mesbooks Chapter 235 Unspeakable
Chapter 235 Unspeakable
The graduation photo is scheduled for 3 p.m.
The sun hung on the roof of the teaching building, turning the whole building orange-red.
Song Huan put on that blue and white school uniform one last time and looked at herself in the mirror.
His hair had grown a bit longer, and his bangs were almost touching his eyes. He wiped them with water, but the tuft that was sticking up still wouldn't go down.
Forget it.
……
When I arrived at the school, the playground was already full of people.
Zhao Qihang stood by the flower bed, hands on his hips, like a proud rooster.
Chen Xu stood next to him, a head taller than him, standing straight like a tree.
"I'm going to find an internet cafe during summer vacation and play games for a whole month," Zhao Qihang said, counting on his fingers. "Fantasy Westward Journey, World of Warcraft, Counter-Strike, I'll change it every day."
He turned to look at Song Huan. "Didn't you own an internet cafe?"
Song Huan sighed helplessly, "That's an e-sports studio."
Zhao Qihang waved his hand, "Hey, who cares about that? I'll come help you out, just pay me on time."
Song Huan glanced at him. "What can you do?"
Zhao Qihang thought for a moment, "I can... play games."
Song Huan didn't speak, but Chen Xu spoke up from the side, "I'm going to help my mom with the shop during summer vacation."
Song Huan nodded.
On the other side, the girls stood together.
Some people had their hair in braids, while others wore light makeup.
They chirped and chattered like a flock of sparrows.
Xiao Yunqing stood in the middle of the crowd, wearing a school uniform and with her hair tied in a ponytail.
She wasn't wearing makeup, but her face was fair and her lips were red. She stood there quietly, but anyone could spot her at a glance.
"I'm going to Guangzhou during summer vacation to visit my cousin," a girl said.
"I want to go to Guilin. I heard the scenery there is especially beautiful," another girl said.
"I want to go to Xiamen to see the sea."
Everyone chattered away, talking about their summer vacation plans, the places they wanted to go, and the universities they wanted to attend.
When someone mentioned having a sweet romance in college, several girls laughed at the same time, and then blushed.
Zhou Shan walked over from the side, nudged Xiao Yunqing's arm, and whispered in her ear.
"Yunqing, you've already graduated, and you and he's still not together?"
Xiao Yunqing's body stiffened abruptly.
Her gaze unconsciously drifted towards the boy.
Song Huan was standing under the tree, talking to Zhao Qihang, when she smiled, revealing her white teeth.
She lowered her head, clutching the hem of her dress with both hands. She clenched it briefly, then released it, her face flushed.
"What nonsense are you talking about? He and I... are just friends."
Zhou Shan chuckled. "Friends? The kind of friends you've known since childhood, for fifteen years?"
Xiao Yunqing paused for a moment, then glanced at Song Huan again.
He snorted inwardly for no reason.
Song Huan, you big idiot, how long are you going to be so slow?
I can practically wear my feelings on my sleeve.
Seeing him makes me smile, his heart races when he gets close, and when others tease us, I pretend to be annoyed but secretly I'm happy.
But he just wouldn't take the initiative, wouldn't confront the issue, and wouldn't confess his feelings.
I'm furious!
Why should I bow down first? I don't want to.
I, Xiao Yunqing, also have my pride. Even if I like him so much that I can't stand it, even if I wait for him to speak every day, even if I secretly imagine him confessing at night, I will never be the first to say it.
If he doesn't take the initiative, I'll pretend I don't care.
Since he didn't confess his feelings, I stubbornly maintained my composure.
Even if I secretly long for him to hold my hand and say he likes me, I must keep a straight face and wait for him to soften up first, to lower his head first, and to say "I like you" seriously.
If he confesses first, all my awkwardness and insincerity will instantly crumble, and I will openly tell him all the feelings I've kept hidden for so long.
But now... humph, if he won't say, I won't say either.
Even if it's suffocating me, he has to speak first!
Seeing that she remained unmoved, Zhou Shan couldn't help but add fuel to the fire.
"Yunqing, I think you should seize the opportunity to confess to him. Graduation is here, everyone's grown up, and sometimes true feelings can change in an instant. Aren't you afraid he'll fall for another girl in college?"
Xiao Yunqing was taken aback, and blurted out subconsciously, "No, he won't fall for another girl."
Zhou Shan just smiled.
Xiao Yunqing realized what was happening, her face turned even redder, and she reached out and slapped Zhou Shan.
"You brat!"
Zhou Shan smiled and dodged away.
The photographer stood on the playground, holding a camera in his hand, with a tripod standing next to him.
"Come on, everyone, stand in line! Class 4, Grade 12, boys at the back, girls at the front, teachers at the sides!"
