A Young Woman's Heart

He doesn't look like a teacher at all; he looks more like a twelve or thirteen-year-old junior high school student.

Her coat had a hood with two cat ears on it, making her look exceptionally cute even without wearing it.

The other person just glanced at him and then went to the sink to wash the lunchbox.

An Ruosu stood still, as if she were drawn to a magnet, without moving an inch.

He remembered something a friend had told him.

Another top-tier high school also has a psychologist on staff.

That was the school his friend attended.

A classmate of mine was suffering because the person he liked was also a boy. He couldn't even concentrate on his studies, so he went to the school counselor, hoping to get some answers or at least some comfort to ease his painful feelings.

……

"Okay, what's your question now?"

"Teacher, I feel very uncomfortable, and my chest feels so tight."

"Sigh, young people these days have such low stress tolerance. Is it because of too much academic pressure that you're in a bad mood? Did you not do well on your exam or something?"

"No...no, it's...I have someone I like..."

"Early dating is not allowed. A student's primary responsibility is to study. You'll have plenty of time to talk about those things when you get to university."

"...Actually, it's because the person I like is also a boy, so I feel really bad..."

"How can you like men? That's homosexuality, that's a disease, and you need to correct it! I'm going to contact your homeroom teacher and ask him to pay more attention to you and not let you sit with boys."

"Teacher, I..."

"You're overthinking it. How could a perfectly normal guy like another guy? Is it because you can't find a girlfriend and you've given up on yourself? I've already told you, there will be plenty of opportunities in college. Don't be so dramatic. Okay, I'll contact your class teacher. Just focus on your studies and don't think about anything else."

Later, everyone found out that he had gone to see a psychologist.

At first, people joked that he must have broken up with his girlfriend, then they asked him if he wanted to commit suicide, and later everyone found out that he was gay.

In this oppressive atmosphere, although he ultimately did not commit suicide, he still dropped out of school.

In the words of An Ruosu's friend, that is—

Seeking help from a counselor? You're better off just bottling it up!

The school counselor will only make you feel worse, and may even cause you to develop depression.

……

"What's wrong?" Just as he was in a daze, he suddenly heard a clear and slightly hoarse female voice. When his eyes regained focus, he saw her standing a meter away, quietly watching him.

"No...it's nothing." An Ruosu took a deep breath, forced a smile, and prepared to turn and leave.

"Want some milk tea?" she asked in a completely emotionless voice, her expressionless face making her look like a moving doll.

"Hmm..." He hesitated, but finally turned back around. "Want some?"

The other person nodded and walked into the psychological counseling room, and An Ruosu slowly followed.

A photo of her hangs on the wall, with the words "Taiyin" written below it, representing her name.

"Hello, teacher..." An Ruosu looked at the psychology teacher, who looked much younger than her, with a slightly awkward expression.

Taiyin nodded slightly without answering, but poured a cup of milk tea that was kept warm in a teapot into a white mug with fox ears, and then handed it to him.

"sit."

“Okay…” An Ruosu sat down nervously.

As if it really was just an invitation to drink milk tea, Taiyin poured herself a cup and then quietly turned around to look at the newspaper on the table.

The door closed slowly in the wind, and the room fell into silence, so quiet that he could even hear his own heartbeat.

The milk tea wasn't sweet and had a slightly bitter taste, but it was very rich in milk flavor.

After taking a few sips, An Ruosu felt inexplicably relaxed.

Perhaps it was because he didn't feel too much resistance towards a teacher who looked like a middle school girl.

Taiyin flipped through the newspaper expressionlessly, and time passed by little by little.

An Ruosu's milk tea was almost finished.

And she finally finished reading the newspaper.

She turned around and glanced at him, then refilled his milk tea. She then faced him with her delicate, expressionless face and asked without a trace of emotion, "What's wrong?"

The topic has returned to where it all began.

An Ruosu wanted to say "it's nothing" again, but when she looked into Taiyin's doll-like deep pupils, she couldn't help but be drawn into them, as if she had entered a space where no one was around, allowing her to relax and tell her secrets more easily.

