Chapter 26
The dinner was held in the school's auditorium. The auditorium was covered with red carpet and decorated with colorful lights overhead, which exuded sophistication and luxury.
The school also thoughtfully prepared cakes and drinks so that students could move freely in the auditorium.
The purpose is to promote friendship between each other, so there are not too many restrictions.
When Fang Zhao and An Huainan walked in, the dinner had not started yet, but most people had already arrived.
Although it was early winter, the heating in the auditorium was turned on high. The moment Fang Zhao took off the down jacket over his dress, the audience was still slightly surprised.
"As pretty as a peach in spring, as pure as a chrysanthemum in autumn."
Wu Zhifan was holding the arm of a woman in a red long dress. When he saw Fang Zhao, he couldn't help but admire him.
"Thank you, Brother Wu."
Fang Zhao bowed his head to express his gratitude, only to feel An Huainan tighten his arm around him.
Knowing that he was jealous, Fang Zhao patted his hand and did not stay for long. The two of them walked inside.
"Why, do you like this little junior sister?"
After Fang Zhao left, the woman in red asked.
"I like it, but it's just like. It's more of an admiration." Wu Zhifan smiled. Some likes are only suitable to be kept in the heart. If Fang Zhao is really considering coming to Shanhe University, then he will definitely try to get him.
Just as Wu Zhifan turned around and left, Li Yihong also walked in from outside.
Her hair was braided into a princess braid, resting neatly against her scalp. Not a single strand hung down, giving her a clean, elegant look. Two tassel earrings shone brightly at her neck, framing her face even more delicately. The same red dress, worn on her, had a unique charm.
The beautiful figure is made more graceful by the clothes.
"One is cool and charming, the other is passionate. It's truly 'white moonlight and red roses'."
A student stared at Li Yihong who came in and sighed.
"Alright, students. The dinner is now officially starting."
The principal held up a glass of wine, stood on the stage, and toasted in celebration, saying, "Although you have just become adults, you are still high school students, so I asked the publicity department to replace the wine in the glass with red grape juice. Although it doesn't taste like wine, it has the same color as red wine.
Let us raise our glasses together and celebrate the complete success of this event!"
Everyone in the audience also raised their glasses and took a sip like the principal.
"In order not to disturb everyone's enjoyment, the rankings for this event will be sent to your respective school offices upon your return. Tonight, please release your stress and have fun!"
After the principal finished speaking, there was applause from the audience.
The principal signaled that everyone could begin, then put down his wine glass, took the arm of his wife standing next to him, and started the first dance of the banquet.
The music of "The Blue Danube" began to flow, and everyone's minds relaxed at once.
Although the principal's wife was a bit old, she maintained a very good figure due to her extreme self-discipline. Her purple-red dress made her look like a graceful peony, with a demure temperament and a faint smile on her lips. As she danced to a song, everyone was stunned.
Next it’s time for everyone to form groups and start dancing.
An Huainan bent down, stretched out his right hand, and made a gentlemanly invitation, inviting Fang Zhao to dance with him.
Fang Zhao smiled sweetly and gently placed her hand in his.
"I can't waltz."
"It's okay, just follow my steps."
An Huainan followed the rhythm and slowed down his pace, but even so, Fang Zhao still kicked him hard several times.
"Are you okay? Does your foot hurt?"
After stepping on it for the Nth time, Fang Zhao stopped, looked at An Huainan's feet opposite him with heartache, and asked.
"It's okay, but, Zhao, you really need to practice more."
Fang Zhao's limbs have not been very coordinated since she was a child, so her mother concluded that she was a good student since she was a child, because apart from studying, she seemed to be not good at anything else.
"Do you want to rest over there?"
Fang Zhao really felt sorry for An Huainan and made a suggestion.
"good."
An Huainan felt his feet were a little swollen, but he hadn't mentioned it to Fang Zhao just now, so as not to spoil his mood. Now that he felt some pain, he decided to go to the sofa on the terrace with Fang Zhao to relax.
There is a large terrace outside the banquet hall, where many students who are not interested in dancing gather and communicate with each other.
Fang Zhao found an empty corner and helped An Huainan sit on the sofa.
"I'll go get some food and drinks."
After dancing all night, Fang Zhao was really a little hungry.
"What do you want to eat?"
A stove was set up on the terrace, and a dedicated person was hired to do the barbecue. There were even some small stalls nearby, selling everything from fried pancakes to fried rice and steak.
"I want to eat a bowl of beef noodles."
An Huainan took advantage of the fact that he was a "wounded soldier" and acted coquettishly towards Fang Zhao.
"Beef noodles are available at the window next to the auditorium. Wait, I'll go in and serve them."
Not long after Fang Zhao left, a figure in red quietly sat down next to An Huainan.
