บท 70: The Lost Lamb's Return
"After a month of wandering away from home, Wang Lin has finally returned safely. Let us welcome this lost lamb back to the fold." The raucous applause from my classmates filled me with immense embarrassment, and I cursed my homeroom teacher for this teasing introduction. It was easy to imagine that the nickname "lost lamb" would linger over me for quite some time, until everyone eventually forgot about my escapade.
"Please return to your original seat; I have been quite worried about you. The psychological shadows of youth often dissipate with the warmth of time," my homeroom teacher remarked, inciting a chorus of laughter from my classmates. I muttered under my breath, "You're the one with psychological shadows!" and trudged back to my seat, feeling as if the curious gazes directed at me could kill me a hundred times over. Their intensity was far more lethal than any cave-dwelling beast or swamp dragon.
My homeroom teacher was a young man of seemingly ordinary appearance, yet he possessed a remarkable sense of humor during lessons and was genuinely warm-hearted towards his students, earning him considerable popularity. Although I didn't particularly appreciate his earlier comments, it was evident that they were effective. He effortlessly redirected everyone's attention back to himself, quickly captivating the class with his engaging lecture.
To be fair, his gentle approach was the least embarrassing way to handle the situation, and by the end of the class, I had begun to blend into the classroom atmosphere. However, the subsequent history lesson lacked the charm of my homeroom teacher's language class, and I soon found myself drifting into a state of drowsiness. In that hazy stupor, I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. "I should have purchased some history cards or language packs while on Demon Island; it would have made learning so much easier."
As I left Demon Island, I felt little difference from my time there. However, in my slightly dazed state, I began to perceive some extraordinary phenomena. To put it simply, I occasionally caught glimpses of the past and future, albeit briefly and inconsistently—typically events from the past three days or the following day, with a remarkable accuracy of one hundred percent. The visions, however, were not under my control and were heavily influenced by my state of mind.
During class, as I battled sleep, I inevitably dreamt of exams, often with terrifying outcomes. I awoke abruptly, heart racing, after dreaming that I had failed every subject in my final exams. "Please, don't let me fail all my subjects!" I exclaimed loudly, eliciting a wave of laughter throughout the classroom. When I finally looked up, I was startled to find that the history teacher had transformed into the English teacher, and I had somehow slept through the midday dismissal.
The English teacher shook his head in resignation, saying, "Wang Lin, I sympathize with you, but a month without touching your textbooks cannot be compensated for in a single day. Final exams begin tomorrow; I hope you manage to pass at least English." I could only nod in agreement, affirming my commitment to put in the effort, while the teacher shook his head and announced the end of class.
I usually had lunch at a small eatery outside the school. To be honest, I wasn't particularly sociable; although I maintained decent relations with my classmates, I lacked any close friends. I often ate alone, which felt rather lonely. I ordered a plate of fried noodles and made my way to a nearby parking lot where I had parked my newly purchased seven-seater van. This model was renowned for its luxurious first-class cabin, though having flown in an airplane, I scoffed at the comparison—there were no charming flight attendants to cater to my needs, and the experience paled in comparison. Still, I had to admit that this vehicle was the most comfortable option I could afford.
Of course, a lavish motorhome equipped with a luxurious bed, bathroom, shower, and sound system would be far more enjoyable, but even wealth couldn't buy one outright; they had to be reserved. I bought the vehicle primarily for convenience. After modifications, I installed a PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, and a 32-inch high-definition LCD television. As a pseudo-enthusiast of video games, I had long coveted my classmates' consoles, but owning one had seemed like a distant dream due to my family's financial constraints.
Upon returning from Demon Island, I found myself in a position of financial comfort, allowing me to spend more freely. However, I dared not bring these gaming consoles home; I was unwilling to reveal my secret to my family. It was already a challenge to reassure them about my disappearance; if they discovered I had amassed a fortune, I feared it might give my parents a heart attack.
As I launched into a long-desired action game, my hands moved deftly, but I didn't forget about lunch. Under the control of my mental focus, it felt as though invisible hands were assisting me, lifting the bowl of noodles and guiding the strands to my mouth.
It wasn't until the time for afternoon classes approached that I reluctantly set down the game, grabbed my takeout container, and leisurely exited the vehicle. To guard against the rampant pickpocketing in this city, I had summoned a fierce, dark red demon dog to keep watch over my car, placing it in the passenger seat.
As I neared the school, I spotted Ye Ying standing by the roadside with a tall, handsome boy. I recognized him as Yuan Lang, the sports representative from Class Six. Not only was he striking in appearance, but he was also quite skilled at basketball, making him quite popular among the girls. Upon seeing me, Ye Ying seemed to have made some sort of resolution and approached me. Given the circumstances, I could almost predict the ensuing dialogue.
"Wang Lin, I'm truly sorry for the distress you experienced that led you to run away from home. However, I'm afraid I don't find you to be my type; I cannot be your girlfriend."
Yuan Lang strode over with a lighthearted demeanor, smiling as he said, "I've been dating Ye Ying for a while now. We initially wanted to keep our relationship under wraps until we enter university. I believe you're doing well; you'll surely attract other girls."
I felt a wave of frustration wash over me. Since returning from Demon Island, my fondness for Ye Ying remained, yet I no longer felt the desperate need to pursue her relentlessly. While it was kind of Ye Ying to worry about my departure, Yuan Lang, despite his compatibility with her, made me question the authenticity of their relationship. This was not mere jealousy; it stemmed from the foresight granted to me by my title as a Temporal Guardian.
In many coming-of-age novels, the male protagonist often finds himself in the fortunate position of being used as a shield by the female lead, only to have that temporary role evolve into something more permanent. I never imagined I would find myself in such a situation, nor did I foresee that I would be the unfortunate counterpart.
"Sigh! Even if Ye Ying were single, I still wouldn't have a chance."
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