Chapter 18: Do You Still Remember Me?

The final bell of the last class finally rang.

As if they had all agreed beforehand, the students stood up in unison.

They all bowed deeply toward their homeroom teacher, Wang Qiming, who stood on the podium.

“Teacher, thank you for your hard work.”

This middle-aged teacher, known for his strictness, had tears welling in his eyes.

He smiled and waved at everyone.

“Class dismissed, students!”

“Wishing you all success in the college entrance exam, a bright future ahead, and may you return forever young at heart!”

After the homeroom teacher left, the students began packing up their books and exam papers.

Some carried notebooks they had prepared long ago, looking for classmates to sign as keepsakes.

Chen Fan glanced at Su Ruochu.

“There are so many books; it’s inconvenient to carry. How about I help you take them back later?”

Su Ruochu was about to reply when Li Na, holding a notebook, cheerfully ran over.

“Hurry! Both of you sign mine first.”

Chen Fan smiled.

“Why are you doing this too?”

“It’s pointless; you’ll probably forget where you threw it later anyway,” Li Na teased coquettishly.

“Oh, you’re so annoying,” Chen Fan said.

“Such a touching farewell moment, and you have to spoil it with that.”

Then she looked at Su Ruochu.

“You really should keep an eye on your husband.”

Su Ruochu’s face flushed bright red, and she lightly scoffed.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Chen Fan smiled and raised his hands in surrender.

“Alright, alright, I apologize.”

“As compensation, I’ll sign properly for you.”

He took the pen Su Ruochu handed him and wrote a sentence.

“Wishing you a bright future and everlasting happiness!”

Then he scribbled his name in bold, flourishing strokes: Chen Fan.

He handed the pen back to Su Ruochu.

She wrote her name below his in elegant script, adding a blessing of her own.

Chen Fan teased with a smile, “You’re lucky to get my signature.”

“Make sure to keep it safe. When I become successful, this autograph will be worth something.”

“Bah! You wish,” Li Na said, putting away her notebook and reminding Su Ruochu,

“Keep an eye on him; he’s getting more and more slick.”

Turning around, she saw Guo Shuai standing behind her grinning.

“Let me sign one too,” he said.

Li Na handed him the notebook.

“Write neatly, alright?”

“If you mess it up, I’ll punch you!”

Watching the two of them laugh and joke, Chen Fan looked at Su Ruochu with a smile.

“We don’t need to sign each other’s, right?”

Su Ruochu was taken aback, about to retrieve her own notebook from the desk shelf but stopped.

Chen Fan explained cheerfully,

“I saved a good spot for your signature.”

“For when you sign my household register and our marriage certificate.”

Su Ruochu’s cheeks blushed even deeper, and she shyly turned away to chat with Li Na.

Seizing the moment as the two girls went to get signatures,

Chen Fan and Guo Shuai stood by the classroom balcony railing, watching the students bustle below.

“Have you decided?”

“Yes. I’ll help Li Na carry her things back to the dorm later and tell her then.”

Guo Shuai wore a solemn expression, as if preparing for a somber farewell.

“Either way, I’m taking the risk today.”

They chatted casually.

Then they saw Li Na emerge carrying a pile of books. Guo Shuai quickly called out,

“I got this! Let us men handle the heavy stuff.”

Chen Fan smiled as the two left the classroom and secretly gave Guo Shuai a thumbs up.

“Good luck.”

At that moment, Su Ruochu came out.

She glanced around the corridor, spotted Chen Fan, hesitated briefly, then seemed to muster her courage.

She came over and stood beside Chen Fan for the first time on her own.

“What are you thinking about?”

Chen Fan smiled, gesturing to the students running about.

“I’m watching them.”

With high school ending, many boys were summoning courage to call out the names of the girls they liked, hoping to leave one last memory of their youth.

Those already in relationships confidently embraced one another, savoring their shared moments.

Seeing this, Su Ruochu’s emotions stirred.

“How many of them do you think will truly stay together till the end?”

Chen Fan gently took her small hand in his.

Startled like a frightened little rabbit, Su Ruochu’s expression turned anxious.

She nervously glanced at Chen Fan and tried to pull away.

But Chen Fan’s gaze was firm, and he wouldn’t let go.

After a moment’s hesitation, Su Ruochu relented and let him hold her hand.

She found an excuse in her heart.

“Let’s just say it’s so youth leaves no regrets.”

Seeing her stop struggling, Chen Fan softly spoke,

“I don’t know about them, but as for us… we will never part for the rest of our lives.”

Hearing this, Su Ruochu’s face flushed with a rosy glow, and a sweet warmth flickered in her heart.

Which young girl hasn’t dreamed of love?

In the prime of her youth, she too had secretly imagined her own romance.

Suddenly, a boy from the neighboring class rushed to the classroom door in front of them.

“Su Ruochu, I like you!”

Without looking back, he ran off.

Both were stunned.

Chen Fan quickly feigned anger, rolled up his sleeves, and was about to charge out.

Su Ruochu laughed and grabbed his arm.

“What are you doing?”

Chen Fan chuckled.

“Compared to them, I’m the lucky one!”

At that moment, singing erupted from some class’s corridor upstairs.

The melody quickly filled the entire school building.

It ignited the atmosphere completely.

Students from every classroom poured out noisily.

Some cheered loudly; others sang along at the top of their lungs.

Many were swept up in the excitement; some boys began tearing their exam papers and textbooks, tossing them down the corridor.

Soon, white sheets fluttered everywhere like a snowstorm.

Some boys boldly shouted the names of the girls they liked.

Some girls secretly wiped away tears.

Su Ruochu quietly withdrew her hand—she felt shy with so many people around.

Chen Fan didn’t insist but shifted slightly to shield her with his body, protecting her from the crowd.

Leaning on the railing, Su Ruochu watched the swirling papers fall, her emotions stirred.

“Chen Fan, can you sing?”

“Yeah.”

“Will you sing a song for me?”

“Huh?” Chen Fan smiled wryly. “I’m not a good singer.”

Su Ruochu glanced at him.

“I want to hear you.”

“All right!”

Chen Fan nodded.

Not only did Su Ruochu want to hear a song, but even if she wished for stars from the sky, Chen Fan would rush to pluck them for her.

“What song do you want?”

Su Ruochu thought for a moment. “Anything is fine.”

Chen Fan glanced over just as a classmate was carrying a guitar out of the classroom.

“Let me borrow it.”

He snatched it, slinging the strap over his shoulder, and stood before Su Ruochu, lightly strumming a few chords.

In his previous life, he had learned guitar for a time in college, so his skills hadn’t dulled.

After tuning, Chen Fan looked up at Su Ruochu with a faint smile.

He began to hum softly.

“La la la... la la la...

Time flows swiftly away,

That talkative girl,

Do you still remember me? I miss you.

No need for many words as time passes,

My youth is all about you.

No matter the ends of the earth, no interference,

I will always cherish your kindness.

My summer, the one I love,

I can’t forget your departing silhouette.

I drank a beer, picked up my guitar,

Please let me sing a song for you...”

Chen Fan’s voice was not bright; it was a bit low and hoarse.

He trembled slightly with nervousness on the first line.

But soon, he found his rhythm.

Gazing at Su Ruochu standing before him, his eyes grew distant.

Memories flashed like film clips in his mind — moments with Su Ruochu from his past life.

Though the corridor around them was chaotic,

In their eyes, all the surrounding noise seemed to vanish.

There was only the two of them.

…