Chapter 4: Awakening

The first rays of dawn filtered into the room, serene and elegant. Chu Yitong opened her eyes, staring fixedly at the crystal chandelier above. After a long while, she closed her weary eyes, slowly sat up, and leaned against the headboard, reflecting on the events of the previous night.

Having spent a month confined to the house—doing nothing but eating, sleeping, and lying on the balcony watching the sky—she had tried to sneak out yesterday while her parents were away at a banquet, only to return empty-handed. To avoid raising any suspicions about her behavior, she had racked her brains until she finally persuaded them to let her return to school today.

As she was lost in thought, a pleasant voice from outside the door startled her: "Tongtong, are you awake? Mommy's coming in!"

Yao Xiyue pushed the door open and, seeing her sitting on the bed in a daze, sat down beside her. Taking her hand, she asked softly, "Tongtong? Do you need Mommy to help you?"

"Mommy, I can do it myself!" Chu Yitong snapped out of her trance and gave her a beaming smile. This address of "Mommy" was a result she had waited a long time for. Yao Xiyue turned away, reaching up to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes; every morning, she lived in fear that her daughter might revert to her former state. Every call of "Mommy" felt like a dream she feared she might wake up from at any moment.

"Alright, Mommy will wait for you. Once you finish breakfast downstairs, Daddy will take you to school." No matter what, she respected her daughter’s choices; as long as she was happy, everything was fine—everything was fine.

"Okay." Chu Yitong quickly got out of bed, went to the walk-in closet to change, and soon finished freshening up. After heading downstairs and eating her breakfast in silence, she waited obediently for Chu Guiyun until he called out, "Tongtong, let's go."

She was eighteen this year, a freshman at a prestigious university in Anping City. She knew everything about her own circumstances.

"Tongtong, should Daddy walk you inside?" He had always walked her to the classroom door in the past, and after a month's absence, he couldn't help but ask.

"I'll go by myself!" Perhaps she hadn't spoken much in a long time, so her words were concise and devoid of excess. She shouldered her bag and walked onto campus, leaving an unadjusted Chu Guiyun standing there, unable to recover for a long while.

Relying on her memory, she reached the classroom. She was very satisfied with her seat; whether it was because others shunned her or her parents had pulled strings, she sat alone by the window, enjoying the warm sunlight. Her mood lifted, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She believed everything would be alright.

"Student Chu Yitong, come and solve this problem!" After being away from school for a month, it was truly gratifying that the teacher still kept her in mind.

She slowly raised her head toward the podium. The teacher looked kind and benevolent, seemingly very attentive to her. Lowering her gaze, she stood up and walked to the front.

Her eyes fell on the board where the teacher had pointed. The answer formed in her mind instantly—so quickly that even she was surprised. Ignoring the guidance he had just begun to offer, she picked up a pen and began to write fluently on the board.

The teacher froze in place, staring dumbfounded at the completed answer, unable to speak for a long moment. After finishing, she put down the pen and stood there quietly, her expression as calm as usual, as if what had just happened were merely an illusion. The astonishment of the teacher and her classmates did not affect her in the slightest.

A figure drifted lazily past the classroom. As he passed the window, he swept a bored glance inside and happened to catch this intriguing scene. His footsteps faltered; he took a few steps back, leaned against the wall, and began eavesdropping openly. "Tsk, tsk, interesting!" He narrowed his eyes, staring at the answer on the board; that method of solution was certainly not something taught to first-year students.