Chapter 9: A Deep and Lasting Love

  After receiving the admission notice, Zhang Shan-shan locked herself at home, not eating, drinking or sleeping, nor moving. The day before reporting to F University, Zhang Shan-shan cried bitterly in front of her family, grieving for the love that had withered before it could bloom.

  Zhang Li stayed by his sister's side, not knowing what language to comfort her with, and could only keep patting her back, saying: "There will be better ones ahead, don't be sad."

  "It's impossible, I'll never meet someone I like as much again. Even if I do, it won't be the same. Little brother, do you like Xia Meng? If so, don't let a beautiful relationship slip away like your sister did. You have to cherish someone who might only come once in a lifetime. Put aside all worries and bravely express your feelings to her. In the future, when looking back, it's because of efforts made and not regretting what could've been."

  "Mom's matter, don't worry about it, I'll go and have a good talk with her. Don't carry such a heavy burden on your shoulders like me, you need to unload some of the psychological burdens, only then can you walk faster and be happier in your heart. Xia Meng is a good girl, you should bravely pursue her. As long as you coordinate well between love and study, they will complement each other and promote each other. Love will make dull studying full of fun, while furthering studies will make the relationship even sweeter."

  "I went to F University alone, while Lu Xiaohui had Xia QingSong by her side. I completely lost to Lu Xiaohui, not because I wasn't excellent or hardworking enough, but simply because I wasn't as brave as she was." Speaking of this, Zhang Shanshan burst into tears, "For the rest of my life, I will regret this relationship, because I didn't even try to fight for a beautiful love that ended abruptly. I'm not reconciled!"

  Sister's tears, awakened Zhang Li's long-suppressed emotions. He bravely and firmly knocked open the door to Xia Meng's emotional world. Li Han probably never thought that introverted and calm Zhang Li would be so bold and skilled in love.

  Xiǎ Mèng strictly kept the appointment with Lǐ Hǎn, arriving at his house on time after school in the afternoon. The principal issued a new notice to the Literature Club, setting a deadline for publishing the quarterly journal and taking charge of all the display boards in the school.

  Xia Meng goes to Li Han's house every afternoon after school, uses the computer to input manuscripts from members and teachers of the school, and is responsible for typesetting and proofreading. Li Han closes the door in the inner room, don't know what he is doing. Then Li Han cooks, and the two go to school one after another after finishing dinner. During this time, neither of them has any verbal communication, Xia Meng feels like she is a hostage held by Li Han, who is waiting for a big ransom.

  "You're usually so talkative, why have you been so quiet lately?" Xia Meng questioned Li Han at the dinner table.

  "What are you saying? Are you saying that you're staying here with me but your heart is with Zhang Li? Why do you keep checking your phone messages?"

  "Mind your own business when I'm texting!"

  "Girl, listen up! You and Zhang Li Ke are both stars in school. Don't you know Huang Yi Qi's personality? How much she likes Zhang Li? Are you going to compete with her for him? Can you win?"

  As soon as Huang Yiqi was mentioned, Xia Meng couldn't help but furrow her brow. Huang Yiqi had a beautiful and classical appearance, with an air of calmness about her, but her personality was slightly eccentric. Once she set her mind on something, she would pursue it relentlessly, and her hobbies remained unchanged for over ten years. She had long hair that reached down to her waist, which she had kept for over ten years, and she had read Jin Yong's martial arts novels repeatedly. The nail of her left thumb was over 10 centimeters long. All these signs told Xia Meng that Huang Yiqi's emotions were singularly focused, and she loved deeply. She liked Zhang Li, and would continue to love him deeply in the future.

  The fact is just like Xia Meng imagined, Huang Yiqi has a deep affection for Zhang Liyi. The Huang and Zhang families have been friends since childhood, and she liked to stick with Zhang Liyi of the same age; her toys could not be touched by anyone else except Zhang Liyi; when she had delicious food, she would always save half for Zhang Liyi to share together; she was physically weak since childhood, and when she was hospitalized due to illness, she must have Zhang Liyi accompany her; her joys and sorrows all required Zhang Liyi's participation. Due to her father being in the army, she could only follow her mother to a distant place with the military, but her longing for Zhang Liyi grew day by day. In the end, she requested to return to A City A Middle School regardless of everything.

  Both sets of parents were aware of Huang Yiqi's feelings for Zhang Li, while Zhang Li, although very doting on Huang Yiqi, only had a simple affection for her like an older brother would have for his younger sister. When it came to children's emotions, both sets of parents knew not to interfere too much and could only let things develop naturally.

  The most important reason why Huang Yiqi returned to A city without hesitation is that she subconsciously felt a change in Zhang Li, and this change was too subtle. The girl's instinctive reaction told her that Zhang Li had met the girl he liked, and the girl's name frequently appeared in Zhang Li and Huang Yiqi's phone conversations: Xia Meng.

  Huang Yi Qi returned to Class A and requested to be arranged in the same dormitory as Xia Meng. She wanted to observe at close range how her rival, Xia Meng, had won Zhang Li's heart so thoroughly.

  Although Huang Yiqi gives people the impression that she is buried in martial arts novels every day, however, no one knows that her ears are extremely sensitive, and the movements and changes of the people around her can accurately tell her what happened, but no one notices that she is observing everyone.

  Huang Yiqi sadly discovered that Zhang Li had deeply fallen in love with Xia Meng, and the two of them had already fallen into a romantic relationship. However, Zhang Li's feelings for her remained unchanged from start to finish: she was just his sister. Huang Yiqi could only quietly observe the situation, which was clearly unfavorable to her.

  Huang Yiqi observed that Xia Meng was kind, optimistic and healthy, full of energy, with well-developed motor cells, beautiful and intelligent, responsible, serious and meticulous in her work, mature and experienced in her dealings; while Huang Yiqi preferred to live quietly in her own small world, she didn't like sports, was proud and beautiful, not good at communicating with people, doing things as she pleased, and couldn't find any common ground with Xia Meng.

  If she also wants to make Zhang Li like herself, is it that she will have to give up her tail and get a pair of legs, becoming a girl like Xia Meng? The process would be extremely painful, every step would be heart-wrenching. She definitely cannot accept the ending of The Little Mermaid, sacrificing herself for the happiness of her loved one. Her ultimate goal in exchanging her tail for legs is to get Zhang Li, the prince in her heart. If someone tries to stop her, she will not hesitate to use any means necessary. Because she loves Zhang Li too much, and if there's no Zhang Li by her side in the future, she doesn't know how to continue living.

  Xia Meng might also like Zhang Li, but compared to Huang Yiqi's feelings for Zhang Li, hers would seem pale and weak. Perhaps Xia Meng's feelings for Zhang Li were only temporary, she didn't need to be too tense. This was the only way Huang Yiqi could comfort herself.