33. Separation

The scores were to be released at the end of the month. Pei Huan had refreshed the webpage countless times without success, and only after several attempts did she finally get in. Watching the buffering progress bar, Pei Huan nervously clutched Pei Yan’s wrist. “Brother, what if I didn’t do well?”

“You won’t,” Pei Yan reassured her.

Half a minute later, the progress bar finally refreshed, and when Pei Huan saw her score on the screen, she threw her arms around Pei Yan’s neck in excitement, exclaiming, “Oh my god!”

Pei Huan had scored 622—a solid result, well above the university admission threshold. She could apply to many prestigious schools.

For a moment, tears streamed down Pei Huan’s face—tears of joy. Pei Yan laughed beside her, “I told you, how could Pei Yan’s sister possibly do badly?”

Pei Huan shot him a glance. “Are you praising me, or yourself?”

Pei Yan made no comment.

In the class group chat, everyone was reporting their scores. Many in her class had performed well; their university acceptance rate was noticeably higher than other classes. The group was filled with cheerful atmosphere, and Pei Huan joined in for a while before leaving.

Her mood was even better than when she tasted something delicious.

Just a few days after the results were released, the Fifth High School asked senior students to return and fill out their college applications. When Pei Huan arrived at the computer lab, some had already finished and greeted her as they left.

Pei Huan casually sat down at a computer. On either side, students were anxiously fretting over their choices. When they saw Pei Huan arrive, they abandoned their worries to ask which university she intended to apply to. Pei Huan sidestepped the question with vague answers.

She had already made up her mind about her choices. Only after those around her finished and left did Pei Huan enter hers. It took just a few minutes before she submitted, surprising the guidance teacher who hurried over to ask, “Have you already finished your application?”

“I have,” Pei Huan nodded.

“College applications are no laughing matter; they affect your entire future,” the teacher said earnestly.

“I know,” Pei Huan replied, “I decided after discussing it with my family.”

The teacher was half skeptical. “Your family?”

“My brother is Pei Yan,” Pei Huan calmly stated.

Pei Yan was last year’s top science scholar at Fifth High, and hearing his name, the teacher suddenly understood, his doubts dispelled. He chatted briefly with Pei Huan before being called away by other students.

Tang Yue had just finished her application as well and left the lab with Pei Huan. Neither was in a hurry to leave; they strolled through the campus, knowing they might never return.

“Time passes so quickly,” Tang Yue sighed.

“I still don’t feel like I’ve graduated,” Pei Huan marveled.

It was hard to imagine three years of high school had gone by so fast—the dark days they once complained about were truly over. She would miss them, but if Pei Huan had to do it all over again, she would certainly refuse.

They walked around Fifth High, then left the school, not heading home immediately but taking the bus to the city center.

There weren’t many people on the bus at this hour. They found two seats together at the back. Tang Yue asked, “I saw your post—are you officially with Lu Yinghuai now?”

Pei Huan raised her brows. “Wasn’t my bragging obvious enough?”

“Go ahead and show off,” Tang Yue chuckled. “Everyone heard you’re dating Lu Yinghuai and couldn’t believe it. They’re all saying their precious cabbage has been snatched by a pig.”

Pei Huan was speechless at the metaphor. “Is it necessary to compare me to a pig?”

“You stole the campus idol—being called that isn’t so bad.” Tang Yue teased.

Thinking it over, Pei Huan could grudgingly accept the comparison.

After fifteen minutes, they got off the bus and wandered, window-shopping. Recently, Pei Yan had sent Pei Huan more money, so she could indulge herself.

“Does Lu Yinghuai’s personality change a lot depending on the situation?” Tang Yue asked, curious.

Pei Huan nodded.

“Tell me more!” Tang Yue urged excitedly.

Pei Huan shared a few anecdotes, and Tang Yue was ecstatic. “I told you, people like Lu Yinghuai are totally different before and after they start dating.”

Pei Huan wholeheartedly agreed.

Perhaps having finished their applications, both felt their burdens lighten, and they played late into the night before heading home. Pei Yan had no school today and returned early. When Pei Huan saw him on the sofa, wearing an infuriating smile, she walked over and awkwardly asked, “Brother, are you watching something indecent?”

Pei Yan looked up, expressionless. “You’re the one who likes those, don’t drag me into it.”

Pei Huan scoffed and went upstairs.

This summer, Pei Huan was either sleeping at home or going out with Lu Yinghuai. They were planning a trip out of province. Pei Yan watched her meticulously planning and couldn’t help but marvel.

Pei Huan used to be so lazy she wouldn’t even leave the house, and now she was willing to make travel plans—how remarkable.

During their travels, Pei Huan flooded her social media with updates—not just scenic photos, but also candid shots of Lu Yinghuai. The compositions were clever, blending landscapes and portraits with an atmospheric feel.

Their friend group wasn’t pleased. Li Xuan messaged, “Weren’t we supposed to have a graduation trip together? How come you and Lu Yinghuai went first?”

With Li Xuan leading, complaints rolled in one after another. Pei Huan was entertained, promising to go out with them after this trip, even swearing an oath, which finally calmed the group.

Lu Yinghuai returned with water just then and saw Pei Huan smiling happily. He couldn’t help but ask, “Why are you so happy?”

