The Lonely Child

Diagnosed with an incurable disease, Zhuang Ziang wasn't sure who to tell this news to.

Most people would think of their parents, but his situation was a bit unique.

His father, Zhuang Wenzhao, and his mother, Xu Hui, had divorced when he was five.

Most professions require training and exams before you can take up a job.

For example, driving requires a license, teaching requires a teaching certificate.

But to become a parent, there are no exams. A moment of impulse or an accident can bring a new life into this world.

Very few people care if the child wants to be here.

Ziang's childhood was unhappy. From the time he could remember, his parents argued almost every day.

The furniture at home was often overturned, and the floor was covered with glass shards and ceramic pieces.

Finally, on an ordinary day, they separated for good.

During the divorce negotiations, Wenzhao initially didn't want Ziang, thinking that a child would hinder him from forming a new family.

In the end, under the intervention of his grandparents, who wanted to carry on the family name, Ziang stayed.

A year later, Wenzhao brought home a heavily made-up woman.

Two years later, they had their own son.

In fairy tales, children with stepmothers always suffer.

Although the reality wasn't as exaggerated, there was always the feeling of being unwelcome and having to please others.

It was supposed to be his own home, but he often felt like an outsider.

His mother, Xu Hui, never remarried. As a train attendant, she was always travelling, returning once every ten days or half a month.

She rented a small apartment near the school, and sometimes Ziang would stay there when he didn't want to go home.

Over time, he became even more of a marginal figure in the family.

His parents were at work, and Ziang didn't want to disturb them. He hesitated for a long time before dialling a landline number from the balcony.

The phone rang for a long time before it was finally answered.

An elderly voice came through: "Hello, who is it?"

Tears streamed down Ziang's face, "Grandpa, it's Ziang. I miss you."

Zhuang Jianguo immediately responded joyfully, "Ziang, Grandpa misses you too."

He called out loudly for his wife to join him in listening to their grandson.

Ziang rarely felt familial affection, except during summer and winter vacations when he visited his grandparents in the countryside, seeking a rare emotional solace from the kind elderly couple.

"Grandpa, Grandma, I'll visit you this weekend." Ziang tried to make his tone sound natural.

"No need, you have heavy study tasks now. Don't worry about us. Come back during the summer vacation." Jianguo chuckled.

"Okay, Grandpa, Grandma, take care of yourselves. I have to go to class now." Ziang quickly found an excuse to hang up the phone.

Otherwise, he would have cried out loud.

He didn't have the courage to tell his closest elders about this devastating news.

What kind of pain would they feel if that day came?

The class bell rang at this moment.

Ziang wiped away his tears, pretending to be calm, and returned to his seat.

He tried to forget his sadness and immerse himself in the sea of knowledge.

The course schedule on the far right of the blackboard showed that the next two periods were math classes.

"Terminator" Wu Qiufang, holding a textbook, walked onto the podium.

Math class had a good hypnotic effect.

After only five minutes, more than half of the students were drowsy.

Taking advantage of Wu Qiufang's turned back to write on the board, Li Huangxuan reached into the desk and took out a copy of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils."

With a casual flip, he found a classic scene.

"Son, do you have a death wish, reading a novel in the Terminator's class?" Ziang whispered to his deskmate.

Huangxuan continued defiantly, committing the crime.

The world of martial arts, with its flashing swords and quick revenge, was much more interesting than math formulas.

As a good student, Ziang sat upright, fully focused.

But unlike usual, he could only see Wu's mouth moving, unable to absorb a single word.

It felt like the warmth of life was slowly draining from his body.

"Master Murong, Chief Zhuang, Old Ding, you three come together, Xiao has no fear."

Huangxuan, engrossed in an exciting part, suddenly felt a wave of killing intent.

He looked up to meet Wu's stern gaze.

"Li Huangxuan, come to the board and solve this problem."

From the podium, the teacher could see the students' little actions.

Wu, known for her strict teaching style, couldn't tolerate any disobedience.

Huangxuan reluctantly walked to the podium, holding chalk, facing the board's hieroglyphics, completely immobile.

Such a difficult problem, who could solve it besides emotionless learning machines?

Wu, with an iron face, said, "With your math scores, you still have the audacity to read novels in class. Sitting with Ziang, haven't you learned anything from him?"

Huangxuan muttered, "He bought the novel for me."

"Confiscated. Go stand at the back and listen to the class." Wu scolded.

Then she changed to a gentle tone, "Ziang, come solve this problem and set a positive example for the class."

As a top student, Ziang consistently scored nearly perfect in math exams.

Solving such problems was a piece of cake for him.

But when the teacher called him, he was visibly stunned, as if his soul had wandered somewhere and was suddenly pulled back.

He stood before the board but paused for a long time, unable to write.

His mind was filled with that diagnosis, or rather, a death sentence.

The once familiar numbers and symbols now seemed completely alien.

"Ziang, what's wrong?" Wu was surprised.

"Miss Wu, I can't solve it," Ziang choked out.

"Impossible," Wu knew Ziang well. This level of math problem couldn't stump him.

She had asked Ziang to solve it to highlight Huangxuan's shortcomings but didn't expect to fail.

Ziang's shoulders trembled slightly, and the chalk fell to the ground.

Tears welled up again.

He was engulfed by immense sadness, like a lonely child.

Wu felt pity and wanted to hug him.

The classmates were baffled, whispering among themselves.

"This kind of problem can stump Ziang, what a joke?"

"A top student indeed, couldn't solve a math problem and cried."

"Mu Shi, did he confess to you and get rejected?"

...

Lin Mu Shi, with wide eyes, stared at Ziang's back, feeling a sudden heartache.

They had been friends for so long, and she had never seen him so sad.

He must have a secret.

"Ziang, stop crying, go back." Wu gently comforted.

"Miss Wu, I want to go to the bathroom." Ziang sobbed.

Wu sighed softly and nodded silently.

Teachers are always more lenient with good students.

Outside the classroom, in the hallway, Ziang couldn't hold back anymore, crying his heart out.

He deeply cherished every teacher and every classmate.

Only three months left, and then they would be separated by life and death.

Never to see each other again.