Chapter 11
The evening breeze, carrying the warmth of early summer, swept through the corridor crowded with students. The fiery clouds in the distance were as dazzling as an overturned palette, with orange-red, pink, and purple blending together, coating everyone's faces with a warm, velvety glow.
Sang Sui's gaze, uncontrollably, pierced through the throng of people and quietly landed on that slender figure, staring at him for a very long time.
Liang Fengshen stood not far away, his head slightly tilted back, gazing at the sky with a nonchalant air. Standing in the crowd, he was still strikingly handsome, tall, and somewhat slender from the side. He wore an ordinary blue and white school uniform, and his face was clean and good-looking.
How can he be so handsome?
She really liked him too.
Just as Sang Sui was lost in thought, Cheng Xiao seemed to see the people from Class 7 huddled together eating. He suddenly sniffed and walked towards Song Shiyue with a grin.
Cheng Xiao and Song Shiyue whispered something to each other, and Song Shiyue called out helplessly, "Sang Sui."
Sang Sui turned around when she heard the sound and saw Cheng Xiao with a sly smile on his face.
"What's wrong?"
“It’s nothing serious,” Song Shiyue pointed to Cheng Xiao beside him, “He’s shameless, he actually wants to eat too, do you want to share with him?”
Cheng Xiao continued to smile, and said meaningfully, "Don't worry, Sang Sui, I promise I won't eat your food for free."
Sang Sui nodded without hesitation: "Sure." Anyway, one more Cheng Xiao wouldn't make a difference.
But unexpectedly, Cheng Xiao actually pulled Liang Fengshen over as well: "Classmate Sang Sui, I could smell the fragrance from far away just now, let's bring Liang Fengshen along."
Sang Sui's heart skipped a beat, almost bursting out of his chest.
She looked at Liang Fengshen, who was being half-pushed by Cheng Xiao to stand in front of her, and her breath hitched.
“Sure.” Sang Sui lowered her head, her voice barely audible, and handed over the rest of her things.
Cheng Xiao took it without hesitation, took a big bite, and mumbled a praise: "Mmm, it's pretty good."
Liang Fengshen thanked him, took the slightly charred pancake with the unique aroma of dried plum vegetables, looked down at it, and then took a small bite.
Sang Sui held her breath and watched him nervously.
She was afraid he would show a disgusted expression like his younger brother Sang Chi, since some people really can't get used to these things.
Unexpectedly, Liang Fengshen chewed slowly, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, then he looked up at her, a faint smile playing on his lips: "It's pretty good."
In an instant, Sang Sui felt all the noise around him fade away, leaving only the pounding of his own heart, as if a million butterflies were fluttering in his heart.
Cheng Xiao finished his food in a few bites, then nudged Liang Fengshen with his elbow, saying in a teasing tone, "Hey, you ate that young lady's food, aren't you going to give her something in return?"
Liang Fengshen was slightly taken aback, then as if remembering something, he reached into his school trouser pocket and rummaged around. He opened his palm and saw that many people had given him gifts, and he really didn't know where the few candies left in his pocket came from.
"This is all I have left. Do you want some?" Liang Fengshen's voice remained gentle.
Sang Sui looked at the two candies, hesitated for a moment, and carefully picked up one of them, which was blueberry flavored.
"Thank you," Sang Sui said softly, clutching the candy tightly in her palm.
Liang Fengshen glanced at the remaining orange candy in his palm, then looked at her and said, "Take both of them."
Sang Sui shook his head: "I'm allergic to both oranges and tangerines."
"You're afraid of orange-flavored candy too?" he asked, somewhat curious.
"I don't like the taste either."
Liang Fengshen did not press the matter further.
Cheng Xiao stood not far away watching the show.
Having finally managed to get a chance to speak with Liang Feng, Sang Sui was about to say something more when a clear female voice interrupted, shattering the courage she had finally mustered.
"Liang Fengshen".
Lin Shuning stood a few steps away, smiling brightly, and waved to him: "There's something I need to confirm with the student council."
Liang Fengshen turned around and responded, nodded to Sang Sui and Cheng Xiao, and then walked towards Lin Shuning.