“I was chatting with Li Xuan and the others,” Pei Huan replied, taking the water. “Was the convenience store crowded?”

“It was alright,” Lu Yinghuai said quietly.

The two wandered by West Lake, among other holidaymakers. Pei Huan tucked her wind-blown hair behind her ear. The distant mountains were layered and misty, hidden behind rooftops, the sun shimmering on West Lake’s rippling surface, like scattered gold.

“What do you think will happen if we’re separated someday?” Pei Huan asked, as if casually.

Lu Yinghuai assumed she meant him going abroad while she stayed, and replied, “We can still call each other, can’t we?”

“And if we lose contact—what if I can’t find you, and you can’t find me?” Pei Huan smiled.

“Then I’ll search the whole world to find you,” Lu Yinghuai said.

“Really?” Pei Huan murmured, a faint smile on her lips.

Search the whole world?

It felt like something Lu Yinghuai would actually do.

“Why the sudden question?” Lu Yinghuai asked.

“Just a hypothetical,” Pei Huan laughed lightly. “Isn’t it popular online to test your boyfriend’s loyalty?”

Lu Yinghuai laughed with her. “No need to test. My loyalty to you is as clear as the sun and moon.”

“You’re getting good at sweet talk,” Pei Huan smiled at him.

“I have to practice,” Lu Yinghuai replied. “What if my girlfriend leaves me because I can’t say nice things?”

“With your face, I’ll never bear to break up with you,” Pei Huan said.

They laughed together, hands naturally entwined. Pei Huan suddenly felt a pang.

Every day with Lu Yinghuai felt like a countdown, as if someday, when he learned what she had once done, he’d surely hate her.

After the trip, Pei Huan prepared to travel with Li Xuan and the others. Pei Yan couldn’t help but call her a workaholic.

While traveling with her friends, Pei Huan often spent hours on the phone with Lu Yinghuai, as if missing even a second would be fatal. Listening to Pei Huan’s sweet tone, so different from her usual bluntness, her friends felt their heads buzz.

Was this still the carefree, outspoken Pei Huan they knew?

“Did you eat well at home today?” Pei Huan’s tone was syrupy.

Lu Yinghuai enjoyed it thoroughly. Sitting on his bed reading, he smiled at her question. “I did.”

“Did you miss me?” Pei Huan teased.

“Yes,” Lu Yinghuai replied. “I missed you—wish I could see you now.”

His clear voice, deep and magnetic, nearly drowned Pei Huan in its allure.

After their call, everyone finished dinner and went out again. Li Xuan, chatting with someone, lagged behind to catch up with Pei Huan. He looked at her and asked, “Are you and Lu Yinghuai serious?”

“Do we look fake?” Pei Huan retorted.

“But he’ll go abroad,” Li Xuan added, “and Yuan Tao.”

“I know,” Pei Huan replied simply.

Seeing her expression, Li Xuan knew she had made up her mind and that further words were pointless. He just said, “If you’re ever unhappy, just let me know. I’ll be there.”

Pei Huan’s nose tingled, and she joked, “Should I shed a couple of tears to make this more touching?”

“Being cheeky suits you, Pei Huan,” Li Xuan said, glancing at her.

They shared a look, then both laughed. Pei Huan often wondered if having such good friends was the reward for some virtue from a past life.

Tang Yue noticed they’d fallen behind and called out, “What are you two dawdling for? If you get lost, you’ll have to fend for yourselves.”

“Coming!” Li Xuan shouted, and he and Pei Huan caught up.

Time flew, and before long, it was the day Lu Yinghuai would leave for abroad. Pei Huan took him to the airport. Amid the noisy crowds bidding farewell to loved ones, they seemed just another ordinary pair.

Standing face to face, their eyes were filled with reluctant parting. Pei Huan’s eyes reddened, and Lu Yinghuai, helplessly amused, gently wiped her tears. “Why are you crying? It’s not like you’ll never see me again.”

Pei Huan shook her head, tears falling even harder. Unable to keep up, Lu Yinghuai simply held her close, patting her back and whispering comfort.

Once Pei Huan calmed down, she choked back tears to admonish him, “Eat well over there, dress warmly when it’s cold, take care of yourself. Don’t throw tantrums. If I find out you’re neglecting yourself, I won’t let you off, you hear?”

The threats, coming from Pei Huan now, lacked any force, but Lu Yinghuai took them seriously and said, “You take care of yourself too, okay? Don’t make me worry.”

Pei Huan nodded. Soon, it was almost time for Lu Yinghuai’s flight to board. She urged him to hurry through security. Lu Yinghuai seemed reluctant, cupping her face and kissing her lips. “I love you, Pei Huan.”

Watching Lu Yinghuai’s figure disappear beyond the security gate, Pei Huan finally stopped holding back, letting her tears flow unchecked, shaking with sobs.

Pei Huan waited at the airport until Lu Yinghuai’s flight boarded. After sending her final message and confirming he wouldn’t turn on his phone again, she deleted all his contact information, deactivated her social media accounts, and finally removed her SIM card.

After all these steps, Pei Huan’s heart began to ache, making it hard to breathe. She crouched to the side, face twisted in pain, refusing help from anyone.

Through tearful eyes, she gazed at the plane soaring into the clouds beyond the airport’s giant windows.

If I never see you again, I hope you continue to shine brightly in the days I cannot witness.