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Chapter 62 Heavenly Book

The essay exam paper was filled with densely packed words.

But Jiang Yu didn't recognize a single word.

It's not the kind of "unrecognizable handwriting" where the handwriting is too messy to read.

Rather, it stems from a fundamental lack of understanding, specifically regarding the composition of the strokes.

The characters were crookedly crammed into the grid, each with a strange appearance.

Some resembled withered tree branches stretching out in all directions…

Some look like spider webs…

Some are simply a jumble of irregular, tangled threads...

It suddenly turns into an impossible angle where a stroke should have ended.

Then it spreads, tangles, and knots in the empty spaces, eventually becoming a blob of ink that is indistinguishable from the beginning and end of a stroke.

It's very abstract.

How to describe it...

It's a bit like a doctor's prescription that's written in a mysterious, cryptic way.

But it's even more outrageous and chaotic than a prescription.

Even crushing a packet of instant noodles and pouring the contents onto a piece of paper would be more orderly than this.

"This…"

Jiang Yu looked up at Wang Li, his face full of questions.

Wang Li seemed to understand what Jiang Yu wanted to say.

"Yes, this was indeed written by Xiao Ning."

She returned to the classroom and took another test paper from the teacher's desk cabinet.

"This is the essay Xiao Ning wrote last week."

Jiang Yu took it and glanced at it.

The left-falling stroke is a left-falling stroke, and the right-falling stroke is a right-falling stroke; horizontal stroke

The spacing between the characters is roughly the same, which shows that it was written carefully.

The scribbles on that test paper were so different from those on the same person's work.

The two exam papers were placed side by side, the contrast so stark it was almost jarring.

One is like printed text, the other like a mystical document.

Wang Li took a deep breath, as if suppressing some kind of emotion.

"Starting Monday, all the homework and tests she handed in, especially those involving words, became like this..."

"It wasn't this serious at first."

"It's just that the characters are written a bit crookedly, and sometimes there's an extra or missing stroke."

"I thought she was just absent-minded, so I reminded her a few times in class and didn't take it to heart."

"But it got more and more outrageous as it went on; even her name was drawn like an electrocardiogram."

"Until this morning, I couldn't recognize any of what she wrote..."

"I asked her what she had written, and she told me it was characters."

"I said, 'These aren't words,' and she said, 'Teacher, can't you read?' She was deliberately trying to annoy me."

"Why……"

By the end, Wang Li's tone carried a helpless, almost absurd, quality.

Jiang Yu stared at the exam paper for a long time.

It's no wonder Wang Li complained.

It's obvious that this is deliberately written nonsense.

But why did she want to upset the teacher?

"Teacher Wang, besides the composition, is there anything else wrong with her?" Jiang Yu asked.

Wang Li replied without hesitation, "Yes, she often daydreams in class, and it takes her a long time to come back to her senses when you call her name."

"He doesn't play with his classmates during breaks anymore; he just sits alone in his seat, lost in thought."

"besides…"

She hesitated for a moment, then lowered her voice.

"One day at noon, I saw her standing alone in the corner of the playground, facing the wall, for about ten minutes."

"At first I thought she was being punished by standing, so I went to ask the PE teacher, but it turned out the teacher hadn't punished her."

"Then I went closer to her and noticed that her little face was moving."

He was muttering to himself...

"It sounds like someone is talking to a wall."

Jiang Yu fell silent.

He realized that things were more serious than he had thought.

Through the chat history, he learned that Jiang Ning often slept in class and didn't pay attention...

They also often get into mischief and cause trouble.

It sounds more like a prank by a child of that age to get attention.

But the unusual behaviors that Wang Li mentioned today have never appeared in the chat history.

He had never mentioned these things before.

Wang Li leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, her brows furrowed deeply.

"I've taught students for so many years, and I've seen similar situations many times."

"Such sudden changes in behavior usually indicate either the onset of adolescence or some kind of psychological trauma."

"It's not that she can't write, she just deliberately doesn't write."

"Deliberately going against teachers and parents is a typical sign of adolescence."

"Of course, the possibility of autism cannot be ruled out, but most children are going through a rebellious phase."

