Chapter 19
As June draws to a close, final exams and the campus cultural festival are just around the corner.
The cultural festival follows immediately after the monthly exams, and each class is required to put on a performance.
During self-study, class representative Chu Xiran stood on the podium, worried about the program registration. Her voice was filled with anxiety: "Classmates, is anyone willing to volunteer? Singing, dancing, playing instruments, skits are all welcome. Let's bring honor to our class!"
Few people responded; most were engrossed in their studies, preparing for the upcoming monthly exam.
Zhang Da said, "The cultural festival is something for the art class. What talents could our class possibly have?"
"I can play the drums, the retreat drum, hahaha..."
"That joke is so lame."
"If all else fails, go up and perform some calisthenics."
Zhang Da suggested, "Let Luo Kewei go up on stage and take a dump."
Luo Kewei gave him the middle finger: "Get lost."
Chu Xiran and Qiao Chunzhao, the art committee member, were speechless. Whenever there was an event like this, there was no one who could handle it; they were all just troublemakers.
Just as the classroom was making a ruckus, a boy rushed in through the back door, his face beaming with the excitement of discovering something new, and announced in a loud voice: "Guess who I just saw when I passed by Class 6?"
The classroom fell silent for a moment, and everyone looked up.
The boy spoke slowly and deliberately, successfully attracting everyone's attention: "Ming, Ying, she actually came back to class."
"Whoosh—" A commotion and discussion instantly erupted in the classroom. Even those who were silently studying looked up. After all, although Ming Ying did not often appear in the public eye and was a particularly controversial person, she was indeed a prominent figure at Rongcheng No. 1 High School.
"Mingying? She's actually back?"
"Final exams are almost here, and she's been gone for over a month, hasn't she?"
"My God, she's so carefree. Isn't she afraid of failing her final exams?"
"They're in the top ten of their grade in the monthly exam, what's there to be afraid of..."
"But even if a god comes along, if you don't study or review, your grades will still drop."
Sang Sui also looked up in shock, looking out the window towards Class Six.
No wonder I haven't seen her at school for so long; she's been skipping classes for so long.
But as long as they can come back, that's a good thing.
Opinions on Mingying are mixed, but it's undeniable that everyone acknowledges her beauty. Even when the first name that comes to mind when mentioning the school beauty is Lin Shuning, Lin Shuning pales in comparison whenever Mingying appears.
As soon as the bell rang, many boys from other classes pretended to be passing by and crowded around the door and windows of Class 6, peeking in.
The discussions grew even louder, with many speculating whether Mingying would perform at the cultural festival.
"If she were to perform, it would definitely be amazing."
"Come on, how could she possibly participate in group activities?"
"Maybe? Isn't she in the arts class?"
"Who knows how long she'll stay at school this time? Will it be more than a week?"
"She'll probably finish the final exams soon. Although she skips classes, she never misses an exam."
In early July, the air was filled with the anxiety unique to final exams, and even the sunlight seemed particularly glaring.
Amidst the tense atmosphere of exam preparation, the highly anticipated book-sharing activity began.
As one of the grade leaders, Sang Sui's desk was piled high with book lists and labeled books compiled from various classes.
During her lunch break, she buried herself in a pile of books, carefully making final checks.
When she turned to the exceptionally neatly printed book list for Class 6, her fingertips involuntarily slowed down, her gaze sweeping across the lines before finally settling on that familiar name.
Liang Fengshen.
Book title: The Nightingale and the Rose.
Her heart skipped a beat, as if she had inadvertently stumbled upon a secret.
She carefully found the thin little book from the pile of books. On the cover, a nightingale pressed its breast against sharp thorns, and blood stained the pure white roses.
The pages of the book were slightly curled, but clean and tidy, just like the man himself, exuding a refined and aloof air.
"The Nightingale and the Rose?" Zhao Yanqi leaned closer, read the title aloud, then pursed her lips, offering a sharp commentary with a touch of literary girl's wit, "Oscar Wilde's fairy tales, both beautiful and cruel. It feels like a book that someone with a secret crush, someone who can't have the love in their heart, would read repeatedly."
Sang Sui felt as if something had gently bumped into her heart, and her fingers gripping the book tightened slightly.
She almost immediately denied it in her mind.
impossible.
This book is by Liang Fengshen.
Someone like him, so outstanding and composed, seemed born to be the center of attention. How could he possibly have someone secretly in love with him?
He probably wouldn't have gone through the humiliating and heartbreaking experience of unrequited love with such an impeccable face, would he?
Sang Sui quickly dismissed the thought from his mind.
That night, unable to sleep, she got up and continued reading the book. As she read through the middle of the book, a bookmark fell out.
The bookmark has an owl drawn on it, and next to it are four words: May everything go smoothly.
Sang Sui stared at the bookmark for a very long time.
I still can't figure it out.
She stayed up all night to finish the book, but still couldn't sleep.
