Meng Yan's Transformation

Chapter 553 Dong Hanmei Wants to Change Seats

While writing the letter, Zhan Mengyan covered her right cheek with her left hand and wrote quickly with her right hand. The sound of the paper rubbing together was clearly audible. She pretended to be calm, but her eyes frequently glanced at her deskmate Xu Yanmei. Her fingers turned white from the pressure. After finishing writing, she quickly stuffed the letter into her pocket and pretended to tidy up her books to cover up her panic.

Xu Yanmei noticed Zhan Mengyan leaning slightly forward, completely obscuring the letter with her arm, her pen moving rapidly, occasionally glancing up. This deliberate concealment piqued Xu Yanqiao's curiosity—what was she writing? Why was she so secretive? How did I end up sitting with this mysterious figure in our class? I'm so unlucky! I asked the teacher to change seats, but the homeroom teacher refused. Will Zhan Mengyan find out I didn't want to sit with her and retaliate? What if she sends her cousin, who looks like "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," to scare me after evening self-study? If I had known the homeroom teacher would refuse to change seats, I wouldn't have asked. This Zhan Mengyan—I can't offend her, and I can't befriend her—her aloofness keeps everyone at arm's length…

Xu Yanmei felt a ticklish sensation in her heart, with various guesses popping into her head: Had she tattled on someone to the teacher? Or was she planning some kind of prank? Or perhaps... curiosity compelled her to uncover some secret.

Xu Yanmei pretended to look for an eraser and slowly moved to Zhan Mengyan's side, only to find that there was no writing on the envelope. What was even stranger was that as soon as she finished writing, she immediately folded the letter into a piece and stuffed it into her pocket.

Xu Yanmei and Zhan Mengyan were wary of each other, not exchanging words or glances. Both felt very uncomfortable, and finally, the bell rang to signal the end of get out of class.

Zhan Mengyan walked out of the classroom first, and Dong Hanmei followed her out. She grabbed Zhan Mengyan's sleeve, her eyes welling up with tears: "Zhan Mengyan, could you ask the homeroom teacher if we could sit together again?"

As Dong Hanmei spoke, her eyes were slightly red, her eyelashes trembled, and tears welled up at the corners of her eyes, forming glistening droplets that seemed about to fall. Her gaze was lowered, as if still concealing unshed tears, carrying a hint of unspoken sorrow. Tear streaks ran down her pale cheeks, her lips were pressed into a straight line but couldn't hide the trembling, her nose was red, and her brow was furrowed, as if even her breathing was choked with sobs. She lowered her head, staring at the tear stains on her palms, her thin shoulders trembling slightly, revealing her fragility and helplessness.

With a heavy heart, Zhan Mengyan pulled Dong Hanmei aside and wiped away her tears.

"Dong Hanmei, the homeroom teacher just said in class that no one can be given special treatment and everyone must obey the teacher's seating arrangement. I'm willing to sit next to you, but most of the students in our class treat me like a monster, afraid of me and avoiding me. Only you treat me like a friend. But I don't dare to disobey the class rules set by the homeroom teacher. Please bear with it for a few days, and after things have calmed down, we'll ask the homeroom teacher to change our seats, okay?"

When Zhan Mengyan spoke, her tone was extremely gentle, as if she were coaxing a three-year-old child.

Dong Hanmei nodded, as if she understood Zhan Mengyan's meaning, and mechanically turned to face the classroom.

Zhan Mengyan watched Dong Hanmei's disappointed back as she walked slowly towards the classroom with her head down, her shoulders slumped slightly, and her steps much slower than usual. Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a long shadow that made her appear exceptionally lonely.

Zhan Mengyan wanted to catch up with Dong Hanmei to comfort her again, but her hand unconsciously touched the letter she had written to the principal in her pocket.