Sang Sui watched as he and Lin Shuning walked away side by side. Lin Shuning tilted her head and smiled as she said something to him. He listened attentively, and the atmosphere between the two was natural and familiar.
The tiny bit of joy that had just risen in my heart was instantly swallowed up by a much greater sense of loss.
The sunset was still magnificent, but it seemed to have suddenly lost its warmth.
Back in the classroom, the aroma of food still lingered in the air, and the girls huddled together again to gossip.
After all, school is really boring, and gossiping is the only fun we have.
Zhao Yanqi leaned closer, lowered her voice, and said with excitement as if sharing a secret, "Lin Shuning just called Liang Fengshen away again. She's really persistent."
He Lili turned her head and joined in the gossip: "Lin Shuning and Liang Fengshen are both in the student council, they see each other all the time. She comes from a good family and is beautiful. I heard that her father knows Liang Fengshen's family. Maybe one day she will win Liang Fengshen over."
While licking the sugar crumbs off his fingers, Qiao Chunchao chimed in, "Yeah, being close to someone makes it easier to get what you want. These evenly matched campus couples are the best to ship."
Sang Sui felt somewhat out of place in their conversation.
Would he like a girl like Lin Shuning? Lin Shuning is beautiful, outstanding, sunny, and brave.
It's actually quite normal for him to like a girl like Lin Shuning.
But she also couldn't help feeling sad.
Just then, the homeroom teacher, Yuan Ying, walked in, knocked on the podium, and the classroom instantly fell silent.
"Just to let you know, the college entrance exam break starts on June 3rd. It'll be five days for grades 10 and 11. Tomorrow is the last day of classes before the break. All teachers will assign homework, so please remember it carefully..."
Sang Sui couldn't hear what was said after that.
The classroom erupted in deafening cheers, almost lifting the roof off.
The holidays are coming.
But Sang Sui didn't feel much joy. Five days meant she would be away from that figure for five days.
She spent the entire evening study session thinking. If you like someone but only dare to like them silently, isn't that no different from self-pity?
Both of them like the same person, but Lin Shuning has already done so much for her. Shouldn't she also try to do something?
Sang Sui finally decided to go find Yuan Ying.
At the office door, Sang Sui took a deep breath, her fingertips slightly sweaty. She raised her hand and gently knocked on the door.
"Please come in."
Sang Sui pushed open the door and entered. Yuan Ying was grading homework at her desk. She looked up and saw it was her, and was a little surprised: "Sang Sui, is there something you need?"
"Teacher Yuan," Sang Sui's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible nervousness, "I'd like to ask what the requirements are for joining the student council, and how can I join?"
Yuan Ying put down her pen, adjusted her glasses, and said calmly, "Student council? Now is not the time to recruit new members. The last round of recruitment ended a long time ago. I estimate that new positions will not become available until the start of the next semester."
The expected answer still made Sang Sui's heart sink.
She lowered her eyelashes and gave a soft "oh".
Seeing her obvious disappointment, Yuan Ying pondered for a moment and then asked, "Why did you suddenly want to participate in these activities?"
"I want to challenge myself."
"Well, if you really want to get some experience and feel the group atmosphere, there is an opportunity. The literary society is currently preparing an event to cheer on the senior students taking the college entrance exam, and they're probably short-handed. They're likely still recruiting temporary members. Would you like to consider checking it out?"
The literary society shouldn't have much to do with the student council, and you might not even run into Liang Fengshen.
But what if?
Even if there's only a tiny chance, it's still better than doing nothing, so Sang Sui nodded: "Okay, teacher, I'll give it a try."
The next day during lunch break, Sang Sui found the classroom for the literary society interview, following the address given by Yuan Ying.
She pushed open the door, and inside sat several student leaders in charge of the interviews.
When her gaze fell upon the figure sitting in the very center, her breath caught in her throat.
It's Lin Shuning.
She sat there, elegant, with a perfectly timed smile on her lips, looking down as she flipped through the documents in her hands.
Sunlight streamed through the window, bathing her in its glow. It turned out that Lin Shuning was not only a key member of the student council but also a core member of the literary society.
