Chapter 59: A Senior’s Tale and a Budding Affection

Yuan Dingchu, impeccably dressed in a black formal suit today, exuded the aura of a seasoned businessman with his fine physique and commanding presence. Yet, when he smiled, his expression was as gentle as ever. “Actually, it was due to an injury,” he explained. “I spent a long time recovering in the hospital, which caused my grades to slip. After I was discharged, I focused entirely on my studies, and naturally, I slowly caught up.”

Soon, a girl raised her hand. “Senior, what kind of illness was it, exactly?”

“Haha, that’s quite a long story!” As he spoke, Yuan Dingchu slowly scanned the students below. His gaze finally met Lin Duo’s, who was seated behind a certain desk, causing him to pause for a fleeting moment.

He quickly recovered, his eyes sweeping past Lin Duo’s position as he continued. “When I first entered high school, I was particularly fond of a girl in my class. Coincidentally, another boy in the same class also harbored strong feelings for her. We both pursued her relentlessly, but neither of us succeeded. I just never expected—”

Here, Yuan Dingchu paused slightly. “I didn’t expect that fellow to actually think I was secretly tripping him up. He even brought a friend to ambush me when no one was around, intent on giving me a beating. Luckily, I was mischievous as a child and often got into fights; my physical condition was also quite good. I ended up beating both of them badly, which regrettably earned me a warning from the school.”

“Oh? That’s amazing!” This was an exclamation from a girl in the class. Was getting a warning from school really something to admire?

Yuan Dingchu smiled and nodded. “Anyway, after that incident, he never dared to bother me again. But what I didn’t foresee was that during a physical education class in sophomore year, while we were casually playing soccer, he deliberately tripped me when I wasn’t paying attention. This resulted in a cruciate ligament injury in my knee, and I ended up in the hospital.”

“Oh? That’s so malicious?”

“Honestly, I was quite naive back then. What hurt more than the injury and being hospitalized was the fact that she never once came to see me.”

At that moment, a girl below asked curiously. “Senior, what did the girl you pursued so ardently look like?”

“Her… It’s been so many years. Let me think carefully.” Yuan Dingchu seemed to enter a state of reminiscence. “She was quite petite, around 160 centimeters tall, perhaps a little more or less. Her limbs were very slender, but her skin was incredibly fair, and her smile was beautiful.”

“And then there were her eyes—bright and clear, once you saw them, you’d never forget.”

Lin Duo, sitting in the audience, began to construct a mental image based on the description. She suddenly realized that this girl shared some striking similarities with herself, and, moreover, some of her classmates were subtly glancing her way.

“What happened then? What became of you and that girl?” This was a question from a certain girl.

“Later… there was no later.” Yuan Dingchu’s smile was enigmatic. “After I was discharged from the hospital, I cast aside all emotional distractions and began to focus entirely on my studies. My grades gradually improved.”

“That girl had excellent grades and got into Shangjing University. After that, I never contacted her again.”

The students in the audience were somewhat disappointed. “That’s it?”

“In truth, boys are just like that—they can suddenly mature overnight, transforming from naive to grown,” Yuan Dingchu’s voice was very serious. “It’s the same for all of you here today, especially the boys. Many things you can’t understand or are fixated on now, you’ll eventually let go of yourselves. Hmm, Teacher Lu, it seems I’ve gone off-topic today?”

The homeroom teacher, who had moved a chair to sit by the front-row window, chuckled and shook his head. “No worries, no worries. Just chat freely. However, today, the main thing is for you all to share your study experiences and methods.”

Then, the seniors on stage began to share their personal study experiences one by one. Some students in the audience diligently took notes, eager to absorb their wisdom.

Afterwards, a Q&A session commenced, allowing students to select a senior and pose their questions. Girls, in particular, often gravitated towards Yuan Dingchu with their inquiries.

The questions themselves covered a vast spectrum, ranging from academic advice and insights into university life to even matters of love. The seniors on stage, all amiable and approachable, discussed everything openly and without reservation.

Around 5 PM, Teacher Lu clapped his hands. “Alright, alright. Your seniors have their own commitments. I’ll invite them back to chat with you again when there’s another opportunity. Let’s wrap things up for today.”

As such, students began to leave, shouldering their schoolbags and heading out one by one.

However, Yuan Dingchu had other intentions. He feigned a casual conversation with the homeroom teacher, subtly stalling for time.

Only after most students had departed did he finally speak. “Teacher Lu, it’s been a while since I’ve returned to my alma mater. I’d love to walk around campus again and perhaps find a junior to show me the new changes.”

“Alright, but who do you have in mind?”

Yuan Dingchu’s gaze swept across the classroom once more. At that moment, only five or six students remained. He pointed to a beautiful girl of medium height, still slowly packing her schoolbag. “Her!”

