Chapter 4: Hidden Kindness
604 Words
I yawned silently and glanced playfully at the homeroom teacher, whose nostrils flared wildly.
Unexpectedly, his eyes widened, like he was about to slap me.
I don’t know how much time passed before the grade director sighed heavily, drinking some water.
It was about time. I stood, smoothed out the piece of paper they’d thrown at me, and laid it back on the desk.
“Director, I’m dropping out.”
At those words, the grade director’s eyelids shot up, his eyes practically smoking.
His water cup, engraved with an “Outstanding Individual” title, clattered loudly.
“Ren Yiqiang!”
His voice instantly sharp.
I nodded and replied, “That’s me.”
“Dropping out requires a parent’s signature. You can’t just write ‘drop out’ on a scrap of paper and call it done.”
I nodded vaguely.
Under their confused gazes, I grabbed a pen and scrawled the old man’s name on the paper.
Then pushed it toward them.
There was a moment of silence, then their breaths grew heavy.
“I have no mother. My father’s a drunk and doesn’t care about me.”
When I said that, their expressions changed instantly.
The grade director’s pursed lips softened immediately.
“What will you do if you don’t study?”
“Start a business. I already have a plan.”
They argued some more, though much more politely than before.
I still let their words slide in one ear and out the other.
When the stalemate dragged on, I took a step back, then snatched the withdrawal form from the grade director’s hand.
Under their pitying gazes, something struck me.
I licked my lips slyly.
Then I slid between their feet with a quick move.
“Director, homeroom teacher, please, lend me some money. I’m begging you.”
Maybe these intellectuals had never met someone as shameless as me.
Thanks to my slick tongue, I finally walked out with a small stack of red bills, grinning.
At the school gate, I waved to the scrap collector uncle and motioned for him to wait outside.
Then, under the watchful eye of the security guard, I swaggered back to the classroom.
The surprise exam had already ended.
Everyone was complaining loudly about the questions, and when they saw me come in, the room fell silent for a moment.
“Ren Yiqiang, where have you been?”
Someone asked kindly.
I shrugged casually, not answering for now.
I went to my seat, took off my school jacket, and packed as many books as I could into it.
For those I couldn’t fit, I picked out clean, unused ones and left them on the desk.
“Ren Yiqiang, what... what are you doing?”
The student in front suddenly asked, her tone full of worry.
Lou Yue stopped writing and turned around, suspiciously looking this way.
Her hand rested on a fresh set of test papers.
She was always like this — talented and hardworking.
I didn’t dare look back.
Under everyone’s concerned eyes, I said honestly,
“I’m dropping out. These books on the desk are blank — take whatever you need.”
The classroom erupted.
Of course, everyone was a diligent student, and dropping out was unthinkable for them.
Ignoring their chatter, I tied my jacket sleeves together and slung the books over my shoulder.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Lou Yue’s disapproving gaze.
I hadn’t gone far when an idea struck me.
I dashed to the podium and cheekily said to everyone,
“You’re all good students — keep studying hard and use me as a negative example.”
- Writer
