Chapter 24
That warm, sunny afternoon in the library was like a quietly treasured bookmark, tucked between the few warm pages of Xu Nianlei's bleak youth. She remained silent, still habitually keeping her head down, but Lu Baiyan could sense a tiny crack appearing in the icy barrier surrounding her. Occasionally, when he handed her notes or gave a brief explanation, she would quickly glance up at him, her eyes less filled with panic and more with complex emotions he couldn't yet fully decipher.
This subtle change filled him with hope, yet also heightened his vigilance. He knew the calm was merely the calm before the storm. Xu Jianguo, that venomous snake, had only temporarily retreated to his lair, and Wang Xiuqin's volcano was far from subsiding. He had to seize this precious window of opportunity to accelerate his plans.
The midterm exam results are in. Lu Baiyan unsurprisingly remains first in the grade, with near-perfect scores in all subjects. Xu Nianlei's grades hover in the upper-middle range; math and physics remain her weak points, but she managed to squeeze into the top fifty in Chinese and English. This is quite an achievement considering her environment and the pressure she faces.
During break, the homeroom teacher reviewed the report cards and gave a routine summary, specifically praising several students who had made significant progress. Among them, Xu Nianlei's name was mentioned, and her solid foundation in Chinese and English was affirmed.
At that moment, Xu Nianlei suddenly raised her head, her eyes sparkling with disbelief, and her cheeks flushed slightly with excitement. She glanced quickly at Lu Baiyan, her eyes carrying a hint of barely perceptible joy, before quickly lowering her head again. But the faint smile that she tried so hard to suppress still escaped Lu Baiyan's notice.
His heart felt as if it had been gently brushed by a feather, rippling with delicate waves. Public, legitimate recognition nourished a parched heart far more than any private help. He silently made a mental note to create more opportunities for her to be "seen" in the future.
However, the shadow of reality always follows.
That day after school, Lu Baiyan was a little late leaving the classroom because his physics teacher had kept him behind to discuss competition matters. He had just reached the entrance of the teaching building when he saw Xu Nianlei standing by the bulletin board not far away, her back to him, her shoulders slightly trembling, as if she were crying. In front of her stood a stylishly dressed, impeccably made-up middle-aged woman, pointing her finger at Xu Nianlei and scolding her in a shrill voice. Several students stood around watching.
It's Wang Xiuqin!
Lu Baiyan's heart sank. He strode forward, only managing to catch Wang Xiuqin's last few words, filled with resentment:
"...You still have the nerve to laugh with such a low score? Do you think I provide you with food and clothing so you can embarrass yourself at school? Look at Lu Baiyan, he always gets first place! And you? You're hopeless! Just like your deadbeat father!"
"And I'm warning you, stay away from that Lu Baiyan! Don't think I don't know your filthy thoughts! If I find out you're having an affair with him again, I'll break your legs!"
Xu Nianlei bit her lip tightly, tears streaming silently down her face. Her body trembled violently with humiliation and anger, but she couldn't utter a single word.
Lu Baiyan felt a surge of anger rush to his head. He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and then strode over.
"Hello, Auntie." His voice rang out, calm and polite, yet carrying an undeniable presence.
Wang Xiuqin's reprimand came to an abrupt halt, and she and Xu Nianlei turned around simultaneously. Wang Xiuqin saw Lu Baiyan, a flicker of unease crossing her face, before she straightened her expression, her eyes filled with wariness and scrutiny. Xu Nianlei, on the other hand, seemed to see a savior, yet also felt even more embarrassed, frantically lowering her head and vigorously wiping away her tears with the back of her hand.
“Lu classmate,” Wang Xiuqin forced a stiff smile, “I was just lecturing Nianlei. This child is so disappointing, you’ve made a fool of yourself in front of us.”
“Auntie, you’re too kind.” Lu Baiyan’s expression remained unchanged, his tone still calm, but his gaze was fixed on Wang Xiuqin. “Xu Nianlei’s performance in the midterm exams was excellent. She ranked in the top fifty in both Chinese and English in the grade. This is a great improvement. Her homeroom teacher just praised her. Her hard work and potential are evident to her teachers and classmates.”
