See you next year
When school started on New Year's Day, many people were concerned about how Tan Zhao performed in the competitive exam. People familiar with him, strangers, classmates, and teachers all came over to ask him a few questions. Tan Zhao always said modestly, "It's okay, I performed normally."
Students who were not familiar with Tan Zhao did not understand the value of "normal performance" in his words. Chen Xiyu knew that Tan Zhao was a man who spoke seven out of ten times accurately. The fact that he could say that he performed normally meant that he had actually done very well.
Without the pressure of the physics competition exam, Tan Zhao's pace became much more fulfilling. It can be said that his high school life was truly the same as that of ordinary students. After class, he no longer practiced and corrected sets of test papers, and he rarely opened his thick notebooks and correction books.
On a sunny afternoon, during a self-study class, the sun was shining outside. Although it was cold in the morning and evening at the end of January, it was still warm in the afternoon with the sun.
The central air conditioning was on in the room. When Chen Xiyu was thinking about a problem, she heard a laugh next to her. She then noticed that her deskmate was flipping through an extracurricular book that seemed to have nothing to do with studying. He was absorbed in reading it, with sunlight shining on his hair.
Chen Xiyu asked: "What book are you reading?"
Tan Zhao's smile was still there as he turned the cover to show her, "This is the text 'Border Town' that our Chinese teacher taught last time. I happened to see it when I went to the bookstore last time and bought it."
"Does it look good?"
Tan Zhao said confidently, "Not bad."
Chen Xiyu stared at him for a few seconds and said, "Tan Zhao, I always feel that you are now the fresh and lively young man of your age."
Tan Zhao didn't understand and joked, "So you're saying I was lifeless before?"
Chen Xiyu didn't explain much, "Before, you didn't follow your heart."
Before the last class in the afternoon, Tan Zhao and Xie Yanzhi went out to buy things together. When they came back, Tan Zhao brought a bottle of Coke.
He poked Chen Xiyu who was correcting his mistakes. Chen Xiyu didn't turn around and asked, "What are you doing?"
Tan Zhao: "Look at me."
Chen Xiyu was having a headache at the moment because she had gotten a lot of multiple-choice questions wrong, and she was not in a very good mood.
Turning around, "Look at you, then what?"
Tan Zhao opened his palm, and a one-yuan coin was placed in it.
Then, under her gaze, he asked her, "Which university do you want to go to?"
Chen Xiyu thought about it. She had long wanted to study in a southern city, such as Suzhou. Who doesn't have a dream?
Tan Zhao saw her hesitation and said, "Don't overthink it, Chen Xiyu, just tell me your first choice."
"Su Da."
Tan Zhao paused, "You want to go to Suzhou?"
Chen Xiyu nodded and said, "I like that city very much."
Tan Zhao: "Okay."
In a flash, Tan Zhao threw the coin into the air, and it spun 360 degrees before returning to his palm. Chen Xiyu was curious about whether it was heads or tails.
Chen Xiyu came closer and asked, "Let me see, is it right or wrong?"
Tan Zhao: "No need to look at it, have you ever heard a saying?"
"Make a wish on the coin, and happiness will come to you on both sides. Chen Xiyu, your wish will come true."
Chen Xiyu met the boy's firm and serious gaze and nodded as if to encourage herself.
Maybe the coin really worked, and it was first reflected in Tan Zhao.
In early February, during the first class in the morning, the head teacher came to the class with a happy look on his face and called Tan Zhao. At that time, their class was having a chemistry class.
The chemistry teacher adjusted his glasses and looked at the delighted head teacher. "Is this good news?"
The head teacher replied with a chuckle: "That's good news indeed."
The classmates in the class also began to speculate whether Tan Zhao’s ranking in the competition exam had been announced.
When Tan Zhao returned, his expression was the same as when he left. With five minutes until the end of class, Chen Xiyu couldn't help but ask him, "How was it?"
Tan Zhao: "The teacher said..."
Chen Xiyu: "Hey, what are you talking about? Hurry up and tell me." She felt that she was even more nervous than the person involved.
"First place."
Chen Xiyu was shocked and asked, "Nationwide?"
Only then did Tan Zhao reveal a faint smile, "Yeah."
"Oh my god, you're amazing, Tan Zhao! You're number one in the country! You're number one in the country! So, did you get in by recommendation?"
"Yes, I was admitted to the Young Physics Scholars Class at University A."
