Chapter 55: Blessings and Graduation
The festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year has not yet dissipated, and high school seniors are already returning to school early.
Peng Chengyi was packing her schoolbag in her room when she suddenly heard footsteps outside.
She turned her head and saw Chen Yubai standing at the door with his backpack slung across his shoulder.
“Wait a minute, I haven’t finished packing yet…” Peng Chengyi glanced at the clock on the table and continued stuffing test papers into her schoolbag, saying, “Why are you here so early? My mom booked a taxi, it won’t be here for another ten minutes.”
"I have something for you." Chen Yubai smiled faintly and walked to her side. The winter sunlight filtered through the thin curtains, casting a hazy glow on his shoulders.
Peng Chengyi paused, lifted her long, thick eyelashes, and gave him a strange look: "What is that?"
"This." He slowly pulled a red string from his pocket and handed it to her. "It's said that wearing it can bring good luck."
Peng Chengyi looked at the red rope lying in his palm. It was of ordinary quality and had a faint dark red sheen under the light.
She couldn't help but twitch her lips: "...How tacky! I don't want to wear something like that."
"Are you sure you don't want it?" Chen Yubai raised an eyebrow. "I bought it from the Confucius Temple."
Peng Chengyi was taken aback, wondering if she had misheard: "Really? When did you go to the Confucius Temple?"
It takes at least half a day to drive from Linbin to the Confucius Temple, and this winter vacation was so short it felt like it was stolen, yet he still managed to find time to make the trip.
“Yesterday,” he said casually, as if he had just gone to a convenience store, “my mom is superstitious and insisted that I go and pray for good luck for the college entrance exam, so I got one for you while I was at it.”
Upon hearing this, the ordinary red rope in front of him suddenly became different. Peng Chengyi paused for a moment, then slowly reached out her hand to him, smiled awkwardly, and said, "...I want it."
At first, she thought he had just bought it casually from a roadside stall, but she never expected that he had specially traveled to the Confucius Temple to ask for it for her.
Although she is not usually superstitious, at this moment, she would rather believe it than not, and she would wear it no matter how old-fashioned it was!
Chen Yubai smiled slightly, took her slender wrist, and gently wrapped the red string around it.
His fingertips were slightly cool as he gently brushed against her skin, bringing a faint, ticklish sensation that traveled up her wrist to her heart, making her feel inexplicably uncomfortable. She muttered, trying to hide her unease, "Are you sure you can handle this? I'll do it myself..."
“It’s even harder for you to wear it.” Chen Yubai frowned slightly, his long, raven-feather-like eyelashes drooping as he intently fiddled with the clasp of the red string.
The warm yellow light outlined the serious profile of his face, his expression focused as if he were accomplishing something extremely important.
Peng Chengyi's heart skipped a beat for no reason, and her gaze involuntarily drifted to the side, no longer daring to look at his face so close to hers.
A subtle stillness filled the air, with only the soft tinkling of the red rope buckle and the barely audible breathing of the two people.
Unable to bear the strangely unsettling atmosphere any longer, Peng Chengyi couldn't help but speak up again: "But I noticed you're not wearing a red string yourself..."
“I’m strong enough, I don’t need to stack up my luck buff anymore,” he chuckled lazily, his tone carrying his usual nonchalance and confidence, “So I’ll give it all to you.”
"..." Peng Chengyi's lips twitched slightly, and she was immediately caught in a complicated feeling of not knowing whether to be moved or to curse.
The moment he tightened the red rope, it gently adhered to her wrist, bringing a subtle sense of restraint.
"Alright," Chen Yubai said in a low voice, his tone ordinary, yet it seemed to announce something.
Peng Chengyi subconsciously raised her wrist to look at it, and the bright red mark stood out against her snow-white wrist bone.
"Thanks. I'll find a chance to repay you when I actually get into a prestigious university." She pursed her lips, quickly withdrew her hand from between his well-defined fingers, and continued packing her bag.
"Okay, I'll wait." Chen Yubai smiled slightly, a faint smile appearing in his eyes. He took a long stride and lazily added, "Oh, by the way, I asked Zheng Xinyue to take a look. She said that you also have a favorable element protecting you in your birth chart, so your luck in exams is actually quite good."
Peng Chengyi was slightly taken aback, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve upwards, but she said to cover it up by scolding him, "You're so boring."
Chen Yubai smiled noncommittally, not pointing out her obviously improved mood, but simply turned around and strolled leisurely to the living room, leaving behind a pleasant silhouette.
-
Whether it was the red string Chen Yubai had obtained for her that truly worked, after the start of the school year, Peng Chengyi not only made a strong comeback to the top ten in her grade in the second mock exam, but even performed exceptionally well in the final mock exam—
His total score surpassed Chen Yubai's by three points, breaking Chen's long-standing undefeated record at the top and taking first place in the grade.
