Chapter 27: Events in life have always come in bits and pieces

Following Xu Tingsheng's time in the quarantine ward, the days passed normally and uneventfully for him all the way till the university entrance examinations. He would think once in a while that really, rebirth wasn't really all that shocking a thing, actually being rather anticlimactic.

Still, events in life have always come in bits and pieces.

SARS was currently in the midst of being quelled, with everything taking a turn for the better.

In his second mock examinations, Xu Tingsheng ranked 6th in the entire year. He had Wu Yuewei to thank for this, his mathematics having improved because of her. And more importantly, because of his improvements, Mr and Mrs Xu now had smiles on their faces every day.

Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng were continuing to improve as well, the latter finally making it into the top 50.

The relationship between Xu Tingsheng and Wu Yuewei returned to how it had been previously, and it was the same with Yao Jing as well. Once in a while, they would eat together, also exchanging a few words.

Apple still often came over to ask Xu Tingsheng questions, demonstrating her charm. She would bite her lips and gaze seductively at him, speaking to him amidst heavy breathing. In this era and with her current age, she was literally a devil, the kind that would have brought about stormy, calamitous events had she been born back in olden times.

Huang Yaming said, "How would it be possible to withstand that?"

Xu Tingsheng's ability to resist her advances grew day by day. He treated this as a very interesting game that could add some spice and colour to his otherwise dull life, finding it to be pretty good.

Sometimes, he would say, "Apple, wouldn't it be nice if you tried to apply to be a model, an air stewardess or something along that line? The requirement on grades is low and the work also isn't bad."

Apple would reply, "Are you praising me for having a good figure? There's still more that you haven't seen yet…"

Xu Tingsheng would be forced into a tactical retreat.

There were still two things before the university entrance examinations, one being a physical examination and the other being photo taking.

It was rumoured that the physical examination would see everyone lining up naked in rows. Actually, you would be allowed to keep on your underwear.

The situation for photo taking was slightly more complicated.

In Xu Tingsheng's previous life, on photo taking day, Apple jumped onto the back seat of his bicycle on her own accord. On their way there, they had to traverse a steep, bumpy downslope. Apple hugged Xu Tingsheng's waist, completely sticking onto his back amidst the bumps in the road that caused great turbulence.

Back then, Xu Tingsheng had been panicked yet helpless.

Apple had leaned over towards his ear, asking, "Want to come to my house to play tonight? My parents are both not in Libei."

That day, Xu Tingsheng had paced around for two hours at that street Apple said her house was before gritting his teeth and returning home. Back then, he had only retreated due to an inexplicable sense of nervousness and fear.

What about this time?

As Xu Tingsheng rode out of the school gates with Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng, Apple said, "Xu Tingsheng, I've been waiting for very long."

"…"

It was indeed still like this.

Apple jumped onto the bicycle, and Xu Tingsheng said before they descended that slope, "Be careful, this slope here is going to be a little bumpy."

Apple tightened her grip on Xu Tingsheng's waist and leaned her head over.

Unlike how it had been in his previous life, she now said one additional sentence, "Xu Tingsheng, can you tell that I am seducing you?"

Xu Tingsheng was momentarily taken aback before he smiled, "Aren't such things better left unsaid? …During photo taking later on, you can stand together with me. Still, let me tell you that doing so is actually useless. Really, you…you really don't have to make this kind of sacrifice."

Apple said, "So you could tell, and also know what I am thinking. Is that really useless? But even the teacher said that it might work."

Xu Tingsheng said, "It's really useless."

Apple said, "Forget about that. Anyway, I'll continue seducing you regardless."

As the bicycle wobbled amidst its forward progress on the bumpy downslope, she leaned forward…and asked, "Are they big?"

Xu Tingsheng's face was bitter, "Apple, please don't be like this. Whatever more you want, just say it."

Apple said, "There isn't anything else; I just want to seduce you."

Xu Tingsheng answered, "My family is very poor, you know."

Apple replied, "It is impossible for your type to be poor in the future, and it seems like I really do like you a little."

