Chapter 40

The road ahead is so long. Please bless him with a bright future, peace, and joy.

—"Little Monster's Diary"

Ding Xian seemed to be pondering the implied meaning. She looked up at him, her expression incredibly serious, but ultimately didn't expose it, obediently responding, "Okay."

An unprecedented silence fell, as if there was nothing left to say. The young man lowered his head, awkwardly rubbed the tip of his nose, glanced at the dark outside the window, and shooed her back to sleep.

Before Ding Xian left, her heart was still thumping. She reached the doorway and still, feeling uneasy, reminded him, "Go to bed early, okay?"

"As if I need you to tell me."

Zhou Siyue didn't look back, redirecting his attention to the math problem.

His emotions came quickly and subsided just as fast. Like a robot, he could swiftly detach himself from his previous mood and efficiently dive into another task.

'This is a man.'

But Ding Xian was different. The phrase 'I won't let you suffer any grievances' captivated her for half the night, and the next morning, the enchanting words seemed to still echo in her ears.

She spent a week in this dazed state.

On Saturday, Ding Xian got up early. The door next door was open. Zhou Siyue, having finished packing, came out with his bag. Seeing her, he leaned against the door and casually greeted, "You're awake?"

Ding Xian scratched her head, nodded blankly, let out an "Ah," then suddenly realized, "You have an exam today?"

Zhou Siyue leaned against the door, smiling, and beckoned her, "Come here."

As if possessed, Ding Xian obediently walked over.

Before she could even stand still, her head was vigorously ruffled. Ding Xian bristled. She had just woken up. She recoiled, pushing his hand away, "I haven't... washed my hair."

"It's fine, absorb some spiritual energy."

After saying that, he ruffled it again, and then gently patted the top of her head. "Let's go."

After Zhou Siyue spoke, he quickly descended the stairs in a few steps, his bag swaying on his back. His light, agile figure resembled a small cheetah poised to pounce.

'Go for it, kid.'

'Don't come back to see me if you don't get the recommendation spot.'

This young man always had a thousand different looks, but her favorite was still the sight of him in the exam hall, head bent, solving problems with fluid grace.

National Competition Round 2 started at 9:40, and Zhou Siyue arrived at the examination venue at 9:00.

A cordon was set up at the intersection with a notice board, blocking all vehicles outside. Li Jinhui had originally planned to drive him, but Zhou Siyue refused.

The gate was closed, and students nervously stood by the entrance, rubbing their hands. Along the way, Zhou Siyue met many familiar classmates from the training camp. He wasn't very talkative, a nod served as a greeting, but they seemed quite fond of him, chatting with him off and on to relieve stress.

Yang Weitao had been waiting at the school gate for a while, surrounded by a group of students, exchanging harmless jokes. He turned, saw the familiar figure approaching, patted one of the boys on the shoulder, ended their conversation, and walked towards Zhou Siyue.

Yang Weitao put a hand on his shoulder and, uncharacteristically, joked, "Not nervous?"

As a veteran of the competition for three years, he wasn't particularly nervous. But he had a good relationship with Yang Weitao; beyond the teacher-student dynamic, they were more like friends, often joking around. Even at this crucial moment, he didn't miss the chance to playfully tease him, "Does what you said last time still count?"

"What?" Yang Weitao was taken aback.

Zhou Siyue glanced at the school gate, which was still closed, and reminded him, "You said if I won first prize, you'd give me that Military Greatcoat in your room."

Yang Weitao hadn't expected the boy to remember something he'd said casually last time. He chuckled, tilted his head back, and poked him with a finger, "What do you want that thing of mine for, kid?"

He knew Yang Weitao was reluctant. That Military Greatcoat was quite old, the only one in his family. His old man had specifically instructed him before he passed away that it was an heirloom from their ancestors. The Military Greatcoat was indeed extraordinary; its craftsmanship and fabric were top-notch. It had been passed down through so many generations, yet no one wore it. It just hung conspicuously on the wall, a symbol of faith.

Zhou Siyue chuckled, "Alright, I won't ask for the Military Greatcoat then. Just do me a favor when the time comes."

The words had barely left his mouth.

The school gate slowly opened, and students surged in. Yang Weitao squeezed his shoulder hard, his tone suddenly solemn, "Go for it!"

The young man walked in, his bag slung over one shoulder, without looking back, waving a hand behind him.

The atmosphere suddenly grew solemn. Yang Weitao clasped his hands together, squeezing them nervously, and found his palms sweating.

'Buddhist sanctuary, Yonghe Temple, phoenix-tail incense, Buddhas of the Three Ages, subdue the heart's demons.'

At 9:10, Ding Xian stood outside the Wanfu Pavilion hall, greeted by a fragrant, refreshing scent of sandalwood. In the center of the hall, the white sandalwood Maitreya Buddha had a benevolent face and compassionate eyes.

Many people came to Yonghe Temple to pray.

Ding Xian was squeezed in the crowd. She looked back and saw Mrs. Zhou holding six incense sticks, passing three of them to her.

"Tell all your wishes to Buddha. Be devout; do not jest."

Ding Xian took them and nodded emphatically.

The weather was fine, without clouds. Sunlight shone outside the red walls like Buddha's aura, and everyone hoped to receive some of Buddha's blessings, to see their fortunes rise and their lives transformed.

Inside the classroom, there was a profound silence.

