Tutoring class? Did something happen to Yanyi?
In the past, when the tutoring class called, it was because Yanyi couldn't sit still in class, ran around playing, and the worst was skipping class with friends.
Back then, she thought Yanyi wasn't cut out for studying, and his self-willed attitude was just like her.
So she adopted a laissez-faire attitude.
But now that the truth about the switched sons had come to light, she could see that Yanyi's eyelids didn't resemble hers, his tastes didn't resemble hers, and their intellectual levels were worlds apart.
The tutoring class had changed from four sessions to eight, with teachers watching to prevent any misbehavior.
When Yanyi discovered the paternity test report, she had slapped him hard, with the reason: "Why are you always so disobedient?"
Bo Xin looked at her hand, and in her mind flashed the image of Yanyi sitting on the floor, staring at her with wide, incredulous eyes.
Ji Yanyi had cat-like eyes; when he widened them, they glistened with a watery sheen, looking utterly pitiful.
After that, he seemed to realize something and became extremely obedient.
No more whining, no more skipping class.
But his eyes seemed to have lost their vitality; Bo Xin remembered that emptiness.
"...So? What's wrong with Yanyi now?"
The tutoring class teacher didn't know how to explain. Strictly speaking, she shouldn't have made this call. She was the life skills teacher, responsible for the children's daily lives and toys.
Her colleagues all said this child was incorrigible, but Yanyi's toys were always the neatest, and his bedding was always the cleanest.
She thought, maybe this child didn't dislike class, but felt there were other things more important than class.
Before she could find the answer, Yanyi had become a good child.
Only every day, new stains appeared on his pillow, probably a mix of tears and snot from the night.
"Yanyi now attends class on time every day, sits quietly in his chair without talking, and is a perfectly obedient child."
On the other end, Bo Xin's tone was unreadable.
"So?"
That's true; for any parent, this would be good news.
But like this, he no longer seemed like the Yanyi she knew.
Teacher Wen felt she probably shouldn't have made this call, but she believed the only one who could solve this problem was Yanyi's mother.
"But the child doesn't talk in class, eats alone silently after class, which greatly affects his social life and mental health."
"He doesn't really need that many friends."
Bo Xin remembered that in the original story, she hadn't admitted to the child swap, but her attitude was a stark truth. Many of Ji Yanyi's friends, after hearing the rumors, had ridiculed him, deepening his inferiority.
In short, if they weren't true friends, it wasn't a bad thing to part ways.
"Well, sorry for disturbing you."
Teacher Wen gave a bitter smile; calling so late and saying things parents didn't want to hear.
As a life skills teacher with little education, if the parent said just a word or two to the principal, her job might be at risk.
Bo Xin said, "But thank you for caring about my child's mental health."
After returning, Bo Xin listened to the voicemails. Every teacher was saying how obedient and well-behaved Yanyi was now, and how their teaching methods had worked wonders on him.
But the truth was, they hadn't even figured out why Yanyi had become like this recently.
She switched the receiver to her ear, as if finally recalling the teacher's original intention for the call. She lowered her eyes, expression serious. "I'll go to the tutoring class right now."
It was ten at night. Yuxu was still asleep, sleeping soundly with steady breaths. She could leave a note and lock the door, or call Bo Xiao over to ensure the child's safety.
Her subconscious inexplicably resisted the idea of waking Yuxu. Why?
Was it guilt?
Regarding the switched sons, even though she had mentally prepared herself, actually dealing with it...
It seemed a bit difficult after all.
Without pausing, Bo Xin picked up her keys. The living room light suddenly turned back on. "Where are you going?"
Bo Xin breathed a sigh of relief. The feeling was strange, probably a sense of letting things be.
Her jacket draped over her arm, Bo Xin leaned against the wall to change into a pair of louder leather shoes. "Going to pick up your little brother from the tutoring class."
"I don't have a little brother."
Jiang Yuxu's tone was ambiguous, and his expression couldn't be seen clearly from here.
Bo Xin thought that was normal—it would be strange for two children to embrace like biological brothers and pour out their hearts right away.
Bo Xin read the note in her hand to him: "Don't go out at night, don't open the door for strangers, if you're hungry you can cook noodles yourself, eggs are at the bottom of the cabinet."
Jiang Yuxu lowered his eyes. The kitchen was by the entrance, and with a casual glance, he could tell she had made it herself.
He was hungry, but now he had no appetite.
"...Did you hear what I just said?"
Of course Bo Xin had heard him—he had expressed resistance but hadn't said to drive the person away. He had, in a sense, suffered in place of that child, yet he didn't transfer hatred onto him.
What an extremely kind child.
Bo Xin smiled softly, and something that came to mind widened her smile.
"Don't want to call him little brother? Think about it, maybe you should call him big brother."
Initially, she had ranked them by their impression on her, and Yuxu had the demeanor of an older brother from every angle.
But if it was by age, her labor had been more difficult back then...
Bo Xin didn't continue. Leaving Jiang Yuxu with a cracked expression and mixed emotions, she closed the door, which clicked shut.
—
There was a bicycle downstairs, but Bo Xin didn't ride it, because she planned to take the person for a walk before going home.
The tutoring class was near the residential area. Students from three schools attended. Originally, they only stayed for naps, but rules were made by money.
Luckily, Yanyi was bold; otherwise, in the empty nap room, he might have been too scared to even go to the bathroom.
She knocked twice on the window. "I'm here to pick up my child."
"Mrs. Bo, have you returned from your business trip?"
Bo Xin had made up a casual excuse back then, but in reality, she didn't have a job. She had worked as a doctor for a few years, then stayed home after giving birth.
The tutoring class knew this; they were probably guessing that she had left to find her husband who never came home.
But these speculations from others had nothing to do with Bo Xin.
She nodded calmly and said softly, "Mm. Has Yanyi gone to sleep?"
"He's so obedient now, he lies down as soon as it's time."
The principal was very happy; basically all the teachers, including her, were marveling at the changes in Yanyi recently. If he caused so little trouble for them, it must be even easier for the parents.
After all, wasn't that what their tutoring class was for?
As if to take credit, they opened the door. The room was dark, but the sheer curtains let in light, faintly revealing a small, lonely silhouette.
From behind, he seemed to be sleeping peacefully, but his curled-up posture looked so uneasy.
Author's note:
Please collect, comment, and give nutrient solution!