CM - 27

Friday was the school anniversary, and Guoda Affiliated High School opened its gates. Outsiders with tickets were allowed to enter.

Zhou Xiyou, who had managed to get a ticket from somewhere, even went backstage at the performance hall and gave Li Gun a large bouquet of fresh flowers: “Good luck.”

Li Gun refused: “Take it away.”

Zhou Xiyou had just received her diagnosis this morning, and the certificate was still warm in her bag. She took it out and showed it to Li Gun: “Two months ago, I had a nosebleed that wouldn’t stop. I thought I’d eaten too much abalone. I got it checked and found out it was cancer, and late stage at that. Isn’t that ridiculous? So, can you take me on, considering how pathetic I am? My skills are pretty good; I’ve even won international awards.”

Li Gun held her diagnosis certificate, unconsciously stood up, and didn’t dare to look at her. He didn’t have the courage. He was afraid to see her smile, and also afraid not to see her smile.

The stage manager came in to call Li Gun. Li Gun apologized to Zhou Xiyou and left first. He was escaping.

Zhou Xiyou stayed backstage for a while, then went to the restroom. While washing her hands, she ran into Zhou Shuirong. She remembered her; Shen Tingwen said she was his girlfriend. She sized her up and down. She was indeed very beautiful and looked like she came from a wealthy upbringing, but she lacked a certain pampered fragility.

Zhou Shuirong didn’t look at her. She finished washing and left. Before she even reached the door, Zhou Xiyou leaned back and fell. Zhou Shuirong saw it in her peripheral vision and quickly grabbed her waist. Looking at her face, it was already covered in nosebleed, a glaring bright red. Without thinking twice, she hoisted her onto her back and ran to the infirmary.

The school doctor immediately knew what was happening: “This child has a serious illness; call 911.”

Zhou Shuirong knew that too; she had already called on the way, but it would take time for them to arrive, and she couldn’t keep bleeding: “Let’s stop the bleeding first.”

The school doctor handed her the registration form: “You register first.”

Zhou Shuirong wrote her name on the registration form.

The bleeding stopped, and the ambulance arrived. Zhou Shuirong went with the ambulance to the hospital.

On the way, Zhou Xiyou woke up, saw Zhou Shuirong, and even smiled at her: “Was I saved by my love rival?”

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Zhao Guqing’s trio’s performance was scheduled later. When it was almost their turn, Zhu Jiayi looked out and came back, shaking her head. Shen Tingwen hadn’t arrived yet, nor had Zhou Shuirong. Were they together?

Liang Jifan saw her about to get emotional again and said, “Those two are orphans and wildlings; they’re quite a match. Don’t get involved. Focus on your performance, then focus on your studies. That’s what’s important.”

Zhao Guqing twisted her fingers: “I just want him to see me dance.”

Liang Jifan was about to lecture her again, but Zhu Jiayi pulled him aside and whispered, “Don’t say anything. Don’t you know she learned to dance just for Shen Tingwen? This is her last chance to dance in high school. Even if it’s not just for him, she still hopes he sees it.”

Liang Jifan thought women were so complicated. For him, if he couldn’t get a girl, he wouldn’t pursue her anymore. Wasn’t that more carefree?

He walked back to Zhao Guqing and said, “If I get Shen Tingwen to watch you dance, will you then be able to settle down and study seriously?”

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Shen Tingwen had never attended any school anniversary, and this year was no exception. While others were performing or watching, he was sleeping in the classroom.

Liang Jifan found him and dragged him towards the performance hall.

Shen Tingwen shook off his hand, “Get lost.”

Liang Jifan said, “Don’t you know Zhou Shuirong also has a performance? It’ll be her turn soon.”

Did Shen Tingwen not know if Zhou Shuirong had signed up for a performance? Liang Jifan came to him, and he didn’t even need to think to know it was for Zhao Guqing: “Come up with something more believable.”

