Parent-Teacher Meeting
As April approaches, the winds in the northern part of the city have completely shed their chill and are now carrying the warm scent of grass and trees.
The magnolias on campus are in full bloom, large white blossoms that resemble perched pigeons.
The afterglow of the midterm exams at Beicheng No.1 Middle School had not yet faded when another major event that left students with mixed feelings was put on the agenda—the parent-teacher conference.
For Qin Zhou, parent-teacher conferences have always been a somewhat frustrating experience. In junior high, it was Sister Jin who attended as a parent.
Upon entering high school, Sister Jin transformed into the homeroom teacher who stood on the podium and commanded the entire class.
In his first year of high school, he could only sit alone in his seat, watching his classmates being fussed over by their parents, while he had to grit his teeth and listen to Sister Jin criticize certain students on stage without naming them as being "too active" and "disrupting classroom discipline"—he was most likely being called out.
But this year is different.
His older brother attended his parent-teacher conference.
Several days before the parent-teacher conference, Qin Zhou was already so excited he couldn't sit still. As soon as he got home from school, he dragged Qi Shuo into his room and started rummaging through drawers and cabinets to "pick up his battle outfit."
"Brother Shuo, you have to put on a great show for me this time!" Qin Zhou's eyes were gleaming with excitement as he excitedly held up a black studded leather jacket with a menacing skull print, gesturing to Qi Shuo. "Wear this! It'll look amazing. Pair it with ripped jeans, the biggest kind of rips! Sunglasses! Yes, sunglasses too, the kind that are completely black and you can't see your eyes!"
He got more and more excited as he spoke, as if he could already see Qi Shuo appearing at the classroom door in his "gangster boss" outfit, shocking everyone. "Let them all see, my brother Qin Zhou is just that incredibly handsome!"
Qi Shuo was both amused and exasperated by Qin Zhou's antics. He frowned slightly as he looked at the overly "wild" coat and exaggerated accessories, but still patiently let Qin Zhou manipulate him.
He always showed extraordinary patience and indulgence towards his younger brother.
"And a big gold chain!" Qin Zhou slapped his forehead, then remembered something else, "A fake one is fine too, we can't lose in terms of presence!"
Just as Qin Zhou was about to put a heavy, glittering imitation chain around his neck, Sister Jin finally lost her temper and appeared at the door with her arms crossed, her voice carrying an undeniable authority: "Qin Zhou! You better stop this! Your brother Shuo is going to a parent-teacher conference, not to collect protection money. Dressed like that, the security guards at the school gate will be the first to stop him!"
Qin Zhou wilted instantly, like a chick being choked, and pouted pitifully, "Sister Jin... this is so cool..."
"What's so handsome about him! Change right now!" Sister Jin glared at him, then turned to Qi Shuo and said, "Xiao Shuo, don't listen to his nonsense. Just wear your usual light gray sweater, a pair of casual pants, and a jacket. That'll be clean and neat."
Finally, under the intervention of the "highest authority," Sister Jin, Qi Shuo obediently agreed, took off his "outfit," and changed into a soft, light gray crew neck sweater, paired with dark casual trousers and a dark hooded jacket. Without any extra embellishments, the outfit accentuated his tall, straight figure, broad shoulders, and long legs.
His neatly cut buzz cut exudes a sharp and clean look, and his cold, hard features, accentuated by the soft fabric of his clothes, appear less aggressive and more composed and handsome.
On the afternoon of the parent-teacher conference, the sun shone brightly. Qi Shuo and Qin Zhou walked towards the school together. Despite removing all their extravagant accessories, the two, with their stunning looks and contrasting yet equally outstanding styles, still attracted a lot of attention when they appeared at the school gate.
Qin Zhou was already a prominent figure at school. Standing at 186 cm tall, with a handsome face that had a touch of roguish charm, coupled with his reputation as the "school bully," he was the center of attention wherever he went.
Today, Qi Shuo, who was walking beside him, was 188 cm tall with a well-proportioned and upright figure. His simple clothes could not hide the coldness and composure that came from his bones.
The two walked side by side, one flamboyant and unrestrained, the other reserved and profound, forming a wonderful harmony that attracted countless curious, amazed, or inquisitive glances.
Qi Shuo could feel the gazes fixed on him. He pursed his lips uncomfortably and subconsciously straightened his back.
The feeling of being the center of attention made him feel a long-lost sense of nervousness. He took a deep breath and followed Qin Zhou into the campus, which felt both familiar and unfamiliar.
As soon as Qi Shuo entered the teaching building area, he subconsciously looked up, his gaze sweeping across the corridor of the first-year high school building. Right at the third-floor railing, a familiar figure caught his eye—Tan Huaiyu.
He stood there quietly in his clean school uniform, his head slightly bowed, but his gaze pierced through the noisy crowd and landed precisely on Qi Shuo.
When Tan Huaiyu noticed Qi Shuo looking at him, a nearly perfect, obedient smile immediately bloomed on his face. He even raised his hand and waved gently in Qi Shuo's direction, as if to say hello.
Qi Shuo's heart sank suddenly. The tension that had just subsided returned, mixed with an indescribable sense of irritation.
He quickly looked away, his face expressionless, as if he hadn't seen anything. He followed Qin Zhou straight toward the classroom of Class 3, Grade 11 Science, leaving the figure standing high above staring at him behind.
On the third floor, the smile on Tan Huaiyu's face froze and peeled away bit by bit the moment Qi Shuo turned away indifferently, like shattered ice, and finally disappeared without a trace.
Only an almost stubborn melancholy remained, settling in the depths of his amber eyes.
