Chapter 67
Chapter 67
The crowd was stunned. Are all the boys from Chenyang No. 1 High School this fierce? Coming here to make friends (flirt with girls)?
I don't know if he's genuinely making friends or just trying to flirt, but the way he talks is just... brave!
The general public is paying close attention.
Ye Chuyang clenched his fists, his whole body tense, teetering on the verge of exploding. But what grounds did he have to explode...?
Some girls might like this kind of greasy performance, but not Shen Qingyuan. Shen Qingyuan definitely wouldn't like this kind of person!
Shen Qingyuan said slowly, "Excuse me, it's inconvenient. Also, our classmates are studying, please leave."
Before Guo Dingkun could react, she finished speaking and sat down, continuing with her own business. Where did she come from? She was completely baffled and confused.
Those two cold words sounded as clear and cold as moonlight to Ye Chuyang, like heavenly music.
Sitting next to Shen Qingyuan, Song Ting teased with a smile, "Handsome, you should leave first. If it's really necessary, I'll give you my QQ number!"
"And mine too. Hehe!"
A boy in the back row chimed in, and Shen Qingyuan recognized the voice as Ye Chuyang's.
At this moment, Ye Chuyang felt a little sorry for this guy from another school. How embarrassing! Coming here to make a fool of himself.
Several other boys who looked down on Guo Dingkun taunted him in a defiant tone, saying, "Yeah, mine's fine too, bro. Let's be friends!"
"Make friends"? That just means you want to annoy him. Guo Dingkun isn't stupid; he can tell. He was originally quite pleased with himself, but it turns out Shen Qingyuan doesn't even look at him.
Before he became enraged, he was a little confused. He had excellent grades and was good-looking, making him a favorite among classmates and teachers since childhood. In junior and senior high school, quite a few girls had feelings for him, both openly and secretly.
This is the first time in my life I've been treated so coldly by a girl. Absolutely heartless!
No taste whatsoever!!!
He came to this conclusion in his mind, and yes, this was the most logical conclusion.
"I'll remember you, Shen Qingyuan! Alright, let's see who comes out on top in the exam. Let's see who has the last laugh."
After saying this, Guo Dingkun took long strides and fled as if escaping a famine.
"The best students are like this? No wonder No. 1 High School is like this!"
"Go Shen Qingyuan! Show this kid what you're capable of!"
...
Someone started clapping twice, and the classmates spontaneously joined in. They were excited, excited, as if they had won a battle.
Shen Qingyuan smiled helplessly and shook her head. These people are just too idle.
Previously, Shen Qingyuan had maintained a very low profile in class, rarely speaking and only concerned with her own affairs, aiming to consistently rank first in science. Suddenly, she felt that everyone wasn't unrelated anymore. It was more like a big family.
This can be interpreted as follows: on that day, everyone who clapped and laughed was silently saying to Shen Qingyuan, "I have your back!"
Since the real test is in the exam, let's all keep working hard. We can't let someone like Guo Dingkun get away with it!
Shen Qingyuan was filled with excitement and felt even more motivated.
Later, I heard that Guo Dingkun underperformed in the college entrance exam and ended up going to a university in Shanghai, which of course has some very good universities. However, after making such boastful claims, and ultimately failing to get in, he still seemed a bit embarrassed. But that's another story.
-
A few days later, Ye Chuyang finally found a suitable opportunity and called Shen Qingyuan to the playground after the evening self-study break and morning exercises.
Evening morning exercises actually take place around the teaching and administration buildings, where the lighting is better. The playground is pitch black at night, and the teachers are worried that the students might fall.
The two walked one after the other from the small square in front of the administration building to the playground a few hundred meters away.
Shen Qingyuan rolled up her sleeves and went to the horizontal bar area on the playground to stretch her legs. The night wasn't too dark tonight, and a beautiful moon hung in the sky.
She stretched her legs for a while, and seeing Ye Chuyang still standing there, she asked in confusion, "What do you want to see me about, Ye Chuyang? Just tell me!" Shen Qingyuan suddenly remembered, "Oh right, you gave me too many thank-you snacks. Thank you, but you don't need to send any more. It was just a small favor, no need for such a big gift!"
