Summer's Rose

Chapter 9: None of Your Business

"Hey, man! Slow down, wait for me!"

Zhou Nan stopped, turning around with a frown as Yong Ming jogged up to him, slightly out of breath.

“Why are you following me?” Zhou Nan asked, his voice tinged with irritation.

“I’m kind of scared,” Yong Ming admitted, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

Zhou Nan raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Scared of what?”

Yong Ming hesitated before answering, “Scared something might happen to you. You’re always getting yourself into trouble.”

Zhou Nan’s frown deepened. “And you think tagging along will stop that?”

“I said I had a nosebleed to get out here,” Yong Ming added sheepishly.

“Go back. Stop following me,” Zhou Nan said, his tone sharper now. His almond-shaped eyes, already sharp and intense, narrowed further, shadowed by emotions Yong Ming couldn’t quite decipher.

“Okay… I’ll go back,” Yong Ming replied reluctantly. He glanced at Zhou Nan one last time before turning and walking away, the sunlight casting a warm glow over his retreating figure.

Zhou Nan sighed in frustration, running a hand through his messy black hair. He headed to the bathroom, seeking solitude. Turning on the faucet, he splashed cold water on his face, the icy sensation grounding him slightly. He stared at his reflection, his pale complexion and the faint scabs on his cheekbones standing out starkly against his damp skin.

The bell signaling the end of the break rang, and students flooded the hallways. Zhou Nan leaned casually against the wall outside an empty classroom, his phone in hand. He swiped lazily through Candy Crush, the colorful animations doing little to distract him from the weight pressing on his chest.

A light tug on his sleeve pulled him from his thoughts. Startled, he looked down to see Wen, her uniform immaculate as always. Her delicate face was tinged with nervousness.

“What’s up?”

Wen hesitated, clutching her hands together. “I’m sorry,” she said softly, her eyes cast downward. “You got scolded because of me during class. I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”

Zhou Nan tilted his head, studying her apologetic demeanor. “It’s not about you,” he replied, his voice low. “Ms.Christine always finds something to nitpick about when it comes to me.”

Wen glanced at his face, noticing the water droplets still trailing down his cheeks. Without thinking, she pulled a tissue from her pocket and extended it toward him.

Zhou Nan chuckled, a rare, genuine smile tugging at his lips. “Thanks,” he muttered, taking the tissue.

“You should head back. Class is starting,” she said, checking her watch before darting off. Her movements were brisk, her ponytail bouncing with each step.

Zhou Nan watched her go, an amused smirk playing on his lips. “What a model student,” he murmured to himself, pocketing the tissue.

When Wen returned to the classroom, the bell had just rung. Behind her, Zhou Nan entered casually, his usual air of indifference intact. He slouched in his seat and closed his eyes as if preparing for a nap.

Halfway through the lesson, a knock on the classroom window startled Wen. She turned to see Miss Loh peering in.

“Call him to the office after class,” Miss Loh said, nodding toward Zhou Nan.

Wen hesitated before replying, “Okay.”

However, Zhou Nan wasn’t actually asleep. Without opening his eyes, he said, “Got it. I’ll go after class.”

In the office, Zhou Nan sat across from Miss Loh, his posture lazy but his gaze sharp.

“Zhou Nan, do you know why I called you here?” Miss Loh asked, her voice calm yet firm.

Zhou Nan smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Skipping class? Something else? If it’s about talking back to the teacher, I’m not admitting to anything.”

Miss Loh sighed, her patience unwavering. “You know, Ms.Christine doesn’t mean any harm. She just wants you to do better.”

Before Zhou Nan could respond, a knock interrupted them. The door opened to reveal Wen, her expression composed but slightly hesitant.

“What’s wrong, Wen?” Miss Loh asked, surprised by her sudden appearance.

Wen glanced at Zhou Nan before speaking. “Today during class, Zhou Nan only passed me the notes because I couldn’t see the blackboard clearly. The teacher misunderstood and thought he was passing a note. It wasn’t his fault.”

Miss Loh turned to Zhou Nan, her eyebrows raised. “Is that true, Zhou Nan?”

Zhou Nan shrugged nonchalantly. “Mm,” he murmured, confirming her story.

Wen continued, “That’s all I came to say.”

Miss Loh nodded. “Thank you for clarifying. You can head back now.”

Wen left, her steps light and purposeful.

Leaning back in his chair, Zhou Nan crossed his arms. “If you’re about to lecture me on respecting teachers, save it. I only respect people who earn it.”

Miss Loh let out a weary sigh. “As your head class teacher, I just want to see you improve. The monthly exams are coming up. Wen has excellent grades. If you need help, you can ask her.”

Zhou Nan hummed in response, neither agreeing nor dismissing the suggestion. Rising from his seat, he said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head out.”

As he opened the door, he nearly collided with Yong Ming, who entered with his usual grin.

“What now?” Zhou Nan muttered, brushing past him without waiting for an answer.

“Miss, I need help with a math problem,” Yong Ming announced brightly.

Miss Loh raised an eyebrow, her exhaustion evident. “Which one?”

Yong Ming held up his worksheet, pointing to a particularly complex equation. “This one. If you don’t explain it, I won’t understand any of the others.”

Miss Loh patiently walked him through the problem, her focus unwavering despite her fatigue. Once they finished, Yong Ming shifted nervously.

“By the way,” he said, his tone conspiratorial, “Ms.Christine’s words were a bit out of line today. I thought you should know.”

Miss Loh nodded thoughtfully. “Thank you for telling me. You can go back now.”

After Yong Ming left, Miss Loh leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. She knew Zhou Nan’s reputation as a troublemaker was only half the story. His family situation—an absent father and no information about his mother—likely played a significant role in his behavior.

As for Ms.Christine, her disdain for Class 17 was becoming increasingly problematic. Miss Loh resolved to address the issue directly with her. If that didn’t work, she might have to escalate the matter to the school administration.