Seeing her turn to leave, Feng Sinian hesitated for a few seconds, instinctively wanting to chase after her.
But when he heard Bai Wei’s low voice, he withdrew his foot before he could even lift it.
“Thank you, Feng Sinian, for not letting me feel embarrassed in front of the other students. But aren’t you allergic to soy products? Are you really okay?”
Hearing the worry in her voice, he gave her a reassuring smile. “I was cured a long time ago. Don’t listen to Nan Zhi’s nonsense. With her temper, she’ll cool off soon.”
Feng Sinian did indeed know Nan Zhi well. She was soft-hearted. After he spent a week chasing her to apologize and promising never to drink soy milk again, she relented and forgave him.
As if trying to avoid suspicion, Bai Wei stopped commuting to and from school with the two of them.
When Feng Sinian asked about it, she simply shook her head with a smile. “I reported it to the police, and those thugs have already been arrested. The way home is very safe now. Thank you for walking me back all this time.”
He started to say something but stopped. Knowing Bai Wei had a strong personality, he didn’t insist.
The peaceful days only lasted for a month. During evening self-study, the class teacher called Bai Wei away with a solemn expression. She returned to her seat looking as if she had lost her soul.
Just as Feng Sinian was about to ask her what was wrong, she slumped onto her desk and began to cry silently.
Bai Wei sobbed and hitched, not making a sound. It pained him to see it. He asked in a low voice, “What happened?”
She turned her face from her arms, revealing red and swollen eyes. “My dad got drunk and beat my mom to death. He drowned while trying to escape… Feng Sinian, I don’t have parents anymore.”
Feng Sinian’s brow furrowed tightly. Unable to bear it, he took her hand. “Bai Wei, you still have me.”
The two of them spoke very quietly, but in the silent classroom, the movement could still be heard.
The motion of Nan Zhi’s pen stalled as she solved a problem, and she turned to look toward the corner.
Bai Wei leaned sorrowfully into Feng Sinian’s embrace, while the latter looked down, gently patting her back with a tender expression.
Tang Yuan nearly slapped the desk to stand up and curse, but Nan Zhi held her back. “Leave them be.”
Tang Yuan’s eyes widened. “My god, Zhi Zhi, Feng Sinian is basically cheating on you. How can you stand this?”
Nan Zhi gave them a cold glance before looking away. “Feng Sinian and I are childhood friends, not in a relationship.”
Tang Yuan felt it wasn’t worth it for her. “Zhi Zhi, you’ve always liked—”
She stopped abruptly because she saw Nan Zhi’s eyes suddenly turn red.
Tang Yuan sighed and silently went back to her problems.
To comfort Bai Wei, Feng Sinian frequently took her to skip classes to clear her head.
They would go to clear lakes in the countryside to catch fish or wake up early to see the morning sun. Feng Sinian even overcame his fear of heights to climb onto a rooftop to watch the stars.
Nan Zhi saw their behavior and initially tried to advise him kindly, saying that studying hard during such a critical time was the most important thing. But he replied with a dark expression that she had no empathy and that Bai Wei’s emotions were just as important. After that, she couldn’t be bothered with him anymore.
Feng Sinian’s grades declined daily. He fell out of the top ten in the grade, and his name couldn’t even be found in the top hundred, yet he didn’t care at all.
As Bai Wei’s mood gradually improved, Feng Sinian took the initiative to ask for the soy milk she brewed.
She was overjoyed and brought soy milk every morning.
The result was that a week later, Feng Sinian was admitted to the hospital for excessive consumption of soy products.
When he woke up, the class teacher and Zhou Ya were standing by the bed. Feng Sinian looked around, but upon failing to see the person he wanted to see, he looked away in disappointment.
Zhou Ya had heard from the class teacher about his closeness with Bai Wei. She spoke in a somber voice, “Looking for Bai Wei? Hah, mixing with that kind of shady person—no wonder I haven’t seen Zhi Zhi with you lately.”
Feng Sinian couldn’t help but argue indignantly, “She values freedom, hates worldly vanities, and has noble thoughts. She is a girl of high character, not at all like what you’re saying!”
Seeing that Zhou Ya was truly furious, the class teacher stepped in to smooth things over. “Alright, Mother Feng, he just woke up. It’s not good for him to get too agitated.”
Zhou Ya’s chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath. After a long while, she managed to squeeze out two words: “Ungrateful son!”
She turned and left the ward, and the teacher hurried out to calm the family member down.
A moment later, there was a knock on the ward door. Feng Sinian, thinking Zhou Ya had been persuaded back by the teacher, responded reluctantly, “Come in.”
When Nan Zhi pushed the door open, she realized Feng Sinian was the only one in the room. Just as she was about to back out, he called her name. “Nan Zhi, was it you who told my mom about me and Bai Wei?”
Nan Zhi’s clear eyes fixed on him for a few seconds before she let out a mocking laugh. “The matter between you and Bai Wei has long been common knowledge. Do I even need to be the one to tattle?”
Feng Sinian choked on his words. He cast a cold glance at the thermos in her hand. “Take it away. I’m not drinking it.”
Nan Zhi laughed in frustration. “Don’t flatter yourself. The porridge isn’t for you. Uncle Feng asked me to bring it to Auntie.”
She placed the thermos on the table by the door and turned to leave. He spoke up awkwardly again, “Can you tell Bai Wei for me?”
Nan Zhi lowered her gaze, her voice muffled. “Understood. I’ll tell her.”
During the period when Feng Sinian and Bai Wei were frequently skipping classes, she had turned her sorrow and anger into motivation. She worked through countless problems, and her grades improved by leaps and bounds, jumping to first place in the grade. She intended to maintain this for tomorrow’s twelve-school city-wide mock exam.
Feng Sinian stayed in the hospital for seven days, and Bai Wei would secretly visit him at night. Their feelings intensified rapidly, and they soon officially entered a relationship.
The class teacher, with twenty years of experience, saw through their “early love” at a glance and couldn’t help but call them to the office for a talk.
Feng Sinian promised solemnly, “I will get into Jingzhou University with Bai Wei. It won’t interfere with our studies.”
The teacher had seen plenty of such naive, youthful promises. He didn’t believe it and called the parents directly.
Zhou Ya had always been proud of her son, and this was the first time she had been called to school because of a romance.
She grabbed Feng Sinian’s ear in disappointment and pointed at Bai Wei, cursing, “Why are you leading my son astray?”
Feng Sinian broke free from Zhou Ya and stood in front of Bai Wei. “Mom, don’t be mean to her.”
Zhou Ya trembled with rage. “You little brat!”
“Someone said they saw the two of you in the garden after evening study…” The teacher hesitated for a moment before choosing a more tactful phrasing. “…in an intimate posture. This is a critical time in the third year of high school. You should focus on your studies and not on romantic entanglements.”
Zhou Ya nearly fainted after hearing this. The teacher hurried to help her sit down.
She took a few breaths before finally calming her emotions. “Feng Sinian, if you still want to recognize me as your mother, then right now, in front of me and the teacher, break off all relations with her!”
Bai Wei gently pushed Feng Sinian aside and met Zhou Ya’s gaze unyieldingly. “Auntie, Feng Sinian and I truly love each other.”
Zhou Ya said sharply, “You aren’t worthy of Sinian. Zhi Zhi is the only daughter-in-law I’ve recognized. She has both talent and beauty, a good personality, and is better than you in every way!”
At the mention of Nan Zhi’s name, Bai Wei’s face turned pale, and she bit her lower lip hard.
Feng Sinian argued back, “Mom, don’t compare Nan Zhi to Bai Wei. In my heart, no one can compare to Bai Wei!”