Chapter 5: A Distant Song - A Boy Singing Alone on the Stage.

But besides him, who else could sing this song into her heart?

During her first year of high school, Zhu Liushuang heard someone sing "Memories Can Only Be Relived" in the bustling school auditorium. For many years afterward, she searched for countless cover versions, but found them all utterly bland.

The person singing on the stage became an unspeakable secret in her heart.

Let's turn back time to that spring—

At that time, the wisteria flowers in the campus of Gucheng No.1 Middle School were in full bloom. Walking through the wisteria corridor, you can see a whole wall of colorful campus culture.

The most eye-catching thing on the wall is the huge poster for the final of the campus's top ten singers.

Not far from the cultural wall is the school's auditorium, where the annual Top Ten Singers Final of Gucheng No.1 Middle School is being held.

It happened to be a Saturday, and in order to allow first- and second-year high school students to fully participate in campus cultural activities, the school canceled the originally planned make-up classes. As a result, most students flocked to the auditorium.

Except for Zhu Liushuang.

She wasn't interested in the competition. It was a rare Saturday without extra classes, and as a boarding student, all she wanted to do was go home early.

After unpacking her luggage in the dormitory, Zhu Liushuang suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to bring a few test papers, so she went back to the classroom to get them.

She had planned it well: first, she would go to the classroom to get the test papers, and then take a detour back to her dormitory from the senior high school building. This way, she could pass by the classroom of senior high school class 20.

If you're lucky... you might catch a glimpse of someone studying diligently by the window.

Unfortunately, plans can't keep up with changes.

Before she even reached the door of her classroom, she was dragged away by Tian Xingyu, who was running towards her.

If it were anyone else, Zhu Liushuang would definitely be angry. But Tian Xingyu was her only good friend in the class, so while running, she could only regretfully think: I'll find time next week to go around to the senior high school building.

"I said, the race is almost over, what are we rushing for?" Zhu Liushuang asked her friend, panting heavily.

"There's still time, there's still time... I've calculated the time perfectly. Senior Ye will be the last to appear!" Tian Xingyu was also panting, but her enthusiasm was clearly much higher than hers.

"Oh... so you came to see Senior Ye." Zhu Liushuang teased her, "Senior Ye's fans have been waiting in the auditorium for ages. You only came now?"

Tian Xingyu blushed and urged, "I was held up by something... let's go in quickly." With that, she grabbed Zhu Liushuang's hand and pushed open the back door of the auditorium.

The timing was perfect.

The curtain on the stage slowly rose, and the female host, dressed in a long gown, stood at the front of the stage to announce: "Next up is the last contestant of this competition, Ye Xingzhi from Class 1, Grade 11. He will be performing..."

As soon as the host finished speaking, the entire audience erupted in applause.

"Senior Ye is the most handsome!" someone stood up and shouted. Then, more people began to express their love in various creative ways.

As the head of the school's broadcasting station, Ye Xingzhi not only has a pleasant voice but is also handsome. Coupled with his approachable personality, he has gained many female fans at the school.

Tian Xingyu is one of them.

In order to get closer to Ye Xingzhi, Tian Xingyu dragged Zhu Liushuang to sign up for the radio station as soon as the second semester of their first year of high school began. Their stated purpose was to increase their chances of being accepted into the school's broadcasting station.

The result was unexpected; she got in, but Tian Xingyu was not selected.

She thought her friend would be disappointed, but to her surprise, he didn't care at all. Instead, he had Liu Shuang act as his "intelligence agent," helping him find out Ye Xingzhi's preferences and whereabouts.

The stage lights gradually dimmed, then came back on one by one a few seconds later. Ye Xingzhi appeared amidst the anticipation of the crowd. He sang a high-energy pop song, igniting the atmosphere throughout the entire auditorium.

"Senior Ye is so amazing... The way he turned around just now, the expression he made, was so cool!" Tian Xingyu excitedly discussed with Zhu Liushuang.

Zhu Liushuang seemed distracted, but not wanting to spoil Tian Xingyu's good mood, she said, "Not bad... Can you see his expression from this far away? Why don't we go up and take a look..."

