Chapter 16: The Child Who Never Grows Up

In the hidden blind spot of the campus surveillance, the atmosphere was as oppressive as the eerie calm before a storm.

Zhang Chenxi’s eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging as he charged swiftly toward Lin Siqing.

His once neatly pressed school uniform now fluttered wildly in the wind, sweat dampening the hair on his forehead, strands clinging to his cheeks, yet none of it diminished his fierce momentum.

Lin Siqing refused to be outdone. His feet planted firmly on the ground like a deeply rooted tree, his body slightly crouched in a stance ready to fight.

In an instant, the two collided, fists raining down like relentless torrents. Each punch struck with raw power and fury, thudding heavily upon one another.

Zhang Chenxi’s face flushed crimson with rage; his usually gentle features twisted into a mask of fury. His eyes burned with an intense fire, a gaze that seemed to devour Lin Siqing whole.

His arms swung wildly, muscles taut, each punch accompanied by a guttural roar, as if unleashing every ounce of his suppressed frustration and confusion.

Lin Siqing’s brow furrowed deeply, his gaze cold and unyielding. His lips pressed tightly together, revealing a stubborn defiance.

Though battered by blows, he fought back tenaciously, his fists slicing through the air with a whooshing sound, landing firmly on Zhang Chenxi.

After a fierce struggle, both were utterly exhausted, collapsing to the ground like puppets with cut strings.

Their uniforms were streaked with dust, collars torn, hair disheveled. Blood trickled from the split corner of Zhang Chenxi’s mouth, sliding slowly down his chin to drip onto the floor.

Dark bruises bloomed around Lin Siqing’s eyes, his appearance utterly disheveled. Yet, in this moment of disarray, their eyes met, and a faint smile passed between them.

The hostility that had dominated moments before vanished, replaced by a mixture of resignation and relief.

Zhang Chenxi’s laughter soon gave way to bitter sobs, his body trembling uncontrollably as he cried out in anguish.

Tears cascaded like a breaking dam, soaking his cheeks and collar.

He covered his eyes with trembling hands, curling up on the floor—a lost child weeping alone in darkness, the gentleness he usually wore nowhere to be seen.

Lin Siqing lay quietly beside him, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, silently waiting for the storm of tears to pass.

After an indeterminate time, Zhang Chenxi’s sobs subsided to soft sniffles.

Supporting each other, they rose unsteadily, dragging their bruised and battered forms toward the classroom.

They limped in, immediately drawing the attention of the entire class.

The homeroom teacher, Lin Chen, raised an eyebrow in surprise, eyes filled with puzzlement at their disheveled state.

“Did you fall into a cesspool? Looking this miserable?” Lin Chen’s voice carried a teasing reprimand.

Lin Siqing laughed heartily, the sound echoing through the classroom—hoarse yet imbued with a rebellious spirit.

“No, nothing like that,” he replied with a sly glint in his eyes but offered no further explanation.

*

In a corner of the classroom, Fu Siqiao sat with a slight frown, fully engrossed in her exercises, trying to block out the distractions surrounding her.

The pen in her hand moved swiftly across the paper, producing a soft rustling sound. Her focused expression seemed to shrink the world down to the problems before her.

Yet the classroom of first-year class one was like a boiling pot, noisy and chaotic.

Groups of students gathered in clusters, chattering excitedly, their voices rising and falling in waves that shattered the quiet.

“Have you heard the big gossip today?” someone suddenly shouted, the voice striking like a stone thrown into a still lake, stirring a frenzy.

Those who had been talking separately were instantly drawn in, crowding around the source of the news, eyes sparkling with curiosity and excitement.

“What gossip? Tell us!” a girl with a ponytail asked eagerly, clutching a classmate’s arm tightly, leaning forward with urgency written all over her face.

“I heard it’s about the beauty queen from the next class,” a bespectacled boy said, pushing up his glasses and speaking mysteriously.

His eyes gleamed mischievously behind the lenses, relishing the spotlight.

“Apparently, she’s been seen getting close to some outsider.”

“Wow! Really?” The surrounding students gasped in amazement, mouths wide open as if they could swallow an egg.

“That’s nothing,” another girl interrupted, her eyes shining with gossip-fueled excitement, cheeks flushed with exhilaration.

“I also heard the captain of the basketball team and the dance team leader had a fight—over who gets to perform.”

“No way! I thought they got along well,” a boy asked, scratching his head, his hair in wild disarray.

“Hmph, what do you know?” the girl rolled her eyes and continued, “That performance slot is a chance to compete citywide—who wouldn’t want that?”

“Wait, wait, I heard our homeroom teacher is getting married!” a short boy jumped up excitedly, tears of joy glistening in his eyes as if it were his own celebration.

“Really? Don’t spread rumors,” a girl looked at him skeptically, concern flickering in her gaze.

“I’m not making it up—I heard it straight from the teachers in the office,” the boy boasted, chest puffed out with pride.

The students grew more animated, gossip swirling like snowflakes drifting through the air.

Some talked about which teacher had embarrassed themselves in class again, others speculated on the exciting events at the upcoming sports meet, while some whispered about secret crushes among classmates.

Fu Siqiao finally felt her concentration shattered by the uproar. She sighed softly, lifting her gaze to the lively crowd around her, a trace of helplessness in her eyes.

She couldn’t understand why everyone was so obsessed with such trivial matters.

Yet amid the noise, her glance inadvertently settled on Lin Siqing standing by the classroom door.

He leaned against the frame, a faint, elusive smile curving his lips as he quietly listened to the buzzing gossip.

Fu Siqiao’s heart stirred slightly, wondering what thoughts ran through his mind.

She put down her pen, eyes fixed intently on Lin Siqing, surprise and puzzlement shining in her gaze. She couldn’t help but blurt out, “Why do you look so bruised and battered?”

Her voice carried a hint of concern, brows knitting slightly as she studied the injuries on his face.

Hearing her question, Lin Siqing’s expression turned cold in an instant.

He lifted his head slightly, casting a sidelong glance with bruised eyes, his tone sharp and distant: “What’s it to you?”

His hands slipped into his pockets, body leaning back slightly as if deliberately keeping his distance. The injury only made his already stern demeanor more forbidding.

Fu Siqiao felt a sting from his attitude but swallowed her hurt and pressed on: “Then what are you doing here?”

Lin Siqing snorted lightly, a mocking curve playing at his lips. “I’m here to find Old Zhang. Don’t need to report to you.”

Impatience flickered in his eyes as he turned to leave, but then he paused, glanced back at Fu Siqiao, and warned, “Better not stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

With that, he strode purposefully toward the teachers’ office, leaving Fu Siqiao standing there, lost in thought.

She shook her head softly—such a child, never quite growing up.