Chapter 22

As the bell rang, the homeroom teacher stepped into the classroom, and a little girl followed behind him.

"Students, let us welcome the new classmates with warm applause."

The applause from the class came one after another, all curious about the new classmate.

It was strange that this new student wore a mask to cover half of her face, and her forehead was also covered by bangs. The only thing they could see was her eyes.

Therefore, everyone's interest in this new classmate intensified, and they were all curious about why she was dressed strangely. They all wanted to see what she looked like under the mask.

The students in the first few rows were afraid to be presumptuous due to the presence of the teacher, and the next few rows began to whisper and discuss about the new classmates.

At the teacher's indication, Yu Zhiyi stood up on the podium, "Hello everyone, my name is Yu Zhiyi. I am very happy to transfer here and be classmate with everyone. Please look after me in the future."

After speaking, she bowed slightly.

The girl's voice was soft and waxy, and it seemed to match her size and body shape very well. It is said that hearing sounds is like seeing people. At this moment, the people inside the classroom start to visualize her face based on her soft and alluring voice.

"Wow~" The few male classmates who heard her voice began to make an uproar.

Li Shaozhou, who was sitting in front of Shi Yi, also joined the few males who were causing noises, but suddenly felt that his chair was kicked.

Li Shaozhou turned his head abruptly and saw the class monitor, Shi Yi’s warning glare.

He thought that the monitor was maintaining class discipline, so he suddenly stopped.

The homeroom teacher stretched out his hand and patted the desk, signalled the people to be quiet, and pointed to the only empty seat in the classroom, and said to Yu Zhiyi in a pleasant tone: "Yu Zhiyi, this new classmate, your seat will be on that empty chair on the fourth row from the bottom."

"Thank you, teacher."

She grabbed her stuff, and walked to the fourth-to-last vacant position without delay.

Jiang Mier, who saw her yesterday, waved at her, "Hi."

Yu Zhiyi smiled at her. Although she [Jiang Mier] couldn't see her [Yu Zhiyi] facial expression clearly, her eyes were curved like crescents when she laughed, which clearly showed she’s [Yu Zhiyi] pleased to meet her [Jiang Mier] again.

Since learning about Yu Zhiyi’s identity from Qiao Lezhi last night, Jiang Mier has developed a keen interest in Yu Zhiyi, and the teacher has specifically told her to take care of this classmate. She acts as a sports committee member and room manager. Being at the same table, she feels this task is like her mission, and decides to be good with Zhiyi.

As soon as Yu Zhiyi took her seat, she found that there were several books in her desk drawer.

She took out the textbook in the drawer and opened it to see that it was indeed the textbook she was using every day. When she came to school with Shi Yi this morning, Shi Yi took the textbooks she needed for today's class according to the schedule, and said that the rest will be brought over slowly.

She thought, there’s plenty of high school textbooks and most of them were heavy and thick. It is indeed laborious to bring them all at once, so she was glad with Shi Yi’s method of bringing the books.

In this way, Shi Yi would hand her a few books every morning... books that belong to her.

Jiang Mier was sitting next to her, and she could see clearly that there were few colourful sticky notes in her books.

Jiang Mier was a little curious, "Hey, are your books second-hand?"

Yu Zhiyi had been delayed for half a semester before coming to school, so Jang Mier thought that like others she bought her books from graduate students.

Upon hearing this, Yu Zhiyi shook her head and showed her the name in the lower right corner of the second page, "This is my own book."

The two chatted softly, and the teacher on the stage clapped his hands, "Okay, then open the textbook, let’s have a recap on the classical Chinese that we learned yesterday."

Jiang Mier noticed that Yu Zhiyi had no pens. She flipped through her desk drawer and remembered that she had lost her extra pen before.

"Have you brought a pen? I'll borrow one for you if you don't have one." Jiang Mier has quickly entered the state of "taking care of people".

Yu Zhiyi nodded at her, "I have a pen."

It's just that the schoolbag is with Shi Yi.

She looked back, and Shi Yi was sitting in the second row from the bottom.

She didn't understand why Shi Yi put the book in the drawer, but forgot to give her the bag.

