Chapter 7: The First Time Asking for Help
The Busy High School Classroom
Afternoon classes always felt especially heavy. Su Fiyan sat in the corner of the classroom, surrounded by the low murmurs of his classmates, occasionally interrupted by the scratch of pencils on paper. Every lesson felt like a race against time. The teachers spoke quickly, explaining complex concepts, while he struggled to keep up.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. The lazy atmosphere of the afternoon was palpable. Whenever the teacher posed a difficult question, the room would fill with hushed discussions. While his classmates took notes with swift strokes, he could only rely on his senses to follow the flow of the lesson. The sound of pages turning and pens scratching against notebooks was constant, a rhythm he couldn't fully join.
Whenever a particularly intricate formula or topic was introduced, a suffocating pressure would creep over him. He wasn't just racing to keep pace with the others; he was grappling to absorb every detail. No matter how hard he tried, he often felt left behind, as though time was slipping away from him.
But despite all this, he never regretted his choice. Attending a regular high school had been his decision, driven by a dream to reach higher. He wanted to attend a mainstream university, to break free from the societal expectation that blind people could only become massage therapists. He wanted to prove that blindness didn't limit one's potential.
One day, his mother had asked him, "Xiao Yan, are you sure about this? The workload in a regular high school will be overwhelming."
He had nodded, his tone calm but resolute. "I don't want to be confined to the path of being a massage therapist for the rest of my life. I want more options."
His mother didn't say much. She simply patted his shoulder gently, her touch warm and reassuring, making him more certain of his decision.
Courage to Ask for Help
"Everyone, please fill out this form. Let me know if you have any questions," Mr. Chen instructed as he walked around the room, handing out papers.
When Su Fiyan received his form, his fingers brushed over the smooth paper. Anxiety gripped him. He couldn't see a single word on it. Around him, the scratching of pens on paper filled the air, each sound pressing down on him like a ticking clock.
Under the desk, his hand clenched his pants tightly, his palm already damp with sweat. He hesitated, his mind replaying memories of being laughed at for seeking help. The fear of humiliation gnawed at him.
Next to him, Lin Xi was quietly filling out her own form. Su Fiyan took a deep breath. Then, unexpectedly, his mother's words surfaced in his mind.
"Xiao Yan, I know you always want to solve everything on your own," his mother had said one evening, her voice soft yet warm. "But sometimes, asking for help is a kind of wisdom."
She had paused, as though choosing her words carefully, then continued, "It's not a sign of weakness. In fact, helping others makes them happy too."
Those words, gentle yet powerful, gave him the courage he needed in this moment. He clenched his hands tighter, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.
"Lin Xi…" he began softly, barely audible, his fingers unconsciously tracing the surface of the desk. He hesitated, his nervousness almost swallowing his words. Finally, he took a deep breath and steadied his voice. "Could you… help me fill out this form?"
Lin Xi froze for a moment, caught off guard.
He's asking me for help?
Her pen hovered above her paper as she processed his words. To her, Su Fiyan had always seemed calm and self-reliant, someone who never leaned on others. Even when he seemed isolated, he had never once sought out anyone.
But now, he was reaching out to her?
The realization sent a small rush of heat to her cheeks, and her heart beat a little faster. After her initial surprise, a faint sense of joy began to well up inside her. He trusted her. He needed her.
"Of course, I'll help you," Lin Xi replied immediately, her voice gentle and reassuring. She didn't want to hesitate for even a moment, fearing it might increase his unease.
Hearing her response, Su Fiyan felt a wave of relief wash over him. The tight knot in his chest loosened. His palms were still damp, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a faint sense of warmth and reassurance.
Memories and Comparisons
As Lin Xi's soft voice guided him through the process, carefully explaining each part of the form, a memory from his time at the school for the blind surfaced.
It had been an ordinary class, and the teacher had asked the students to organize their Braille tools. In his hurry, Su Fiyan had accidentally misplaced one of his Braille pens. He didn't notice until the break, and by then, the other students had already left the room.
Panicked, he searched everywhere, but the pen was nowhere to be found.
Then he heard it—laughter.
"How can someone lose a Braille pen?"
"Yeah, isn't it practically attached to him? So clumsy!"
His cheeks burned with shame as their mocking words stung. He pretended not to care, but the humiliation lingered, planting a deep-seated fear of asking for help. After that, he avoided seeking assistance, choosing instead to face his challenges alone.
But now, sitting next to Lin Xi, listening to her kind and patient explanations, he realized something: asking for help didn't always lead to ridicule.
Lin Xi's Surprise and Joy
Lin Xi focused intently on the form in front of her, carefully filling in each section. As she worked, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of wonder. Su Fiyan's voice still carried traces of nervousness, but it lacked the resistance she had imagined. He was opening up to her, little by little. His trust filled her heart with an indescribable warmth.
As she asked him occasional clarifying questions, she noticed how he would nod slightly in response. His composed demeanor hadn't entirely vanished, but there was a subtle relaxation in his posture that hadn't been there before.
She had never thought she would become someone he could depend on. This quiet and seemingly self-sufficient boy had, at this moment, chosen her to lean on.
Her cheeks warmed again, and she lowered her head slightly to hide the faint smile forming on her lips. Despite her shyness, she felt a growing sense of pride and happiness.
As the form was completed section by section, Lin Xi glanced at him briefly, her voice gentle. "All done. Here you go."
Su Fiyan nodded slightly, his gratitude evident in his tone. "Thank you, Lin Xi."
Lin Xi looked down, her smile deepening. In that moment, she felt an unspoken connection between them. She might still struggle to express herself, but this act of helping him had created something special—a small but significant bond that neither of them would forget.