Chapter 25

The scorching heat of midsummer was completely extinguished by several consecutive autumn rains, and the air began to be filled with the sweet fragrance of osmanthus and the dry scent of sycamore leaves.

The campus of Rongcheng No.1 Middle School is dyed with layers of golden yellow and ochre red, creating a tranquil and poetic beauty.

Autumn has arrived in Fuzhou without anyone noticing.

For Sang Sui this autumn, the most important thing was that the singing and dancing program called "New Generation" in which Liang Fengshen participated was finally broadcast on the city's TV station and several mainstream video platforms.

On the night the program aired, Sang Sui finished her homework early and, under the pretense of studying, stayed in her room. However, her heart was pounding like a rabbit's, filled with anxiety and anticipation.

She propped her phone up on the desk, held her breath, and promptly opened the playback page.

After the opening credits, the contestants appeared one by one.

When Liang Fengshen's figure appeared on the screen, Sang Sui's heart skipped a beat.

He stood under the spotlight, wearing the program's uniform training clothes with a futuristic design, and gave a brief self-introduction.

On camera, he appears more angular than in real life, with his features as clear as a fine brush painting. His aloof and detached demeanor is amplified on the television screen, becoming a unique attraction.

The "Rongcheng F18" group chat had already exploded with activity.

Xiaoshao de Xiao (Cheng Xiao): Here I come, Brother Liang has arrived.

He Meili herself (He Lili): Wow, Liang Fengshen's look is amazing, he's reached a new level of handsomeness.

Yan Qi will definitely win (Zhao Yanqi): Her sense of camera presence is amazing, she's not shy at all.

It's Spring Morning, not Early Spring (Qiao Chunchao): Help! My classmate from school is on TV! It's amazing, it feels unreal.

"You'll be successful at eighteen" (Zhang Da): @It's "Spring Morning" not "Early Spring," or I'll pinch you and see if it hurts so I can tell if you're dreaming.

Kewei Kewei Luo Kewei (Luo Kewei): Zhang Da is really sick.

Yue (Song Shiyue): Come back with first place @LFS.

Sang Sui looked at the scrolling messages in the group chat, typed and deleted in the chat box, and finally just sent a message: Keep it up!

Her speech was mixed in with the lively blessings and went unnoticed.

Because the show was pre-recorded, Liang Fengshen actually knew his ranking, but he didn't post it in the group chat.

At the beginning of the show, Sang Sui always felt that Liang Fengshen should have won first place.

Her gaze remained fixed on the screen, following that familiar figure.

Watching him rehearse with the other contestants, watching him practice repeatedly until late at night because he didn't get a move right, watching him occasionally show a slightly tired but still determined look in his eyes in front of the interview camera.

She was nervous for him, but also proud of him.

That quiet and unassuming boy on campus was able to unleash such dazzling brilliance on stage.

However, things did not go smoothly.

When Liang Fengshen went on stage to sing, Sang Sui keenly sensed that something was wrong with Liang Fengshen's condition.

His face was paler than usual, which was difficult to completely conceal even under heavy stage makeup. His breathing seemed less stable than usual when he sang, and a slight hoarseness and strain could even be heard in the high notes.

He performed a ballad, and his stage presence remained steady, but it was clear to anyone with a discerning eye that he wasn't at his best.

Sure enough, when the judges commented, while they affirmed his potential and stage presence, they also subtly pointed out the flaws in his voice control and the occasional signs of fatigue he showed.

The final results were announced, and Liang Fengshen only won the third prize.

Sang Sui, sitting in front of the screen, felt her heart sink, overwhelmed by an indescribable pang of heartache.

The group chat was instantly flooded with comforting words.

Xiaosai de Xiao (Cheng Xiao): It's okay, third prize is still pretty awesome.

Yan Qi will definitely win (Zhao Yanqi): Yes, yes, and he seemed to be feeling unwell today. It's already amazing that he was able to complete the performance.

He Meili herself (He Lili): @LFS Liang, you are already super awesome, in our hearts you are number one!

It's Spring Morning, not Early Spring (Qiao Chunchao): Take a good rest; your health is the most important thing.

"You'll be successful by eighteen" (Zhang Da): Exactly! Let's try again next time.

Sang Sui quickly sent a message in the group: You've already done a great job, get some rest.

She looked at the owl avatar, hoping he could feel the unwavering support of his friends on the other side of the screen.

It was through this program that Sang Sui learned that the program required all contestants to register officially verified Weibo accounts for promotion and interaction.

Without any hesitation, she immediately switched to her rarely used alternate account, which only had a pseudonym and a default profile picture, and quietly searched for and followed Liang Fengshen's Weibo account.

His Weibo posts are sparse, consisting of only two or three promotional posts required by the production team. They are formal in format, polite in tone, and show no personal emotion.

