eyes.
The boy was stunned for a moment, looked at the note, then looked at Jiang Yibai's expressionless face. As if he suddenly realized something, he took the note, bent down, rubbed against Lin Xiyan, and put the note on his desk.
Lin Xiyan was worried about the questions when he was startled by the note that was suddenly placed in front of him. He looked up at the boy who passed the note, his eyes blank.
The boy has already slipped back to his seat.
Lin Xiyan looked at the small note hesitantly, then quickly glanced around, as if he was afraid of some kind of prank. He touched the note with his finger but didn't open it immediately.
Jiang Yibai watched from behind, a little impatient. What are you dawdling for?
Lin Xiyan seemed to have made up his mind and carefully opened the note. Seeing the handwriting and formula on it, he was obviously stunned. He stared at the note for several seconds, then turned his head abruptly and looked in the direction of Jiang Yibai.
Jiang Yibai didn't avoid his gaze and looked at him expressionlessly.
Their eyes met in the air.
Lin Xiyan turned back as if struck by lightning, his ears turning red again at a visible speed. He stared at the slip of paper, his fingers clenched tightly, then picked up a pen and, comparing it to the instructions on the slip, quickly revised his solution.
This time it went much smoother.
After finishing the last step, he put down his pen and looked at the much clearer solution process, his shoulders relaxed slightly. He hesitated for a moment, then quickly glanced back at Jiang Yibai.
Jiang Yibai still looked at him in the same posture.
Lin Xiyan immediately turned back, this time even the back of his neck was slightly red. He lowered his head, carefully and slowly smoothed out the small piece of paper, and then tucked it into his math book. His movements were very gentle.
The bell rang for the end of get out of class.
The teacher stayed in class for a few minutes before announcing the end of get out of class.
The classroom was in an uproar again.
Lin Xiyan sat in her seat and packed her things slowly, not in a hurry to leave like last time.
Jiang Yibai threw the pen into his pencil case and zipped it up. Lu Panji couldn't wait any longer and pulled his arm: "Hurry, hurry, go to the bathroom! I'm dying of holding it!"
Jiang Yibai was pulled up by him and walked out of the classroom.
He didn't stop when he passed by Lin Xiyan's seat.
Lin Xiyan seemed to take a deep breath and suddenly raised his head. The sound was not loud, but clear enough, and fell behind him.
"Um...thank you."
He spoke a little quickly, then lowered his head again, pretending to adjust the straps of his schoolbag.
Jiang Yibai paused for a moment, didn't turn around, and only said a faint "hmm" in response. Then he was dragged out of the classroom by Lu Panji.
The corridor was filled with noise.
Lu Panji was still mumbling something.
Jiang Yibai didn't listen.
All he could think about was the quick and light "thank you" and the redness on the back of his neck.
Tsk, it really is like a cat.
It shrinks back when touched.
But at least, she stretched out her paw and took what he handed over.
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