章 17: Best to Keep Your Distance from Her
As Tang Qianmiao's figure disappeared from sight, Lin Wenyu finally spoke, her tone filled with helplessness: "My cousin has lived in the mountains for so long that she's become used to a life of complete freedom. Now that she's back, she remains unrestrained, listening to no one, and has developed some bad habits. It's fine at home—we understand her—but we worry that if she behaves like this outside, she'll only end up hurting herself."
Feng Can lowered his gaze to her, "I've always wondered, why did your cousin live in the mountains for over ten years?"
Lin Wenyu hesitated, biting her lip before saying, "I don't really know. By the time I arrived, she had already stopped living at home. But I've heard from the old servants that my cousin was always strange as a child and physically frail. My father, being superstitious, followed a master's advice and sent her to a temple to be raised, hoping to strengthen her body."
Feng Can nodded slowly in realization, "So that's how it was. Still, it's been an awfully long time."
As they walked, Lin Wenyu sighed, "Exactly. After all this time, her personality is fully set. It's too late to try to change her now."
Something about this struck Feng Can as odd, and he asked, "Is she really that bad?"
Lin Wenyu shook her head, exasperated. "Before she came back, she was constantly getting into fights over there, causing trouble, smoking, drinking. My mother had to clean up her messes every week. But that's not even the worst of it—the thing I can't understand is that she's a compulsive thief. It's not like our family lacks money, but she just can't stop. The doctors say it's a psychological disorder, like kleptomania, and it's nearly impossible to cure."
She looked at Feng Can with concern. "Ah Can, I really think you should keep your distance from my cousin. Besides all those bad habits, she loves playing pranks, and who knows when you might become her next target. Keeping your distance from her won't do you any harm. I came here today to make sure she hasn't caused any trouble. I barely slept last night worrying about her. I really don't understand why Aunt insists on letting her stay at the Feng household. If she were living with us at the Tang family, I'd do everything I could to help her get back on the right track."
Feng Can remained silent, feeling a bit startled. He hadn't expected Tang Qianmiao to be such a person.
It seemed his family had really taken in a handful.
Lin Wenyu noticed the slight frown on his face and allowed a small, secret smile to play at the corners of her lips.
Elsewhere.
Tang Qianmiao parked her bike, calmly entering the senior year building just as the final bell rang.
She adjusted the new hearing aid in her ear, feeling quite satisfied.
Unable to resist, she took out her phone and sent a message:
**Tang**: *I got the new device. It feels great—way better than the last one.*
**Third Bro**: *I'll keep developing even better ones.*
**Tang**: *(Patting your head) This one is already fantastic—no static, just like normal hearing. It doesn't interfere with my life at all. You've really improved.*
A few seconds later, she received an "OK" in response.
Tang Qianmiao smiled faintly, as though she could picture the shy, introverted look on his face.
Putting her phone away, she headed up the stairs.
In this year's senior class, there were twenty-three sections. The top three were the honors classes, while the bottom three, dubbed the "Chasing Wind" classes, were essentially for underperforming students. The rest were ordinary classes.
The first floor, which was the noisiest, housed the "Chasing Wind" classes. Ordinary classes occupied the second to fourth floors, honors classes were on the fifth, and the sixth floor was reserved for teachers' offices.
Every two months, students were reshuffled based on their rankings: those rising into the top hundred would move up to the honors classes, while those falling into the bottom hundred would be demoted to the "Chasing Wind" classes. Everyone else stayed in their respective sections.
Tang Qianmiao's class, Section 18, was on the third floor. She avoided the crowded elevators and made her way up the stairs quickly.
At the corner, she reached the front door of her classroom and walked straight in.
The unusual silence made her lift her gaze, only to find over twenty pairs of eyes staring intently at her.
Her gaze swept across the room until it landed on her own desk—completely disorganized and in disarray.
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