Chapter 29
Liang Fengshen's early departure from the team happened far too suddenly.
The "Rongcheng F18" group chat exploded with excitement.
"Why did you suddenly go back?"
"We're not going to go to the museum together tomorrow?"
"@Liang Fengshen, are you alright?"
Although no one knew the specific reason, they all more or less noticed his low mood during this period.
Liang Fengshen simply replied, "Something came up at home."
As for the reason, he didn't say, and no one else in the group asked any further questions.
Perhaps those who are closer to him know what exactly happened to him.
But that was limited to being close to him.
Sang Sui knew that she did not belong to this category.
She opened his chat window several times, wanting to say something to him, but ultimately didn't have the courage to ask him what had happened.
She was afraid he would find it offensive.
Liang Fengshen never expected Mingying to make such a decision.
Mingying actually said she wanted to drop out of school.
Liang Fengshen thought she was crazy.
Ying: My mom is dying. A million yuan for medical expenses is not easy to earn. Even if I work a hundred jobs a day, I still can't earn enough for medical expenses in a year.
LFS: I can help you figure something out.
Ying: Liang Fengshen, you're still a minor. How much can you help me? I don't need anyone's help, including you. Only I can save myself in this world.
After sending this message, Mingying completely disappeared.
Mingcheng is irresponsible; he wants to sever all ties with them completely for just 100,000 yuan.
Unfortunately, Mingcheng's current wife is quite a formidable character. Because of this 100,000 yuan, she has caused Mingying countless troubles, both openly and secretly.
Mingying worked to earn money, and Liang Fengshen secretly helped her pay some of her medical expenses, but it was only enough to cover Zhang Wenshu's daily chemotherapy costs.
But that's far from enough.
Mingying didn't want to continue her studies, even though she had excellent grades. She wanted to go to Shanghai to find a job that would make money quickly.
She's not the kind of person who acts impulsively; the fact that she even considered dropping out of school proves that she's found a quick way to make money.
But how could Liang Fengshen feel at ease?
He had no choice but to end his study abroad program early and go to Shanghai to find her.
-
My five-day trip to Beijing came to an end quickly.
The atmosphere on the plane back to Fuzhou from Beijing was a bit more subdued than on the way there.
Sang Sui leaned against the porthole, watching the city silhouette below gradually shrink, feeling a sense of emptiness in his heart.
The unspoken words of encouragement felt like a lump of cotton stuck in her chest. She even felt a pang of regret; why couldn't she have been a little braver on the Great Wall, at the museum entrance?
As the plane landed, the humid and warm air of Fuzhou enveloped him, a stark contrast to the dry cold of Beijing, yet it did not dispel the melancholy in Sang Sui's heart.
Back home, after unpacking, I felt exhausted, but even more so, a sense of emptiness and disorientation washed over me.
The silence was broken by a phone ringing in the evening.
It's a group message from "Rongcheng F18".
Xiaosai de Xiao (Cheng Xiao): @All members, fellow warriors returning from Beijing, have you adjusted to the time difference yet? (Smoking and smirking.jpg) The night is long, and I can't sleep. How about we go for a night bike ride around the island? Feel the warmth of our great city of Fuzhou, feel the sea breeze, and shake off all the sand from Beijing!
This message acted like a shot in the arm, instantly revitalizing the stagnant group chat.
"You'll be successful at eighteen" (Zhang Da): Go! I absolutely have to go! Beijing is nice, but Fuzhou feels more welcoming. I just got back to Fuzhou and need to get some fresh air.
Kewei Kewei Luo Kewei: Sounds good! Perfect for digesting all that overeating these past few days.
Yan Qi will definitely win (Zhao Yanqi): Okay, count me in. I need the baptism of the wind.
Yue (Song Shiyue): Sure, I'll ask Lao Liang if he's going.
Sang Sui's heart skipped a beat at Song Shiyue's last words. Would Liang Fengshen go too?
A few minutes later, Song Shiyue spoke again.
Yue (Song Shiyue): He said he was going.
The two simple words made Sang Sui sit up in bed instantly, all her fatigue and melancholy vanished, replaced by a joyful feeling mixed with tension and great anticipation.
He actually went! She still has a chance!
She practically jumped up to open the wardrobe and start picking out clothes.
The Ring Road at night is a beautiful sight in Fuzhou.
The streetlights outlined the coastline, and the waves gently lapped against the rocks, making a soothing gurgling sound.
The air was filled with the salty, damp scent of the sea breeze, making it cooler and more pleasant than during the day.
Everyone appeared at the agreed-upon location in turn.
More than a dozen shared bicycles gathered at the starting point of the ring road, and the figures of teenagers appeared full of vitality under the streetlights.
"Let's go!" Cheng Xiao gave the order, and the convoy set off in a grand procession along the dedicated bike path.
Liang Fengshen did indeed arrive.
He was riding a black shared bicycle, landing slightly towards the back of the line, still wearing that dark down jacket with the zipper open, revealing a white hoodie underneath.
