Chарter 15: Him, Сhasing the Sсhооl Веllе? In His Drеаms, Мaуbe
Nо wonder еvеryоne wаs lооking at hеr strаngelу this mоrning.
Sо it wаs уоu guуs sprеading rumоrs.
Jiаng Er’s head was buzzing. Shе didn’t havе the соurаgе to reаd through all thе rерliеs prаising the рost as “аwеsоmе” аnd quicklу exited, instеаd сliсking оn the latest роst nеxt tо it.
【Bоld Prediсtiоn: Тhе Transfеr Studеnt Won’t Last а Week】
【I Lоvе Еаting Sh*t】: Jiang Еr hаs thoroughly offended Lin Ling. Hеr daуs аt this sсhооl won’t bе easy frоm now оn. I bet shе won’t еven last a week before leaving No. 3 High.
【I Love Eating Sh*t】: And that deaf kid from Class Six, they’re both done for.
Jiang Er’s expression shifted slightly.
Who would choose such a malicious username…
But he wasn’t wrong. Things couldn’t go on like this. She needed to find a way to resolve this matter completely.
What could make Lin Ling, this lost little lamb, turn over a new leaf?
She pondered.
Maybe… beat him up again?
Would that be too violent?
Torn between thoughts, Jiang Er closed the webpage and opened a ticket-booking app, purchasing the earliest flight to the capital for the weekend.
No matter what, asking the Fu family about Fu Tinghan’s situation was the right move.
He couldn’t go on like this forever.
But what Zhao Yan said this morning…
Jiang Er tapped her fingers idly against the edge of her phone, discreetly glancing at her deskmate.
All the clues about Fu Tinghan’s background tangled into a messy knot, tightly wound together, making it impossible to find where it began or ended.
No matter how she thought about it, contradictions seemed to exist.
And all of it faintly pointed toward one answer.
An answer no one would ever expect.
The day passed quickly. Without his hearing aid, communication was inconvenient, and the conversation between them dwindled.
After school, Fu Tinghan left right on time as usual, his steps hurried.
Jiang Er keenly sensed that something about him was different, though she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what.
It was as if… he was deliberately avoiding her.
That couldn’t be, right? She hadn’t done anything to offend him.
“Aren’t you leaving yet?” Little Fatty asked. “I need to lock up.”
“Leaving now.” Jiang Er slung her backpack over her shoulder and waited for him to lock the door before they walked out of the teaching building together.
“Lin Ling didn’t come looking for trouble today,” she mused thoughtfully. “Is he planning something big?”
“No,” Little Fatty said mysteriously. “When I went to the office to hand in homework today, I overheard that he hurt his back yesterday while helping Wen Xiyue clean up. He had to take a sick day.”
Jiang Er nearly burst out laughing. “Him, chasing the school belle? In his dreams, maybe.”
Little Fatty grinned foolishly. “It’s pretty embarrassing. None of his lackeys dared to spread the word.”
“By the way, do you know what Zhao Yan meant this morning?” Jiang Er probed cautiously. “His mother, is she really…”
Little Fatty hesitated for a moment. “Actually, it’s not much of a secret. Pretty much the whole school knows. I heard it from others, but you must never bring it up in front of Fu Tinghan.”
Jiang Er urged him on. “I know my limits. Just tell me.”
Little Fatty lowered his voice. “It all started when Fu Tinghan’s mother was in college.”
It was a clichéd story.
A poor but beautiful girl, not long after starting college, was kept by a wealthy man for various reasons.After the incident came to light, her family felt she had brought shame upon them and severed ties with her.
Later, for reasons unknown, she gave up everything, left the wealthy man, and returned to her hometown, Fengcheng, pregnant and without even finishing college.
Hearing this, Jiang Er’s heart skipped a beat.
No way…
Could it really be the “runaway with a baby” trope?
Clearly, the story wasn’t over yet.
The girl was young, with no savings, no education, no family support, and a child to raise. An ordinary job simply couldn’t cover her daily expenses.
In the end, she had no choice but to work at the only nightclub that offered her a high salary.
