Part 1All I Could See Was Frost

Five years after my parents' divorce, I met my mother at school.

She had just finished a parent-teacher meeting for her stepdaughter, who was the top student in the grade, and was beaming with joy. The moment she saw me, her expression darkened. "Do you always come to school dressed like this? This is how your father is raising you?"

She handed me a business card and said in a condescending tone, "Take this. Tell your father that I'll enroll you in the international program right away if he's willing to admit his mistake. It's better than staying in the regular program and struggling."

I did not take it and took a few steps back. "No thanks, Ms. Stroll."

She frowned, her eyes filled with disgust. "You're utterly hopeless, just like your father. Don't ever tell anyone you're my son."

I clenched the paper in my hand and calmly watched her leave.

She had no idea it was not a report card. It was my withdrawal application from school after my father's death, because I had no one else to pay my tuition for me.

* * *

I folded the paper back and went to the administration office.

My teacher, Ms. Fraser, took it and flipped through the transcript that was tucked at the back. She paused for two seconds. "Jordan Grey, have you really made up your mind? It's a pity that you're dropping out with such good grades. You've always been a top student."

I held my schoolbag strap and only shook my head gently.

There were other teachers in the administration office. One of them, who had just returned from outside, casually mentioned, "Ms. Ginny Stroll came for the parent-teacher meeting today. After that, she gave the school an additional scholarship, saying it's specifically for students in the top ten of the grade and those who excel in competitions. The principal praised her earlier."

Another teacher chimed in with a smile. "She cares about Olivia. I heard Ms. Stroll had even planned Olivia's overseas study after high school in advance. Olivia's diligent, always ranking first in the grade. The school welcomes such parents."

I stood by the table, saying nothing.

A couple of students came to hand in their materials, and they could not help looking in my direction.

Someone looked at the withdrawal application in my hand and then at my worn-out school uniform before lamenting quietly, "They're both her kids, yet their fate is so different. People like Ms. Stroll have a good reputation. She not only donated money to the school but also attended the parent-teacher meeting. She probably wouldn't mistreat her own son in private either."

I glanced up at that person. "Whether she treats the child poorly is not determined by what she says but by what she has done in the past five years."

That person was taken aback.

The office fell silent for a moment.

Ms. Fraser looked at me, as if she wanted to ask something, but she ultimately did not. She only placed the withdrawal application on the corner of the desk.

I turned around and walked out.

The school building corridor was long. The light streamed in from the windows, casting patches of light and shadow on the floor tiles.

I walked past the wall of honor and saw the photo in the center.

My mother, Ginny Stroll, stood to one side, while Olivia Russell stood in the middle holding a trophy. Both were smiling. The photo was well taken. They looked respectable and radiant like a real pair of mother and daughter.

Who would associate them with me?

After school, I went to work at the convenience store as usual. After the evening rush hour, I stood behind the cash register again, working until almost 10:00 pm.

My store manager poured me a cup of hot water and placed it beside me. "Is the school pressing for tuition again?"

I replied in acknowledgment softly.

The manager sighed. "When your dad was alive, his biggest fear was that your schooling would be disrupted. Every time he got paid, the first thing he asked wasn't whether he had enough for himself, but when your tuition bill would arrive. He always told me everything else can be worked through, but nothing could affect your education."