Chapter 39: A Brief Reunion
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Chapter 39: A Brief Reunion
He Suisui looked at Bai Li’s smile and could not help blinking. She looked Bai Li up and down several times before exclaiming in a daze, “Pear, you’ve gotten prettier over the summer!”
Bai Li froze. “Huh?”
“Really! Your dark circles are gone, your hair is so much smoother, and your skin is fairer. Most importantly, you look more energetic. You were pretty before too, but somehow you didn’t look as good as you do now! That’s wonderful! This must be what the elders mean when they say someone has grown into their looks. You’re so beautiful!”
A little embarrassed, Bai Li smiled. “Thank you. I really hadn’t noticed.”
She was not being modest. She truly had not paid much attention. She had only noticed that her dark circles were much lighter whenever she looked in the mirror. In Lingjiang, she had never suffered from insomnia during the summer. Once a person slept well, their health improved, and naturally they looked better too.
But her face was not what occupied her thoughts, nor did she feel particularly delighted. Being attractive was useful, but doing well in her studies was far more useful to her.
In the early autumn of September, Bai Li carried her textbooks everywhere. She never found the trouble too much when it came to asking her classmates and teachers about those obscure, difficult problems again and again. She dared not rest for even a moment, hoping that a year of hard work would bring a good result.
Perhaps all high school seniors worked themselves to the bone like this, striving to secure a promising future.
But Bai Li was certainly among the most hardworking of them all. She even silently recited formulas while eating in the cafeteria, and whenever she went home on weekends, she locked herself in her room.
Only before bed did she take out her phone to check it. Several days passed, yet Fang Ye still had not answered her question. He had only asked how she was doing.
He must have been very busy.
Bai Li thought of the bank card. She did not dare use it, nor had she checked how much money was inside. If she ever saw Fang Ye again, she would return it to him.
The summer in Lingjiang had felt like a beautiful dream. Although only a few days had passed, Bai Li already felt that the memory was as hazy as something from the previous year. Her world was too bitter and suffocating for her to revisit anything too beautiful.
Yet she had never expected that the day she saw Fang Ye again would come so soon.
…
The cool autumn of October arrived quickly, and the summer heat vanished from the entire city without a sound.
Class Three-Year One was the top class, and every teacher was a senior educator. Standing at the lectern, they solemnly addressed the students.
“Students, a new month has arrived, and the day of the national college entrance examination is drawing closer. I believe the students in our class are all among the finest at First Private High School—or, to put it another way, you are among the best students in the entire city of Jiang. Do any of you have a target university in mind?”
The students below loudly called out the names of the universities they had set their hearts on. Their unwavering efforts over the past three years were all for the sake of entering the finest institutions and fulfilling their ideals.
The teacher smiled. “Most of your target schools are still universities here in Jiang. That is good. Several of our universities are among the very best in the country. Not only are they close by, but your scores are close to what they require as well. When you have time, I suggest you visit the nearby universities and see what your target schools are like.”
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Bai Li had not yet decided which university she wanted to attend, so she remained silent.
Her deskmate, He Suisui, had settled on her goal long ago. She wanted to attend Jiang University!
Jiang University was the third-ranked institution of higher education in the country. It had produced countless talented graduates and was the dream school of students taking the college entrance examination from every corner of the nation. Naturally, the competition was fierce, and many who failed to get in were left without a placement.
When they were dismissed for the weekend on Friday, He Suisui suggested that Bai Li accompany her for a visit. She even called Mrs. Hu to ask for permission.
When it came to other people’s children, Mrs. Hu was always exceptionally warm. Not only did she agree at once, but she also invited He Suisui to come over to their home more often.
Everyone knew that He Suisui’s father was a government official.
With the benefit of He Suisui’s connections, Bai Li gained another leisurely afternoon.
The two of them took a bus to the entrance of Jiang University.
Vast, cold, and solemn—that was their first impression of the university.
Bai Li gazed at the wooden lantern hanging above the school gate and inexplicably felt a faint connection between this place and herself.
After they explained their situation to the guard at the entrance, he warmly let them in.
Gray walls and black-tiled roofs surrounded buildings of every style, each bearing its own plaque. The campus was peaceful and tranquil. At its very center stood a massive scholar tree, its branches spreading so widely that they blotted out the sky, symbolizing the vitality of life.
He Suisui was overjoyed. She took Bai Li by the hand and had her take a photograph of them beneath the tree. Smiling, she said, “This is wonderful. I’m going to get into this university.”
Bai Li took several more pictures of her with the phone. But just as she looked up, she heard several girls passing behind them, chatting about their troubles.
“It’s so annoying. I ran into a handsome guy right after breaking up. I mean the incredibly handsome one at the school gate today. He must be from our university, right? He was really handsome! I wanted so badly to go up and ask for his contact information.”
“He probably is… But I think he might be an exchange student. He came here to study and interact with us as the new-student representative from Qing University. He’ll be leaving soon.”
Bai Li had no interest in handsome men. The most attractive person she had ever seen was her older brother.
He Suisui, however, was interested. Unfortunately, they searched the entire campus without seeing a single breathtakingly handsome man, and as it was getting late, they could only give up dejectedly.
By the time they reached the school gate, many people were waiting at the bus stop.
Bai Li took out her phone and prepared to call a car to take her home. She had just opened the ride-hailing app and entered the address when He Suisui excitedly grabbed her hand and pointed toward the person standing at the school gate.
“Pear! A handsome guy!”
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Bai Li followed the direction of her finger and looked up.
The moment she saw the man’s face, her entire body went still.
She had seen only a blurred profile, and before she could get a clear look, the man turned around and faced away from them. From that fleeting glimpse, he… looked remarkably like Fang Ye.
He stood beside the marble wall at the school entrance, with many people accompanying him.
Bai Li still did not dare to believe it, afraid that she had mistaken him for someone else.
After staring blankly for a long while, she hurriedly took out her phone and sent Fang Ye a message.
[Brother, I just saw someone who looks a lot like you at the entrance of Jiang University.]
Then she fixed her gaze on the man, watching him intently as she waited for his reaction.
The gentle light of dusk fell upon him.
The man took out his phone and glanced at it. Then he slowly turned around.
His eyes swept over everyone nearby, carrying a trace of surprise and bewilderment. His handsome, delicate brows and eyes lifted slightly, and at last his gaze settled on Bai Li.
He Suisui nearly went mad. Clutching Bai Li’s hand tightly, she cried out in a high, shrill voice, “The handsome guy heard the cry of my heart! He’s looking over here!”
Bai Li could not move. She simply stared blankly into the man’s eyes, watching helplessly as he walked toward her.
Beside her, He Suisui whispered even more excitedly, “He’s not just looking over here—he’s walking over!”
Bai Li nodded stiffly.
It really was… it really was Fang Ye.
He had changed again, despite the short time that had passed. He was no longer wearing his earring, and a fine new scar had appeared along his brow bone.
A little reunion has arrived.
End of Chapter
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