Chapter 79: Extra – IF Route – Back to Xia Wansheng’s High School Days – Part 3
Xia Wansheng naturally didn’t know what Yu Congyan and the orphanage director had discussed while he was away.
Why was he looking at him so affectionately now?
Xia Wansheng constantly reminded himself: This person had sent his lackeys to beat him up before, his current change in attitude was solely due to his memory loss.
He might revert back someday.
But school life continued.
Although his roommates were puzzled by their sudden closeness, Yu Congyan ignored their stares. Being in love meant showing affection.
Coincidentally, Xia Wansheng didn’t dare to reveal the truth, so he had to accept Yu Congyan’s advances.
So, everyone witnessed a shocking scene: During lunch, the two, who were practically enemies yesterday, were sitting together, and Yu Congyan even gave Xia Wansheng his highly coveted, limited-edition chicken drumstick.
His followers were bewildered, realizing their boss must have fallen for Xia Wansheng. So that was why he told them to stay away from him that morning, they had completely misinterpreted the situation!
They squatted by the flowerbed after school, smoking and lamenting their boss’s sudden change of heart. They were supposed to be rivals.
“Could it be that Boss has changed his taste, now preferring this kind of easy-to-bully good student?”
“Maybe it’s a tactic, make him fall for Boss, then no one can steal the school beauty from him.”
They nodded in agreement, this explanation seemed more plausible.
Just as they were about to leave, a familiar figure appeared.
“！！！”
Thinking it was the disciplinary head on patrol, they quickly stamped out their cigarettes.
Then, looking up nervously, they saw Yu Congyan.
“I believe smoking is prohibited on school grounds, where did you pick up this bad habit?” Yu Congyan thought, it was these so-called “followers” who had ruined his chances with Xia Wansheng.
His followers stood in a line, looking dejected.
Although their boss disapproved of smoking before, he had mostly ignored them, now they were truly in trouble. Not only were their cigarettes confiscated, but they also had to explain themselves in detail.
Yu Congyan listened to their recount of the earlier incident, understanding how he had managed to ruin his chances with Xia Wansheng, starting as roommates and somehow ending up like this.
But it wasn’t too late, regardless of what happened before, he would win back Xia Wansheng’s heart.
No matter which world, whether this was a dream or not, he would be with Xia Wansheng.
As he made up his mind, he casually tripped a follower who was trying to sneak away, approaching them menacingly, “I was busy the other day, now go and apologize to Xia Wansheng.”
He frowned at their stunned expressions, “You’ve done this before, haven’t you? Apologize one by one, write a self-criticism letter to the school, and guarantee it won’t happen again. You know the consequences if you try anything funny!”
His followers nodded vigorously, terrified, completely demoralized.
Yu Congyan straightened up, his youthful arrogance showing, “I’m going after him.”
He deliberately made some noise as he left. Seconds later, the disciplinary head, who had been waiting, emerged from behind the bushes,
“You little rascals, I finally caught you! None of you are getting away this time! Detention for everyone!”
Xia Wansheng, walking back to the classroom for self-study, suddenly felt a chill, as if something was watching him. He wrapped his jacket tighter, hoping nothing bad would happen.
But last-minute prayers were useless, sitting next to a fire, you were bound to feel the heat.
Just like how he couldn’t ignore Yu Congyan, who had switched seats and was now sitting beside him during evening self-study, and the burning gaze he could feel on him.
He glanced over and, as expected, met Yu Congyan’s eyes, then quickly looked away, pretending to be unconcerned.
He told himself this was temporary. If Yu Congyan regained his memory and learned about his embarrassing behavior, he would definitely face even worse treatment.
“Stop looking at me, focus on your studies.” Xia Wansheng tried to sound normal.
He usually avoided this person.
Now, with his amnesia and sudden change in attitude, even convinced they were in a relationship, Xia Wansheng had to think ahead, to improve his situation.
Perhaps he could have a better life in the future.
Thinking of this, Xia Wansheng focused on his studies, he had to work hard.
He looked at Yu Congyan, forcing a bit of sincerity into his voice, “Could you write me a letter?”
He said “letter,” but he would treat it as a love letter later, and Yu Congyan wouldn’t be able to deny it.
Yu Congyan was admiring the beautiful Xia Wansheng, bathed in the soft afternoon sunlight.
He hadn’t been crushed by the pressures of life yet, still retaining his youthful optimism.
He wondered what had caused such a drastic change in him later.
Just as he was about to agree, the homeroom teacher suddenly appeared at the back door, saying she needed to talk to Xia Wansheng.
Xia Wansheng left, confused, then, after hearing something, ran away and didn’t return.
The homeroom teacher, seeing his distress and recalling their trip outside school yesterday, called Yu Congyan out, “You know Xia Wansheng’s situation, his legal guardian just passed away, his family has been notified, I’m worried he might break down, please go and look after him, you have my permission to leave.”
Yu Congyan’s mind went blank, he suddenly understood why he was here.
How could the young Xia Wansheng face this alone? A high school student dealing with the death of his only family.
He had to handle the death certificate, cancel his guardian’s registration, and the place he barely called home would be taken away by other “relatives.”
Arriving at the hospital, Yu Congyan immediately spotted Xia Wansheng at the end of the corridor.
He seemed lost, his mind blank, although he knew he had many things to take care of, his defenses had crumbled.
A shadow loomed over him, and based on past experiences, he expected a punch or some other form of unwarranted aggression.
Xia Wansheng instinctively shrank back against the wall, too exhausted to even think.
Yu Congyan noticed his reaction and didn’t approach him, just sat down beside him, leaning against the wall.
He knew Xia Wansheng had to overcome this on his own, all he could do was offer silent support.
The ruins in his heart had to be rebuilt, brick by brick.
Xia Wansheng, realizing it was Yu Congyan, was relieved he didn’t try to speak to him.
He didn’t have the energy to talk, a part of him seemed to have been ripped away, but unlike the previous emptiness, this time, it was filled with the image of another person.
As Yu Congyan was trying to figure out how to comfort him, he suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder. He turned to see Xia Wansheng leaning against him.
The hospital corridor was a sea of pale green.
A window at the end of the corridor was open, the sunlight streaming in, illuminating the two figures huddled in the corner.
Yu Congyan suddenly felt the light was too bright and closed his eyes.
As he opened them, he felt a sudden weightlessness, a sensation of falling.
He was startled, instinctively reaching out to grab something, then his eyes snapped open.
The ceiling was back to its normal height. Xia Wansheng beside him was already awake, playing a game with his headphones on, lest he disturb him, “You’re awake? It’s rare for you to sleep later than me… huh?”
Yu Congyan suddenly pulled him closer, wrapping his arms around his waist, “I dreamt about your high school days…”
He didn’t mention accompanying him through the loss of his guardian, he didn’t want to reopen his wounds.
But Xia Wansheng took off his headphones, and seeing his unusual behavior, immediately understood, “High school… that’s when the director passed away, it’s okay, I’ve been thinking, maybe she’s living a good life in another world.”
The past was in the past. Now that they had crossed the ruins, they had to move forward.