Liang Jifan couldn’t hide it from him. For the first time, he spoke to him so humbly: “I know you don’t like Zhao Guqing, and I know you’re not wrong to reject her. But if possible, I hope you can be a little more subtle. Don’t ruin her, okay? Please, I’m begging you.”

Shen Tingwen leaned his lower back against the stone table: “How can I be subtle?”

Liang Jifan said, “She has only one wish: for you to watch her dance. She’s naturally uncoordinated, but because you once said ‘dancing’ in a campus interview when asked about future hobbies, she’s been dancing for three years. The few times she missed were still to watch you play basketball. No matter how many people there are, she’s always the first to see you. As soon as she sees you, she blushes and gets nervous, her palms sweating.”

He thought carefully: “She knows what you like to eat better than you do. She knows your zodiac sign, your blood type. Every day she checks your fortune. If your fortune says you’ll have bad luck, she’ll take it for you. Every one of her books is filled with your name. Cross-stitch, lucky charms, whatever was popular in school, she made for you. She poured out her passion for you, and you never accepted any of it, but she still kept giving, unable to stop.”

As Liang Jifan spoke, he was also startled. It turned out Zhao Guqing liked Shen Tingwen that much.

Shen Tingwen thought of Zhou Shuirong. Zhao Guqing was a little better than him; she could still see the person she liked. For many, many years, he could only look at a few photos of Zhou Shuirong.

Liang Jifan offered him a pack of cigarettes: “Give me some face, Young Master.”

Shen Tingwen came back to his senses and agreed.

Liang Jifan breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Don’t worry, once you watch this performance, I’ll force her to give up.”

As they spoke, they exited the teaching building. They hadn’t walked many steps when Jing He ran over, out of breath: “Bro! Zhou Shuirong was taken away by an ambulance! I heard the school doctor tell the director that she has a serious illness. Is a serious illness like cancer or a tumor?”

Shen Tingwen turned and ran towards the school gate.

Liang Jifan watched him run away like the wind, his emotions complex.

Zhao Guqing, Zhao Guqing, what can you compare with Zhou Shuirong? Your orphan life? Find someone else to like; it’ll save you from being hurt to death.

Back in the performance hall, the stage was lively, the audience applauded and cheered. How harmonious it was. No one paid attention to whether those smiling faces were forced. Everyone tacitly agreed to try and be happy on such a day...

Zhu Jiayi saw that Liang Jifan hadn’t brought the person over and didn’t mention it, saying to Zhao Guqing, “It’s almost our turn, get ready.”

Zhao Guqing didn’t see the face she could draw with her eyes closed behind Liang Jifan and lowered her head.

She knew it was time to give up.

This was the first time she had the courage to tell herself to give up. Tears fell from her eyes, soaking her dance costume. Three years, the person buried in her heart for three years had to be dug out. Her tears seemed unstoppable.

Zhu Jiayi saw her shoulders shaking, knowing she was crying. She wanted to go over but was held back by Liang Jifan’s arm: “She has to get through this herself.”

Zhu Jiayi sighed: “If only she would switch to liking someone else, she wouldn’t be so miserable.”

“What you’re saying is nonsense. She just won’t change. What can anyone do?”

“I wonder if this will affect her ability to like others in the future. I’ve read in novels that many girls who suffer heartbreak in school take years to heal.”

“She’ll be fine,” Liang Jifan said, looking at Zhao Guqing’s sobbing back.

Zhu Jiayi then looked back at him: “Why don’t you and Qingqing get together? You know each other well, and it’s quite reliable.”

Liang Jifan said, “Don’t bring up these silly ideas. If I were interested, neither of you would escape. The problem is I’m not. I’m not afraid of harming others, but I’m afraid of harming you two. Just for that, I know the three of us are destined to be like siblings from different parents.”

Zhu Jiayi laughed: “At least you haven’t lost your conscience.”

Zhao Guqing still danced her heart out at the school anniversary. Although the audience she expected didn’t show up, dancing for herself was also good. With this dance, she also bid farewell to her past, humble self.

But in her youth, there would always be a shining boy, a bit strange, a bit cool, excellent, and as elusive as the wind.