Luckily, after traversing that slope, it was very close to their destination. Xu Tingsheng entered alongside Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng who were waiting for him at the door, Apple following behind them…

As they were lining up, the gazes in Xu Tingsheng's direction began increasing. Regarding Apple who was standing together with the trio, some were disdainful while others mocked her angrily in low tones, but the person in question, of course, did not mind this.

As Huang Yaming went over to Tan Qinglin's side, some other students came over. Xu Tingsheng was indifferent regarding this, not rejecting anyone who came.

After photo taking was over, Xu Tingsheng, Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng hid in a corner for a smoke. After they had finished chatting and emerged, most of the people had already left. But as they arrived at the bicycle stands, they found Apple still standing there.

As Xu Tingsheng came over, she waved vivaciously, saying in a spoiled tone, "Sure took you long enough; my thighs are already feeling stiff."

Apple's long legs that were only covered up to her thighs were snowy white. As she raised them and shook them a few times, heads were left spinning and eyes bedazzled.

Xu Tingsheng remembered that she had left after photo taking in his previous life.

This time, Apple jumped onto the back of Xu Tingsheng's bicycle once more, hugging his waist as she said, "Today, you have to send me home."

Very disloyally, Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng did not wait for Xu Tingsheng.

Xu Tingsheng wiped his sweat. This was going to be a very great test for him.

Arriving at the street where Apple's house was, Xu Tingsheng stopped his bicycle.

Apple asked, "Want to come to my house play? …My parents are both not in Libei; it's just me alone."

After saying this, she bit her lips as she gazed at Xu Tingsheng.

Xu Tingsheng struggled to say, "I live in a village; I'm in a hurry to go back to eat."

Apple smiled like a fox, "It seems that it's not like you don't understand anything at all. Scared?"

Now, she pulled Xu Tingsheng beneath the staircase of a building, breathing heavily by his ear in a dark, gloomy corner as she said in a voice close to a whisper, "Never done it before?"

Xu Tingsheng considered before replying, "You could say that."

Apple said, "You don't like me? Or are you scared? …Or do you look down on me? I've done it before."

Xu Tingsheng said, "…Really, don't be like this. Actually, the chances of you sitting beside me in the university entrance examinations are definitely less than one percent-there is no meaning in you doing any of this at all. Alright, I'll promise you. If you really do sit beside me, so long as it is safe, I will let you take a look as much as is possible. You don't have to do anything at all."

Apple said, "Right, but I've said that I'm seducing you now because I like you…so?"

Xu Tingsheng said, "I've got to get home."

Apple said, "But it doesn't seem like it's convenient for you to leave."

As she moved her hand over, Xu Tingsheng completely tensed up. Afterwards, she slowly crouched down, this entire process of crouching performed very slowly. Amidst all this, her head was raised, her eyes gazing at Xu Tingsheng, a smile on her lips.

How was this just a devil! No wonder she would marry a foreigner in the future.

"I'll go home first," Uncle Xu Tingsheng fled in panic.

At the final juncture, Xu Tingsheng still ran, even though it was difficult…very difficult.

Behind him, Apple laughed till she was almost unable to catch her breath, "Xu Tingsheng, you're really too fun."

……

Feng Yunyao's thesis was unexpectedly published very quickly. Under Xu Tingsheng's continued persistence, she was written in as the first author, with him as the second.

The next day, Fang Yunyao suddenly came to find Xu Tingsheng. After learning that he did not have a handphone, she asked for Fu Cheng's number. That afternoon, someone called, looking for Xu Tingsheng.

It was a publishing company that contacted Xu Tingsheng. They were not interested in education philosophies and whatnot. Instead, what had caught their eye was the way in which he had sorted out the points of knowledge in his examples.

Xu Tingsheng knew that they must have looked for Fang Yunyao initially. Fang Yunyao could certainly have kept Xu Tingsheng in the dark on all this, but she had given the chance to Xu Tingsheng, meanwhile keeping herself out of things.

