CM - 4

Zhou Shuirong had reviewed the personal information of seventy percent of the students at Guoda High School Affiliated to Peking University, and she basically understood what their sensitivities were at this age. Whether their families were rich or powerful, it didn’t make much difference to their development path, at most affecting their personalities.

To put it another way, the way talent was filtered in China led them to default to exam-oriented education as the norm.

Although the education department repeatedly advocated for comprehensive development in moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and labor education, this educational system required extensive family cooperation. For the equally competitive adult world, dedicating energy to educating children was feasible for a short period but not long-term.

In such an environment, most students, as Zhou Shuirong understood, shared similar ideologies. At least their understanding of “the norm” was common.

Zhou Shuirong respected and understood this form of education. It was already the most suitable form for China after numerous reforms; foreign models were not applicable.

Given such a pervasive environment, would a truly unique ideology emerge, detached from it? Was Shen Tingwen truly different from the average student at Guoda High School Affiliated to Peking University? And did he really hide his online footprint? Zhou Shuirong wasn’t entirely convinced.

She had said goodbye to Shen Tingwen, not being close, there wasn’t much to say.

Shen Tingwen moved aside. After she had walked two steps, he turned and told Jing He, “You go to tutoring.”

Jing He was indeed going to tutoring: “Didn’t we agree that I would go with you...”

Shen Tingwen didn’t let him finish: “I’ll be fine alone.”

Jing He was utterly confused. What was he saying? Didn’t they agree to have dinner together? He said he’d be fine alone? What did that mean?

Shen Tingwen finished speaking and walked in the opposite direction from Zhou Shuirong.

Although Jing He didn’t understand Shen Tingwen’s surface meaning, he probably knew that he didn’t want to have dinner with him, so he didn’t shamelessly insist.

Zhou Shuirong overheard their conversation. Combined with the scene she had just witnessed, an image flashed through her mind: Shen Tingwen being cornered and brutally beaten. She stopped in her tracks.

Shen Tingwen was supposed to go abroad earlier. It wasn’t even graduation time yet, why did he want to go abroad?

She returned to China because she couldn’t stay in her school anymore. So, was Shen Tingwen going abroad also because he couldn’t stay in his school?

Probably. Students at Guoda High School Affiliated to Peking University avoided him, saying he was “different.” She could tell that “different” in their mouths wasn’t a compliment. And she just witnessed him being bullied...

Zhou Shuirong thought of Vanessa again. If she had been more careful, would Vanessa not have been bullied?

She had been trained by Si Wen since childhood to think critically, and inferring from one example was her daily routine. This habit also played a role at this moment, making her turn back and call out to Shen Tingwen: “Hey!”

Shen Tingwen was silently counting his steps. When he reached ten, he heard Zhou Shuirong call his name. He turned around and asked very naturally: “Were you calling me?”

Zhou Shuirong walked towards him: “I’ll walk you home.”

“What?” Shen Tingwen said.

Zhou Shuirong didn’t want to explain. She felt that a man probably wouldn’t want a woman to tell him: I’ll protect you. So she changed the subject: “It just so happens I’m new to Beijing and don’t know my way around. Consider it getting familiar with the area.”

Shen Tingwen didn’t refuse: “Alright.”

Jing He had just gotten on his mountain bike when he saw Shen Tingwen and Zhou Shuirong emerge from the alley, walking side by side... His intelligence wasn’t low, but because Shen Tingwen’s solitary nature was so deeply ingrained in people’s minds, he always didn’t want friends, so he didn’t suspect this scene was his scheme.

________________________________________

Guoda High School Affiliated to Peking University had three days a week when students didn’t have to wear uniforms. Today was one of those days. Shen Tingwen dressed cleanly and simply, mostly in black, with slight variations in white.

For someone like him, who was handsome and had long legs, anything he wore was a bonus, and walking with him would make one look good.

Zhou Shuirong didn’t need this kind of “shine”; she was already a focal point. So, when two focal points collided, the scene was even more striking than Shen Tingwen and Liang Jifan together.

Students who weren’t in a hurry to go home after school saw the two walking together, and it didn’t even take until midnight for the news to spread throughout several school districts.

At this moment, Zhou Shuirong had no idea she was about to be pushed into the limelight. She was still asking Shen Tingwen: “Do you usually use the internet?”

Shen Tingwen’s voice was particularly pleasant: “Very rarely.”

It seemed he really didn’t use the internet; he was a bookworm. Zhou Shuirong asked again: “Then what do you usually do?”

Shen Tingwen gave a shallow “hmm,” as if thinking, then said, “Read, or swim.”

“Oh.” Zhou Shuirong didn’t want to talk to him anymore; it was boring.

Shen Tingwen also didn’t initiate conversation, and they simply walked to the building near his home.

Zhou Shuirong had been observing since they entered the complex. This military compound was very old. Although it was safe, younger generations probably wouldn’t choose to live here.

Especially since Zhou Shuirong had heard others say that Shen Tingwen’s parents were rich. Although she didn’t know what his parents did, to be called rich meant they definitely had their own businesses. This area wasn’t a commercial district, and even considering transportation, his parents wouldn’t live here.