"But there are usually reasons for rebellious phases, such as family changes, conflicts with classmates, lack of attention, or... other reasons that we teachers don't know."

Wang Li did not continue speaking.

Jiang Yu knew what Wang Li was implying.

Think about it carefully…

He really hasn't been paying much attention to Jiang Ning lately.

Especially before accepting that you are sick.

In the two days since we talked things out at KFC that day, all I did was take her to and from school and have breakfast and dinner together...

He never asked Jiang Ning if she was happy at school or if she had any worries.

Thinking back to when I first picked Jiang Ning up from school, she was crouching under the streetlight, terrified of the dark…

And just a couple of days ago, she quietly emerged from obscurity, like someone on the fringes of society…

When I learned that she didn't get along with the others, I just advised her, "Anyway, you don't eat their rice, so you don't need to pay attention to them."

Such words seem perfunctory even when trying to comfort an adult.

Let alone a 12-year-old child.

Jiang Yu has never been a parent, so of course he doesn't know how to communicate with children.

In his subconscious, Jiang Ning was still the "younger sister" who had suddenly appeared.

He said he would be a good older brother, but he didn't actually do it.

This will take some time.

He needs to fully "recover his memory" first.

Now, he treats Jiang Ning more like a roommate he just met.

But that's not the right thing to do.

What father would treat his daughter like one of the guys?

Or is there a mother who treats her son like a close friend?

Wouldn't that create chaos?

The kind of parent-child relationship that is too equal, too casual, and has no boundaries mostly exists only in movies and TV shows.

It is rarely seen in real life.

"Teacher Wang, I understand. I've probably been a bit busy with work lately and haven't had time for Xiao Ning."

"I will spend more time with her and show her more care from now on."

Wang Li nodded, her tone softening somewhat.

"As Xiao Ning's homeroom teacher, I will work together with you."

"We can't put all the pressure on you alone."

"It's also possible that I haven't paid enough attention to Xiao Ning lately. I will reflect on myself and spend more time caring for her."

"Don't say that, Teacher Wang. I'm already very grateful that you're talking to me about these things," Jiang Yu said politely.

"This is what I should do. Children of Xiaoning's age are very sensitive. Sometimes, a small thing you do can make her think a lot."

"Don't question her about the test paper and PE class. If you must talk about it, make sure to choose a suitable opportunity, otherwise she'll overthink it."

"For example, when we're eating together, or watching TV together..."

"Don't sit down and act like you're going to have a talk with her; she'll instinctively resist that."

Wang Li patiently offered Jiang Yu advice and suggestions.

She explained it in great detail.

It's so detailed it's like teaching a complete novice father how to get along with his daughter.

Jiang Yu remembered them all.

"Okay, I'll keep that in mind. I'm sorry to have troubled you, Teacher Wang."

"You're too kind. You've helped me a lot before, and I always trouble you when there are school events or something," Wang Li said with a smile, her eyes narrowed.

"That's no trouble at all. If I hadn't been so busy with work today, I would have come earlier to help you."

"It's nothing. I just heard you passed the civil service exam? Congratulations! I wish you a smooth career path and continuous advancement!"

Wang Li's tone rose slightly, carrying a genuine joy for you.

This is the complete opposite of the sarcasm expressed by parents like Sun Hongda.

"Thank you, I appreciate your kind words," Jiang Yu replied with a smile.

……

After exchanging a few words about something unrelated, the atmosphere eased considerably.

Jiang Yu felt like he had forgotten something.

He frowned and thought for a long time, his expression as if he was trying hard to recall a word that was on the tip of his tongue but he couldn't say it.

Wang Li waved her hand at him, seeing his pensive expression.

"Come on, Xiao Ning's phone is in my office, come with me to get it."

"Oh right, look at my brain..." Jiang Yu slapped his forehead.

I almost forgot about the important matter.

I came to the parent-teacher meeting today to pick up her phone.

If they come back empty-handed, won't the little guy be so angry that he'll cry?

The two walked side by side toward the office.

Along the way, the two talked about many things in their lives.

