Chapter 6 Rainy Day "Be passionate, indulge, and never give up...
September 4, 2017: Cloudy and turning to heavy rain
Be passionate, be fanatical, and never give up.
——Excerpt from Tao Shuran’s Diary
*
At this moment, Tao Shuran's heartbeat lost its rhythm.
She lowered her eyelashes, hiding all her throbbing emotions and pretending to be calm and fine.
Now that we have set up a study group, we must study seriously.
Before entering the learning state, Fu Changpei analyzed their respective learning problems and improvement directions for them.
He was very familiar with Fang Qingyi and Zhao Zhengnian, and he could understand where they were lacking without looking at the test papers.
He hesitated for a moment when evaluating Tao Shuran, and thinking of some words he had heard recently, Fu Changpei handed her his other notebook.
"These are the notes I took during a round of lectures this summer. If you want to improve in the short term, you can memorize the key points in this book first."
Tao Shuran said "hmm": "Thank you."
Fu Changpei smiled slightly: "We are all friends, no need to say thank you so many times."
"I looked at your test paper. You're lacking in the fundamentals of liberal arts. Your essay is pretty good, but it seems like you didn't grasp a lot of math and physics."
Tao Shuran nodded: "I have never been good at science, so my mother made me study liberal arts."
"Then take a look at this paper. If there's anything you don't understand, I'll teach you how to do it again later."
Fang Qingyi said anxiously: "What about me? What about me?"
"I can't be hopeless, can I?"
Fu Changpei looked over her paper again, this time speaking much more sharply. He told her directly and frankly, "You're just lazy. You didn't memorize the formulas or grammar, and you even went off topic in your Chinese composition."
"Then please write down the formulas I need to memorize. I'll take them home tonight and memorize them." Fang Qingyi put on a pleading look. "Teacher Fu, please help me. My dad said that if I rank last in the class in the next monthly exam, he'll stop giving me pocket money."
"But I just promised to help her with the questions." Fu Changpei was a little embarrassed.
"Oh, why don't you just let Liang Yuanjing teach her? Liang Yuanjing is a science genius who got full marks in math."
Fang Qingyi turned around and looked at Tao Shuran, and asked her, "Ranran, can you let Liang Yuanjing teach you the questions you don't understand later?"
"……OK."
The study group was divided into two groups with amazing efficiency, and Fang Qingyi quickly moved from her position next to Tao Shuran to Fu Changpei.
The emotions expressed by the girl are fresh and bright.
Tao Shuran suddenly envied her, envied her for her fearlessness in facing anything.
"Which question do you not know?"
Tao Shuran was stunned for a moment, as if she didn't expect Liang Yuanjing to really put down what he was doing to teach her.
The thin test paper became hot at this time. She pursed her lips, lightly touched a big question at the back with her fingertips, and then quickly retracted her finger.
Liang Yuanjing opened his eyes and glanced at her lightly, asked her for a pen, pulled a piece of paper from the side, glanced at the question and wrote down the complete steps to solve it.
He handed the paper to her without further ado and said bluntly, "If there's anything you don't understand, just ask."
Unexpectedly, Tao Shuran could understand every step of his solution.
Liang Yuanjing raised his eyebrows in surprise. His problem-solving habits were different from others. He was used to skipping over some points. He didn't expect that the girl in front of him seemed to be very familiar with his problem-solving ideas.
He casually asked, "Have you known me before?"
Unexpectedly, this simple sentence made Tao Shuran panic all of a sudden. She stood up suddenly, her long eyelashes trembling constantly, as if some secret had been exposed and she was unable to relieve it.
Liang Yuanjing smiled.
The voice was suppressed and sounded like coaxing.
"I was just kidding."
*
The first tutoring session ended on time at eight o'clock in the evening. Fang Qingyi's cell phone in her bag rang again and again. Finally, when the third call came, she stood up and said goodbye reluctantly.
Zhao Zhengnian sneered: "When did you become so fond of studying?"
Fang Qingyi made a face: "What do you care?"
When they got out of the supermarket, Fang Qing's car was waiting at the door. Tao Shuran took a glance and saw that it was a black BMW.
"Of course, do you want me to ask the driver to take you home?"
Tao Shuran pointed to the small building inside and said, "I live here."
"I'm so envious of you." Fang Qingyi's eyes were full of stars. "I want to live here too."