Sure enough, Shen Tingwen’s next sentence was: “I’m here. Do you want to come up for a bit? It’s just my grandma is home, so you might feel uncomfortable.”

Zhou Shuirong subconsciously asked, “Do you live with your grandma?”

“Yes,” Shen Tingwen replied with a hint of helplessness.

Zhou Shuirong noticed his helplessness and subconsciously assumed, “Is Grandma not feeling well?”

“No, it’s just that she’s often harassed. Of course, it’s not the very serious kind, just having rocks thrown at her, or being threatened a couple of times.” Shen Tingwen blamed himself: “I can’t stop it either.”

Zhou Shuirong hadn’t expected Shen Tingwen to be bullied so severely. Had school violence in China become this rampant?

Shen Tingwen suddenly smiled, as if comforting Zhou Shuirong: “It’s okay, it’ll pass if we just endure.”

Zhou Shuirong asked him: “Haven’t you reported it to the police? The police should handle it, right? Harassing an elderly person is a bit much.”

“The circumstances aren’t severe, just threats. The police can only offer criticism and education,” Shen Tingwen said. “Besides, police resources are limited, and it takes effort for them to come over. They can’t waste their time on such minor matters.”

So, no matter where, the soft ones always get squeezed. Zhou Shuirong extended her hand: “Give me your phone.”

Shen Tingwen hesitated for a moment, then handed her his phone.

Zhou Shuirong used his phone to add herself on WeChat: “If the police can’t come, you can call me. I might not uphold justice for you, but I can fight violence with violence.”

Shen Tingwen looked at a black profile picture on the phone, then looked up, knowingly asking: “Your name.”

“Zhou Shuirong.”

Shen Tingwen secretly typed ‘Rongrong’ in the notes field, then told her: “My name is Shen Tingwen.”

Zhou Shuirong knew, and prepared to leave: “See you tomorrow.”

Shen Tingwen watched Zhou Shuirong’s retreating back, slowly curling the corners of his lips.

She was truly adorable, just like when she was little.

Shen Tingwen went upstairs. His grandmother, Jin Ge, and grandfather, Shen Wenli, were both there. Shen Wenli was helping Jin Ge clean mud off her clothes.

Jin Ge smiled when she saw Shen Tingwen: “Are you hungry?”

Shen Tingwen helped Shen Wenli wipe off the mud spots.

Jin Ge was filming a documentary about the military compound over thirty years, so she had been staying here recently. Shen Wenli, worried, came to stay with her.

There was a mentally ill person in the compound. Their parents had made great contributions to the country, and because of this, they had neglected their child, who went mad after experiencing their mother’s suicide and being molested by a teacher. They wandered around the compound every day, picking up trash, throwing stones at passersby, and making threats.

Jin Ge was hit by stones daily, but never got angry, patiently telling him stories and buying him bread.

After the two cleaned Jin Ge up, Shen Wenli asked Shen Tingwen again: “What do you want for dinner tonight? Should your grandma make it for you, or should we eat out?”

Shen Tingwen wasn’t hungry: “You two go ahead and deal with your things first. We can talk about it after you’re done.” He then entered his bedroom.

Shen Wenli said to Jin Ge: “He’s even more calculating than his father. You can’t guess what he’s thinking.”

Jin Ge smiled faintly: “Guess what? As long as we know he’s kind, we don’t need to worry about anything else.”

That’s true.

Shen Wenli fell silent.

________________________________________

Shen Tingwen closed the door, took out his phone, opened Zhou Shuirong’s Moments, and looked at her only post: a photo of the sea horizon, published three years ago. He stared at it for two hours.

There was nothing special to see, but he just wanted to look.

He changed Zhou Shuirong’s note to ‘Zhou Shuirong,’ thought it didn’t sound good, then changed it to ‘Shuirong,’ which also didn’t sound right. He kept changing it, to ‘That Person,’ then thought it was strange, and finally changed it back to ‘Rongrong.’

Hmm, Rongrong was pretty good.

________________________________________

Xu Su and Zhou Shuirong arrived home together. He put the fruits he bought from the supermarket into the fridge and said, “I’m going to Qizhou tomorrow, and then back to Yunnan. Will you be alright on your own?”

“Yes.” Zhou Shuirong put down her bag and stretched her neck.

“Call me if anything happens, if someone...” He hadn’t finished speaking when he saw Zhou Shuirong, with her eyes closed, shoot ten darts in a row, all hitting the bullseye... He couldn’t even do that.

Zhou Shuirong opened her eyes, not looking at her achievement, and asked him: “If what?”

“Nothing.” Xu Su walked to Zhou Shuirong’s side, speaking with a somewhat earnest tone: “You’re different from most people. This is both your strength and your weakness. I know you’ll protect yourself, but unless absolutely necessary, try not to let others discover how unique you are.”

There was that word “unique” again.

Zhou Shuirong didn’t argue, didn’t refute, just said blandly: “I know.”

Xu Su looked at her, and feeling embarrassed himself, he instinctively lowered his head, cleared his throat, and said: “You should also remember, no man is any good.”

Zhou Shuirong smiled: “Does that include you?”

“Including me.”

Zhou Shuirong felt that Shen Tingwen, that little useless fellow, probably wasn’t a bad person: “Not necessarily.”