He paused, then continued, his voice clear and firm: "As for Xu Nianlei and me, we are classmates and members of a study group. Helping each other and making progress together is what our teacher expects of us, and it's what we should do. This is normal, please don't misunderstand."
His words were neither humble nor arrogant; he pointed out Xu Nianlei's strengths and the recognition she had received, while defining their relationship within the scope of "normal mutual assistance among classmates," thus blocking any opportunity for Wang Xiuqin to exploit the situation.
Wang Xiuqin was speechless, her face turning pale and then red. Looking at Lu Baiyan's overly handsome yet open face, and then at the growing number of curious gazes around her, she ultimately didn't dare to throw another tantrum. She glared fiercely at Xu Nianlei, lowering her voice to threaten, "I'll settle the score with you when we get home!" Then, in her high heels, she walked away sullenly.
The crowd gradually dispersed.
Lu Baiyan then looked at Xu Nianlei. She still had her head down, her shoulders trembling slightly, tears streaming silently down her face. The setting sun cast a long shadow of her slender figure, revealing endless grievances and vulnerability.
He silently took a pack of tissues out of his bag and handed it to her.
Xu Nianlei didn't answer, but cried even harder, her suppressed sobs sounding like the mournful cry of a wounded animal.
Lu Baiyan felt as if an invisible hand was tightly gripping his heart, a bitter ache he couldn't express. He knew that any words would be inadequate at this moment. He didn't urge him, but simply held the pack of tissues quietly, like a silent guardian.
After a long while, Xu Nianlei slowly raised her tear-streaked face, took the tissue, and said in a hoarse, broken voice, "...I'm sorry...I made you see...this ugly side of me again..."
“There’s nothing ugly about it.” Lu Baiyan looked at her, his gaze calm and gentle. “You’re fine. It’s your mother…” He paused, not finishing his sentence. Criticizing someone’s parents is unwise.
Xu Nianlei wiped away her tears forcefully, took a few deep breaths, and tried to calm herself. She looked at Lu Baiyan, her eyes filled with gratitude, yet also with a deeper sense of inferiority and despair: "Thank you... for helping me out again. But... it's no use... she won't change... I'm just her punching bag... my life... I can already see the end..."
Her voice was soft, yet it struck Lu Baiyan's heart like a hammer blow. This despair, rooted deep within his soul, was more heartbreaking than any external injury.
“Xu Nianlei,” Lu Baiyan’s voice was deep and solemn, with a penetrating power that was beyond his years, “Don’t let others define your life. Your value is not in how many points you get on your tests, nor in how your mother thinks of you. It is in what kind of person you want to become and how much effort you are willing to put into it.”
He looked into her eyes, still filled with confusion after being washed by tears, and said, word by word, "Life is long, and high school is just one stop along the way. As long as you don't give up on yourself, there's always a chance for the future to turn around."
Xu Nianlei stared at him blankly, as if hearing such a statement for the first time. Not giving up on herself? Did she still have the right to talk about "not giving up on herself"?
However, looking into the boy's determined eyes and listening to his resolute tone, her heart, which had long been cold and numb, seemed to be infused with a faint but extremely tenacious strength.
"...Can I really...do I?" she murmured, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.
“You can,” Lu Baiyan answered without hesitation, his gaze intense. “At least, I believe you can.”
These words, like a ray of light, pierced through the thick fog and shone directly into the deepest corner of her heart.
Xu Nianlei looked at him, remaining silent for a long time. The afterglow of the setting sun gilded their figures with a golden edge. A silent, yet heavy and resolute power filled the air.
Leilei, did you hear me? I said you can. So please, please hold on a little longer. I will let you see with your own eyes that beyond the mire, there truly is a path to the light.
Lu Baiyan knew that his direct confrontation with Wang Xiuqin was just the beginning. He needed greater power, not just verbal encouragement, but the power to substantially change her situation. And all of this pointed in one direction—he had to grow faster and possess the ability to shake certain established rules.
He gazed at the setting sun in the distance, his eyes sharp as a sword about to be drawn.
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