Chapter 140: The Most Familiar Stranger

Xiao Lin walked ahead in silence, with Yuan Weiye following closely behind, not daring to utter a word. Xiao Lin’s reason for wanting to leave the infirmary was simple: he currently detested the smell of hospitals. Since arriving in Donghai, he had been admitted three times, and he had been forced to go again just yesterday while accompanying Ma Yunrou. To Xiao Lin, he would rather die from illness than set foot in a hospital again.

Before long, Xiao Lin reached the classroom for Class One and pushed the door open. The force was so great that it made a loud noise, startling their homeroom teacher, Mr. Yan, who was in the middle of a lesson.

"Eh? Xiao Lin, aren't you supposed to be in the infirmary?" Upon seeing Xiao Lin, a flash of irritation crossed Mr. Yan’s face. However, noticing the pallor of the boy's complexion, his expression shifted to one of concern. Although Mr. Yan was furious about the public spectacle Xiao Lin and Wang Yuqing had caused, he still cared for them deeply. If he hadn't been teaching, he would have checked on Xiao Lin himself.

Hearing the question, Xiao Lin remained silent, his face cold and expressionless.

"Sir, the doctor said Xiao Lin is fit to attend class," Yuan Weiye interjected when he saw that Xiao Lin wouldn't speak.

"Oh, I see. Very well, go back to your seats," Mr. Yan replied. Though he felt something was strange about Xiao Lin, he did not dwell on it.

The students in Class One reacted with mixed expressions upon seeing Xiao Lin; they all remembered yesterday’s events. Wang Yuqing had tearfully changed her seat, and Xiao Lin had been missing for an entire day, only to return from the infirmary this morning with such cold indifference. Ignoring the gaze of his classmates, Xiao Lin walked to the corner of the room, looking at the empty, lonely seat. A flicker of sadness crossed his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it had appeared. He pulled out his chair, sat down, leaned over his desk, and closed his eyes. Mr. Yan frowned at the sight, but soon relaxed. Perhaps he was just exhausted; he would talk to him after class.

From the moment Xiao Lin entered, Wang Yuqing had been watching him nervously. Seeing that he looked sickly but alert, she felt a slight relief. That morning, she had learned from Kang Yan that Xiao Lin had been running in the rain and collapsed in the dormitory, news that had nearly caused her to faint. Knowing he was now out of the infirmary and in no immediate danger put her heart at ease. Things were different now; in the past, she would have looked after him, but that was no longer possible. Their relationship had become delicate, and since the whole school knew they had broken up, she could only worry in silence.

Xu Tong also looked conflicted. Having heard from Wang Tao about Xiao Lin’s reckless behavior that morning, he understood it was because of Wang Yuqing. Yet, having declared that their brotherhood was over, he could only bury his concern deep inside. As for Tan Linlin, she merely glanced at Xiao Lin, snorted, and looked away.

The period passed quickly. When Mr. Yan dismissed the class, he did not leave. He walked over to Xiao Lin’s desk, tapped his back gently, and said, "Come to the office with me."

Xiao Lin had not been asleep and heard him clearly. He opened his eyes, nodded indifferently, and stood up to follow the teacher. Once they left, the classroom erupted into noise.

"Yuan Weiye, why are you back so soon? I remember there were still a few bags of IV fluid left," Wang Tao asked curiously.

Yuan Weiye looked around, leaned into Wang Tao’s ear, and whispered a few words.

"What? Are you serious?" Wang Tao was shocked.

"Xiao Lin is in this state; do you think I’d lie to you? Sigh, I have a feeling Boss Xiao has returned to his old ways," Yuan Weiye sighed. Thinking of Xiao Lin's past temperament, he couldn't help but shrink back.

"No, I have to tell Wang Yuqing about this," Wang Tao said, standing up to head toward her desk, but Yuan Weiye grabbed him.

"Wang Tao, you guys always call me a weirdo, but look at yourself. Can’t you see it now? It’s obvious Xiao Lin doesn't want to deal with Wang Yuqing; why else would he not even look at her when he walked in?" Yuan Weiye forced him back into his seat.