He rode slowly, his head slightly lowered, the wisps of hair on his forehead ruffled by the sea breeze, and his profile appeared even thinner under the flickering streetlights, carrying a sense of loneliness detached from the hustle and bustle.
Sang Sui tried her best to control the speed of the car, following behind him at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.
Her heart raced as the wheels turned, and her palms sweated slightly with nervousness.
The opportunity was right in front of her, and she had to seize it.
Cheng Xiao, Zhang Da, and Luo Kewei charged ahead, occasionally letting out strange cries and laughter.
Zhao Yanqi, He Lili, Qiao Chunchao, and a few other girls chatted as they rode, occasionally stopping to take photos.
Song Shiyue and Yuan Ying rode side by side, talking in hushed tones.
The sea breeze whistled past my ears, carrying the distant sound of ship horns. The night sky was a deep, dark blue-black, dotted with a few sparse stars.
On a viewing platform with a wide view, everyone stopped to rest.
Some people ran to the roadside to buy hot drinks, some leaned against the railing to look at the sea, and some were so tired that they sat down directly on the roadside.
Sang Sui saw Liang Fengshen pushing his cart alone to the edge of the platform, facing the sea.
His figure blended into the night and the sea, appearing exceptionally silent.
Right now.
Sang Sui took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale all the courage, which carried the taste of sea salt, into his lungs.
She pushed the cart, walking step by step towards him. The wheels made a soft rustling sound as they rubbed against the ground, clear as her heartbeat in this noisy yet tranquil night.
She walked up to him and stood facing the sea, just like him. The salty sea breeze hit her face and lifted her ponytail—she had grown her hair a bit longer.
Liang Fengshen seemed to sense someone beside him, and turned his head slightly to glance at her.
His eyes appeared somewhat blurry in the darkness, making it impossible to discern his emotions.
Sang Sui's heart was pounding in her throat. She gripped the handlebars tightly, her nails digging into her palms, using the slight pain to keep herself calm.
She turned her head, mustered all her courage, and met his gaze, which he might cast upon her. Her voice was not loud, but exceptionally clear, carrying an undeniable sincerity that pierced through the clamor of the sea breeze:
"Liang Fengshen," she called his name, each word sounding like it took all her strength, "You've been unhappy lately, is it because of the competition?"
"Hmm?" Liang Fengshen turned his head to look over, somewhat puzzled.
Sang Sui didn't dare look him in the eye: "Don't be nervous because of the semi-finals."
She paused, as if gathering her last strength, and then, in an almost reverent and affirmative tone, said, word by word:
"You will always be number one in my heart."
After saying that, she felt all her strength drain away, and her cheeks burned as if they were on fire. She dared not look at his reaction any longer, and hurriedly lowered her head, pretending to tidy up the bicycle basket that didn't need tidying.
Her heart was pounding wildly in her chest, so loudly that she suspected the whole beach could hear it.
Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds.
The sea breeze was still blowing, the waves were still crashing, and the laughter of my companions behind me seemed to come from another distant world.
She heard a very soft reply from beside her, almost drowned out by the wind: "...Thank you."
His voice was low, with a barely perceptible hoarseness, making it impossible to tell whether it was surprise, emotion, or simply politeness.
But that "thank you" was enough for Sang Sui. It was like a ray of light, instantly illuminating her mind, which had gone blank from nervousness, and dispelling the gloom that had been weighing on her heart for so long—the desire to encourage him that she had been unable to.
He heard it.
He received her encouragement.
Overwhelmed by immense joy and relief, like warm waves, she was instantly engulfed.
She secretly lifted her eyelids slightly and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.
He was still facing the sea, and the lines of his profile appeared softer in the night. The corners of his lips, which had been tightly pressed together, seemed to have a very slight, upward curve.
Did she see it wrong?
Sang Sui wasn't sure, but even this slight possibility of a curve was enough to make her overjoyed.
"Hey, have you two seen enough of the sea? Let's go!" Cheng Xiao called out loudly from ahead, breaking the brief moment of tranquility that belonged only to the two of them.
Liang Fengshen responded, turned around, pushed his bike, and joined the group heading back. Sang Sui quickly followed, riding to his side and behind him.
The journey back seemed exceptionally light.
The sea breeze on my face was no longer cold, but carried a gentle warmth.
The stars in the night sky seemed even brighter than when we arrived.
She didn't know what emotions were behind his "thank you," nor did she know if he had truly felt any more relaxed because of her encouragement.
She wasn't even sure if he understood how much complex and sincere emotion, beyond the competition rankings, was contained in her phrase "always number one."
But none of that matters anymore.
The important thing is that she finally bravely said what she wanted to say.
On this island-circling night with the sea breeze blowing, she clumsily but firmly moved closer to him in her own way.
The wheels rolled over the road, making a rhythmic sound, like a cheerful accompaniment.
Sang Sui secretly glanced at the slender figure ahead, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up into a big, bright smile.
Liang Fengshen, do you know him?
You will always be my number one. Regardless of the outcome of the competition, regardless of what others think.
On my youth's evaluation sheet, you were a perfect score from the very beginning, the only champion.
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