0026: Bai Xiaoxiao

“Xu Lin, where are you off to so early in the morning?” In order to achieve his ambitions—and to strengthen his body so that next time that foreign girl came around, he wouldn't end up being beaten—Xu Lin rose at five o’clock, feeling that his cold had completely subsided. After washing up and donning his school uniform, he was just about to head out for some exercise when his early-rising father caught sight of him.

“I’m going to school.”

“It’s only five-thirty. Why are you leaving so early?”

“I’m running to school.”

“What? Son, are you actually planning to exercise? I’ve been saying for a long time, your frame is much too frail. It’s good to train yourself.”

“Just don’t lose your enthusiasm after two days and give up again.”

“Dad, you really underestimate me.”

“It’s not that. Last time, you said you wanted to learn our family’s self-defense techniques passed down from our ancestors. You practiced for two days and gave up.”

“I didn’t give up! I’ve already mastered them.”

“Really?” Xu Feng looked skeptical. He himself had trained for years as a child before becoming proficient. After he married and had a child, work took over and he’d forgotten most of it.

“It’s true. I’m off now.”

“All right, stick to the upper paths, don’t run in the bike lane, and be careful.”

“I know.”

He descended the stairs; a few elderly folks walking their dogs were already out and about. Xu Lin followed the winding paths through the garden and sprinted out of the neighborhood, though his pace slowed once he hit the street. His breath came fast and hot, but his body wasn’t exhausted yet—he couldn’t stop. Or rather, he dared not stop, for if he didn’t keep moving, he might not reach school before morning study began.

He pressed on, running across several intersections. Now his calves ached and his throat tasted faintly of blood. He had to slow down, though his pace was already modest. Still, it was only his first day—he’d have to adjust.

Running a while, walking a while, he finally arrived at the school gate at 6:15, gasping for breath. Glancing at the breakfast stalls across the street, he noticed, “No chicken rolls today… I’ll have a stuffed flatbread instead.”

He crossed the street. Few students were around yet—after all, self-study began at 6:30, and teachers arrived by 6:20. He approached the flatbread stand, where only one girl was waiting. She was tall, holding several bags—six or seven cups of rice porridge, some hot dry noodles, grilled sausages, and more.

She’s picking up breakfast for that many people? That messy short hair… looks familiar.

“Senior?”

“Hmm?” She glanced back, revealing a slender, dark face. She shrank her long neck shyly and murmured, “Hello.”

“Are you picking up breakfast for others?”

“Yes…”

“But so many people are having you do it alone… Did they pay you?”

“They did. I’m not being bullied, junior. I’m just helping out—they’re all classmates.”

Xu Lin nodded; this girl was introverted, but at least she wasn’t being bullied. He recalled from junior high how some bad students would force a quiet kid to buy them lunch and never paid him. When the parents complained, the bullies apologized, but the next day the boy was beaten up again and didn’t dare tell his parents anymore. After that, no one made him buy lunch again… which was a small mercy.

School bullying never truly disappears—from small frictions to violent assaults, even deaths, it’s a constant, ever-changing issue. But he was powerless to change that; he wasn’t a saint, and neither was his “system.” He could only protect himself, and those few he noticed and was able to help.

“If you ever run into trouble, you can come to me. My name’s Xu Lin, Class 8, Grade 2.”

“Oh.”

“Hey, kid, how many flatbreads do you want?” The vendor wrapped one and asked him.

“One, with egg, sausage, and a bit of spice.”

“All right, wait a moment—this young lady still has two to go.”

“Sorry for making you wait longer,” the girl said apologetically.

“It’s fine. First class is at 6:30—still ten minutes.”

“I have some ready-made ones with sausage inside,” the vendor offered. “Take one for your class—I can wait.”

“No, thanks, I’ll wait.”

The vendor sliced a sausage and remarked, “Miss, you come here every day to pick up so much. You say you’re just helping, but it’s been more than half a month. Are you sure you’re not being bullied?”

“In school, we’re all students. Don’t let people push you around—if anything happens, tell a teacher or your parents,” added the lady at the next stall.

Xu Lin smiled and chimed in, “That’s right. Sometimes, the more you give in, the more they push.”

“It’s really not that,” she replied. “Thank you, everyone. It’s just that it’s a hassle for everyone to buy separately. We’re all friends—so I buy for everyone on my way.”

With that, the others dropped the subject. After all, troublemakers were the minority.

Two minutes later, her flatbreads were ready. The vendor packed five individually, then put them in a large bag for her. She paid, nodded slightly at Xu Lin in farewell, and left.

Xu Lin waited for his breakfast, his mind drifting to Chu Qingchan.

Yesterday afternoon, she’d gone to find “Demon King Guan,” their music teacher. Rather than intrude at school, she went to Guan’s small music studio in Linshui. They introduced themselves, chatted, and tried singing together. Later, the teacher said she had an errand and asked if Chu Qingchan wanted to join her—she did.

When Chu called him not to wait for her return, Xu Lin was taken aback. Within two hours, she’d managed to accompany the teacher on errands—quite impressive. Then again, before her rebirth, she’d carved out her own place in the world—her talent was never in doubt. But what exactly had happened? He’d have to wait for her to return to find out.

He was also curious about how things had gone with Teacher Su—last night was supposed to be the key turning point. Judging by the favorability rating, now at 30, it must have been a success, but he’d need to ask her for details.

“Young man, it’s ready.”

“How much?”

“Five yuan.”

He paid and glanced at his watch—6:24! But his homeroom teacher usually arrived right on time; he should be fine.

Entering the school, he headed for the classroom building. Suddenly, a figure ran up, swinging a small bag.

“Senior, is something wrong?”

“I brought you a rice porridge. I made you wait earlier.”

“It’s fine, really. I can’t accept that.”

“It’s an extra one I bought. Please, take it.”

“I really can’t… uh, all right.”

Xu Lin tried to refuse, but she held it out stubbornly, so he accepted it with resignation. Their fingers brushed, and Xu Lin took the opportunity to activate her favorability system.

“I’m going to class now,” she said, and hurried toward the classroom building, not even giving him a chance to say thanks.

As the warning bell rang, he too rushed toward his class. But as he climbed the stairs, his gaze fell—almost by accident—on the school bulletin board, where a striking face made him slow down.

“Bai Xiaoxiao… Grade 3, Number 3! So her name is Bai Xiaoxiao?” Bai for white—quite the contrast with her complexion. And that name… it seemed vaguely familiar.

Ding, ding, ding!

“Damn! I’m in trouble! I’m done for—I’m going to get scolded again!”