Staring at the familiar name on the report card, now ranked below her own, Peng Chengyi checked it several times, her heart pounding with excitement.
"I told you, you have the ability, don't you?" Chen Yubai walked up to her at some point, showing no annoyance or displeasure, and simply chuckled and teased her.
Peng Chengyi turned his head, his face beaming with barely suppressed joy and radiance, like a little bird that had finally broken free of its restraints and was ready to take flight.
She raised her wrist, still tied with the red string, and waved it triumphantly in front of him, her voice filled with renewed confidence and energy: "You have good taste! It seems it really brought me good luck! I hope I can do well in the college entrance exam too!"
"Don't worry." Chen Yubai put his hands in his pockets and said slowly and confidently, "Don't forget to repay me after the college entrance examination."
"Absolutely, I'll never forget it!" Peng Chengyi's eyes curved into crescent moons.
The countdown on the blackboard at the back of the classroom was erased day by day, the numbers getting smaller and smaller, until finally it reached zero.
On the day of the college entrance examination, Peng Chengyi was lucky enough to be assigned to the same examination room at the No. 1 High School as Chen Yubai.
Early in the morning, Zhou Lifen was already pacing back and forth in the living room, repeatedly checking the two students' admission tickets, ID cards, and stationery bags, even sharpening the pencils to a fine point, for fear of missing anything.
He was reassuring the two who were eating breakfast: "Don't be nervous, just like a regular mock exam, do the questions you know how to answer steadily..."
When it was time to leave, she hurriedly went back to her room to change her clothes, preparing to personally escort the examinee to the exam.
Peng Chengyi said with a hint of helplessness, "Mom, there's really no need to take me. It's just across the street, just across the intersection."
"How can that be! What if you two suddenly realize something is missing? I can just run back and get it!" Zhou Lifen put on her shoes without giving them a chance to argue and insisted on seeing the two of them out of the school gate.
The school gate was already crowded with parents who had come to see their children off to the exam, their faces filled with anticipation and nervousness. Zhou Lifen took their hands one last time and solemnly advised, "Keep a calm mind, please keep a calm mind!"
"Okay, Mom!" Peng Chengyi waved to her, then turned and walked into the campus side by side with Chen Yubai.
After passing through the bustling crowd, Peng Chengyi finally had a chance to complain: "It's hilarious, I think my mom's heart is the most unusual."
Chen Yubai glanced at her sideways, a lazy smile curving his lips: "Now you know who you inherited your temper from before, right?"
"Oh—" Peng Chengyi nodded as if suddenly realizing something, "The case is solved!"
The two chatted and laughed, creating a relaxed atmosphere as if they were just taking an ordinary exam.
As I climbed the familiar stairs, the noise outside the corridor gradually faded away, leaving only the crisp echo of my footsteps.
The two students were taking exams on different floors, one on the third floor and the other on the fifth floor. They soon reached the corner where they would have to part ways.
"I'm leaving." Chen Yubai stopped and casually waved his hand, his eyes showing his usual composure. "See you at noon."
"Okay, see you at noon." Peng Chengyi nodded, watched his figure disappear into the halo of light at the stairwell, then took a deep breath and turned into her own examination room.
-
The three-day college entrance examination felt like a long yet short race.
When the bell rang to signal the end of the final exam, Peng Chengyi let out a long sigh of relief. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her chest, bringing a sense of relief mixed with an indescribable emptiness.
Her high school career ended just like that.
With mixed feelings, she packed her pencil case and followed the crowd out of the examination hall.
The midday sun was intense and dazzling, and the air was filled with lighthearted chatter and relieved laughter.
Amidst the surging crowd at the entrance of the teaching building, she spotted Chen Yubai at a glance. He was leaning lazily against the dense shade of a sycamore tree, and when he saw her looking over, he casually raised his hand and waved to her.
Peng Chengyi immediately quickened her pace, almost running to him: "Weren't you taking an exam on the fifth floor? How come you came down before me?"
"Maybe it's because I handed in my paper a few minutes early." Chen Yubai smiled casually, his tone as relaxed as if he had just finished a regular pop quiz.
"...Seriously?! You're still putting on airs during the college entrance exam!" Peng Chengyi glared at him speechlessly. "Can't you just check it a couple more times honestly?"
"I've checked it many times already, staying any longer would just be a waste of time." He shrugged innocently.
"Impressive." Peng Chengyi clicked her tongue in amazement, and walked side by side with him towards the school gate. Finally, she couldn't help but ask, "Now can we compare answers?"
"Sure." Chen Yubai put one hand in his pocket and nodded slightly.
