As the second year of high school drew to a close, the small group chat created for their picnic remained active.
In the afternoon when the college entrance exam results were due, the chat was especially lively. As 4 PM approached and the results loomed, the conversation speed increased to a near-constant stream, likely due to everyone’s nervousness.
Zhu Ran, the chatterbox, single-handedly filled half the screen.
Zhu Ran: [Damn]
Zhu Ran: [I’m so Freaking nervous]
Zhu Ran: [Why is it only 3:50?]
Zhu Ran: [It feels like a century has passed]
Zhu Ran: [Is my phone’s clock broken?]
Zhu Ran: [What time is it for you guys?]
C: [Your phone’s fine, but your brain might be broken]
Zhu Ran: [……]
Zhu Ran: [What are you doing here?]
Zhu Ran: [I don’t want to see you right now]
Zhou Anran sat in her living room at home.
Zhou Xian Hong and He Jia Yi had taken two hours off work to be with her when she checked her results. Both parents had their computers ready, on high alert. Influenced by their tension, Zhou Anran was also extremely nervous. However, watching these two banter in the group chat finally eased her mood slightly.
Zhu Ran: [@everyone]
Zhu Ran: [Let’s kick out this Chen guy who doesn’t need to worry about his scores anymore]
Zhu Ran: [He’s not on the same team as us now]
The corners of Zhou Anran’s lips curved up involuntarily.
Chen Luo Bai received calls from the admissions offices of Universities A and B yesterday. The recruitment team from University A had arrived at his house an hour early, and University B’s team was said to be on their way. Although they hadn’t disclosed his exact score, the eagerness of both sides to recruit him indicated that his score must be exceptionally high.
Zhu Ran had been at Chen Luo Bai’s house yesterday, so he knew, and consequently, everyone in their small group chat knew as well.
Zhou Anran knew that Chen Luo Bai had always favored the Law School at University A, and she leaned towards the School of Life Sciences there. The two of them had a tacit understanding; it all depended on whether her scores would be high enough.
In the group chat, Zhu Ran continued his stream of messages.
Zhu Ran: [Let’s vote by raising hands]
Zhu Ran: [k]
Zhu Ran: [Unanimous decision]
Tang Jian Rui: [Zhu, it’s fine if you represent all of us in voting to approve]
Tang Jian Rui: [But haven’t you forgotten there’s one person who definitely won’t approve?]
Huang Shu Jie: [That person definitely won’t approve +1]
Bao Kun: [Who could that person be?]
Shao Zi Lin: [Who could that person be?]
Sheng Xiao Wen: [Who could that person be?]
Yan Xing Xi: [Who could that person be?]
Zhang Shu Xian: [Of course it’s our smart, gentle, and beautiful Ran Ran baby!]
Zhang Shu Xian: [Ran Ran, we want to kick your boyfriend out of the group, do you agree?]
Zhou Anran: “…?”
This group had been teasing them since their second year of high school, and they still hadn’t grown tired of it.
Her ears turned red at the tips. She hid her phone to the side, avoiding her parents’ gaze, and was just wondering how to respond when his message popped up first.
C: [That’s enough from you guys]
C: [I was planning to treat you all to milk tea later]
Tang Jian Rui: [Luo Ge, I was wrong]
Huang Shu Jie: [Sorry.jpg]
Sheng Xiao Wen: [I’ll shut up now.jpg]
Yan Xing Xi: [I’ll shut up now.jpg]
Zhang Shu Xian: [I’ll shut up now.jpg]
C: [Send me your addresses]
C: [Tell me what you want to drink]
C: [Except for Zhu Ran]
Zhu Ran: [It’s just a cup of milk tea, you think I care?]
Zhu Ran: [Actually, I do care]
Zhu Ran: [Luo Ge, I was wrong too]
Zhu Ran: [Oh, I forgot you’re cold-hearted and ruthless, begging you is useless]
Zhu Ran: [I’ll beg someone else]
Zhu Ran: [Sister-in-law, I was wrong @Zhou Anran]
Zhou Anran: “……”
Zhu Ran wasn’t apologizing; he was using this as another opportunity to tease.
Zhou Anran’s face heated up again.
Zhou Anran: [Don’t use that title @Zhu Ran]
C: [It’s not wrong though]
Zhou Anran: “…?”
With this banter, the final ten minutes finally passed.
As soon as it struck 4 PM, both parents reminded her to quickly check her results. Zhou Anran placed her phone on her lap and clicked on the official website. However, due to the massive influx of visitors, the website wouldn’t load, stuck in a constant loading state.
Zhou Anran’s heart slowly rose to her throat.
The phone on her lap buzzed again.
Zhou Anran looked down to see that Chen Luo Bai had sent her a WeChat message.
It was probably his score.
Although she knew his score would secure him a place in both Universities A and B, Zhou Anran knew it would be more than just that.
She glanced up at the still-loading website, then looked down to open his message.
When she saw the contents of the photo he sent, Zhou Anran was momentarily stunned. After a couple of seconds, as if finally processing it, she hugged He Jia Yi beside her, displaying an unusual outburst of emotion.