"What do you mean?" Wang Tao asked, still confused.

"I’m certain that Xiao Lin..." Yuan Weiye began to explain his interpretation.

Meanwhile, in the office, Mr. Yan pointed to a chair. "Sit down. Let's have a proper talk." He closed the door and sat across from Xiao Lin.

"Xiao Lin, I’ve heard rumors, but as your teacher, I want to confirm: have you and Wang Yuqing really broken up?" Mr. Yan asked earnestly.

"We have," Xiao Lin replied coldly. His tone was calm, as if he were discussing something entirely unrelated to himself.

"Xiao Lin, as a teacher, I should have stopped you from dating during your final year. But after watching you two for a while, I changed my mind. Perhaps the idea that dating ruins grades doesn't apply to you. I went from opposing it to tacitly accepting it. But you two were doing so well—how did it end up like this?" Mr. Yan paused, speaking with uncharacteristic sincerity.

Xiao Lin was surprised. He had expected a lecture, not a calm, heart-to-heart conversation.

"Is there some concern or unspoken hardship? Tell me; perhaps I can help," Mr. Yan offered.

Seeing the genuine care in his teacher’s eyes, Xiao Lin felt a pang of gratitude. But things were beyond repair. He had made a decision the night before: he would not hurt that kind girl again. The only way to ensure that was to keep his distance, leave her world, and let her live her own life. The words he had spoken to Gao Zheng the previous night were meant to ensure she would be looked after. As for himself, he would revert to his old self. If Wang Yuqing had once pulled him out of his own darkness, now that she was gone, there was no need for him to be extraordinary. *My tenderness was only for you,* he thought to himself.

"Sir, it's impossible for us now. If there's nothing else, I'll return to class," Xiao Lin said flatly, preparing to leave.

"Xiao Lin, I hope this won't affect your studies. The college entrance exams are coming up; don't gamble with your future," Mr. Yan said with heavy gravity.

"I know," Xiao Lin nodded. For the sake of his teacher’s concern alone, he would not let his grades slip. He was only changing his personality and his attitude toward Wang Yuqing.

"Go on. And send Yuqing to me; I need to talk to her as well. You young people..." Mr. Yan sighed deeply, waving him away.

Xiao Lin frowned at the request but said nothing.

Wang Yuqing was working on a test paper. Though her mood had improved slightly since yesterday, she still looked troubled. When she noticed the room go quiet and saw someone standing before her desk, she looked up to find Xiao Lin. Her heart raced, but before she could speak, his cold voice reached her ears.

"The homeroom teacher wants to see you in the office."

After delivering the message with an icy expression, he walked back to his seat. The class whispered among themselves, wondering what had happened, but Xiao Lin offered no further comment.

"Hmph, men are all good for nothing," Tan Linlin muttered angrily at the sight of his indifference, causing Xu Tong to offer a helpless, bitter smile.

Wang Yuqing felt a deep sense of grievance at his treatment of her. Biting her lip, she stood up and headed for the office.

Watching her leave, Xiao Lin sighed inwardly. *My dear, I am sorry. This is the only way for you to forget me. Sometimes, indifference isn't because I don't love you; on the contrary, for your happiness, I must keep you at arm's length.*

When Wang Yuqing emerged from the office, there were clear tear tracks on her face. Mr. Yan had repeated what Xiao Lin said, urging her to move past the shadows and focus on her studies.

"We have become the most familiar strangers in the world, from now on, each on our own winding path, each with our own sorrows. We can only blame ourselves for loving so intensely, loving so deeply..."

The melody of Elva Hsiao’s "The Most Familiar Stranger" drifted through the air. The mournful tune left Wang Yuqing in a trance.

Some say that after lovers break up, because they have loved, they cannot be enemies; because they have hurt each other, they cannot be friends. They are destined to become the most familiar strangers.

"Perhaps I really shouldn't bother him anymore," Wang Yuqing whispered to herself.