To avoid suspicion, Zhou Lin said he wouldn't be coming to school for the time being.
The rumors just won't stop.
At the time, someone happened to be recording a video at the finish line, and since the teachers at the sports meet weren't strict about cell phones, the video of Lin Shih-Jin and Zhou Lin kissing quickly spread on the forum. Unexpectedly, the collection of photos about the two didn't stop there. Someone uploaded several sets of photos of them walking home from school together. Among them, the photo of Zhou Lin giving Lin Shih-Jin his schoolbag in front of the apartment building was highlighted, directly indicating that the two were in a romantic relationship.
The comments section was flooded with messages of blessing, gossip, and sarcastic remarks.
"My goodness, so the two of them had been secretly having an affair all along! Lin Shih-jen just got into the top class, and he took first place in the grade in just one month. I guess I was blind to his talent."
An ID with a string of letters at the top of its page spread rumors without warning: "I always thought she was innocent and pure, I never expected her to be so proactive!"
"The person upstairs must be a fangirl of Zhou Lin, talking so sourly. Today's incident was clearly an accident."
"Stop spouting conspiracy theories. I'm male. Look at other photos before you speak."
"Didn't you see Zhou Lin offer to carry Lin Shiren's schoolbag? Maybe he's the one pursuing her."
"Hehe, if you argue, you win."
The comments gradually went astray: "No wonder Zhou Lin didn't go to Q University even though he was recommended for admission; now we know why!"
"Talking to Zhou Lin was definitely worth it. Even if it didn't work out in the end, who else has such an amazing tutor?"
"I heard that top students with exceptionally high grades can negotiate with the school and even get their girlfriends into the same school."
"His words were a wake-up call; I also want to talk to a promising young talent from Q University."
...
Lin Shih-ren read these comments on the subway.
She asked Chen Mo for leave, and Chen Mo readily agreed, telling her that he was contacting the administrator to delete the posts and that she shouldn't be affected by the rumors.
"Um."
Despite saying this, malicious speculations rushed into her ears. Her phone had already rung many times. She pressed the answer button, and Dong Rui's voice came through the receiver: "Who is such a pervert? Why is he following you? Zhou Lin took you home, wasn't it during our study group activity?"
Lin Shih-ren remained silent.
The photo that accurately captured their relationship must have been taken on the day Pang Ziyi was following them. Zhou Lin was wearing a school uniform with the Huiwen logo, standing in front of the unit door downstairs from her house. The dim streetlights shone on his face, his head was slightly lowered, and his expression was very gentle.
At the time, she was so focused on playing cat and mouse with Pang Ziyi that she didn't notice him carrying her schoolbag all the way. The image of Zhou Lin under the ginkgo tree flashed through her mind involuntarily. He asked her if she wanted to sit next to Shen Xuqing.
"I guess so." Lin Shiren didn't know where he got the courage, but he actually answered him.
On the phone, Dong Rui was still rambling on and on, defending her, and finally reminded her, "It's terrifying to think about. I think we absolutely have to find this person who took the photos."
“I know who’s been following me.”
Lin Shiren had nothing to hide and directly revealed that Pang Ziyi had once stalked her. This time, it was Dong Rui's turn to be surprised: "Huh? Is she crazy? She owes money and still thinks she's right? I think she's the one leading the rumors in the post. We should just go find the teacher."
As the subway doors opened, Lin Shiren's eyelashes trembled: "Never mind, all I want now is for the public opinion to cool down quickly."
The perpetrator acted unilaterally, while onlookers gathered, but she didn't want the incident to escalate further with new clues, even if it meant making a humiliating exit.
With National Day coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival, the school gave senior high school students a three-day holiday.
Three days is enough time for a baseless rumor to cool down, and it can also pull a person who is emotionally broken back from the brink of collapse. At least, there are no traces left on Lin Shiren's face.
The wind was howling on the balcony, and it was already quite dark outside.
Xin Xiaomei left work early for the Mid-Autumn Festival and rushed to the seafood market. When she unlocked the door, the net had finally completed its mission, and eight crabs came out, scrambling around in all directions in the living room.
Lin Shih-jen came out of the bathroom wearing pajamas, his wet hair draped over his shoulders. He was startled as soon as he stepped out of the bathroom.
Xin Xiaomei shouted urgently, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and help me grab it!" She threw her bag on the ground, didn't even have time to change her slippers, and rushed to the living room.
Lin Shih-ren put down the hairdryer, went to the kitchen to get a pair of barbecue tongs, and quickly and efficiently cleaned up the eight crabs.
Xin Xiaomei caught her breath for a while, then looked at her with curiosity: "Isn't it amazing? Someone who is usually so quiet and reserved, it's like asking her to say hello is the death of her, how come she's so brave when catching crabs?"
Whether she was bold or timid, Lin Shiren was destined to be ridiculed by her. He began to regret catching the crab so quickly; he should have saved it to wear down Xin Xiaomei's fighting power.
She went to the kitchen, added water to the pot of crabs, and turned on the gas stove before turning back: "Why did you buy so many?"
Xin Xiaomei is not stingy, but she is definitely not generous either. Her dream is to save money to move out of the house where she has lived for almost 20 years as a married woman, so she has always lived very frugally.