At that time, An Huainan was looking at the night in the distance. He didn't notice that there was something wrong with the person sitting next to him. He just thought that Fang Zhao had returned.
"Why so fast?"
When he turned his head, Li Yihong's face came into his eyes.
"Why is it you?"
An Huainan looked back and saw that Fang Zhao had not returned yet.
"Why, do you like Fang Zhao so much?"
Li Yihong shook the goblet in her hand and asked, "An Huainan, do you really not understand how I feel about you?"
"It doesn't seem to matter whether you understand or not. I already have Fang Zhao, so it's impossible for me to like you."
An Huainan didn't want to get entangled with the person in front of him, but if he didn't reject her directly and let her still have her previous thoughts, there would be endless troubles.
Thinking of this, An Huainan suppressed his discomfort and continued talking to her.
"What about your future? Compared to Fang Zhao, is it not important at all?"
"What's the meaning?"
Li Yihong looked at the man in front of her arrogantly. As long as he was willing, her family could provide him with the best resources. Could Fang Zhao compare to her?
"You know our family's situation in the county, but there's more to it than that. Even in the provincial capital, we have connections. As long as you become our son-in-law, everything will be yours."
Isn't it true that what men care about most is their career? Li Yihong didn't believe that the other party wouldn't be moved.
"What do I need those connections for?" An Huainan suddenly chuckled. "Li Yihong, taking yourself too seriously is also a disease."
"You'll need these things later," Li Yihong said, her expression a bit like someone who's experienced this. "Don't be so hasty to reject me. You should think about it. I'm afraid you'll regret it later if you reject me so quickly."
"regret."
An Huainan put away the smile on his face. He understood the power of these two words too well.
After breaking up with Fang Zhao, he dreamed of the scene of their breakup every night. These two words lingered in his mind for seven years.
"Do you know what regret is?"
Li Yihong was frightened by An Huainan's expression. That was the kind of loneliness that could only be experienced to have such forbearance.
"You don't understand. Losing the person you love for the sake of so-called future prospects or so-called connections is the stupidest decision.
The further you get in life, the more you realize that the person next to you can only be her. You've met everyone, but none of them are her. You desperately try to find someone to replace her, but no one can ever be anyone else's replacement.
Saying goodbye is easy, but saying goodbye is truly difficult. Amidst the vast sea of people, there's endless loneliness. Living like a walking corpse is meaningless. At the end of life, what you remember most is never your future or your achievements. It's the people and events in your life that matter.
You are still young, it is normal that you don’t understand.”
An Huainan stood up and wanted to end the conversation.
Fang Zhao had actually returned with a large bowl of steaming beef noodles in her hand, but when she saw Li Yihong and An Huainan sitting together, she turned and went to the empty seat next to them.
The position was not far from the two of them, just enough to hear their conversation, but not enough to be discovered.
An Huainan's words touched Fang Zhao's heart.
She still clearly remembered all the times she got angry at An Huainan because he was too busy to care about her. She even mentioned the word "break up" after the last time she lost her temper. An Huainan had a forbearing expression, gritted his teeth, and replied with one word "OK".
She thought he would chase her and coax her back the next day like before, but she didn't expect that this would really be their last conversation.
She had been thinking about it for seven years, but still couldn't understand why An Huainan agreed when she was clearly being unreasonable.
Could it be that he really couldn't stand himself anymore?
It's really easy to let go, but it's really hard to say goodbye.
Seven years passed, and she spent seven years trying to heal herself, only to become increasingly lost. Until the world turned gray, until she woke up crying every night, she suddenly realized that her longing for him was too deep, and the wound would not heal, but only fester with time.
However, how could An Huainan have such a deep understanding at this moment?
Fang Zhao's eyes suddenly widened. Could it be that he was the same as him?
Yes, that made sense. Everything that happened after returning to ten years ago was different from what it was ten years ago. Including the choices An Huainan made, the suddenly full wallet in his hand, and the childishness he shed.
He is still An Huainan, but he is An Huainan ten years later.
Li Yihong suddenly grabbed An Huainan's sleeve and said, "Tell me what exactly I am not as good as Fang Zhao."
Her voice suddenly became a little hysterical. These days, her deliberate flattery of An Huainan had made her feel humiliated. How could such a proud person like her do such a humble thing?
"She doesn't need to compare herself to you."
After An Huainan finished speaking, he turned around and saw Fang Zhao sitting behind him, the beef noodles in his hand still steaming.
His eyes suddenly became gentle, and An Huainan walked towards her.
For seven years, it's always been you.
"Let's go back."
An Huainan put his arm around Fang Zhao's shoulders and they both walked outside.
When they reached the door, An Huainan picked up Fang Zhao's down jacket, carefully helped her put it on, and then took the beef noodles from her hand.
"Let's go to the cafeteria and eat."
Fang Zhao nodded.
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