Indeed, outstanding people are outstanding wherever they go.
The interview process was more formal than she had imagined.
After a few routine questions, Zhang Ding, a senior in his second year of high school, adjusted his glasses and asked, "Do you usually enjoy reading? Could you share some literary works you've recently read, or those that have left a deep impression on you?"
Sang Sui composed himself and began to recount the list of books he had read recently.
The windows of the classroom where the literary society held its interviews were open because of the sweltering heat of early summer.
In the corridor outside the interview room, Liang Fengshen had just finished his shift at the student council and was carrying his backpack, preparing to leave. As he passed by the classroom, the sound coming from inside made him involuntarily slow down.
“Gen Bird, Norwegian Wood…”
The voice was familiar, and the book title he mentioned was even more familiar.
Liang Fengshen turned his head in surprise, his gaze falling through the window onto the girl who was answering the question.
It is Sang Sui.
She slightly raised her head, her shoulder-length short hair tucked behind her ears, revealing a clear jawline and smooth neck. Her thick bangs and glasses were still there, but Liang Fengshen always felt that Sang Sui was not as "plain-looking" as Cheng Xiao had casually described her; she was more like a late-blooming white magnolia.
It may not be stunning at first glance, but it grows on you.
After listening to Sang Sui's book list, Lin Shuning was actually quite satisfied and asked, "So, Sang Sui, which of these books is your favorite?"
Sang Sui's heart skipped a beat. She almost blurted out "Gen Bird," but as the words reached her lips, she inexplicably remembered her meeting with Ming Ying at the convenience store that day.
Then she heard her own voice say, "My favorite book lately is Out of Africa."
Out of Africa?
Outside the window, Liang Fengshen, who was about to leave, stopped abruptly. He smiled slightly and said, "How could someone look so much like her?"
As expected, Sang Sui successfully passed the interview.
Lin Shuning and the other students in charge of the interviews smiled at her: "Welcome to the Literature Club."
Rongcheng No.1 Middle School still maintains the tradition of print school newspapers, and Sang Sui was assigned to the school publication department.
Lin Shuning said, "Congratulations on passing the interview, but since you joined midway through the semester and were recommended by a teacher, you will have to go through a probationary period before you can stay."
How long is the trial period?
"From now until the end of the semester in mid-July," Lin Shuning said. "But trust yourself, the school magazine department doesn't actually have that much work."
Under the lights, Lin Shuning's skin was so white it seemed to glow, her features were delicate and striking, and when she spoke, a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corners of her mouth, making her look like a porcelain doll.
Such an outstanding girl, how could she like the same guy as him?
After finishing her interview with the literary society, Sang Sui was walking back to the classroom when the early summer breeze ruffled her hair. Just around the corner of the teaching building, she saw that familiar figure.
Liang Fengshen did not go straight back to the classroom, but stood under the largest orange tree, looking up at something.
Sang Sui stopped and stood not far away, watching his back.
He watched intently, his gaze fixed on a specific spot on the treetop.
The summer sun shone through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on his face.
At that moment, he was enveloped in a soft halo, and even the ends of his hair, which swayed gently in the wind, seemed exceptionally tender.
He stood there for a long time, so long that Sang Sui's legs became numb.
Finally, he withdrew his gaze, turned around, and left.
After he had walked away, Sang Sui emerged from behind the tree. She walked to the spot where he had been standing and looked up, mimicking his posture.
The oranges on the tree have turned from green to yellow, hanging on the branches like little lanterns.
She searched carefully for the spot where he had been gazing, and finally found a pair of oranges growing side by side on the highest branch.
They huddled together, swaying gently in the autumn breeze, as if telling some secret.
Sang Sui took out his phone, adjusted the angle, and took a picture of the scene.
In the photo, the two twin orange trees stand out against the blue sky.
When Sang Sui got home that evening, she posted the photo on her WeChat Moments with a simple caption: "Same spot."
Soon, classmates liked and commented. Zhao Yanqi asked below, "What do you mean by 'same spot'?"
She replied with a smiling emoji without further explanation.
This is a secret that belongs only to her—she stands where he once stood and sees the scenery he once saw.
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