In his previous life, Xu Tingsheng had once come into contact with the publishing industry for education under the hands of some famous teachers, having come to understand the fine details within. Therefore, as soon as he opened his mouth, the other side unexpectedly found that this voice which still seemed young and tender actually belonged to an insider within their industry.

Recognising this, they tucked away any thoughts of trying to cheat him and things therefore became much easier to discuss.

The initial offer by the publishing company was a fifty thousand yuan initial payout followed by 5% in royalties afterwards. Such a price actually couldn't be considered low in the year 2003.

However, Xu Tingsheng asked for a straight payout of 350000, not wanting any royalties.

The person on the other side of the phone let out some indistinct curses, then directly hung up.

Dismissing the call, Xu Tingsheng reminded Fu Cheng to properly charge his phone later at night, saying that it best not be out of battery the next day.

It was only those who had truly come into contact with education-related publishing before who knew how valuable it was. In the year 2003 when the entire nation consolidated their university entrance examinations, the amount of profit a popular set of teaching material could bring annually was really far from what one might imagine.

It unquestionably instakilled the first-ranked book on the best-selling charts every year without fail, till even the dregs of it did not remain.

If Xu Tingsheng really chose royalties, in the long term, he might earn even more. Still, currently being in desperate need of money, now having unwittingly gotten a chance to earn his first bucket of gold, Xu Tingsheng's originally discarded hopes of establishing a large scale supermarket had been rekindled.

350000 yuan was indeed a high price, high to the point of being a little preposterous. Still, Xu Tingsheng knew how much this set of materials he had was worth. Being ahead of its time by a whole ten years, if not for him being in desperate need of money, if not for him still having many other ways through which he might earn money, he actually wouldn't even bear to sell it at all. Once it had the ability to operate on its own, this set of materials and and the education materials created with it as their basis would not just be like a golden goose that could lay eggs. Instead, they would be like a golden phoenix that could lay eggs.

Also, since the publishing company had called him so frantically over the thesis of some nameless individuals, they were definitely not carrying a 'wait-and-see' kind of attitude. Let's not suspect the discerning abilities of these true insiders in the business; in that aspect, they were more reliable than even many experts.

Xu Tingsheng was sure that they had already come to the conclusion that they had to attain this no matter what.

The next day, Xu Tingsheng received another call from the publishing company.

The publishing company offered the price of 300000 yuan, requesting for Xu Tingsheng and Fang Yunyao not to leave their names or publicise themselves, meanwhile signing a non-disclosure agreement. Afterwards, the sum of 300 thousand would be transferred over in two phases. The first would come when Xu Tingsheng had handed in half the draft, with it having passed the inspection, and the second would have to wait till official publication.

Xu Tingsheng accepted the price, having already taken such adjustments in price into consideration when making his offer. Other than that, he had two additional requests:

First was leaving Fang Yunyao's name on the materials. It was fine even if her name was placed behind that of the 'famous teachers'.

Secondly, the second sum of money was to be transferred immediately after the draft had been handed in in full.

Other than that, Xu Tingsheng accepted all that they had asked. Not leaving his name, signing a non-disclosure agreement? Xu Tingsheng couldn't be happier.

Just like this, things were set in stone. Xu Tingsheng began typing for a few hours in internet cafes every night. Hundreds of thousands of words of things that were all contained within his mind, with his long-trained finger speed, actually didn't require much time at all. As the university entrance examinations drew near, Xu Tingsheng also pocketed the two sums of money.

Of course, what came together with this were some really dark eye circles, everyone commenting emotionally aside from those few who were in the know, "No wonder the guy's been improving so much; he's really been working hard."

The seating arrangements for the university entrance examinations were announced. Indeed, Apple was not placed in the same examination hall as Xu Tingsheng. Fu Cheng was seated beside Xu Tingsheng, while Huang Yaming was allocated another examination hall. Other than that, Xu Tingsheng found that that Mathematics princess from his class was still seated beside him.

