Chapter 22: So Many Plans for the Future

Xu Sui’an couldn’t bear to see Shen Meng looking like a frightened little quail.

“Mengmeng, I’m absolutely certain that Brother Nanzhou doesn’t dislike you.”

“I’ve heard that he likes bright, expressive eyes.”

“Look at yours.”

“Aren’t they exactly the kind of eyes that seem to hold a thousand unspoken words?”

Leng Ningxue nodded in agreement and linked arms with Shen Meng.

“Mengmeng, be a little braver.”

“If you like someone, then confess.”

“Didn’t the two of you get along pretty well today?”

“I…”

“I’ll think about it a little more.”

Shen Meng remembered how He Nanzhou had carried her backpack today.

How he had picked up her phone for her.

They were tiny, insignificant things.

Yet they were also the happiest moments she had experienced throughout seven years of secret love.

Her heart was tangled with indecision.

Should I confess… or not?

“Let’s head back to the tents first.”

“You can take your time thinking about it, okay?”

Leng Ningxue glanced toward He Nanzhou standing beneath the moonlight, amusement hidden in her eyes.

Shen Meng secretly peeked in his direction and spoke softly.

“I…”

“I want to look at the stars a little longer.”

Even if I can’t stand beside you and look at the stars together…

At least we’re beneath the same sky.

Even if it’s only your back…

I want to look at it a little longer.

If He Nanzhou had turned around right then, he would have seen the deep affection hidden in Shen Meng’s eyes.

“We won’t disturb your… star-gazing.”

Xu Sui’an and Leng Ningxue exchanged a knowing smile.

With perfect understanding, they left to find their respective boyfriends.

Shen Meng nodded lightly.

Holding up her phone, she pretended to photograph the night sky.

But within the frame…

…was He Nanzhou’s silhouette.

Her eyes curved into a smile as she carefully saved the photo into her secret album.

He Nanzhou was about to return to the tents when his footsteps suddenly halted.

Beneath the starry sky, Shen Meng’s eyes were curved into crescents.

The entire galaxy seemed reflected within them.

Her smile caught him completely off guard.

It crashed straight into his heart like a gentle breeze.

As though sensing his gaze, Shen Meng looked over.

Their eyes met.

For a brief instant—

The world around them seemed to fade away.

Only the two of them remained, silently looking at one another.

An unspoken intimacy spread beneath the stars.

No one knew whose heartbeat had first fallen out of rhythm.

Xu Sui’an smiled like a little fox.

She quietly took out her phone and captured the scene.

Beside her, Shi Yubai watched with indulgent eyes as he accompanied her in hiding behind a tree.

Behind another tree, Zhuang Yan and Leng Ningxue were doing exactly the same thing.

The atmosphere was perfect.

No one spoke.

No one wanted to ruin the moment.

Unfortunately…

Some people simply couldn’t stand seeing others happy.

Zhao Yuejiao cleared her throat loudly.

The ambiguous atmosphere shattered instantly.

Shen Meng snapped back to reality.

The next second, she lowered her head and instinctively tried to flee.

A trace of displeasure flashed through He Nanzhou’s eyes before he slowly withdrew his gaze.

Zhao Yuejiao stepped directly into Shen Meng’s path.

“Shen Meng.”

“I’m sorry about earlier.”

“I went too far.”

“I didn’t take it to heart.”

Shen Meng’s voice was calm and emotionless.

She turned to leave.

She had never wasted attention on people she didn’t care about.

But Zhao Yuejiao blocked her once again.

“If you don’t accept my apology, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

“I’m worried you’ll stay angry.”

“If you don’t rest well because of me, I’d feel terrible.”

The apology lacked even a hint of sincerity.

Shen Meng glanced at her.

Her voice turned unexpectedly cool.

“Sorry.”

“Your concern is unnecessary.”

“You’re really not that important.”

“Not important enough to affect my sleep.”

Zhao Yuejiao stared at her in shock.

She hadn’t expected Shen Meng to be so blunt.

A smile flickered through He Nanzhou’s eyes.

The Shen Meng just now had looked like a little kitten baring her claws.

So…

She wasn’t always a harmless little rabbit.

Not everyone could make her meekly endure grievances.

Night would always be scattered by the wind.

And dawn never arrived late.

The morning glow spread across Nanshan Mountain, painting everything in colors so beautiful they seemed unreal.

Shi Yubai held Xu Sui’an’s hand as they stood side by side watching the sunrise.

A fiery red sun slowly emerged from the horizon.

Golden rays burst across the sky.