After finishing a physics worksheet, Sang Sui felt even more energetic. As if possessed, she opened her phone, clicked on Liang Fengshen's profile, and lingered in their chat window for a long time.
If she were to send something to Liang Fengshen, given his personality and upbringing, he would definitely reply with something in return.
But she didn't dare.
Sang Sui wasn't afraid of being rejected by Liang Fengshen; she was just unsure whether sending him a message suddenly would be a disturbance to him.
Being liked by her was nothing important to Liang Fengshen; she didn't want to cause her any trouble.
So Sang Sui could only look at his profile card repeatedly, zooming in and out on his portrait.
Sang Sui sat quietly for a long time, and then quietly changed her profile picture to a cute red rose.
Owls and roses.
Two profile pictures that seem to have no connection at all became her unspoken secrets.
Meanwhile, the subtle changes in my friends made this early summer particularly vibrant.
Qiao Chunchao seems to have suddenly had a breakthrough recently.
Not long after getting a trendy haircut, she secretly stuffed several bottles and jars into her desk drawer and often looked at herself from left to right in a small mirror during breaks.
He Lili was the first to notice her unusual behavior. She leaned over and bumped her shoulder, asking with a grin, "Oh, what's wrong with our Miss Qiao? Is the iron tree about to bloom?"
Qiao Chunzhao blushed suddenly at the teasing, but before she could refute it.
Zhao Yanqi, who was reading a comic book, said with a smile, "She's got a crush on Chi Shu from the senior year basketball team. Last time we passed the basketball court during PE class, her eyes were glued to him."
"Chi Shu?" He Lili's eyes widened immediately, and her voice rose uncontrollably, attracting the attention of several classmates around her. "Not bad, Qiao Chunzhao, you have good taste. Senior Chi Shu is a key player on the school team, tall and quite handsome."
When they first entered high school, their class had a friendly match with the class that was in the senior year, where Chi Shu was. At that time, quite a few people thought Chi Shu was very handsome.
Unfortunately, Qiao Chunchao hadn't developed feelings for him yet. While Chi Shu was making crazy baskets and showing off on the basketball court, all she could think about was the big chicken leg in the cafeteria.
People around him were shouting, "Go Chi Shu! Chi Shu is so handsome!"
Qiao Chunzhao said listlessly, "When will the competition be over? The cafeteria's chicken legs are running out."
Now, Qiao Chunzhao has finally become intelligent, and that fleeting glimpse on the basketball court has completely captivated him.
Qiao Chunchao blushed, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed, and tried to cover He Lili's mouth: "Zhao Yanqi, shut up. He Lili, keep your voice down, don't I have any dignity?"
Sang Sui had never met Chi Shu and didn't know what kind of person he was, so she couldn't help but gossip, "Who exactly is Chi Shu that he can win Miss Qiao's heart?"
Zhao Yanqi said cheekily, "I'll take you to see Qiao Chunzhao's 'dream lover' sometime!"
Qiao Chunchao's face turned even redder: "Get lost!"
As Sang Sui watched them laugh and joke, he felt relieved as well.
Zhao Yanqi looked at the bottles and jars on Qiao Chunzhao's table and asked curiously, "What are all these things?"
"What do you know? This is a whitening miracle product, and it also gets rid of acne..."
"Lemon slices are a skin-whitening miracle?"
Qiao Chunzhao said, "Of course! I've heard that drinking more lemon water can make your skin whiter and also replenish Vitamin C..."
Sang Sui heard this and fell into deep thought.
Can drinking lemon slices make your skin whiter?
Is there any scientific basis for this?
However, it is true that one's IQ tends to drop after falling in love with someone. Regardless of whether it works or not, Sang Sui actually had a thought of giving it a try.
During the break the next day, Sang Sui went to the convenience store alone. After hesitating for a while in front of the beverage counter, she ultimately did not buy her usual lime soda. Instead, she took several packets of dried lemon slices, intending to soak them in water and drink them every day from now on.
Just as she was about to pay with the lemon slices, she bumped into Song Shiyue and Liang Fengshen walking side by side at the corner of the shelf.
"Sang Sui?" Song Shiyue was somewhat surprised when he saw the handful of bright yellow lemon slices she was holding. "You bought so many lemon slices?"
Good heavens, Rongcheng No.1 Middle School is quite big, how come I could run into Liang Fengshen just by buying lemons?
Sang Sui's face flushed red instantly, like a child caught doing something wrong.
She hurriedly hid the lemon slices behind her back, her eyes darting around, avoiding Liang Fengshen's gaze. She stammered an excuse, "Oh, right, I've been feeling a bit feverish lately, so I'm making lemon water." Her voice trailed off, becoming increasingly unconvincing.
"Oh, I see." Song Shiyue nodded knowingly and didn't ask any further questions.
Liang Fengshen stood to the side, his gaze calmly sweeping over her and the lemon slices she hadn't hidden properly in her hand. He didn't say anything, but simply nodded slightly as a greeting.
