Chapter 68: Completion

Xiao Feng kindly warned: “Li Heng, you’re being way too bold—everyone’s watching.”

Indeed, many people were looking this way, including teachers and other scholarship recipients.

Perhaps because his behavior was too daring in this conservative era, dozens of eyes fixed on him; half the corner fell utterly silent, not even a pin could drop.

But Li Heng didn’t care at all—he’d waited for this day too long: “It’s fine, I’m just changing seats. I haven’t done anything out of line.”

Hearing this, Xiao Feng’s face twisted with odd expression, yet she still stepped aside and stood with two other boys.

Seeing this, Sun Manning leaned close to Mai Sui in the back row and whispered:

“Ahh… I’m so envious of Song Yu. If a guy pursued me like this, I’d say yes without hesitation.”

Mai Sui quietly observed Song Yu’s ever-calm expression, but her thoughts drifted to Chen Zijin.

I wonder if Chen Zijin even knows what’s happening here?

What would she think if she knew Li Heng was so obsessed with Song Yu?

Mai Sui whispered, loud enough only for the two of them to hear: “You used to be so close to Chen Zijin—did Li Heng and her actually break up?”

Sun Manning shook her head: “After she went to Jingcheng, I lost contact with her. I did write letters and call Song Yu, but I don’t know the real details.”

She added: “Still, I feel Chen Zijin and Li Heng’s relationship must have hit trouble.”

“Otherwise, she could’ve contacted Li Heng directly—no need to make Song Yu the middleman.”

Mai Sui pondered, agreeing with this logic.

When everyone lined up, the photographer clapped to get their attention:

“Alright! Everyone, quiet down, look at the lens—ready! One, two, three!”

“Click!”

The first group photo was taken.

“Good. Don’t move—take another one!”

Another “click!”—the second group photo completed.

The photographer poked his head out from behind the camera and instructed: “Other students may return to class. The six recipients of the top scholarship stay.”

Hearing this, Xiao Han stole a glance at the guy talking to Song Yu ahead, took a deep breath, and followed her classmates out of the meeting room.

The photos on the Honor Wall were half-body shots: they straightened their attire, buttoned their shirts, and stood beneath the Five-Star Red Flag to be photographed.

After each individual portrait was taken, Li Heng suddenly asked the photographer—the music teacher:

“Teacher, will you be putting these photos on the Honor Wall?”

“Yes! I’ll develop them after I get back—I’ll paste them up by noon.”

Knowing these students were top candidates for Tsinghua and Peking University, the music teacher answered politely with a smile.

Li Heng glanced at Song Yu, who was chatting with Yang Yingwen nearby, then lowered his voice:

“Teacher, could you do me a favor? Put my photo right next to hers.”

The music teacher followed his gaze to Song Yu, then chuckled: “You’re Li Heng from Class 204, right?”

Having just registered his name on the back of the photo, Li Heng couldn’t lie—he nodded.

The music teacher studied him with a half-smile: “I noticed you during the group photo. You like Song Yu?”

Both were sharp enough—he didn’t lie to insult her intelligence: “Teacher… it’s unspoken affection.”

Publicly declaring feelings was one thing—if the school found out, they’d definitely summon the girl for a talk.

But if it was just unspoken affection, teachers—all of whom had been teenagers once—could understand, as long as it didn’t go too far or affect studies, they’d mostly ignore it.

The music teacher asked: “Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell your homeroom teacher, Wang Qi, or the discipline director?”

Li Heng was speechless, then grinned boldly: “Teacher, you’re so beautiful—I can tell you’re kind. I promise you, I won’t bother her until after the Gaokao.”

The music teacher tilted her head, studied him, then bent to adjust the camera: “I’m good friends with Wang Runwen. You can go now.”

That comment made him dizzy—why bring up the English teacher?

Could she have heard rumors about him and the English teacher?

Confused, Li Heng walked toward Song Yu, Xiao Feng, and Yang Yingwen, who were waiting for him:

“Three beauties, let’s go—class is over, time for lunch.”

Yang Yingwen asked curiously: “What were you whispering to the photographer teacher?”

Seeing Song Yu and Xiao Feng both watching him, Li Heng smiled, revealing his neat teeth:

“Nothing much—I just asked the teacher to put my photo right next to Song Yu’s.”

By tradition, photos were arranged by academic ranking.

For humanities, the top scorer, Xiao Feng, stood center; second-place Song Yu stood left; third-place Li Heng stood right.

Like ancient emperors seated in the center, with the chancellor on the left and prime minister on the right.

Hearing his blunt admission of affection for Song Yu, even Xiao Feng and Yang Yingwen, who’d suspected something, were stunned—staring at each other, speechless.

Song Yu silently watched his retreating figure, and suddenly understood.

She realized his greatest wish all along: to win the top scholarship, have his photo on the Honor Wall, and be placed right beside hers.

At this thought, Song Yu, whose heart had always been calm, suddenly felt her breath quicken. A cool breeze brushed her hair as she stared blankly at his tall, slender figure vanishing from view, her mind going empty.

Li Heng had been so open today because he wanted Song Yu to know his obsession across two lifetimes—he hoped to plant a seed, a spark deep in her heart, waiting to ignite.

In his past life, he’d secretly loved her through high school, never daring to show it.

Only years after the Gaokao did he dare face his feelings—and by then, it was too late. Song Yu, because of Chen Zijin, had cried and rejected his proposal twice.

Especially after the second rejection, she locked herself at home for a month, never stepping out, and lost sixteen catties.

Even decades later, he still clearly remembered the voice of Song Yu’s mother when she called him, nearly screaming:

“Li Heng! What did you do to Yu Bao? We trusted you completely with her—how did she lose so much weight in just a month? She’s down to only eighty-eight catties!”

A girl 168 centimeters tall reduced to eighty-eight catties—any parent would bleed at the sight.

Remembering all the hardships between them in his past life, he resolved in this life to learn from his mistakes—to confess his feelings early, in the very period she cherished most: high school.

Even though he knew this confession stirred no current now, it was a seed buried deep in Song Yu’s heart, so that when she faced Chen Zijin in the future, she wouldn’t be so fragile or afraid.

(End of Chapter)