Two days after the exam, fearing it would affect her performance later, he resolutely refused to reveal a single word, no matter how much she pleaded. His expressionless face showed no hint of how well or poorly he had done.
Peng Chengyi quickly presented several questions and answers that he was particularly unsure about, and after a moment's thought, he gave his response.
After several correct answers, Peng Chengyi's last bit of anxiety completely dissipated, and a bright and relaxed smile appeared on her face.
"Looks like someone did pretty well this time too." Chen Yubai turned his head, a hint of mockery in his eyes.
"Pretty much." She winked mischievously. "I just don't know if I can surpass you again. It depends on how many points I can get on the essay."
"Shouldn't you fulfill your promise to repay me?" He curled the corner of his lips.
“No problem! Pick whatever you want to eat, it’s on me!” Peng Chengyi was in a great mood and answered very readily.
"Just one meal?" Chen Yubai narrowed his long, narrow eyes slightly, his tone languidly drawing out, "Am I too easy to please you?"
"Then what else do you want?" Peng Chengyi tilted her head.
Chen Yubai's thin lips moved slightly, but before he could say anything, he was interrupted by Zhou Lifen, who was waiting at the school gate.
"How did the exam go?" she asked excitedly, her face beaming with anticipation and joy.
"It should be... alright." Peng Chengyi cautiously chose the safest answer, not daring to make any promises.
"It's good that it's alright! Come on, let's go home! Your Aunt Lin took half a day off today, let's have a nice lunch together!" Zhou Lifen happily put her arm around her daughter.
"Wow, this is so rare!" Peng Chengyi exclaimed in surprise, subconsciously turning to look at Chen Yubai beside her.
He casually put his hands in his pockets, but a slight smile appeared on his lips.
-
The band's group chat had just started buzzing after they finished celebrating with the parents—
Zheng Xinyue: "Should we go on a graduation trip?"
Peng Chengyi, who had never traveled with friends before, lit up and immediately replied excitedly, "Yes!"
Zhang Yang: "When? How many days will you be gone?"
Zheng Xinyue: "This weekend? Go for two or three days? It would be best to go before the results come out! That way, no matter how well or poorly you do on the test, you can still have a good time."
Chen Wei: "Time's okay, where to go?"
Zheng Xinyue: "In summer, I want to go to the beach."
Peng Chengyi: "The beach is great! I want to go to the beach too!"
Zhang Yang: "I want to take you to the beach on a naturally sunny day..."
Chen Wei: "Crazy."
Zhang Yang: "Hey! Don't you think it's very fitting for the occasion?!"
Chen Yubai: "Which beach are we going to?"
Zheng Xinyue: "How about Qidao Island, which is closer?"
Zhang Yang: "No problem!"
Peng Chengyi: "Okay!"
Chen Wei: "OK"
Chen Yubai: "
However, since there weren't an even number of girls, none of the hotels they booked seemed quite suitable. Finally, they decided to book a small seaside villa that could accommodate six people.
Thinking that having an extra bed was a bit of a waste, they took the opportunity to invite Ling Baizhou as well.
And so, a few days later, Peng Chengyi, carrying her suitcase, boarded the green train bound for Qidao Island with everyone else.
The carriage was noisy and lively, with the summer sun streaming in through the large windows, casting shimmering spots of light on the narrow tables.
Zheng Xinyue was prepared. She took out a deck of cards and soon set up a game on the small table.
While drinking iced beverages and sharing snacks, everyone played games enthusiastically, with laughter and exclamations of frustration rising and falling.
Peng Chengyi, who had lost the first game and quit, leaned back in her seat, watching the unfamiliar scenery rushing past the window. A surge of heat rose in her heart, and an unprecedented sense of freedom spread through her.
Although she had already turned eighteen during winter break, it wasn't until this moment that she felt she was truly starting to grow up.
You can travel independently with your friends.
You can drink alcoholic beverages.
It seems alright; we're dating openly and honestly.
As this last thought quietly surfaced, she unconsciously glanced at Chen Yubai across from her. He was looking down, his long, slender fingers casually arranging the cards.
As if sensing her gaze, he suddenly lifted his eyelids.
Their eyes met briefly in the noisy air.
Peng Chengyi felt a sudden pang of unease, as if some secret had been uncovered, and hurriedly shifted her gaze back to the window.
However, the next second, the boy's lazy voice drifted out from the noise, carrying a hint of inquisitive amusement:
"Peng Chengyi, why were you looking at me just now?"
-----------------------
Author's Note: [doge]
Thank you to 48695427, uoow, Sunshine, Leventseleve, 咸鱼不想翻身,又下雨, and XUANER for providing the nutrient solution!
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