“Mom, I got 700 points.”
It was even better than she had anticipated.
He Jia Yi was also stunned: “What hundreds of points? The website hasn’t even loaded yet.”
Zhou Anran’s nose tingled strangely: “700 points, my classmate helped me check.”
Chen Luo Bai knew her ID number and exam number by heart.
He hadn’t checked his score first; he had checked hers first.
Although she knew she should have done well, it wasn’t until this moment, when the score was revealed, that she finally felt a sense of settled relief.
She could go to the same university as him now!
After sharing the joy with her parents, Zhou Anran picked up her phone again. She was about to ask if he had checked his score when his message popped up first.
Zhou Anran opened the new screenshot he sent, her eyes immediately drawn to the total score at the bottom.
717.
It was undoubtedly very high.
But…
As if guessing what she wanted to know, Chen Luo Bai sent another message right after.
C: [First in the province]
Zhou Anran almost dropped her phone. She hugged He Jia Yi again.
“What’s wrong now? Why are you suddenly hugging mom again?” He Jia Yi’s eyes were still moist as she smiled and patted her back. “You got a good score, is that why you’re so excited?”
“No, it’s our class—” Zhou Anran stumbled over her words, “My classmate, he got the top score in our province for science.”
He Jia Yi exclaimed in surprise: “That’s amazing!”
Zhou Anran silently added to her heart.
He is just that amazing!
After that, Yan Xing Xi, Sheng Xiao Wen, Zhang Shu Xian, Zhu Ran… everyone’s scores came in one after another.
Some performed beyond expectations, some met their usual standards, but in their small group chat, not a single person underperformed.
Everyone’s hard work had paid off.
Then came the process of filling out college applications, waiting for admissions, and finally, when everything was settled, the mountain of pressure called the college entrance exam was lifted. Suddenly, all that remained was the intense summer and a long, carefree vacation to indulge in.
Naturally, a graduation trip was put on the agenda.
The picnic group chat became lively again, with Dong Chen and He Ming Yu also added to the group.
Someone suggested going south to see the sea.
It was vetoed.
Nan Cheng was already scorching hot, going even further south would be like asking to be roasted alive.
Then someone suggested going north to see the sea instead.
That was also vetoed.
The summer after the college entrance exam always seemed to call for doing something crazy.
They eventually settled on a crazy self-drive trip through Sichuan and Tibet.
Of course, self-driving was out of the question.
None of them had even had time to get their driver’s licenses yet.
In the end, Chen Luo Bai’s family helped find a professional team to lead them.
Thanks to the team’s extensive experience and thorough preparation, none of them suffered from severe altitude sickness throughout the journey.
Severe altitude sickness had been Zhou Anran’s biggest concern before the trip, but fortunately, apart from a slight discomfort at the beginning, she adapted well for the rest of the journey.
Their trip coincided with a meteor shower.
So they decided on Yu Zi Xi as their final stop.
The group set up four tents.
That night, all twelve of them sat in a row in front of the tents.
The view was expansive, with a sky full of twinkling stars above their heads.
Even before the meteor shower began, it was breathtakingly beautiful.
Zhou Anran had never seen such a magnificent starry sky. She didn’t dare blink, so when the first meteor flashed by, she spotted it immediately.
Without thinking, she tugged on Chen Luo Bai’s hand and pointed upwards: “A shooting star.”
Chen Luo Bai didn’t look up. His gaze fell on her, thinking her eyes were brighter than the stars.
He squeezed her hand back, then let go, smiling as he said softly, “Aren’t you supposed to make a wish? Hurry up.”
Zhou Anran turned to look at him for a moment.
Then she clasped her hands together and made a wish.
That night, the meteors were dazzling and brilliant.
When the meteor shower ended, Zhou Anran felt the boy next to her lean closer. His fresh scent enveloped her as his voice sounded very close to her ear.
“What did you wish for?”
The tips of Zhou Anran’s ears heated up. She glanced at him sideways and said quietly, “If I tell you, it might not come true.”
Chen Luo Bai: “Then don’t tell me—”
Zhou Anran relaxed slightly.
She heard him continue slowly: “Just tell me if it was about me or not.”
Zhou Anran’s face heated up too, but she nodded honestly: “I made two wishes about you.”
Under the night sky, the boy’s lips curved up noticeably.
Zhou Anran couldn’t help but ask him softly, “What about you?”
Chen Luo Bai looked at her without speaking.
Zhou Anran blinked.
The boy reached out and pinched her face, his tone still incredibly confident: “Do you even need to ask? I can make all my other wishes come true myself. I only wished for things about you.”
Zhou Anran’s lips curled up in response.
Zhu Ran’s voice sounded from nearby: “What are you two whispering about?”
Chen Luo Bai leaned back in his chair, lazily raising his eyes: “You know we’re whispering, and you still have the nerve to interrupt?”
“As if we want to see you two being lovey-dovey,” Zhu Ran rolled his eyes and stood up from his seat. “I’m tired of being the third wheel. I’m out of here.”
