Teacher Wang rummaged through the drawer beside her, then pulled out an old, yellowed letter from the innermost section.
“Take a look.”
“What’s this?” Chen Tianyou asked, puzzled.
“This was handed to me by your father over two years ago when you first entered high school.”
“My father?” Chen Tianyou’s pupils suddenly contracted.
He was someone who had transmigrated into this world and didn’t hold much emotion toward the original Chen Tianyou’s father. In his inherited memories, he only had vague impressions of the man. From childhood to adolescence, his father had shown him little care or affection. He was always busy with work, rarely home all year, not even on weekends or holidays. When Chen Tianyou misbehaved, his father would beat or scold him without hesitation. Because of this, Chen Tianyou developed a habit of using violence to resist violence from a young age, and his feelings toward his father were quite detached.
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a crumpled, yellowed piece of paper covered with a long, crooked handwritten message.
Dear Teacher Wang,
Hello!
I didn’t receive much education, so I ask that you patiently read this letter.
My son, Chen Tianyou, has been struggling academically since middle school. As his father, this pains and worries me deeply.
I’ve been busy with work and constantly on the move to support our household, so I rarely have time to sit with him or help with his studies. His mother’s health isn’t good, and the burden of the household falls entirely on me. I know I’m not a competent father, but I truly hope for a bright future for my son.
I don’t want him to end up like me—too poor to attend school, ridiculed and looked down upon wherever he went. That’s why I’ve worked tirelessly to earn money, just to give our family a better life.
Teacher, you are a guiding light in his life. I sincerely ask that you look after him whenever you can. If he struggles in learning, please don’t hesitate to teach him. If he misbehaves, please discipline him strictly.
My relationship with him has never been great, and I don’t know how to communicate with him. Though his grades are poor, he is smart—he just doesn’t focus on his studies.
I believe that if someone can guide him properly, he will one day become my pride.
I hope you can help him build a proper sense of values. Please, I beg you!
After reading the letter, Chen Tianyou felt overwhelmed.
The handwriting was clumsy, full of mistakes, and looked more like scribbles than writing, but the weight of a father’s expectations could be felt in every line.
“When your father enrolled you, he gave me this letter in private. From it, I could sense what he was feeling. He wanted you to gain knowledge. Even though your grades were poor, he believed you could still grow into a capable person.”
Teacher Wang spoke earnestly, “Before he left, he told me something: A person can skip school, but they can’t be uneducated. He said he just didn’t want you to end up like him. Do you understand?”
“I understand…” Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
Chen Tianyou’s heartstrings were deeply pulled. A feeling he’d never experienced before swelled within him.
As an orphan who had never felt true familial affection, this letter stirred something in him. Within those rough words, he could suddenly feel his father’s heavy but silent love—thick, deep, and unspoken.
“Do you still want to drop out?”
“I think… I won’t, at least not now. Even though I know I probably won’t get good grades, I don’t want to let my father down. I’ll try.”
Chen Tianyou spoke from the heart.
His father had passed away not long after enrolling him into high school. Even though he was a transmigrator, he now carried the emotional baggage of this original Chen Tianyou.
This letter, sealed away for over two years, had quietly shifted his mindset.
“Good! Just saying that proves the years you’ve spent in school haven’t been wasted. Alright, go back to class. I’ll speak with Su Ling and ask her to help you with your studies. She’s a good student. I’m sure she’ll agree.”
“Huh? Teacher, that’s not necessary…” Chen Tianyou’s heart skipped a beat.
“It’s fine. Go back now.”
“…Okay.”
…
As soon as he returned to the classroom, Su Ling nudged him with her elbow.
“What’s up, class monitor?” Chen Tianyou asked, puzzled.
“What did you go see Teacher Wang for?”
“You’re asking me that? Class monitor, why are you so concerned about me?” Chen Tianyou smiled at her.
A blush crept from Su Ling’s neck to her cheeks.
“Who—who’s concerned about you? I was just curious, that’s all! Don’t overthink it!”
“It’s fine. I’ll just take it as you care about me.”
Chen Tianyou leaned a little closer toward Su Ling.
“Y-you’re too close…”
“Let me tell you something. I went to the homeroom teacher just now to drop out.” This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“Drop out?” Su Ling’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Why would you suddenly want to drop out?”
“Well… personal reasons. Anyway, Teacher Wang talked to me for a while and convinced me to stay. So now I’ve decided not to drop out!”
“Hmph. Since you’ve decided to stay, then use this time wisely. Stop dozing off in class every day!”
“Yes, yes! Understood, class monitor!”
“Just saying it isn’t enough. You better show it through action!”
“…”
Chen Tianyou obediently pulled out a math test paper and started working on it.
Before long, his brows began to furrow tighter and tighter.
The test questions were indeed difficult for him.
He flipped the paper back and forth and realized there were many problems he didn’t even understand.
After struggling for a while, he finally began to attempt answering.
Su Ling, reviewing her notes beside him, noticed how focused he looked and revealed a trace of surprise in her eyes.
It was the first time she had seen Chen Tianyou so serious.
Usually, he either slept or played on his phone.
When she glanced over at his paper, her expression turned even more astonished.
Because she discovered—Chen Tianyou had gotten almost half the answers wrong!
“Chen Tianyou, if you’re going to do the questions, do them properly. What’s the point of deliberately getting them wrong?”
“Deliberately? I didn’t!” Chen Tianyou spread his hands innocently.
“You’re saying you didn’t? These multiple-choice questions are so simple, yet you purposely picked the wrong option C. And this one—this is the easiest question, and you still got it wrong…”
Su Ling pointed out several questions on his paper with her slender finger.
“I really got them wrong?”
“Of course! These are Grade 11 level questions. Are you seriously going to say that wasn’t on purpose?”