“2018.06.17”
Thus, that summer ended.
I walked to your side.
—Excerpted from Tao Shuran’s Diary
After the last subject exam finished, the mood when walking out of the school gate was much calmer than imagined.
It felt like youth had ended just like that, unnoticed, ending in this endless cicada-chirping midsummer.
Tao Shuran carried her backpack and walked slowly outward. Before she even reached the school gate, she was startled by the crowd of enthusiastic parents surrounding it.
Zhao Zhengnian had long been standing outside, accepting interviews.
As the first student to rush out of the exam hall, the major media outlets naturally held up their cameras and surrounded him.
He wasn’t stage-frightened at all. He smiled and answered every question.
“The paper difficult? Not bad. The hard ones, I just wouldn’t know.”
“I came out first not because I’m awesome, but because the ones I didn’t know, I really didn’t know.”
“Gaokao’s just like that. Nothing to it.”
…
Tao Shuran couldn’t help but let out a “pfft” laugh and quietly walked past him.
Outside the exam hall, Tao Hongfeng held a bouquet of sunflowers and stood at the entrance waiting for her.
When he saw her come out, he quickly stuffed the flowers into her arms.
It must have been tough for her socially anxious dad, a big guy holding a bouquet for so long.
On the way home, Tao Shuran asked, “Dad, how did you think of buying me flowers?”
Tao Hongfeng replied casually, “Saw other parents buying them on the road. Striking first and gaining the upper hand—that imagery’s great. Though Dad couldn’t help with the qipao and auspicious start thing, sending you a bunch of sunflowers is no problem.”
Tao Shuran looked down at the bouquet, sighed softly, pressed her face close to Tao Hongfeng’s back, and asked with a touch of melancholy,
“Dad, do you think my wish can come true?”
Tao Hongfeng thought she meant getting into university.
Without thinking, he answered, “It definitely will. Our Ranran works hard at everything she does. She’ll surely get what she wants.”
But liking someone wasn’t something effort alone could make happen.
Tao Shuran fell silent.
She sat quietly on the back seat of the electric scooter, feeling the wind from the tail end of summer slip in through her clothes, making her heart swell with a sour, wistful sense of loss.
The day the Gaokao results came out was Tao Shuran’s birthday.
When the day truly arrived, tension inevitably spread no matter what.
Early in the morning, Fang Qingyi called, chattering on about how the questions this time were really hard and she felt like she got none right.
Tao Shuran said softly, “It’s okay. I got several wrong on the English cloze passage this time.”
“What!” Fang Qingyi said righteously, “Student Tao Shuran, you actually betrayed our no-answer-checking alliance.”
Tao Shuran whispered, “Sorry.”
After the Gaokao ended, the real answers flew everywhere online. Determined not to let it affect their moods these days, Fang Qingyi proposed that none of their five should check answers against each other or discuss the papers.
Zhao Zhengnian waved his hand. “Don’t worry. I forgot the answers the moment I left the exam hall.”
Fang Qingyi followed up from behind, “It’s fine. Your answers aren’t worth referencing anyway.”
“I feel like I won’t get into Qing University.”
Tao Shuran sighed softly. “Math was harder than I imagined. I didn’t perform well on English either.”
“Actually, even if it’s not Qing University, it’s fine. Fuqing City has lots of universities. As long as you stay in Fuqing City, you’ll have chances to see him.”
Fang Qingyi comforted her. “You’ve already worked hard enough, Ranran. Don’t overthink it. Let’s go out tonight!”
“Isn’t score-checking at eight tonight?”
“I don’t dare check alone.” Fang Qingyi wheedled. “Accompany me. You’re the birthday girl today—with your good luck blessing us!”
Tao Shuran said, “Okay.”
Fang Qingyi said cheerfully, “Then I’ll call Fu Changpei and the others to come play too. I haven’t seen him in days.”
Tao Shuran teased, “So wanting to check scores with me is fake. Wanting to see a certain someone is real, huh.”
“This is for your own good too.” Fang Qingyi muttered. “Liang Yuanjing just got back from America yesterday. Don’t you want to see him?”
Of course she did.
Tao Shuran hesitated a bit. “Little Yi, what should I wear?”
“Leave it to me.”
Fang Qingyi promised boldly, “Come to my place. I’ll make you stun everyone.”
…
“Okay, mission accomplished.”
The powder puff set the concealer under her eyes. The brush’s leftover powder swept across her cheeks. Fang Qingyi looked quite satisfied at her afternoon’s work.
“Oh my god, Ranran, you have no idea how stunning you look dressed up.”
Tao Shuran blinked and looked toward herself in the floor-to-ceiling window.
She was so pretty that she almost didn’t recognize herself.
Her fingers gently pressed her cheek. Suddenly, her mind flashed to what Fang Qingyi had told her a couple days ago—the rumors about Liang Yuanjing’s ideal type.
Bright and bold, with a personality that challenged everything. He most appreciated courage and fearlessness.
Everything opposite to her.
At that thought, her excited eyes drooped, dimming. Even her anticipation lessened a bit.
After arriving at the restaurant, she had no appetite. Her chopsticks lifted a few times and then dropped.
In this anxious state, time finally neared eight o’clock.
With half an hour left, everyone gripped their phones tensely in the private room.
Zhao Zhengnian waved his phone around everywhere. Fang Qingyi got irritated by his footsteps and kicked him.
“Can you stop pacing?”
“I’m just trying to find the best signal spot.”
Zhao Zhengnian asked bluntly, “Did you estimate your score? Planning to apply where?”
“No estimate. No idea.”
Fang Qingyi said listlessly, “With my grades, isn’t it the schools picking me?”