"Aw—" Li Shaozhou felt his back being poked, turned his head, saw Shi Yi handed out a black and a red pen.

"Give it to Yu Zhiyi," he said.

Li Shaozhou looked at him blankly, so Shi Yi repeated again, "Give the pen to Yu Zhiyi."

Li Shaozhou exaggeratedly handed the two pens to Yu Zhiyi, who was seated on the row in front of him.

Yu Zhiyi took the pen but didn’t thank him.

She didn't think there was anything wrong with it, but the classmates sitting in the next few rows didn't think so.

Just now, they watched Shi Yi take a few books and put them in the empty seat. At first, they thought that Shi Yi would only do this as the class monitor, but now it seems that things are NOT THAT SIMPLE.

But because their teacher is starting his lecture, they decided to hold back their curiosity

"Ding--"

Finally, the bell rang signifying the class is over. However, the homeroom teacher was still continuing his lecture, taking the class's three- or four-minutes break time.

The homeroom teacher sorted out the books and teaching materials, and said loudly: "Okay, class is over. After a while, class representative come to me to pick up the workbook. Everyone should copy the classical Chinese text twice and give it to me before class tomorrow."

When the teacher left the classroom, the students started making commotions.

Some people go to the toilet in groups, some slump over their table, and some people squeeze into the back row intentionally or unintentionally, wanting to see what Yu Zhiyi looks like.

"Hey Yu Zhiyi, why are you wearing a mask?"

Normally students can’t wear hats and masks inside the classroom, but strangely the teacher brought Yu Zhiyi over and said nothing.

With so many curious eyes on her, Yu Zhiyi's heartbeat accelerated, she was a little nervous remembering the time others treated her like an alien.

"Thud—"

They suddenly heard a clunk sound, it turned out to be Shi Yi carrying Yu Zhiyi white schoolbag and putting it on her table.

"Class monitor, do you and Yu Zhiyi know each other?"

"Wow, they have unusual relationship~"

Shi Yi glanced at everyone calmly, "Leave if you are just going to talk nonsense, don’t hang around here!"

His tone is not fierce, and the people around him know him well, so instead of being afraid they ask playfully, "That's not good, what is the relationship between the two of you? Tell us truthfully, no need to be so secretive."

Yu Zhiyi sighed, put her school bag under her table, and shouted at Shi Yi: "Brother."

Everyone was shocked: "Brother?"

"Class monitor, is this your sister?"

"You should have said it earlier! Since she is the class monitor's sister, then we are also friends."

Yu Zhiyi knew that Shi Yi was very popular from childhood up until his teenage years. But she didn't expect that this would also affect her, thus everyone accepted her as a transfer student this soon.

Shi Yi who didn’t express anything, neither specifically admitted nor denied this.

Probably tacitly agreed, so that their classmates will be friendly to Yu Zhiyi.

Knowing that Yu Zhiyi is related to Shiyi, everyone wants to see her more.

"Yu Zhiyi, let’s go to the cafeteria together at noon."

"Okay." Facing the person who warmly invited her for lunch, she obediently took out the lunch box in her school bag.

After going to the cafeteria with her classmates to have a meal, she will go back to the classroom to eat.

The students who were waiting for her to take the mask off while she was eating: "..."

Yu Zhiyi changed her mask frequently, but she wore it during the day when she was in class.

They went to find Yu Zhiyi's roommates in private, and wanted to poke something out of them, but the three roommates never mentioned it.

They waited until Friday when there was a physical education class. Everyone was thinking, they will all run during physical education class, then Yu Zhiyi must take off her mask, right?

But in the afternoon, it started to rain. The physical education teacher walked into the classroom with a whistle and said to the students: "This lesson is free to arrange."

The students who were waiting to see her take the mask in gym class: "..."

Yu Zhiyi became a more and more mysterious figure in the eyes of everyone.

——

After school on Friday, she has to go home with Shi Yi.

She could finally go home with him.

When she heard the teacher say that the class was over, she began packing her things.

Textbooks that need to be read, workbooks for tests, notebooks, etc. With plenty of books stuff inside, the weight of her school bag is really not light!

During this time, Shiyi doesn't need to help her take notes anymore. So, on Fridays he only brings the necessary homework.