She smiled, the moonlight shining on her face, giving her a unique and radiant look.
“Song Ting has already gained weight. If you keep sending her to eat, she’ll become a little fat girl.”
It's easy to gain weight in the final year of high school, especially with the stress and uncontrolled emotional eating. Even Shen Qingyuan herself felt she had gotten a bit rounder lately. Girls always prefer to be slim.
There were only a few people scattered around the playground. Some were walking in groups, while others were running alone.
Ye Chuyang was a little nervous. He didn't dare get too close to Shen Qingyuan, afraid of being seen. Boys and girls standing so close together easily attract attention. That's how it is in small, less open-minded high schools; the social atmosphere is conservative.
But the girl was so radiant and innocent, without a trace of shyness or timidity, and without any ambiguity or affectation.
Ye Chuyang wasn't sure if now was a good time. He was anxious yet excited. It was as if he was carrying a huge secret in his chest, and if he didn't reveal it soon, he felt his mind would be completely occupied, making it impossible for him to study properly and improve every day.
This is what confessions of love are like: those involved often can't think rationally and can't control themselves. They can't even judge the success rate from various signs in advance.
Therefore, their behavior often appears impulsive, and they seem immature due to anxiety and tension.
We can't delay any longer. Ye Chuyang felt a sense of crisis.
The fox-eyed science student from No. 1 High School was a minor factor; moreover, he felt he had achieved a small success. It's rare to feel so triumphant in life. He wanted to seize this opportunity and press his advantage. Perhaps luck would continue to be on his side.
Seeing that Ye Chuyang still didn't speak, Shen Qingyuan went over and continued to pull the rings.
Her body was suspended in the air, and she used both hands to pull herself up. When she was in elementary school, she could do more than a dozen pull-ups. Later, she had more homework, and her body became heavier and less agile during puberty, so she didn't do it as much.
"Hey, Shen Qingyuan, watch out."
Ye Chuyang quickly moved closer, spreading his arms to prevent her from falling, as if he could help her up.
The girl chuckled. This person is quite interesting.
She did a few pull-ups, and when her arms got sore, she jumped down.
"Alright, evening self-study is about to start. Is there anything else you want to say?" Shen Qingyuan took a few steps closer and stood in front of him.
She smiled, her tone kind. But she didn't give that Guo Dingkun such a friendly look.
Who hasn't been young and impetuous? Who hasn't been bursting with confidence? Ye Chuyang thought: She probably doesn't dislike me, and might even...like me?
Now is the time.
Suddenly, Ye Chuyang's heart became unusually calm.
"Shen Qingyuan, I passed the provincial unified art exam a few days ago."
Shen Qingyuan said "Oh," as if she had heard that art students had such an exam, but she didn't know much about it.
"Congratulations! It's clear you have a talent for this field."
When she was a child, Shen Qingyuan also studied painting, music, dance, and calligraphy. But she stopped studying them after a while. She really didn't like dance and music, and she couldn't sit still to paint. She barely persisted with calligraphy for two or three years.
Nan Lan was once frustrated, feeling that she and her husband were both art lovers, especially her husband Shen Jing'an who worked at a cultural center, so how come their daughter didn't seem to have any artistic talent?
Fortunately, my daughter quickly showed her interest and talent in learning. She was first in her class from elementary school onwards, and she won easily without ever attending any tutoring classes.
Therefore, Shen Qingyuan genuinely felt that Ye Chuyang was quite impressive to pass the art entrance exam in just three months. She probably couldn't have done it herself.
"Shen Qingyuan, thank you. If it weren't for your encouragement, I might have given up long ago."
The boy's eyes were bright, reflecting the moonlight like two small flames. He looked down into Shen Qingyuan's eyes. He was very tall, and although Shen Qingyuan was not short, she still had to look up to see his eyes.
She sensed a hint of intensity in that gaze, which probably had nothing to do with passing the standardized test.
