Parents and Son Under Attack Chapter 7

As the school year approached, I couldn't wait to move from this loveless family to the school. The day I left, Mom and Dad were again at the hospital with Ethan.

Though Lily was home on vacation, she had no intention of helping me pack. She just watched me coldly rushing around, finally dropping a line:

"This house will finally be peaceful."

I loaded the last bag into the taxi without even sparing Lily a glance. The room the principal prepared for me was excellent—seemingly a converted spare teachers' quarters, a comfortable studio apartment.

I spent a day cleaning the dorm until it was neat and comfortable, then went to the bookstore to buy a huge pile of study materials. After starting high school, coursework would get heavier. I had to work even harder to outwork everyone.

On the first day of school, I was predictably ostracized by other students. Hearing the principal had specially arranged housing for me, they labeled me a nepotism case without question.

"Well, well, the 12-year-old genius prodigy is here."

"Wonder if the genius gets scared living alone in the dorm. Will he cry for mommy at night?"

"Let the genius sit by the water cooler. He probably needs to make baby formula during breaks."

These self-important students resented me because my existence overshadowed them. Such sharp words might devastate teenagers, but having lived twice, I found them childishly laughable.

Though young in years, I was tall. I walked straight to the center seat in the classroom. Immediately, discordant voices rose:

"Nepotism really is different—even picks the center seat."

"Sitting next to him means the teacher constantly watching. Who can stand that?"

Students all scattered around, leaving me sitting alone in the very center. I kept my back straight, ignoring the mockery, calmly opening a study guide.

Just then, someone directly pulled out the chair beside me and sat down. A slender, beautiful hand extended toward me:

"Hi, you're Caleb Grant? Nice to meet you. I'm Sarah Chen. Can I be your desk mate?"

I discreetly sized up the girl—the kind of warm, sunny, obviously popular type.

"You sure? Sitting with me might get you called nepotism too."

The girl smiled sweetly, leaning close to whisper:

"Hehe, they wouldn't dare. I'm the principal's daughter."

Only then did I notice Sarah's features resembled the principal's somewhat. The principal must have guessed I might have trouble fitting in and specifically asked Sarah to look after me.

A warm current flowed through my heart. Even if just for the principal's sake, I would get along well with Sarah.

After the first weekly quiz, I silenced all doubters with my far-ahead score. Soon people put aside their pride to ask me questions. My previously bumpy high school life became peaceful and smooth from then on.