Volume One, Chapter 170: Help Me Fulfill a Dream

When Sang Wan returned to the terrace, Ming Qing was standing far off at the other end, nearly the entire length of the terrace separating him from Lou Ye. His expression was clearly displeased. Without needing to guess, Sang Wan knew Lou Ye must have said something. She didn’t care at all; instead, she turned back to look at Qin Miao, a subtle knowing smile passing between them.

Earlier in the restroom, Sang Wan had asked Qin Miao, "Aren’t you afraid?"

Qin Miao’s face was clear and innocent. "Why should I be? I didn’t provoke her. I just went to the restroom!"

Then, she instantly became serious. "I’m in the entertainment industry, she’s in the world of high society. We have no connection. There’s nothing to fear!"

Out of the corner of his eye, Ming Qing noticed Sang Wan and Qin Miao walking back hand in hand. He asked Jiang Huai, "Is that young celebrity someone you brought?"

Jiang Huai glanced back, knowing Ming Qing was referring to Qin Miao, and nodded. "Yes! She always says we rich people are aloof and pretentious, so I brought her to see how down-to-earth wealthy people can be."

Ming Qing’s face was full of disbelief. "No manners at all."

Jiang Huai could tell Ming Qing’s first impression of Qin Miao wasn’t good.

Looking back, Sang Wan and Qin Miao were chatting happily, clearly enjoying each other’s company.

As for Lou Ye, though he stood quietly by the railing without saying much, he hadn’t left, which meant he didn’t dislike Qin Miao either.

Setting aside the overwhelming odds against him, Jiang Huai trusted Lou Ye more when it came to closeness.

Then Jiang Huai spoke again, his tone much colder. "You’re a young lady from a wealthy family and she’s a grassroots girl. You won’t have any dealings in the future. If you don’t like each other, just stay away. It’s not worth it!"

Not worth what? Not worth the trouble? Not worth the anger?

Ming Qing turned to look at Jiang Huai.

Jiang Huai picked up a freshly grilled skewer and turned toward Lou Ye and Sang Wan, leaving Ming Qing alone with his back.

Ming Qing felt as if she hadn’t endured such an injustice in all these years. She was so angry she could barely hold her smile.

But she hadn’t dared to leave when Lou Ye had confronted her earlier, so now was even less appropriate.

Ming Qing endured and endured, taking a long while to soothe herself.

The barbecue was just to stave off hunger. When the butler came out to announce dinner was ready, the group quickly moved into the banquet hall.

They ate, drank, and chatted, amid the intermittent ringing of phones, creating a lively and bustling scene.

Before the meal was finished, He Lan went to the guest room with the little star who had nodded off.

Qin Bochuan stopped drinking, and though He Lan insisted it wasn’t necessary, he followed along anyway.

Behind them, the group laughed and teased, calling Brother Qin a doting daughter and wife slave.

Seeing Sang Wan talking with Qin Miao and barely touching her food, Lou Ye turned to her and asked, "Are you full?"

Sang Wan nodded.

"Enjoy your meal!" Lou Ye put down his chopsticks, stood, and took Sang Wan’s hand as they walked outside.

"Brother, are you… leaving? Not celebrating the New Year?"

"Going for a walk. We’ll be back soon."

A walk??? Outside, the heavy snow was falling again. Jiang Huai looked bewildered.

Qin Miao shot him a glare, and he belatedly understood.

The Maybach slipped into the night. Sang Wan looked puzzled. "It’s so late. Where are we going?"

Lou Ye teased, "You’ll see soon enough."

More than ten minutes later, the Maybach stopped at the west gate of the Imperial University.

Though it was late, because it was New Year’s Eve, the small door near the guard room was left ajar.

The two easily slipped into the school grounds.

They passed the soccer field, basketball court, library, and teaching buildings.

Hand in hand, they walked all the way to the second teaching building.

The doors and windows were locked tight, but through the glass, they could see the tiered classroom on the first floor.

Lou Ye pointed to the middle seat in the third row. "There, your throne!"

Sang Wan leaned in for a glance—it was indeed her seat.

She thought of how quietly Lou Ye had been watching over her all this time without her noticing.

Her heart warmed and ached at once. "You’re such a fool."

"Foolish?" Lou Ye shook his head. "I don’t think so. I call it ‘sincere effort breaks through stone.’"

Some wish for a Doraemon to ride a time machine back to the past.

If only I could go back, I would do this and that...

Lou Ye never wanted that.

He had endured enough of the dark, desolate, hopeless past.

Every day now felt stolen happiness; he had no desire to return.

This moment was perfect.

"Come on, help me fulfill a dream."

Lou Ye took Sang Wan’s hand and they jogged toward the playground.

Snowflakes drifted down, blanketing the field in white.

Lou Ye stopped at the entrance and looked back at Sang Wan. "You don’t know how jealous I was those two years of couples holding hands while walking the track."

Sang Wan smiled softly, as if recalling a memory.

Student love was the purest kind.

Eating together, shopping together, or even staying together in a hotel—none was as romantically thrilling as holding hands while walking the playground.

Because that meant public declaration.

On the field, couples whispered to each other hand in hand.

On the steps, chatting, playing cards, watching stars and the moon, the carefree students paid no heed to the young lovers.

"Sis, why are you so foolish? You two don’t even match. Why insist on him?"

"Girl, are you sure you won’t break up? I saw him flirting with another girl at Landi Bar last Friday night!"

"Dude, the green hat on your head is glowing. Are you really that in love?"

...

At first, it was just an entertainment event. Later, walking the track became a necessary step before couples made their relationship official.

"Have you and Lu Jinnian ever done this here?"

Sang Wan didn’t want to bring up Lu Jinnian now, but whenever she thought of how she and Lu Jinnian had walked the playground and endured the scrutiny of others, Lou Ye felt a jealous rage.

"No!" Sang Wan laughed. "I don’t like being a gorilla!"

Love was a private matter. Why expose it to public judgment?

In other words, does an ugly person not deserve beautiful love?

Too shallow!

Lou Ye’s heart felt at ease.

"Let’s go..."

Sang Wan smiled as she linked arms with him. Together, they stepped into the snow-covered track with a soft crunch.

They reminisced about amusing stories from their school days.

Jokes they played while stargazing with Xu Yiyi.

And the years spent chasing after the campus heartthrobs and belles.

Lou Ye glared at her angrily.

Sang Wan laughed, looked up, and stood on tiptoe to kiss him. "Lou Ye, I love you."

Lou Ye was stunned.

Those three words—“I love you”—he had once spoken to the night sky, to shooting stars, and in recent months, whispered to a sleeping Sang Wan.

But never had he expected Sang Wan to be the first to say them face to face.

Disbelief slowly surfaced in his eyes.

His breath caught, overwhelmed by the perfect surprise of a dream come true.

From a distance came clear voices.

"Together..."

"Together, together!!!"

...

Looking back, a few scattered shadows stood at the entrance—whether sneaking in to set off fireworks or unable to sleep and watching the snow, no one knew.

A group of boys and girls laughed joyously.

"Already together for a long time!!!"

The cheers rang out loudly.

Amid the laughter and blessings of the students,

Lou Ye bent down and kissed Sang Wan.