Five Years of Marriage to Mr. Bradford (by Koi Fish) novel Chapter 760

Outside the top 50...

Vance had always been ranked first in the entire grade.

Rebecca was furious. "Vance, what the hell are you doing?"

Vance simply stood up straight. He didn't answer the teacher, and, of course, he couldn't hear Rebecca's angry shouts.

"Vance, have you run into some kind of difficulty? You can talk to me—whether it's about studies, life, or... emotional confusion. I'm here to listen," said the teacher softly.

"Thank you, ma'am. I know what I'm doing," he replied.

The teacher was clearly upset but held back her frustration. "I know you've always been a determined and self-disciplined kid. Everyone goes through setbacks when they're young, but remember this: what defeats setbacks is never giving up or becoming depressed.

"It's becoming stronger than you were before and stronger than your opponents. If you crumble and fall behind, that's what will truly disappoint people."

Rebecca understood what the teacher was getting at. She was hinting that if this was because of a breakup, moping around wouldn't win the girl back. Only by becoming stronger would he earn respect.

She didn't know if Vance understood. Right now, he looked indifferent and kept giving half-hearted responses. "I know, ma'am."

He repeated that phrase no matter what the teacher said afterward. He agreed to everything, but the look in his eyes gave him away. He wasn't listening to a word.

In the end, the teacher couldn't do anything more and just let him return to class.

Rebecca's vision followed him uncontrollably into the science classroom. She stayed by his side through the entire evening study hall, watching him doodle nonsense.

Absent-minded the entire night, he just held a pen and scribbled things on paper that she couldn't understand.

After Jethro left, Vance just sat there, staring blankly ahead. Rebecca sat on his desk, watching him.

"Come on, what are you spacing out for? I thought you stayed to do problems. Wouldn't spacing out in the dorm be better? Why are you doing it here?" she shouted.

Still, it was just her self-talk.

Vance's seat this week was against the wall near the door, right by the light switch. Suddenly, he reached up and turned off the lights. The classroom instantly plunged into darkness.

Rebecca thought he was finally leaving. She sat cross-legged on the desk and whispered, "That's better. Go back to the dorm and rest. Start studying hard and live well from now on. No matter which school you get into, you'll do great.

"You'll build a famous tech company. You'll have fame, wealth, and status... And if... you meet a girl who loves you deeply, and you like her too, be sure to treat her well. Don't let her get hurt, okay?"