Chen Xiyu excitedly shook his arm: "Damn, you're awesome, classmate!"
Some students who came later were also excited when they found out. Some of them turned around to congratulate us. They were the first group of people to come and congratulate us.
During the breaks between the next few classes, almost everyone in the grade knew about it and came to congratulate him on his good grades, saying that he was amazing and a genius.
Tan Zhao has been busy dealing with teachers and classmates these days, and Chen Xiyu has no time to talk to him.
The bulletin board on campus also posted the good news that Tan Zhao won the first place in the high school student group of the National Physics Competition and was admitted to the Erudite Class of A University. A photo of Tan Zhao, who was cool and handsome, was posted on it. The boy still had bangs in the photo at that time, but now he has cut his bangs, making him less childish and more sharp like a boy.
Chen Xiyu looked at the classmates in the congratulatory notice. There were ten of them in total, seven of whom were in their third year of high school, and only three were in their second year of high school. Among them, Tan Zhao was the second one who had both won the award and been admitted by recommendation, and the other one was a girl in her third year of high school.
Chen Xiyu is truly proud of them.
When she was reading the good news, she didn't notice that there was a boy next to her. It was not until the boy spoke that she felt familiar. It was Meng Qianfan.
His voice was filled with self-mockery and dejection. "I wish I were a genius like them. As long as I work hard, I can get everything I want, grades, rankings."
She seemed to remember that Meng Qianfan should have also participated in the competition, but she did not see his name on the congratulatory notice.
Chen Xiyu originally wanted to leave after watching, but after taking two steps, he thought of something, turned back and said to him.
"Meng, you may not remember me. We were classmates for a while in high school, so I remember you. You just said, 'It would be great if I could be a genius like them.' But I don't think it's just that. In my eyes, you're also a genius classmate. You learn everything very quickly and well, even better than Tan Zhao in some aspects."
Meng Qianfan looked at her, not expecting her to say so much.
"But in the end, Tan Zhao still won first place and was admitted to the university. He got everything."
"Mr. Meng, what I'm trying to say is that it's not just geniuses who can achieve this. Rather than the word 'genius,' I think Tan Zhao is more suited to the concept of 'hard work before sweetness comes'. He's also been through endless rounds of exams, and when he got stumped, he even refused to eat or drink. Back then, I saw him filling his stomach with bread, and one time, while eating, he accidentally bit into his eraser. While you acknowledge others' talents, they've also walked a long way behind the scenes."
Meng Qianfan remained silent, lost in thought: "Has he also had these moments?"
"So I believe that when you feel that hard work outweighs talent, you will get what you want just like him. This is what Tan Zhao gave me, giving me strength and courage."
Chen Xiyu ran away. In a corner where no one could see him, Tan Zhao, holding a can of newly bought Coke in his hand, listened to the whole thing silently.
Time flies. In the second semester of their second year of high school, they have finished all the textbooks for the three years of high school and are caught up in a tedious and boring round of review.
One morning, Tan Zhaohe and his homeroom teacher came back from the office. The homeroom teacher patted him and Tan Zhao stood on the podium.
"Everyone, I'm Tan Zhao. I have to say goodbye to you all here. I'm very happy to join our Class 3 family in my second year of high school and spend a short but wonderful time with you all. As you all may know, I was fortunate enough to be selected by the A-level general election. The arrangement they gave me is that I will need to attend the A-level erudite class to adapt and attend classes in advance. I believe that you will all have a bright and beautiful future."
"We'll meet at the top. I wish you all good review and good luck on the college entrance exam." Tan Zhao bowed deeply, and the audience burst into warm applause.
When Tan Zhao returned to his seat, many people said goodbye to him and expressed their reluctance to leave him.
Chen Xiyu didn't look up, her hair was down.
After Tan Zhao dealt with the farewells of several classmates, he wanted to talk to her, but Chen Xiyu was doing her homework and ignored him.
"Chen Xiyu?"
"Um."
"I'm leaving now. You won't have a desk mate anymore. Are you doing math?"
"I'm so annoyed, Tan Zhao, it would be better if you leave!" Chen Xiyu's voice was angry, and also a little nasal, as if he had a cold.
Tan Zhao lifted her long hair back, revealing Chen Xiyu's red eyes.
"Are you crying?"
Chen Xiyu turned away, "Who's crying? Don't be so narcissistic."
