Beneath the Moonless Sky

A Harsh Reality

The first day of school was bustling with the typical noise and excitement of new beginnings. Lan Xichen navigated the corridors of the middle school, trying to get a feel for the place before his first class. He dropped Lan Wangji off at the local high school that morning, and now he was ready to start his journey as a seventh-grade teacher.

As he walked into his classroom for the fifth period, he felt a mix of anticipation and nervousness. The students were settling into their seats, chattering and laughing as they found their places. Lan Xichen scanned the room, trying to get a sense of the dynamics.

At the back of the room, he noticed a boy sitting quietly, doing his best to blend into the background. Wei Ying. Lan Xichen recognized him immediately from their earlier meeting at the flower shop. He had assumed Wei Ying was in high school with Lan Wangji, especially given his age and height. But here he was, in Lan Xichen's seventh-grade class, and something about the boy's demeanor struck him.

Lan Xichen started the class with a brief introduction, welcoming the students and outlining the syllabus. As he went over the material, he noticed Wei Ying's quiet presence in the back row. The boy seemed to be doing his best to remain unnoticed, his posture hunched slightly as if trying to make himself as small as possible.

"Alright, everyone," Lan Xichen said, "let's start with some reading exercises. I'd like each of you to read a passage from our textbook."

He began calling on students one by one, and when it was Wei Ying's turn, he walked back to the boy's desk. "Wei Ying, would you like to start us off?"

The classroom fell silent, and Lan Xichen watched as Wei Ying looked up, his face paling. The other students' expressions ranged from curiosity to mild amusement. Wei Ying hesitated, fumbling with the textbook as he tried to find the passage.

A few of the other students, sensing an opportunity to make fun of someone, started whispering among themselves. One of them, a boy named Zhang Wei, smirked and said loudly, "Come on, retard. Can't you read?"

Laughter erupted from a small group of students, and Lan Xichen's heart sank as he saw Wei Ying's face flush with embarrassment. The boy's hands trembled as he opened the book, his eyes scanning the text without finding the words.

Lan Xichen approached the desk, trying to gauge the situation. "Wei Ying, take your time. If you're having trouble, we can work through it together."

Wei Ying's voice was barely audible, and he tried to start reading, but the words seemed to get tangled in his throat. His stutter became more pronounced, and he stumbled over the sentences, his face reddening further.

The laughter grew louder, and Lan Xichen's patience wore thin. "That's enough," he said firmly, trying to regain control of the class. "It's not funny to make fun of someone who's struggling. Wei Ying, why don't you sit this one out, and we'll try again later."

Wei Ying nodded gratefully, his eyes darting down to avoid further attention. Lan Xichen saw the hurt in his eyes and felt a pang of sympathy. It was clear that Wei Ying was struggling, not just with reading but with something deeper.

As the class continued, Lan Xichen made a mental note to talk to Wei Ying privately after school. He wanted to understand more about what was going on and how he could help. It was obvious that the boy was facing challenges beyond what he had initially realized.

When the bell rang, signaling the end of the period, Lan Xichen watched as Wei Ying quickly gathered his things and left the room, moving swiftly to avoid any further interaction with his classmates. Lan Xichen followed, determined to reach out to him.

In the hallway, Lan Xichen caught up with Wei Ying, who was heading towards the exit. "Wei Ying, wait up."

Wei Ying stopped and turned, his expression guarded. Lan Xichen could see the tension in his posture.

"I just wanted to say," Lan Xichen began gently, "that I'm sorry about what happened in class. I know it must have been difficult."

Wei Ying looked down, his fingers nervously clutching his books. "It's okay. I, um, I'm used to it."

Lan Xichen shook his head. "No one should have to get used to being treated like that. If you ever need anything—extra help with classwork, or just someone to talk to—please let me know. I want to make sure you're getting the support you need."

Wei Ying glanced up, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. "Th-thank you. I'll... try."

Lan Xichen watched as Wei Ying walked away, his heart heavy with concern. The boy's struggle was apparent, and it was clear that there was much more to his story than he had initially realized. Lan Xichen knew he had to do better, not just as a teacher, but as someone who could offer support and understanding to those who needed it most.

As he returned to his classroom, Lan Xichen resolved to make Wei Ying's school experience better, starting with ensuring that he felt safe and valued. It was a small step, but it was a start towards making a difference in Wei Ying's life.