The sun slowly rose, and the rain gradually stopped. Mr. Evans pushed Charles Page into the classroom.

As soon as they entered, the children’s curious eyes all turned toward them.

In the classroom sat little kids dressed in colorful clothes. Some were neat, while others still had runny noses. Mr. Evans smiled kindly and settled Charles Page in the first row by the window, right in front of the podium.

Henry Brooks, who had been playing with Daniel Lee in the back, widened his eyes when the teacher pushed Charles Page in.

Wow! They really are in the same class!

“When you came to register yesterday, you already met me. I’m Mr. Evans. Mr. Evans will now arrange your seats by height, okay?”

The children all answered in unison, “Okay!”

“Now everyone stand up and compare your heights. Shorter kids sit in the front, and taller kids sit in the back for now.”

The children were very obedient, but it was hard for them to compare heights on their own. Mr. Evans and another male teacher who taught math, Mr. Grant, helped arrange them by height.

Mr. Evans frowned, noticing that a few children were missing from the class.

It was raining today, so some who lived far away were probably late. For now, they could only arrange the seats.

Mr. Grant whispered, “Two kids per desk, and there are exactly 58 kids in the class. Who will sit with Charles Page?”

Mr. Evans was also taken aback.

But she quickly recovered and smiled as she asked the children, “Charles Page hurt his leg and needs everyone’s care. Which brave and kind child would like to sit with him at the first desk?”

Charles Page’s pupils contracted ever so slightly.

The children in the classroom looked at each other, then glanced at Charles Page sitting in his wheelchair, his legs empty below the knees.

A few children looked at the teacher and hesitantly raised their hands.

Mr. Evans was very pleased and asked Charles Page, “Xiao Chuan, is there a classmate you’d like to sit with?”

Charles Page’s eyes swept over them one by one.

He didn’t like to smile, and there was no light in his eyes, as if he were a dark, damp place the sunlight refused to touch. Wherever his gaze landed, those already hesitant hands slowly went down.

The two teachers exchanged an awkward glance. Mr. Grant said, “The rest of the kids can sit down for now. There are still a few who haven’t arrived.”

After the children gradually sat down, Henry Brooks looked around and quietly told others about how Charles Page wet his pants and bit people in kindergarten. The children’s faces showed surprise, and all their eyes secretly glanced at the lonely first desk.

Charles Page clenched his fists, his gaze falling on the tall plane tree outside the window.

The rain had stopped, and the leftover raindrops on the leaves slid down. He sat in the shadow, his lips a bit chapped, but he didn’t touch the water bottle he’d brought.

Drinking water would make him need to pee.

A girl arrived late, her hair tied into two buns with pink ribbons. Her little buns were wet from the rain, and she stood at the door, calling out brightly to report in.

Mr. Evans looked over and saw that this was the youngest child in the class.

Fifteen minutes was the walking time for older kids, but Emma Bennett’s short legs took twenty-five minutes. Plus, it was raining, so Lillian Clark carried her part of the way, but when she couldn’t carry her anymore, little Emma Bennett walked by herself.

Even hurrying, they were still more than ten minutes late.

Charles Page stiffened, not turning his head.

Mr. Evans said, “Emma Bennett, there are three seats left in the classroom. Pick one and sit down.”

Emma Bennett walked toward Charles Page.

She brought with her the scent of sunshine after the rain and sat down beside him.

Charles Page said, “Go away.” It was the first time he spoke to her, his cold voice telling her to leave.

Charles Page thought, who needs your pity. It’s best if you stay far away from him.

Emma Bennett’s almond-shaped eyes filled with grievance. “But I’m short.” Short kids can’t see from the back.

“……” Charles Page turned his head away in silence.

Chapter 7: Annoyance

Charles Page no longer tried to drive her away, and Emma Bennett was overjoyed.

She carried a white cloth schoolbag on her back, which Lillian Clark had bought for her at the market for five yuan yesterday. There was also a tiny panda doll hanging from it.

In both her lives, Emma Bennett loved this schoolbag the most. It was almost half her size, but she carried it for a very long time.

At least in her third-grade memories, it was still with her.

Emma Bennett carefully put it into her desk, and Mr. Evans began handing out books.

Teaching preschool is especially difficult, because it’s the transition stage between kindergarten and elementary school. In kindergarten, discipline is loose and the kids mostly just play together. But in preschool, they have to learn discipline. The teacher sometimes encourages them, sometimes has to be strict—only by balancing kindness and authority can they manage these playful children.

Chloe Evans asked, “Which child can help the teacher hand out the books?”

Many little hands shot up, and the chubby Henry Brooks was so eager he almost jumped up. Chloe Evans smiled and picked Henry Brooks, Daniel Lee, and four other children to help distribute the books.

The preschool books were all small textbooks, with colorful pictures. The brand-new books felt heavy in their hands, and the little kids could only carry five or six at a time. Chloe Evans was doing this to encourage their enthusiasm, so it didn’t matter if it went slowly.

The children, getting their preschool books for the first time, couldn’t wait to open them.