A thorn
Lin Luo did not find Fu Xingchuan in the graduation photo posted by Xiang Cheng on his WeChat Moments.
When school started in September, Lin Dayong accompanied Lin Xiao to Beijing University. He carried Lin Xiao's women's backpack on his back and pulled her pink suitcase. "Princess Xiao Xiao, it's almost noon. What would you like to eat?"
"Dad, didn't I tell you not to call me princess?" Lin Luo had nothing in her hands. She wore a blue shirt and a low ponytail. Judging from her dressing style, she was indeed much more mature than before.
Lin Dayong squinted his eyes and smiled, "Then, Your Majesty, what would you like to eat?"
"Comrade Lin Dayong, have you completed your mission? Are you still thinking about eating?" Lin Luo pointed at the suitcase and teased him deliberately.
"Her Majesty is right." Lin Dayong's hair was dyed black, he wore a Rolex on his wrist, and he was dressed in designer clothes. After several years of experience abroad, he had even gotten rid of his beer belly and had ushered in a second spring in his appearance. Everyone around them couldn't help but look at them. Lin Xiao asked Lin Dayong, "Dad, is there anyone pursuing you?"
Lin Dayong stopped and asked, "Why do you suddenly ask this?"
"Just asking casually." Lin Luo really said it casually.
But Lin Dayong was very serious. "Xiaoxiao, don't worry. Daddy won't start a new family like Mommy did. You are enough for Daddy."
Lin Luo recalled how, after he and Du Yunyan divorced when they were children, she had fallen seriously ill and had begged Lin Dayong not to leave. He had promised not to marry again. Lin Luo frowned, "Comrade Lin Dayong!"
He stood up straight, "Yes."
"I've grown up. You don't have to sacrifice yourself for me anymore. You can have a girlfriend and start a new family. No matter what, I will always be your precious daughter." Lin Luo said seriously.
Lin Dayong said with emotion: "My Xiaoxiao has really grown up."
He was about to cry, but Lin Qiao stopped him in time, "Dad, I want to eat roast duck."
"Okay, put down your luggage quickly, and Dad will take you to the most authentic old-fashioned restaurant in Jinghe."
"Yeah." Lin Luo took his arm.
"Hey, that guy looks so familiar!" Lin Dayong muttered suddenly. Lin Luo looked over and saw it was Fu Xingchuan, wearing a blue shirt and suit pants. Lin Luo looked at her clothes and curled her lips. What a coincidence.
"Dad, do you know him?"
"Didn't I tell you that there's a famous Fu Group in Jinghe? He's the youngest son of the Fu family."
"Oh." Lin Luo pretended to be surprised.
Lin Dayong hissed, "Strange?"
"What's strange?" Lin Luo asked.
"I attended a dinner party a few days ago and unexpectedly heard Mr. Fu say that he wanted to send his grandson abroad to study finance so that he could inherit the family business in the future."
"But he majored in medicine in college!" Lin Luo's voice rose a little.
"Do you know him?"
"He's quite famous in school."
Lin Dayong didn't think much about it and told her, "Something happened to the Fu Group a few years ago. The old man is getting old, and the Fu family must have someone to take over his position. His father and brother gave up their family property and became doctors. The old man will not allow this little grandson to follow that path."
"What's happening with the Fu family now? Can we help?" Lin Luo was afraid that the Fu family would also go bankrupt.
Lin Dayong smiled and said, "The Fu family still occupies a leading position in many industries in Jinghe. For a family that has been passed down from generation to generation, a lean camel is bigger than a horse. And even if it really fails, we may not be able to help. If it is the Su family, it will be different."
Lin Dayong said the second half of the sentence in a low voice, but it fell clearly into Lin Luo's ears. She saw Su Youyi wearing a light blue long dress walking to Fu Xingchuan. Her eyes hurt so much that she blinked unconsciously.
Lin Dayong suddenly asked her, "Xiaoxiao, do you have someone you like?"
"No..." Lin Luo pinched the corner of his shirt.
"That's right. My daughter is so outstanding, how can that brat be worthy of her?"
Lin Luo smiled faintly. The sound of the suitcase wheels rolling on the ground suddenly became amplified, making her panic.
Fu Xingchuan was really going abroad, and the news was a hot topic in the school. Some people said it was a rumor, but Lin Luo knew it was true.
At the opening ceremony, Lin Xiao spoke on stage as a representative of the freshmen. She emerged confident and generous, showing no signs of stage fright. At the end of her speech, she glanced at the audience and said, "I like to compare life to a marathon. I ran a long way to come to Peking University to study."
Recalling her experiences over the past few years, Lin Xiao couldn't help but choke up, but quickly regained her composure. "I believe you all feel the same way. I hope that in the coming academic years, we will all gain knowledge, meet good teachers, make good friends, and live up to our youth at Peking University. Thank you all!"
Lin Luo bowed and walked off the stage. She saw a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head pretentiously and met Fu Xingchuan's gaze. He was holding a bouquet of white gardenias in his arms and walking towards her.
Lin Qi paused, momentarily hoping he'd come to give her flowers, but her illusion was quickly shattered. Fu Xingchuan was merely startled by her sudden appearance, which was why he'd only glanced at her a few more times. He was about to go abroad and rarely came to campus. This time, he was there to see Su Youyi, the former student union president who had helped plan the opening ceremony.
