Abandoning family honor
The awards ceremony concluded amidst a jubilant atmosphere. Shi Xu and Yun Xi were instantly surrounded by media, classmates, and teachers, with congratulations and questions pouring in. They were thronged around like triumphant heroes. Flashbulbs illuminated Yun Xi's radiant smile and Shi Xu's still-serious yet undeniably sharp eyes; this moment of glory, pure and fervent, belonged solely to them.
However, amidst the extreme noise and brilliance, Shi Xu keenly sensed a deeper, more undeniable gaze piercing through the bustling crowd and landing on him. That gaze did not come from the distraught Shi Zhiyuan, nor from any of the congratulatory guests.
He looked up, following the invisible pressure, his gaze settling on an inconspicuous private box on the second floor of the auditorium. Behind the one-way glass, there seemed to be a blurry yet tall figure. Although he couldn't see the face clearly, the familiar aura, carrying scrutiny and immense pressure, instantly established the timeline—
Shi Chongyuan has arrived.
He did not appear in public to accept the glory that he considered insignificant and belonged to the "Shi family." Instead, at this final moment, he hid in the shadows and witnessed firsthand the victory of this "rebellion" that he did not approve of and even tried to interfere with and deny.
Shi Chongyuan's appearance was like a cold boulder thrown into a victorious hot spring, abruptly sobering Shi Xu from his boiling joy. He understood that in his father's eyes, this first prize and special award might not be a badge of success, but rather an "unexpected statistic" that needed to be reassessed. This honor would not ease their conflict; on the contrary, it might exacerbate it, because it meant that he, Yun Ya, possessed more capital and... a voice that was no longer under his control.
Shi Zhiyuan's failure and Shi Chongyuan's covert observation clearly point to one fact—the iceberg of the family has not melted because of their partial victory; on the contrary, it may mobilize even greater forces because of this "accident."
Shi Xu withdrew his gaze, no longer looking at the private room. He turned to Yun Xi, who was still excitedly responding to his congratulations, and gently took her hand.
Yunxi felt the slight coolness of his fingertips and the increased pressure, and paused for a moment before meeting his deep eyes. There was still starlight in them, the lingering warmth of victory, but deeper still, there was a calmness and decisiveness she could understand in the face of even greater storms.
The smile on her face didn't fade, but it subtly shifted in meaning, from pure ecstasy to a bright, challenging one that resonated with his. She gripped his hand tightly in return.
No words were needed; they already understood. The coronation at the national competition was not the end of the war, but the clarion call for an even greater battle. What they won was not just a trophy, but the right to stand at a higher vantage point and look the behemoth in the shadows on equal footing.
The road ahead is destined to be bumpy. But at this moment, holding hands and bathed in glory, they are fearless.
Time took one last look at the bustling, acclaimed hall, then pulled through the gaps in the clouds and steadily passed through the crowd. They were no longer merely winners, but warriors carrying the flames of victory, ready to ignite a wider, more unknown battlefield...
Glory and challenges go hand in hand, and their journey leads to the distant stars and the vast ocean, inevitably confronting the deepest darkness. But this time, they will face it side by side.
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