Chapter Twelve The Distant Past

  This time's art competition was very successful, and the first, second, third prizes and excellent awards were selected. The whole night, Jin Yi was shrouded in a lively and tense atmosphere. Lin Yuchen seriously watched every group's program. Indeed, she had to admire that Jin Yi's dance is famous nationwide, and she didn't come to the wrong place. Here, she can definitely learn the best dance.

  After the competition ended, it was already 11 o'clock in the evening. Some students were left on stage to tidy up props and backstage work. The high-level personnel of the Student Union had not left yet. This competition came to a successful end, and they could finally take a breather.

  "Xiao Xiao, you and Weiwei are in charge of finishing up the last bit of work. If it's not done, just leave it until tomorrow!" Yan Zi Yi glanced at the time on his phone, it was already very late. He wasn't very comfortable leaving them here by themselves. But he also didn't want to stay, because there were people here that he didn't want to see.

  "Don't worry, we'll handle it well." Xǔ Xiǎo Xiǎo smiled sweetly. How could she have known that he wanted to leave this place? Just now during the competition, he had been cold and expressionless, not even glancing at Liu Xin Yi sitting next to him. She hadn't expected him to dislike her so much.

  "Vivian, I'll stay and help you." Lin Yuchen jumped up from his seat and walked to the front row with an adoring gaze at Liu Xinyi.

  "Auntie, you're already doing a great job taking care of yourself, no need for your help here!" Xia Weiya glared at Lin Yuchen with annoyance.

  "Hey, how did you become like this in just a few days? It's really pitiful! " Looking at Lin Yu Chen limping along, Zhang Lu Qian felt very annoyed. That idiot, didn't he know how to take care of himself?!

  "Oh, no, nothing." She smiled warmly at him, who could hear that he was mocking her, but she had been with Jin Yi for some time and was already used to their cold jokes, and she could also pretend not to be sad or mind.

  "Are you Lin Yuchen?" A soft voice came from the left.

  "Ah, nice to meet you, senior!"

  "Last time I saw you dance, it was really good. I've been looking forward to it, unfortunately, I didn't get to see your performance today, a bit regretful." She liked the simple and kind girl in front of her very much, always feeling that she was special, different from other girls.

  "It doesn't matter, there will be opportunities in the future." When she heard her say that, her heart felt warm and fuzzy, as if all her grievances had disappeared.

  "Is your foot better?" Yan Zi Yi spoke faintly, seeing her limping and stumbling, he felt uneasy, thinking that it was his fault for not fulfilling his duties as the student council president, otherwise such a thing wouldn't have happened.

  "Uh, thank you for your concern, senior. I'm much better now and will be fine soon." She didn't ignore the self-blame in his eyes, but she really didn't resent anything.

  "This matter, I will give you an account." His principles had not yet broadened to the point where he could pretend nothing had happened, and he would give her an account.

  "What's going on?" Zhang Lüqian was bewildered.

  "Someone must have put glass shards in the toe shoes during the little rain, that's why it ended up like this!" Xiaowei said indignantly, no matter what, she couldn't swallow this.

  "Vivian, don't be like this, it's all over." Lin Yuchen looked at Xia Weiya's angry expression and felt uncomfortable in his heart.

  "What kind of custom is this again? I've only heard of stealing someone's shoes to express pursuit, but not putting glass shards in someone's shoes. However, with her appearance, I really doubt if anyone would pursue her!" He once again spoke out of turn and kicked her when she was down, provoking Xia Weiya who was still fuming.

  "Zhang Lüqian, shut your mouth! You dare to say one more word, I'll beat you up!" Xia Weiya furiously yelled at Zhang Lüqian without any restraint, not putting him in her eyes at all. So many years have passed, but his nature of kicking people when they're down and laughing at others' misfortunes hasn't changed a bit.

  "Vivian..., don't be like this." Lin Yuchen saw her good friend standing up for her, although she was very touched, but also very embarrassed. She didn't want their friendship to become conflicted because of her.

  "Lu, you've gone too far, apologize!" Yan Ziyu's cold voice rang out, he had indeed said too much, and there was no reason for him to be biased towards him.

  "Why should I!" He never wants to! Only others apologize to him, he never apologizes to others!

  "Senior, it's okay, I don't mind." Lin Yuchen smiled and glanced at Zhang Lüqian, who was stubbornly refusing to apologize, and suddenly found that although he was being unreasonable, his tantrum was actually quite cute.

  "Yan, let's go for a walk!" Liu Xinyu said with a smile to Yan Ziyue who was about to leave. Her soft voice made everyone in the room feel warm inside. Liu Xinyu was very clear that from the competition until now, he had not even looked at her properly once. Did he really hate her that much?

  "I'm busy." The three words came out of his mouth coldly, without a hint of emotion, making the people around him feel slightly chilled. Lin Yuchen looked at Yan Ziyu's cold face and Liu Xinyi's somewhat awkward expression, she didn't understand why her senior had to be so aloof towards her elegant and kind senior sister.

  "Yu, come out with me for a moment." Yan Zi Yi said and turned around to leave without looking back, leaving Liu Xin Yue who could only force a smile awkwardly and a group of onlookers.

  The night is deep, the vast sky is dotted with stars, the bright moon is moving in the clouds, and occasionally shows its face. The quiet night escapes the hustle and bustle of the day, when busy footsteps stop, people's thoughts become clearer, and those memories buried deep in their hearts will burst out recklessly.

  Yan Zi Yi and Zhang Lv Qian lay on the lawn, gazing up at the quiet twinkling stars above. Neither of them said a word. Zhang Lv Qian turned his head to steal a glance at Yan Zi Yi, who remained silent. He knew that Yan's heart must be in pain. Ever since Xin Yi left, he had completely changed into a different person. All his thoughts were focused on the student council, and although he still treated everyone with the same gentleness, it was clear to all that he was not happy.

  "Yan, can't you put it down yet?" He spoke to Yan Ziyu for the first time with such seriousness, putting aside his usual frivolous attitude.

  "I don't know." Is it okay to put it down? It's been a long time, and he almost forgot that painful feeling.

  "Now she's back, what are you going to do?"

  "She and I are now strangers." He understood that some things, once lost, can never be possessed again. The growth after the pain is the most profound and thorough.

  "You can deceive others, but you cannot deceive yourself." If it were really possible to forget, then there wouldn't be so many people in the world who are heartbroken because of love.

  "Can't anyone go back to the way things were before?"

  "Then shouldn't you be looking forward now?"

  "Maybe... Everything will start anew, it's just that he was too stubborn about the past and couldn't stop hurting. Now, he finally understands. For some reason, a simple smiling face suddenly flashed in his mind, that special person who could warm his heart with just a smile. A breathtaking smile, lightly blooming at the corner of his mouth..."

  The past that has been repeatedly replaced, the years that can no longer be sighed at, have become a way to smile and then become strong. Perhaps, only with a heavy price can one gain a fulfilling growth. Those long and empty days are slowly retreating in the increasingly rugged vicissitudes of life.