Cheng Xing had never observed Jiang Luxi so closely before. Her face was small, no bigger than a palm, and her hair was styled in a classic fashion—a blunt fringe and a high ponytail, with two delicate strands framing her slightly chubby cheeks.
Being so close, Cheng Xing could finally appreciate the true exquisiteness of her features. In his previous life, Cheng Xing had very little interaction with Jiang Luxi. She wore glasses, and her face, already small, was further obscured by her long hair. As a result, it was difficult to see her true appearance.
Jiang Luxi was also quite cold and distant. Her aloof personality meant she didn't have many friends at school and often kept to herself. She would go to and from school alone, seemingly existing in her own world within the vast campus of Ancheng No. 1 High. Before the second semester of her senior year, students only knew that she excelled academically but was extremely difficult to get along with.
However, no matter how low-key or introverted a person might be, beauty that could captivate youth and time would eventually be discovered. About two months before the summer vacation of their senior year, Jiang Luxi entered the classroom with a book in her arms. The early summer breeze lifted the two strands of hair at her ears, revealing her stunning features for the first time.
The wind not only stirred Jiang Luxi's hair but also the hearts of many students who were taken aback by her beauty. That was perhaps one of the most unforgettable moments of their youth.
Cheng Xing's biggest regret from his past life was not getting to see Jiang Luxi. While everyone else was talking about how beautiful Jiang Luxi was, like the sun or the gentle breeze, Cheng Xing was busy skipping school and playing video games at an internet cafe. This missed chance to see Jiang Luxi's real face was something he couldn't forget.
In high school, Cheng Xing and Jiang Luxi barely knew each other. Even at their senior prom, he was seated at the back because he was so tall. He couldn't see her face clearly from that distance. Their only real interaction was a single QQ online chat. He asked her for money, and she simply replied with an "okay," asking for the hospital certificate and bank account number. The money was transferred that same night. No phone calls, no small talk.
At their last school reunion, Cheng Xing had only caught a fleeting glimpse of her from a distance. Therefore, in this new life, without the same inhibitions and worries, and with knowledge of the future, Cheng Xing had handed her the love letter originally intended for Chen Qing, successfully creating the first interaction.
No matter how shrouded in mist Jiang Luxi might have been, or how great her future achievements, at this moment, she was just a high school senior at Ancheng No. 1 High School.
Jiang Luxi was truly beautiful. Even with her glasses on, her appearance was undeniable. Her nose was small and straight, her lips were naturally red, and her skin was as smooth as porcelain. As she stood there quietly, she exuded both the delicate charm of a southern woman and the resolute coolness of a northern beauty.
Jiang Luxi, who had been fairly calm, now showed a hint of annoyance and coldness. However, her expression quickly returned to its usual tranquility. She handed the love letter back to him.
"This is for you," Cheng Xing said without a hint of embarrassment.
Jiang Luxi looked up at him and said, "There's Chen Qing's name on it."
Cheng Xing: "..."
Time had passed, and he had forgotten that the love letter he wrote to Chen Qing contained her name multiple times. What surprised him was that Jiang Luxi had actually read it.
"You actually read the content?" Cheng Xing asked in surprise.
He had thought that Jiang Luxi would simply toss away the love letter after receiving it, but unexpectedly, she not only returned it calmly but also admitted to reading its content.
"Out of curiosity," Jiang Luxi said indifferently.
After saying this, Jiang Luxi placed the love letter on Cheng Xing's desk and turned to leave.
Cheng Xing was stunned for a moment. This Jiang Luxi seemed slightly different from the one he knew. However, this slight difference was, after all, a good thing.
Cheng Xing picked up the love letter he had written from the desk and glanced at it. Breaking the Formation: Poem dedicated to Chen Qing.
~Stars, like scattered jewels, pierce the thin night,
Below, a world of chill where cold winds bite.
~A song rings out, startling a white crane's flight,
The mournful "Yang pass," played thrice, ignites,
A pang of parting as dawn paints the sky bright.
~Your brush from Jiangnan, a touch so light,
Against my northern whip, a contrasting sight.
~Life's path uncertain, a winding, twisting flight,
Let's seek solace in laughter, in shared, drunken night.
~Only one wish, a yearning turned brief and bright,
Two souls entwined, forever out of night.
"Breaking the Formation" was an original self-composed poem penned by Cheng Xing as a love letter to confess his feelings for Chen Qing.
The first line described how Cheng Xing left home early in the morning and saw that the sky was not yet bright, with only a few stars, and the early autumn night was still a bit chilly.
In September, a flock of elegant white cranes, embarking on their annual migration from Russia, graced the skies of Ancheng, captivating the attention of Cheng Xing. Mesmerized by their ethereal beauty, he was compelled to express his admiration through singing. Choosing a melody set to Wang Wei's bird poems, Cheng Xing paid homage to the birds' majestic journey. As the song reached its emotional climax, demanding a prolonged, sustained note, Cheng Xing's passionate voice inadvertently disturbed a nearby group of resting cranes, momentarily interrupting their sojourn.
"Yang pass, played thrice" is a poignant qin piece inspired by one of Wang Wei's famous poems that delves into the profound emotions that accompany separation, weaving together themes of friendship, transience, and longing. It captures the bittersweet nature of farewells, acknowledging the pain of parting while cherishing the memories forged through shared experiences. The imagery of the changing seasons serves as a poignant metaphor for the impermanence of life and the fleeting nature of human connections. As the poet contemplates the passing of time, a sense of nostalgia and longing for their friend emerges, highlighting the enduring impact of friendship even in the face of distance.
The following two lines mean that when Cheng Xing bid farewell to the group of white cranes, the sky had already completely brightened.
Brush from Jiangnan and Northern Whip: These contrasting images symbolize the cultural and geographical differences between Cheng Xing and Chen Qing.
As for the lower half of the poem, it was Cheng Xing's expression of his feelings for Chen Qing. He only hoped that long yearning would turn into short yearning, and that they could walk the road ahead together.
When Cheng Xing saw the poem he had written, he didn't find anything special about it, but when he read the sentences below that truly expressed his love, he couldn't help but feel his scalp tingle. Even though he had experienced many ups and downs, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.
Just as Cheng Xing was about to crumple up the love letter in his hand and throw it in the trash can after class, Zhou Yuan suddenly snatched it away. He laughed and said, "Don't throw it away, Brother Cheng, let me see, let me see."
Cheng Xing felt ashamed to even look at it himself, let alone let others see it. Perhaps when he was younger, he thought that this love letter he had written was extremely good, but now that he was thirty years old in mind, when he looked back at these things he had written as a teenager, he felt more and more embarrassed.
Cheng Xing reached out to grab it back. "Don't, don't, let me see, let me see," Zhou Yuan dodged while saying.
"Cheng Xing, Zhou Yuan, what are you two doing instead of doing your homework?"
At that moment, a familiar voice suddenly sounded in Cheng Xing's ears. Cheng Xing looked up and saw a middle-aged man about forty years old standing in front of them.
"It's over," Cheng Xing sighed inwardly.
Zheng Hua, their homeroom teacher and Chinese teacher.
"What are you holding in your hands? Give it to me and let me see," Zheng Hua said with a frown.
Zhou Yuan bit his lips and handed Cheng Xing's love letter to him.