C19

Chen Yang recalled that summer.

At that time, he was still in his second year of school. His father had to manage the company every day, and it was difficult to meet him once a day. His mother was too busy with her art career to take care of him.

However, those people at that age were in a rebellious phase. Having no parents to discipline them might be a good thing for Chen Yang.

The girl was called Xia Qing, she was just like her name, Xia Qing had a maturity that shouldn't have existed at that age, although it wasn't beautiful, but pretty, and it didn't have a strong appearance, but it made people feel comfortable, her personality was also as calm as water, and she would never place herself in the limelight.

However, when the teacher assigned her to be Chen Yang's tablemate, even if Xia Qing tried her best to be low-key, she was still caught in the limelight. Where Chen Yang was, there would always be a group of crazy girls, making it hard not to attract attention.

Chen Yang still remembered that when he walked to the girl's side, she drew a thin line in the middle of the table with her hand, telling Chen Yang not to cross the border, let alone talk to him. Chen Yang scoffed disdainfully at her actions, as long as she didn't provoke him. For this kind of ordinary girl, Chen Yang would never take Xia Qing into account even if he were to play around with her.

It could be said that Chen Yang had no interest in girls like Xia Qing.

No matter how much Chen Yang despised Xia Qing at the beginning, he was still attracted to this girl who would forever keep him out of everything and never have any interest in anything.

Xia Qing had a characteristic that Chen Yang didn't have. She didn't take things as good as they were good, but rather she took things as good as her own. It was perfect for her. Every time Chen Yang looked at her, he felt that Xia Qing was so far away from him. Even though the two of them were at the same table, they could stay silent for months.

In the afternoon, after school was over, Chen Yang saw Xia Qing eating alone under a ginkgo tree. The breeze blew by and blew away the gingko on the tree, causing it to slowly fall down. A few pieces landed on Xia Qing's body, but Xia Qing just quietly stared at the ginkgo leaf on her shoulder, just like that.

Until the wind blew again, the ginkgo leaves on Xia Jing's shoulders floated with the wind to the ground. After a long time, she looked at the leaves on the ground and let out a smile, a smile that was eternally engraved on the summer afternoon. It was as warm as the first rays of the morning sun, and also as light as the clouds in the blue sky.

It was Chen Yang's first time seeing Xia Qing's gentle eyes and sincere smile. Even though Xia Qing was normally gentle and didn't understand how to fight, treating anyone with the same gentleness, Chen Yang had always felt that her expression was a little out of place.

Now he finally knew what that dissonance was. It was the look in his eyes, the emotion hidden within. Xia Qing's usual gentle demeanor was just like someone who had rehearsed it many times before. She was hypocritical and emotionless. Her attitude towards everyone was the same, but it actually signified that no one was important.

Chen Yang looked at Xia Qing's gentle expression and couldn't understand why a lifeless leaf would reveal such real emotions, but when facing him, there would only be that fake expression.

Perhaps it was that afternoon that Chen Yang began to like Xia Qing, or perhaps it was just that he saw his shadow through Xia Qing, so hypocritical, so heartless.

After Chen Yang's confession, Xia Qing unhesitatingly agreed to him. At that time, when Xia Qing looked at him, her dazed expression actually somewhat resembled the look she had when she looked at the gingko leaves, but it only lasted for a short second. After that, Xia Qing returned to her normal look.

They did all the things that couples of that age should do.

Chen Yang could still remember the first time he kissed Xia Qing, under that ginkgo tree, there was the same breeze as that day, with the same leaves falling down onto their shoulders, Xia Qing looked at the leaves on their shoulders, Chen Yang turned her face around and suddenly kissed her, without any love, without any emotion, just like how he always did, Chen Yang just did this, nothing more.

After he finished, Chen Yang let go of Xia Qing. She placed the leaf on her shoulder onto Chen Yang's palm and smiled, "Chen Yang, I like you."

That was the first time Xia Qing said she liked it. When Chen Yang said something to her, she would always laugh and say that I was very happy and never responded to him.

For the first time, this was the first time. Xia Qing took the initiative to say — I like you, Chen Yang.

The world quieted down, and the surroundings gradually became blurry. Only the girl in front of him could be seen with her raised lips, curved eyes, and the words "I like you, Chen Yang".

At that moment, Chen Yang made a decision that shocked even himself.

He wanted to be with this girl forever, to see her smile so gentle, to see her only show her true feelings to herself, to hear her say to herself — I like you.

"Speaking of which, she's quite good-looking." Lin Luo had already walked up to the painting and carefully examined every detail.

Chen Yang's thoughts were pulled back by Lin Luo's words and he too began to carefully examine the painting. He suddenly realized that even though the painting had been left here for so long, he had never properly seen the painting, just like how he had never seen Xia Qing.

He suddenly realized that perhaps he had never truly understood Xia Qing, or perhaps he had never properly communicated his feelings to Xia Qing.

It suddenly occurred to him that disguising himself was actually such an interesting thing. No wonder Xia Qing wanted to pretend that he had a gentle and plain appearance, and maintain an appropriate distance from everyone. If he didn't want to interact with them, then there wouldn't be any disappointment, right?

"You and her are similar!" Lin Luo seemed to be pleasantly surprised by his discovery, quickly running in front of Chen Yang and carefully observing him.

Chen Yang was startled by Lin Luo's sudden action. Calming his nerves, he looked back at her.

Looking at Lin Luo in front of him, Chen Yang had a strange feeling from the bottom of his heart. This was a feeling he had never experienced before.

It trembled slightly, as if something had taken root in his heart; it also hurt, like a long needle piercing his body.

"Chen Yang, you really are so similar to the girl in the painting!" The corner of Lin Luo's mouth lifted into a proud smile.

Looking at Lin Luo who was laughing wantonly in front of him without concealing his thoughts, the corners of Chen Yang's mouth curled up unconsciously.