SWNOVELXO Chapter 21:
Chapter 21: Become a Human Being:
After Li Ruochen left, Zhang Xi walked into the classroom, drenched in sweat. His distinct odor made the nearby students wrinkle their noses in disgust, moving away without hesitation. Only Lin You remained calm, unaffected.
Zhang Xi grinned and leaned toward Lin You. “Lin You, have you noticed something? Zhang Xiaoyu is totally into me!”
Zhang Xiaoyu was the plump girl Zhang Xi had ditched Lin You to chase earlier. She was in Class 4, with fair skin and large eyes. If not for her size, she could easily score an 80% on the appearance scale. As things stood, giving her sixty points would still be generous.
Lin You ignored Zhang Xi’s self-indulgent musings. Despite Zhang Xi’s inability to believe Lin You’s warning about tomorrow’s potential disaster, Lin You still felt compelled to help. After all, Zhang Xi had often bought breakfast for him and was his deskmate.
Putting down the physics paper in his hand, Lin You turned to Zhang Xi with an earnest expression. “Fatty, what do you think of me?”
Zhang Xi blinked, trying to appear serious, and said, “Aside from being poor and picky, you’re fine. And lying? Come on, Lin You, you’re not a liar. I don’t remember you ever lying to me.”
“Then…,” Lin You’s tone became firmer, “believe me this once. Tell your parents to cancel tomorrow’s wedding banquet.”
Zhang Xi shook his head immediately. “That’s absolutely impossible! I’m still a kid; they don’t listen to me. Even if I were the boss, I couldn’t cancel it. The deposit’s paid, the invitations are out. How can I cancel everything just like that?”
Lin You sighed and said no more. He had done all he could.
…
The first class of the morning was math. Lin You, a natural at the subject, rested his head on the desk and dozed off. The math teacher, Yuan Shangjie, was also the homeroom teacher. At just over thirty years old, she was single and often rumored to be uninterested in men. However, Lin You, having glimpsed the future, knew the truth.
She wasn’t disinterested in romance; she had simply been waiting for her first love, a man she had met while studying abroad. Tragically, he turned out to be a fraud. Unable to stay abroad, he returned to China, feigning success and declaring his undying love for her. In reality, he was broke and had contracted AIDS from his reckless lifestyle. Yet, blinded by affection, she believed him and sacrificed everything, only to be defrauded of her money and ultimately destroyed.
Despite the heartbreak in her future, Teacher Yuan was fond of Lin You. She knew he often slept in her class, but she didn’t mind. Lin You’s mathematical ability was far beyond her teaching. Forcing him to pay attention would only waste both their time.
Feeling it was rude to sleep too long, Lin You yawned, sat up straight, and focused on the board. Seeing his attention, Teacher Yuan felt a sudden nervousness, as though a school inspector were watching her.
Lin You, meanwhile, thought about how kind she had been to him. The sneakers on his feet were a gift from her. Now, with the chance to rewrite his life, Lin You resolved to prevent her tragic downfall.
After finishing her explanation, Teacher Yuan turned to Lin You and asked, “What do you think about this question?”
Lin You glanced at the problem on the board. For others, it might seem challenging, but to him, there were at least five ways to solve it. However, not wanting to stand out, he replied modestly, “I think your solution is very innovative, Teacher. It’s really eye-opening.”
Pleased by his response, Teacher Yuan smiled. She appreciated students with emotional intelligence, and Lin You’s sincere demeanor made him one of her favorites.
Encouraged, Lin You added, “Teacher, I’ve got an interesting question I’d like to discuss with you after class. Are you free later?”
Curious and flattered, Teacher Yuan nodded. “Come to my office at 5:30.”
…
When the morning classes ended, Lin You joined the rush to the cafeteria. No. 16 Middle School was not a prestigious institution, and the food reflected that. The principal’s cousin ran the cafeteria, offering meals that were both overpriced and unappetizing. Lin You usually stuck to plain rice and vegetables, unable to afford the meat dishes.
But today was different. As soon as Lin You stepped into the cafeteria, a girl with a ponytail waved at him. “Lin You, over here!”
It was Li Ruochen, the physics class representative. Her gesture shocked everyone. Known for her cold demeanor and distant attitude, she had never shown such warmth to anyone. The boys in the cafeteria watched in dismay as their goddess invited Lin You to join her.
Lin You hesitated briefly before walking over and sitting across from her. On the table in front of him were chicken legs, fish fillets, and braised pork—far more luxurious than his usual fare.
Frowning, he said, “Classmate Li, let’s make this clear. We’ll eat our own food. You know my situation.”
Smiling, she placed a chicken leg into his bowl. “Don’t be so serious. I’m treating you today. Consider it a thank-you for solving those international physics competition problems.”
Startled, Lin You realized the questions he had solved that morning weren’t just any problems—they were competition-level. Without realizing it, he had stepped into the world of elite physics.
As they ate, Li Ruochen asked, “Lin You, what do you want to do after graduation?”
Her question caught him off guard. He had never seriously considered his future. His past dreams had revolved around being accepted by the Lin family, being loved like Lin Tianyang. But now, those dreams felt laughable.
The Lin family had already planned Tianyang’s future. Even if he scored poorly, Lin Yuan had secured him a spot at Princeton University with a $10 million donation. For Lin You, it was a stark reminder of the gap between the elite and ordinary people.
He smiled faintly and replied, “I just want to be a good person.”