NASAY CH 44

After substituting for someone, Huo Xingzhou went to the school convenience store to buy some candy and hummed a song as he returned to the classroom.

Luo Xing had been worried that Huo Xingzhou might get into a fight. That person had bullied Ye Qiaoqiao and even tried to hit her. Knowing Huo Xingzhou’s temper, he was sure to get angry.

Luo Xing didn’t want Ye Qiaoqiao to feel wronged, nor did he want Huo Xingzhou to fight. He thought about it over and over, becoming so anxious that he couldn’t stop picking at his fingers, constantly watching the back door of the classroom.

As soon as Huo Xingzhou appeared at the door, Luo Xing stood up instinctively, nervously locking eyes with him.
“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine.”
Huo Xingzhou smiled faintly. He figured that idiot probably wouldn’t dare complain to a teacher. Even if he did, Huo Xingzhou wasn’t afraid. At worst, he’d get a demerit.

It wasn’t like he hadn’t fought before. Besides, that guy had the nerve to talk about Luo Xing. Getting hit with a basketball was already letting him off easy. Next time, it wouldn’t end so lightly.

Huo Xingzhou pulled something out of his pocket and tossed it onto Luo Xing’s desk just as the class bell rang. It was the last self-study period, meant for doing practice exams.

Teacher Cheng Limin walked in just before the bell ended and spoke about the importance of maintaining class discipline as the term break approached. He urged everyone to push through the last few days and even gave special praise to Huo Xingzhou.

“You’ve been behaving well lately and even improved your grades. Keep it up,”
Cheng Limin said.

Unlike usual, Huo Xingzhou didn’t joke around. Instead, he smiled modestly and, under the desk, secretly held Luo Xing’s right hand. He rubbed it gently, making Luo Xing so embarrassed that he didn’t dare look up. His face turned red as he tried to pull his hand away, but Huo Xingzhou only tightened his grip.

“Don’t… don’t hold my hand,”
Luo Xing whispered, glancing nervously at Teacher Cheng, worried about being caught.

Huo Xingzhou took it further, lightly tickling the soft center of Luo Xing’s palm. His lips moved silently: “Say something sweet, and I’ll let you go. Otherwise…”

Luo Xing bit his lip. The class was too quiet, and Teacher Cheng was still at the podium. If he spoke, he’d definitely be heard.

“Wait until the teacher leaves, okay?”
Luo Xing whispered, almost breathless, pleading carefully.
“He’s watching me.”

Huo Xingzhou looked up. Sure enough, Teacher Cheng was staring at them and even snorted coldly.

Luo Xing panicked, quickly picking up his pen and awkwardly writing a few crooked words with his left hand on a scrap of paper before handing it over.

Huo Xingzhou glanced at it:

—Xingzhou-ge, don’t mess around.

Huo Xingzhou couldn’t help but laugh. At that moment, Teacher Cheng happened to be telling a story about a male teacher in Class 8 who had twisted his ankle while dancing at a square dance the other night. Everyone was holding back their laughter.

Huo Xingzhou’s chuckle was like a trigger, and soon the whole class burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?”
Teacher Cheng scowled.

“Nothing’s funny,”
Huo Xingzhou quickly replied, pretending to be serious.
“It’s just too much. Who taught you to laugh at a teacher like that? Copy the student handbook a hundred times and hand it in tomorrow morning!”

“Alright, that’s enough from you.”
Teacher Cheng Liming glared at him.
“You’ve only been serious for a moment, and now you’re acting up again. Be good and behave.”

Huo Xingzhou coughed lightly and lowered his head, just in time to catch Luo Xing secretly laughing. He raised an eyebrow and said in a low voice,
“Little traitor, are you really that happy to see me get scolded?”

Luo Xing blinked innocently.

“Since it’s almost winter break, I know all of you are eager for the holiday. But as long as you’re still in school, you have to pay attention in class,”
Teacher Cheng continued.

“Right now, you should focus on solving more problems and revisiting the ones you got wrong before. If you don’t understand something, feel free to ask your teachers or seek help from classmates with better grades.”

“Alright, continue with your work.”
Teacher Cheng glanced at Luo Xing and added,
“Luo Xing, come out for a moment.”

Luo Xing didn’t react at first. Huo Xingzhou tapped his hand to remind him, and only then did he stand up and follow the teacher out of the classroom.

Standing by the window, Teacher Cheng hesitated before asking,
“I saw your medical check-up report… about your hearing…”

Luo Xing lowered his eyes, staring at the tips of his shoes, and said in a barely audible voice,
“Yes, I can’t hear very well.”

Teacher Cheng’s heart ached at the sight of his downcast expression. He gently patted Luo Xing’s shoulder.
“I’ve heard some unpleasant rumors around school. I’ve warned the students within my power not to spread hurtful words, but these things are hard to avoid.”

Luo Xing frowned slightly.
So… everyone at school already knew about his hearing problem?

He recalled that during his hearing test, he had caught a glimpse of someone outside the room who quickly disappeared when the doctor spoke. Was it that person?