The chairs were brought over, and some people stood on them while others squatted in front of them.
Xiao Yunqing was standing in the third row of girls.
She stood very straight, her ponytail hanging down her shoulders.
Song Huan stood in the last row, Zhao Qihang was on the left, and Chen Xu was on the right.
The sunlight shone down from above, dazzling the eyes. The photographer raised his hand.
"Okay, everyone look at me, three, two, one!"
The shutter clicked crisply, like snapping a piece of chalk, freezing the image in that instant.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves and fell on the blue and white school uniforms.
Everyone's eyes lit up
Some people laughed heartily, some laughed faintly, and some didn't laugh but their eyes were crescent-shaped.
Xiao Yunqing stood among the girls, her bright eyes and white teeth revealing shallow dimples.
Song Huan stood in the last row, standing very straight, her eyes clean and bright.
Compared to that kindergarten graduation photo from over a decade ago, the little boy standing in the corner with his hands in his pockets and a nonchalant expression seems different now.
It seems like everywhere is the same.
The filming was over, and the group dispersed.
Song Huan was about to get a drink of water when Fang Yan walked over from the administration building, followed by Wang Feng.
Fang Yan was wearing a white shirt and had a smile on his face.
Wang Feng walked behind, his expression not as relaxed as his.
"Song Huan, let's talk in private."
Fang Yan pointed in the direction of the administration building.
……
Three people stood in the corridor of the administration building, the window was open, and the wind was blowing in from outside.
Fang Yan leaned against the windowsill, looking at Song Huan, "We should talk about the Food Alliance."
Song Huan nodded. "Principal, please speak."
Wang Feng stood to the side, his hands behind his back, and said, "What will happen to the Food Alliance after you graduate? We can't keep leaving it hanging like this forever."
Song Huan leaned against the wall, her hands in her pockets.
"Principal, Director Wang, I'm sorry. I've already sold the Food Alliance."
Wang Feng was stunned. "What did you say?"
His voice rose a half-octave, "The Food Alliance is a student council project, how could you sell it?"
Song Huan remained calm and composed, her tone even. "Director Wang, the trademark for the Food Alliance was registered by me personally. The merchant agreement was also signed in my personal name. I created the QQ group. The school only provided oversight support, and I have always been grateful for the school's help."
He paused for a moment, then added, "Furthermore, after Juxian Catering took over, they promised to continue offering discounts to cardholders and will also sponsor the school's sports meet and New Year's Eve party. This is a good thing for the school."
Wang Feng's face flushed red. "What...what is this...?"
Song Huan didn't let him finish speaking.
"Director Wang, I know what you're worried about. I've spoken with them, and they'll sign a strategic cooperation framework agreement with the school, sponsoring 20,000 yuan annually for student activities. However, the school must also support their activities. Does that sound acceptable?"
Wang Feng opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.
Fang Yan stood to the side, looking at Song Huan, and remained silent for a long while.
The Food Alliance was originally created by Song Huan.
The school didn't invest a single penny or contribute a single effort.
Now that Song Huan wants to sell, the school can't stop her.
Moreover, Juxian Catering has agreed to sponsor 20,000 yuan annually, which is much more than the 2,000 yuan donated by Song Huan previously.
Fang Yan sighed, "Alright. Talk to Juxian Catering and get the sponsorship agreement signed as soon as possible, so the school doesn't suffer losses."
Song Huan nodded. "Don't worry, Principal."
Fang Yan turned and left.
Wang Feng followed behind, took a few steps, and then looked back at Song Huan.
That look in his eyes was complex, containing helplessness, resentment, and something else he couldn't quite put his finger on.
Song Huan smiled at him, but he didn't smile back and turned away.
……
After taking their graduation photos, the students from Class 4 found a food stall nearby.
An open-air setting with plastic tables and chairs, and a red, white, and blue canvas awning.
The owner was a fat middle-aged man wearing an greasy apron, squatting on the ground fanning the charcoal fire.
Lu Xu stood at the entrance of the food stall, his hair neatly combed, looking completely different from how he usually appeared on the podium.
He glanced inside and called out to the boss, "Boss, put three tables together."
The boss responded and directed several young men to carry the tables out, put them together, and cover them with plastic tablecloths.
The students arrived one after another.
Zhao Qihang was the first to sit down, slapping the table and shouting, "Get the menu!"
Chen Xu sat next to him, a pot of tea in front of him. He poured himself a cup but didn't drink it.
Zhou Shan pulled Xiao Yunqing to sit down, and the two sat side by side.
Song Huan arrived last and sat down next to Xiao Yunqing.