Tao Shuran didn't know what was so envious about living here. The alley was very narrow and the light transmittance was poor. It became very dark just after dusk. Cicadas chirped incessantly under the lush sycamore trees, and flying insects flew into the window from time to time, scaring people.
The only advantage is probably that it is lively.
After watching Fang Qingyi get into the car and leave, Tao Shuran slowly walked towards his home.
Fang Qingyi was probably bored, so she sent her a message as soon as she got in the car.
"Of course, your face is so red tonight."
Tao Shuran stopped and subconsciously raised her hand to her face. She was a little flustered, afraid that someone would find out.
"But the yard at Fu Changpei's house is really hot. Next time, we should go somewhere with air conditioning."
"By the way, don't tell Wen Fangfang about Liang Yuanjing giving you extra lessons today."
In order to change the subject, Tao Shuran asked: "Why?"
"Because Wen Fangfang likes Liang Yuanjing, can't you see?"
"Not only Wen Fangfang, but many people like him, so to avoid trouble, it's better not to tell anyone."
Tao Shuran's heart sank slightly, and he said "hmm", no longer in the mood to chat.
She looked up at the falling night. The shining moon and the dim stars would sometimes connect for a moment, but most of the time, the moon and the stars were thousands of miles apart.
…
The yard of Fu Changpei's house is a natural place for stargazing. In the summer, to cool off, there is a woven rattan chair in the yard. Liang Yuanjing crosses his legs and lies lazily on it to watch the stars.
"It's eight o'clock and you're not leaving yet?"
Liang Yuanjing said slowly, "It's boring to go back early."
Fu Changpei scolded him: "You don't know how to appreciate your blessings."
Living alone in the villa area of Zhongshan Mansion, he had free use of the three floors above and below. The young master just needed to wave his hand and there would be many people ready to serve him with food, clothing, housing and transportation.
Liang Yuanjing just doesn't like days like this.
Liang Yuanjing stood up and picked up a bottle of water from the shelf. When he took out his mobile phone to pay, he saw the banknotes pressed on the cash register table.
He pinched his fingers together and turned his head to ask Fu Changpei, "What is this?"
Fu Changpei was stunned for a moment and didn't remember what the customer bought in the evening.
Liang Yuanjing raised his chin and pointed at the drink he had just taken during the study and discussion.
"Tao Shuran gave it to me?"
Liang Yuanjing remained silent.
It was just a few bottles of water, not much money. I didn't expect that the girl didn't show any expression on the surface, but left the money on the counter when she left.
Fu Changpei chuckled: "It's quite delicate."
"I heard that you weren't interested in her on the first day of school?"
"Is this what I said exactly?"
Liang Yuanjing put one hand in his pocket, his eyes dark as stars, "Don't follow those people and spread rumors."
He walked slowly out into the night. Fu Changpei was busy packing up and closing the door. As he pulled down the shutter, he asked him, "Have you finished writing your speech for Monday's opening ceremony?"
“No.”
Liang Yuanjing slowly took out a candy from his pocket, opened it and bit it. His back was tall and straight in the night, and even his voice revealed a nonchalant and casual tone.
"Just say a few words when you get on stage."
*
Rest time always passes quickly. On the last weekend of senior year, Tao Shuran took a taxi to the bus station, where he successfully picked up Tao Hongfeng.
Faced with his uninvited visit, Zhao Yanyun didn't say anything. She just awkwardly took out another bunch of spare keys from her bag, and then hurried to take the subway to work.
Tao Hongfeng's arrival meant that she no longer had to squeeze in time to cook for Tao Shuran at noon every day.
As for Tao Shuran, she could finally have a morning that was no longer chaotic.
Tao Hongfeng's arrival also means the official start of her senior year at the affiliated high school.
When Monday came, Tao Shuran finally had her first steaming hot breakfast. When she got up, she was so sleepy that she could hardly open her eyes.
After opening the curtains, the sky was dim and it felt like it was still night.
Before leaving, Tao Hongfeng stuffed an umbrella in her hand and told her to go home after class because the weather forecast warned of extreme weather and it might rain.
The weather in Fuqing in August and September is as changeable as people's moods. It may be sunny and cloudless one second and stormy the next.
Tao Shuran didn't take it too seriously and went to the classroom at the usual time.
