Sister Yang Zhi's Past

The afternoon before school ended on the day before the National Day holiday.

"Seven math worksheets! See if any are missing?!!!"

"Five Chinese worksheets, plus the essay paper!! Make sure they're all here?"

"Three English worksheets!!"

"Remember to do the physics workbook up to page 56, and there are four more worksheets!!!"

The class representatives for each subject might as well have been holding megaphones in the chaotic classroom, shouting and banging on desks to get everyone's attention.

In reality, the students had no intention of paying attention to them. The worksheets on their desks had already piled up into small hills. If they weren't careful, they might grab the wrong worksheets from their deskmates, leading to an awkward situation of staring blankly at each other.

Everyone was in a hurry, after all, it was a seven-day holiday.

Ding Yebai, on the other hand, was no different from usual, calmly organizing his worksheets. His deskmate felt at ease with him; he was meticulous and organized, so he wouldn't carelessly mix up his papers.

Female deskmate: "Ding Yebai, there's so much homework."

She sighed as she usually did.

Ding Yebai, while busy organizing his papers, replied, "Yeah. It's just like doing homework in a different place."

Female deskmate: "There's nothing we can do about it. Sigh, who told us we're in our third year of high school? High school seniors don't get holidays. Speaking of which, are you still going to that Sister for tutoring during the break?"

Ding Yebai paused and stopped what he was doing. He slowly blinked his eyes and said, "No, no classes during the holiday. She has her own things to do too."

Female deskmate: "That's true. Graduate students have to attend classes, right?"

Ding Yebai: "Mm."

Female deskmate: "She probably has a boyfriend by now, right?"

Clang--

Ding Yebai froze again.

"..."

Right... I never actually asked about that. She never mentioned it.

That's right, she doesn't need to tell me these things.

"I'll ask when I get back."

"What, you're actually going to ask? Isn't that a bit rude?"

"Mm... I'm still quite curious. I'll ask Sister when I get back."

With that, he put the last worksheet into his bag, zipped it up, calculated the few seconds until the dismissal bell rang, and then dashed out.

He left his female deskmate standing there, bewildered.

When he returned home, Ding Yebai didn't choose to study.

School had just ended; it was time to do something else to relax.

In his worldview, being a third-year high school student didn't mean studying day and night.

Around 7 PM, Ding Yuerong came back with dinner, and the siblings sat down at the dining table to eat.

Ding Yuerong ate while looking at her phone, seemingly with no intention of talking to Ding Yebai.

Ding Yebai glanced at her and directly asked, "Sister, does Sister Yang Zhi have a boyfriend?"

"Pfft..." The enoki mushroom in Ding Yuerong's mouth got stuck between her teeth.

"What did you say?"

At that moment, she couldn't believe her ears. What was Ding Yebai asking such a question for????

Ding Yebai, however, was serious and continued to ask firmly, "Sister Yang Zhi, does she have a boyfriend?"

His gaze clearly showed he wanted an answer.

Ding Yuerong raised an eyebrow, touched her short hair, scratched her cheek, and after a long while, put down her phone and chopsticks. She looked at Ding Yebai just as seriously and said, "Why are you asking this?"

Ding Yebai's gaze remained incredibly serious: "Curiosity."

Ding Yuerong: "Is that all?"

Ding Yebai: "What else would there be?"

Ding Yuerong: "That's true. Uh... she doesn't."

Hearing this, Ding Yebai's dark, indifferent pupils instantly brightened.

Seeing this, Ding Yuerong became even more confused. She didn't beat around the bush, directly patting Ding Yebai's shoulder and asking, "You kid, you don't happen to like Sister Yang Zhi, do you?"

"Impossible."

Ding Yebai deliberately took a bite of his food to hide the tremor in his voice.

Ding Yuerong: "Come on, I'm your big sister, I watched you grow up, okay? How could I not know you?"

Ding Yebai buried his head in his meal, silent.

Ding Yuerong propped her chin on her hand, lazily watching him. She knew her younger brother was very nervous right now; his unnatural demeanor was obvious, wasn't it?

"It's a path of no return, little brother."

