Volume One: High School Days Chapter Eleven: The Warmth After a Failed Confession

"I've brought her to you. I'll step aside for now," Ren Xiadong said, leading Tao Nan to Liusheng before leaving.

As Ren Xiadong walked past the office building, he noticed that over half the class was hiding nearby, sneaking peeks at what was happening. He strolled over and said, "Do you really think this is appropriate?"

At the sound of his voice, the spying classmates immediately got up to leave. Everyone knew that Liusheng and Ren Xiadong were close, and both were notorious troublemakers—not people to cross lightly, best to keep out of their way.

Seeing everyone about to leave, Ren Xiadong added, "That’s not what I meant. What I’m saying is, aren’t you going to save me a good spot? Don’t you think that’s only fair?"

The students giggled quietly and gave him the best spot in the center. So, more than half the class ended up huddled in the corner, secretly watching.

Liusheng tried to steady his nerves. Even though he’d come back from age twenty-seven and had seen his share of emotional scenes, facing the first person he’d ever liked had him sweating with anxiety.

“Tao Nan, from the very first moment I saw you, I liked you. I don’t know how to say it—I just know that after I first met you, I thought of you while eating, while drinking water, before closing my eyes at night, and when I opened them in the morning. Even in my dreams, it’s always you. I must be under your spell—I feel miserable when I can’t see you, and even worse when I see you but can’t tell you how I feel.”

The spying classmates heard every word, stifling their laughter with their hands, but not daring to make a sound.

“God, I always thought Liusheng was a straight-laced guy, but he’s actually a total scoundrel. Who says things like that?” Ren Xiadong muttered to the others, but no one replied.

Tao Nan was so startled by Liusheng’s confession that she was left speechless. Liusheng, seeing Tao Nan’s silence, pressed on: “I just want to be with you. We can study together, walk to and from school together, and go on dates from time to time. I’ll make you the happiest person in the world, buy you anything you want. In the future, I’ll be a devoted husband—nothing will matter more to me than you. You’ll have the final say in everything.”

Suddenly, Tao Nan spoke. “No, I... I already like someone else!”

“You mean Li Dong?” Liusheng asked angrily.

Ren Xiadong, watching from the sidelines, murmured, “It’s over—Li Dong’s in for a beating today.”

The nearby students’ eyes lit up—clearly, the drama was far from over.

“Yeah? Since you know, I’m not afraid to tell you. I’m already with Li Dong. We walk to and from school together, eat lunch together, help each other with homework,” Tao Nan declared loudly.

“I really don’t want to go back for self-reflection now!” Ren Xiadong groaned, covering his face. If a fight really broke out and he just stood by, it wouldn’t look good.

Hearing this, Liusheng strode up to Tao Nan, pulled her into a tight embrace, and kissed her forcefully.

Everyone watching from the shadows stared wide-eyed. Ren Xiadong muttered, “My god! What are they doing now? I need to get some tips from Liusheng in private!”

Tao Nan struggled with all her strength to break free, but Liusheng was too strong. Just then, Li Dong came running over. He’d been hiding nearby, afraid of Liusheng, but when he saw his girlfriend being kissed against her will, he couldn’t take it any longer and rushed over.

Seeing Li Dong appear, Ren Xiadong said to the others, “No need to wait for the next act, it’s all merging into one—like a live drama! This is getting good.”

“Shouldn’t you go help him?” someone asked.

Ren Xiadong turned and replied, “Why should I meddle in other people’s love affairs? If you want to see a real spectacle, how about I give you a beating?”

The classmate who’d spoken fell silent and dared not say another word. Ren Xiadong turned his gaze back to Liusheng.

Li Dong called out, “Let go of Tao Nan!”

At the sound of his voice, Liusheng finally released Tao Nan. Tears in her eyes, Tao Nan looked at Li Dong, who pulled her behind him and shoved Liusheng away, standing protectively in front of her.

“I’ve never liked you,” Liusheng spat, then punched Li Dong in the face. Remembering how Tao Nan had been bullied, Li Dong found his courage and kicked Liusheng hard in return. Liusheng was stunned—apart from his parents, no one had ever dared lay a hand on him. Even Li Dong, after kicking Liusheng, was scared, but for Tao Nan’s sake, he stood his ground.

While Liusheng was still reeling, Ren Xiadong landed a flying kick on Li Dong, knocking him to the ground and following up with another kick. Suddenly, Tao Nan stepped in front of Li Dong and shouted, “If you’re going to hit someone, hit me!”

At her words, Ren Xiadong looked back at Liusheng. After a long silence, Liusheng stepped forward, pulled Ren Xiadong back, and said, “That’s enough. Tao Nan, Li Dong, get up. I can see it now—Li Dong’s not afraid of anything for you. Listen to me, Li Dong—Tao Nan is the woman I love. Since she’s chosen you, you’d better treat her well! I won’t bother you again, but if you ever do her wrong, I’ll come for you first!”

Once they’d both stood up, Liusheng gave Li Dong one last kick. Tao Nan hurried to shield Li Dong, and Ren Xiadong was about to join in, but Liusheng held him back.