While Xu Tingsheng had improved in his Mathematics, his standard in it was still just average, far from comparable to Huang Yaming, Fu Cheng and those other 'experts'.

On the night before the university entrance examinations, the students who wanted to go home went home, and those who wanted to return to their room returned to their rooms.

As Xu Tingsheng, Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng were openly smoking in their classroom, that girl suddenly walked in, saying, "Xu Tingsheng, for Mathematics…I won't be blocking. If you want to look, you can look at mine."

Xu Tingsheng remembered her dismal performance in the university entrance examinations of his previous life. Of course, he would not be copying her now. Still…the debt should be repaid?

After hesitating for a bit, he said, "Then, if you are able to see for the others, you can look at some of mine."

The girl hurriedly waved her hands, "No, I'm not here to exchange with you. I won't look at yours."

Xu Tingsheng paused, not forcing her as he said hesitantly, "I have a postgraduate friend who says that this year's Mathematics paper is going to be very hard. You should be mentally prepared for it; just relax and do it diligently in a good state of mind."

The girl left, and Xu Tingsheng turned back, saying to Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng, "With this, it'll be the university entrance examinations."

"That's right, we may not be able to be together any longer after this."

"That's why; tomorrow, whoever reaches the school gates first waits for a while. The final battle of senior high-we'll face it together."

Chapter 28: University entrance examinations once more

2003 was the first time the university entrance examinations were moved forward to June from July. In Xu Tingsheng's previous life, by this time, his mother had already brought her two kids along with her in entering the city to work as she struggled to make ends meet. Every night, Mrs Xu would silently cook supper for Xu Tingsheng, diligently studying throughout the night, while forcibly holding in her pain and agony. This continued all the way till the university entrance examinations.

This time, Xu Tingsheng stayed in the school dormitory. He called his parents at night, telling them that they did not have to wait at the school gates like the other parents, and that there was no need for them to send food over as well.

On the 7th of June, Xu Tingsheng woke up early in the morning. When Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng arrived at the school gates, he had already long since been waiting there.

When Xu Tingsheng pulled out 3 popsicles, Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng were rendered somewhat speechless.

"Eating this sort of thing so early in the morning, and also right before the university entrance examinations-you must really be quite sick today, Xu Tingsheng," they said.

"Who said anything about eating; have you forgotten about the temperature taking later?"

"What about it?"

"Didn't you hear Old Zhou say? If your temperature is on the high side, you will be arranged to take the examinations solitarily…with two teachers staring at you and you alone, do you think you would be able to perform up to standard?"

Enlightenment immediately dawned upon the two.

"Stuff the popsicle into your pockets. When taking your temperatures later, take a look at the thermometer yourself first. If it is on the high side, secretly place its tip on the popsicle for a bit."

……

With so many examinees present, the medical personnel naturally couldn't keep an eye on all of them. Several tens of thermometers were distributed at a time, to be checked after their temperatures had been taken. Xu Tingsheng's trio huddled up close together.

"Mine is normal, what about you guys?" Xu Tingsheng asked.

"Mine is also normal," Huang Yaming replied.

The two directed their gazes at Fu Cheng. Xu Tingsheng had no way to know if Fu Cheng's temperature would still be on the high side as it had been in his previous life. Therefore, he had prepared the popsicle in preparation for the worst, to be better safe than sorry.

"It seems a little on the high side," Fu Cheng said.

Huang Yaming and Xu Tingsheng hurriedly went forward, shielding Fu Cheng from view in between them. Fu Cheng stuffed the thermometer into his pocket that contained the popsicle.

…

"So how was it? Did any amongst this batch of students have a fever?" The nurse-in-charge asked.

"No, but there was one whose temperature was a little on the low side…how about that?" A nurse replied.

"Is it extremely low?"

"It's still fine."

"It's okay then."

