276 Senior Year (Eight)
After the death of Old Bai, it took the Bai family a month to come back to their normal routine. Yoona’s high school had ended in China as she was an international student and she was supposed to go back to London to appear for final exams.
Before returning home, she wanted to meet Gu Shangyan. Today, she was waiting for him in the same library where they met. She was sitting on the ladder just like the first time they met.
As Gu Shangyan entered the door anxiously, she stopped in his footsteps. He let out a nostalgic laugh as he saw her sitting on the ladder. It was the same ladder where their story had begun. He heaved out a sigh and walked closer to her.
“Hi, ” He whispered.
“Hi, ” She whispered back.
There was a good one-metre distance between the two of them.
“I have to return home, ” Yoona smiled sadly.
“Yes. Home, ” Gu Shangyan nodded his head as if he was understanding what she was saying. He hated being understanding at this moment.
“My flight is at midnight, ” Yoona said, her eyes fixed on him.
Gu Shangyan nodded his head, once again completely understanding her.
“So, I should go now?” Yoona hesitantly asked as she climbed down the ladder.
Gu Shangyan swallowed tightly and nodded his head.
As she was about to walk past him, he held her hand and pulled her for a tight hug.
Yoona’s eyes teared up and she hugged him back.
“I’m going to miss you terribly, ” Gu Shangyan whispered.
“I will wait for you, “Yoona replied. “No matter how long you take, I will wait for you.”
Never had Yoona ever thought even in her wildest dreams when she was forced to come to China to stay with her father’s estranged family who she absolutely hated that she would be crying at the thought of leaving China. This place that she disliked had become a home for her. Why did she feel like she was leaving a piece of her heart here?
Farewells were not her forte, she just realised now. She just wished that she didn’t have to do this again.
She had lived here for two summers and fallen head over heels for a boy. A boy who gave her the best and brightest memories of her youth. A boy who made her youth so bright and beautiful just by being a part of it. She had no idea what the future held for her and her relationship.
After what seemed like an eternity, they broke the hug and stared at each other.
“I should leave now, ” Yoona said, trying to smile.
“Let me drop you at home, ” Gu Shangyan offered.
Yoona shook her head. “Saying goodbye once is the hardest thing I have ever done. I don’t think I can do it twice. At least not twice in a single day.”
Gu Shangyan felt as if someone was squeezing his heart.
“I won’t say goodbye to you, ” Yoona whispered. “I will say, let’s meet again soon.”
That day Gu Shangyan watched her leaving when all he wanted to ask her was to stay. But he knew that they were too young to make a major decision at this moment.
It was also the day when he realised that her heart was with her no matter where he would stay. Maybe, he didn’t need to choose between her and his family. He could follow her and still have her. His family would mind, right?
“Oh, Shangyan has arrived, ” Gu Yanxi said. “Now you guys can discuss.”
“Uncle Yanxi, Xiulan is still not here, ” Han Zixin commented.
“Here, I’m!” An Xiulan came running holding juice bottles for everyone.
“Let me help, ” Gu Shangyan smiled at her.
“Thank you, Yan Gege, ” An Xiulan brightly smiled at her. “You are my best brother.”
Lu Xuan groaned. ‘Here, she goes again.”
“Aiyo, Lu Xuan. Stop sulking, ” An Xiulan muttered as she tossed him a juice bottle and he swiftly caught it. “What will you do when I go to college far from you?”
“We will see then, ” Lu Xuan muttered.
“You are so cute, ” An Xiulan pulled his cheeks.
“Why is this meeting called?” Gu Shangyan questioned.
“Guys, the Miss China contest officially starts next month, ” An Xiulan announced in excitement. “I applied for it.”
“We have exams in less than two months, ” Gu Shangyan told her.
“I will manage, ” An Xiulan smiled at him. “Maybe, if I win, I can come to join you guys at a top university. Aren’t you happy, Yan Ge?”
Gu Shangyan fell silent all of a sudden. He looked at his family and decided to break the news, “I applied for college abroad. I got my acceptance letter a few days back.”
The family fell silent. Han Zixin opened the juice bottle tap and took a sip of it, suddenly feeling joyous.
“You got in?” An Qinyan asked.
Gu Shangyan nodded his head. “The architecture contest I took part in and won was the reason I got selected.”
“Wow, Yan Ge, “A Xiulan gave him a thumbs up. “Our session has yet to end and you even got an acceptance letter. Power of genius.”
She was too proud of him at this moment. She asked, “Where is your college?”
“London, “Gu Shangyan replied and she stilled.
Han Zixin noticed her abnormal behaviour and rubbed her back.
” So, you want to attend college in London?” Gu Yanxi questioned it. “Son, if you are okay with this idea, we have no problem.”
“I do, “Gu Shangyan quickly said. “It is one of the best universities for my course. I will learn a lot.”
“Shangyan, I won’t ask you many questions, just one, ” An Qinyan said. “Is there another reason that we aren’t aware of for your applying to a college abroad?”
An Xiulan and Lu Xuan turned to look at Gu Shangyan waiting for him to answer this question.
In the end, Gu Shangyan nodded his head. He looked at them softly and said, “Auntie, Uncle, I like Yoona. I want to be close to her. I’m not a fool in love. I promise to never neglect my studies. Can you please—”
Gu Yanxi raised his hand and cut him off, “You are no longer young. You must know what you are doing. I just wish you the best for your life.”
An Qinyan gave out a small smile and nodded her head, burying what she wanted to say deep inside after hearing her husband’s words.