0087 Star-Snatching (5)
Having grown up with my grandfather and father, I've always been good at handling interpersonal relationships. Even after coming to this foreign land that I never thought I'd stay long, I subconsciously didn't forget to cultivate my network of connections.
Of course, my father also secretly helped me. He only needed to have his comrades around J City come and go from my residence once or twice, and a large number of people would come to visit me, an unknown nobody.
I think sometimes it's precisely the "unknown" that makes someone all the more mysterious. There are no secrets in officialdom, and J City No. 1 High School is full of children of high-ranking officials. Having them crowd around me to gather information is a win-win situation. Sometimes, the playfulness of us kids is also a stepping stone for our parents to climb the corporate ladder.
I knew a little about these things when I was very young.
But after I got together with Lingling, I intentionally avoided those circles. I knew that behind such glamour lay filth. I absolutely did not want Lingling to step into such a seemingly beautiful quagmire, especially since I had already made up my mind to give up on this path.
I often feel that I am too cold-blooded, but Lingling always manages to neutralize my personality very well.
Friends from the next class have been trying to organize a get-together, approaching me several times, but I've declined each time, citing my busy schedule with studies. I already know his father is the secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission in J City, so I deliberately avoid him. But that guy is always cunning and slippery, extremely smooth in his dealings, and he actually managed to get his hands on Lingling.
Lingling had no doubts and assumed that my "friend" couldn't contact me. She blinked her big, wet eyes at me.
I'd heard her complain to me before that she was having a terrible headache from studying, and I knew she wanted to go out and have some fun. What could I do? Of course, I took her to this dinner party.
I saw her stick her tongue out at the boy behind her with a smile, as if she had successfully completed her mission. Where she couldn't see me, I gave the boy a not-so-friendly look.
I know better than anyone that some relationships should be severed.
The gathering was in the evening, and perhaps sensing my underlying anger, the guy didn't make a scene; it seemed like just a small get-together with friends. He was indeed considerate, even inviting several of Lingling's friends. Lingling had a great time, so I naturally didn't say anything.
Just before it was all over, I excused myself to go to the restroom, and Lingling, completely drunk, naturally followed me. I had also drunk quite a bit, but I wasn't easily intoxicated.
I quietly left through the back door with Lingling on my back; that noisy scene was no match for a few minutes of quiet alone time with her. I looked back at her flushed face, and couldn't help but laugh.
If I could do it all over again, I'd rather that road had no end, so I could carry her step by step. Perhaps there's no destination, but no destination is also a kind of destination…
The bright moonlight shone on us, and I heard her whispering behind me.
"Chen, Yi, Xu".
"Um."
"Chen, Yi, Xu..."
"Um……"
I waited quietly for her to finish her sentence, but she only called my name slowly and deliberately.
I've come to like the name Chen Yixu; I know it represents my father's longing for my mother. At this moment, I feel that I, too, am being missed.
Until she actually murmured out the rest of the text, I stood there dumbfounded, as if I had been struck by lightning.
The feelings I had when I was young still resonated with me; her existence was a beautiful dream that I could never have in my life.
I heard her say, "Brother Yixu, do you know I like you...?"
I stood there dumbfounded. I so wanted to wake her up and make her say it again... but she fell completely silent. That soft sentence vanished without a trace.
It was only then that I realized that even the greatest joy can bring with it a subtle, persistent pain. I was unable to move for a long time, wanting only to suppress my overjoyed heart.
I hugged her tighter on her back and looked up to see the dappled starlight.
Later I learned that there were no stars that night; it was my fragmented tears that revealed my diamond-like innocent heart.
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