****

The school sports meet had concluded some time ago, and with tomorrow being the weekend, many students had already chosen to go home. The campus felt somewhat empty.

Lin Duo and Yuan Dingchu walked side-by-side along the track’s rubberized surface. Various remnants from the sports meet, such as discarded equipment and empty bottles, lay scattered around them.

Lin Duo’s steps were somewhat restrained, a series of delicate, ladylike small steps. Consequently, Yuan Dingchu could only try his best to slow his pace to maintain consistency with her.

“Student Lin, we truly have a connection, don’t we?” Yuan Dingchu’s smile was consistently both sunny and kind, utterly unlike the brawler he once claimed to be.

Lin Duo nodded slightly, then spoke softly. “Did nothing else really happen between you and that girl? I recall seeing a very beautiful older sister beside you at Wanda Plaza that day.”

“Xiaoxi? I only met her in university, and we started dating in our third year.” As he spoke, a slight smile played on Yuan Dingchu’s lips. “Honestly, are you perhaps a little jealous of Xiaoxi?”

“Of course not!” Lin Duo quickly defended herself, yet her small face began to flush crimson.

Yuan Dingchu leaned down, his large hand slowly caressing Lin Duo’s head. “You, my dear, are still just a little girl. Girls your age usually admire a mature and steady older brother like me, but you’ll forget all about me once you grow up a bit more.”

“Pfft, narcissist!” Lin Duo spat lightly, though her heart began to race. A hint of confusion also stirred within her: ‘Do I really admire him?’

When Lin Duo had first run away from home, she felt profoundly lost about her future. Fortunately, she had encountered many kind-hearted individuals who genuinely cared for her, injecting a sliver of warmth into her otherwise cold heart.

Of course, this world often judged by appearances. Lin Duo couldn’t possibly harbor any special feelings for that migrant worker or Doctor Chen.

Yuan Dingchu, however, was different: a prestigious university student, tall, handsome, well-traveled, and possessing a sense of humor that charmed girls.

From that night over a year ago, the moment Lin Duo watched Yuan Dingchu board the bus, a tiny seed of affection had been quietly planted deep within her heart.

Hesitating for a moment, Lin Duo spoke again in a very soft voice. “Um, Big Brother, you can actually contact me when you have time. Didn’t you say you could be my tour guide in Nan’an City? After all, I’m in high school now, not a child anymore. No one would gossip if we went out together.”

“But Xiaoxi would get jealous!” Yuan Dingchu continued to pat her head, his eyes crinkling in a smile. “When I first met you, I was still a bachelor. But things are different now; I have to carefully consider Xiaoxi’s feelings.”

“Besides, a beautiful girl like you must have plenty of admirers at school, right? Isn’t there anyone you fancy?”

Hearing these words, Lin Duo’s mind first conjured images of Wang Linshu, then Cai Jingyao.

Ultimately, however, she shook her head. “I feel like boys my age are all a bit childish and a little perverted. If only they could be as mature as you, Big Brother.”

“And I just want to spend more time with you, Big Brother. I absolutely have no other intentions.”

“Alright, alright, I get it. If there’s a chance, I’ll take you sightseeing nearby. I am an experienced traveler, after all.” Yuan Dingchu said this, but his tone was akin to placating a child.

Lin Duo also sensed something amiss, and she puffed out her cheeks indignantly. “You’re definitely lying to me! You won’t contact me first!”

Yuan Dingchu scratched his head, a hint of awkwardness in his demeanor. “How about we make a deal then? If in three years you get into Nan’an University of Technology, or a key university of the same caliber, then I’ll accompany you as a guide to a place of your choosing—just don’t pick somewhere abroad.”

“I choose… Actually, I’ve always wanted to visit Zangxi. I hear the sky there is incredibly clear!”

“That’s fine, I’ve already been there twice. But still, as I said before, you’re a student after all, and you should focus on your studies.”

“Oh, why are you even more naggy than my parents!” For some reason, Lin Duo felt an urge to playfully complain to him. “But I’m only in my first year of high school! The college entrance exam is still a long way off!”

“It’ll be here sooner than you think. Even the longest time passes in the blink of an eye.” Yuan Dingchu looked up, squinting his eyes at the various shapes of the floating clouds. “By then, you won’t be a little sister anymore, but a beautiful and charming young woman. I wonder if you’ll still admire an older me then.”

Lin Duo couldn’t help but cover her mouth and chuckle. “Pfft, why do you sound so old-fashioned when you talk? But could you tell me how you met and started dating that beautiful older sister?”

“This story is quite long, but since you want to hear it, I’ll tell it slowly…”