Xin Xiaomei smiled and said, "It's a holiday, let's splurge a little. Take a picture later and post it to your Lin family's 'Happy Family' group."
Lin Shih-ren asked, somewhat puzzled, "Why send it to the group chat?"
"Let your grandma take a good look."
Xin Xiaomei emphasized the word "good" very much, and Lin Shiren understood that she must have been provoked again.
Ever since her parents divorced, Grandma Lin had been gossiping about Xin Xiaomei to the neighbors, saying that she was ambitious but unrealistic and that she was a snob...
In short, not a single kind word was spoken.
Lin Shih-jen couldn't understand why they couldn't just forget each other after being divorced for so long. She gave a slightly stiff smile: "Last time when Lin Shih-jui was born, Grandma posted photos in the group chat, didn't you take my phone and leave the group?"
Xin Xiaomei had no idea about that, and stood with her hands on her hips, looking at her: "Then you should send it to her separately!"
Lin Shiren looked troubled, and her voice softened: "Mom, it's a holiday today, let's not cause trouble, and besides, Grandma's eyes..."
Before she could finish speaking, Xin Xiaomei stopped her with a sharp look and said with heartache, "Were you even born from my belly? With your personality, you'll be sold off in the future and you'll still have to count the money for the seller."
"..."
After the family reunion dinner, Lin Shih-jen had a red string on his wrist, adorned with three small bamboo sections made of peach wood—clearly auspicious.
"I went to Nanshan Temple to get it for you, specifically for your studies."
She had previously prayed at a Taoist temple for two red strings and secretly wished that Xin Xiaomei and Lin Zhiyuan could get back together. Unfortunately, Xin Xiaomei lost them not long after, and she cried for a long time because of it. Xin Xiaomei even scolded her for being "feudal and superstitious".
Lin Shih-ren looked up and said to her very seriously, "Mom, I will try my best."
Xin Xiaomei reverted to her gruff tone: "I can't help you with your studies, and you can't help me with my work either. We, mother and daughter, both have our own battles to fight, so take care of yourselves."
She arrived early for the first morning self-study session after the holiday ended.
Despite having mentally prepared myself countless times at home, my heart still nearly broke the moment I stepped into the classroom, holding my breath.
There weren't many people in the class. A few boys were playing games noisily. When they saw Lin Shiren come in, they glanced up briefly, then looked away and continued playing.
"?"
Despite the fact that she had been unable to sleep or eat for several days, it seemed that no one cared. Even with this thought in mind, her gaze still involuntarily locked onto Zhou Lin's location.
It's empty; he hasn't arrived yet.
The two haven't spoken at all in the past few days. Lin Shiren picked up his phone several times, wanting to ask him about his injury, but ultimately gave up.
About seven or eight minutes later, Chen Mo made a surprise appearance from the back door, confiscating several phones with sharp eyes. He told them to be on their guard and then gently tapped her desk: "Come to my office."
Chen Mo has been having some troubles lately.
Class 1 finally shed its last-place finish in the sports meet, but no one paid attention to this good news. The whole school was discussing the rumors between Zhou Lin and Lin Shiren, and even the homeroom teacher from another class came to inquire.
At seventeen or eighteen, in the innocent and confused years of youth, whose hormones haven't stirred?
Chen Mo originally didn't care and didn't intend to get involved, but a female teacher reminded him that regardless of whether the rumors were true or false, he should take them seriously because Zhou Lin's admission to Q University was already a done deal. He shouldn't let this matter delay the girl's studies, as that would be a huge mistake.
As an excellent homeroom teacher, he spent three days of his vacation researching many cases of high school students' grades being affected by dating, and he even memorized a universal talking point at home, planning to have a one-on-one conversation with the two of them.
After Lin Shiren sat down, Chen Mo paced around the office a few steps with his hands behind his back, his voice unhurried: "Are you confident about this month's exam?"
Lin Shih-ren lowered his eyes and replied somewhat guiltily, "It's alright."
This question made it difficult for her to speak. Chen Mo had chosen Zhou Lin as her deskmate precisely because her grades had dropped, which was a well-intentioned decision.
"How was Zhou Lin's explanation?" Since the other person was a girl and quite shameless, Chen Mo decided to proceed gradually...
Lin Shiren suddenly interrupted him, looking at him with an open and honest gaze: "Teacher Chen, I want to change my deskmate."
What a good child! Chen Mo breathed a sigh of relief, feeling both relieved and a little worried: "Why did you change your deskmate?"
She gave an unnatural tug at the corner of her lips, her voice revealing a hint of fatigue: "The rumors people are spreading are too nasty, it's going to affect me."
Are you two dating?
"No."
Chen Mo was about to say something when his phone suddenly vibrated in his palm, interrupting his train of thought. He glanced at the message on the screen.
With just one glance, his furrowed brows relaxed.
"No need to change seats."
Lin Shih-ren looked up at him.
Chen Mo said, "Zhou Lin said he won't be coming to school for the time being."
-----------------------
Author's note: I had an argument with someone today, but because I didn't perform well, I kept reviewing it while writing and couldn't find my rhythm, so the update is late.
50 red envelopes~
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