Wang Li said she's been watching a suspense drama recently, and the male lead is very handsome, looking a lot like Jiang Yu.

The plot was so captivating that she stayed up until the wee hours every night, and as a result, she almost missed class the next day.

Jiang Yu said he hasn't watched any dramas in a long time, and he prefers watching the bullet comments to watching the dramas.

Wang Li laughed out loud, saying that she also likes to watch the bullet comments, and some of them are even more interesting than the show itself.

I often forget the plot while watching and just focus on the comments.

She even joked that this was a problem with the attention span of contemporary young people.

The two chatted back and forth, walking slowly, as if taking a stroll rather than rushing.

Wang Li enjoys chatting with Jiang Yu.

First, Jiang Yu is very young and enthusiastic, and they have a lot in common.

Unlike parents in their forties or fifties who constantly talk about "how we were back then" and start lecturing after only three sentences.

Secondly, Jiang Yu wasn't like the other parents in the class who were "aggressive" and made her feel suffocated.

Those parents were all prominent figures; any one of them could be considered a social elite.

She always had to be careful when talking to them, afraid of saying something wrong and offending them.

But Jiang Yu is different.

He's just an ordinary person, and he speaks and acts normally. She doesn't need to put on airs as a "homeroom teacher," so they can chat in a relaxed manner.

Third, Jiang Yu is very handsome.

What girl in this world doesn't like handsome guys?

Wang Li was naturally powerless against Jiang Yu, a tall and handsome guy.

He's 1.85 meters tall, with regular features and a clean, bright look...

She looks great in a simple white T-shirt and jeans.

They don't seem to be here for a parent-teacher conference.

He looks like a male lead straight out of an idol drama.

In addition, there's Jiang Yu's personality, personal charm, and the sense of responsibility he carries from raising his younger sister all by himself...

Everything about her hits her sweet spot.

If it weren't for the awkwardness of her role as a homeroom teacher, she would have wanted to get to know Jiang Yu better long ago.

In fact, Wang Li had tried to talk to Jiang Yu about relationship topics before.

After the last parent-teacher conference, she casually asked, "Do you have a girlfriend?"

Jiang Yu's answer was, "No, I have to raise my sister first."

Then the conversation naturally turned to Jiang Ning's academic performance.

Throughout the entire conversation, he kept talking about his younger sister, seemingly without any real affection for her.

Wang Li was too embarrassed to be too obvious, so she just quietly looked for an opportunity.

For example, ask him to come to the school to help more often, chat with him privately more often, or say more things in front of him...

She didn't want to appear too deliberate, nor did she want to scare him.

Some things are better left to take things slowly.

soon…

The two arrived at the office.

The office was small, with six desks crammed together.

The table was piled high with workbooks, test papers, and lesson plans.

Wang Li walked to her desk, opened a drawer, and took out a cell phone.

The phone was covered in a light blue case, which was worn white, indicating how long the phone had been used.

She handed the phone to Jiang Yu, her tone carrying the thoughtfulness characteristic of a teacher.

"I charge this phone every day because I'm afraid the battery will get damaged if I leave it uncharged."

Jiang Yu took the phone: "Thank you, Teacher Wang."

"It's okay. In principle, schools don't allow students to bring cell phones to school."

"But kids these days can't live without their phones..."

She sighed, her tone carrying a bitter smile that said, "We're helpless too."

"As parents and teachers, all we can do is supervise the children more."

"Okay, I understand. I'll keep an eye on her when I get back."

Jiang Yu pressed the power button.

The moment the screen lit up, he saw that the wallpaper was a group photo.

In the photo, he and Jiang Ning are standing side by side on a bridge, with the setting sun behind them.

The sunlight cast long, long shadows of the two people, leaving two black silhouettes on the bridge.

Jiang Ning stood on tiptoe, wrapped one arm around his neck, and made a peace sign with the other, smiling happily.

He was wearing his favorite gray sweatshirt, a smile playing on his lips, his eyes gentle.

It was an expression he had never seen on his own face before.

Gentle, doting, and content.

Looking at this photo…

He couldn't imagine himself ever showing that kind of expression.