The trio felt as though a great weight had been lifted off their shoulders. As they walked towards the examination grounds together, Huang Yaming and Xu Tingsheng scolded Fu Cheng repeatedly for being a retard. If not for a timely prevention, this fella might really have gotten a 0 degree Celsius on the thermometer. Fu Cheng rebutted them, saying that the temperature on the thermometer had not been iced down at all. Doing so would have been totally useless. Instead, he had secretly used his hand to bring it down afterwards. Xu Tingsheng was stunned for a moment. Indeed, vastly knowledgeable yet totally useless-that was a Humanities student.

Huang Yaming had been allocated to an examination hall on the second floor, while Xu Tingsheng and Fu Cheng had been allocated to one on the third floor. They first arrived at Huang Yaming's destination.

"I'm going in first then," Huang Yaming said.

Able to tell that he actually still had something he wanted to say, Xu Tingsheng waited patiently.

Huang Yaming hesitated for a while before saying, "Frankly speaking, this is only a matter between the two of you. I thought about it a few times yesterday, but didn't know how to broach the subject. Anyway, let me say my piece. Whatever you decide, it will ultimately be up to you…"

Xu Tingsheng and Fu Cheng both looked at Huang Yaming, his face carrying a rare solemness.

Huang Yaming said, "What I want to say is…since the heavens have been as good as to arrange the two of you to be seated together, when it is safe to do so, Tingsheng should 'take care' of Fu Cheng a little. Fu Cheng, you should also not feel embarrassed, and take a bit of a look when you can…it's just this, what do you think?"

Huang Yaming appeared rather uneasy as he awaited the reactions of the two. After all, as he saw it, none of them had openly brought up this matter. Afraid that they had all been unable to easily broach the subject due to awkwardness, he had felt that it would be most appropriate for him, as the one least involved in the matter, to bring it up.

Exchanging glances, Xu Tingsheng and Fu Cheng then laughed in unison, "Need this even be said?"

Huang Yaming was taken momentarily taken aback before he understood. The two of them must already have agreed on it beforehand, just not having told him about it as they felt sorry for him as the pitiful, 'unlucky' guy left out of their group.

"Huh, it seems that I was just thinking too much," Huang Yaming said, "I'll enter first then. Good luck."

Xu Tingsheng grabbed hold of him, saying, "I have something to say as well…yesterday, I had a dream. I dreamt that I filled in the multiple choice questions in the wrong order. So, I've gotta say that we definitely have to check on all the answers carefully one by one, even if we have to spend some extra time on it as a result."

Xu Tingsheng didn't dare to say that the one in the dream who had filled in the answers wrongly was Huang Yaming. Otherwise, it might really turn out to be too much of a coincidence. While making himself the subject of the dream and reminding the other two to be careful, his eyes remained fixated on Huang Yaming in doing so.

"Especially you, you're so careless," Xu Tingsheng warned him.

Huang Yaming nodded earnestly, "There aren't many multiple choice questions for Language anyway; I'll just check them all one by one a few times."

Having finished these two things, Xu Tingsheng felt completely relaxed. University entrance examinations-not only had he sat for them once, he had even invigilated them twice before. As he saw it, the pressure on the invigilators was much greater than that on the examinees. Whatever errors or oversights there were, it would also be the fault of the teachers.

Two invigilators entered the examination hall. One was a non-twelfth grade teacher of their school, while the other was an external teacher.

They read out the examination rules, checked the entry proofs, distributed the question papers and answer sheets and reiterated on how to fill in the answers to the questions, everything proceeding in an orderly fashion in prescribed order.

……

After the Language papers in the morning, most of the students were still in a pretty good mood. Language was such a subject. Most would often feel that they did okay in it, but it was very hard to truly attain high grades in this area.

Before the university entrance examinations, the various form teachers had already reiterated time and time again that the students were not to compare answers with their peers after each paper unlike usual examinations, because this could very well lead to problems with one's mental state. Having gotten a few more wrong answers in some paper, their mentalities might collapse, leaving them unable to perform to standard in the following papers.

Therefore, the examinees generally congregated in groups of twos and threes, speaking about non-examination related subjects as much as possible, while some even just stoned about somewhere on their own.

