Study If You Want, Don't If You Don't

[Tough and taciturn delinquent with potential x troubled, seemingly mild-mannered math teacher]

*Teacher and student (no romance while they are in a teacher-student relationship)

*Childhood friends

*Younger man

*Tragic ending (the teacher dies)

When Jing Wu was seven and starting elementary school, Liang He was already eleven and had skipped a grade to begin middle school. Looking at Jing Wu's failing final exam, Liang He said gently, "I'll teach you. Just study hard."

Jing Wu ranked first for a semester, then started scraping by at the bottom of the class.

When Jing Wu was twelve and taking the exam to enter middle school, he pleaded shamelessly in front of Liang He's desk. Liang He had skipped a grade and finished the college entrance exam early. "Teach me! If you teach me, I'll definitely get a few more points."

Jing Wu got into a foreign languages school and continued scraping by at the bottom of the class.

Later, Liang He went to university in another province, and the two lost touch for many years. When they met again, Liang He, a 21-year-old who had graduated early with a master's degree, stood at the front of a high school classroom. His eyes met Jing Wu's in the last row.

Liang He realized that his little brother had picked up all kinds of bad habits: smoking, drinking, fighting, dyeing his hair, and even attempting suicide.

One day after school, Liang He went to great lengths to find Jing Wu, who was crouched by the roadside smoking after a fight. It was the first time Liang He had ever hit anyone.

The slap rang out in the alley, clear and lingering.

Liang He said, "Study or don't. I don't care!"

-

Years later, Jing Wu stood at the same three-foot platform where Liang He had once taught. The students below chattered noisily. He set down his lesson plan and tapped the podium, though he barely used any force.

"Study or don't. I don't care."

The classroom fell instantly silent. Many students looked up and listened attentively.

Those words from Liang He had once pulled Jing Wu back from his rebellious path. He never imagined they would still work all these years later.

But now he stood in the light, and the person he wanted by his side was gone.

[Original version] 2023.4.6

[Revised] 2023.10.19

Theme: To be decided