Chapter 16 Heartbeat
Wang Yan was very busy during high school.
I'm busy studying during the day and working part-time at night.
Every day when I open my eyes, there are endless exam papers to write and endless work to do.
But there was no other way; if Wang Yan didn't work hard to earn money, then dropping out of school would be his only option.
Wang Yan also complained countless times in the dead of night, gazing hatefully at the dazzling stars outside the window, blaming himself for having such a bitter life.
However, when the first rays of sunlight shone in the morning, Wang Yan had already gathered his broken soul and begun his day.
So, going to school during the day and working part-time at a barbecue restaurant at night became his daily routine.
Do you need a reason to dislike someone?
The answer is no.
Wang Yan did not do anything immoral or harmful, nor did he affect anyone.
However, Wang Yan still became an outcast in the class and was ostracized.
Perhaps it was because Wang Yan always carried the smell of barbecue that he couldn't wash off, or perhaps it was because his demeanor was too somber.
But for Wang Yan, who prefers to be alone, he's already used to it.
But there will always be people who are not satisfied, and the next step after being ostracized is being bullied.
When the group threw money on Wang Yan's table, asking him to buy them drinks, Wang Yan calmly refused.
"I don't want to go."
This has nothing to do with backbone; Wang Yan still had exam papers to finish, and he genuinely didn't have time to go.
Dai Song, who was in charge, did not let him off the hook. Instead, he kicked the desk hard, and the test papers scattered all over the floor.
“Say it to me again.”
Dai Song pointed his finger at Wang Yan's nose, speaking slowly and deliberately.
Wang Yan silently focused his gaze on the unfinished exam paper, his suppressed emotions erupting like a volcano that could no longer be contained.
He suddenly stood up and punched Dai Song in the face. Dai Song fell to the ground unprepared, and Wang Yan straddled him, followed by a barrage of punches and kicks.
Exclamations erupted from the classroom, but Wang Yan seemed not to hear them until he saw blood trickling from Dai Song's mouth, at which point he stopped, panting heavily.
The price of this fight was that Wang Yan's parents were called in by the homeroom teacher.
The person who came was Wang Yan's uncle.
Wang Yan was punished by being made to stand in the corridor. He saw his uncle walking a few steps towards him from afar. The brilliant sunset was like blood spreading across the earth.
"Uncle, I..."
Before Wang Yan could finish explaining, he was interrupted by his uncle's slap.
"Do you know how busy I am? It was so difficult for me to come here because of you?" The uncle's face was dark from years of exposure to the sun, and his voice was sharp and piercing. "Can't you just give me a break? I'm so tired."
The slap from the uncle not only shattered Wang Yan's spirit, but also shattered the teacher's desire to continue criticizing and educating him.
"Oh dear, don't be so impulsive, why hit the children?" The teacher acted as a peacemaker. "Both children are at fault in this matter. Just write a two-thousand-word self-criticism for me when you get home."
"Okay, teacher."
The uncle smiled obsequiously, raised his hand and slapped Wang Yan hard on the back of the head, his voice turning stern again, "Hurry up and thank the teacher."
Wang Yan lowered his head and swallowed the blood in his mouth. "Thank you, teacher."
There are too many things in the world that are beyond our control; sometimes, life simply doesn't offer any choices.
As a result of this incident, after being discharged from the hospital, Dai Song began to treat Wang Yan even more harshly.
After that day, no matter how Dai Song treated Wang Yan, Wang Yan never resisted.
Because he didn't want to bother his uncle anymore.
Wounds began to appear on Wang Yan's body, bruises and purple welts, which slowly merged into one large patch.
The bullying always takes place in different locations, so Wang Yan never knows when he will be bullied.
For example, Wang Yan was blocked at the school gate after school today.
Dai Song wrapped his school uniform around his waist and walked toward Wang Yan, surrounded by the crowd.
Wang Yan instinctively retreated until he had nowhere left to retreat, until his body was pressed against the wall.
"How can you let me go?"
Wang Yan frowned; he had had enough too.
These words reached Dai Song's ears, and he chuckled dismissively, "Let her go?"
He slowly walked up to Wang Yan and punched him in the body, saying, "You don't deserve it."
Wang Yan groaned in pain. Through Dai Song's shoulder, he saw classmates coming and going, but no one called the police or came to break up the fight.
He twitched the corners of his mouth, resignedly lay down on the ground, and skillfully wrapped his arms around his head to avoid serious injury.
Led by Dai Song, the classmates immediately surrounded him, and their fists rained down on Wang Yan.
It was at this moment that Wang Yan noticed Su Yueming's gaze.
He assumed that Su Yueming was just there to watch the fun.
So when the words "Stop!" reached Wang Yan's ears, he was the first to find it unbelievable.
At this moment, Su Yueming had already pushed through the crowd and squeezed in front of Wang Yan.
"How are you?"
He half-squatted in front of Wang Yan, his face full of worry.
Wang Yan's eyelashes trembled; for a moment, he didn't even see Su Yueming clearly, and was momentarily dazed.
Perhaps the sunlight was too dazzling, or perhaps Su Yueming's appearance was too outstanding.
Once he came to his senses, Wang Yan struggled to his feet and said, "I'm fine."
"Are you really alright?" Su Yueming continued to press.
Dai Song, hands on his hips, couldn't stand it any longer. "Hey, Su Yueming, what are you doing!"
Su Yueming turned to look at Dai Song, his brows furrowing slightly: "You can't bully people like this."
"What business is it of yours if I bully him?"
Su Yueming turned to look at Wang Yan and said solemnly, "Because I am the student council president."
Wang Yan stood against the wall, his gaze fixed on Su Yueming, who was blocking his way.
Dai Song looked at Su Yueming, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back. He wasn't afraid of the student council; what he was afraid of was Su Yueming's family background.
"Okay, you win." After a while, Dai Song threw down the baseball bat in his hand. "Let's go."
Wang Yan breathed a sigh of relief as he watched them walk away.
Looking at Su Yueming's glamorous appearance, and then looking down at his own body covered in footprints, he pursed his lips, walked past Su Yueming, and tried to leave.
But Su Yueming caught up with him, "Are you really alright? Do you need me to take you to the hospital?"
Feelings of inferiority welled up from the bottom of his heart. Wang Yan didn't say anything, but secretly quickened his pace.
He only stopped walking after he had shaken off Su Yueming.
He slowly turned around, but Su Yueming was no longer behind him.
After returning home, Wang Yan felt a sense of regret for the first time. He should have thanked Su Yueming.
From that day on, Wang Yan began to pay attention to Su Yueming.
Su Yueming was in the same grade as him, just in a different class.
His grades were indeed excellent, always ranking in the top five of the entire grade, while Wang Yan couldn't even get into the top twenty.
One day, Wang Yan encountered Su Yueming walking down the stairs.
Wang Yan felt a sudden surge of nervousness, his fingernails digging into his palms, just as he mustered the courage to greet Su Yueming.
"So you were here! I was looking for you."
Jiang Xiao smiled and put her arm around Su Yueming's shoulder from behind.
Wang Yan instantly lost all courage, lowered his head, and quickly walked up the stairs.
He brushed past Su Yueming.
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