Students raced against time, heads bent, writing furiously. Occasionally, a student would look up, gazing out the window for inspiration, or at the wall clock to check the time. That noble back never lifted; his gaze remained fixed on his paper. With an hour left, he reached the third algebra problem, and his thoughts briefly stalled.

Zhou Siyue held his pen between his fingers, massaged his neck, closed his eyes, and tilted his head slightly. After stretching, his thoughts flowed freely again, and he bent back down.

Outside the hall.

Ding Xian closed her eyes. The sunlight was gentle, and the girl's brows and eyes were soft.

Only one wish remained in her heart—

'Please bless him to pass the exam.'

'Please bless him to pass the exam.'

'Please bless him to pass the exam.'

Ding Xian slowly opened her eyes. The Maitreya Buddha statue in the hall was smiling at her, as if knowing everything, like a guiding light, silently directing her—

The road ahead is so long, please bless him with a bright future, joy, and peace.

Inside the classroom, Zhou Siyue finally finished his paper, leaned back in his chair to review it, then put his pen away beside his admission ticket.

'The sword sheathed, all is done.'

Ding Xian placed the incense sticks in the censer, watched the curling smoke rise, then bowed slightly, reverently lowering her head.

'—Thank you.'

The days awaiting the results were particularly hard, especially for Ding Xian. Zhou Siyue, however, acted as if nothing was wrong, going every evening with Jiang Chen and Song Ziqi to play basketball at a small abandoned court in the backyard of a Hutong alley.

Initially, Ding Xian was the only spectator.

She didn't understand the game, mostly sitting on the steps with a practice book, occasionally looking up.

A week later, two more spectators joined: Kong Shadi and You Keke.

She could understand Kong Shadi.

You Keke?

Ding Xian looked at You Keke in confusion, "Why are you joining in on the fun for no reason?"

Kong Shadi chimed in, "Yeah, what are you doing here?"

You Keke rested her chin on her hand, opposing Kong Shadi as usual, "None of your business."

"I'm going to mind your business, you shameless hussy."

"Hmph, you and Song Ziqi sneaked into the school's small woods during evening self-study, you're the shameless one..." You Keke retorted, not to be outdone.

"You openly flirt with boys in class, you're even more shameless..."

Kong Shadi became flustered.

"Pah, you're even more shameless..."

"It's you, it's you..."

"No, you!"

"No, you, you!"

The two went back and forth, neither giving an inch. Ding Xian looked from one to the other, shocked to hear about all sorts of small woods, small hills, small taverns from their mouths...

The boys finished playing, covered in sweat, and walked this way.

Zhou Siyue grabbed the front of his shirt to wipe his face, drinking water as he walked over, "Ding Xian, let's go home."

Ding Xian gathered her things and followed him.

You Keke looked astonished, "Are they living together?"

Kong Shadi finally had a secret she didn't know, and smugly said, "I won't tell you! Song Ziqi, let's go."

Leaving Jiang Chen and You Keke to stare at each other.

After a long pause, Jiang Chen scratched his head, "Shall I walk you home?"

You Keke patted her backside, stood up, and said coolly, "No need."

The results of the National Competition were announced a week later. Every year, the school's display window featured his blue-background one-inch photo from when he first enrolled, for junior female students to admire.

Senior Class 3, Zhou Siyue, First Prize.

Senior Class 2, Xu Wangshan, Second Prize.

...

A month later, Zhou Siyue received a recommendation spot for Tsinghua University, and the news was announced on the bulletin board immediately.

He was the only student in the Senior Three cohort to receive a Tsinghua University recommendation spot. Yang Weitao was excited for several days, sometimes even humming tunes during class, and the teachers in the research group were all incredibly envious.

'Teacher Yang, you've really got a good student!'

Yang Weitao felt smug inside, but maintained a modest expression, "It wasn't easy, this kid didn't have it easy either, he's been striving for three years."

The teachers all chimed in, "None of it is easy."

Ding Xian returned to the classroom, where everyone was gathered around Zhou Siyue's seat, congratulating him.

Zhou Siyue was neither humble nor arrogant. He showed no pride, nor was he excessively modest to the point of discomfort. Just like before, he joked around with people off and on, not acting overbearing in the slightest despite receiving the recommendation spot.

He already had good interpersonal relationships, and the well-wishers kept coming. After his own classmates finished congratulating him, another group came from a different class, pulling him out to the corridor for a chat. Even familiar teachers passing by couldn't resist a teasing remark.

Ding Xian could only watch from afar.

Before long, another group of junior high classmates arrived. From the end of the corridor, someone could be heard shouting from afar.

"Zhou Siyue, you're a university student now—"

Zhou Siyue looked back, then chuckled, lazily saying, "What's wrong with being a university student? Don't university students need to eat?"

Amidst his familiar tone, Ding Xian silently took Kong Shadi's hand and went to the restroom.

It wasn't until they returned home that night that the two could finally speak. After some things had settled, Ding Xian suddenly felt the atmosphere around them had changed.

"Aren't you going to say something?"

Zhou Siyue ruffled her head.

Ding Xian whispered, "You've probably heard enough today, haven't you?"

Zhou Siyue looked down at her, then suddenly averted his gaze, nodding with a smile, "Yes, I've heard enough."

Ding Xian instinctively looked up, her gaze meeting his head-on. His eyes were brighter and deeper than the moonlight behind them.

He lowered his head, lightly scratching his hair with his hand.

"But I haven't heard the most important thing yet."