“There’s only one person who gets to do the hitting, and that’s me. No one else touches me. That last kick repays you. Now, leave me alone. I need some time to myself,” Liusheng said.

Ren Xiadong patted Liusheng’s shoulder, but Liusheng brushed him off. “Let me be,” he said.

Seeing how hurt Liusheng was, Ren Xiadong said nothing more and headed back to class. On his way past the spying students, he growled, “Why aren’t you in class? And if anyone breathes a word of this to the teachers, I swear I’ll beat you myself!”

At that, everyone scrambled back to the classroom.

Once the area was empty, Liusheng took out the gift he had prepared, box and all, and hurled it into the rose bushes with all his might, then made his way to the locker room by the gym.

After Liusheng left, Liu Meng, who had been hiding nearby, came over to the bushes. It took her ages to find the discarded gift, and her hands were scratched and bleeding from the thorns of the roses as she searched.

During the first period, Liusheng stayed in the locker room and didn’t go to class. It wasn’t until just before the second period that he finally returned. At that moment, Liu Meng was sitting in his seat, leaving her own for him—she knew it wasn’t right to let him sit near Tao Nan anymore. It would only make things harder for everyone.

Liusheng strode to the podium and shouted, “Ren Xiadong! Today your big brother is skipping class to drink with you!”

Without missing a beat, Ren Xiadong joined Liusheng at his side. Just then, the bell rang for class. Seeing that the teacher hadn’t arrived yet, the two bolted from the classroom. Liu Meng, acting on impulse, hurried after them.

The school gatekeeper was reading his newspaper in the guardroom, when he suddenly saw the three of them sprinting toward the gates. Thinking something urgent had happened, he started outside. Before he could even reach the door, Liusheng and Ren Xiadong had already vaulted over the school wall.

The guard, flustered, hurried back inside to call the office, but as he was dialing, Liu Meng leapt over the wall as well. Watching her land outside, the guard could only think, “What on earth is going on today?”

Liusheng had no idea Liu Meng was following him, and pulled out his phone to call Xiaoya.

“My little boyfriend, if you didn’t call me, I’d have thought you’d forgotten all about me. What’s up?” Xiaoya answered.

Choking back tears, Liusheng said, “I just gave up the person I love.”

There was silence on the other end for a moment, then Xiaoya replied, “There’s a barbecue place near my house that’s pretty good, but it’s a little early now. My family’s all at the hospital; I’m home alone. Come over and wait for me here.”

Liu Meng had long since lost sight of the boys and was searching all over the streets for them.

Arriving at Xiaoya’s home, Ren Xiadong exclaimed at the sight of her, “Damn! You’ve got a beauty like this, and you’re confessing to Tao Nan? Are you blind?!”

It was true—Tao Nan was attractive, but in both looks and figure, she couldn’t compare to Liu Meng, and Liu Meng was every bit as lovely as Xiaoya.

Xiaoya laughed at Ren Xiadong’s words, then said, “You’re such a sweet talker. Help yourself to anything in the fridge—that’s your reward.”

Ren Xiadong didn’t stand on ceremony, immediately raiding the fridge for food.

Xiaoya motioned for Liusheng to join her on the sofa. He lay down, resting his head in her lap. She gently stroked his face as if comforting a child.

Watching from the side, Ren Xiadong commented, “I’m not eating bananas here—I’m eating dog food!”

Xiaoya burst out laughing again. When her laughter subsided, Liusheng recounted everything that had happened that day.

“It’s all right. It’s not like you can’t live without her. At least you still have me,” Xiaoya comforted him.

Tears welled up in Liusheng’s eyes. He thought, “The second time I’ve watched Tao Nan go to Li Dong. No, the second time I’ve seen the two of them end up together.”

He asked quietly, “Is it that I don’t deserve to be loved?”

Xiaoya smiled gently and said, “Silly boy, what do you know? Do you know what the simplest kind of love is?”

“What is it?” Liusheng asked.

She smiled at him and replied, “Family is kinship. The feelings between a man and a woman are like this—when you’re upset, when you’re hurting, there’s a place and a person to stay with you and comfort you. That’s enough.”

Liusheng looked at her, saying nothing, simply feeling that this was a truly wonderful person. Other than his mother, she was the only woman who had ever made him feel so warm.

Xiaoya continued, “If you think deeper, love between men and women leads to marriage, children, supporting each other, sharing both pain and joy. Love without an ending is just a memory of youth—something to look back on when all is said and done.”

At that moment, Ren Xiadong walked over and said, “Liusheng, you’re lucky to have Xiaoya. Why pine for Tao Nan? If you don’t want her, let me have her—I really like Xiaoya!”

Xiaoya laughed again and said, “No way—you’re not half as charming as my Liusheng. All right, enough joking. Cry it out, then take a nap. When you wake up, everything will be better. We’ll all have a drink together later.”

At the mention of drinking, Ren Xiadong’s eyes lit up bright green, like a hungry weasel spotting a chicken.