“May I ask… what happened?”
Teacher Cheng asked cautiously, worried that it might be a painful memory and not wanting to accidentally hurt him further.

Luo Xing bit his lip and looked at the kind, concerned teacher in front of him. From his first day at this school, he had known that Teacher Cheng was a good teacher—one who truly lived up to the title of mentor.

“It’s… because of an accident when I was young,”
Luo Xing said, unconsciously rubbing his fingers. He didn’t mention Zhao Jiulan’s name.

Teacher Cheng sighed and said,
“I know you’re a good kid. You need to learn how to adjust and not let those words affect your mood. Just focus on your studies, alright?”

Luo Xing nodded.

Huo Xingzhou had told him before: The words that hurt you and cause you pain are meaningless—they have nothing to do with you.

He remembered that well and wouldn’t let it bother him. Those people weren’t Huo Xingzhou; they didn’t matter.

Teacher Cheng smiled and nodded.
“Also, when you apply to schools later, be mindful. Some programs and institutions have hearing requirements. Don’t let that affect your choices, alright?”

Touched by the teacher’s genuine concern, Luo Xing sincerely thanked him.
“I understand. Thank you, Teacher.”

“Good. Go back to class.”

---

When Luo Xing returned to the classroom, the usual quiet chatter around him didn’t reach his ears.

The students glanced at him and whispered among themselves.
“What did the teacher talk to him about? Do you think it was about his hearing?”

“Hey, keep your voice down. He must feel sad about it. Let’s not bring it up.”

“Yeah, Luo Xing is really nice. He helped me with a question once and explained it patiently until I understood. We shouldn’t touch on his sore spot.”

“Exactly. Not being able to hear well doesn’t affect how great he is.”

A girl smiled and stopped Luo Xing, pulling a small snack pack from her desk and handing it to him.
“Luo Xing, this is a thank-you gift for helping me with a question last time.”

Luo Xing froze for a moment, then smiled shyly as he accepted it.
“Thank you.”

Ye Qiaoqiao nudged the girl’s arm and whispered,
“You should give him another one.”

“Huh?” The girl looked puzzled.
“Why?”

Ye Qiaoqiao smiled mysteriously but didn’t explain.
“Just do it. Otherwise, it’ll probably end up in the trash.”

The girl hesitated for a moment before pulling out another snack and handing it to Luo Xing. Seeing his confused expression, she said,
“Here, have another one.”

Luo Xing thanked her again and returned to his seat. Meanwhile, Ye Qiaoqiao and the other girl secretly glanced back at him.

“Wow, Teacher Cheng really has a sweet tooth. Eating marshmallow snacks, huh?”
Huo Xingzhou teased, smirking at the two small treats in Luo Xing’s hand.

“No, no, it’s not that!”
Luo Xing quickly explained.
“It’s from Zhang Chenlan. She thanked me for helping her with a question. If you don’t like it, I can give it back.”

He was about to get up when Huo Xingzhou pressed him back down.
“What are you doing? The girl gave it to you out of kindness. Returning it would be rude. Just eat it.”

Luo Xing pursed his lips, unsure of Huo Xingzhou’s mood. He seemed to be smiling, but there was also a hint of sarcasm. Nervously clutching the snacks, his heart raced.

“Sorry… I won’t accept things from others again. I just didn’t know how to refuse.”
Luo Xing apologized in a soft voice, watching Huo Xingzhou carefully.

“Why are you apologizing? I’m not mad, silly.”
In truth, Huo Xingzhou didn’t mind Luo Xing socializing with others—he couldn’t be his only connection. But seeing Luo Xing accept something from another girl made him want to toss it into the trash.

Luo Xing lowered his head in thought, then suddenly opened the snack pack. Under the desk, he gently tugged on Huo Xingzhou’s finger.

“Hmm?”
Huo Xingzhou looked down and met Luo Xing’s gaze. His eyes were soft and shimmering. Luo Xing picked up a piece of pink marshmallow and offered it to him.
“Here, eat it.”

Huo Xingzhou didn’t open his mouth right away. After a moment, he said, “Half.”

Luo Xing quickly bit off half of the marshmallow, then brought the remaining half back to Huo Xingzhou’s lips. Nervously glancing at the other students, he whispered,
“Hurry up and eat it.”

Huo Xingzhou chuckled softly and took the remaining half with his mouth.

Zhang Chenlan stared in disbelief, her mouth open. She tried to speak but could only stammer,
“Did I… did I just see that?”

Ye Qiaoqiao grinned and turned her around, whispering about the time Huo Xingzhou pulled a similar stunt at Feng Jia’s birthday party.

Zhang Chenlan listened, stunned, and finally concluded: “No one flirts better than Huo Xingzhou.”

After sharing the two marshmallows, Luo Xing’s tense heart finally relaxed. His face flushed bright red, and his fingers trembled slightly.

It was the first time he had fed Huo Xingzhou in front of so many people.

Luckily, no one noticed.

“What did Teacher Cheng talk to you about?”
Huo Xingzhou opened a water bottle and poured some for Luo Xing, handing it to him.
“I saw you looked a bit upset when you came back. Did he scold you?”