Today is the first day of school, and the school has prepared some ceremony for them - an opening ceremony will be held on the playground at 8 o'clock sharp, with outstanding student representatives speaking on stage, which can also be regarded as a mobilization meeting for the college entrance examination.
From six to eight o'clock, Zhao Zhengnian sat in his seat and prayed.
"Please don't let it rain."
Fang Qingyi's ears were almost callused from hearing this. She said unhappily, "Don't worry, God will hear your prayers. There are people who are more devout than you."
Following Fang Qingyi's gaze, Tao Shuran saw Wen Fangfang sitting in the front row.
She was gathered with a group of girls. At the command of the head teacher, they each took a pen and a notebook in their hands and excitedly discussed what Liang Yuanjing, one of the student representatives, would say.
Tao Shuran walked slowly behind the team, savoring the sudden good news that Liang Yuanjing was going to speak.
The sky was still gloomy, mixed with a damp heat that seemed to be about to rain. It was not a pleasant day.
However, because of anticipation, Tao Shuran's mood improved slightly.
At the opening ceremony, as usual, a row of leaders sat in the front and spoke in turn. The previous process was very boring. The students sat on the ground with no expression on their faces and acted as clapping machines. From time to time, there were cameras circulating to take pictures.
When the students spoke, there was a slight commotion in the crowd.
This vague sense of depression turned into a complete boil after the real protagonist appeared.
Liang Yuanjing was wearing a blue and white school uniform. The zipper was unzipped and it was loose on his body. The microphone was slightly low. He leaned over, revealing a cold white collarbone, raised lips, and smiled generously, causing the girls in the front row to scream.
Feeling that the microphone was too low, Liang Yuanjing adjusted it a few times and then simply took it off and held it in his hand. Even though his standing posture was lazy and casual, one could tell that he was straight and upright due to years of training.
"Classmates, good morning. I'm Liang Yuanjing from the flight class. I'm ashamed to say that I'm the only student who didn't make it into the top three."
Liang Yuanjing paused, then slowly raised the corners of his lips with a playful smile, "So to thank the teacher for his kindness, I decided to get first place in the exam next time just for fun."
The audience was in an uproar.
Only someone with Liang Yuanjing's absurd personality could give such an unreasonable speech. He is the only one in the world who could say such arrogant words as "Just get the first place for fun".
But no one dared to question it.
Because this is Liang Yuanjing, Liang Yuanjing who is known to everyone in Fuqing Junior High School.
On the day of the high school entrance exam, he also said, "Just play around," and ended up getting first place in the province. On the day of the competition, he also said, "Just play around," and ended up becoming the youngest person to get first place in the country.
In the crowd below, someone from the flight class suddenly shouted, "Liang Yuanjing is awesome!"
It was also at this time that the rain that had been lingering all morning suddenly broke out violently. The raindrops fell on my shoulders with a crackling sound, like a warning of an impending war.
The microphone, wet from the rain, made a harsh noise.
The speech was interrupted. Liang Yuanjing, the protagonist, patted the microphone nonchalantly. He tilted his head back, his wet black hair slightly curled, revealing a pair of rebellious eyebrows and eyes, which looked even clearer after being washed wetly.
"After thinking about it, I have something very appropriate to say to everyone."
“Even if the world is wet and raining heavily, our youth will be like a bright lamp, burning endlessly.”
Liang Yuanjing raised his head slightly, chuckled, and nonchalantly brushed off the raindrops that fell on his shoulders.
With his fingers on the microphone, the boy's voice was clear and magnetic.
"Be passionate, indulge, and never give up."
The atmosphere off the court was completely affected by this sentence. The surging rain completely overturned the depressing atmosphere of the third year of high school. Everyone no longer cared about anyone else and imitated Liang Yuanjing's actions to fight against the reckless rain.
In this rain, every student was shouting.
"I must be admitted to Fuqing University!"
"I want to study architecture and become the best female architect in China!"
"Scored 650 in the college entrance exam!"
…
Amidst the shouts, Tao Shuran heard Fang Qingyi, who was standing beside her, shout in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft:
"I really like Fu Changpei!"
She widened her eyes slightly and turned her head to look at Fang Qingyi.
The latter smiled at her: "Of course, what is your wish?"
Tao Shuran was stunned for a moment, his vision slightly blurred due to the wetness, but the young man standing on the stage was still dazzling.
She blinked.
Whispered: "My wish is to be alone."
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