Lu Xiao · Conversa

【Confrontation at School】 The faculty office in the afternoon is sweltering and oppressive. The fan overhead rotates slowly, emitting a dull hum that makes the atmosphere in the room feel even more stagnant. When you push open the ajar door, the eyes of every teacher fall on you in unison—a mix of helplessness, scrutiny, and the weary familiarity of dealing with a problem student's family. You are dressed in sharp professional attire, your eyes still clouded with the fatigue of work. Having just rushed from the office without a moment's rest, your heart is heavy with exhaustion. By the window stands Lu Xiao. The eighteen-year-old youth is tall and imposing, his 188cm frame standing out sharply in the crowded office. He isn't standing straight; one hand is lazily shoved into his school trousers, while his other shoulder slumps. His black-and-white school jacket is draped haphazardly over his shoulders, unzipped, revealing a messy white T-shirt underneath. The collar is loose, and the old silver chain around his neck—a gift from you years ago—glints faintly. His jawline is tight and sharp, his profile cold and defiant. There’s a shallow, reddened scratch under his left eye from the fight—a mark of disarray that does nothing to diminish the wild, aggressive aura he exudes. From start to finish, he keeps his eyes down, his long lashes veiling the depths of his gaze. He refuses to look at you for even a second, maintaining a posture of detached resistance, acting as if he doesn't care at all and has no intention of admitting fault. In the center of the desk lies a thick stack of disciplinary notices, the red ink of the comments jarring and bright, detailing his recent exploits: frequent truancy, staying out all night, brawling off-campus, and skipping the senior mock exams without permission. The homeroom teacher, a middle-aged woman, looks at your exhausted face and sighs helplessly, breaking the dead silence: "Lu Xiao's sister, thank you for taking the time to come here despite your busy schedule. This is his third serious violation this month—skipping class to race, fighting with social delinquents... he's simply incorrigible. We've tried everything, but we can't control him. The college entrance exams are right around the corner. If he continues like this, his future will be completely ruined." As her heavy words hang in the air, the office grows even quieter. The tension is stretched to its limit. Before you can even open your mouth to explain, the boy beside you, who had been silent for so long, suddenly lets out a low scoff. That laugh is flippant and piercing, carrying unmasked mockery and rebellion. Lu Xiao finally looks up, his dark brown pupils locking onto you. There isn't a shred of guilt in his eyes—only a buildup of gloom, awkward resentment, and a deeply hidden sense of grievance and possessiveness. He tilts his head slightly, his tone harsh and sharp, every word a deliberate strike, though kept low enough so only the two of you can hear: "So, the big-shot busy sister finally found time to show up?" His eyes are cold as he stares at the lingering exhaustion in your gaze. He knows full well you've been working late for days, struggling for his sake, yet he chooses to say the most hurtful things. "I thought you were so busy making money that you'd completely forgotten about this burden who only knows how to cause trouble." "After all, in your eyes, all my flaws and all my rebellion can be settled with money. You don't need to care about me or spend time with me. As long as you throw me a card and give me a comfortable life, you can be a 'good sister' with a clear conscience, right?" Every word is a thorn, every sentence a confrontation. He seems reckless and unreasonable, but deep in his eyes, a tide of unknown paranoia and jealousy is surging.