He put the homework and exercise book on the table, waiting for Yu Zhiyi to finish packing her things.

"Give me your school bag."

"Oh."

She obediently handed over her schoolbag, Shi Yi took it and weighed it twice. The schoolbag was quite heavy.

"Brought so much?"

" They are all books that the teacher said to read and exercise books that we need to answer."

"Really honest."

How many people in the class will really listen to the teacher’s instruction?

Yu Zhiyi is one of them.

Opening the zipper, he unceremoniously stuffed his homework book into Yu Zhiyi's school bag. Before she could take it back, he had picked up the school bag with one hand and hung one of the straps on his shoulder.

When it moved, the pink keychain on the zipper buckle swayed, very cute.

"When we go back, I think you need to remove this ornament."

"Huh? This ornament is so cute."

"It's cute, but... do you think it's really good for your brother to carry a school bag with a pink doll on his back?"

As soon as Yu Zhiyi understood his meaning, she pursed her lips and quickly took off the ornament.

As the two were in the same class, they walked side by side without feeling embarrassed.

Someone sighed, "Wow, the class monitor is so kind to his sister, always helping her carry the schoolbag. My brother only knows how to play computer games with me!"

"Mine is much worse, it takes three days for us to reconcile when we have a small quarrel, and five days when we have a big fight. Maybe we should go to a hospital to take a DNA test."

Seeing this heart-warming scene, everyone thinks Shi Yi is good to Yu Zhiyi.

Only Qiao Lezhi shook her head again and again, "Something is wrong, something is really wrong."

Inside Yu Zhiyi’s dorm, her three roommates' main topic is about the person who’s currently not present at the moment, Yu Zhiyi.

Jiang Mier has been observing the situation for the past two days now, and came to a conclusion, “I think many people in the class think that Shi Yi and Yu Zhiyi are relatives. They have been neighbours in the past, maybe that’s why the class monitor is so good to Yu Zhiyi. But it is not as to the point they have a special relationship as you make it out to be."

Judging from the situation in the past two days, although they seem to have a good relationship, they did not have too much contact in the class. It also does not seem to be as...so enviable as Qiao Lezhi described.

Qiao Lezhi bit her lip and shook her head constantly, "They might act normal these past two days, but what I said is true!"

She decided to tell them what is on her mind, "I definitely didn't exaggerate. If you don't believe me, then wait and see!"

Qiao Lezhi started whispering to the two of them……

Jiang Mier didn't believe that Shi Yi had a “special” relationship with Yu Zhiyi, but that story Qiao Lezhi told them keeps bothering her.

"How was your stay at school these two days?"

"It's okay." While there are a lot of restrictions in the dormitory compared to her house, it’s not that bad as her roommates are easy to get along with.

"Are you used to the canteen food now?"

"Not bad." She is not very picky about food.

"Then do you think you’re getting along with our other classmates?"

After Shi Yi’s series of questions, Yu Zhiyi was shocked, and asked, "Isn't brother more familiar with them?"

Shi Yi stopped, stood on the spot and took his hand leisurely, "Didn’t someone tell me not to interact much with her, as to not let everyone pay too much attention to her?"

"Brother, you know I didn't mean that..." It was just because Shi Yi is famous in school. She reminded him to stay a little bit more restrained, that way their classmates won’t gossip, and their teacher won’t call her to explain their relationship.

After all, these are all things she had experienced.

At that time, she was quite naive stupidly explaining to others every time, clarifying the relationship between herself and Shi Yi.

Later, she realized that this kind of relationship is really ambiguous, unless she directly tells others that they are relatives, the misunderstanding won't clear up. The thing is, she does not like this method.

She doesn’t know why, but she doesn’t want to have a "relative" relationship with Shi Yi.

Shi Yi always rides a bicycle to school. As for Yu Zhiyi, she decided not to buy one when she chose to live inside the campus. She didn't want the Shi's family to spend more money on her anymore, so now... they had to ride together.

Shi Yi handed her the schoolbag, unlocked the bicycle lock, stepped up with his long legs, and could stand firmly on the ground with both feet.

