Volume One: High School Days Chapter Fifty-Two: I’ll Be Waiting for You at University

As the three of them sat in confusion, Tang Xin raised her glass and drained it in one gulp. Setting the glass down, she sighed, “This wine goes down smoothly. Thank you all. I’ve been wandering in the shadows for so long, and today, you helped me step out into the light. I’ve never felt so at ease in my heart.”

Wang Chen let out a sigh and said, “That bastard He Xun has bullied a lot of people. He’s ruthless, too—he can torment someone until they wish they were dead.”

“What happened, exactly?” Liu Sheng looked at Tang Xin and asked.

Tang Xin hesitated, but finally spoke. “In my second year of high school, He Xun pursued me. He kept at it all the way through senior year, but I never paid him any attention. Eventually, he lost his patience and threatened to make my life a living hell.”

After that, she fell silent, her gaze growing vacant as she sat motionless.

Liu Sheng understood; He Xun had hurt her so deeply that even remembering it was terrifying.

With some gentle prodding from Liu Sheng, the rest of the story came out.

He Xun had chased after Tang Xin for a year, and her indifference infuriated him. During the winter break of their senior year, he took advantage of a class reunion, egged classmates on to get Tang Xin drunk until she lost consciousness, and brought her to his house. Half the boys in their class took advantage of her while she was unconscious and filmed the whole thing. The video was circulated among their classmates. Later, they used the footage to blackmail Tang Xin into sleeping with them, threatening to spread the video further. Fearful of the video leaking, terrified of being exposed to even more people, and unable to withstand their threats, Tang Xin had no choice but to comply.

“For the second half of my senior year, I spent every day with different classmates,” she said, her voice hollow. “Every day, I felt sick to my stomach. I thought about killing myself, but I was too afraid. After I got into university, I went south, hoping to get away from them all. But this year, when I came home for the New Year, they threatened me again with the video, made me go to another gathering. Tonight, they wanted me to sleep with all of them again.”

She looked at Liu Sheng and continued, “Today, I invited you along because I wanted them to think I had a boyfriend and leave me alone. But so many unpleasant things still happened.”

Liu Sheng looked at Tang Xin, who seemed to have lost all hope for life, and said, “Study hard. Just wait for me at Chong City University. No one will ever bully you again.”

Wang Chen downed another glass of wine, then slammed the cup down hard on the table. “Damn it! That bastard He Xun! Don’t worry—I’ll handle this for you when I get back. I guarantee that video will never see the light of day again!”

Liu Sheng was a little surprised; it was the first time he’d heard Wang Chen swear. He turned to Wang Chen and said, “You’re the epitome of a nobleman. At first, I admired how you could set aside your status and befriend us. Now, I respect you even more for your sense of justice.”

Then he looked to Tang Xin. “There was once a woman I loved dearly. Because of my selfishness, I failed to protect her, and she suffered unspeakable humiliation. I had the power to help her, but I didn’t. I’ll never again let someone close to me be hurt because of my own selfishness.”

Tang Xin was clearly moved; no man had ever spoken such words to her before. Every man she’d met had harbored dark intentions. Hearing Liu Sheng’s sincerity, she suddenly felt at a loss, unaccustomed to such kindness.

Wang Chen turned to Liu Sheng and said, “I’m actually jealous—you have so many beautiful women around you.”

“Are you just saying that? With your status as the heir to Nanbei Group, shouldn’t you have even more admirers?” Liu Sheng retorted, casting a glance at Ren Xiadong.

After clinking glasses with everyone, Wang Chen said, “None of them are sincere. They’re all after my money. What I want is real affection. The reason I’m pursuing Liu Meng is because she doesn’t care about me, and that only makes me like her more. I’ve never valued a woman this much before.”

Ren Xiadong, who’d been silent the whole time, finally couldn’t help himself. “Enough showing off! There’s an eternally single guy right here! Do you all think this is funny?”

The three of them burst out laughing. Liu Sheng turned back to Tang Xin. “As long as I’m around, you’ll never be humiliated again. Don’t be fooled by Ren Xiadong’s antics—he just likes to play around. He hasn’t met anyone who can keep him in check yet. But he’s currently the vice president of Liuyao World Animation Company, holding thirty percent of the shares.”

Tang Xin’s mouth fell open in surprise. She stared at Ren Xiadong, who pointed at Liu Sheng and said, “He’s my boss—the president of Liuyao World Animation Company.”

Tang Xin turned to Liu Sheng and, after a long silence, said, “Liu Sheng, Ren Xiadong, Wang Chen… none of you are ordinary people. You’re all wealthy. I suddenly don’t know how to interact with you anymore. My past is tainted, and I’m afraid being around you will ruin your reputations. So… it’s best if you all keep your distance from me from now on.”

Wang Chen grew indignant. “What are you saying? I’m sitting here because of Liu Sheng. I consider Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong my closest friends. I trust his judgment—if he trusts you, I will too. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this for you.”

Ren Xiadong raised his glass to Wang Chen. “Wang Chen, you’re a true brother. I used to have my doubts about you, but what you just said really moved me.”

