Fourteen days later.
Peking University, freshman reception desk of the School of Economics and Management.
Lin Qingxue, dressed in a long white dress, sat peacefully on a chair at the reception desk.
Her smooth, ink-black hair draped over her shoulders, catching the sunlight to reveal a subtle, gentle wave.
Her eyes, clear as a lake, always held a faint smile, her long eyelashes fluttering.
Matched with her delicate, fair, oval face.
Her entire being radiated the pure and youthful charm of a young girl.
Just sitting there quietly, she drew astonished and captivated glances from many passing freshmen.
Standing beside Lin Qingxue, a pretty-faced girl smiled at her. "Qingxue, you truly live up to your reputation as the undisputed top campus belle of Peking University."
"Look at those newly arrived freshmen; the moment they see you, they can't take their eyes off you."
"I bet that once freshman registration is over, goodness knows how many junior freshers will be sniffing around the school trying to find out about you!"
This was Lin Qingxue's college roommate, Li Qian.
Lin Qingxue maintained a calm expression. "Let them be. I'm not interested in falling in love anyway."
"Compared to dating these people, wouldn't it be far more romantic than love to spend time with good friends like you, strolling along the banks of Weiming Lake in the evening breeze, or grabbing late-night snacks at the food street outside the North Gate?"
Yet as her voice trailed off.
The light in Lin Qingxue's eyes suddenly dimmed a fraction.
Strolling together in the evening breeze by Weiming Lake.
Eating skewers at the food street outside the North Gate.
And reading together in the school library, skipping class to watch him play in school basketball tournaments...
Those were all things she had once said to that boy.
What a pity that now.
Among the countless students coming and going across this campus.
Even though some had eyes like his, a nose like his, or even a speaking voice like his.
Pity those people, after all, were not him!
True to being roommates who had lived together for a year.
Seeing Lin Qingxue's darkened gaze.
Li Qian immediately asked with nervous concern, "Qingxue, you surely aren't still holding onto that boyfriend of yours who died three years ago, are you?"
The roommates in their dorm knew a thing or two about Lin Qingxue's past.
The innocent romance of high school days.
Puppy love, secret crushes—youth is a time when everyone experiences something similar.
Still, even with three years of mourning, those three years had already passed.
Why not try making a fresh start?
Understanding her roommate's well-meaning intentions, Lin Qingxue smiled with an air of carefree detachment. "It's not really that I can't let go; it's just that for now, I still can't bring myself to fancy anyone else."
Lin Qingxue squeezed Li Qian's hand and urged her, "Alright, stop standing here like a daze. At this hour, the freshmen will practically be pouring into the campus. Aren't you going to head to the gate and welcome them? Who knows, maybe our department will get a few handsome young fellows this year that catch your eye!"
"Makes sense!" Li Qian's eyes instantly lit up.
With that, she quickly left the reception area and headed to the school gate to welcome the newcomers.
Lin Qingxue let out a long, slow breath.
The affections of one's youth—how could they ever be forgotten so easily?
With just a gentle turn of his head.
He had taken away her entire youth!
Her slightly reddened eyes blinked rapidly a few times, and she seemed to drift back to those past days of dozing off in math class, passing notes in Chinese class, copying lyrics by hand during study hall, and spinning sweet dreams during the ten-minute breaks between classes.
Soon.
A gust of summer wind blew past.
Ruffling the long hair at the temples of the young girl.
Lin Qingxue raised her head slightly, her expression once more tinged with an inexplicable sense of loss. "How wonderful it would be if you were still here right now!"
......
At the entrance of Peking University.
Chu Yang held his suitcase and looked up at the four bold, gold-inlaid characters before him.
Deep within his long-since tranquil heart, ripples of no small magnitude inexplicably stirred.
Her departure without a parting word back then.
She must have been terribly heartbroken!
Chu Yang took a long, deep breath and slowly walked into the campus.
As Chu Yang stepped into the grounds.
His attire—a crisp, clean white short-sleeved t-shirt paired with light blue jeans and black canvas shoes, matched with his uniquely transcendent and refined aura—
Instantly made him the focal point of attention for many surrounding girls.
"Sis, look, look! That freshman is so handsome!"
"Could this be the legendary charismatic handsome guy?"
"Volunteering today was definitely worth it. I'm totally getting this guy's contact info!"
Chu Yang was extremely confident in his own appearance.
Ever since he was a child.
One of the things he was best at—
Was dealing with all sorts of girls buzzing around him.
Directly ignoring the "noise" ringing in his ears.
He walked straight toward the freshman registration area inside the school.
Before taking many steps.
Li Qian, wearing a freshman orientation volunteer armband, hurried over to stand before Chu Yang. "Junior, which department are you from? I'm a volunteer for this freshman orientation. Let me take you to register."
"School of Economics and Management." Chu Yang didn't refuse. "As it happens, I'm not very familiar with the directions, so I'll have to trouble you, Senior."
"No trouble at all, no trouble." Li Qian smiled. "What a coincidence, I'm from the School of Economics and Management too. Come to think of it, that makes you my direct junior."
She reached out and took Chu Yang's suitcase. "Hand the luggage to me, I'll take you over to register right this minute!"
Without a trace, Chu Yang gently pulled the suitcase back a fraction. "No need, the things inside the luggage are quite heavy, I can manage myself."
"That's fine, then just follow closely behind me." Li Qian wasn't one to stand on ceremony. With a carefree laugh, she led Chu Yang toward the direction of the freshman registration reception area inside the campus.
Scarcely had they walked two steps when Chu Yang raised his head and asked, "Senior, since you're an upperclassman from our department, may I ask if you know Lin Qingxue, Senior Lin?"
"Of course I know her." Li Qian immediately nodded, a playful glint in her eye. "You're a well-informed junior, aren't you? The moment you arrive at school, you've already found out who the prettiest campus belle in our college is. What, are you interested in our campus belle Lin too?"