He fixed the bicycle firmly, while Yu Zhiyi held her school bag and sat on the back seat.

She subconsciously grasped the bottom of the front seat, but Shi Yi's voice came from the front, "Hold it well."

The youth's voice was clear and mellow, wrapped in a different kind of warmth.

"Yeah." She immediately answered, and obediently stretched out her hands around his waist.

Staying with Shi Yi makes her feel safe.

——

The two arrived home in about twenty minutes.

Shi Yi directly took out the key from Ou Changyu Zhiyi's school bag, skilfully inserted the key into the keyhole, and opened the door.

As the two people bent over to change their shoes, they overheard some chattering in the living room.

When they walked into the living room, Yu Zhiyi saw the two people sitting on the sofa were really... unexpected.

This is the first time Yu Zhiyi has seen her parents since she got injured and got discharged from the hospital during the summer vacation.

Even after a few months had passed, when she saw Yu Kai she still felt a chill in her back.

For a while, her mind went blank and she didn't know what to do.

However, Yu Kai and Ruan Qing immediately stood up when they found the two children and walked towards them.

Yu Zhiyi subconsciously took a step back, and Shi Yi stepped in front of her. Without a trace of emotion on his face, he greeted them, "Uncle and Auntie."

This is the Shi's family after all, hence when Yu Kai and Ruan Qing face Shi Yi they still smile, "Xiao Yi, we have not seen you for a long time, and you still look as handsome as ever."

It doesn’t matter if their compliment is sincere or not. Shi Yi didn’t care; all he wants right now is to protect the little girl behind him.

Yu Kai and Ruan Qing looked at each other awkwardly. Yu Kai rubbed his hands without speaking.

Ruan Qing walked around to Yu Zhyii and asked tentatively: "Zhiyi, Mom and Dad want to see you."

Yu Zhiyi shook her head.

"We just want to care about you." Ruan Qing subconsciously reached out to pull her daughter, but was avoided by Yu Zhiyi.

She grabbed the schoolbag from Shi Yi's arms, seemingly wanting to escape from this suffocating place.

Seeing that his daughter wants to avoid them, Yu Kai subconsciously stretched out his hand to hold her.

As soon as he touched her arm, Yu Zhiyi screamed in fright.

Shi Yi felt anxious and removed Yu Kai’s hand from Yu Zhiyi’s arm.

Shi Yi turned around and hugged her, holding her in his arms softly soothing the little girl to calm down, "It's okay, it's okay."

Ning Suya, who had been looking over the situation, told the two children to go up, while she stayed in the living room.

When the two children went to the room, Ning Suya spoke directly to the two adults: "You two have also seen it, and Yu Zhiyi still cannot accept you."

In fact, in the past few months Yu Kai and Ruan Qing called her several times, but Yu Zhiyi was reluctant to meet them.

She respected the child's opinion and rejected the two people every time.

But today these two people seem determined to meet Yu Zhiyi. They stand outside the house refusing to leave.

What can we do?

She didn’t have a choice but to let them come inside.

Ruan Qing looked up in the direction of the bedroom and sighed deeply, "I don't know who she took after, that child has such a bad temper..."

Ruan Qing still doesn’t realize the situation. She can’t understand; why does her daughter want to avoid her?

She considered everyone when she made that choice. She didn’t want Yu Zhiyi to get hurt. Why can’t Yu Zhiyi understand her mother!

Listening to this, Ning Suya felt indignant, "You are the one who chose to abandon your daughter, and almost ruined her life. How can you even say that?"

Being accused of this by an outsider, Yu Kai's male chauvinism emerged and protested: "No matter what, we are her biological parents. She got hurt, but isn’t she fine now?"

He knew he had made a mistake, but it was only an accident when he was drunk. For a long time, he also felt guilty, thus he wanted to communicate with his daughter. But every time, he gets turned down and that makes him feel uncomfortable.

Ning Suya felt that she couldn't communicate with these two people.

"She’s alright now, but as you can see your daughter is not willing to meet the both of you. I didn’t deliberately hide her and blocked off your communication. So please leave for now"

"Ah Ya, it is not easy for me to come back from such a long distance. Also, the two of them entered the house just now, I think she was still wearing a mask. I didn't even see it. How is her face now?"