Lu Xu stood in front of the table, holding a bottle of beer, and shook it. "I'm in a good mood today, so I'll make an exception. Anyone in our class who drinks?"
The boy's side exploded instantly.
Whether they usually drink or not, everyone raised their hands.
Zhao Qihang raised his hand as high as he could, almost standing up.
Lu Xu smiled and called out to the waiter, "Boss, three cases of beer, please."
The waiter brought over three cases of beer and stacked them on the table; the green bottles reflected the light.
Lu Xu picked up a bottle, bit off the cap with his teeth, tilted his head back, and took a sip.
The boys followed suit and opened bottles, and soon the sound of bottles being opened could be heard everywhere.
Lu Xu took a bottle of beer, walked up to Song Huan, and handed it to her.
Song Huan glanced at Xiao Yunqing subconsciously.
Xiao Yunqing was talking to Zhou Shan when she felt his gaze, turned her head, glanced at him, and then nodded.
The movement was very light, but Song Huan saw it.
He took the beer.
Lu Xu smiled, a smile that seemed more like a friend than a teacher's.
He patted Song Huan on the shoulder and walked away.
Everyone started toasting and drinking.
Some people stood up to offer a toast, some were forced to drink until their faces turned red, and some raised their glasses and shouted "Cheers! Cheers!"
Xiao Yunqing sat to the side, watching the boys' faces turn red from drinking, and felt a little curious.
Is this wine really that good?
She picked up a plastic cup and placed it in front of Song Huan.
"Pour me some."
Song Huan glanced at her, picked up the beer bottle, and poured a small half-glass.
The golden liquid was bubbling and hissing in the glass.
Just then, everyone raised their glasses again, and someone shouted, "Come on, cheers!" Everyone stood up, and their glasses clinked together.
Xiao Yunqing also picked up the plastic cup and bumped it against it.
Song Huan watched her from the side, a little worried.
"Just take a sip."
Xiao Yunqing brought the cup to her lips and took a small sip.
His brows furrowed instantly, and his mouth pursed, as if he had eaten something awful.
Seeing this, Song Huan quickly took the plastic cup from her hand.
"Alright, alright, I'll do it."
He tilted his head back and downed the half-glass of beer in one gulp.
Xiao Yunqing looked at him, her lips curled up, and her eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled.
The party is over.
People stood at the entrance of the food stall, saying goodbye in twos and threes.
Some people took taxis and left, some walked to the bus stop, and some were picked up by their parents.
Zhao Qihang put his arm around Chen Xu's neck and shouted, "Let's go have a second round of drinks!" but Chen Xu pushed him away in disgust.
"Yun Qing, I'm leaving!"
Zhou Shan waved to Xiao Yunqing and got into a taxi.
Song Huan stood under the streetlight, hands in her pockets, waiting.
Xiao Yunqing walked out of the food stall and stood next to him.
"Let's go."
The two walked side by side, their shadows stretched long by the streetlights.
They had traveled this road countless times and knew it like the back of their hand.
From kindergarten to primary school, from primary school to junior high school, and from junior high school to high school.
Fifteen years.
When they arrived at her building, Song Huan stopped, turned around, and said, "Okay, I'm leaving."
Xiao Yunqing nodded.
Song Huan turned and walked away, her steps neither fast nor slow, her hands in her pockets.
Take a few steps.
"Song Huan!"
Xiao Yunqing's voice came from behind.
He stopped and turned around.
She stood at the entrance of the building, the streetlights shining down and casting her shadow on the ground.
She looked at him, opened her mouth slightly, then closed it again.
Song Huan heard her inner thoughts, which were a jumbled mess, like a tangled ball of thread blown away by the wind, impossible to unravel.
[Speak.]
[Say it!]
[They've all graduated.]
[If you don't speak up now, you'll miss your chance.]
[But……]
[But what "but"?]
What if he refuses...?
No way!
[What if?]
"What's wrong?" Song Huan asked curiously.
Xiao Yunqing stared at him for several seconds.
His mouth opened again, then closed again.
He said one last thing.
"Be careful on your way back."
Song Huan smiled, waved, turned around, put her hands in her pockets, and left.
Xiao Yunqing stood downstairs, watching his figure grow smaller and smaller as he walked away.
The streetlights cast a long shadow of him, which disappeared around the corner.
She stood there for a while, then sighed.
Why is it that when it comes to the crucial moment, I just can't bring myself to say it...?
She turned around and went into the building.
She walked up the stairs step by step, her footsteps echoing in the corridor.
I got to my front door, took out my keys, opened the door, went inside, and closed the door.
The house was dark; Mom and Dad hadn't come home yet.
She didn't turn on the light, leaned against the door, and stood there for a long time.
Then slowly squat down and bury your face in your knees.