Because they arrived late, the auditorium was already packed. The two of them were standing by the door in the last row watching the competition. From Zhu Liushuang's angle, only a blurry figure could be seen on the stage.

"Let's go... to the front row!" Upon hearing the suggestion, Tian Xingyu didn't hesitate. She crouched down, grabbed Zhu Liushuang, and rushed to the front aisle.

As the last note faded, Ye Xingzhi gracefully concluded his performance. Before leaving the stage, he made a heart gesture towards the audience in a cool manner, eliciting screams from the crowd.

"Shuangshuang! Help me up... Senior just made a heart shape with his hands for me..." Tian Xingyu was so excited that she couldn't speak coherently.

It's unbearable to look at... Zhu Liushuang supported her waist and helplessly agreed.

The noisy discussions in the auditorium made her head buzz. She glanced at her watch, hesitated, and said, "Xiaoyu, now that Senior Ye's performance is over, why don't we go back first? I haven't retrieved what I left in the classroom..."

"No, Shuangshuang, it's still early. I heard there's a special performance today, and the guest is someone Senior Ye went to great lengths to invite. It would be such a shame not to watch it... Please stay with me a little longer!" Tian Xingyu tugged at Zhu Liushuang's sleeve and pleaded.

At the same time, the lights in the auditorium dimmed again. The host's voice was filled with excitement: "Students, next up is the bonus segment of this year's Top Ten Singers final. Please enjoy the special performance by last year's Top Ten Singers champion, Senior He Ming from Class 20 of Grade 12, with the song 'Memories Can Only Be Relived'."

He Ming, Class 20, Grade 12?

Zhu Liushuang's feet were firmly nailed to the ground. Besides shock, a strange emotion surged in her eyes, a joy that she herself was probably unaware of.

The melodious prelude of the music traveled through the speakers to the ears of every audience member. Before anyone could fully react, a beam of cold light shone directly into the center of the stage.

Time seemed to stand still for a moment. The slender young man, bathed in the lamplight, stood quietly like a tall, verdant bamboo. He rested one hand on the floor-standing microphone, leaned slightly forward, and slowly began to sing: "Time flies and never returns, the past can only be reminisced..."

In the few times they had brushed past each other before, she rarely heard his voice.

This was the first time she had ever heard him sing a complete song like this. Her gaze was fixed intently on the stage, all the surrounding noise disappeared, leaving only He Ming's soft singing.

Because they were close, Zhu Liushuang could see him clearly.

The boy wore a blue and white school uniform, his fair face carrying a faint air of aloofness. He sang with his eyes fixed on the ground. The cold light shone on his face, his long eyelashes like butterfly wings, casting a handsome shadow on his high, straight nose.

Rather than saying he was singing, it would be more accurate to say he was quietly telling an old and regretful story.

Even though he was only two years older than her, why did her eyes well up with tears when she listened to him sing?

It wasn't until the entire audience erupted in deafening cheers that Zhu Liushuang belatedly realized that He Ming had finished his performance and quickly disappeared from everyone's sight.

Her gaze followed the swaying curtain, unable to look away.

"So, was it worth the trip?" Tian Xingyu's left hand wrapped around her shoulder without her noticing, and she said with a sigh.

Seeing that Liu Shuang hadn't come to her senses yet, she narrowed her eyes, grinned mischievously, and whispered in Liu Shuang's ear: "Shuang Shuang, you wouldn't... be captivated by Senior He, would you?"

Realizing what had happened, Zhu Liushuang took a step back guiltily: "No, how could that be..." She lowered her eyes, trying to appear more composed.

"That's good!" Tian Xingyu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "Although Senior He Ming is good in every way, he's a well-known 'high-and-mighty flower' in our school, cold to everyone. You mustn't fall for him; such a god is only meant to be admired from afar..."

Is she a flower on a high mountain?

Is he cold to everyone?

But in her heart, he was not at all like the rumors suggested.

Zhu Liushuang's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to jump out of her throat. But she would never admit it: "I was just lost in thought because my senior sang this song so movingly, it suddenly reminded me of my childhood."

Actually, this wasn't exactly a lie, Zhu Liushuang explained calmly under the watchful eyes of her friend.