Xu Tingsheng knew one additional thing. In the afternoon, after the Mathematics papers, the entire school would be full of weeping, with even some students wiping their tears even as they answered the questions in the examination halls. This time's university entrance examination Mathematics papers would later be appraised as hardest within the past ten years.

Xu Tingsheng didn't really know how to bring up this point, especially with Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng both carrying great confidence and hope in Mathematics. Xu Tingsheng was afraid that meeting a setback in answering the questions, their performance in the examination might be affected.

As Xu Tingsheng worried over this, Huang Yaming arrived.

As soon as he arrived, Huang Yaming came up and hugged Xu Tingsheng, howling emotionally, "Oh my saviour, my eternal gratitude."

Upon hearing his words, Xu Tingsheng immediately knew what had happened.

Just like in his previous life, Huang Yaming had filled in the multiple choice questions for the Language Paper in the wrong order. Luckily, with only a few minutes remaining, he had suddenly remembered Xu Tingsheng's words, and perused the questions once…

"Great heavens, I nearly fell into a ditch," Huang Yaming said.

Xu Tingsheng could only pretend to share in his joy, the three rejoicing wildly for a bit before Xu Tingsheng switched topics to that of Mathematics, saying to Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng, "Since it was like this for Language, I instead hope the Mathematics papers in the afternoon will be harder."

"Why?"

"If it is hard to a certain extent, everyone's grades wouldn't be too high. Comparatively speaking, my grades would then be pulled closer to that of everyone else's. Also, if that really were to happen, many people who are good in Mathematics should find it more difficult to accept than me who is weak in it. Like the two of you, if you already couldn't answer the first question, do you think you would be able to stay calm? Your minds would probably break down, right, even losing the ability to obtain the marks that you should have been able to obtain. With so many good in Mathematics breaking down this way, wouldn't that instead be like a blessing for me?"

Xu Tingsheng had already said too much. If not for him really being too close with Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng, he definitely wouldn't have taken the risk of saying all this. Having already given a hint to this extent, however much they understood it, it would all have to depend on they themselves.

Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng grabbed Xu Tingsheng by the shoulders and hauled him off to the cafeteria, saying disparagingly, "This guy's heart is really too evil."

Xu Tingsheng chuckled, secretly thinking, "This bro can only help you up to here."

After having eaten lunch, Xu Tingsheng returned to his room and slept for a while. To him, Mathematics in the afternoon instead held the least pressure. This was like a beggar escaping from a famine together with a landlord. The beggar would surely be able to accept it much more easily than the landlord, also being able to adapt to the situation rather more easily.

After the Mathematics examination, the scenes within Libei Senior High were no different from how it had been in Xu Tingsheng's previous life.

The corridors, the garden-every single place in the school was filled with weeping examinees as well as their teachers and parents, trying hard to comfort them.

"Your crow's mouth!" Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng made as if to pummel Xu Tingsheng.

"Hehe, you two didn't break down, right?" Xu Tingsheng asked.

"At least we got what marks we could; as for everything else, there is only letting it be."

Chapter 29: The Graduation Yearbook & the Farewell Dinner

The second day was Combined Humanities in the morning followed by the English in the afternoon. During this time, no more unpleasant surprises cropped up.

The university entrance examinations, the culmination of 11 years of hard work throughout primary school, junior high and senior high, thereby drew to a close.

Regardless of one’s performance in the examinations, with the ringing of the final, concluding bell, everything was flung aside, for graduation had finally arrived and it was now time to face and cherish this moment of farewell. At this moment, at least, no one was in the frame of mind to fret over the results of the university entrance examinations that were set to be released not long from now.

Gathered in the classroom of Grade 12 Class 10 were all its students and teachers. No one was discussing the examinations, all instead saying the same thing to their classmates or teachers, ‘Pen down some words for me in my yearbook, will ya'.

Xu Tingsheng joined in the fun too, getting people to write for him whilst also writing for them in return.

In Xu Tingsheng’s previous life, Fu Cheng had written this line in his graduation yearbook: Unable to have you by my side, I will remember your wisecracking words.

