In Between Us || Zhanyi

|| 01 ||

The classroom was tense, a silence hanging in the air as Professor Xiao stood at the front, his sharp eyes scanning the sea of students. Every time he spoke, the weight of his authority bore down on the room. Today, however, the tension was palpable, amplified by the stack of graded test papers on his desk.

"Wang Yibo," Zhan's voice rang out, cold and commanding.

Heads turned toward the student sitting near the back. Yibo froze in place, his grip tightening around his pen. He had known this was coming, but nothing could prepare him for the sting of what was about to unfold. Slowly, he rose to his feet, the eyes of the entire class burning into him. For a moment, the room seemed to shrink, and the only thing Yibo could hear was the faint echo of Zhan's words hanging in the air.

"Two tests in a row, and your performance has been... abysmal," Zhan began, his voice laced with disappointment. He didn't soften the blow, nor did he offer any room for Yibo to explain himself. "Tell me, Yibo, are you planning on coasting through this class with half-baked efforts? Or do you simply not care about your education anymore?"

The room went deathly quiet. Some students exchanged awkward glances, while others looked away, uncomfortable with the public shaming. Yibo's chest tightened, but he kept his expression neutral, his eyes focused on the floor.

Zhan wasn't finished. His words were sharp, cutting deeper than Yibo had expected. "You were once one of the brightest students in this class, and now look at you." Zhan's eyes narrowed. "Barely scraping by, turning in work that any first-year could outperform. If this is the level of commitment you plan to show, then perhaps you're not suited for higher education at all."

The insult hung heavy in the air, a deliberate blow to Yibo's pride. He felt the burn of humiliation creeping up his neck, but he refused to react. Not here. Not in front of everyone.

"Do you think I have time to waste on students who aren't willing to put in the effort? If this is your idea of progress, then I'm afraid you've completely misunderstood what it means to be a part of this batch," Zhan continued, his voice growing colder with each word. "You're not a child anymore, Yibo. This isn't a place for mediocrity."

Yibo's jaw clenched, his eyes still glued to the floor. The sting of Zhan's words cut deep, deeper than Yibo cared to admit. He had always respected Zhan's strictness, had thrived under it even. But now, standing in the center of the room, with every student watching him being torn apart, Yibo couldn't help but feel exposed. Vulnerable.

"If you can't handle the demands of this course, I suggest you reconsider your place here," Zhan finished, his voice hard, final.

A heavy silence followed. Yibo swallowed, forcing himself to breathe evenly. His heart pounded, a mix of shame and frustration swirling inside him. He could feel every eye on him, the silent judgment of his classmates weighing on him like a suffocating blanket.

Zhan turned away from him, his dismissal clear as he picked up the next stack of papers. "Sit down. We'll discuss this later."

Yibo sat, his body stiff, eyes trained forward as the lecture resumed. But the words Zhan had hurled at him lingered, echoing in his mind. He had never felt so small in his life.

As Zhan continued the class, his eyes flicked toward Yibo now and then. He saw the tension in Yibo's posture, the stiff way he held himself. It wasn't just about low marks—Zhan sensed there was more to it, something he couldn't address here, in front of everyone. But today, Yibo had to face the consequences, Zhan won't tolerate negligence. 

The end of the lecture couldn't come soon enough. When the bell rang, the students filed out quickly, avoiding Yibo's gaze. Yibo gathered his things, his movements slow, deliberate, as if trying to steady himself. Zhan stood at the front, watching as Yibo walked toward the door, his back rigid, shoulders squared.

"Yibo," Zhan called out as the last student left. Yibo stopped in the doorway but didn't turn around. His silence spoke volumes.

"Meet me in my cabin. We need to talk," Zhan said, his voice softer now but still firm.

For a moment, Yibo didn't move. Then, without a word, he walked out, the door clicking shut behind him. Zhan stood there, his hand still on the stack of papers, a deep frown settling on his face. He knew this wasn't over.

...To be continued

✒️Written on: 03/08/2024