Chapter 18 : Do you still remember me_
Chapter 18: Do you still remember me?
Finally, the bell for the last class rang.
The students seemed to have made an agreement beforehand, as they all stood up in a flurry.
They bowed in unison towards the head teacher, Wang Qiming, who was standing at the podium.
"Teacher, thank you for your hard work."
The middle-aged teacher, known for his strictness, had reddened eyes.
He smiled and waved at everyone.
"Students, class dismissed!"
"I wish you all the best in your college entrance exams, a bright future, and to return as the youths you once were!"
As the head teacher left, the students in the classroom began packing the books and practice papers they needed to take away.
Some students were carrying a notebook that had been prepared earlier, going around asking others to sign it as a memento.
Chen Fan glanced at Su Ruochu.
"There are so many books, why don't I help you carry them back later?"
Before Su Ruochu could respond, Li Na came running over with a notebook, smiling slyly.
"Quick! You two sign this for me first."
Chen Fan smiled.
"Why are you doing this too?"
"It's pointless, you'll probably just end up throwing it away somewhere in the future."
Li Na pouted.
"Aiya, you're so annoying."
"This is such a touching moment of parting, and you have to say things like that to ruin the mood."
Then she turned to Su Ruochu.
"And you're not even going to manage your husband."
Su Ruochu's face immediately turned bright red, and she let out a soft "tsk."
"What nonsense are you talking?"
Chen Fan raised his hands in surrender, smiling.
"Alright, alright, I apologize."
"As compensation, I'll sign it properly for you."
He took the pen Li Na handed him and wrote a sentence on it.
"A bright future, always be happy!"
Then he wrote his name in bold calligraphy: Chen Fan.
After finishing, he passed the pen to Su Ruochu.
Su Ruochu wrote her name beneath Chen Fan's in a graceful script, and added a sentence of well-wishes.
Chen Fan teased, "You're lucky to get my signature."
"Make sure to keep it safe. When I become successful in the future, this signature will be worth money."
"Pah! You wish!"
Li Na put the notebook away, not forgetting to remind Su Ruochu.
"Keep an eye on him, he's getting more and more smooth-tongued."
As she turned around, she saw Guo Shuai standing behind her, grinning.
"Let me sign one too."
Li Na handed him the notebook.
"Write properly, okay?"
"If you scribble nonsense, I'll beat you up!"
Watching the two of them chatting and laughing, Chen Fan smiled at Su Ruochu.
"I guess we don't need to sign each other's, huh?"
Su Ruochu paused, the notebook she was about to take out from her desk stopped halfway.
Chen Fan explained with a smile.
"I've saved a good spot for your signature."
"On our marriage certificate in the future."
Su Ruochu's face turned red with shyness, and she quickly turned and went to chat with Li Na.
While the two girls were going around getting signatures, Chen Fan and Guo Shuai stood by the railing on the corridor outside the classroom, looking down at the students coming and going below.
"Have you decided?"
"Yeah, I've decided. I'll help Li Na move her stuff back to the dorm later, and I'll tell her then."
Guo Shuai had a somewhat melancholic air about him.
"It's a case of heads I win, tails I lose. No more dragging it out, I'll do it today."
The two chatted idly for a while.
Turning to see Li Na walk out carrying a stack of books, Guo Shuai shouted eagerly.
"Let me, let me! Us guys should handle this kind of heavy work."
Chen Fan smiled and gave Guo Shuai a secret thumbs-up as he left with Li Na.
Go for it.
At this moment, Su Ruochu came out as well.
She scanned the corridor, and after spotting Chen Fan, she hesitated for a moment, as if finally mustering her courage.
She walked over and stood next to him for the first time.
"What are you thinking about?"
Chen Fan smiled and pointed at the students rushing around.
"I'm watching them."
With high school coming to an end, many boys were plucking up their courage and running to the classrooms of the girls they liked, shouting their names.
Wanting to leave behind one last lingering thought in their youth.
As for those who had already established relationships, the boys and girls no longer hid their affection, openly embracing each other and enjoying their private world together.
Watching this scene, Su Ruochu was somewhat emotionally touched.