Sang Sui practically fled in panic, forgetting even to say "see you next time."
She could feel two gazes behind her, especially one that was clear and calm, as if it could see through her clumsy excuse, making her face burn with lingering heat.
After buying lemon slices and returning to the classroom, I overheard many people gossiping about Mingying.
She has been honestly returning to class recently, always staying at school for about half a month before exams. However, what is unusual is that she, who never participates in group activities, has taken the initiative to join the photography department.
"I heard the photography department has pretty high requirements. She just got in like that?"
"She skipped so many classes and the school didn't expel her, how hard could it be for her to get into the photography club?"
Sang Sui didn't care much about the photography department; she only knew that she had indeed run into her a few times at school.
I ran into her at school one afternoon; Sang Sui was a little late because of her duty. She walked out of the school building alone with her schoolbag on her back, the setting sun casting a long shadow of her.
Then she saw Mingying all alone.
Mingying was wearing her school uniform today, her long hair loosely tied behind her head, with a few strands falling beside her cheeks and gently swaying in the wind.
The golden glow of the setting sun outlined her exquisitely beautiful profile, almost unreal. Her nose was high and straight, her lips were pressed into a thin line, and her eyes gazed calmly ahead, distant and profound.
Mingying casually held a half-empty bottle of lime soda in one hand, slung her schoolbag over one shoulder with the other, and walked out of the school gate at a leisurely pace.
People passing by her couldn't help but turn around and look at her.
Sang Sui wanted to greet her, but she exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay, so he swallowed his words.
But she's happy as long as she can go back to school.
On Friday afternoon, during the last self-study period, the sunlight streaming through the window was perfect, making the leaves of the camphor tree glossy.
Unable to contain her gossipy nature, He Lili urged everyone to go to the basketball court to "bump into" Chi Shu, the senior that Qiao Chunzhao had been longing for.
Unable to resist her nagging any longer, Zhao Yanqi had no choice but to drag the still somewhat hesitant Qiao Chunzhao and the waiting Sang Sui to the basketball court.
A large crowd had already gathered around the court, mostly girls, and the air was filled with the heat of summer and the scent of youthful hormones.
The boys on the court ran and shouted, the sounds of basketballs hitting the ground and sneakers rubbing against the ground mingling together.
I thought only the senior students would be there, but I didn't expect Cheng Xiao and Liang Fengshen to be there. They were both on the same basketball team, so it was quite normal for them to get together and play basketball after class.
While everyone else was looking at Qiao Chunzhao's "dream lover" Chi Shu, only Sang Sui was secretly watching Liang Fengshen.
"That's him, the one wearing the number 11 black jersey is Chi Shu." Qiao Chunchao lowered his voice and excitedly pointed to a tall and upright figure on the court who was dribbling and breaking through.
He Lili took a closer look and objectively commented, "Hmm, after half a year, Chi Shu seems to have become even more handsome."
She changed the subject abruptly, casually draping her arm over Sang Sui's shoulder. Her gaze swept across the court, finally settling on another figure. Her tone was filled with undisputed admiration, "However, I still think Liang Fengshen is more handsome. Look at his demeanor, so clean and refreshing, and his playing style is such a pleasure to watch."
Sang Sui's heart skipped a beat.
She had only been peeking at him before, but He Lili's words now gave her a reason to look at him openly.
Today, Liang Fengshen was wearing ordinary school uniform sweatpants and a simple white sports T-shirt. He had a black sweatband on his forehead and swept all his soft black hair back, revealing his smooth and full forehead and clear eyebrows and eyes.
His dribbling isn't particularly flashy, but his rhythm is excellent, his movements are agile, and his passing is precise. Occasionally, he breaks through the defense, jumps to shoot, and the lines of his outstretched arms are smooth and beautiful, the basketball drawing a beautiful arc in the air before falling accurately into the net.
After scoring, he wouldn't celebrate excessively; he would simply purse his lips slightly and focus intently on quickly returning to defense.
Every time he made a basket, the girls watching him play screamed, but he didn't react at all, as if all the noise around him was irrelevant.
Sweat trickled down his jawline, and he would occasionally raise his arm to wipe it casually. A small patch of his white T-shirt was soaked with sweat, clinging to his thin back.
That focused concentration, so different from his usual cool demeanor, and the subtle sense of power, mixed with the clean aura unique to youth, created an indescribable and powerful attraction.
Sang Sui stood at the sidelines, at a distance that was neither too close nor too far, her gaze fixed on him.
The sunlight was a little dazzling, so she squinted slightly. A small voice in her heart spoke to her with perfect clarity:
Liang Fengshen, he is indeed very handsome.
But unfortunately, she wasn't a particularly beautiful girl, and she couldn't wow anyone's youth.
Sang Sui lowered his head, a bitter feeling rising in his heart.
To have a crush on someone is to experience countless moments of inferiority.
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