"What?"

"Sister Yang Zhi, when she dates, she only dates people she likes very, very much. Do you understand?"

"Who doesn't?" Ding Yebai casually retorted, "People who casually play with others' feelings, are they even human? They're just idiots."

Ding Yuerong chuckled and began eating normally.

"You didn't understand my meaning. She's someone who reads a lot and knows a lot, possessing a romantic, scholarly air. She seems like someone who yearns for love... However, I still think that the person Yang Zhi could like very, very much might not even exist."

"Huh?"

"Your Sister Yang Zhi is polite and gentle to almost everyone, always smiling, beautiful, and fair. But in reality, that's not the case at all."

"What do you mean?"

"For example, if I were to say she's genuinely cheerful, I'd have some reservations. Because she's not truly cheerful... she's very serene. Is 'serene' the right word? Ah... never mind, I can't describe it either. Anyway, her perspective when thinking about problems is super rational and calm, completely unlike her appearance..."

"??? Fidgety... What are you talking about? Organize your sentences at least."

"Maybe it's because her personality wasn't like this before. She used to have nothing to do with the word 'gentle.' Although I never met her, I heard that in the past, she was extremely introverted and withdrawn."

Ding Yebai was confused. He couldn't possibly associate those words with Yang Zhi.

"She never smiled, let alone said nice things to others."

"Then... how did she become like this now? So gentle."

"Uh-huh?" Hearing Ding Yebai praise Yang Zhi, Ding Yuerong immediately leaned forward, narrowing her eyes and looking at him suspiciously: "You've got quite a high opinion of her, kid."

Ding Yebai closed his eyes and frowned, forcing himself to remain calm: "I'm just stating the facts."

Ding Yuerong returned to her seat and picked up a piece of meat, placing it in her bowl.

"She's the type who, after personally experiencing a lot of hardship, decided to prevent others from suffering the same way she did. Over time, she became considerate and gentle."

"I see..." Ding Yebai said, as if suddenly enlightened.

Isn't that what they mean? I've been rained on, so I want to hold an umbrella for others.

Ding Yuerong: "Yang Zhi's elementary school homeroom teacher was a bit biased against her. For example, she got the highest score in the class but was scolded severely for cheating. She was falsely accused of stealing and was yelled at and hit in front of the class without any investigation... Things like that happened a lot. After the earthquake, she lost her parents and came to Jinghuai, where she was raised by her Grandma. During that time, her Grandpa passed away, and they suddenly fell into financial hardship..."

Listening, Ding Yebai felt Yang Zhi was too pitiful. He wasn't sure if the affection in his heart was pity or some other emotion.

Ding Yuerong: "In the past, she would become so withdrawn because of these things that she wouldn't communicate with anyone. Was she close to depression? I don't know. Anyway, she was really bullied badly by her teachers back then. She used to have her parents' protection and comfort, but after the earthquake... tsk, in my opinion, she was truly pitiable."

Ding Yebai: "..."

"As she grew older, she was determined to become a good teacher to warm and heal her students. So she went to teach in remote mountainous areas, donated money every year, and helped with post-disaster reconstruction. During college, she started her own business, became a rich woman, and also gave her Grandma a good life."

"Don't be fooled by her outward appearance; her heart is actually covered in scars. To avoid getting hurt, she must have sealed herself off tightly long ago. That's why I say she's not truly cheerful, do you understand?"

Ding Yebai nodded.

Ding Yuerong: "She hasn't dated anyone for years, and I don't think she's ever liked or missed anyone. I almost suspect she went to a mountain to cultivate, living a pure and ascetic life."

She glanced at Ding Yebai, said no more, and took another few bites of rice.

Especially for a kid like you, at most she sees you as a younger brother. If she could have feelings for you, I'd eat the basin in our house.

At this moment, Ding Yebai, sitting beside her, fell into deep thought after listening.

So pitiful, I must treat her a little better than before.

Thanks to 我不是小E for 200 Origin Point Coins, 最爱六花萌 for 500 Origin Point Coins, and 安之素_ for 100 Origin Point Coins for their rewards.