But Sang Sui still read these Weibo posts several times, and even secretly saved the official promotional photo that was his Weibo profile picture.

Several minutes later, Liang Fengshen finally popped up in the group chat: "Received everyone's blessings and comfort (laughs)."

Although Liang Fengshen's message didn't reveal much of his disappointment, she was still heartbroken because of him.

So he already knew the outcome of the match?

It turns out that even her feelings of sympathy for him are out of sync.

Back at school, news naturally spread that Liang Fengshen had won third prize in the program.

During Monday's class meeting, our new homeroom teacher, Li Luojing, a math teacher with black-rimmed glasses and a perpetually serious expression, announced some exciting news: "Students, quiet down. The school has decided to organize a five-day study tour for our second-year students after the midterm exams. We currently have two candidate locations: Beijing and Inner Mongolia. The school will hold a vote on the official WeChat account to decide the final destination."

The classroom instantly erupted in excitement, the dull learning atmosphere swept away by this unexpected good news.

Study abroad means being able to temporarily escape the sea of ​​homework and go out and see the world with friends, which is undoubtedly a huge temptation for high school juniors.

As soon as the bell rang, the girls gathered together and started discussing excitedly.

"Let's go to Beijing. I want to see the Forbidden City and the Great Wall."

"Inner Mongolia is also great. I feel like I can ride a horse and gallop freely. How carefree!"

"Oh, anywhere is fine, as long as I can go out and have fun."

Somehow, the topic shifted back to the program that had just aired.

"Have you guys watched 'The Voice of China'? Liang Fengshen from our school is participating!"

"Look at him! He's so handsome! It's a pity he only got third prize."

"Yes, he didn't seem to be in good condition that day, like he was sick."

Just then, Sang Sui clearly heard a few boys in the back row of the class making sarcastic remarks. Their voices weren't loud, but they were particularly grating: "Tsk, I thought they were so great, making such a big fuss, and they only got a third place?"

"Exactly, I thought we could bring honor to the school, but it turned out to be just so-so."

"Maybe this is his normal level."

Those words reached Sang Sui's ears.

A nameless anger suddenly surged into his heart, mixed with feelings of injustice and heartache for Liang Fengshen.

I don't know where the courage came from, but Sang Sui suddenly turned around in her seat and faced the boys in the back row.

Her cheeks flushed with excitement, her chest heaved slightly, but her eyes held an unprecedented firmness, and her voice rang out clearly, interrupting their conversation:

"What makes you say that? Do you know how much effort he put into this competition? Did you see him perform while he was sick that day? To be able to complete the performance despite feeling unwell and still win a prize is already remarkable! So what if he won third prize? That's an honor he earned through his own strength and perseverance. You didn't even get a chance to go on stage, so what are you complaining about?"

The entire classroom fell silent instantly. Everyone stared at Sang Sui in surprise, including the boys who had been discussing it. They seemed to have never expected that Sang Sui, who usually appeared quiet and even somewhat introverted, would suddenly refute them so passionately.

After Sang Sui finished speaking, her heart was still pounding wildly, her fingers gripping the hem of her clothes tightly, her nails almost digging into her flesh.

She knew she might have lost her composure, but she didn't regret it. She just couldn't stand how others so casually downplayed his efforts.

The boys were stunned by her sudden outburst and exchanged bewildered glances. But they quickly recovered and yelled at Sang Sui, "Are you crazy? Did we talk to you? Why are you interrupting? We're just talking to ourselves, what's it to you?"

One of the boys chuckled, "She's defending Liang Fengshen, isn't she? I think she's just another fangirl who likes him."

Chu Xiran slammed her hand on the table and stood up: "Can you please stop arguing?"

"Are you the class monitor of Class 1, Grade 11? Where does this air of authority come from?"

In the new class, Chu Xiran was no longer the class representative, but she still couldn't stand this behavior: "Everyone needs to study. If you want to argue, go outside."

"You all have a crush on Liang Fengshen, don't you? One or two of you are speaking up for him..." Before the boy could finish speaking, a basketball flew through the classroom door and hit him squarely on the shoulder.

"Who is it!" the boy said angrily, looking toward the door.

"Your brother is me—" Cheng Xiao's voice rang out in a nonchalant tone.

Several boys walked in through the door, led by Song Shiyue and Cheng Xiao.

Song Shiyue smiled politely: "Sorry, it was a slip of the hand."

Cheng Xiao, however, didn't give him a friendly look and stared at the boy, saying, "I'm going to hit you."

Then Cheng Xiao glanced at the other boys and said, "If you keep gossiping, I'll beat you up every time I see you."

The gossiping boys were actually bullies who preyed on the weak and feared the strong. They only dared to swagger around in front of girls, but when faced with Cheng Xiao and the others, they immediately cowered and returned to their seats.

This farce is finally over.

