Why Does First Love Feel This Sweet? - Chapter 31

Chapter 31

That night, as they drifted off to sleep, Rong Yu proactively turned over and pulled Sheng Yi into his embrace. Sheng Yi obediently buried his face in Rong Yu’s chest, but his mind was still fixated on those three words on the New Year’s card: “I am sorry.”

Sorry for what?

Sheng Yi realized that during the three years he had been “asleep,” Rong Yu had lived through over a thousand days alone. In that time, Rong Yu had changed—becoming more mature, more guarded, like an adult carrying heavy secrets. This wasn’t the “angel” Sheng Yi remembered; it was a man with a hidden side he didn’t yet understand.

As Rong Yu whispered a gentle “Goodnight,” Sheng Yi’s messy thoughts carried him back to the carefree days of tenth grade.

…

The Cotton Candy and the Crowded Bank

On New Year’s Eve that year, Sheng Yi had dragged Rong Yu out to the riverside for the fireworks show. The damp river wind mixed with the pleasant chill of the night.

Forgetful as ever, Sheng Yi had left his phone at home, so he made Rong Yu buy him a giant, light-purple cotton candy for two dollars. Sheng Yi wore his baseball cap backward, his face buried in the sugary fluff.

“So sweet!” he chirped, sugar crystals sticking to his forehead and eyelashes.

Rong Yu, ever the clean freak, handed him a wet wipe with a look of mild disdain. “Eat it from the top.”

Sheng Yi simply tore off a clump of purple sugar and held it to Rong Yu’s lips. “Taste it! It’s really good.”

Rong Yu, who never touched street food for hygiene reasons, had a brief internal battle. Finally, he closed his eyes and took a bite. The sugar melted instantly, spreading a joyful sweetness across his tongue. When he opened his eyes, he saw Sheng Yi looking at him expectantly, his little tiger teeth peeking through a bright smile.

“Sweet?” Sheng Yi asked. “Sweet,” Rong Yu replied, unable to look away.

“The class monitor bought me one the other day, too,” Sheng Yi chatted away. “She’s the prettiest girl in our class. Ever since I left Class A, my popularity has skyrocketed.” He nudged Rong Yu playfully. “Maybe I shouldn’t try to get back into Class A after all.”

Rong Yu’s smile faltered, and he looked down. Before he could respond, a massive BOOM echoed across the sky.

…

The Promise of Harvard

At the stroke of midnight, the sky exploded in color. People around them shouted their wishes: wealth, love, success.

Sheng Yi wiped his sticky hands and pulled out a hand-drawn card. “Happy New Year, Xiao Yu! Our tenth year!”

Rong Yu exchanged cards with him. Sheng Yi’s message promised to make Rong Yu proud and rejoin him in Class A. Rong Yu’s message simply said he was already proud.

That winter break, Sheng Yi’s hard work paid off. He jumped 200 places in the rankings, landing at the top of Class E. During a school trip to the United States, they visited Harvard University.

Walking through Harvard Yard, Sheng Yi felt a sense of awe. He realized that education wasn’t just about facts; it was about expanding one’s imagination. When they reached the famous Johnston Gate, Sheng Yi grew serious.

“I read a legend,” he told Rong Yu. “Harvard students can only walk through this gate twice—once when they enter and once when they graduate. If you walk through it in between, you won’t graduate. Let’s take another gate. I don’t want to mess up your future.”

“You want me to apply here?” Rong Yu asked. “Of course! Only a place like this is good enough for you,” Sheng Yi said proudly. “And you?” “I’ll try to apply to a school in the U.S. nearby,” Sheng Yi said, though he secretly dreamed of the Paris College of Art. “But that’s even harder to get into than Harvard for art students.”

“France,” Rong Yu mused. “It’s a seven-hour flight. I could visit you twice a month.”

…

The Loan of Luck

That night, they sat by the Charles River. Sheng Yi, feeling a surge of ambition but a lack of confidence, looked at Rong Yu. “Do you really think I can do it?”

“Yes,” Rong Yu said, his voice as calm as if he were stating a proven fact.

Impulsively, Sheng Yi leaned in. The cool wind blew between them as he pressed a timid, fleeting kiss to the corner of Rong Yu’s mouth. His face turned redder than the night could hide.

“I’m… borrowing one percent of your ‘academic god’ luck,” Sheng Yi stammered. “The rest is for you to get into Harvard.”

Rong Yu felt the lingering warmth on his lips. “Is one percent enough?” “It’s enough, I’ll work hard for the rest…”

Before Sheng Yi could finish, Rong Yu leaned in and pressed his lips fully against Sheng Yi’s. It felt like time had stopped for a decade. When they finally pulled apart, Rong Yu brushed his thumb against Sheng Yi’s lip.

“I’ll lend it all to you,” Rong Yu whispered. “Just remember to pay it back after graduation.”

…

Sheng Yi’s high school journey just took a massive leap forward! Would you like to see how he manages the “repayment” of that luck, or shall we return to the present where he’s trying to figure out why the adult Rong Yu is apologizing for their past?