The sight was breathtaking.

Wonder filled Xu Sui’an’s eyes.

His hand was warm.

Yet her heart ached slightly.

In the original novel, she had never watched a sunrise with Shi Yubai.

It had become one of her greatest regrets.

“You like it?”

Shi Yubai asked softly, drawing her into his embrace.

“I like sunrises.”

“But I like watching them with you even more.”

Xu Sui’an nestled against him, making up for the regret that had existed in the original story.

Together, they quietly admired the dawn.

“Suisui.”

“We have a long future ahead of us.”

“There are so many things I want to do with you.”

“I want to hold your hand and see the mighty Yellow River flowing from the heavens.”

“I want to go skiing with you on snow-covered mountains.”

“I want to accompany you anywhere you wish to go…”

“…and see every scenery you wish to see.”

Xu Sui’an’s heart overflowed with sweetness.

“Shi Yubai.”

“Let’s make a promise.”

“In the future, we’ll travel to many places together.”

“I want to stroll through the City of Fashion with you.”

“I want to dance with you in a city surrounded by seas of flowers.”

“I have so many plans.”

“Three-year plans.”

“Five-year plans.”

“Ten-year plans.”

“And in every single one of them…”

“…you are the only protagonist who never changes.”

Sweetness and sorrow mingled within her heart.

The ending of the original novel had been a lifelong regret.

But those terrible plotlines…

She would shatter every single one of them.

Ruan Qingqing would never be allowed to get close to Shi Yubai again.

This happiness—

She would hold onto it tightly and never let go.

Zhuang Yan stuffed a camera into Ruan Qingyang’s hands and grinned.

“Qingyang!”

“Help us take some photos.”

“And make sure I look handsome!”

Ruan Qingyang didn’t refuse.

Instead, he began taking pictures for everyone.

“Come on, everyone!”

“Smile!”

“Let’s capture the memory of watching the sunrise together!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, everyone broke into bright smiles.

Shi Yubai and Xu Sui’an raised their arms above their heads to form a heart together.

Zhuang Yan and Leng Ningxue simultaneously crossed their thumb and index finger into tiny finger hearts.

Shen Meng stood beside He Nanzhou.

Her eyes curved happily, her smile radiant and sweet.

Perhaps…

This would be the only photo they would ever take together.

So she wanted to smile as brightly as possible.

Click!

The shutter snapped.

And the moment was frozen forever.

The previous night, Ruan Qingqing had stayed up comforting Zhao Yuejiao, who had been sulking.

By the time she finally fell asleep, it was already two in the morning.

As a result, she missed the sunrise.

And she also missed the group photo.

Regret nearly consumed her.

If only I had gone to bed earlier…

Maybe I wouldn’t have missed the chance to stand beside Shi Yubai and take pictures with him.

“Big Brother.”

“Why didn’t you wake me up for the sunrise?”

She looked at Ruan Qingyang with resentful eyes.

Her heart felt as though it were raining regret.

Ruan Qingyang spread his hands innocently.

“Didn’t I try?”

“You told me you wanted to sleep and not to disturb you.”

Ruan Qingqing became even angrier.

Even the morning breeze seemed bitter.

Beside her, Zhao Yuejiao yawned apologetically.

“Qingqing.”

“It’s my fault.”

“If I hadn’t kept you up last night, you wouldn’t have missed the sunrise.”

“It’s fine.”

“There’ll be other chances to watch a sunrise.”

Though she said that, Ruan Qingqing’s voice remained heavy with frustration.

Everyone packed up and began heading down the mountain.

Because they had gotten up so early to catch the sunrise, most of them were exhausted.

At that moment, Xu Sui’an sat in the car fighting sleep.

Her eyelids kept drooping.

She felt as though she could fall asleep at any second.

Shi Yubai’s heart softened at the sight.

“Go to sleep.”

“Mhm~”

Xu Sui’an closed her eyes.

Within moments, her breathing became steady.

She had already fallen asleep.

Shi Yubai gently brushed a finger across her long, curled eyelashes.

A satisfied smile appeared on his face.

Then he lowered the car window and looked toward He Nanzhou.

The smile he wore carried unmistakable meaning.

“Brother Nanzhou.”

“I’m leaving Mengmeng in your care.”

“Please make sure she gets back to her dorm safely.”

He Nanzhou smiled and waved.

“No problem.”

Then he turned toward Shen Meng.

Opening the passenger-side door, he made a gentlemanly gesture.

“Shen Meng.”

“I’ll take you back.”

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