“How about we all stay in Fuqing City.”
Zhao Zhengnian glanced at her, coughed uncomfortably, and gave a very high-sounding reason.
“Our mutual aid group can’t split up.”
“I’m definitely staying in Fuqing City. Worry about yourself.”
As Fang Qingyi chatted, she noticed the seat next to her was empty and asked puzzledly, “Where’s Ranran?”
Liang Yuanjing had been sitting next to her playing on his phone the whole time. He lounged lazily on the sofa. Hearing this, he finally chimed in.
“She went out.”
“Is Tao Shuran okay?” Fu Changpei asked a bit worriedly. “You can tell her state isn’t great today.”
“She’s too nervous. You haven’t seen how much pressure she’s put on herself this year—studying like crazy.”
Fang Qingyi said in an exaggerated tone, “When doing her makeup this afternoon, I kept covering her dark circles.”
Fu Changpei sighed. “She has real grit.”
The kind of grit that never admitted defeat.
Ten minutes to eight, Liang Yuanjing went out.
Zhao Zhengnian asked casually, “Where to, A Jing?”
Liang Yuanjing said flatly, “Wash hands.”
“Awesome. As expected of our future captain. Great mental fortitude—no tension even with scores coming.”
Zhao Zhengnian threw an arm around him. “Come on, together.”
“No.”
Liang Yuanjing grabbed his collar. “Stay here.”
Nearing eight o’clock, Tao Shuran felt her heart about to jump out of her throat.
The food she’d eaten sat wrong. She couldn’t hold it in and threw up for a bit, then leaned against the wall, clutching her waist and gasping.
In the corner of her vision, a figure appeared.
Tao Shuran knew who it was.
Her fingers subconsciously dug into her palm. She turned her face away, trying to use her hanging hair to block his gaze.
Liang Yuanjing reached out. “Tissues.”
Tao Shuran immediately took them, saying softly, “Thanks.”
Liang Yuanjing was very considerate; he’d brought individually packaged wet wipes. Tao Shuran pulled one out, wiped her face. The faint mint scent dispersed the clogged feeling in her throat.
She turned around and subtly straightened her clothes.
When she looked up again, Liang Yuanjing had vanished from sight. He was like a gust of wind, lingering in her life for only a fleeting moment.
But even that moment was enough to warm her entire world.
When Tao Shuran went out, Liang Yuanjing stood in the corridor outside the private room, slowly peeling candy wrappers.
He moved leisurely, as if killing time. His downcast eyes hid his emotions.
Tao Shuran hadn’t expected him to still be outside.
Her spirits lifted. She lightened her steps and slowly walked to his side.
“Why not go in?”
Liang Yuanjing lifted his chin. “Too noisy.”
Sure enough, right after he spoke, screams erupted from the private room. First Zhao Zhengnian shouted that he’d gotten his scores, then Fang Qingyi shrieked that her network was lagging.
At this crucial hour, Tao Shuran suddenly lacked the courage to check her own score.
“So desperate to get into Qing University?”
His sudden question startled her. She let out a soft “mm” and rubbed the sweat on her palm.
Liang Yuanjing glanced at her.
Then suddenly asked, “Why?”
Why was he suddenly curious about her?
Maybe her obsession with Qing University seemed too presumptuous.
Tao Shuran smiled self-mockingly. “Because only by getting into Qing University can I stand shoulder to shoulder with him.”
“Like him that much?”
Liang Yuanjing had a candy in his mouth and was peeling another. He’d just been about to hand it to her when he heard that, frowned slightly, and pulled his hand back.
“You liking him doesn’t mean you’re beneath him.”
“But the person I like is outstanding. Exceptionally so.”
Tao Shuran gazed into his eyes and said softly, “He has dreams and dares to chase them. His grades are top-notch too. I want to follow him, keep up with his steps.”
Flight Class had someone like that?
Liang Yuanjing chuckled and remarked casually, “Love really is a great thing.”
It could make this quiet girl’s eyes shine, make her strive desperately regardless.
Seizing the moment, Tao Shuran quietly asked him, “What about you?”
“What?”
Tao Shuran suppressed her wildly pounding heart and asked, “If you like someone, what would you be like?”
Liang Yuanjing thought for a moment and said very seriously, “I’d bend down. I’d bow my head. The one I like is unparalleled in the world.”
How wonderful.
The girl he liked must be so happy.
Tao Shuran took a deep breath and pulled out her phone from her pocket.
The lit screen illuminated her anxious face. Amid her racing heartbeat, she couldn’t tell if it was from Liang Yuanjing’s nearness or the tension of soon knowing everything.
“Check it for me.”
Tao Shuran bit her lip. “They say you’re lucky. Let me borrow some—just as my birthday wish today.”
“Scared like this.”
Liang Yuanjing scoffed, took the phone, swept his idle gaze over her face, didn’t refuse, pulled up the score-checking site, and handed it back for her to enter her account and password.
Tao Shuran’s fingertips trembled as she entered the password.
After finishing, she immediately turned away—like fleeing, like final cowardice.
After a while, no sound.
Tao Shuran calmed her nerves and secretly peeked, asking softly, “How is it?”
“Are my scores enough for Qing University?”
“Well…”
The drawn-out tone carried a playful smirk. Tao Shuran didn’t open her eyes and couldn’t see the mischief on the youth’s face. She just felt her heart leap to her throat.
She couldn’t help urging, “It’s okay. Even if it’s bad, I can handle it.”
A low chuckle sounded. Liang Yuanjing’s voice was like a broadcaster’s—clear and resonant, lingering by her ear.
“Tao Shuran, your dreams came true.”