CHAPTER 277: CHAPTER 276: FAREWELL TO THE PAST

Han Mingyue’s unusual silence was noticed not just by Zhen Yu, but also by Mrs. Han.

After dinner, when they arrived at the spot where the neighbours gathered to enjoy the cool evening air at Fangshan, Mrs. Han suddenly stopped walking.

She first flashed a look at Mr. Han, then she told the children, "We’re going to chat for a while! You three head home first!"

The three children nodded in unison, yet none of them uttered a word.

"Go on, go on!" Mrs. Han waved her hand and headed straight into a group of women.

Mr. Han had no choice but to turn and join some familiar men for a smoke.

Seeing this, Zhen Yu turned and walked towards the Han Family’s home, not caring when the two boys behind her would follow.

Han Jiaoyang, who had been walking alongside his brother, only took two steps behind Zhen Yu before suddenly yelling out, "Ah! I need to rush home to watch TV! You two take your time!"

As he spoke, he dashed off, his little feet carrying him into the distance...

With Han Jiaoyang’s departure, a peculiar stillness enveloped the two people walking one before the other.

Zhen Yu bit her lower lip, steeled her heart, and stood still, not moving.

Han Mingyue, with his head lowered, hesitated to speak up. He quickly straightened his back to stop himself from almost bumping into Zhen Yu.

The two stood one before the other, very close yet unable to see each other’s expressions at that moment.

"Han Mingyue." Zhen Yu called out his name with her back to the boy, her voice cool, like a summer night’s breeze brushing over the tip of Han Mingyue’s heart.

"Mmm." The boy’s voice was heavy, filled with nasal tones.

Zhen Yu took a quiet breath, "From now on, try to focus all your attention on studying! See you at First High School in September next year."

In the dim night, Han Mingyue’s eyes darkened and then lit up, joy bursting forth as his heart suddenly began to thump uncontrollably.

Was she hinting at something? Could she possibly be...

Han Mingyue opened his mouth, almost blurting out his question.

Fortunately, the impulse was quickly dispelled by Zhen Yu’s following words.

"I hope you understand that the most important thing for you right now is your studies! Everything else should come after studying!"

"...I understand." Knowing that Zhen Yu couldn’t see, Han Mingyue still nodded forcefully.

So this was her true inner thought!

In that case, he knew what he needed to do next...

Zhen Yu thought Han Mingyue truly understood her subtle hint.

Actually, such words shouldn’t come from her, but rather from Han Mingyue’s parents and teachers!

Unfortunately, it seemed the adults didn’t know that their good child Han Mingyue had a premature crush...

After all, she feared that an early romance would distract him from his studies, afraid that the same fate that befell Lu Wei in a past life would fall upon him! Therefore, before leaving, Zhen Yu still chose to give Han Mingyue a few words of warning.

"If you need anything, you can call me." She paused and then added three more words, "Anything at all!"

Hearing her say this, Han Mingyue’s mouth slowly curled into a smile, his mood suddenly clearing.

A smile as beautiful as sunset graced his face, "Okay."

Having felt she’d done her duty, Zhen Yu sighed, "Go home."

"Mmm."

---

Two buses were parked in the courtyard of the town bus station, and Zhen Yu’s luggage had already been placed onto one of them.

She was standing in a corner of the courtyard, talking to Qian Duoduo and others who had come to see her off, and Lu Wei had also come along.

A few more minutes and the bus would leave; after a few more words, Zhen Yu would be getting on the bus.

"Xiao Yu! You must come back to visit me!" In the end, Bai Xue couldn’t help herself and expressed her hope for Zhen Yu to return.

This time Zhen Yu finally relented, "I should be back... but I hope to see you at First High School instead!"

"Hehe..." Bai Xue laughed awkwardly upon hearing this.

"Zhen Yu, wait for my call! I’ll let you know as soon as there’s news," Qian Duoduo instructed.

"Okay! I should be at home all the time, you can call anytime."

Liu Ting’s eyes were red as she said, "I will call you too! Zhen Yu! You mustn’t forget me! I still have two years before high school..."

Zhen Yu patted her shoulder with a meaningful tone, "I won’t forget anyone, especially not you, don’t worry!"

With Liu Ting’s appearance, she’d remember her for many years to come!

"Let’s go, it’s time to get on the bus," Han Mingyue said when she heard the sound of the bus engine starting, pulling Zhen Yu by the wrist towards where the bus was parked.

Han Jiayang was unusually quiet today, always silently following behind his brother.

Everyone followed behind Han Jiayang, and the girls all quieted down.

It was then that Lu Wei found an opportunity to speak. His voice was neither loud nor soft, but enough to attract attention.

"Zhen Yu, you’re transferring to Qi University Affiliated Middle School, right? My granduncle’s grandson is studying there, and he’s in the same grade as you!"

"Oh, that’s quite a coincidence," Zhen Yu gave a perfunctory reply, showing no interest in making connections.

Seeing this, Lu Wei did not continue and instead switched to asking about Qi City No.1 High School, to which Zhen Yu responded one by one.

----

At a few steps from the bus door, Zhen Yu stopped and turned to say, "You all go back!"

The girls shook their heads together, with Bai Xue already starting to cry, "We’ll leave after the bus goes!"

Zhen Yu smiled helplessly, moved inside though no longer delaying, "Then, I’m getting on the bus."

Before she could turn around, she suddenly fell into a scorching embrace!

Zhen Yu was momentarily baffled, but Han Mingyue’s voice promptly rang in her ear, "Wait for me at First High School!" After saying this, he released her.

Under everyone’s surprised gazes, Zhen Yu nodded calmly and got onto the bus without hesitation.

No sooner had she settled into her seat than the bus door closed, and the vehicle slowly started moving forward...

Zhen Yu turned her face to look out the window, waving at her friends. As the bus rounded a corner, their figures grew smaller and eventually disappeared from sight.

Though Han Mingyue’s action had taken Zhen Yu by surprise, it was in that instant that Zhen Yu suddenly realized—she, who had held onto her feelings for so many years and days, had finally let go...

"Unperturbed in heart, not trapped by affection. Fear not the future, do not dwell in the past. With this, all is well."

"No guilt towards the heavens, nor to the earth. Do nothing against others, fear not the ghosts. With that, such is life!"

The scenery of the small town rapidly receded behind her, and for a moment, Zhen Yu felt as if she was traveling through time and space.

In a past life, she had left the small town alone to register at Qi City Second Middle School. The scenes slowly surfaced in her mind, intertwining and then separating from the current moment, as if two unclear paths of light and shadow stretched endlessly before Zhen Yu’s eyes.

Zhen Yu waved her hand, dispersing the old times of her past life.

From today, from this moment, she would say goodbye to the past and run towards her brand new future.

An uncertain life is all the more exciting! And all the more worth looking forward to!