Chapter 19 Chapter 19 The Second Wish
The weather was getting hotter, and with the Gaokao approaching, even the homeroom teacher had become more gentle with the students. Even after school, Li Shanyue still spent a long time at school. With the Gaokao approaching, he couldn't concentrate on studying at home. On weekends, he often spent time in the library.
"Why doesn't Auntie go to see him?" Jinglin asked.
He was sitting in a convenience store outside the library with the middle-aged woman. She looked a bit like Li Shanyue. When Jing Lin saw her for the first time, he felt that she looked familiar.
"I can't disturb him now. Let's wait until the college entrance examination is over. After all, so many years have passed..." Li Shanyue's mother smiled sheepishly: "Thank you for taking care of him during this period. It's great that he has a friend like you."
That day, Li Shanyue's mother stopped him outside, and the two chatted for a while. After Jinglin learned her identity, they exchanged contact information. Later, the two contacted each other more frequently. Jinglin helped Li Shanyue's mother arrange accommodation and shared some of Li Shanyue's life at school with her.
Jinglin also learned about Li Shanyue's mother.
After the divorce, Li Shanyue's mother was unable to secure custody due to financial constraints and was barred from visiting her children. Whenever Li Shanyue's father learned she had come to visit, he would violently beat her. After a few such incidents, she stopped showing up. She sent money to Li Shanyue every month, hoping he would live a better life, but she wasn't sure if he would receive it.
Later, she left the city to pursue a career elsewhere. Li Shanyue's father blocked all contact information and moved away. Li Shanyue's mother was unable to find her again until she saw the news about the incident in the square and learned of her child's current situation. However, she didn't have the courage to return.
Just two months ago, she saw news about Li Shanyue again: he and Jinglin stood side by side to receive an award. Calculating the time, Li Shanyue would have become an adult shortly after the college entrance examination. She wanted to ask Li Shanyue if he was willing to leave the city with her.
No matter what, Li Shanyue's mother was still homesick. She was afraid that her child would forget her in the next few years, and she was also afraid that her child would still hate her. No matter what, she should not disturb Li Shanyue before the college entrance examination.
Seeing her child grow up tall and strong, she has cried secretly many times.
Jinglin quietly pushed the tissue in front of her.
With only three days left until the college entrance exam, Jing Lin asked Li Shanyue, "What are your plans after the exam?"
"Find a part-time job." Li Shanyue counted on her fingers. "Three months, that should be enough to earn at least a semester's tuition."
After going to college, he didn't plan to ask his father for money anymore. Unfortunately, his father took away the bonus for his bravery. By then, he could do some part-time jobs, get scholarships, and find ways to make some money. It should be no problem to get through college.
"Have you decided which school to apply to?"
Li Shanyue is leaning towards a school farther from home: "Looking at my scores, and for majors, I'd prioritize those with high employment rates."
"Don't you have any major you want to study?"
"I don't have any particular favorite major, and the main purpose of going to university is to prepare me for entering society and improve my ability to adapt to it. It doesn't matter what I study."
Li Shanyue also has clear plans for the future. For him, the most important thing is to ensure his own life first.
The last day before the college entrance examination.
It was already eleven o'clock in the evening. School had ended early today, and all the other students had left early, but Li Shanyue was the last one to leave. He walked across the bridge, his schoolbag on his back, the river flowing quietly below, the dim light of street lamps flickering across the water.
Li Shanyue, carrying her schoolbag, suddenly stopped and said, "That's where I met you."
System 05 leaned against the railing and looked down.
"A lot has happened in the past year or so." Li Shanyue said, "Thank you."
System 05: "Have you figured it out?"
Li Shanyue nodded seriously. "You're right. I should seize the opportunity to be happy. The pursuit of happiness shouldn't rely on the love of others, and I shouldn't pin my hopes on others."
System 05: ...Isn’t this too clear?
"Luckily, I understand this before it's too late." Li Shanyue said, "After the mission is completed, will you leave immediately?"
System 05 said gently, "At least I'll wait until you finish the college entrance examination."
What it didn't say was that the mission had been completed, and after meeting Li Shanyue's mother, Jinglin's favorability reached its highest level.
The mother's love for Li Shanyue filled in the last piece of the puzzle.
"That makes me happy too." Li Shanyue closed her eyes and leaned slightly towards it, as if leaning against it. "I'm just an ordinary person. Meeting you is a miracle I never imagined... I will remember you forever."
The college entrance examination lasted for three days. The weather was always good, with a breeze blowing through the treetops, quiet and clean.
"I feel pretty good. I performed normally." When the last subject was over, Li Shanyue said, "I should be able to get into the school I want."
System 05: [May your wish come true, host.]
Li Shanyue smiled and put down her pen at the urging of the ringing bell: [My high school life is over.]
