Chapter 7: Another Side? A Complete Break

Feng Yan and Chen Hao's bodies were slowly fading again, as if they were about to wake from a dream. Feng Yan asked Chen Hao, 'Did we really promise him?' 'Yeah, we promised him; we need that sword to keep moving forward,' Chen Hao said. The moment his words fell, they returned to reality.

They opened their eyes and saw the white ceiling of the dormitory again, still the same rushed washing up, dressing, eating, and rushing to class. Feng Yan felt everything had returned to calm; he thought, this kind of life is really not bad!

Indeed, after that incident Feng Yan had grown quite depressed, but during a lunch break he suddenly understood; perhaps this too was a kind of luck. Feng Yan grasped a principle: why bother someone you like? Watching from afar, seeing their happy lives, that too was a decent attitude. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but laugh. As he laughed, memories of the past kept surfacing; he kept asking himself, how long does it take for a person to give up something they cherish? Feng Yan kept calculating the answer in his heart; he thought for a long time but still had no answer. Now he actually had one, so he turned and asked Chen Hao, 'You say, how long does it take to give up something you cherish most?' 'I think this is hard to answer,' Chen Hao said. 'Exactly, who would give up something truly precious?' Feng Yan said. 'Then I, perhaps I haven't yet truly cherished anything?' Chen Hao watched Feng Yan slowly turn, thinking, 'Perhaps Feng Yan has already given up, but being betrayed by a former friend—no one would feel good about that.'

Thus, Chen Hao thought Feng Yan had let go and was starting a new life; by day he studied hard, and at night that thing let them sleep very soundly. 'After being betrayed by a friend, to recover this quickly—he's the first,' Chen Hao thought. However, a letter after class interrupted his thoughts; the letter was for Feng Yan. Feng Yan opened it; it read: 'Meet on the playground after lunch.' Chen Hao asked Feng Yan, 'What does he want from you?' 'What else could it be? Just a casual chat,' Feng Yan chuckled, 'What else could he do? Get a few people to threaten me? No worries, relax.' Hearing him, Chen Hao's heart eased a little, and he continued, 'I'll go with you.' 'It's fine; besides, he at least counts as a friend, even if from before,' Feng Yan said. Chen Hao ultimately said nothing more; he thought, he would still find Feng Yan's former friend behind his back, intending to watch Feng Yan and them from a distance.

After lunch Feng Yan went to the playground as agreed; Yang Xin had been waiting early. Seeing Feng Yan arrive, they found a grassy spot to sit. Yang Xin said to Feng Yan, 'I sincerely want you as my good friend, good brother.' Feng Yan gave a cold laugh: 'Too bad, I'm not worthy; you're all good students, I, this problem student, can't afford it!' Hearing that, Yang Xin felt as if slapped, his face flushed, yet he forced composure: 'Can't we even be friends?' Feng Yan: 'I'm not worthy.' After saying that, Feng Yan burst out laughing, his laughter revealing the sorrow of being deceived by a friend. Yang Xin watched Feng Yan's actions and said, 'Really, you won't even be friends?' 'Mm,' Feng Yan replied. Yang Xin said, 'Tonight, still this place, let's talk properly; I truly want to reconcile.' 'I've long seen through your false facade; why keep pretending? You're just pitying me, I don't need it; we're no longer friends, you should have drawn a line with me long ago, just like now—I don't want to see you, and you don't want to remember me either!' Feng Yan nearly shouted with all his strength. Yang Xin saw him like that, he seemed unable to bear it, but restrained himself, saying, 'Tonight is the last time; let's settle everything, after that I won't owe you.' 'Alright,' Feng Yan said, and then he left.