Tan Zhao: "The one with the red nose is a puppy."
Chen Xiyu continued writing the topic, "You're about to leave, and you still care if my nose is red. You're telling me so late, do you treat me as your deskmate?"
Tan Zhao sighed helplessly, "I just found out about this a while ago. My mom called Lao Yao. It was my mom who arranged this."
After two classes, Tan Zhao had almost packed up his things. His desk, which used to hold two piles of test papers and a few books, was now empty, with only a notebook and a pen. Tan Zhao had packed up a schoolbag and a box of books.
"What time are we leaving?" Chen Xiyu asked.
"My mom said it'll be around eleven, so I might just leave in time for your class."
Then, Tan Zhao rummaged through his schoolbag and took out two boxes of medicine.
"This is cold medicine, and this is anti-inflammatory medicine. I heard your voice is a little hoarse, and you kept coughing during class. The weather has been getting colder recently, so take good care of yourself. If you have a cold, take some medicine. It's good to take precautions. These are what my mother prepared for me before I went to school."
Tan Zhao continued to instruct, "Take three cold medicine pills three times a day, and two anti-inflammatory pills twice a day. Cold medicine will make you a little sleepy..."
Tan Zhao kept talking. Chen Xiyu stopped writing and interrupted him, "Tan Zhao, why are you acting like an old woman?"
Tan Zhao smiled, a faint smile. "You won't be able to hear my nagging anymore."
Chen Xiyu turned away her eyes, this time her eyes were really red.
"Goodbye, have a safe trip."
The last class in the morning was English. I still remember that when Tan Zhao first came to this classroom, his first class was also English.
The head teacher called him, "Tan Zhao, your mother is here."
"Tan Zhao, come out."
Some classmates sighed: "What a beautiful mother, she is like a sister."
Time seems to be particularly gentle to Tan Li, and there is no trace of time on her. She is naturally good-looking and has taken good care of herself.
Xie Yanzhi took the initiative to say: "Teacher, I can go and help Tan Zhao move the boxes."
"Thanks, brother."
"That's too polite."
Tang Qingjia happily agreed to Xie Yanzhi's request and said with emotion: "Time flies. I remember that when Tan Zhao first came here, his first class was English. Now he has achieved good results and is heading for a bright future. He also left in English class. I wish you a bright future. We should all learn from Tan Zhao."
Tan Zhao: "Thank you, teacher."
Chen Xiyu saw the boy carrying a bag on his back, the same as his usual back when he left school, but this time it was a separation and she didn’t know when they would see each other again.
Chen Xiyu stood up and said, "I'll help you move it too."
Tan Zhao turned his head and said, "No, it's quite heavy. It's just a short distance."
Chen Xiyu saw the confiscated notebook and pen on his desk, and when he just stood up, she shouted: "Hey, what's on your desk!"
He waved his hand, "It's yours now."
Chen Xiyu was stunned. It turned out that the cowhide notebook and a brand new pen that had never been put into the schoolbag were gifts for her.
Chen Xiyu put the notebook on her desk. It was a very beautiful notebook. She opened the first page and saw a familiar and beautiful small calligraphy with a sentence written on it: "To Chen Xiyu."
"Idiot, don't you know how to sign your name?"
Chen Xiyu gradually got used to the empty seat next to her, although she felt empty at first and didn't know who to ask when she had questions. No one would get her some hot water, and no one would enslave her to keep watch over him while he was doing physics problems in Chinese class.
Her life revolves around studying, eating and resting.
One day, Chen Xiyu took out the fountain pen that Tan Zhao gave her. Although she was not used to using fountain pens, she decided to give it a try.
When I opened the pen cap, I felt something was inside.
Chen Xiyu poured out the contents of the pen cap, which turned out to be a very small piece of paper that had formed a ball.
Chen Xiyu unfolded the note.
"Stupid, look at the second-to-last page of the notebook, near the seam."
Chen Xiyu was stunned. He took out his notebook and found the second to last page.
It was still the same beautiful small regular script, happily writing a line of words.
"Suzhou and City A are not far away, Chen Xiyu, no matter how far you go, I will wait for you for one or two years."
Chen Xiyu's breathing became heavier and her heartbeat became faster and faster. She covered her mouth and a line of tears fell.
The undercurrent of youth eventually becomes a boat that crosses mountains and seas.
Tan Zhao, flowers bloom and fade, we will see you next year.
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