Song Shiyue smiled and gave Sang Sui a thumbs up: "I didn't expect you to have this side to you. Pretty cool, heroine."

Sang Sui blushed instantly, afraid that her little thoughts would be seen through. "I just don't want others to talk about Liang Fengshen. After all... he's a friend."

Song Shiyue nodded, his words carrying a double meaning: "I know."

I know you like him.

I know that if I like someone, I won't be content to just be friends with him, and I don't want to hear others say bad things about him.

It had been some time since the start of the second year of high school, but Mingying still hadn't come to class, and no one knew where she had gone.

Even knowing that she had changed jobs, Sang Sui would sometimes go to the convenience store downstairs to buy things and still hope to run into her, but she never saw her again, not even once.

She was like a gust of wind, appearing suddenly and disappearing quietly.

The small group hasn't gotten together for a long time.

One sunny noon, led by Song Shiyue and Cheng Xiao, Zhao Yanqi, He Lili, Qiao Chunzhao, Song Shiyue, Cheng Xiao, Liang Fengshen, and Sang Sui formed a small "F7" group and agreed to have lunch together in the cafeteria.

When everyone got together, the conversation naturally revolved around the upcoming trip to Beijing and recent interesting events.

Liang Fengshen also arrived. He sat next to Song Shiyue, quietly listening to everyone's laughter and chatter. Occasionally, he would chime in with a word or two, or slightly curl the corners of his lips because of one of Cheng Xiao's jokes.

But Sang Sui still keenly noticed that there was a lingering sense of loneliness and weariness hidden deep in his eyes, far less bright than usual.

He held his chopsticks rather slowly, seemingly not very interested in the food in front of him.

Was it because of the result of the competition? Sang Sui wondered, and that feeling of heartache welled up again.

She wanted to say something to comfort him, but in front of so many people, she couldn't muster the courage and could only eat her meal in silence.

That night, Sang Sui lay in bed, tossing and turning, her mind filled with Liang Fengshen's lonely eyes.

She inexplicably logged into the Weibo account that had followed him.

His Weibo account remained silent, though there were some comments under his official posts, some encouraging, and a few sarcastic remarks like the ones she had heard during the day.

Sang Sui stared at the private message button, her heart pounding. After struggling for a long time, she finally clicked on it, deleted and revised her messages, and finally sent them. She didn't reveal her identity, but wrote in the tone of an "appreciative viewer":

"Hello Liang Fengshen, I watched the 'New Generation' program. Your performance was fantastic and very moving. Your perseverance and dedication in finishing the show despite being ill are truly admirable. Please don't worry about temporary rankings or negative comments; your brilliance will not be overshadowed. We look forward to seeing you on even better stages in the future! Keep it up!"

She didn't know if he would see it, or what he would think if he did.

But this is probably the only clumsy consolation she can offer right now.

As autumn deepens, large swaths of leaves from the plane trees on campus are falling.

During a lunch break, Qiao Chunchao took Sang Sui for a walk along the edge of the playground, her face beaming with an irrepressible, sweet, and shy smile.

"Sui Sui, I...I confessed to him," Qiao Chunzhao said softly, her cheeks flushed.

Sang Sui's eyes widened in surprise: "Senior Chi Shu?"

“Yes.” Qiao Chunchao nodded vigorously. “He said… he likes me too. But he said that now that he’s in his senior year of high school, he should focus on his studies. He told me to work hard and that we can be together after he finishes his college entrance exam.”

Qiao Chunchao's eyes sparkled, filled with anticipation and happiness for the future: "He said he would wait for me."

Seeing Qiao Chunzhao bravely pursue love and receive a response, Sang Sui was deeply touched.

If... if she had been a little braver, would it have been possible?

She didn't need an immediate response; she just wanted him to know how she felt.

Like Qiao Chunchao, give yourself an expectation and give the future a possibility.

Once the idea took hold, it grew wildly.

On the weekend, she went alone to the stationery store near the school that was very popular with students.

She lingered in front of the shelf for a long time before finally choosing a set of simple envelopes and letter paper with a faint scent of herbs and wood.

Back home, she closed the bedroom door, sat at her desk, and was enveloped in the warm glow of the desk lamp.

She spread out the letter paper, held the pen, but couldn't bring herself to write for a long time.

A thousand words were stuck in her throat, but she didn't know where to begin. She wrote and stopped, scribbling and revising, until she finally wrote a letter.

After writing the letter, she carefully folded it, put it in the specially chosen envelope, and then solemnly locked it in the deepest part of the drawer.

Outside the window, the autumn wind blows, swirling up fallen leaves.

Sang thought that perhaps next spring would be the most suitable time to confess her feelings.

Lush greenery and vibrant spring sunshine.

Next spring, she will tell Liang Fengshen that she likes him.

I've liked it for a very, very long time.