Chapter 27
Even though Liang Fengshen didn't get a particularly good ranking in the last singing and dancing show, he had already appeared on television and was jokingly called a "little star" at school.
Everyone knew the truth, but it was just a joke. However, the radio station would occasionally play Leung Fung-sum's songs.
I wonder which girl who had a crush on him ordered it secretly.
One afternoon, Qiao Chunzhao had a fight with Chi Shu. It is said that after Qiao Chunzhao entered the second year of high school and Chi Shu entered university, the two began a long-distance relationship.
Chi Shu often doesn't reply to Qiao Chunzhao's messages; whenever she asks, he says he's busy.
Qiao Chunchao felt that Chi Shu wasn't as dedicated as before, so she was very upset and asked Sang Sui to come out and talk to her.
That afternoon, Sang Sui and Qiao Chunzhao were taking a walk on the playground.
That carefree girl showed a sad expression when talking about relationships.
Does falling in love with someone always bring such bitterness to your heart?
Sang Sui had no experience in dating and was content to be a listener.
Fortunately, Qiao Chunchao also wanted to vent to someone, and after venting, her mood improved a lot.
"He's just busy, he doesn't dislike me anymore, right?" Qiao Chun asked Sang Sui for confirmation.
At that moment, the afternoon radio station suddenly played Liang Fengshen's a cappella rendition of "Lonely Heart". The instant the song came on, Sang Sui froze on the spot, feeling as if everything around her had fallen silent, leaving only his clean yet slightly hoarse voice, each word striking her heart.
The lyrics say, "I can't guess what you really feel..."
It seems like falling for someone always brings a sense of insecurity and anxiety.
They are always wondering whether the other person loves them or not.
Sang Sui put herself in Sang Sui's shoes and gave an affirmative answer: "Yes."
The end of autumn was completely swept away by several cold rains, and the atmosphere of early winter began to permeate the air of Fuzhou.
The plane trees on campus have almost all lost their leaves, leaving only bare branches stubbornly pointing towards the gray sky.
But the feelings of youth did not cool down in the slightest despite the drop in temperature.
During a break between classes, Sang Sui inadvertently gleaned a piece of information from Song Shiyue and Cheng Xiao's casual conversation that made her heart race instantly—Liang Fengshen's birthday was in early November.
What was said unintentionally was taken to heart by the listener.
She almost immediately began thinking about what gift to give him.
Something too expensive would seem abrupt; something too ordinary wouldn't express her feelings. She racked her brains, recalling every detail related to him.
She remembered his long, clean hands, perfect for playing the guitar; the slight furrow in his brow as he focused on solving problems; and the unique preferences he occasionally revealed for certain small things, which didn't match his aloof appearance.
Ultimately, she settled on one thing—an album by his favorite singer.
She took advantage of the weekend to go to "Mad Dog Audio-Visual Store" again, spent an afternoon picking and choosing, and finally prepared a gift.
The gift was ready, but how to give it to him became a problem. She didn't dare to give it to him in person, afraid of seeing his polite but distant reaction, and also afraid of being seen by others, which would lead to unnecessary speculation and gossip.
In the end, she chose the exact same method as before—secretly placing it under his desk.
The day before his birthday, taking advantage of the empty classroom during lunch break, she slipped into Class 6 of the second year of high school again, her heart pounding like a rabbit's. She carefully tucked the meticulously packaged album deep into his desk.
There was no message, no signature, only an anonymous, clumsy yet sincere sentiment.
His classroom used to be in Class 6, but now it's in Class 16.
No matter which class he was in, she knew exactly where he was.
Almost simultaneously with preparing birthday gifts, Sang Sui made a decision that surprised her friends—she signed up for the grade's English speech contest.
"Sui Sui, you've been working really hard lately!" Zhao Yanqi couldn't help but exclaim as she watched Sui Sui revise her speech over and over again during breaks.
Qiao Chunchao chimed in, "Yeah, the math competition just ended, and now you're giving an English speech. Are you trying to develop in all aspects?"
Sang Sui simply smiled and didn't explain much.
Only she knew the source of this sudden motivation. She recalled her stumbling speech under the national flag in her first year of high school, and the tongue twisters and encouragement he later sent her.
She wanted him to see that she was truly trying, trying to become better, more outstanding, and more worthy of standing where he was, even if it was just watching from afar.
She longed to shine in some field, just like him, and even if that light was faint, she hoped that he would have the chance to see it.
The days of preparing for the competition were intense yet fulfilling.
One winter morning, before it was fully light, Sang Sui arrived at the school cafeteria early to have breakfast because he needed to get up early to memorize his speech.
There weren't many people in the cafeteria yet, and the heating was on full blast, filling the air with the warm aroma of food.
She carried a plate of congee and steamed buns, and as usual looked for an empty seat, her gaze suddenly stopped when it swept over a corner by the window.
Liang Fengshen sat there alone.
The soft morning light streamed through the large glass window and gently fell upon him.
