HIS name was Huang Wen. His family was a business competitor of the Luo family. But that was not the reason for his dislike. It was because of that Luo Jin. Last year, that bastard beat him up just for the simple reason that he thought he's an eyesore. He was sent to a hospital where the doctor told him that his fractured arm needed to be in a sling for six weeks.
It happened during exam period. He couldn't concentrate because having a sling was uncomfortable as hell. The result? His class standing dropped. But that's not the worst of it. His father berated him for having such a score on his exam results. He even had the audacity to compare him to that bastard Luo Jin. Saying things like how he couldn't be the number one in his year just like that third young master of the Luo family. It's like he conveniently just forgot that the reason why his arm was on a sling was because of that same young master.
Heck, even when he was sent to the hospital, instead of worrying about him, he reprimanded him instead. Scolding how he could be so weak that a simple fight could send him to a hospital. It's even worse because the one who sent him to the hospital was Luo Jin – the young master of their family's competitor. And then, he was again compared to the said young master.
It was something that had been happening more often for the past year. Ever since that bastard, Luo Jin, became a high school student.
Because the Huang family had always been second in the real estate business to the Luo family here in S City, it made Huang Wen's father extremely competitive. At least when it came to the Luo family, that was most certainly the case. Most likely because before the success of Luo Wei Tian, the Huang family was the leading family in real estate business in S City. His father really took that rivalry to heart. Which then passed on to his children. Being the eldest and only boy, Huang Wen took most of the brunt of it.
Because Luo Jin was the closest to him in age, Huang Wen was often compared to him. Really, his father's parenting wasn't really something to be desired.
That's why he couldn't help but bear a grudge against the Luo family, particularly that Luo Jin. Because all his problems stemmed from them. He knew, logically, that it was absurd to blame them with his father's ways. But they're the only ones he could blame. So even if he knew it was stupid and wrong of him to do so, he still couldn't help but do it still. Because it's the only way he could somehow alleviate his frustrations. It didn't really help that Luo Jin was such a hateful bastard.
And now, another member of the Luo family was here.
Of course, Huang Wen was aware of the circ.u.mstance of this second young master. That's why he couldn't believe that he truly managed to get the score that allowed him to be put in this class. Just look at that petite body. That's the obvious outcome of being in a coma for years. How the heck did he manage to answer the difficult questions from the exam when he only had months to study?
The Luo family probably paid the school off. Now, seeing this second young master Luo being surrounded by most of their classmates, he couldn't help but remember all the humiliation he suffered from Luo Jin. And he suddenly wanted to pay it all back through the bastard's sissy looking brother.
Huang Wen snorted. "The Luo family must have paid the school quite a sum just so their second young master could study here. That's one thing. But putting you in the science key class, don't you think that's a bit shameless?"
His voice was not that loud. But it was enough for everyone in the class to hear it.
Of course, Luo Yan heard it too. The crowd around him dispersed a bit because they all turned to the source of the voice. Luo Yan did too.
Sitting two seats behind him was a tall boy with the air of arrogance around him. He had the kind of face that girls their age would like – sharp eyebrows, straight nose, thin lips. But he was surrounded by this smug atmosphere. Even sitting, he had this certain posture, as if silently telling everyone that he's better than any of them. And that truly detracted from his handsomeness.
"Hey, Huang Wen. You can't just say something like that without any evidence," one of the three girls who first came to Luo Yan's desk said.
"That's right. We all know you have a bone to pick with Luo Jin. But doesn't mean you can target his brother because of that," another one added.
Most of the students in the class thought that way. Some even felt indignant. Especially the ones who was currently surrounding Luo Yan's desk. Even if they also felt unbelievable that Luo Yan came to their class, they wouldn't say that straight to his face. Just looked at those big eyes without even a shred of impurity. How could they even bear to hurt such an innocent child?
Luo Yan wasn't interested with what the people around him thought. He was interested though with what they just said. That this 'Huang Wen' bore a grudge against his younger brother. He didn't expect that the first person to openly antagonize him in this class was not someone who envied him or was jealous of his looks, it was someone who hated Luo Jin.
He blinked his big peach blossom eyes towards Huang Wen. "My family didn't pay the school. I passed the exam, that's why I'm here." He bit his lower lip and acted like someone who was trying to be strong but might cry at any second. "How could this brother think so badly of my family? Did we wrong you in any way?"
Huang Wen stopped. Looking at those watery peach blossom eyes, he felt like his heart was suddenly kicked hard. He unexpectedly had an urge to comfort him. Realizing that, his face turned red and he became even more annoyed.
He was not alone. The students surrounding Luo Yan's desk also had the urge to comfort him, hug him, tell him that everything would be okay and that they were there to protect him. They all glared at Huang Wen.
"Huang Wen, stop targeting Luo Yan."
"That's right. Don't be so mean."
"What did Luo Yan ever do to you?"
"It's okay," Luo Yan said, preventing the others from arguing with this Huang Wen. He looked like someone who was bullied but still had to act strong so he wouldn't worry the people around him. The heart of the students around him just softened even more. He turned towards Huang Wen. "If this brother doesn't believe me, we can go to the chairman's office now. We can go and ask him. That way, we can clear your misunderstanding." He stood up. "Shall we go now?"
Huang Wen didn't expect this turn of events. He looked around and just noticed the condemning gaze of his classmates. With just a few words, this kid managed to turn almost everyone against him. He knew it. Members of Luo family were really hateful. He gritted his teeth and then stormed out of the classroom.
"S-should I follow him?" Luo Yan asked the people around him innocently.
"No. Just let him be."
"Yes. He'll come back soon enough."
"You don't need to pay him any attention."
Luo Yan smiled, his already pretty face brightening even more. "Thank you everyone."
Almost everyone had an urge to clutch their chest. Just to make sure that an arrow didn't pierce their heart.
Luo Yan sat back to his seat and just secretly smiled.