Strolling along the path to the classroom, he looked at the ancient campus filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, lush trees, and well-arranged teaching buildings. Everywhere was full of vibrant energy yet appeared more elegant and serene, but he didn’t know how long this peaceful life could last.
Perhaps it was ti for him to remind Song Lin that it might be ti to leave. Not every persistence and effort yield results—leaving is also for a better future.
"These days they’ve been acting a bit odd, especially Song Lin, who has been silent with his books. We can’t console him, so we try to keep him in the middle during lectures."
Zhang Guoqing nodded slightly, "We’ll talk when we’re back."
When he got into the classroom, a few classmates were discussing with their books, among which Song Lin was prominently present. It was alti, and Zhang Guoqing knew at a glance that these bookworms must be discussing experintal doubts.
Their eyes lit up when they saw Zhang Guoqing and another person enter, ready to speak.
Shen Yunshi quickly raised his hand to stop them, "Are you guys turning into immortals? Go eat, it’s almost ti for class."
"Why don’t we talk after eating?"
Shen Yunshi took a lunch box out of the drawer and tapped it, "Co on, if we’re late, there won’t be anything good left."
Song Lin and two classmates took out their lunch tickets and handed them over. Nobody refused because it was common for everyone to bring als for each other, especially since recently everyone had been helping to bring Song Lin’s lunch.
Zhang Guoqing waved at them and ambled to sit with the remaining classmates.
"Old class rep, I wonder if the train tickets are booked. Can you check for us? I plan to leave early the day after tomorrow."
Zhang Guoqing chuckled, "Sure. I’ll look into it later. Are all of you going back to your hotowns?"
Everyone nodded.
Zhang Guoqing looked at Song Lin. This genteel young man rarely smiled in his mory, like a lancholic lad. Right now his expression was full of worries and sadness.
After so small talk, one of the classmates stood up, "You guys stay here. I’ll see if they swallowed my breakfast, why haven’t they co yet?"
Another classmate eagerly laughed and followed him out of the seat, "I’ll go with you. Looks like there must be a crowd today; let’s go help."
Zhang Guoqing watched them leave, then turned to observe Song Lin. He pondered how to broach the subject. What if the other misunderstood that he wanted him to drop out because he was dragging the class down? That would be problematic.
After a mont of hesitation, Zhang Guoqing seized the chance he might not get again; it would get inconvenient once others returned. He glanced at the hesitating Song Lin.
"Xiao Wu, am I dragging everyone down?"
Look! The kid really had such thoughts.
Zhang Guoqing smiled comfortingly, "It’s not about being a burden; we’re all classmates. Everyone’s happy to help when they can; it’s just sotis things are beyond control."
After saying this, he frowned and glanced outside, not expecting soone to co so quickly. The approaching footsteps were getting closer, turning his attention back to the poor lad.
Zhang Guoqing lowered his voice, "Find a way to see your parents over the holiday."
Hearing this, Song Lin widened his eyes, clenching his lips tightly, watching Zhang Guoqing’s serious face silently.
Zhang Guoqing glanced at the silhouette of one or two classmates erging from the door. He exchanged a aningful look with Song Lin as their eyes t.
He imdiately turned to the entering classmates and said, "The weather is so muggy, are there clouds this morning? I think a storm is coming soon."
"Haha... Beijing’s sumr is like a child’s face; it changes on a whim."
Zhang Guoqing smiled at them, "Exactly. If not today, in a few days, there’ll be a torrential downpour. Make sure you carry umbrellas just in case."
Song Lin’s eyes flickered, he clenched his fist, looking at Zhang Guoqing’s back, and softly said, "A great kindness cannot be thanked." He recalled what his grandfather had said; indeed, he should leave and not hesitate anymore.
"Sharpen the sword for ten years, its frost blade has never been tested."
He had so many regrets, but he also knew he had to bend to reality. In recent years, he had struggled continuously, striven to integrate into society, into the group, but apart from the class, how could it be easy elsewhere?
Who is Zhang Guoqing?
Over these few years, as a peer, Song Lin considered he understood this class leader well. He was not one to make false alarms. If he felt a reminder was necessary, things could only be worse than they seem, or else he wouldn’t risk speaking up.
Song Lin pondered over his aningful words. So a torrential downpour would fall in a few days? He sighed inwardly, taking a sentintal look around the classroom.
Zhang Guoqing listened to the sound behind him, smiling quietly.
He never expected gratitude. He rely followed his heart in doing what he wanted. He also felt that a family of such gentry background couldn’t possibly be unable to send off their grandson, otherwise, he’d have held his tongue for no reason.
After canceling his leave, Zhang Guoqing threw himself back into the student council and class etings, without speaking much to Song Lin, though he was glad to occasionally see him with a calm deanor, without any oddities.
When Yi Jiefang returned to school, the rain had cleared, and his wet clothes seed a bit spiritless, giving off a sowhat decadent vibe. Before he could change, Zhang Guoqing had him cancel his leave with the teacher straight away.
"?"
Looking at his baffled face with wet hair, Zhang Guoqing couldn’t stop laughing, leaned in, and whispered, "We’re off tomorrow!"
Upon hearing this, Yi Jiefang broke into a grin, rubbed the dirt off his pant legs, dropped his luggage, and nonchalantly whistled, scrunched his eyebrows and ran outside.
Zhang Guoqing kicked his luggage bag, shook his head with a smile, and reluctantly helped him carry it upstairs, flung open the door to Yi Jiefang’s dorm room, and tossed it onto the floor.
Inside, only one roommate was there, munching on a sit-and-stand bun. After swallowing, the roommate pointed at a chair, "Take a seat first, where did Da Yi run off to this ti?"
After sitting down, Zhang Guoqing curiously eyed his lunch box, "Haven’t you gone ho these days? What’s up? Your mom didn’t send any food over?"
"Don’t ntion it. Seems like my mom went out of town for a eting again. My dad’s not ho either. I’m just too lazy to go back with no one ho."
"So, not going ho during the holiday either?"
The other shook his head, "Heading straight to the hotown, my grandpa sent a letter recently asking to accompany him."
Zhang Guoqing only knew that this guy’s family all wore blue uniforms, his mom was in the sa unit as Cheng Ruzhu. Heard they lived in the governnt compound, but didn’t know where his hotown was.
"How about you? Going back to your hotown?"
Zhang Guoqing laughed, "We’ll definitely not be on the sa route." aning it would be pointless to ask.
"That’s true. Although the Northeast and Northwest both have a ’North’, they really can’t be traveled together." The other said this and laughed endlessly.
Wan Dayong had long heard Zhang Guoqing’s voice from the next dorm, but couldn’t catch him. Coming over to see... well, this guy was chatting again.
"Cousin-in-law, have you bought your ticket?"
The other gave him a big eye roll, "I’m Tang Sheng, not cousin-in-law!"
Wan Dayong waved his hand dismissively, "It’s all the sa, nas are just for people to rember."
Zhang Guoqing laughed endlessly alongside. The boy’s real na had long been lost to the various accents of classmates from all over the country.
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