In front of him sat a steaming bowl of soy milk and a freshly fried, golden-brown, crispy youtiao (Chinese fried dough stick). He was looking down, sipping his soy milk, his profile appearing exceptionally serene and gentle in the light.
Sang Sui's heart skipped a beat.
She never expected to meet him here so early, let alone see him eating such a down-to-earth breakfast.
In her memory, he always seemed to be associated with lime soda and stage lights, carrying a kind of aloofness that seemed untouched by worldly affairs.
At this moment, watching him quietly eat the most ordinary soy milk and fried dough sticks, the sense of distance seemed to be instantly shortened, and he became real and warm.
Not daring to disturb him, she quietly found a spot not too far from him, just enough to see his profile, and sat down.
She sipped the bland white porridge, but her gaze involuntarily drifted toward him.
She saw him dip the fried dough stick into the soy milk, his movements unhurried; she saw his glasses fogged up slightly from the steam, and he casually took them off to wipe them, revealing eyes that were clearer yet less aloof due to the blurred vision; she saw him carefully wipe his mouth and fingers with a tissue after he finished eating…
This morning was made all the more special by this unexpected, brief "encounter" and the quiet, beautiful scene of "soy milk and fried dough sticks".
A warm current quietly flowed through Sang Sui's heart, making her feel that this winter was not so cold after all.
Liang Fengshen's birthday finally arrived.
Sang Sui was somewhat restless all day. She didn't know if he had received the album, whether he liked it, or even if he would guess that it was from her.
She had secretly observed him a few times, and he seemed no different from usual. He still attended classes quietly and did his homework diligently. Occasionally, when she ran into him at school, she would see him talking to Song Shiyue and Cheng Xiao.
Was she disappointed? A little. But more than that, she felt a sense of relief after completing some important ritual. She had expressed her feelings, albeit anonymously, and that was enough.
She knew that the school radio station had a song request segment every evening after school, where students could anonymously request songs to send blessings to classmates or teachers. A plan began to take shape in her mind.
After school in the afternoon, she waited until the students at the broadcasting station started their shifts, then quietly went over. "Excuse me, I'd like to request a song."
Her voice was slightly tense with nervousness. The person on duty was a kind-looking senior student wearing headphones: "Okay, who do you want it for? Do you have any blessings?"
Sang Sui took a deep breath and tried to make his voice sound calm: "Give this to Liang Fengshen from Class 26 of Senior High School. Write 'Happy Birthday' to him."
"What's the song title?"
“Soy milk and fried dough sticks.” Sang Sui uttered the name softly, her cheeks involuntarily burning.
The senior student was writing down the song requests in the songbook, seemingly not finding the song title anything special, and simply asked routinely, "Where's the credit?"
“Anonymous. Thank you.” Sang Sui finished speaking and practically fled.
She left the teaching building quickly, but did not go home immediately.
She walked around to the edge of the playground and found a quiet corner to sit down.
Winter evenings are dark early, and the afterglow of the setting sun paints the sky a warm orange-red. Familiar opening music and the announcer's sweet voice begin to play on the radio.
"...Now for today's song request segment. First, an anonymous student requested JJ Lin's 'Soy Milk and Fried Dough Sticks' for Liang Fengshen from Class 6 of Grade 11, and wished him a happy birthday. Let's dedicate this song to Liang Fengshen, and also to all of you listening..."
As the prelude began, a light and sweet melody flowed through every loudspeaker on campus, filling the twilight air.
Sang Sui hugged her knees, buried her face in her arms, but her ears were perked up, capturing every note and every lyric.
"Drinking pure white soy milk is pure white romance. Looking at your lovely face and your innocent appearance, I smile foolishly at you. You are the cure for my sorrows. You say I am like a fried dough stick, simple yet beautiful..."
The lyrics sing of simple and beautiful companionship, a warmth as naturally harmonious as soy milk and fried dough sticks.
How much this reflects her feelings right now!
She didn't dare to ask for too much; she only hoped to be like soy milk and fried dough sticks, a small, insignificant presence in his life that might bring a moment of warmth and sweetness.
Even if he never knows the source of this affection.
She imagined where he might be right now, whether he had heard the song, whether he would recall a quiet morning when he was alone in the cafeteria enjoying soy milk and fried dough sticks, and whether he would have a slight doubt about who this special birthday song came from.
She knew he most likely wouldn't know it was her.
But that's okay.
This anonymous gift, this courageous speech registration, this song request hidden in soy milk and fried dough sticks—all represent her small act of courage in this grand yet silent unrequited love.
Here, she strives to become a better person, carefully expressing her affection and offering her sincere blessings to him.
The song echoed through the campus, accompanied by the chilly wind of a winter evening, which ruffled the wisps of hair on the girl's forehead and stirred the ripples in her heart that never ceased to ripple.
Happy birthday, Liang Fengshen.
This is the gentlest and most heartfelt way I can think of to celebrate for you.
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