A lonely child.

Having been diagnosed with an incurable disease, Zhuang Ziang didn't know whom to tell this news to for a moment. Ordinary people would surely think of their parents first, but his situation was a bit special. His father, Zhuang Wenzhao, and mother, Xu Hui, got divorced when Zhuang Ziang was five years old. Most occupations in this world require training and examinations before one can start working. For example, driving requires a driver's license, and teaching requires a teaching qualification certificate. But being a parent doesn't require an exam. With just a whim and an accident, they can bring a life into this world. Very few people care whether that child wants to come or not. Zhuang Ziang had an unhappy childhood. Ever since he could remember, his parents were almost always engaged in endless quarrels. The tables and chairs at home were often toppled over, and the floor was covered with glass shards and porcelain pieces. Finally, on an ordinary day, they completely parted ways. When negotiating the divorce, Zhuang Wenzhao didn't want Zhuang Ziang for a while because he always felt that having a child would affect his remarriage. Finally, under the intervention of his grandparents, on the grounds of continuing the family line, Zhuang Ziang was kept at home. A year later, Zhuang Wenzhao brought back a heavily made-up woman. Two years later, they had their own son. In fairy tales, children with stepmothers all live a miserable life. Although reality is not so exaggerated, there is always the need to watch people's faces and depend on others. Clearly it's one's own home, but often there is a feeling of living under someone else's roof. Mother Xu Hui didn't remarry. As a train attendant, she was always on the move and only came back once every ten days or half a month. She rented a small house near the school. Sometimes when Zhuang Ziang didn't want to go home, he would stay there for a few days. Over time, he became even more of a marginal figure in the family. His parents were both at work at this time. Zhuang Ziang didn't want to disturb them. He came to the utility corner on the balcony and hesitated for a long time before dialing a landline number. The ringtone rang for a long time before someone finally answered. An old voice came: "Hello, who are you looking for?" Zhuang Ziang burst into tears: "Grandpa, it's Zi'ang. I miss you." Zhuang Jianguo immediately said happily: "Zi'ang, Grandpa misses you too." Then he shouted loudly for his wife to come and listen to their grandson's call together. Zhuang Ziang usually couldn't feel family affection. Only during summer and winter vacations, when he went to his grandparents' house in the countryside, could he seek a rare spiritual comfort from the two kind old people. "Grandpa and Grandma, I'll come back to see you this weekend." Zhuang Ziang tried to make his tone sound natural. "No need. You have a heavy learning task now. Don't think about us. Come back during summer vacation." Zhuang Jianguo said with a smile. "Then... then okay. Grandpa and Grandma, take care of yourselves. I have to go to class." Zhuang Ziang quickly found an excuse and hung up the phone. Otherwise, he would definitely cry out. He really didn't have the courage to tell this shocking bad news to the two dearest old people. What would they be like in grief when that day really came? The class bell rang at this moment. Zhuang Ziang wiped away his tears and pretended to be calm as he returned to his seat. Trying to make himself forget his sadness and immerse himself in the ocean of knowledge. On the rightmost side of the blackboard was the class schedule. Next were two consecutive math classes. "The Merciless Nun" Wu Qiufang walked onto the podium with her textbook in hand. Math class had a rather good hypnotic effect. Only five minutes had passed, and more than half of the students were drowsy. While Wu Qiufang was turning around to write on the blackboard, Li Huangxuan reached into his desk and took out a copy of "The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils." As he casually flipped through it, he came across a classic famous scene. Eighteen riders from Yan Yun, galloping like tigers amid billowing smoke. "Son, are you courting death? Reading a novel in the Merciless Nun's class?" Zhuang Ziang lowered his voice and reminded his deskmate. But Li Huangxuan was bent on going his own way and defying the wind. The swordplay and enmity in the martial arts world were much more interesting than math formulas. As a good student, Zhuang Ziang sat up straight and was fully concentrated. But unlike before, he could only see Teacher Wu's mouth moving but couldn't hear a single word. It seemed that the warmth of life was being gradually drawn out of his body. "Young Master Murong, Chief Zhuang, Old Freak Ding. Even if all three of you come at me together, why should Xiao be afraid?" Li Huangxuan was just at an exciting part when suddenly he felt a murderous aura coming towards him. He looked up and met Wu Qiufang's sharp eyes. "Li Huangxuan, come to the blackboard and solve this problem." Teachers standing on the podium could often see the students' small movements clearly. Wu Qiufang had always been strict in her teaching style and couldn't tolerate the slightest bit of misbehavior. Li Huangxuan walked up to the podium slowly, holding a piece of chalk. Facing the heavenly script on the blackboard, he was like a statue, motionless. Who could solve such a difficult problem except for those emotionless learning machines? Wu Qiufang's face was livid: "With your math grades, you still have the nerve to read novels in class. Sitting with Zhuang Ziang, don't you know to learn from him more?" Li Huangxuan muttered: "The novel was bought for me by him!" "Confiscated. Go and stand at the back and listen to the class." Wu Qiufang scolded. Then she changed to a kind tone: "Zhuang Ziang, come and solve this problem and set a positive example for the classmates." As a super scholar, Zhuang Ziang got nearly full marks in math exams every time. Solving problems of this difficulty was a piece of cake for him. But when Zhuang Ziang heard the teacher call his name, he was obviously stunned for a moment, as if his soul had wandered to a certain place and was suddenly pulled back. He came to the blackboard but also stood there for a long time, unable to write. His mind was filled with that diagnosis sheet, or rather, a death warrant. The once most familiar numbers and symbols now all seemed extremely strange. "Zhuang Ziang, what's wrong with you?" Wu Qiufang was surprised. "Teacher Wu, I don't know how to do it." Zhuang Ziang replied with a sob. "How is that possible?" Wu Qiufang knew Zhuang Ziang. Math problems of this level definitely couldn't stump him. She asked Zhuang Ziang to solve the problem to deliberately set off Li Huangxuan, but unexpectedly it backfired. Zhuang Ziang's shoulders trembled slightly, and the chalk in his hand fell to the ground. Uncontrollable tears welled up again. The whole person was wrapped in great sadness, like a lonely child. Wu Qiufang felt heartbroken looking at him and couldn't help but want to hug him. The classmates looked at it inexplicably and whispered and discussed. "Can such a problem stump Zhuang Ziang? What a joke!" "A top student is a top student. He can actually cry because he can't solve a math problem." "Mu Shi, did he confess to you and was rejected by you?"

...

Lin Mu Shi widened her beautiful eyes and stared at Zhuang Ziang's back. Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat. As a friend for so long, she had never seen Zhuang Ziang so sad. He must have some secret. "Zhuang Ziang, don't cry. Go back!" Wu Qiufang comforted softly. "Teacher Wu, I want to go to the restroom." Zhuang Ziang couldn't stop sobbing. Wu Qiufang sighed softly and nodded silently. Teachers are always more lenient towards good students. Walking out of the classroom and onto the corridor, Zhuang Ziang completely lost control of himself and cried heartbreakingly. Every teacher and every classmate made him deeply attached. In just three months, they would be separated by life and death. Never to see each other again.