Chapter 26: I Don't Believe It!

Chapter 26: I Don't Believe It!

Ron felt like his punch had landed on soft cotton. Helpless, he turned to complain to Harry.

"Hey, what's up with your friend? Is now really the time to study?" Ron shook his head as he sat down. "Once we're at school, there'll be plenty of time to study."

"Yang likes reading. There's nothing wrong with that," Harry said, grabbing a Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean and popping it into his mouth, only for his face to immediately change.

Curious, Ron picked up a bean of the same color, ate it, and grimaced. "Ugh, booger flavor! That's disgusting!"

The two continued snacking and chatting about what school life might be like.

"Finally found you!" A girl's excited voice rang out as she pointed at Chu Yang, as if she'd just found a long-lost treasure!

Ron and Harry both looked at Chu Yang in confusion.

Her voice was loud enough to wake Chu Yang from his reading. He pointed at himself. "Me?"

"Yes, you!" The girl plopped down beside Chu Yang and eagerly asked, "What magic did you use in the wand shop?"

Chu Yang sighed and explained, "That wasn't magic. I just waved the wand as Mr. Ollivander instructed."

The girl looked incredulous, shaking her head. "No way! Just a wave of magical energy couldn't have caused such a powerful effect!"

"Well, I don't know about that. I'm just a new student, like you," Chu Yang casually replied before returning to his book.

"Hey! Can you at least tell us what happened?" Ron asked eagerly, clearly curious, like a gossip-hungry grandmother.

Harry looked equally interested.

The girl then recounted the events at the wand shop to them.

When she finished, Ron and Harry were left staring at Chu Yang in disbelief, just like the girl.

"Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Hermione Granger. You can call me Hermione," she said confidently.

Ron and Harry introduced themselves too. But when it was Chu Yang's turn, there was silence. Hermione turned her head and found him already absorbed in his book again.

"Not again!" Ron rolled his eyes. "Dude, seriously, showing off like this doesn't mean anything. We're all classmates here."

Harry tugged on Ron's sleeve and whispered, "Ron, don't say that…"

Ron laughed, but then asked, "Look at the way he's flipping through that book. Does he even look like he's actually reading?"

Harry hesitated, unsure of what to think.

Hermione, standing beside Chu Yang, glanced at the cover of his book and read aloud, "Practical Defensive Magic and Its Use Against the Dark Arts?"

"This book isn't part of the first-year curriculum," Hermione frowned. She distinctly remembered that the only book related to dark arts was titled The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection (Defense Against Dark Arts).

She had already memorized that book inside and out, but it was clearly not the same one Chu Yang was holding!

An idea suddenly crossed Hermione's mind.

This wasn't a first-year textbook—it was for upper years!

Hermione snatched the book from Chu Yang and began to examine it closely.

"What you're doing is quite rude, Miss Granger," Chu Yang frowned. "As a wizard or even just as a normal person, you should at least practice basic manners."

Hermione stiffly handed the book back to him, retorting, "This book is far more advanced than The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection. Can you even understand it?"

Chu Yang responded calmly, "Once you've finished The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection, reading this isn't all that difficult."

Hermione's face turned red from her ears to her neck!

As someone who had completely memorized The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection, Chu Yang's words made it sound as if he were calling her dumb!

Flustered, Hermione shouted, "Being biased in your studies is terrible for a wizard! Focusing only on dark arts won't do you any good! What's more important is The Theory of Magic—that's the foundation!"

Hermione's loud voice gave Chu Yang a headache, so he impatiently recited the first page of The Theory of Magic in an attempt to shut her up.

Sure enough, Hermione fell silent, staring at Chu Yang in disbelief. "I don't believe it unless you recite the whole thing."

So, Chu Yang did just that—he recited the entire book!

Even then, as Hermione continued to look unconvinced, Chu Yang proceeded to recite the first chapters of all the other textbooks, one by one.

With each chapter he recited, Hermione grew increasingly agitated.

"Your parents must have tutored you early, helping you master this material to perform better at school," Hermione said, full of indignation. If she'd had such a family, she would've learned even faster!

Chu Yang closed the book and said calmly, "I did read ahead, but only after receiving my acceptance letter. I studied for a month on my own at the Leaky Cauldron. No one tutored me."

"Self-taught in just a month?" Hermione shook her head firmly. "I don't believe it. Your parents must've taught you!"

Harry, unable to listen any longer, stood up and shouted, "Enough! Yang and I are both orphans. We don't have parents, and no one taught us this stuff!"

"Orphans?" Hermione stared at Harry in shock. When she came to her senses, she immediately covered her mouth, her eyes filled with regret.

For orphans, nothing could be more painful than mentioning their parents!

"I'm sorry… I didn't mean it… I didn't know…" Hermione stammered, now apologizing frantically to Chu Yang, her voice trembling as she fought back tears. She was genuinely remorseful.

This was exactly the kind of atmosphere Chu Yang hated!

Couldn't they just sit quietly until they reached Hogwarts?

Chu Yang sighed, forcing a small smile. "Miss Granger, honestly, I don't mind being an orphan. The orphanage I grew up in may have been small and old, but the people there were kind."

"Director Anna made sure every child had a birthday celebration each year, telling us that even if our parents weren't around, someone would love us in their place."

"I grew up in a good environment, so I don't feel ashamed or inferior because of my background."

"Y-Yes, I understand," Hermione nodded quickly, still looking apologetic. She thought Chu Yang was putting on a brave front—the calmer he acted, the more she believed he must be hurting inside.

Even Ron stood up to apologize for his earlier behavior, suddenly feeling that his snacks weren't so enjoyable anymore.

Faced with these two kind-hearted people constantly apologizing, the atmosphere in the compartment grew heavier.

Good grief!

What are you all doing?

I just wanted you to be quiet so I could read!

Out of options, Chu Yang grabbed some snacks and stuffed them into Hermione's and Ron's mouths, saying sternly, "Eat! Once you finish, I'll forgive you—that'll be your punishment."

Without a word, the two started eating.

The compartment finally fell quiet. Chu Yang smiled in satisfaction and returned to his book.

Harry, meanwhile, looked on in confusion.

Is this really a way to punish people?