“2018.09.10 Partly cloudy turning sunny”
The more distant, the more one misses.
—Excerpt from Tao Shuran’s Diary
Retribution for lying
had come.
The next day, Tao Shuran’s period arrived early, and the faint pain made her feel very uncomfortable.
She considered taking a day off, but she remembered the teacher saying before school started that multiple absences would result in a failing grade, requiring her to retake training with the next year’s freshmen.
Tao Shuran felt she could endure it.
Perhaps the clarification in the cafeteria had worked, as fewer people paid attention the next day. The hot post had been deleted, and everything sank back into the sea of people.
Only Tao Shuran felt a heaviness in her chest, because she had said in front of Liang Yuanjing that she did not like him.
He seemed indifferent, as if he had not heard. His steps paused for a moment before he casually walked away.
The instant he appeared in the cafeteria, all eyes converged on him. As the other protagonist in the scandal, Tao Shuran had to turn and leave to cool down the hype between them.
Perhaps they could no longer interact as closely as they had in senior year of high school.
At that thought, Tao Shuran felt sad.
By evening training, she had no appetite. She lay on her dorm bed for a while, then grabbed her training cap and headed out when time was up.
The evening temperature had dropped significantly, but they still stood in military posture for twenty minutes as usual.
Today, they temporarily adjusted the square formations, merging several small ones together.
The instructor also rearranged them by height, scrambling the squares and mixing students from different majors.
Tao Shuran spotted an unexpected person.
She blinked. The moment she saw Fu Changpei, she thought, Why isn’t Fang Qingyi here?
He was a bit thinner than in high school, with sharper jawline angles. The low brim of his cap pressed down his forehead bangs, revealing a pair of amber-clear eyes, as cool and aloof as ever.
Fu Changpei also saw her.
Their gazes met across opposing square formations.
The instant their eyes connected, Fu Changpei abruptly lowered his head. His perfect military posture faltered as he shyly shifted his gaze, unable to stop the corners of his lips from curving up.
After training ended, Tao Shuran politely declined her roommates’ invitation to go shopping at the supermarket.
She hesitated in place for a moment. Soon, at the corner on the way back to the dorms, she saw Fu Changpei waiting.
He stood in a patch of shadow untouched by the streetlights, leaving no trace on the road. Unless one looked closely, no one would notice.
“Long time no see, Fu Changpei.” Tao Shuran stopped and greeted him casually. “Military training has been so busy these days. Little Yi and I were planning to treat you to a meal later.”
Fu Changpei’s first words were, “Sorry.”
“Nothing to apologize for.” Tao Shuran comforted him lightly. “Everyone makes different choices. As a friend, all one can do is support.”
“Since you’ve made your decision, let’s grab a meal when you’re free? Everyone’s looking forward to your return.”
Fu Changpei stood quietly in place, looking at her.
This girl who had transferred in during senior year of high school—he often thought of her during those two most dejected months of his life.
She rarely showed defeat. Most of the time, she carried a fierce determination, charging desperately toward a goal.
Back then, he had asked her, “What school do you want to attend?”
Her voice rang out firm and resounding: “I’m going to Qing University.”
In the end, she achieved her dream, turning the impossible into reality.
“Okay.”
Fu Changpei said warmly, “I’d like to see everyone too.”
With that, the conversation wrapped up. Tao Shuran waved goodbye. For some inexplicable reason, she glanced back.
Under the clear, cold moonlight, Fu Changpei stood alone, gazing in the direction she left.
He looked very lonely, devoid of any warmth, as if all his emotions had been taken away that summer.
Tao Shuran sighed inwardly and murmured softly,
“I hope the next time we meet, you’re happy.”
It rained early in the morning, leaving the air damp. Steam fogged the windows endlessly, like a gorgeous dream.
Liang Yuanjing threw off the covers, got out of bed, ruffled his hair casually, and went to the fridge in the living room for a bottle of ice water.
