Ms. Qian Ruyin, the class teacher of Longhai No. 1 High School's Grade 11 class, stood at the front of the room — posture straight, expression calm.
In her late twenties, she carried the quiet confidence of someone who never needed to raise her voice to command attention. Her jet-black hair was tied neatly into a low ponytail, a few loose strands softening her otherwise composed features. A white blouse, tucked into a charcoal skirt, lent her a simple elegance that mirrored her nature — measured, precise, and unyielding. Thin-rimmed glasses framed eyes that were sharp yet thoughtful — the kind that seemed to see straight through excuses.
To her students, Ms. Qian was that rare kind of teacher: gentle enough to listen, but firm enough that no one dared test her patience twice.
"Listen up, everyone. Our school has been invited to participate in the Longhai Youth Science and Technology Expo this semester."
The word Expo stirred instant excitement.
Whispers filled the room — ideas, teams, bragging rights flying between desks.
Ms. Qian smiled faintly. "It's a citywide competition for innovation — engineering, software, robotics, new tech, you name it. The winners receive scholarships, recommendations, and sponsorship offers from several corporations."
Her words dissolved into a wave of chatter as excitement rippled through the class.
Some students immediately began whispering about team-ups and project ideas; others pretended indifference but were clearly intrigued.
"Participation is optional," she added, "but it's a great chance to show what you've learned. Think of it as your semester project."
Li Feng sat quietly at his desk, pen spinning lazily between his fingers, eyes distant.
'A science expo, huh…'
He thought of prototypes, automation systems, assistive tech — and then dismissed them all just as quickly.
'No. Not yet.'
He didn't need attention. Not from schools, not from companies, and certainly not from the Li family.
Attention from the Li family was poison. If his worth were to be known, it wouldn't be rewarded — it would be exploited.
He closed his notebook and leaned back slightly, the morning sunlight catching in his eyes.
From the back of the room, a familiar voice broke through.
"Hey, Second Branch Prince," Zhao Kai called with a smirk. "You joining too? Maybe the judges will give extra points when they hear your last name."
A few students snickered.
Li Feng didn't even turn his head. His tone was calm, measured.
"If you ever get tired of talking, you could try doing. It's harder, but more productive."
The words weren't loud, but they carried weight — enough to silence the laughter.
Zhao Kai's grin stiffened. "You—"
Ms. Qian cleared her throat. "Alright, that's enough. Focus on your projects."
The tension broke. The noise returned — subdued this time.
---
By lunchtime, sunlight spilled warmly across the cafeteria windows.
Li Feng and Li Xue sat by their usual corner table, quietly eating together.
"Gege," Li Xue began between bites, "you're not joining the Expo?"
He shook his head lightly. "No. I'm working on something personal. The Expo isn't really worth diverting my attention."
She blinked at him, brows knitting slightly. "Oh…"
Her tone carried something unsaid.
He glanced at her. "What's that look for?"
She smiled faintly, as if trying to read him. "Nothing… I just thought you might not want to join because of… you know, everything that happened."
Then, with a spark of excitement, she added, "If you're not doing your own, how about helping me with mine?"
He raised an eyebrow, mildly curious. "You're participating?"
She nodded eagerly. "Mhm. I'm calling it Project Silent Hands."
"Silent Hands?"
"It's for people with speech or hearing disabilities. A pair of smart gloves that translate sign language into text or speech."
Her eyes glimmered as she explained, hands unconsciously gesturing as if already sketching the design. "That way, they can talk without actually talking."
Li Feng listened quietly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"You came up with that yourself?"
She nodded proudly. "I met a little boy at the community center who couldn't speak. That's when I thought of it."
He stared at her for a moment, admiration soft in his gaze.
"You're a good person, Xue."
She blushed slightly. "So you'll help?"
He set his chopsticks down, his tone gentle. "I'll handle the programming and system interface. You take the design and presentation."
Her eyes widened with joy. "Really?"
"Really."
---
They were still discussing ideas when a shadow loomed over their table.
"Well, isn't this touching."
Zhao Kai again — smirk plastered across his face, voice dripping mockery. "The fallen prince and his sweet little sister, building toys to feel important?"
Li Xue froze, tension flashing across her expression.
Li Feng, on the other hand, didn't even look up immediately. He calmly took a sip of his tea before setting the cup down.
"Tell me, Zhao Kai," he said quietly, "how's your uncle's gambling problem?"
The smirk faltered. "What—"
Li Feng's gaze remained lowered. "If I remember correctly, your dad pulled strings to get him that government position. A family appointment without the proper qualifications, wasn't it? And now he's drowning in debt within months in office. Interesting."
Every word was light — almost casual — but each landed like a blow.
Zhao Kai's face paled. "You— How do you—"
Li Feng finally looked up, expression calm, eyes unreadable. A faint, almost kind smile touched his lips.
"Be careful who you bark at."
The silence was crushing. Zhao Kai's jaw worked, but no sound came out.
He stepped back abruptly, muttered something under his breath, and walked away.
Only after he left did Li Xue exhale softly. "Gege… how did you know that?"
Li Feng lifted his cup again, smirking faintly. "Trade secret."
She sighed, half amused, half exasperated. "You're scary sometimes."
He chuckled quietly.
'She gets really cute when she's conflicted like that… No matter what happens, I'll make sure that light in her eyes never fades.'
---
That night, the estate was silent. The faint hum of his laptop filled the room as Li Feng worked, the blue light dancing across his calm, focused face.
> [Skill Progression:]
• Programming — Lv. 1 (59%)
• Software Engineering — Lv. 1 (51%)
• Cyber Security — Lv. 1 (60%)
The framework for Silent Hands was already taking shape — elegant, efficient, intuitive.
He wasn't doing it for recognition, or even the Expo.
He was doing it for her.
For his little sister — and for those who still believed that kindness could matter in a world like theirs.
Outside, the city lights of Longhai shimmered faintly against the night sky.
"Some voices are never heard," he murmured, recalling Li Xue's words, "until someone builds a way for them to speak."
---
Hello, Author here,
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