Many years later, whenever Xu Tingsheng gazed again upon this line, tears would always rush unbidden to his eyes. At that point, Fu Cheng should already have known that he had mucked up his test, furthermore in the worst way possible. He must have been aware that this was a farewell, that they would never be able to be together like this again. He had wanted to tell Xu Tingsheng that he would always fondly recall and miss the blissful days when they had laughed and messed around together without a care in the world.

"His state of mind is different this time round. I wonder what he will write?"

At the same time Xu Tingsheng was thinking about this, Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng were scrawling on his yearbook together.

When Xu Tingsheng got his yearbook back, he noticed that a great chunk of words had been penned down and later erased. Amongst them, he could faintly make out ‘grateful', ‘fortunate', ‘if it weren't for'…such phrases.

These were their words of gratitude.

It was a good thing that they had erased these, or perhaps Xu Tingsheng would have been really disappointed.

Xu Tingsheng looked down at the very last sentence that had not been erased: We'll not be thanking you here-what's more significant is our reluctance in parting. We should by right be wishing that you get good grades, but this prospect really just leaves one despondent. We'd think how wouldn't it be great if you weren't so massively overpowered; anyway, there's definitely no chance of us being in the same school next time… Unable to have you by our side, we will remember your wisecracking words.

Signed: Huang Yaming, Fu Cheng.

Xu Tingsheng could barely hold back the tears from welling up within his eyes.

……

The students gradually dispersed, packing up their belongings before changing into their best clothes in preparation for the evening's graduation dinner, also known as the Farewell Dinner.

Xu Tingsheng sat in the classroom with Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng, smoking. Other than the trio, there was also one additional person, Old Zhou.

The cigarettes had been distributed by Old Zhou.

Old Zhou said, "Regardless of the final outcome, thank you for your diligence.".

The three of them stood up and bowed to Old Zhou together, "Thanks, Boss."

Old Zhou roared in hearty laughter, hiding the tears that were threatening to overcome him, "Remember to come back and visit me next time."

"We will."

A little while after Old Zhou left, Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng left as well, both planning to make a quick trip home. As Xu Tingsheng's house was far away, he would be unable to complete that round trip in time, thus deciding to hang around by himself for a while first.

He walked out of the classroom.

Wu Yuewei stood there.

"You're leaving," Wu Yuewei said.

"I am," Xu Tingsheng answered.

"I sent you off once when you graduated from junior high, but it turned out that I had sent you away," Wu Yuewei said, "You liar."

Xu Tingsheng showed an awkward smile. This time, he might be leaving for good.

"Where is your graduation yearbook?" Wu Yuewei asked as she extended her hand.

Xu Tingsheng handed his yearbook over. Wu Yuewei flipped to a blank page, fished out a pen and wrote for a bit. She then returned the book to Xu Tingsheng, turned and left.

Xu Tingsheng opened the book and flipped to that page:

This time, it's one year yet again. One year later, I will ask you yet once more: Senior Xu Tingsheng, do you still remember me?

……

For some female students, this graduation Farewell Dinner was their first time drinking alcohol.

First time drinkers are more prone to getting drunk.

Drunk people are more prone to crying.

The Farewell Dinner had not commenced for long when one after another, people began to weep disconsolately, clutching on to their friends.

This time, Xu Tingsheng did not drink much, for the happenings of his previous life were still fresh in his mind. Back then, amidst his drunken reverie, he had made a scene shamelessly demanding for Yao Jing to accept him. If he drank too much again this time, while that scene might not replay itself, there was no telling what he might say out loud.

The secrets he held were too many, and way too over-the-top.

However, Yao Jing drank a lot. She was led along by some cheering classmates and also some girls whom she was closer with to sit in the position beside Xu Tingsheng, because as they saw it, the two must have been awaiting this day for a long time.

Yao Jing was not acquainted with Xiang Ning, but she knew Wu Yuewei.

She eyed Xu Tingsheng in silence, and Xu Tingsheng was unsure of what to say as well.

