Volume 4 Chapter 8

Volume 4 + Chapter 8: Memories Before Parting

At that moment, inside the classroom of Class 6, Grade 11, Bai Yuxuan, who is female, lay lazily on her desk, gazing longingly at Qianxue’s empty seat. Unable to see that familiar figure, she suddenly felt a hollow ache in her heart.

It all stemmed from a phone call Qianxue had made to her last night. He had said he was temporarily stopping his training, so she shouldn’t come for a while. Although Bai Yuxuan thought it was good that Qianxue could have a bit more rest, losing their private evening time together left her feeling deeply downcast.

But then this morning, the teacher announced that Qianxue had asked for leave, which made Bai Yuxuan, already in low spirits, feel even worse. For her, campus life without Qianxue by her side was pure torment.

In fact, Qianxue had completed his transfer procedures early that morning. He had simply asked the teacher not to tell everyone until after he had left the school. He was afraid that if he mentioned it beforehand, his familiar friends and classmates would try to persuade him to stay. He was also afraid that, amid those voices of entreaty, he would hesitate. So he decided to leave quietly.

Now, after packing the belongings he would take with him the next day, Qianxue checked his phone and saw that he still had plenty of time. So he stepped out of the dormitory, wanting to take one last look at the campus that held so many memories for him. Because the student dormitory was very close to the school gate, Qianxue saw the entrance as soon as he left the building.

It was now late autumn. The school’s main avenue was covered with withered yellow fallen leaves. He remembered when he first came to Sakura Academy, the campus had been bursting with cherry blossoms.

“Eight months have passed since I came to Sakura Academy!” Gazing at the school gate, Qianxue felt a surge of emotion. He recalled how he had once stood right here, anxiously waiting for Wang Qian to come and receive him.

So he followed the main avenue toward the teaching area. Before he knew it, he had arrived in front of that familiar classroom, the room for Class 6, Grade 10 from last semester. Coincidentally, the current Class 6, Grade 10 was having physical education, so the classroom was empty. Qianxue took the opportunity to boldly step inside and sat down in the seat he had once occupied.

He then glanced at the desk next to him, the place where Bai Yuxuan had once sat.

“Come to think of it, what a coincidence. Why did the teacher back then seat me right next to Bai Yuxuan?” Recalling his first encounter with Bai Yuxuan, Qianxue couldn’t help but smile faintly. At the time, when he first met her, he had thought she was a strange person.

Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that in the days that followed, he would experience so many things with Bai Yuxuan. And to begin with, his impression of her had been extremely poor, because Bai Yuxuan had been so mean back then!

First, she used her younger sister to blackmail him into a competition. After losing the Go match, she made him become her maid. He remembered regarding Bai Yuxuan as his number one enemy, wishing he could tear her apart and eat her flesh. Yet now, looking back on those past events, he felt none of the indignation he had felt back then.

Meanwhile, Bai Yuxuan found herself so restless that she decided to leave school early and return to her apartment. As she passed by the Class 6, Grade 10 classroom, she suddenly spotted a blonde-haired girl sitting in that familiar seat.

Bai Yuxuan immediately rushed into the classroom. But upon closer look, the seat was completely empty.

(Damn it. Was I so desperate to see Qianxue that I’m hallucinating? No, that’s not it.) 

She had a strong intuition that Qianxue had definitely been here, and had left not long ago. So she quickly ran out of the classroom and headed toward the club building.

At that very moment, Qianxue was in the club advisor’s office.

“I see. I was so happy when you decided to stay in the club last time. I didn’t expect you’d still have to leave…” The music club’s advisor let out a deep sigh.

“But this is for the best. Going to the capital will fully develop your potential. As your teacher, I’m truly happy for you!”

“Thank you, teacher!” As Qianxue prepared to leave the office, he looked back at the teacher reluctantly. Although his own outstanding piano skills had little to do with the music club advisor, this teacher had shown him what genuine student-teacher affection felt like.

After bidding farewell to the teacher, Qianxue went on to visit each club in turn. As soon as he entered the club classroom, he recalled the scene from when he first came to Sakura Academy’s clubs, how he had stunned three senior female students with his extraordinary abilities. 

Thinking back, he still felt a small sense of pride. However, the smug expression on Qianxue’s face didn’t last long. After all, he had ultimately failed to lead the three clubs to the end, as the senior female students had hoped.

“I wonder how those senior female students are doing now. As graduates, they must be working hard toward their own goals, right? I’m envious. Unlike me, who can only drift with the current under the control of fate.” With that, Qianxue left the club building.

As Qianxue turned around the west side of the teaching building, Bai Yuxuan arrived from the east and entered the club building.

“So I was overthinking it?” Looking at the empty club classroom, Bai Yuxuan said dejectedly. She then walked back to her apartment alone.

That night, Bai Yuxuan could not sleep at all. As time passed, she felt something precious slipping away from her, like someone was gouging out her heart with a knife.

Before dawn, Qianxue had already packed his luggage. His bed was clean and tidy, as if no one had ever slept there.

“Do you really have to leave now? It’s still early…” Wang Qian said to Qianxue in a trembling voice.

“Mm.” But Wang Qian’s attempt to hold him back did not stop Qianxue. He merely gave a soft reply and walked toward the door.

Just as he was about to step outside the dormitory, a pair of hands suddenly wrapped tightly around him from behind.

“Please! Just for a moment!” Wang Qian sobbed as she hugged Qianxue. Hearing her cries, Qianxue gave a wry smile and let her hold him as she wept bitterly.

After Wang Qian had cried her fill, Qianxue waved to her again, said “Take care,” and left the dormitory building without looking back.

At that moment, inside the apartment, Bai Yuxuan’s unease grew stronger and stronger. Finally, she felt she could bear it no longer. She changed her clothes and headed toward Sakura Academy, determined that today she would see Qianxue, even if it meant waiting downstairs at his dormitory all day.

And then, her phone rang suddenly. Seeing the caller ID, Bai Yuxuan was stunned. It was Wang Qian! The last time Wang Qian had contacted her was to tell her that Qianxue was out of danger. So why was she calling suddenly now?

With a nervous heart, Bai Yuxuan answered the phone.

“Bai Yuxuan, listen to me. Qianxue is on her way to Xijiang Airport right now. If you don’t stop her, she might never come back to Xijiang!” With that, Wang Qian hung up.

Wang Qian leaned against the wall, dazed. This was the first time she had ever disobeyed her aunt. Ever since she was little, she had regarded her aunt as her idol. She didn’t understand why she had done something like this.

After hearing Wang Qian’s words, Bai Yuxuan’s eyes widened, turning red. She finally knew where this unease had come from, because Qianxue was about to leave her again. How could she possibly allow that?

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