There was something strange about the atmosphere, Shen Qingyuan thought. She looked away.
“I haven’t told my parents about this yet. Because…” He paused, taking a deep breath instinctively, “the first person I want to share this with is you.”
Back in junior high, it wasn't uncommon for boys to pass Shen Qingyuan love notes. Some even folded colorful paper stars, put them in glass jars, and sprinkled them with gold powder. Shen Qingyuan was late-blooming and oblivious; these childish displays of affection didn't satisfy her vanity, only annoyed her.
Perhaps the refusal was too harsh, causing the little boy to turn away and cry.
Starting in high school, Shen Qingyuan noticed that the clothes in her wardrobe were becoming old and dull, quite different from the colors and styles that teenage girls liked.
Nan Lan also told her to focus on her studies. As for dating, she should go to university. If she went to a good university, why would she be afraid that the boys there wouldn't be good enough?
It's likely that the wardrobe was also Nan Lan's doing; it was a precaution she took to prevent any potential problems!
Actually, Nan Lan was worrying unnecessarily. Shen Qingyuan thought that Nan Lan was a bit old-fashioned and not interested in hormone-driven high school romances. Wouldn't it be better to use that time to sleep more and do more practice problems?
Surprisingly, Shen Qingyuan, dressed in a uniform school uniform and clothes from her grandmother's old trunk, still managed to attract attention.
"...Okay, I understand." Before the conversation could become clear, Shen Qingyuan tried to slip away. "Evening self-study is about to start, I'm leaving now."
As she turned to walk away, Ye Chuyang reached out and grabbed her wrist. He had done the same thing during the sports meet—times repeating themselves!
"Shen Qingyuan...wait a minute!"
Shen Qingyuan turned her back to him and froze in place.
"Actually, I also want to tell you that I like you. For you, I want to go to university in Jicheng. I don't know what the future holds, and I don't expect you to reciprocate my feelings right now. I just wanted to tell you this."
It's not that I don't want a response. It's just that I feel inferior, utterly hopeless. I say I don't expect anything, but how can I not?
The boy's voice was soft, his breath coming in short gasps from nervousness and excitement.
Shen Qingyuan had never experienced such urgency. She seemed to only have an observer's mindset when it came to such matters. However, she was still somewhat shocked.
She turned her head and stared at him intently.
The moonlight shone on his well-defined face, a very handsome face, especially his profile. His eyes sparkled like jewels, his nose was high and straight, and his lips were soft.
Shen Qingyuan pulled her wrist away, feeling embarrassed. She didn't find it particularly annoying, maybe a little bit.
Years later, when Shen Qingyuan looked back on her words and actions, she could only sigh. She should have learned from the "scumbag" man: neither taking the initiative nor refusing, and not taking responsibility. That way, perhaps Ye Chuyang's budding young heart would have been less harmed.
“Ye Chuyang,” she said, “if you want to get into a good university, don’t waste your time here. Your time is important, but my time is even more important.”
Amid Ye Chuyang's embarrassment and astonishment, Shen Qingyuan walked away.
She wasn't good at dragging things out. Rather than giving the other person fragmented hope and letting herself continue to be "harassed," she'd rather cut off the idea decisively, quickly, accurately, and ruthlessly!
This is good for him too; he doesn't have to be anxious and insecure, controlled by hormones, or chasing after an unattainable love. He can focus more on his studies, which is far more important than dating.
But for some reason, on the day the college entrance exam results came out, Shen Qingyuan specifically asked Song Ting about Ye Chuyang.
I vaguely remember that he scored over 400 on the exam, which is quite good for an art student. Later, I heard that he was admitted to the prestigious Jicheng Film Academy, so after all the twists and turns, he ended up in Jicheng.
Ye Chuyang was probably heartbroken that night, because even though they were in the same city later, neither of them took the initiative to contact the other.
Whether his choice of Jicheng as the city for his university studies was due to Shen Qingyuan himself, or because Jicheng was a nationally renowned cultural city with top-notch film and television schools and a thriving film and television industry, Shen Qingyuan could not know.
Years later, she finally got the answer.
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