pass by
Chapter 9: Passing by
The ginkgo trees at University A are in full bloom, and Bai Ke has gradually become familiar with the structure of this century-old institution.
The psychology courses were more challenging than she had imagined, but she enjoyed being immersed in knowledge. Her biggest headache every week was the experimental psychology class on Friday afternoon, and today, she was struggling with a pile of data.
"Bai Ke, your Li Meng is waiting for you downstairs." Roommate Zhou Jin poked his head in, his tone filled with just the right amount of envy. "He's here to pick you up for dinner again. What a devoted boyfriend."
Bai Ke paused with her pen in her hand. This title still made her feel a little uncomfortable.
She packed her things and went downstairs to see Li Meng leaning against the ginkgo tree in front of the dormitory building. He was wearing sportswear, and his hair shone with a healthy sheen in the autumn sun, attracting the attention of many girls.
"Is the training over?" Bai Ke walked up to him.
Li Meng took her schoolbag naturally: "Well, you practiced well today, and there is hope that you can join the school team."
They walked side by side on the campus, like an enviable painting.
But only Bai Ke knew that behind this painting was her increasingly heavy sense of guilt.
After sitting down in the cafeteria, Li Meng excitedly recounted interesting stories from training, but Bai Ke seemed a little absent-minded. Her gaze drifted unconsciously to a couple at the next table. The girl was feeding the boy fruit, and the two of them smiled at each other with a natural and intimate expression.
There was always an invisible fog between her and Li Meng.
"Li Meng," Bai Ke put down his chopsticks and took a deep breath, "I have something to say to you."
Li Meng's smile faded a little, as if he had a premonition of something: "You say."
"I appreciate your care during this time, but..." She chose her words carefully, "I think we might be better off just being friends."
The air suddenly became quiet. The hustle and bustle of the cafeteria seemed distant at this moment.
"Is it because of Chen Yiyu?" Li Meng asked softly.
Bai Ke shook his head. "No. It's just that I've discovered that feelings can't be forced. We've been good friends since childhood, and we're used to each other's company, but this isn't love. I was too impulsive when I agreed to you. You're not anyone's replacement, and it's unfair to you."
Li Meng was silent for a long time, so long that Bai Wei could have been angry at him. But in the end, he just smiled, a smile that was a little bitter: "I knew this day would come. From the day you promised me, I knew your heart wasn't here."
"sorry."
"No need to apologize." Li Meng shook his head. "We are still friends, right?"
Bai Ke nodded heavily, feeling like a huge weight had finally been lifted off his shoulders.
After that, Bai Ke felt much more relaxed, having put an end to this brief period of absurdity. She devoted more energy to her studies, occasionally meeting with Li Meng and resuming their previous friendship.
On Friday night, her roommate dragged her to the freshman party.
"You've refused so many times, you have to go this time!" Zhou Jin said as he helped her pick out clothes. "I heard there's a super talented recommended student in the Physics Department who's going to perform a piano solo. He's so handsome, and a lot of people are going there just for this."
Bai Ke was not interested in the recommended student, but he could not resist his roommate's enthusiasm and was eventually pulled out of the dormitory.
The party was bustling with activity, with freshmen crammed into the auditorium, the air thick with the uniquely restless energy of youth. Bai Ke and his roommate found a seat near the back, idly flipping through the program.
When the host announced the next program, the program list in Bai Ke's hand slipped quietly.
"Now, please enjoy the piano solo of 'Rain Traces' by Chen Yiyu from the Department of Physics."
The spotlight shone on the piano in the center of the stage. A familiar figure walked onto the stage and sat down on the piano stool. He was still wearing a simple white shirt and black trousers. He was thinner than he had been in high school, and the contours between his eyebrows and eyes were more distinct.
Bai Ke felt his breathing stagnate.
More than a year seemed to fold at this moment, and she was brought back to that rainy day, that umbrella, and the boy who was carefully explaining physics problems in the library.
The piano began to play, and the notes fell like raindrops, echoing throughout the auditorium. Bai Ke stared blankly at the person on the stage, feeling his eyes warm slightly.
The song ended, and there was thunderous applause. Chen Yiyu stood up and bowed, his eyes calmly sweeping across the audience, not lingering on any one face.
"Oh my god, he's so handsome!" Zhou Jin excitedly grabbed Bai Ke's arm. "I heard he was a recommended student for the competition and his grades are really good!"
Bai Ke didn't respond, her eyes following the figure walking off the stage. Her inner impulse overcame her rationality, and she stood up, saying to her roommate, "I'm going to the bathroom," and then squeezed through the crowd, chasing after Chen Yiyu.
The corridor backstage was relatively quiet. She saw Chen Yiyu standing alone at the end of the corridor, looking at his mobile phone.
"Chen Yiyu." She summoned up the courage to call out.
He raised his head and his eyes fell on her face. At that moment, Bai Ke could almost hear his own heartbeat.
However, the eyes that once looked at her tenderly were now covered with a thin layer of ice. His gaze stayed on her face for less than a second before moving away, as if she were just a stranger passing by.
"Excuse me?" His voice was polite and distant.
All the greetings Bai Ke had prepared were stuck in his throat.
"I'm Bai Ke." She said with difficulty, "We went to the same high school, remember?"
Chen Yiyu frowned slightly, as if searching for the name in his memory, then shook his head gently: "Sorry, I don't quite remember it."
After saying that, he walked around her and went straight to the side door of the auditorium.
Bai Ke stood there, feeling as if the blood in her body had frozen. The lights in the corridor were bright, but she felt that her vision was blurry.
It turned out that those memories she treasured deep in her heart were no longer worth mentioning to him. That umbrella, those afternoons of tutoring, that date in the first snow, were all just her one-man show.
"Bai Ke?" Li Meng appeared at the other end of the corridor. "Why are you here? I heard you came to the party..."
His voice stopped abruptly, his eyes followed Chen Yiyu's receding figure, then fell back on Bai Ke's pale face, and he understood everything in an instant.
"He..." Li Meng hesitated to speak.
"He doesn't remember me." Bai Ke said softly, a bitter arc appeared at the corner of his mouth, "That's fine."
She turned and walked in another direction, not wanting Li Meng to see the tears in her eyes.
The cool autumn breeze blew through the corridor, bringing with it the noise of a distant party. Bai Ke looked up at the bright moonlight outside the window and suddenly remembered what Chen Yiyu had said:
"Some memories become clearer after being washed by rain."
And now, she finally understood that the reason the memory was so clear was only because that person had gone far away.
The music from the welcome party continued, and the cheerful dance music could be heard faintly through the walls. However, Bai Ke felt that his youthful dance music had missed a crucial beat.
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