The breeze blew, the clouds drifted, the leaves were green—everything was beautiful.
[First Part: Chapter Ten – He is a Shining Star]
Time passed quickly; another week had gone by.
On the weekend, Yu Xiaoyan leaned by the window, observing the scenery downstairs. Na had been truly happy recently, her smile overflowing with charm at the corners of her eyes and mouth. Yu Xiaoyan was genuinely happy for her.
However, Ji Ran’s situation was not good. All she could do was advise him to rest more, as the surgery could not be delayed any longer. Returning to England seemed inevitable.
Suddenly, an intimate pair of figures downstairs caught Yu Xiaoyan’s attention. It was Song Chu and Lin Yichen, the new campus flower. She was leaning on Song Chu’s shoulder, laughing happily. Song Chu looked down at her, his gaze filled with doting, his smile gentle. He must be happy.
“What are you looking at?” Na’s gentle hands rested on her shoulder, her soft breath surrounding her.
Yu Xiaoyan smiled without speaking, her eyes fixed on the tall figure in a snow-white T-shirt outside.
Na understood. “They seem to have been together for about two weeks.” She laughed at the thought.
“No, he’s not someone who doesn’t know how to cherish!” The urgency in Yu Xiaoyan’s tone startled her.
Na looked at her in surprise, and Yu Xiaoyan turned her face away.
The phone rang.
“Hello?”
“……”
“Uncle Ji… hello.”
Uncle Ji? Na perked up her ears to listen.
There seemed to be a woman’s loud voice on the other end of the phone.
“No, I really didn’t mean that…” Yu Xiaoyan’s face turned pale.
“……”
“Auntie, please believe me, it’s not what you think.”
“……”
“Okay, I will persuade him. Goodbye.” After hanging up, Yu Xiaoyan leaned on the desk, her eyelashes heavy, and two crystal tears fell.
“What happened?!” Na was anxious.
“Nothing.” She looked up, her face bearing a pure smile. “Let’s send Ji Ran back to his parents!”
“Go back?!!!”
……………
The annual campus cultural festival was in full swing…
In the classroom, only Ji Ran and Yu Xiaoyan were reading. The quiet room was shaded by a towering tree beside the building.
Ji Ran and Yu Xiaoyan wore couple MP3s, each holding a book. She wore a light green chiffon skirt; he wore a light green T-shirt. They exchanged soft smiles and occasionally held hands, sensing each other’s fingertip warmth.
The scene was beautiful.
After a while, Ji Ran moved.
He reached out to massage her neck.
“You should go to the meeting,” Ji Ran reminded her.
“Hm?” Yu Xiaoyan’s head was still in the book.
“You should be going to a meeting.”
It’s 4:05, and Yu Xiaoyan suddenly jumped up from her chair. “Right! I have a meeting…” she exclaimed before rushing out, her small green skirt corner floating behind her.
Ji Ran watched her with a doting smile.
In the meeting room, when Yu Xiaoyan arrived, Song Chu was already late, standing straight as the teacher scolded him. Upon seeing Yu Xiaoyan rush in, the teacher’s expression changed; such “outstanding” students were rare.
Song Chu turned his head and stuck out his tongue at Yu Xiaoyan, who laughed in response. Despite the teacher’s stern demeanor, their laughter filled the room.
“Enough! You…” the teacher started.
Two pairs of beautiful eyes stared at him.
“Go back to the meeting!”
“Classmates, after this cultural week, our semester will end. I hope everyone submits a satisfactory answer sheet for themselves. This time, the organization department, led by Song Chu, will take initiative while other departments will cooperate fully…”
Yu Xiaoyan sat in the back row, watching Song Chu conduct the meeting seriously. No matter where he was, he was a shining star!
After the meeting, a familiar sunny voice called out, “Xiaoyao!” She stopped. A large hand extended a thick stack of papers towards her.
“What’s this?” Yu Xiaoyan asked, suspiciously flipping through them.
“These are several activities…”
Because I’m participating myself, I can’t directly plan them, so I’m handing them over to you to handle, okay?” Song Chu’s bright eyes fixed on her.
“So many??” Yu Xiaoyan muttered under her breath, not looking at Song Chu.
“How about these,” he raised his eyebrows, offering more in front of her.
“Okay, okay!!” Yu Xiaoying surrendered, muttering softly, “Thinking you’re a superhero!”
“I have one more requirement!” Song Chu looked at her seriously, his eyes carrying barely concealed heat. “If I come first in all the programs you plan, I’ll get my own birthday gift!”
Yu Xiaoying found herself stunned again.
He stood in the sunlight, his hair standing proudly, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, eyes pressing her, his lips pursed nervously awaiting her response.
“Okay!” she finally said.
Song Chu’s face revealed a child-like smile. “Then let’s work hard!!” He patted her shoulder forcefully.
Watching his departing back, Yu Xiaoying thought, “Goodness, his birthday is the week after next! Hmph, I’ll let you be first?”
“Oh my God!” Qin Na exclaimed, “Song Chu is first again!” He was first in the environmental knowledge contest, speech competition, and essay writing.
“So he’s actually this excellent!” Qin Na sighed.
Yu Xiaoying felt a bit discouraged, but inside, a tiny bit of joy surrounded her. The activities she planned had him first in all of them. She remembered his sparkling eyes and tightly pressed full lips, along with that birthday gift.
“What are you talking about?” Ji Ran smiled, walking over and gently putting his arm around Yu Xiaoying’s shoulder.
“Hehe,” Qin Na played dumb.
“There’s a debate competition I’m hosting tonight. Will you come watch?” Yu Xiaoying asked Ji Ran.
“Is this the last activity you planned?”
Yu Xiaoying’s response was muffled; she wasn’t sure why she felt reluctant to let go.
“I’ll go!” Ji Ran smiled, appearing like a kind prince. “I’ll be right down there, watching you!”
Seeing Ji Ran’s smile, a sour emotion brewed in Yu Xiaoying’s heart, and she fought back tears.
Qin Na admired Ji Ran’s smile, pondering if this was a fairy tale.
The wind blew, sunlight shining on the three. It illuminated Ji Ran’s gentle smile, Yu Xiaoying’s effort to smile while hiding her emotions, and Qin Na who witnessed it all. The air was filled with the sweet smell of love and a hint of summer’s bitterness.
An exciting debate competition on the topic: “Is modern love eternal or just a momentary possession?”
On stage, Song Chu was eloquently debating. Meanwhile, Yu Xiaoying and the judges were nervously discussing and scoring. In the audience sat Ji Ran, Qin Na, and Song Chu’s girlfriend, Lin Yichen.
“The road of life is long, walking hand in hand, growing old together. If not long ago I thought love must be eternal, now I believe that love needs fulfillment. No matter what kind of love, as long as it’s been experienced, it’s beautiful! So even the briefest love can be eternal,” Song Chu concluded.
Thunderous applause followed. He didn’t look at Yu Xiaoying, but he was speaking to her. Yu Xiaoying didn’t look at him either, but her back stiffened, and her hand trembled slightly.
Ji Ran glanced at Song Chu, his expression cold. Qin Na cast a worried look at Ji Ran, whose face remained expressionless.
It was time to announce the result. Everyone turned to the host—Yu Xiaoying. The outcome seemed obvious. She walked weakly onto the stage, head lowered, her expression unreadable.
She raised her head, smiled, and took a deep breath. “Today’s debate was wonderful, and I believe everyone has gained a deeper understanding of love. Now I announce the result, the winning side is—”
Suddenly, the hall went completely dark!