System 05 did not respond. When Li Shanyue walked out of the classroom and the sunlight fell on his face, he suddenly thought, whose response am I waiting for?
He walked out of the school in a daze. There were many parents waiting outside. When the candidates came out, the parents would give their children a hug with a relieved smile on their faces. But none of this had anything to do with Li Shanyue. He lowered his head and was about to leave when he suddenly found a middle-aged woman standing in front of him.
Li Shanyue raised his head.
Tears flowed down his face unconsciously, he opened his eyes wide, the soreness in his chest quickly spread to his limbs. When the woman saw him crying, she couldn't say a word she had prepared before, and subconsciously stretched out her arms and hugged him tightly.
After several years, Li Shanyue still remembers her mother's breath, so simple and so warm.
"Shanshan, Shanshan..." His mother called his nickname, her voice tinged with tears: "I'm back, Mom is back."
Li Shanyue didn't want to cry. He bit his lips but still couldn't stop sobbing. He felt extremely sad, as if another emotion was suppressed. It was not until he heard Jinglin's voice beside him that he embarrassedly broke free from his mother's arms.
"Today is a good day." Jinglin handed him a tissue and said, "Shanyue, congratulations."
Li Shanyue looked at Jinglin, and suddenly a strange feeling filled his chest.
Jinglin said, "Let's not stand here anymore. Let's find a place to sit down and talk."
Li Shanyue's mother nodded as well. Li Shanyue realized that they actually looked quite familiar. Jinglin said, "Your mother came to see you earlier, but she didn't want to disturb you before the exam."
He explained what had happened, and Li Shanyue finally understood why his mother hadn't heard from him in the past few years. Naturally, he hadn't received the money she had sent him. When his mother asked him if he wanted to go with her, Li Shanyue said, "Mom, I can't make up my mind yet..."
Li Shanyue's mother held his hand: "I know, I know, it's okay."
After sending Li Shanyue's mother home, Jinglin and Li Shanyue walked side by side. The streets were full of slogans related to the college entrance examination, which made people realize very clearly that a stage of life had ended.
Li Shanyue took the initiative to break the silence: "What are your plans for the future?"
Jinglin: "I will go to the same university as you." If both of them perform normally, their scores will not be too different.
Li Shanyue paused and asked in a low voice, "Will your parents agree?"
"Perhaps it would be better for me to go my own way rather than repeating their path." Jing Lin suddenly stopped and looked at Li Shanyue intently. Li Shanyue turned her head, and the green shade cast brilliant spots of light on Jing Lin's face.
"Shanyue, you gave me courage." Jinglin held out his hand to him: "Will you come with me?"
Li Shanyue blinked, feeling touched and delighted. He had liked Jinglin for a long time, and Jinglin's confession brought tears to his eyes. Their hearts were finally together. Moreover, Jinglin had already confessed his love before...
Li Shanyue suddenly felt confused. Why didn't he agree when she confessed her feelings to her before?
"...Okay." Li Shanyue was about to respond, but at this moment, a hand came across, grabbed Li Shanyue, and clamped his wrist tightly.
Gong Yuan stood between the two of them, his face pale. He stared at Li Shanyue and asked, "Where is it?"
Li Shanyue: "What?"
He found himself with an inexplicable aversion and fear towards Gong Yuan, but they were clearly good friends, and Gong Yuan had always been a pitiful and pampered young master, so where did this aversion come from? Thinking of this, all of Li Shanyue's feelings towards Gong Yuan quickly faded.
"Ha, as expected." Gong Yuan let go of his hand and looked up at the sky. System 05 had disappeared.
It seems that he lost this time.
Jing Lin: "Gong Yuan, what are you talking about?"
Chen Mu didn't have the heart to care about them now. Deep in his soul, he kicked the thick cocoon: [Are you planning to hide here for the rest of your life?]
The cocoon shook a little: [...You're leaving? I don't understand... Are you still going to chase me...]
【You should first figure out your own life. 】
[No, I can’t get out…]
"Only you can open this cocoon. You've been hiding inside for a long time." Chen Mu stared at the cocoon and said, "Gong Yuan, I'm returning your body to you."
Jing Lin found that Gong Yuan stood there blankly for a while, motionless as if his soul had left his body. He called out twice in worry, and Gong Yuan's body suddenly fell down without warning.
Fortunately, Li Shanyue and Jing Lin reacted in time and supported Gong Yuan. Jing Lin gently patted his face. After a long time, Gong Yuan slowly opened his eyes.
The pair of dark eyes remained the same, like washed obsidian, but Li Shanyue suddenly felt unfamiliar with him, as if seeing him for the first time.
Jinglin felt that this kind of Gong Yuan was more in line with the image in his memory.
"Are you okay?" Jinglin asked worriedly.
"I had a very long dream." Gong Yuan said softly.
...Now, the dream is over.
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