8 – How could the wronged and clean little wolf cub be a bad person?
Just the mention of Jin Zhi gave Yao Lu a headache.
In truth, every teacher had their own internal scale, and Yao Lu was no exception. Like other teachers, she would emphasize fairness in words, but the scales in her heart couldn’t help but assign different weights to different students.
The heaviest weights were often given to two extremes: those who were the most worry-free and those who caused the most concern.
In her class, there weren’t many who were worry-free, but the one who concerned her the most was undoubtedly Jin Zhi—a child who exuded a lone wolf aura, dangerous and arrogant, refusing to communicate with anyone.
She bent down and rubbed her temples, letting out a sigh. “Actually, it’s fine to tell you. Once you join the class, someone is bound to gossip.”
Teachers might not say it out loud, but they were always keenly aware of what was happening in their classes. They often had a clear understanding of the dynamics within the classroom.
“These past few days, there have been constant rumors about him stealing money. Someone told me about it, so I called him in to explain what happened. He only said, ‘I didn’t steal,’ and then refused to speak another word. No matter what I asked, he stayed silent.”
“If he won’t explain, what can I do? No one can help him. Teachers aren’t all-powerful; we have our own limitations. He has to resolve this matter himself.”
“But don’t let this affect you too much. Apart from being aloof and distant, Jin Zhi is actually fine. He doesn’t cause trouble or stir up drama. His grades are poor, but he studies hard. It might have something to do with his upbringing, I suppose…”
At this point, the teacher abruptly stopped.
Fu Yao, who had been listening intently, tentatively asked, “His upbringing?”
She only knew that Jin Zhi had later disappeared without a trace, but she had no idea about the specifics of how he grew up.
She was also curious about this, especially after realizing that Jin Zhi’s current situation was even more severe than when he was a child. She couldn’t help but feel compelled to care about this childhood connection.
She wanted to make up for the mistake of abandoning him back then.
Since that day, her nightmares had included one unrelated to her parents.
It was a pair of eyes, silently staring at her. No matter where she was or which corner she hid in, she couldn’t escape that gaze.
Those eyes seemed to say:
—I hate you.
However, Teacher Yao Lu didn’t reveal anything further.
She said, “Every child deserves their own privacy. As a teacher, I need to respect that.”
Fu Yao responded with an awkward yet polite smile.
Her thoughts drifted far away.
The corners of her mouth lifted unconsciously.
…
News of a new student joining Class A of the senior year quickly spread.
It was only natural for most students to feel a sense of novelty and curiosity about a new classmate, and discussions were rampant.
“I heard the new student is Fu Yao, the former school belle of No. 2 High School. My friend from No. 2 High says Fu Yao is completely on another level—gorgeous, from a good family, great personality, excellent grades, and she can even play the piano. She’s in a league of her own, completely separate from all the other girls. Every guy at No. 2 High liked her!”
“Come on, why don’t you just call her a fairy? ‘Separate from all the other girls’—how beautiful can she really be? It’s all about temperament.”
“If you want to know what Fu Yao looks like, why don’t you ask Xu Jing’en? She transferred from No. 2 High School too, didn’t she?”
Xu Jing’en had already begun to feel uneasy and shaken upon hearing that Fu Yao was the new transfer student. Now, with others praising Fu Yao and even suggesting she take over, her palms grew sweaty, and resentment welled up inside her.
She forced a smile on her face: “I… I don’t know her, not really sure, probably okay, I guess.”
Everyone was taken aback by Xu Jing’en’s reaction.
“Is Jing’en not feeling well today?”
Xu Jing’en was usually lively and boisterous, eager to be the queen bee at school, always ready to pick a fight with anyone and craving the attention of the entire world.
It was the first time they had heard her give such a dismissive answer.
Only Jin Zhi, who had been sitting silently in the corner, head down and writing something, seemed to hit a nerve deep within when he heard the name “Fu Yao.” That string inside him tightened instantly, as if the slightest pressure would cause it to snap.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his face was frighteningly pale.
He would never forget that name.
Never!
He would never forgive her in this lifetime.
Creak—
The classroom’s old, worn-out door was pushed open. The teacher stepped onto the podium first, followed closely by a young girl.
Immediately, the entire classroom erupted into a chorus of excited “wows,” utterly captivated by what they saw.
The girl before them wasn’t wearing a school uniform. Instead, she had on a simple brown trench coat over grayish-blue straight-leg pants. Her features were as delicate as a doll’s, and her expressive eyes seemed to hold deep emotion no matter the angle. Her hair, just reaching her shoulders, was fluffy with natural curls at the ends. Her smile was radiant, flawless in every way.
But what stood out most was her indescribable aura of elegance and tranquility. She seemed inherently different from other girls, uniquely captivating.
Teacher Yao Lu sighed helplessly at her students’ reaction. “This is our new classmate, Fu Yao. For the next year, she’ll be joining us as we push forward together. Now, let’s welcome Fu Yao to introduce herself.”
Fu Yao remained calm and composed. Her gaze swept across the room, finally settling on the boy hiding in the farthest corner.
The boy was also looking at her. When their eyes met, his expression was hostile, as if he wanted to tear her apart.
But he quickly lowered his head, breaking eye contact with Fu Yao. His emotions seemed to be enveloped in layers of purple and red, as if ready to ignite and explode at any moment.
Fu Yao said, “My name is Fu Yao. I’m very happy to meet all of you. Over the next year, I hope we can work hard together, and I’ll do my best to fit in.”
It was a simple, standard introduction, but it was polite and graceful, leaving no room for criticism.
Teacher Yao Lu asked her to choose a seat.
As if she had planned it all along, Fu Yao set her sights on the spot next to the corner where no one else wanted to sit.
As she walked past some of the boys, they were practically ready to kick their deskmates out to make room for her.
But Fu Yao didn’t stop. She walked straight to Jin Zhi’s side and sat down.
Everyone was stunned. No one had expected Fu Yao to choose that seat.
A boy nearby warned her, “Fu Yao, don’t sit there… it’s bad luck. Come sit with me.”
Jin Zhi turned his head away, lowering it even further.
He sneered silently to himself.
Good. Stay away from someone like him. Don’t come any closer.
But then Fu Yao’s voice came, calm and measured: “Why can’t I sit here?”
“Hahaha, you don’t know, do you? That boy next to you is a thief—poor and with terrible character, just plain unlucky!”
“…”
Jin Zhi swallowed hard, his gaze fixed intently on his own knuckled hands as he quietly clenched them.
“…”
“But that doesn’t conflict with me sitting here. It doesn’t matter who sits beside me. I don’t know about other people’s affairs, and without knowing the full picture, I won’t pass judgment.”
“Aren’t you afraid your things might get stolen someday?”
“Since it hasn’t happened yet, I won’t make baseless assumptions. Besides… I trust him. He doesn’t seem like that kind of person.”
Fu Yao’s gaze fell on Jin Zhi, who was also secretly watching her. But when he noticed her eyes on him, he immediately averted his gaze. His clenched hands loosened inadvertently, and when he tried to tighten them again, an indescribable feeling left him powerless.
Fu Yao saw it—the colors around him had faded significantly, even tinged with a confused shade of blue.
Just like when she had cautiously approached him before, this time, he remained the same.
A wronged yet pure young wolf, who hadn’t done anything bad even at his most desperate moment—how could someone like that be a bad person?