This darkness was like a vortex, an abyss with no bottom in sight. For anyone else, just a glance would make their skin crawl. But Aunt Liu seemed not to notice at all as she walked up to the Old Mrs. Yuan and nodded respectfully. Only then did the Old Mrs. Yuan retract her gaze, lowered her head, and started turning the Buddha Beads in her hand, chanting softly.
——
Shu Jiao realized during the second class in the morning that both Jiaojiao and Xiu Xi hadn't come to class. She was already worried about what happened with Xiao Yan yesterday, so during the second class, she went to find the teacher in charge of Class One.
Xiao Yan, who was seventeen this year, was smart from a young age. She came from a middle school in a township, with outstanding grades. Her family was not well-off, but considering her excellent grades, the school gave her a partial waiver of tuition and fees.