Feng Yan returned to the classroom; Chen Hao asked him, 'What's wrong?' 'Nothing, just a fake person,' Feng Yan said, 'Everything will be over tonight.' Chen Hao knew; he had also seen Yang Xin's true nature, but Feng Yan didn't. Chen Hao kept watching him from behind; he saw a group of people behind Yang Xin, but in the end they didn't act. Chen Hao knew his worry was justified; tonight the playground would be empty, and any violence wouldn't easily be noticed. Chen Hao looked at Feng Yan, who had already slumped over the desk asleep, and said softly, 'Rest assured, he will pay the price, my friend.' Feng Yan slept; this indeed exhausted him, and perhaps it was an experience. Chen Hao thought, they didn't know what they would become if they went through this again.

After lunch break, class began, but Feng Yan still couldn't bear it; he didn't want to, and couldn't forgive like that. When class started, he had no reason to convince himself, yet he still gave up on reconciliation—just an excuse, he thought. He took out what he needed for class, and spent the afternoon like that; he had no mind to listen, but he still copied the lecture notes diligently. Looking at them, he didn't know what he had become, nor why he existed. Then a voice arose in his mind: 'Live as your true self; that is the reason for coming into this world.' Feng Yan nodded slightly, and finally stopped thinking about it.

After evening self-study class ended, Feng Yan kept his appointment with Yang Xin and went to the playground; Yang Xin was still waiting there. Seeing Feng Yan arrive, Yang Xin said, 'Let's speak plainly—I hope we can still be good friends.' Feng Yan looked at Yang Xin; under the dim yellow light shining on his face, the more he looked, the more repulsive Yang Xin seemed. He said, 'Cut it out—what are you saying? We're still friends? I'm not worthy; what kind of person am I? A foolish one, I don't deserve to be friends with someone like you.' Yang Xin observed him under the same light and realized how inadequate he was; Feng Yan's words made him feel ashamed. Yang Xin looked at Feng Yan, and Feng Yan looked at the sky. 'Nothing, I'm leaving first,' Feng Yan said, preparing to go, but then a group of people intercepted him.

'How, former friends treat you like this?' Feng Yan said. Yang Xin remained silent for a long time before speaking: 'I hope you stay away from her; you'll only bring her harm.' 'What do you mean by that?' Feng Yan nearly shouted, 'Turns out I'm really blind, to have someone like you as a friend!' Feng Yan couldn't leave; he was surrounded by a crowd. Yang Xin looked at him and said, 'I gave you a chance, too bad you didn't take it!' The leader held Feng Yan down while a group punched and kicked him. Feng Yan protected his head, trying to minimize injury, shouting, 'Beat him, this clueless thing—slap in the face, no face, right? He deserves it.' 'Stop!' Another crowd came later, they dispersed, and someone slowly helped Feng Yan up. Feng Yan lifted his head and saw a familiar face—Chen Hao. Feng Yan's clothes were covered in shoe prints; they hadn't dared hit his face, perhaps fearing the teacher's notice. Chen Hao's entourage surrounded them, and Feng Yan said to Chen Hao, 'Let them go, just keep Yang Xin.'

Then the others gradually left. Feng Yan slowly approached Yang Xin and said, 'So this is how you treat friends—looks like this stupid me actually did something right.' Feng Yan clenched his fist and punched Yang Xin's stomach. Yang Xin dared not fight back; he endured the pain, trying to stay upright. Then Feng Yan kicked him hard in the gut, sending him to the ground. Feng Yan stepped on Yang Xin, showing utter disgust, then kicked again, placing his foot on Yang Xin's body, revealing a side completely unlike before. Feng Yan laughed while kicking Yang Xin back and forth under his foot until he grew tired. He squatted, slapped Yang Xin's face with his hand, voice full of contempt: 'As I thought, I'm not worthy to be your friend—let's be enemies instead.' Yang Xin watched Feng Yan: 'Everything you've done today, I'll repay you.' 'Want it doubled?' Feng Yan replied upon hearing that, he struck Yang Xin's stomach again with all his strength. Yang Xin curled up in pain. Feng Yan said, 'I'll wait for the day you repay me—hurry up, time waits for no one.'

Yang Xin slowly rose; it seemed he had truly seen another version of himself, and he laughed.