Tian Xingyu agreed, saying, "Senior He's singing is truly captivating. No wonder he's been the champion of our school's Top Ten Singers for two consecutive years; his skill level is just exceptional."

Zhu Liushuang was not as knowledgeable about the various gossips at school as Tian Xingyu, nor was she interested in them.

But if it's related to He Ming, she wants to hear it.

She pursed her lips, trying to make her tone sound more casual: "Since Senior He prefers to be alone, why would he participate in the Top Ten Singers competition for two consecutive years? He's about to take the college entrance exam, and he still has time to do a guest performance..."

"It all started with Class 20's homeroom teacher... But today's performance was arranged by Senior Ye. They often play basketball together and are very close." Tian Xingyu turned her head and asked, "Last month, you accompanied me to watch Senior Ye play basketball, and Senior He was there too. Didn't you notice?"

How could I not have noticed?

In a secluded corner where no one could see her, her gaze was fixed intently on him.

Zhu Liushuang paused, as if recalling something: "I think... I saw it. I was so focused on memorizing my lessons that day that I didn't pay much attention."

"That's true. Every time I ask you to come with me to watch the seniors play basketball, you're either studying or doing practice problems..." Tian Xingyu pinched Zhu Liushuang's smooth cheek. "Is it because you're so beautiful that you're immune to good looks..."

While they were talking, Zhu Liushuang quietly slipped her numb left hand into her school uniform pocket.

Fortunately, the light in the auditorium was dim enough that no one saw her bright red left ear.

————

Liu Shuang couldn't remember what gossip Tian Xingyu had shared after the match that day.

The only thing she remembered was that she ran into He Ming again before heading home at noon.

After returning to the classroom to retrieve her exam paper, she did not make a special detour to the senior high school building.

Because the encounter she had been hoping for unexpectedly came true.

The girls' dormitory is located in the northeast corner of the campus, quite a distance from the main gate.

Because she hadn't been home for a long time, Zhu Liushuang's luggage was heavier than usual that day. But unfortunately, the wheels of her suitcase broke down, and she couldn't push it.

It was nearing noon, and the campus was quiet; there were no pedestrians on the road.

Zhu Liushuang walked along the path lined with wisteria blossoms, carrying her schoolbag on her back and a suitcase in one hand. She was actually quite strong, but the suitcase was unusually large, making it appear as if she was struggling to lift it.

To get from the dormitory building to the school gate, you have to pass through the school's covered walkway, which has dozens of steps.

Before leaving the dormitory, she contacted her mother, Gu Chunling, using a public phone, telling her to wait for her at the school gate and not to come in to carry her things.

Looking at the dozens of steps in front of her, Zhu Liushuang regretted it: she should not have been so reckless.

With no other choice, she let out a long sigh, put the huge suitcase on the ground, rubbed her reddened palms, and then picked it up again.

Holding her breath, she climbed the steps one by one. Just as she was looking at her reddened right hand and wondering whether she should take a break, suddenly, the weight in her hand felt lighter.

Someone took her suitcase from the side and carried it upstairs by themselves.

Zhu Liushuang felt like her brain had crashed; she stood frozen on the steps, unable to move. Her eyes were fixed on the tall figure carrying a suitcase, lightly stepping up the steps, and gradually disappearing from her sight.

Where are they? Where are the boxes?

Zhu Liushuang snapped out of her daze and hurriedly chased after him.

On the empty concrete road, her suitcase lay there all alone. The kind person who had "snatched" her suitcase had already walked far away, leaving her only with a receding figure.

"Thank you..." Zhu Liushuang murmured.

The sound was quickly drowned out by the pounding of her heart.

A note from the author:

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Senior He is like a flower on a high mountain, cold to everyone.

No, no, no, in our eyes he is clearly a very warm person.

Finally, I'm starting to write about my student days! The thoughts of a young girl are so complicated. She clearly liked someone terribly, but she was too afraid to admit it…

(Sweating and rolling around in cuteness - starry eyes) Looking forward to your comments!

"Time flies and never returns; the past can only be reminisced about." — From the song "The Past Can Only Be Reminisced About"