There are many things that don't actually need answers; simply saying them can make you feel much more relaxed.

"I... like someone, but he's also a man."

"I don't know if I like men or just like him."

“Someone like me is impossible for society to accept, so… I don’t dare to tell others, I only dare to communicate with people like myself, but we don’t get to get together very often…”

"He treated me like a brother, but I..."

"Sometimes I feel disgusted with myself."

"I didn't want this to happen either..."

An Ruosu's emotions began to break down as she recounted her story.

His eyes were red, and tears were about to spill over.

Taiyin took out a napkin and gently wiped the corner of his eye.

An Ruosu swallowed hard, trying to tilt her head back to keep her tears from falling.

He didn't continue, because his voice was already choked with emotion.

After saying these words, he felt a pang of regret, his heart pounding as if gripped by a giant hand.

Taiyin stood up, opened her arms and hugged him, then gently stroked his head.

An Ruosu, who was sitting in the chair, finally broke down emotionally.

He burst into tears.

Taiyin didn't speak, but gently patted his back and touched the top of his head.

The gentle stroking calmed him down, just like when he was a child in his mother's arms.

After a long while, Taiyin finally let go, and An Ruosu gave a slightly embarrassed, silly smile and scratched her hair.

Taiyin sat down expressionlessly and handed him a petal-shaped pastry.

The pastries were still warm, as if they had just come out of the oven.

An Ruosu took it and took a small sip.

It has a slightly sweet taste and a soft texture.

Sweets can always make people feel happy.

"Keep this feeling of liking hidden in your heart." Taiyin always paused subtly and strangely when she spoke, and her tone was always flat and emotionless, yet it was not quite cold. "Time will tell you everything."

"Well……"

"Many years from now, if you still like it, then go and pursue it." Taiyin stared at An Ruosu expressionlessly, opened a drawer, and took out a badge with a rainbow pattern from a pile of trinkets of unknown purpose, and handed it to him.

"Give me?"

"Ah."

"Thank you, Master Taiyin!!"

Taiyin nodded slightly, got up and walked to the door, seemingly indicating that she was seeing the guest out.

An Ruosu was stunned for a moment before she reacted and walked outside.

Taiyin stood on the slightly higher threshold, yet she still had to look up at him.

She stood on tiptoe, and An Ruosu lowered her head slightly in response.

Several sparrows flew across the sky, chirping, and landed on a telephone pole.

In a shallow puddle in the corner, the sky was being reflected.

The girls playing soccer on the playground were shouting loudly, almost as loudly as the boys on the basketball court over there.

A black tabby cat lay on the eaves, covered its mouth with its tail, yawned widely, and then squinted its eyes again.

The wind brushed across An Ruosu's heart, causing ripples to spread across her mind.

"The road of life is still long," Taiyin said softly. "Don't be afraid."

……

Chapter Thirty-Three: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

The setting sun outside the window was gradually disappearing, and the playground was becoming deserted again.

The clock that Hua Yinyin just bought and is already hanging on the wall has its hour hand pointing to the '6' position.

"Alright, alright, it's getting late, and I'm tired from practice today..." Hua Yinyin yawned widely. "Shall we go home after school?"

"Yes, it's time to go home." Mo Xueyao felt as if she could already smell the aroma of stir-fried dishes.

The others nodded in agreement; they had been practicing for about an hour and a half since school ended.

Practice requires perseverance, especially at the beginning. You can't let fatigue dampen your enthusiasm, and it's impossible to practice until after eight o'clock every day.

Li Wanyan had almost finished her homework and was now memorizing English words.

"Wanyan, shall we go home?" Mo Xueyao put the electronic keyboard into its case and slung it over her shoulder. "Could you carry my schoolbag for me?"

"Ah."

"Let's go home! Let's go home!!" Mo Zhuyou was already starving. "Sister, what are we going to cook when we get home?"