Halfway through drinking, the electronic lock beeped. Lin Tingzhou pushed the door open.
“I’ve told you so many times, don’t drink ice water first thing in the morning. It’s bad for your stomach.”
Liang Yuanjing mumbled in response, set the bottle casually on the table, and glanced at the neat row of mineral water bottles on the sideboard.
He scoffed, “Won’t let me drink it, but buys a whole case? Isn’t that hypocritical?”
“I didn’t buy it.”
Lin Tingzhou thought for a moment. “It must’ve been that kid Tao Shuran. A couple days ago, she came by to pick up some materials from me. I offered her water, but there was none at home.”
Later, when helping her fetch materials again, he hadn’t expected the girl to be so thoughtful and restock them.
Lin Tingzhou was the sloppy sort who got by in daily life, pouring all her meticulousness into cultural relics restoration.
This tiny detail truly touched her, and she praised the girl endlessly.
Tao Shuran.
Hearing her name from someone else’s mouth after days without seeing her felt oddly novel to Liang Yuanjing.
Lin Tingzhou asked casually, “How’s your relationship with her?”
Liang Yuanjing’s gaze lingered on the label for a second.
He said nonchalantly, “About the same.”
Lin Tingzhou laughed. “What do you mean ‘about the same’? Aren’t you friends?”
Liang Yuanjing said expressionlessly, “She said she doesn’t like me.”
“Isn’t that just what you wanted?” Lin Tingzhou teased. “You’ve always hated girls liking you since you were little.”
“What, does this girl like someone else?”
This hit right on Liang Yuanjing’s sore spot.
Why did she have to like someone like that? A scumbag who changed girlfriends like clothes, hooking up with the next one before even properly breaking up.
What annoyed him more was that this had made him vaguely dream about it.
It was the first time in his life he dreamed of a girl. In the dream, she cried heartbreakingly, her eyes red and pitiable, yet she stubbornly said, “I just like him.”
The moment he woke, aside from relief that it was a dream, Liang Yuanjing admitted to a twinge of envy.
Envy toward Xu Yanyang, for having such pure, sincere affection.
“Has the school let you resume training yet?”
Liang Yuanjing gave a low “Mm.”
Lin Tingzhou sounded a bit indignant for him. “I’ll talk to the principal in a bit. It wasn’t even your fault—those girls chased after you themselves.”
Due to the nature of the field, flight training was mostly closed and confidential. But because of Liang Yuanjing’s notoriety, the training grounds were often surrounded by nosy classmates, even some sneaking photos with cameras.
To avoid affecting other students’ training, Liang Yuanjing’s sessions had been suspended, leaving him on standby.
His mood wasn’t great, and her words didn’t console him.
He just hooked the corner of his lip faintly. “I’m used to it.”
It had always been like this since childhood.
Even if he didn’t provoke anyone, it was still his fault.
By evening training, Tao Shuran finally couldn’t hold out.
Halfway through, she clutched her waist and asked the instructor for leave.
Fu Changpei was the first to notice her discomfort. Incredibly attentive, he spotted her pale lips and caught a faint whiff of blood.
He immediately said, “Wait here. I’ll get you some hot water.”
Fetching hot water meant going back to the dorm area, but Tao Shuran couldn’t wait that long. She left a message with a classmate nearby and headed to the supermarket for warmer patches and brown sugar water.
The school supermarket closed promptly at eight. Racing against closing time, Tao Shuran hurried with large strides.
By the time she reached the entrance, the discomfort nearly overwhelmed her.
No warmer patches in sight.
In the summer, they were probably in storage. Tao Shuran planned to ask the owner at the counter for luck. If not, she’d order takeout back at the dorm.
As she turned to go, she looked up and saw a familiar figure.
It was Liang Yuanjing.
He seemed to have just finished exercising, in a crisp white tracksuit outlining his lines, a gray headband at his forehead revealing clear, bright eyes.
