Professor Bing isn't as scary as A-Bing said. On my first day of class, I didn't understand much of what was being taught. To exaggerate a bit, I hadn't even figured out which language Professor Bing was speaking... but after class, Professor Bing called me over. "You're new here, right? Have you chosen your courses for this semester?" Professor Bing, a tall and thin man in his forties with short facial hair, had a kind expression. I nodded and then shook my head, meaning to ask why I should choose that particular course. "Hehe, you should first go to the academic affairs office to select your courses and then submit your course request form to the respective teachers. My class is mandatory, so you'll have to take it, whether you choose it or not. This semester, I'm the only one teaching the required course. Do you know the name?" I nodded; it was in the textbook - "Intermediate Magic Introduction." "Very good. You need to study diligently. You're already almost a month behind your fellow first-year students, so I need to take special care of you. Here, take this, it's the syllabus for my class. Go back and review it... By the way, is A-Bing your roommate?" The professor handed me a notebook but suddenly asked about A-Bing. I nodded again. "Hehe, take good care of him. He's a poor child." The professor patted my head. "By the way, how old are you?" "Sixteen..." "Oh, you're a year older than your classmates. It seems like you're also a poor child. By the way, have A-Bing take you to where he works and take care of him along the way." I didn't understand why the professor kept telling me to take care of someone who arrived earlier than me, but I nodded appreciatively, my nose tingling. "A-Bing has already told me about your situation. Don't worry, I've talked to my classmates privately, and I don't think anyone will ask about your mask anymore..." Professor Bing patted my head. "I didn't tell them that your face was disfigured; I just said you were a descendant of the Chia tribe..." "Descendant of the Chia tribe?" I looked at Professor Bing, puzzled. What was that? Should I be proud to be their descendant? "Well, it seems you don't know yet. It's a good thing I told you," Professor Bing laughed. "The Chia tribe considers showing one's face a great shame. Unless your face is cleansed with the blood of someone who saw it, you'll be mocked by the tribe your whole life... Of course, your relatives are an exception." I suddenly understood and looked at Professor Bing even more gratefully. In my memory, besides my master, no one had cared for me with such thoughtfulness. Tears welled up in my eyes. "Why are you crying? Just take good care of A-Bing, and you'll be fine. He's the child of one of my comrades, but my comrade was framed and even implicated him..." Professor Bing gently handed me a handkerchief. I didn't take it, just wiped away my tears with the back of my hand. I realized the reason Professor Bing was taking care of A-Bing so much. "How about this, why don't you choose the same courses as A-Bing? That way, he can help you with your studies, and you'll also have the same free time for work. I'll help you submit your course request form to the academic affairs office and the respective teachers, how does that sound?" I nodded quickly, no longer knowing what words of thanks to say... "So, Professor Bing and your dad were comrades, huh..." At the spacious and luxurious cafeteria, I had lunch that A-Bing treated me to, and I gave him a glance. "Yeah, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to come here. My tuition fees are covered by him. But I only found out about his old friend when my dad got into trouble. I had never seen Professor Bing before." A-Bing chewed his food slowly, closed his mouth, and replied after swallowing. He did seem more sophisticated than me, so his dad must be a pretty important figure... I suddenly lost my appetite because I thought of my background. Ah, that's why the old lady said that the people here all come from good family backgrounds... I'm an orphan without parents, and I've even been a slave. I must be one of the lowest of the low in society... Is one's background really that important? I couldn't help but hate my parents. They were heartless and abandoned me in the wilderness. If it weren't for my master, or rather, if it weren't for the pregnant mother wolf I encountered who was just hungry enough to not eat me, I would have probably turned into wolf dung and been used as fertilizer for my master's flowers... Eating rice I hadn't had in months, I couldn't eat with much appetite. But A-Bing kindly ordered some meat dishes for me, and I felt thankful. So, I ate with a big smile on my face and said, "It's delicious, haha..." As I spoke, rice grains sprayed out of my mouth, and some landed on A-Bing's clothes. He just laughed, and put the rice grains from his clothes into his mouth without any disgust... It seemed like he wasn't full yet... So, didn't that mean I was wasting his money? "I can't eat anymore. Here, have the rest of this bowl of rice." I pretended to burp and handed him the half-full bowl of rice. "I'm really full. If you don't eat more, you might run out of energy when you work in the afternoon." He smiled and pushed the bowl back in front of me. "A-Bing, if you were a girl, I'm sure many people would like you..." I teasingly remarked, no longer holding back. "Many people have said that before, but it's a pity, hehe..." "I see... hehe," my master was always a thrifty person but still made things I liked to eat. For the dishes we both liked, he'd try to eat less... Every time my master scolded me during meals, rice grains would splatter around, and I'd either dodge them or pat them off my clothes, and I'd never be able to eat them... When I was still a slave, no one ever asked if I was full. The slaves would say nasty things and do disgusting things, constantly watching others' mantou closely, hoping to see someone unable to eat... If I weren't a boy, I'd probably have cried by now... If I can take care of you, I'll give my all to help you, A-Bing. The job interview for the afternoon work went smoothly, except for my face. "Chia tribe?" The boss looked suspiciously at my face. I nodded. "Our guests are all very high-class, and if, by accident, someone removes your mask... of course, I said accidentally, you must endure it. Understand?" I pretended to look quite upset. A-Bing immediately tugged at my sleeve, and I reluctantly nodded, speaking in a forced tone, "I understand. Thank you, boss..." My master once said I was very clever... because I was good at lying. Every time I secretly