"Do you think, how many of them will truly make it to the end?"
Chen Fan reached out and gently held Su Ruochu's small hand.
Su Ruochu reacted like a startled little rabbit, her expression instantly becoming flustered.
She nervously glanced at Chen Fan, then tried to break free.
But Chen Fan's gaze was resolute, unwilling to let go.
Su Ruochu hesitated for a moment, but eventually gave in.
Allowing him to secretly hold her hand.
She even gave herself an excuse in her heart.
"I'll just consider it as not leaving any regrets in my youth."
Seeing that Su Ruochu was no longer resisting, Chen Fan finally spoke slowly.
"I don't know about them, but you and I...we won't ever be apart in this lifetime."
Hearing these words, Su Ruochu's face flushed red, but a sweet feeling flashed through her heart.
Which young girl doesn't harbor youthful dreams?
As a girl in the prime of her youth, how could she not have secretly fantasized about her own romance?
At this moment, a boy from the neighboring class suddenly rushed to the classroom door in front of them.
"Su Ruochu, I like you!"
He said it and ran off without turning back.
Both Chen Fan and Su Ruochu were dumbfounded.
Chen Fan reacted, immediately pretending to be furious as he rolled up his sleeves, about to chase after the boy.
Su Ruochu looked amused as she held him back.
"What are you doing?"
Chen Fan grinned.
"Compared to them, I'm the lucky one!"
At that moment, the sound of singing came from one of the classrooms on the upper floor.
Soon, the singing voice spread throughout the entire teaching building.
This completely ignited the atmosphere.
All the students in every classroom came rushing out noisily.
Some cheered loudly, while others shouted along with the singing.
The emotions of many students were kindled, and some boys began tearing up their practice papers and textbooks, throwing them down from the corridors.
For a moment, it was like a flurry of white snow.
Some boys mustered their courage and shouted the names of the girls they liked.
Some girls secretly cried, their eyes reddened...
Su Ruochu quietly withdrew her hand, feeling a bit shy with so many people around.
Chen Fan didn't insist, instead shifting to the side and shielding Su Ruochu in his embrace, preventing her from being jostled by the surrounding students.
Su Ruochu leaned against the railing, watching the papers fluttering down in front of her, seeming to get caught up in the emotion.
"Chen Fan, can you sing?"
"Yes, I can."
"Will you sing a song for me?"
"Ah?" Chen Fan smiled wryly, "I'm not a good singer."
Su Ruochu turned to look at Chen Fan.
"I want to hear it."
"Okay!"
Chen Fan nodded.
If Su Ruochu wanted to hear a song, even if she wanted the stars in the sky, Chen Fan would rush to pluck them down for her.
"What song do you want to hear?"
Su Ruochu thought for a moment, "Any song is fine."
Chen Fan turned and happened to see a classmate carrying a guitar out of the classroom.
"Let me borrow that for a bit."
Chen Fan reached out and grabbed it.
He slung the strap over his shoulder, stood in front of Su Ruochu, and gently strummed a few chords.
In his previous life, he had learned the guitar for a while in college, and fortunately, his skills hadn't become rusty.
After tuning the guitar, Chen Fan looked up at Su Ruochu and smiled slightly.
He opened his mouth and began to softly sing.
"La la la... la la la...
Time flows away rapidly
That talkative girl
Do you still remember me? I miss you
No need for many words as times change
My youth belongs to you
No matter how far apart, we won't disturb each other
I will always cherish your kindness
My summer, the you I love
I can't forget your departing figure
I drank a can of beer and picked up my guitar
Let me sing a song for you..."
Chen Fan's voice was not particularly clear, even a bit deep and husky.
At the beginning of the first line, he was still a bit nervous and trembling.
But soon, he immersed himself in the performance.
Gazing at Su Ruochu standing before him, his eyes became distant.
His memories seemed to return to the past.
In his mind, scenes from his previous life with Su Ruochu flashed by like a movie reel...
The corridor around them was messy.
But at this moment, in the eyes of the two, all the surrounding sounds seemed to disappear.
Only each other remained.
...