Chapter Seventeen: Choices in the Gentle Breeze

Every day in senior year felt like it was propelled relentlessly by the gears of time, never pausing for a moment. Lin Ke’er had long grown accustomed to the anxiety and tension, to the quiet that stretched from the first light of dawn to the final page turned as night fell. She sat in the corner of the classroom, eyes fixed intently on the rows of formulas the teacher wrote on the blackboard, yet her mind often drifted away in an unguarded instant.

“Lin Ke’er, Lin Ke’er?” A classmate’s voice suddenly broke through her reverie.

Startled, she snapped back to reality and saw Xiao Mei beside her, wearing a puzzled expression. “What’s wrong? Daydreaming again?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Sorry,” Lin Ke’er smiled weakly, forcing herself to focus. She knew she had been somewhat distracted lately. Though she studied diligently every day, her mind often wandered to trivial matters—fragments of the past, the silhouette of Shen Haoran, even the uncertainty of the future.

Xiao Mei nodded knowingly and whispered, “Are you thinking about those messy thoughts again? Relax a little. The college entrance exam is important, but don’t forget what you truly want.”

“Mm.” Lin Ke’er responded softly, falling into silence. She had realized this question had lingered in her mind for too long: what did she really want? To pursue the standard set by others, to fight for a spot at a prestigious university, or to choose a path she genuinely wished to follow?

She didn’t know the answer. Sometimes, it felt as though her choices had already been predetermined by everything around her. The expectations of her parents, her teachers, her peers—all invisible ropes tethered her feet, preventing her from freely walking the road she truly yearned for.

After school, Lin Ke’er and Xiao Mei strolled along the campus pathway as usual. The spring air was thick and fresh. Blossoms bloomed all around, painting the school under the weight of study pressures with fleeting beauty. Each petal seemed to hold a tiny world of dreams, and she felt like a mere speck of dust within it.

“Do you ever feel like you’re living on a track set by others?” Lin Ke’er suddenly asked, her voice tinged with confusion.

Xiao Mei paused briefly, then smiled. “Maybe. Sometimes I feel like I’m walking on a path laid out by others, too. But I’m slowly realizing that in the end, all choices and roads are in our own hands.”

“But… I really don’t know what to do,” Lin Ke’er’s tone sank. “I feel like I’ve never truly made a choice for myself. Everything has been following others’ expectations, and I’m gradually losing myself.”

She stopped and gazed quietly ahead. The familiar path remained peaceful and beautiful, yet her heart was filled with deep doubts and unease.

Xiao Mei came beside her and patted her shoulder. “You’ll find your own way, really. Don’t worry too much. Life isn’t a straight line—you can make your own choice at every turning point.”

“Do you think what the future will be like?” Lin Ke’er suddenly asked, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity and longing.

Xiao Mei smiled gently. “The future is full of endless possibilities. We’ll meet different people and experience different things along the way. The important thing isn’t the outcome but the journey. You just need to be your truest self and pursue the life you want.”

“I hope so too.” Lin Ke’er sighed lightly, touched in a way she couldn’t fully express. She knew Xiao Mei’s simple words were like a beacon, illuminating the fog in her heart.

Just as they prepared to continue walking, cheerful laughter rang out. Lin Ke’er turned toward the basketball court nearby, where Shen Haoran was playing with some boys. His figure was still tall and radiant, his smile as bright as ever, seemingly unchanged. Even though they hadn’t spoken in a long time, Shen Haoran remained like sunlight, shining into her life.

“Xiao Mei, shall we go over there?” Lin Ke’er pointed unconsciously toward the basketball court.

Xiao Mei chuckled softly. “Go ahead, it’s your choice.”

Lin Ke’er said nothing more. Her steps naturally led her toward the court. She knew she wasn’t going for Shen Haoran himself, but to feel that long-lost sense of familiarity. Perhaps his presence was just a brief crossing of paths, but this time, she chose to let her emotions and thoughts flow freely.

As she approached, Shen Haoran made a perfect three-point shot, drawing enthusiastic applause from the surrounding students. He turned his head, scanning the crowd, and suddenly his gaze locked on Lin Ke’er. Her heart raced, and she instinctively lowered her eyes.

Shen Haoran didn’t come over immediately; he smiled faintly and turned back to play with his teammates. Lin Ke’er’s mood was complicated, as if time had frozen in that instant. Unconsciously, her feelings were still warmed by that familiar sunlight, even though she no longer yearned for anything.

Xiao Mei looked at her and smiled. “Do you think Shen Haoran looks more mature now?”

Lin Ke’er nodded slightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “He’s always been like that—sunny and carefree, as if he could handle anything with ease.”

“What happened between you two?” Xiao Mei asked quietly, curiosity lacing her tone.

Lin Ke’er’s gaze dimmed as she looked toward the distant basketball court. She whispered, “Maybe it’s time. It changes so many things. Who we were, the relationship we had, all faded away with the end of sophomore year. We’re no longer those friends who shared everything.”

Xiao Mei said nothing more, standing quietly by her side. She knew that Lin Ke’er’s heart harbored some pain and regrets that only she could understand.

Suddenly, Shen Haoran’s figure disappeared into the crowd, and the basketball court gradually grew quiet. Lin Ke’er stood still, looking up in the direction he had gone, feeling an indescribable emptiness. Perhaps he no longer belonged to her, and she was no longer the girl whose heart raced at his smile.

“Xiao Mei, thank you for being with me,” Lin Ke’er said softly, her gaze still somewhat distant.

“No problem—we’re friends,” Xiao Mei smiled and patted her shoulder. “You’re not alone. I’m here.”

Lin Ke’er nodded, a warm feeling rising within her. She knew that amid the intense days of senior year, though everyone was striving for their future, the companionship of a friend made her feel less lonely. Like the spring dusk, with fresh air and gentle sunlight, the road ahead might be long, but it was not solitary.

“Ke’er, don’t forget, your future belongs to you,” Xiao Mei said with a smile. “You deserve the best.”

Lin Ke’er smiled back, her eyes shining with newfound resolve. “Yes, I will.”

The sun gradually set, gilding every tree and leaf on campus with golden edges. Lin Ke’er and Xiao Mei continued walking forward, their steps light and their spirits calm. No matter what the future held, she had decided to walk her own path—no longer lost, no longer conflicted.

In that moment, she finally understood that true choice lies not in others’ eyes, but within her own heart.