Sheng Xiao Wen pretended to yawn: “I’m so sleepy. Xi Xi, Shu Xian, let’s go to bed.”
“Let’s go,” Tang Jian Rui also stood up. “We’ll go play some cards inside.”
The rest of the boys also went into the tents. He Ming Yu was the last to leave, glancing back once before quickly averting his gaze.
In the blink of an eye, only Zhou Anran and Chen Luo Bai were left outside the tents.
Chen Luo Bai reached out to brush away the hair the wind had messed up, his voice very low: “Are you tired?”
Zhou Anran shook her head.
Chen Luo Bai opened his arms to her: “Then come here and let me hug you?”
Zhou Anran stood up and walked in front of him.
They had hugged many times before, but sitting on his lap was a first. Zhou Anran felt a bit embarrassed and wanted to turn around to see if the other tourists were still in their tents.
Just as she turned her head, a large hand wrapped around her waist, and she instantly fell into the boy’s arms.
Chen Luo Bai hugged her, laughing: “Don’t look. They’ve all gone inside.”
Zhou Anran let out a small “Oh” with a red face and buried her head in his shoulder.
“Ran Ran,” Chen Luo Bai called her softly.
Zhou Anran: “What is it?”
Chen Luo Bai’s voice remained gentle, almost hypnotic: “Won’t you look at me?”
Zhou Anran couldn’t help but raise her head.
Before she could see his face, the boy’s lips had already pressed against hers.
Zhou Anran’s fingers, gripping his jacket, suddenly tightened.
This wasn’t their first kiss.
He had first kissed her on the Ferris wheel the night after the college entrance exam.
The second time was at the teachers’ appreciation dinner. The whole class was gathered in a large private room, the noise spilling out even with the door closed. He had tricked her into going outside midway through and kissed her briefly in the dark fire escape.
During this trip, he had kissed her several times as well.
But her heart still raced uncontrollably in an instant.
Above them was the vast sea of stars.
They kissed quietly under the starry sky.
After a long while, Chen Luo Bai finally pulled away slightly.
The boy’s lips curved in a smile, seemingly with a hint of moisture. He called her name softly.
“Zhou Anran.”
Zhou Anran’s face was burning hot, her breathing uneven, her thoughts in disarray. Everything was in chaos. After a few seconds, she responded very softly: “Mm.”
Chen Luo Bai pressed his forehead against hers: “I want to hear you say those words to me in person.”
Zhou Anran guessed what he wanted to hear, and suddenly realized her face could get even hotter. She pretended not to understand: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Is that so?” Chen Luo Bai pinched her flushed cheek. “Then how about I teach you, word by word?”
Zhou Anran: “…?”
Chen Luo Bai: “I.”
The boy looked down at her, his gaze so close that his dark eyes seemed particularly deep and focused.
Zhou Anran couldn’t tell if she was being hypnotized by him or if she wanted to tell him herself. She softly repeated after him: “I.”
Chen Luo Bai: “Like.”
Zhou Anran: “Like.”
“You.”
“You.”
Chen Luo Bai’s lips curved up, his voice gentle as if coaxing her: “Now say it all together.”
Zhou Anran opened her mouth, but still couldn’t bring herself to say it completely.
“It’s okay if you don’t say it,” Chen Luo Bai paused, his gaze seeming to linger on her lips for another second. “Then open your mouth and let me kiss you.”
Zhou Anran: “…?”
“I’ll give you three seconds to choose.”
“Three.”
“Two.”
Zhou Anran: “!”
Her brain seemed to automatically choose the less embarrassing option between two very embarrassing choices.
She blurted out: “I like you.”
As soon as the last “you” left her lips, Chen Luo Bai lowered his head again. His tongue slipped past her teeth, and as if afraid of startling her, he very gently and restrainedly touched the tip of her tongue with his, lasting probably less than a second before he withdrew again.
Zhou Anran’s face instantly burned even hotter. She wrinkled her nose: “You’re cheating again.”
Chen Luo Bai’s eyes were full of laughter, his tone matter-of-fact: “Who told you to trick me before?”
Zhou Anran: “?”
How was he turning this around on her?
“I never tricked you.”
Chen Luo Bai pinched her cheek again, not too gently: “You helped me during the basketball game, but you lied and said it was Yan Xing Xi. You secretly gave me candy and never told me. And that day when you brought me medicine, if I hadn’t caught you in time, were you planning to run away?”
Zhou Anran started to feel guilty, her voice growing weaker: “That was all so long ago.”
Chen Luo Bai suddenly lowered his head and bit her lip: “But do you know how scared I was? What if I had never found out?”
It was the first time Zhou Anran had heard him use the word “scared.”
Her heart instantly felt both sour and soft. As if suddenly finding a new kind of courage, she took the initiative to hug him tightly for the first time, resting her head on the boy’s shoulder and saying softly: “There’s no ‘what if.’ You did find out about me.”
You found out about me.
You like me too.
The best dream of my youth has come true.