This gloomy silence dragged out for a while.

Now, Xu Tingsheng poured himself a glass of wine, then poured another glass for Yao Jing, asking her, "Can you still drink?"

Yao Jing nodded and raised her glass.

"Exchange glasses, exchange glasses, …" No crowd ever finds a commotion too large.

Huang Yaming, the only one here aware of Xu Tingsheng's true preferences, stood up to shoo everyone from the enclosed room. "Let's give these two some personal space, shall we?" he declared to everyone.

"You do as you see fit," Huang Yaming told Xu Tingsheng, patting him on the shoulder before walking out as well.

In the empty, enclosed room, the two of them drained their wine glasses.

The truth was that Yao Jing actually already understood.

She said, "If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have let you chase after me for as long as two whole years."

Xu Tingsheng chuckled, "Actually, it's a good thing I put in all that effort. In the future, you can tell your kids that their mom was fiercely pursued in her youth."

Yao Jing laughed, then fell silent once more.

After a while, she asked, "Do you like that junior more? … That's also right; I am more like a boy."

Xu Tingsheng hurriedly shook his head, "That's not it, it's not that junior… It's that my heart has been set on one particular person the both of you are not acquainted with. I saw her 'for the first time' back when I skipped classes for five days to experience the world."

Yao Jing remarked, "So that's how it is, love at first sight…then, I wish you happiness."

"I wish the same for you too."

The expression Yao Jing wore on her face as she walked out of the room frightened the students waiting to cheer outside, in spite of her best, earnest efforts to smile.

Fu Cheng came over and said, "Huang Yaming says to say that he's busy right now. He's currently comforting the crying Tan Qingling. Apparently, she didn't perform very well in this time's exams. She says that she is prepared to repeat the year."

"Tan Qinglin is prepared to repeat the year?" Xu Tingsheng was very astonished.

In his previous life, the one who had repeated 12th Grade was Huang Yaming. After Tan Qingling had gone to university, she had very quickly broken up with Huang Yaming. Was the scenario to be reversed this time?

In that case, in what way would things change? Would Huang Yaming be the one to have a change of heart?…After all, it was true that a great many temptations would exist in university. High school sweethearts whose relationships were able to persist amidst such separation were extremely rare.

Matters of the heart are the most unpredictable as well as the hardest to control. Xu Tingsheng was helpless in this aspect, nor did he wish to interfere.

He turned and asked Fu Cheng, "What about you? You’re not going to confess?"

Fu Cheng tilted back his head and laughed uproariously, "And who would I confess to?"

Xu Tingsheng was not yet drunk, but he was already beginning to feel slightly tipsy.

In stages of semi-intoxication, people are prone to becoming more brazen with their words, so he said this time, "Ms Fang, of course. Fang, Yun, Yao. You're not waiting till you graduate from university, right? By then, Ms Fang should long since have gotten married."

Everything froze in place for a moment.

Fu Cheng did not deny it, simply asking, "How did you know?"

"I observed it from when Ms Fang sat beside you for the meal and also when we went to pass the thesis materials to her."

Fu Cheng nodded, "But it seems like it'd be futile; it's pointless even if I confess."

Actually, Fu Cheng's words made a lot of sense. Still, Xu Tingsheng just wanted to help him achieve a conclusion to the matter, not wanting to again see him end up hopelessly in limbo as had occurred in his previous life.

Thus, he replied, "At least let her know then. Having done that, there'd surely be less to regret afterwards."

Fu Cheng buried his head, hesitating.

"Xu Tingsheng, they said you were here. Let's have a drink together; I've still yet to thank you for the thesis. Oh, Fu Cheng is here too!"

Fang Yunyao suddenly appeared at the doorway. Presently, most of the students were already in the hall chatting and singing karaoke. As she wanted to express her gratitude to Xu Tingsheng over the entire thesis affair, she had asked and promptly found out from the other students that he was still in the enclosed room.

Fu Cheng downed a glass of wine before raising his head, confessing, "Ms Fang, I like you."