Chapter 59: The Mysterious Note (1)

  The movie theater was in an uproar, the entrance dimly lit. Qiao An Yu Liang struggled to move through the crowd, borrowing the faint light to navigate. She had already lost sight of Gu Si Cen and was being swept away by the tide of people, like a drifting bottle.

  Suddenly, Qiao An Yu Liang felt someone grab her hand, quickly shoving a folded note into it before releasing her. Her heart skipped a beat as she thought: Su Yu Zhe? But she immediately laughed at her own unrealistic thoughts.

  She looked around but didn't see anyone suspicious, so she suppressed her curiosity and speculation, putting the note in her pocket to avoid drawing attention.

  Back in her room, Qiao An Yu Liang opened the note. It was a poem by Shu Ting, "To an Oak Tree":

  If I were you...

  I would not be like the climbing flower,

  Borrowing your height to show off myself;

  Nor would I be like the foolish bird,

  Repeating monotonous songs for the green shade;

  Not even like the spring,

  Sending cool comfort year-round;

  Nor like the steep peak,

  Increasing your height, highlighting your majesty.

  Even light.

  Even rain.

  No, these are not enough!

  I must be a tree standing next to you,

  With roots grasping the earth below;

  Leaves touching in the clouds above.

  Every time the wind blows,

  We exchange greetings, but no one understands our language.

  You have your copper branches and iron trunk,

  Like knives, like swords, also like spears;

  I have my red blossoms,

  Like heavy sighs, also like brave torches.

  We share the cold waves, wind, thunder, and lightning;

  We share the mist, clouds, and rainbows.

  As if forever separated,

  Yet still inseparable.

  This is what's great:

  Loyalty lies here:

  Not just your majestic body,

  But also your steadfast position, the land beneath your feet.

  It was clearly a love poem. The end of the poem even mentioned Qiao An Yu Liang by name, explicitly stating it was for her.

  Who could it be? The handwriting looked familiar.

  Qiao An Yu Liang racked her brain, excluding all the boys she knew one by one, but still couldn't figure it out.

  Could it be... Su Yu Zhe? Qiao An Yu Liang circled back to the starting point, and suddenly her eyes lit up. Her heart skipped a beat, and her face flushed with excitement.

  Qiao An Yu Liang tried hard to recall Su Yu Zhe's handwriting, comparing each character. The more she looked, the more it seemed like his writing, and the more flustered she became.

  Does Su Yu Zhe also like me? Although... although I've fantasized countless times, but... I'm not prepared for him to like me back.

  Qiao An Yu Liang's mind was a mess, unable to think clearly.

  "What's with the weather today?" Qiao An Yu Liang opened the window, and cold wind rushed in. She took off her outerwear and paced around the room, then sat down, then stood up again, as if contemplating some great life decision. In reality, her mind was a jumble of thoughts about Su Yu Zhe.

  What should I do? What should I do? If it's really Su Yu Zhe, should I respond? What should I say? Should I reject or accept him?

  If I reject him, will he stop liking me? If I accept him, does that mean we'll be together? No! We can't be together! I have my studies, my strict mother, and the envy of others. Being with him would only lead to trouble.

  She had no solution, unable to make a decision for the sake of "him".