When Lin Luo saw Su Youyi taking the flowers, she remembered the pot of gardenia on the windowsill of the last row of the third group of the twenty classes before the college entrance examination. Later, the flowers wilted and they left No. 1 Middle School. She wondered what happened to it and whether it would bloom this year.
Lin Luo walked out of the auditorium. She wanted to cry, but she kept telling herself, "Don't cry. It's not worth it."
"I'm sorry..." Lin Luo almost bumped into someone and apologized hurriedly. She looked up and found that it was Wen Zenian. She only found out a few days ago that they had a deep connection and Wen Zenian was her senior brother from the same school.
Lin Qiao and Wen Zenian walked to a nearby staircase and sat down. Wen Zenian asked her, "Why are you crying this time?"
"I'm not crying." Lin Luo looked at him. Wen Zenian nodded his nose. "If you lie, your nose will get longer! Your eyes are red, it's obvious."
When he said this, Lin Luo couldn't help but cry.
Wen Zenian was not good at coaxing people. He conjured up a rose from nowhere and gave it to her, warning her, "Be careful of its thorns."
Lin Luo took it and looked at the gorgeous and proud rose.
"What type do you like?" Wen Zenian asked her.
"I like... I like three kinds of people: those who are better than me, those who make me better, and those who are willing to be better with me." Lin Luo smelled the scent of roses, which was lighter than the fragrance of gardenias. A teardrop the size of a bean fell on the petals. "But what if he has them all?"
"There's more than one person in the world who meets your requirements, and it doesn't have to be him."
Lin Luo shook her head. "If he wasn't absolutely necessary, if he wasn't worth it to me, I wouldn't be crying! You haven't had a crush on someone for five years, so you can't understand how I feel."
"I... although it's not five years, I am also secretly in love with someone now." Wen Zenian sighed.
"You got over your heartbreak so quickly." Lin Qi stopped sobbing. "Just confess! Stop having a secret crush on me. It's too painful."
"She doesn't like me." Wen Zenian lowered his eyes, and Lin Luo burst into laughter. "Then we really are in the same boat."
"Lin Luo." Fu Xingchuan called her at the door of the auditorium.
She quickly wiped the tears from her face and asked Wen Zenian, "How do I look now?"
"Very good." He said lightly.
Lin Xiao returned the rose to him and gave him the same warning, "Be careful of its thorns."
As soon as Wen Zenian took it, Lin Luo ran over. Looking at her back, he didn't hold the rose firmly, and the thorns scratched his palm, leaving a scratch. Blood came out, as bright red as the rose.
He deeply realized how painful secret love is from that time on.
*
Lin Luo quickly walked up to Fu Xingchuan and pretended nothing had happened. "Long time no see."
"Why didn't you tell me that you came to Jinghe and took the entrance exam for Peking University?" Looking at his face closely, he was still the same as before, his words were light and light. Lin Luo's heart was hurt. I wanted to tell you everything, but you didn't give me this opportunity that day.
"I...forgot." Just forget it!
"Forgot?" Fu Xingchuan chuckled and said lightly: "Our friendship is really just a plastic one!"
"Indeed." Lin Luo gritted her teeth unconsciously. "I don't just want to be friends with you," "Fu Xingchuan, I..."
She didn't care about the timing. Fu Xingchuan looked at her and she mustered up the courage to speak, but Su Youyi appeared and interrupted her, "Xingchuan, you are here!"
"You go back to the car first. I'll catch up with my friends." Fu Xingchuan said to her. Su Youyi smiled and agreed, "Okay."
After she left, Fu Xingchuan asked Lin Luo, "What did you want to tell me just now?"
What can I say to you? I can't confess my feelings to you in this situation. I'll probably end up not even being friends with you in the future! She changed the subject and said, "There's a rumor at school that you're going abroad. Is that true?"
"Really." He stared at her, wanting to see what she was going to say next.
Then she asked, "When are you leaving? Do you want me, your friend, to see you off at the airport?" This was within his expectations.
"I don't need you to see me off." Fu Xingchuan's tone was cold, and Lin Luo's breath was stuck in her throat. "Then I won't see you off. I wish you a safe journey."
"Why are you angry?" Fu Xingchuan saw through her at a glance. Lin Qiao avoided his sight and said, "I'm not angry. Why should I be angry with you?"
Fu Xingchuan frowned, and Lin Qiao spoke frankly.
"I'm angry that you gave up on your dream so easily. The person who encouraged me to pursue my dream four years ago has just given up on it so easily. Is that right?" Lin Qi questioned him. "You've changed a lot in just a few years. The Fu Xingchuan I knew was a brave man who waved the flag before the college entrance examination, unafraid of punishment. He wasn't a coward who compromised and followed orders."
"Are you disappointed in me?" Fu Xingchuan lowered his eyes.
It's a pity for you.
Lin Luo didn't answer directly. She calmed down and said, "I'm sorry, I'm not you. I can't think from your perspective. You must have your own reasons for making the choice. Just ignore what I said just now. I still hope everything goes well for you."
She couldn't control herself, tears welling up in her eyes. Fu Xingchuan said to her, "Lin Qiao, I heard your speech on stage. You're amazing. I admire you. I know how hard it has been for you to get here."
"It's almost over inside, and everyone should come out. The freshman representatives can't cry in front of them on the first day." He took out a tissue from his pocket and handed it over, and took out his cell phone at the same time. The ringtone happened to ring, and Lin Luo noticed that it was Su Youyi calling.
She really wanted to ask, what should I do when you are so gentle to me?
But in the end I held back.
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