Fortunately, she was very beautiful, and regardless of their intentions, the customers were willing to take extra care of her. As a result, her performance was always the best.
Life was no longer a struggle, and the child gradually grew up, starting kindergarten. It seemed everything was getting better.
“But during those years, there were rumors everywhere, all sorts of things were said—none of it good.”
“And then?”
“When Fu Tinghan started elementary school, she suddenly quit her job and started working at a shopping mall, where she became involved with the married manager—what we call the ‘other woman.’”
“When the manager’s wife found out, she caused a huge scene on the spot, even nearly jumping off a building. The incident spread like wildfire, and she was fired.”
“Not long after, Fu Tinghan graduated from elementary school. After attending his graduation ceremony, she was involved in a car accident on her way home. Fu Tinghan survived by sheer luck but was injured in the accident, losing his hearing in both ears.”
After hearing this, Jiang Er remained silent for a long time. “And now?”
“Now?”
“Does he live alone?”
Little Fatty thought for a moment and replied uncertainly, “He was probably taken in by relatives? I’m not sure about the specifics, but I’ve never seen anyone from his family attend parent-teacher meetings.”
Jiang Er’s steps grew heavy.
The few years briefly summarized in the story coincided with the very beginning of Fu Tinghan’s life. How must he have felt when he was forced to hear from others that his mother was such a shameless person?
He must have felt… utterly helpless.
And that car accident not only took away his only family but also his hearing, shattering what was already an imperfect life into pieces.
No wonder he had that expression when his parents were mentioned…
A pang of sadness suddenly welled up in Jiang Er’s heart.
Seeing her prolonged silence, Little Fatty grew a bit nervous. “Are you also shocked by Fu Tinghan’s background?”
Jiang Er snapped back to reality. “To be honest, I’m a little surprised, but it’s not that bad.”
“Besides, we don’t even know if what happened with his mother is true or not.”
“You don’t believe his mother was the other woman?” Little Fatty said. “But everyone says so, and it caused such a huge scandal back then—it can’t be fake, right?”
“Did you see it with your own eyes?”
Jiang Er replied, “People can say whatever they want. Those with grudges speak ill, those with favors speak well, and those who love drama add fuel to the fire. You can’t believe everything you hear.”
Little Fatty protested, “But—”
“Alright, I won’t spread this story, and you shouldn’t bring it up again either,” Jiang Er warned, still uneasy.
“Do I need you to tell me? I’m not an idiot.”
Little Fatty grumbled, “He and I have been in the same class since middle school. I still remember how depressed he was back then—how could I possibly bring up his scars to his face?”
“So you just talk about it behind his back instead,” Jiang Er said quietly.”Ahem, I’m only telling you this because I consider you a friend,” Little Fatty said, somewhat awkwardly. “And I can tell you’re not that kind of person.”
“What kind of person is ‘that kind of person’?”
Little Fatty straightened up seriously. “Although I don’t know why you’re so nice to Fu Tinghan, I’m really grateful to you.”
Jiang Er was taken aback. “I’m nice to him?”
She hadn’t really done anything, had she?
Little Fatty said, “You don’t look down on him like others do. That’s already a lot.”
“I’m really thankful that you’re friends with him.”
Jiang Er chuckled. “There’s nothing to thank me for.”
Little Fatty shook his head. “You haven’t seen the Fu Tinghan from before, so you don’t understand how pitiful he was. I sympathized with him and really wanted to be friends with him openly, but I didn’t dare.”
“Didn’t dare?” Jiang Er was puzzled.
“Yes, I didn’t dare,” Little Fatty admitted frankly. “I’m a cowardly and hypocritical person, always caring about what others think. And being friends with him is precisely the thing that requires the most courage.”
Jiang Er was stunned.
“He’s too special.”
Little Fatty sighed. “Once you’re grouped on his side by everyone, it means you’ll have to endure everything he endures.”
Cold stares, mockery, loneliness, or perhaps condescending pity and strange looks—each one sends a chill down your spine.
And these are just the tip of the iceberg in Fu Tinghan’s gray life.
“So, are you really not afraid?”