Chapter 92: Relieving Stress and Letting Go

Chapter 92: Relieving Stress and Letting Go

It's hard to describe how everyone spent those last hundred days.

To outsiders, it must have seemed incredibly difficult and challenging, but when asked to explain it themselves, they couldn't seem to articulate anything about it.

My studies and life are very fixed; the time, place, and events are just a few things, repeating themselves over and over again, with nothing special about them.

Perhaps everyone's psychological endurance had reached a certain level, or perhaps most people silently kept the pressure to themselves. In any case, everything maintained a superficial calm. Only occasionally, after a small test or a major exam, would a few students who couldn't hold back secretly wipe away tears in some corner of the school, but they would never let anyone else see them.

The shrubs on both sides of Momei Square sprouted new leaves for another year, and the camphor trees along the main road once again stretched out their emerald green canopies to shield the sun and rain. On both sides of the steps leading to the gymnasium, the lush oleanders almost completely blocked the already narrow road. When running exercises, one has to pass through this vibrant path. However, nothing can compare to the vitality emanating from these young students who are about to cross a crucial hurdle in their lives.

Summer is here.

After the third mock exam, the school began to intentionally relieve the pressure on everyone.

The bulletin board displayed many works by students from the Boya Art Class, including paintings, awards, and their various art exam results, as well as some campus photography works, architecture, trees and flowers, mostly created by graduating students.

It was very hot today, and Fang Yuenian couldn't wear her school uniform jacket anymore. She took it off, hung it on her arm, and stood in front of the bulletin board looking at the photos on display. They were photos of dark green leaves after the rain, which looked like they were taken on a rainy weekend.

It was taken by Cheng Bing.

Fang Yuenian had always thought Cheng Bing was excellent at everything he did, but she really hadn't expected him to take such artistic photos with just an ordinary camera. No wonder the crowd around the exhibition was buzzing with discussion about how amazing he was.

After watching for a while, there was another person next to me.

Fang Yuenian turned her head to look at him, and her eyes met the dazzling sunlight. Cheng Bing was backlit, looking at him with gentle eyes.

Fang Yuenian suddenly realized that Cheng Bing had grown quite tall, about four or five centimeters taller than him. Boys like to compare heights from a young age, and for a long time the two of them were about the same height. However, after entering high school, Cheng Bing obviously grew taller than him. Fang Yuenian felt that he had not tried to grow taller, but Cheng Bing just grew faster.

"What are you looking at?" Cheng Bing asked.

"Look at the work of a certain great photographer." Fang Yuenian raised an eyebrow.

Cheng Bing smiled and asked, "How many times have you watched it?"

“I could watch it so many times and I’d never get tired of it,” Fang Yuenian drawled, turning to the side. “It’s so hot today, I want to eat cold noodles.”

The cafeteria started serving cold noodles a couple of days ago, but it's the weekend today, so I don't know if they'll still have them.

Cheng Bing: "Okay, but why are you the only one who came down?"

Fang Yuenian was called to class by Li Peixiang today, but now that it's lunchtime, he's standing alone by the bulletin board, none of his roommates are there.

Fang Yuenian said, "Everything is arranged. Meng Xiaoyang is explaining a problem to He Linjie. It will probably take a while."

Cheng Bing asked, "He Linjie?"

“Yes,” Fang Yuenian looked at him, “He Linjie has also made great progress and is now consistently in the top 300.”

The situation between these three people is developing in a very amicable direction.

It's astonishing that Li Peixiang and He Linjie could maintain a peaceful coexistence despite their mutual dislike. It seems the college entrance exam has such a powerful deterrent effect that everyone has calmed down.

Cheng Bing stood to Fang Yuenian's right, slightly blocking some of the midday sun.

Fang Yuenian thought for a moment, then suddenly asked him quietly, "Brother Cheng, who do you think is more suitable for Meng Xiaoyang, He Linjie or Li Peixiang?"

Cheng Bing was a little surprised.

They've been avoiding talking about this topic lately.

Fang Yuenian added, "Ignoring everything else and the past, He Linjie's grades are about the same as Li Peixiang's now, maybe a hundred places behind. Do you think he has a better chance since he grew up with Meng Xiaoyang?"

Cheng Bing countered, "Actually, it wasn't too late for Li Peixiang to get to know Meng Xiaoyang, was it?"

"That depends on who you're comparing yourself to."

“It’s not a matter of comparison,” Cheng Bing said. “You can’t say that knowing someone earlier gives you more opportunities. I met many people in preschool, some even before I knew you, but I didn’t like them.”

Fang Yuenian was stunned by what he said. When she came to her senses, she blushed, coughed a few times, and forced herself to say, "I didn't either."

As expected, the cafeteria didn't have a cold noodle window open on weekends, so Fang Yuenian had to settle for a bowl of mixed noodles instead.

Being able to sit down and slowly enjoy a bowl of noodles is considered leisurely; for many students, even eating a meal on the weekend is like a battle.

In fact, as they entered this final sprint, Cheng Bing had clearly sensed Fang Yuenian's silence.

Being quiet isn't necessarily a bad thing, especially at this crucial juncture where calmness is essential and restlessness is unacceptable. However, Fang Yuenian's low spirits weren't entirely due to pressure.

