Guardian: Returns

22

It was lunch break, but Luo Fei didn't feel like eating at all. He was leaning against a staircase railing, watching other students in the schoolyard. Most of them had their phones out and were lost to the world, standing frozen in place or sitting, scrolling through the feed. The boy sensed a presence behind him and sighed, sticking a lollipop between his teeth.

"Kids these days. We used to run, play, have fun with each other. Those ones are a lost generation, I tell ya. No social skills at all."

The headmaster looked from the kids in the yard to Luo, frowning. He walked closer, placing his hands on the railing as well.

"You seem to be talking from experience, Mr Luo," he said quietly. Luo Fei jumped, then grinned to cover up his embarrassment.

"Ah, sorry, sir. I thought it was... someone else."

They stood in awkward silence for some time. Finally, the headmaster cleared his throat. "I've been meaning to ask..." he started awkwardly. "How are things, Mr Luo? After... everything that happened."

The teenager looked at the sky. "You are one hell of an awesome teacher, Headmaster Zhou," he said. "Always worrying about your students. I'm impressed."

"Your sweet-talking will get you nowhere. I won't pry if-"

"I need to get some things around my head. It's been a lot, I admit. But don't worry, sir. Feng, Xin Bai and I are better than ever."

"How about your parents?"

"They're taking it slow. Haven't decided on anything yet. That's why I'm giving my folks space and currently staying at Jiangs' place." Luo stared at the school fence. On a wide branch of an old tree, a fat black cat was waving its tail. The teenager let out a bemused breath. Since he admitted that he remembered being Zhao, Da Qing wasn't leaving him alone.

"Your grades are impressive these days. I was afraid that it would be quite the opposite."

"Yeah, you try living with the twins. They're hell-bent on learning everything there is to be learnt. And I get dragged in. By the way, thank you." Fei turned to face the headmaster.

"For?" the principal looked at him and raised his eyebrows.

"For keeping me in line. You saved me more than once, to be honest."

"You remind me of someone." Zhou Huajian looked away. "There was that boy, back when I was starting as a teacher. Good kid, bright, intelligent. But he would pick up fights with any bully he could find. He also smoked a lot and played truant. I lost count of how many times I chased him through the school corridors. He only feared his father. The man was raising the boy on his own. They were in some sort of a love-hate relationship." The headmaster snorted. "I caught him smoking every time he tried, shouted, gave him some extra homework to do and threatened to tell his father. I never once did."

"I don't think you should be telling me this, sir. You are practically showing all your cards now."

"I heard you quit smoking, though." the headmaster glared at the lollipop stick. "Come with me. I need to show you something."

Luo walked briskly beside the principal. His curiosity soon morphed into anxiety when they turned to the corner and went to the back, where old bushes grew.

"There are still ten minutes left before the bell rings, Mr Luo. Enough time to clean up all these." The headmaster lifted some low growing branches, revealing a collection of cigarette buds.

"Ah, hahaha." Luo took one small step back. "What are those?" he joked.

"Mr Luo." The headmaster shook his head.