Chapter 34
Li Muxue's summer vacation was very short, only a month and a few days. In those thirty-odd days and nights, she experienced a completely different life. This was her first serious relationship. In the past, she could only suppress her vague feelings for Xu Chen deep in her heart, but now she had opened up all her psychological defenses and accepted Xu Chen completely.
However, her dates with Xu Chen—boating at Nanhu Park, riding bumper cars, riding the Ferris wheel, eating sesame-flavored ice cream at a cold drink shop on Laozhong Street, praying at a Buddhist temple in Beishichang, strolling through the temple fair, and then indulging in lamb skewers—were all done secretly, without daring to mention a word to her parents. Each time they went out, she would give vague explanations, saying it was a get-together with her old high school classmates…
Moreover, Li Muxue noticed that Xu Chen always had a faint worry on his face, and sometimes he would absentmindedly drift off into thought. When she asked him what was wrong and what he was thinking about, he would just smile without saying a word, as if he was deliberately hiding something on his mind...
It was almost the end of August, the day when students from Binhai Foreign Languages Institute returned to campus.
At dusk, they agreed to go to the Hunhe River ferry one last time to watch the sunset, after which Li Muxue would return to the seaside to continue her studies.
The water in the Hun River wasn't as murky as its name suggested. Pointing to the quietly flowing water under the bridge, she asked Xu Chen blankly, "Why is this water called the Hun River when it's so clear?"
"Perhaps the name was chosen with a muddled mind, but now it's clearer. Times are changing, scenery is changing, and we people are changing too..."
Xu Chen's answer carried a slightly different meaning.
The two strolled in the sunset. Li Muxue keenly noticed that Xu Chen's grip on her hand wasn't as tight as before; it was merely resting perfunctorily in her palm. If her fingers loosened even slightly, their hands would immediately separate.
Xu Chen stopped and turned to look at her, his eyes filled with helplessness. He said softly, "Mu Xue, I might not be able to repeat a year."
Li Muxue was stunned: "Why? Didn't you say you wanted to go to a science and engineering university?"
"My dad told me to enroll in an adult college, saying that repeating a year of high school is a waste of time, and I should just get a diploma from an adult college..."
“But we agreed…” Li Muxue’s voice began to tremble, “Have you forgotten what you promised me?”
“I haven’t forgotten,” Xu Chen looked at her, his eyes reddening, “but Mu Xue, my current choice is already the best solution…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but he made the difference between the two of them very clear.
Li Muxue panicked and roared at Xu Chen, "No! I won't allow you to give up on your life! If you give up on repeating the year and retaking the exam, I'll jump off the Hunhe Bridge!"
She yelled, her hands already gripping the iron railings of the bridge!
Xu Chen panicked and rushed over like lightning, hugging her tightly: "Mu Xue! Don't be impulsive! I'll repeat a year, I'll retake the exam! I have to fight for our future! Get down first!"
Li Muxue buried her head in Xu Chen's arms, her tears once again soaking Xu Chen's black T-shirt...
That day, Li Junsheng had just finished work at the auto repair shop and was passing by a grocery store when he went in to buy a pack of cigarettes. He inadvertently saw Xu Chen escorting Li Muxue back to the gate of the compound. Upon returning home, Li Junsheng flew into a rage, slamming his household registration book on the table and pointing to the door: "Either you cut off all contact with that Xu family brat, or you move out! This house can't tolerate you!"
Qiao Kexin rushed over and hugged Li Muxue, crying, "Xiaoxue, Mom begs you, please stop being stubborn! Your dad has high blood pressure, he can't take a fit! If something happens to him... I've told you countless times before, don't associate with Xu Chen! Why don't you listen?!"
Looking at her mother's graying temples and her father's bloodshot eyes, Li Muxue felt her world crumbling. All her beliefs and convictions were utterly shattered in the face of her parents' rage. She buried her face in her mother's arms, tears streaming silently down her face, silently pleading in her heart: Xu Chen, wait for me, just a little longer…
(To be continued)
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