He turned to Tang Xin and added, “Tang Xin, since Liu Sheng has chosen to stand by your side, so will I. From now on, your problems are my problems too.”

Tears streamed down Tang Xin’s face again, but this time they were tears of gratitude.

Watching her sob uncontrollably, Liu Sheng said to her, “You’ve been crying all night. Aren’t you tired? Come on, have a drink.”

As they were leaving, Wang Chen said to Tang Xin, “Don’t worry—give me one day and I’ll handle the video. If He Xun dares harassing you again, just tell me. I’ll go teach him a lesson—he wouldn’t dare act up in front of me!”

After the meal, the three watched Wang Chen wave down a cab and disappear into the distance. Tang Xin turned to Liu Sheng. “I want to walk home.”

Ren Xiadong, however, said, “I’ve got things to do—I’ll head back first.” Before leaving, he slyly slipped two “square circles” into Liu Sheng’s pocket, which Liu Sheng didn’t notice.

“Are you cold?” Tang Xin asked as they walked down the street.

“No,” Liu Sheng replied without turning his head.

“I’m cold,” Tang Xin said.

When Liu Sheng didn’t respond, she slipped her hand into his pocket. He didn’t pay it much attention, but Tang Xin felt something square and round inside and pulled it out.

“What are you planning?” she demanded.

“Huh?” Liu Sheng replied, turning to look. When he saw what she was holding, he said, “Nothing. Why do you have that on you?”

Tang Xin realized Liu Sheng had misunderstood her earlier question. Looking at the item she’d pulled from his pocket, she said, “You’re really scheming!”

Liu Sheng, still confused, said seriously, “I’m not like other men. I don’t want to be with you just to sleep with you. At first, I just pitied you, but now I truly care. So put that thing away—I won’t take advantage of you.”

Tang Xin thought he was trying to deflect and was about to scold him, but his words, especially the part about caring, stopped her. She put the item away in her own pocket and said softly, “Thank you. It’s really good to have you.”

At the gate to Tang Xin’s apartment complex, she suddenly hugged Liu Sheng and whispered in his ear, “I’ll wait for you at university. You must come. Don’t let me wait in vain. If you don’t mind my past, I’ll wait for you as long as it takes.”

Watching Tang Xin stagger into the complex, Liu Sheng used his special ability, speeding up his time to dash ahead of her. He saw the tears still lingering on her face.

“Thank you for making me realize my guilt toward Xiaoya. The reason I want to protect you is because I failed to protect her. By protecting you, I can find a little peace. The feeling you give me is the same as when Xiaoya left.” He gently wiped away Tang Xin’s tears, returned to the gate, and relaxed his eyes.

Liu Sheng had failed to protect Xiaoya, and he hated himself for it. He hated that he’d played humble in front of her, never told her about his wealth, never gave her the carefree life he could have. He wished he could turn back time, protect her, and tell her everything.

Now, seeing Tang Xin endure such humiliation stirred his guilt for Xiaoya. He wanted to protect Tang Xin, to ensure she would never suffer as Xiaoya had, to atone for his debt to Xiaoya by sheltering Tang Xin.

When Liu Sheng returned to the hotel, Ren Xiadong said, “Wow, I thought you wouldn’t come back tonight. Done already? Are you… incompetent?”

Liu Sheng knew exactly what he meant and shot back, “You think I’m like you, only ever thinking with the lower half?”

“Damn it! Give me back my stuff! What a waste giving it to you!”

Liu Sheng was puzzled. “What stuff?”

“Don’t play dumb!” Ren Xiadong said, reaching into Liu Sheng’s pocket but finding nothing. “So fast? Did you do it right on the street? Impressive, bro—living on the edge!”

Sudden realization struck Liu Sheng. He smacked his forehead, finally understanding why Tang Xin had asked him what he was planning on the street. It turned out Ren Xiadong had slipped him those things, and he’d mistakenly thought they belonged to Tang Xin.

“This is so awkward. What an image I must have! Ren Xiadong, you really are a great friend—if ruining me is your goal, you’ve succeeded!”

That night, Liu Sheng dreamed of Xiaoya, Liu Meng, and Tang Xin. Xiaoya was laughing happily with her husband; Liu Meng was angry at Wang Chen; Tang Xin was lying beside another man, weeping.

Then all three women approached Liu Sheng, shouting “Scumbag! Scumbag!” in unison. They grabbed his throat, and in his dream, Liu Sheng couldn’t move—no matter how he struggled, it was useless.

“Ah!” Liu Sheng sat up in bed, gasping for air. Ren Xiadong, startled awake, asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Liu Sheng replied, checked his phone—it was noon—then lay back down to sleep.

As he lay there, Liu Sheng wondered, “Have I given my heart to three women at once?”

By two o’clock he was still awake, lost in thought for two hours before finally reaching a conclusion.

Xiaoya was the most important to him. Losing her left an emptiness inside. Liu Meng appeared to fill that void, but he didn’t love her. Tang Xin’s presence evoked his guilt over Xiaoya. In the end, he still didn’t know what he truly felt.