Tao Shuran turned her back to him, silently counting down in her mind, timing for him to leave
before she reappeared.
But things didn’t go her way.
The enthusiastic part-time student asked her, “Classmate, do you need anything else? We’re closing soon.”
The noise drew Liang Yuanjing’s attention. He turned his head slightly, his gaze landing for an instant.
Tao Shuran’s heart skipped a beat. When people do something guilty, their senses heighten a hundredfold. His eyes weren’t even on her, but she felt as if he’d already spotted her.
In panic, she bolted, only to clumsily crash into the metal shelf beside her.
With a “bang,” snacks tumbled from the top shelf.
Tao Shuran bit her lip, gave up fleeing, and crouched awkwardly to pick them up.
Slender, pale fingers brushed her hand. Liang Yuanjing’s casual touch. He slowly crouched beside her to help pick up the items.
Then he asked leisurely, “You’re avoiding me, Tao Shuran.”
It wasn’t a question.
Tao Shuran’s heart thudded. Her face paled instantly, her whole body swaying unsteadily.
Was it worth it for a guy?
Liang Yuanjing slowly raised his head. Before he could speak, he swiftly steadied her shoulder.
“Why’s your face so pale?”
“I’m fine.” Tao Shuran pressed her lips tight. “Just feeling under the weather. I’ll rest and be okay.”
Liang Yuanjing eyed her for three seconds, arms crossed.
Until Tao Shuran looked up awkwardly and said, “You go ahead. I’ll be fine in a bit.”
He was certain: She couldn’t stand.
“Come on. I’ll take you to the hospital.”
In the emergency room of Fuqing City First People’s Hospital, Tao Shuran quietly lowered her gaze, watching the IV drip flow.
Liang Yuanjing stood outside making a call, probably requesting leave from school.
After a while, he came over with the paid receipt, his tone emotionless.
“Tao Shuran, it’s enteritis. Not period pain.”
Tao Shuran knew she was in the wrong and hung her head silently.
She had thought it was normal cramps, just more intense this time. She hadn’t expected enteritis.
Liang Yuanjing gazed at her inscrutably.
Suddenly, he said, “Tao Shuran, are you used to enduring?”
It was a double entendre.
Tao Shuran instantly understood. She turned her head away—a clear evasion.
Liang Yuanjing faced her down. Innately aloof, his unsmiling pressure was intense, thin lips pressed tight, determined to make this lovestruck girl see reason.
Tao Shuran felt utterly wronged inside.
She didn’t like Xu Yanyang at all. But how could she deny it? She didn’t dare tell Liang Yuanjing that the one she liked was him.
Guarding a secret she couldn’t voice, unable even to refute the misunderstanding.
Tao Shuran closed her eyes deeply, feeling the sting where the needle pierced her skin.
“Yes, because I like someone who can never purely like me back. So I have to endure, suppress all emotions, ignore all feelings, and stand plainly by his side.”
“Then why avoid me?”
Liang Yuanjing pocketed his hands, looking down at her coldly.
“You crashed into my life saying we should be friends.”
“Is that how shallow friendship is to you? Distant one moment, avoiding the next, all for the one you like?”
Tao Shuran couldn’t answer.
Her breathing quickened, her intestines twisting in agony.
Liang Yuanjing stood not far away, gaze icy, expression stern, silent.
Eventually, the nurse changing the IV broke the awkward tension.
The midnight infusion room was deathly quiet. The subtle atmosphere between the boy and girl was obvious.
“Is this your girlfriend?”
The nurse teased Liang Yuanjing. “Did you two fight?”
Tao Shuran wanted to refute immediately. She sat up straight, only to catch Liang Yuanjing’s faint glance thrown her way.
His voice fell a step faster than her reaction.
“No.”
Liang Yuanjing’s fingers, which steadied the IV stand, twitched slightly. He lifted his eyelids indifferently and looked toward Tao Shuran.
“But not obedient either.”