"Also," Fang Siying shuddered, "don't provoke your mother. If she tries to hit you again, run away! Tingting, run far away; come to me! Do you understand? Silly child! Don't let her touch you again! Don’t let her y a finger on you! Do you understand, Tingting?"

  The child looked up at her, and in their gaze was a deep sense of trust and attachment.

  Children are like sensitive little animals; they know who truly loves them.

  "Alright, teacher," the child said. After a moment's hesitation, she spoke slowly, "Please don't go looking for my mom, okay? My mom isn’t bad; you know, she’s just in a bad mood sometimes. You can’t bme her for everything, you know. Sometimes Daddy and she argue really badly; he scolds her. Her eyes fshed with a hint of pride. "He says she can’t even compare to my real mom’s hair! Heh, if my real mom hadn’t died…" She sighed deeply and fell silent.

  Fang Siying gazed at the child in bewilderment. What kind of family must this be? She didn’t want to think about it. But what a child this was!

  "Teacher!" Bai Tingting pushed open Fang Siying's door and walked in. It was the lunch break, and Fang Siying was resting on the bed, lost in thought.

  "What is it, Tingting?"

  "My dad wants you to come to our house for dinner tonight. He told me to bring you after school. Is that okay, teacher?"

  "Dinner?" Fang Siying was momentarily stunned. "Is something going on? Is it a special day?"

  "No, Dad just said he wants to invite you for dinner."

  "Why is that?" Fang Siying asked with a thoughtful smile.

  "What did you tell your father about me?"

  "I just told him that you really like me. Dad asked me a lot of things, and I told him everything."

  "What did he ask?"

  "He asked if you were nice, if you had a good temper, if you taught well, and if you were pretty."

  "And what did you say?" Fang Siying asked with a smile.

  "I said," the child walked over to the bed, snuggling up to Fang Siying, smiling sweetly.

  "I said you're the best, kindest, and prettiest teacher in the world!"

  "Oh," Fang Siying couldn't help but ugh. "You child!"

  "Will you go?" Bai Tingting pleaded, shaking Fang Siying's arm. "Please go, okay? Mom won’t be home tonight."

  "Your mom isn't home?" Fang Siying asked attentively.

  "She went to Taichung. She won't be back for three days."

  "Is she often not at home?"

  "Yes."

  Fang Siying thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright, I'll go."

  "Great!" Bai Tingting cheered, giving Fang Siying a joyful and happy expression. Then,

  Suddenly, her face darkened, and she carefully said, "But you mustn't reveal our secret."

  "Of course!" Fang Siying said, "Don't worry!"

  "Alright, then I'll come to find you in the staff lounge after school! We can walk back together; it's only a few steps."

  "I know." The child smiled, looking very excited. She turned around and ran out quickly.

  Even after she had been gone for a long time, Fang Siying could still hear the sound of her ughter, like silver bells, echoing in the room, "You are the best, kindest, and most beautiful teacher in the world!"

  She shook her head, stood up from the bed, and walked to the vanity. In the mirror appeared a thoughtful, slightly mencholic face, with eyes that were confused and troubled. She examined herself, then slowly gathered her long hair and styled it into an old-fashioned bun. She put on her gsses and lightly applied some lipstick... Her hand paused in the air, and facing the mirror, she muttered, uneasy and mocking, "What are you doing? Fang Siying? He's blind! He can't see you at all!"

  Throwing the lipstick aside, she sank into the chair, falling into a state of dejected contemption.