There are usually one or two marginal figures in every class who are introverted, taciturn, usually have few friends or are even ostracized and bullied.
Adolescence is the most innocent time of a person's life, but it can also be said to be the most evil time. Perhaps they will not be as materialistic, competitive, and snobbish as in movies and TV dramas, but they may often exclude and isolate someone for a simple reason, or even instigate and bully someone under the leadership of some individuals.
The reasons are often just trivial things, such as being sloppy, having unattractive facial features, smelly feet or body odor, or some trivial rumors.
Of course, more often than not, the main reason is that the person himself is introverted, has low self-esteem, is not good at communication, and has no friends.
Tang Youxin is such a typical marginal figure.
I go to and from school alone every day. When I walk, I always look down at my toes, as if I am looking at people with my forehead. I never dare to look up and make eye contact with others.
Perhaps because of her poor family background, she is a little introvert and has low self-esteem. She has almost no friends. Although her classmates don't deliberately exclude her, they can't get along with her because of her personality. The only time she feels her presence is probably when the teacher calls her name.
"Could it be a hidden treasure beauty?"
Xia Xu was a little curious.
Rather than believing that the golden finger was wrong, he would naturally prefer to believe that it was because he had not discovered beauty before.
Although this planet is called Sea Blue Star and the country it is located in is called Xia Country, it is not much different from China on Earth. No matter how good the figure is, it cannot be seen under the conventional bloated and ugly school uniforms. Otherwise, China's school uniforms would not be jokingly called the anti-premature love artifact by many people.
The same is true for her face. Tang Youxin keeps her head down all day long, and most of her face is covered by her long black hair on her cheeks and temples. Plus, she rarely interacts with others, so it is normal that she doesn't attract attention.
The more he thought about it, the more curious he became. Xia Xu couldn't help but stand up and move closer.
Tang Youxin was lying face down on the table at this time, apparently sleeping, but when you get closer you will find that her body is trembling slightly.
"Crying?"
Xia Xu lowered his body in confusion, wanting to confirm.
He had seen this kind of scene of people crying on the table before. Many people did this when they sobbed quietly, with their bodies shaking.
However, after bending down, Xia Xu realized that he had guessed wrong. Tang Youxin was not crying, but was eating quietly in small bites, just like she was eating snacks secretly in class.
But it's not class time now.
On the contrary, this is the time for lunch break.
It’s just… seeing what Tang Youxin was eating, he roughly understood the reason.
It was a gray-black buckwheat bun.
The reason why I ate secretly while lying on the table... was probably because I didn't want to be seen by the few people who were still in the classroom.
Tang Youxin's family was poor, and she was a poor student for several years in high school. This was something many people knew, but no one expected it to be this bad.
Xia Xu actually understood this feeling of embarrassment very well. He was also an orphan and he himself had been poor when he was a child.
quiet!
As if she realized that someone was looking at her, the girl who was quietly eating on the table paused, her whole body stiffened, and her whole body seemed to be tense.
"How about... I treat you to a meal?"
Xia Xu hesitated, not knowing whether he should continue speaking.
This might stimulate the girl's self-esteem further, but the situation at the moment is actually embarrassing enough, so one more sentence is not much.
After hearing this, Tang Youxin's stiff body trembled for a moment, but she did not respond. She was still lying face down with her forehead resting on her arms, and her expression could not be seen.
But after a pause, the girl's body continued to tremble, and she started eating the steamed bun in small bites.
This may be the 'reply'.
"Aren't you choking?"
Xia Xu was helpless. He inexplicably felt like he was talking to himself with a hamster or a little white rabbit.
“No… No thanks.”
Finally, a soft sound was heard, but it was still coming from the person lying on the table. It was as soft as a mosquito's hum and might not be heard if you didn't pay close attention.
The weak and shy tone and the soft and well-behaved voice inexplicably make people feel a conflicting desire to bully and protect at the same time.
"Why don't you treat me to a meal? I don't have any food to eat."
Xia Xu was filled with rage, and reached out his hand to snatch the half-remaining buckwheat bun from the girl, stuffed it into his mouth viciously, and ate it up in a few bites.
I wanted to see the girl's panicked look as she raised her head and tried to snatch it back, and at the same time treat her to a meal as compensation.
But Tang Youxin didn't do as he expected. After he finished eating, she weakly handed him another one: "More... more? There's one more."
"I'm trying to steal your things and bully you. Be serious."
Xia Xu was both angry and amused, but seeing the timid look of the girl with her head down, he felt inexplicably touched.
At this moment, he had forgotten his original intention of wanting to see the girl's 'true face'. He just watched her burying her head in her chest like an ostrich and insisting on reaching out for another steamed bun. He simply made up his mind, snatched it and ate it all up again.
"Anything else?"
Holding the white plastic bag that just contained the buckwheat buns, Xia Xu asked in an angry tone even though he knew the answer.
"there is none left."
Tang Youxin seemed frightened and trembled slightly like a frightened little white rabbit before responding weakly.
"No, I'm not full yet. Let's go out and continue eating."
Xia Xuqiang pulled Tang Youxin away. Several people in the classroom either watched the show or wanted to say something but no one stepped forward to stop them.
"I... I don't have any money."
"I'll treat you."
"I don't want to..."
"I didn't ask for your opinion, I just informed you. I'm a principled person, so if you treat me to a meal, I'll treat you back."
After all, girls are weaker than boys. Xia Xu half-dragged and half-pulled Tang Youxin to the school gate. Considering her introverted personality, he finally found a noodle shop with fewer diners and went in.
If Xia Xu were to invite someone to a restaurant, he really couldn't afford it now. In reality, there weren't that many rich second-generations with tens of thousands of pocket money. It was good enough for a high school student to have a hundred or so yuan in pocket money.
What's more, Xia Xu is actually an orphan, but his parents left him a house and a small amount of savings. His situation is naturally better than Tang Youxin's, but it is actually limited.
This noodle shop is located at the front gate of the school, but most people prefer to go to the back gate where there are more snacks. Therefore, the noodle shop's business is relatively poor and very deserted.
Xia Xu ordered two bowls of the most common black fungus and shredded pork noodles, paid the bill in advance, and pulled Tang Youxin to sit at the table in the corner.
Not long after, the boss brought a bowl of steaming noodle soup and placed it in front of Xia Xu.
"Eat it."
Xia Xu pushed the bowl of noodles to Tang Youxin.
"don't want."
Tang Youxin still buried her head in her chest and dared not look up, but she still saw Xia Xu's actions.
As if avoiding a snake or scorpion, she shrank her whole body back, and moved her buttocks back as if sitting on pins and needles. Then she stretched out her index finger like a thief, poked at the bowl, and quietly pushed it towards Xia Xu, as if in silent protest.
"Eat quickly."
Xia Xu pushed the bowl that he had finally 'poked' over back to its original place with his hand, and said in a stern voice, "I tell you, I have my own self-respect. If I eat other people's food for free, wouldn't I be a beggar? Others will say that I am poor. I must take it back and eat quickly."
"I... I..."
Tang Youxin was so frightened that her body trembled. She said aggrievedly, "Just eat it. Don't be mean to me, okay..."
"Then eat it. Eat it all."
Xia Xu found that this seemed to be the most effective way to communicate with Tang Youxin, and there was no way to talk properly.
"oh… "
Tang Youxin let out an aggrieved "oh" and reluctantly placed two fingers of her right hand on the edge of the table, imitating the movement of human legs, and fumbled to the bamboo tube where the chopsticks were inserted. Then she picked up the chopsticks and started to eat in small bites.