"How can it be? You all saw what Yu Kai did, her face got so many stitches..." Ning Suya showed impatience with this topic.

Upon hearing this, Ruan Qing also understood.

She turned her head and stared at Yu Kai bitterly, "This is all your fault!"

"I said I was drunk!"

"You are still defending yourself? You are so useless! Really useless!"

"Wait a minute, this is my home. If you two have any issues that need to be argued, please find another place." Ning Suya directly told them to leave.

Yu Kai angrily said, "I won’t leave without Zhiyi. She’s my daughter so she needs to leave with me!"

"Suit yourself, but before that I trouble Mr. Yu to pay back the expenses for the past few months. " Ning Suya suddenly laughed, "Oh, and I still keep the hospital bills for her treatments, and follow-up medications. There is also food and school expenses, please settle it first."

Upon hearing this, Yu Kai immediately fell silent.

He is now earning money by doing hard labour. Money is still tight so how will he be able to pay these expenses?

In the end, the two did not insist on seeing their daughter anymore, and left despondently.

Ning Suya sent away the two repulsive people, and felt her head aching.

"What's the matter..."

In the beginning she really didn’t want to let the two enter their house. But the two insist they won’t leave, and will keep standing in front of the door until they see their daughter. She wondered whether these two were still concerned about their daughter's situation, so she reluctantly let them come in and sit down.

But far from what she expects, Yu Zhiyi is still afraid of seeing her father, and it's still triggering her trauma.

——

Seeing her parents again, Yu Zhiyi was not in a good mood.

There was a time she was eager to get her parents' love and attention, even just a little bit she would be happy because of it.

Her parents can't go home often, she tells herself: Mom and Dad work hard outside to make money for this family.

Mom bought her a new dress. Even if it doesn't fit, she will happily say that she likes it, and then comfort herself: Mom has me in her heart.

Later, she followed her father. Even if her father lost his temper and yelled at her, she still comforted herself: Dad was in a bad mood because he didn't find a job.

Until she entered the hospital, all her grievances started twirling around her head.

Her mother couldn't take care of too many people, but she chose the younger sister who needed more care.

Dad is in a bad mood, why should he vent his anger by scolding and beating her?

Now seeing her parents, she felt repulsive and apprehensive from the bottom of her heart.

She was terrified that if her parents get close to her, they will suddenly pull her mask and will give her yet another horrendous and hideous scar.

Although Yu Zhiyi was panicking, she did not cry.

Originally, Shi Yi was thinking how to coax her, but in the end his words turned into compliment and encouragement, "We are so brave today."

"No..." She was obviously too timid at that time and hid.

"Let me see if there are pearls off your eyes?" He knew that the little girl hadn't shed tears, but Zhiyi’s reaction was so cute that he couldn't help but want to tease her.

"No! I won't cry!"

If it was before, she would now be wiping her tears in the corner with an aggrieved face.

But it's different now.

She sometimes will get angry.

"Brother don't underestimate me, I am very strong now!" It would be too ugly to cry in front of him.

The two communicated and the atmosphere eased a lot, but the little girl kept her head down, clearly still depressed.

Shi Yi raised his hand, rubbed her soft black hair in a natural and skilful manner, and said softly, "Maybe brother might break his promise."

"What?"

"I don't want to pretend that we are not close, I just want to show to everyone how Shi Yi cares for Yu Zhiyi every day!"

He sounds quite proud when uttering those words.

The little girl was amused, "Brother, you are so naive."

He bends down slightly, close to her ear, and when he speaks it seems particularly gentle.

"I heard that if a girl is particularly petted, she will feel happy."

"Don’t care what others might think, even if they gossip, it doesn’t matter. After all, you are the only person who I want to protect. "

"I hope my blatant preference can give you peace of mind, so that you can express your emotions when you are with me without hesitation."

"When you are happy, act like a baby with me. When you are sad, you cry and hide in my arms."

"That's great."

He lowered his head, wrapped his hands around her ears, and hooked out the white elastic band hanging around her ears.

The mask was removed revealing a nearly flawless face, red as if smeared with rouge.