Over the past few years, Cheng Bing has watched him gradually curb his former dissolute nature, make a strong effort to get into the top high school, work hard to keep his grades at the top of the class, and his behavior has gradually become less outrageous. The carefree and playful demeanor he used to have has also gradually subsided, and he has even stopped complaining to him about family matters.

These changes have brought many impacts, some good and some bad, but Cheng Bing knows that they all need to grow up.

Fang Yuenian cannot remain that carefree young man riding a bicycle forever. His appearance will change, and so will his personality. If there is anything that remains the same, it is that he will always be the person Cheng Bing cherishes, and it will not change with age or with the continuous improvement of their knowledge and experience.

However, growing up always brings troubles. With the pressure of further education on her shoulders and constant distractions from other things, Fang Yuenian was unable to bear it.

This hidden depression wasn't apparent anywhere. He still attended classes and did everything a senior high school student should do, but he would often fall into deep thought. For example, right now, he was eating noodles slowly and attentively, but as he ate, his gaze became vacant.

"What are you thinking about?" Cheng Bing asked immediately when she saw him like this.

"Oh," Fang Yuenian said, snapping out of her daze, "Hmm..."

"Hmm what?"

Fang Yuenian smiled and said, "I was just spacing out."

Cheng Bing looked at him for a while before saying, "Did you call home?"

"Oh, I did." Fang Yuenian said casually.

After eating a few more bites of noodles, Fang Yuenian looked up at Cheng Bing and said, "I couldn't hold back today and had a fight with my dad."

"for what?"

“He wanted me to study at a university in our province so that I could take care of the family in the future.”

Studying at a university in the province makes it easier to take care of the family, and it also means working in the province, preferably in the city.

Fang Wu really hadn't been drinking this time, and his tone was strangely serious, which Fang Yuenian couldn't help but notice.

Cheng Bing paused, his eyelids lowered, concealing his anger.

He gripped the chopsticks so tightly it looked like he wanted to break them.

Fang Yuenian across from her said, "I didn't take it to heart after the argument. I just shouted a couple of times because I was angry. Don't worry, he can't make decisions for me."

“I hate him,” Cheng Bing said, enunciating each word clearly.

Fang Yuenian was stunned for a moment, "Huh?"

Cheng Bing slowly gritted her teeth, "The thought that such a person is actually the biological father of my sister, my second sister, and you makes me very angry, extremely angry."

Fang Yuenian's eyes were filled with astonishment, "Uh..."

Cheng Bing never said these things. He never commented on Wang Jing, let alone Fang Wu, even though he felt that this person had never done anything meaningful for his family and wife and children in his entire life.

This wasn't entirely due to his upbringing; he simply didn't want to say it in front of Fang Yuenian.

He closed his eyes briefly to calm himself down, and said, "There's less than a month until the college entrance exam. Don't answer his calls anymore, and don't worry about what he says."

Fang Yuenian nodded. "Mm."

Cheng Bing added, “He hasn’t done anything for you, so you don’t need to feel guilty. We’re going to study in a big city and have our own future. That’s what your mother expects, and it’s what all the parents of our classmates are expecting. Your father doesn’t take responsibility for the family, but now he’s trying to impose all of this on you. That doesn’t make sense.”

Fang Yuenian smiled and said, "I know."

No matter what, I'll be there for you.

Fang Yuenian paused slightly, then smiled and lowered her face. "I told you I shouldn't complain to you so easily. I'm fine, I was just taken aback by what he said. I really didn't expect him to say that, after all, other parents all hope their children can go to good schools."

After saying that, she immediately added, "But I know you want me to go to a good school, as do Meng Xiaoyang and the others, my mom, and my two older sisters. That's enough."

Cheng Bing looked at his face and, after confirming that he wasn't forcing a smile, felt a little relieved.

—Ever since the collection of college entrance examination information began, Fang Yuenian has been continuously performing rituals and praying to all the gods and spirits, asking them to arrange for him and Cheng Bing to take the same exam in the same area—ideally, to be arranged to take the exam in their own school.

Walking into the examination room with Cheng Bing would be a very meaningful thing for Fang Yue Nian, if possible.

Soon, the annual highlight for senior high school students—mountain climbing and enjoying the view—was scheduled.

On this day, they were finally able to pass through the century-old main gate, cross the Zhuangyuan Bridge, and head straight to the suburbs, escorted by the second and first-year students. Climbing the mountain symbolized their courage to reach the peak, and their passion was just like everyone else's.

Immediately afterwards, they took their graduation photos.

After each class finished taking their turn, the twenty senior classes stood in a U-shape in Momei Square. The photographer used a time-lapse photography technique with a moving camera. Whichever class the camera moved to, that class quickly struck their best pose, resulting in an incredibly long group photo.

After that, everyone started passing around school uniforms and class uniforms, signing and leaving messages on them, and walking around the campus openly wearing school uniforms covered with names and words.

All the graduation-related matters were gradually completed until, in the end, only two things remained:

Packing up my belongings, preparing for my final exam. (Author's note:)

Thank you for reading! Thank you for joining us! This is the first chapter before it goes premium. Although the plot isn't at its peak, please show your support and look forward to the rest of the story!