Brother Qi Shuo, do you really hate me that much?
He stared intently at the spot where Qi Shuo had just stood until the homeroom teacher called his name in the classroom, asking him to prepare to speak as a representative of outstanding students. Only then did he slowly withdraw his gaze, dragging his heavy steps like a puppet on a string as he walked towards the classroom.
Outside the classroom of Class 3, Grade 11 Science, a large number of students and parents had already gathered, creating a lively atmosphere.
Students gathered in small groups in the corridor, chatting and playing around, while parents entered the classrooms one after another, found their children's seats, and exchanged greetings.
Qi Shuo sat down in the seat Qin Zhou pointed out—the second row from the window. Because of Song Yungui, Sister Jin had arranged for him to sit in the front so that it would be convenient for Song Yungui to attend class.
He noticed an empty seat next to him, and Qin Zhou whispered, "That's Song Yungui's seat. Nobody from his family comes here."
Qi Shuo nodded, understanding. Today, he not only had to attend Qin Zhou's parent-teacher meeting, but also had to take care of Song Yungui.
He sat at the slightly cramped desk, his long legs feeling a bit awkward. Looking up at the podium, he saw Sister Jin skillfully adjusting the multimedia equipment and preparing her speech. Occasionally, she would glance up and scan the classroom, giving Qi Shuo an encouraging smile when she saw him.
Qi Shuo's superior appearance and unique temperament made him impossible to ignore, even when he sat quietly in a corner. Outside the classroom, many girls from his own class and other classes pretended to pass by, but actually secretly peeked at him through the windows or back door, letting out low gasps and whispers.
Wow! Who's that? So handsome!
"Is he Qin Zhou's brother? I've never heard of him before!"
"Wow, what a great vibe! You look so cool!"
However, excessive attention often comes with discordant notes.
Beyond the curious and admiring glances, Qi Shuo keenly noticed some different looks—looking scrutinizing, doubtful, and even… disdainful.
Some hushed whispers, like the buzzing of flies, drifted intermittently into his ears.
"Hey, have you heard... that guy, the one who sat in Qin Zhou's seat..."
"What's wrong?"
"It seems... they were just released..."
"What? No way? Really?"
"Shh... Keep your voice down! I heard he's killed someone..."
"My God...it doesn't look like it..."
"Who told you that? How could Qin Zhou have a brother like that?"
"That Zhao Yu from the vocational high school said it's true..."
"Qin Zhou isn't a good person either... he just has good grades... the school is biased..."
"You can know a person's face but not their heart... It's best to keep your distance..."
Though the sounds were muffled, they were like cold needles, piercing through Qi Shuo's carefully maintained composure. His hands, clasped together on the desk, tightened slightly at the knuckles.
He lowered his eyelashes to hide the fleeting emotion in his eyes and forced himself to focus on the podium.
In the classroom, the parent-teacher meeting officially began. Ms. Jin first gave an overall analysis and review of the midterm exams, and then began announcing the various awards.
Progress Award, Subject Champion, Outstanding Student... Whenever Qin Zhou and Song Yungui's names are mentioned, Qi Shuo has to stand up, walk to the front of the class amidst a sea of envious and mixed gazes from the parents, and receive the award certificate from Sister Jin.
"Qin Zhou, the math subject king."
"Song Yungui, the king of physics."
"Qin Zhou, Award for Significant Improvement in English."
"Song Yungui is first in the class and second in the grade."
"Qin Zhou, second in the class, fourth in the grade."
Qi Shuo stood up again and again and walked to the podium. Every time Sister Jin handed him the certificate, she would give him a look that was both proud and comforting.
The audience below the stage erupted in hushed praises.
"This child's family really knows how to raise him!"
"Both of them are so outstanding!"
"This older brother looks quite handsome..."
Inside the classroom, the atmosphere was harmonious and even a little enthusiastic because of the children's excellent grades.
Qi Shuo sat back down with a thick stack of certificates in his hands. Looking at Qin Zhou and Song Yungui's names side by side on various awards, he felt a strange sense of pride.
These two children are indeed a perfect match and are both outstanding.
However, in the corridor outside the classroom, the undercurrent targeting Qi Shuo gradually surged under the instigation of certain individuals.
Rumors about his status as a "labor camp inmate" spread like a virus among some students waiting for the parent-teacher conference to end.
Their gazes shifted from curious inquiry to undisguised pointing and rejection.
A storm is brewing.
Beneath the surface of harmony, a crisis is imminent.
Qi Shuo keenly sensed the increasingly hostile atmosphere outside the window. He raised his head, his gaze calmly sweeping over the faces outside the window that were filled with malice and curiosity. Deep in his eyes, a cold, sharp glint flashed.
This parent-teacher meeting was destined to be anything but peaceful.
Inside the classroom, the parent-teacher meeting was still proceeding smoothly.
Jin Jie's voice was clear and infectious through the microphone. She was using a PowerPoint presentation to analyze in detail the difficulties of the midterm exam, the common problems among students, and the review plan for the next stage.
The parents either took notes attentively or nodded in agreement, creating a serious yet positive atmosphere throughout the classroom.
Qi Shuo sat in Qin Zhou's seat, trying his best to concentrate on Sister Jin's explanation. A thick stack of certificates of merit lay neatly on the corner of the desk, silently proving Qin Zhou and Song Yungui's excellence.
This should have been a moment of pride and joy for him—for his brothers' achievements and for the fruits of his sister Kim's hard work.
However, the whispers outside the classroom, like a swarm of persistent flies, buzzed and kept drilling into his eardrums, trying to tear apart this seemingly harmonious veil.
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