Jian slowly walked into the school gates, humming a soft tune. The keychain in his hand jingled softly with each step. Gazing down at it, he couldn't help but smile.
'There are so many kind people in this world… I guess I was not lucky to meet them in my last life. I was a fucking silly guy to believe Bian. It took for me to die to understand the truth.'
Shaking his head at his own idiocy, he walked into his building. He was quite early, so not many students were around. His class was completely empty except for their class leader wiping the board.
As soon as he entered, the boy gazed back at him and froze. "You…."
"Good morning," Jian awkwardly nodded his way and sat down in his seat.
Walking up to him, the class leader sighed out loud. "I'll take you to the nurse's office."
"Huh?" Jian was utterly confused by his sudden concern.
They barely talked in class. Why did this guy suddenly approach him and offer to take him to the nurse's office?
'Oh… my face…' Jian awkwardly rubbed his face. His grandma really did a number on his face. That blue bruise was bad yesterday, but now it would have turned black. 'No wonder this guy looked so shocked.'
He cast a smile up at him. "It's okay. I just tripped. It's all healed now."
"Your bruise is black as ink," the class leader said in a dull tone.
Jian peculiarly looked at him. 'What is this guy's name again? I can't seem to remember…'
"Do you need help standing?"
"No. I don't need help." He smiled at him. "Thank you though." Jian rejected his offer kindly, but the obstinate guy did not seem to get the hint. He kept hovering over him with that expressionless face. "The nurse's office would be open by now."
'God…. This guy is relentless…'
He let out a loud sigh. "Fine. I'll come." He reluctantly agreed as the guy seemed to be genuinely worried about him. The boy tried to help him stand.
Jian swatted his hand away. "I'm fine on my own." He walked out of the class, followed by the meddlesome guy.
The class leader started to walk ahead of him. From this angle, Jian saw how big this guy was. He was about six feet tall and had very broad shoulders.
"Do you work out?" he murmured before he could stop his blabbering mouth.
The guy glanced back. "I train."
"In what?"
"Karate."
Jian's ears instantly perked up. "Wait, are you part of the karate club? Do you know the taekwondo club leader? Can you get me into the taekwondo club?"
The boy froze, looking down at him with a strange look in his eyes.
"What? You don't know him?"
"Violence is not the key."
"Pardon?"
This guy really knew how to confuse him. Where did the topic of violence come from? He was simply asking for club recommendations.
'Why is he acting like I'm asking to join the mafia or something…' he pouted. "It's okay if you don't want to give recommendations. I'll find a way." Jian overtook him.
"I know him." The boy said hurriedly, running after him.
"What about the archery club? And fencing?"
"You can only join two clubs at a time."
Jian gritted his teeth. Taekwondo was a great option, but he would not be fighting the aliens in a closeup battle. So archery and fencing seemed like a good option.
"I'll choose archery and fencing. Can you help me please?"
The boy nodded. "You can come with me now. I can introduce the instructor to you."
"Sure." Jian was more than ready to run to the club.
But the boy grabbed his hand, making him stop. "After we get this checked with the nurse." He glared at the blue blotches on his arms. "Who did this to you? Was it Nanase?"
"Nope. My grandma."
"What?! How can your family do this to you?"
Jian casually shrugged. "She is crazy, that's why."
The boy bit his lips, looking like he was contemplating something. "I have a room free in my home. You can come stay with me. I won't bother you. It's safe. I know I'm just a stranger, but you have to leave that house right away. Broken bones and bruises at such a young age would leave behind hidden injuries as you age." The class leader started to nag.
Jian let out a loud chuckle. "I already left that house."
"Where do you live now?" The boy looked utterly shocked. He could really see what kind of imagination was running through his mind.
"I live in the construction site with my grandpa."
"Does he hit you?"
"No, never. He loves me." Jian grinned brightly. "He is the only person in this world that I want to save."
The class leader nodded slightly. "What about your twin brother?"
"I don't care about him. He is a two-faced bitch."
Jian would never dare to talk like this before in fear he might trigger one of Bian's followers. But he did not care anymore. He wanted to cut off any kind of contact with Bian as possible. Plus, he had been holding back that negative energy for so long.
The class leader suddenly laughed out loud. "He is. He acts sweet, but he does not care about anyone but himself."
He gazed up at him. 'Looks like this guy has half a brain.'
"Why are you talking to me all of a sudden? You never cared before."
"I didn't know you were bullied. You just looked like a shy person who follows his brother. If I had seen those bruises before, I would have intervened. Does anyone in school still bully you?"
Nanase still does. But he didn't say that out loud. He did not want a kind stranger to get involved with his problems. Jian simply shook his head. "Nope. I'm completely safe here. By the way, what is your name?"
The boy looked saddened by this. "Rui."