After school, Li Sitong's dad came to pick her up in the car.
Although Li Sitong was reluctant, she resigned herself to her father's car.
Seeing her resentful look, Father Li felt helpless.
"Dad, you don't need to pick me up from now on."
"You just recovered from a cold; I was afraid you'd catch another chill. That's why I came."
Father Li suddenly spotted Ye Chen cycling off with another girl.
His daughter stared after the pair, seemingly in a daze.
Father Li asked, "Sweetheart, did you just run into a love rival?"
Li Sitong shook her head. "Ye Chen and I are just ordinary friends—where's the rival?"
Li Li laughed. "Girl, if you like someone, chase them, confess. Isn't that how your old man won over your mom?"
Li Sitong stared at Father Li, stunned.
Was this the same dad who used to blow a fuse if he saw her walking home with another boy?
Ye Chen and Xia Yingluo rode side by side.
Evening breeze lifted Xia Yingluo's soft hair.
A scent of lavender drifted over.
The feeling was wonderfully comfortable.
Riding home after school with the girl you like—this memory is the sweetest highlight of many boys' youth.
After he grew up, Ye Chen would feel a pang whenever he saw boys and girls cycling home together.
Who knew he could return to eighteen and relive such beauty—truly blessed.
"Ye Chen, our Orphanage's New Year's Eve party is tomorrow. Are you free to come?"
"Are you inviting me to meet the parents?"
"Meet the parents?" Xia Yingluo froze for a second.
Then her pretty face reddened. "If you don't want to, forget it."
Ye Chen grinned. "How could I not want to? I'll be there."
Xia Yingluo's cheeks lifted in a small smile.
The next day was New Year's Day.
In the Classroom, students felt both excited and sentimental.
They were thrilled to finish only two periods and then hold a party; sad because this was the last New Year they'd celebrate at school.
The class had already decked the room out in festive colors.
Streamers hung everywhere, and colored red-and-green paper sleeves covered the fluorescent tubes, bathing the room in rainbow light.
The moment the second period ended, the students rearranged the desks and chairs into a circle.
Then peanuts and sunflower seeds were poured onto the tables.
Senior year was mostly a grind of books and tests; today's break felt rare and precious.
Even Old Wang shed his usual sternness, sitting among the students with a broad smile.
The party hosts were the class beauties Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo.
Performances began.
Some sang, some danced, and Xu Liang even demonstrated a martial-arts form.
Li Sitong beamed. "Next up, Xia Yingluo and I will sing a song together—'Meteor Rain'."
The song is the hit opening theme of Meteor Garden.
Ye Chen had noticed the two girls whispering mysteriously; turns out they'd prepared a duet.
A boy couldn't help shouting, "Isn't that a love song? Who're you singing it for?"
"Ooh!"
The class erupted in playful catcalls.
Every gaze swung toward Ye Chen.
Ye Chen didn't blush; he simply gazed dotingly at the two pretty girls.
Though both wore school uniforms, their youthful beauty eclipsed any other era.
In his past life Li Sitong became a movie star, Xia Yingluo a business queen.
Yet he remembered them best in these uniforms.
Li Sitong: The gentle starry sky should move your heart.
I'll set up a whole sky for you, standing right behind you.
I won't let you feel sad; I'll clear away your loneliness.
Let me shoulder every ounce of your dreams.
Xia Yingluo: Take my hand and follow me.
No matter how strong the wind, you have me now.
You'll never lose your way again.
… Their lovely voices floated around Ye Chen.
Scenes from his past and present life flashed before his eyes.
Back in High School he'd longed to grow up, to escape homework and exams.
Yet once he truly grew up he realized the sweetest time was still that green High School era.
Bitter as coffee, it was the most flavorful of years.
I'll take you to watch a meteor shower falling on this earth.
Let your tears fall onto my shoulder.
I want you to believe my love will only be brave for you.
And you'll see where happiness lies.
The song ended!
The two girls gazed at Ye Chen with deep affection.
Many boys in the room felt a sour pang in their hearts.
Because they all knew the song belonged to one boy only—Ye Chen.
Applause rang through the Classroom.
Xu Liang suddenly shouted, "The girls just sang 'Meteor Rain' for you—shouldn't you give us something, Ye Chen?"
"Yeah, Ye Chen, your turn!"
The class erupted in urging cheers.
Old Wang sat smiling, saying nothing.
Dating in senior year was taboo; no teacher could normally tolerate it.
But faced with Ye Chen's absolute strength, Old Wang simply pretended not to notice.
The boy didn't hurt his grades and even lifted the whole class—why interfere?
Ye Chen was Jiangzhou Middle School's treasure; they had to keep him happy.
As long as he didn't flip the world upside-down, he could do as he pleased.
Ye Chen stood up, picked up a guitar, and thought for a moment.
"I'll give everyone a song."
Music began to play.
The students froze in surprise.
None of them had heard this song before!
Farewell to classmates who bickered yet cared.
Farewell to the thank-yous I never found time to say.
Farewell to detention homework we'll never get again.
Farewell—
I leave you the final page of my yearbook.
… Ye Chen's voice rang out, and the Classroom fell utterly silent.
The song voiced their youth and mirrored every student's present mood.
We longed for graduation on the day we entered school.
Yet on graduation day we lost sleep over friends who'd leave.
Those few pop songs back then
Became tear-jerking staples at class karaoke reunions.
Our uniforms are stuffed at the bottom of the closet.
Ugly, but we'll never get another chance to wear them to class.
The sports-day march music
Can feel more nostalgic than classic love songs.
… As Ye Chen sang, many students shed reluctant tears.
They finally realized High School was almost over and their youth was slipping away.
The song was a huge graduation hit from Ye Chen's past life—"Never Say Goodbye."
But in 2008 it hadn't been released yet.
Ye Chen's system-gifted god-tier voice, coupled with the moving lyrics, infected every student.
The "I love you" carved on the desk is still there.
Passion once vast as the sea is now only wistful sighs.
Whose youth wasn't lost for a while?—
Actually, we're all the same.
… As the final notes faded, Ye Chen looked at Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo with deep feeling.
"This song is for our youth, for the love within our youth!"
At this moment many students hugged one another, tears in their eyes, reluctance on their faces.
Even Old Wang's eyes stung at the sight.