Chapter 3: Her Radiant Smile

Lin Jie had spent his primary and middle school years in the countryside. Before attending high school in the city, he had never imagined how vastly different the outside world could be.

He never knew that some people could change their clothes and shoes every few days, that some could buy expensive things without a second thought, or that some could easily surpass the academic achievements he had always taken pride in. And above all, he never knew that someone could possess such astonishing beauty.

The first time Lin Jie saw Su Jiamu was during the evening self-study session on the first day of school. The homeroom teacher had asked everyone to introduce themselves.

Still in a daze from his new surroundings, Lin Jie was brought back to reality by the soft murmurs of his classmates, and he raised his eyes to the podium.

"Good evening, everyone. My name is Su Jiamu."

A beauty as graceful as a willow by the Hua Flower Stream, with eyes as bright as the stars and brows as delicate as mist.

Lin Jie didn't have a romantic encounter by a flowing stream on a spring day, but Su Jiamu's appearance under the summer night's glow left an impression so deep it would last throughout his high school years.

He could never forget the sight of her arched brows and radiant smile aimed in his direction.

The creaking sound of the old ceiling fan, the cicadas singing in the night outside the window, the gentle whispers of the girl on the podium... and Lin Jie's heart, pounding uncontrollably.

It felt as though the entire classroom had fallen silent, with every gaze fixated on the girl standing before them.

She wore her hair in two lovely braids, a white T-shirt adorned with Doraemon, her face carrying a bashful yet dazzling smile. Her eyes were bright and clear, and with just a blink and a few softly spoken words, she left the boys mesmerized.

As Su Jiamu descended the podium, shyly returning to her seat amidst the applause, Lin Jie's eyes reluctantly followed her. He realized, to his surprise, that she was seated right in front of him.

After Su Jiamu's introduction, it was Lin Jie's turn.

He stood up in a fluster, brushing past her, their gazes meeting briefly in the air. She gave him a polite yet slightly reserved smile, but in his panic, he quickly averted his eyes.

That summer, Su Jiamu's smile bloomed like a radiant flower, a single glance that lingered for what felt like eternity.

Lin Jie's secret admiration for Su Jiamu began in that moment, and it would last for three long years.

Much later, people would often tease Lin Jie, saying, "President Lin, with your charm, I bet you were quite the heartbreaker in high school."

To these jests, Lin Jie would simply smile... the same smile he had given Su Jiamu all those years ago.

What else could he do but smile?

Could he, like the boys who had grown up in the city, confidently and cheerfully strike up a conversation with Su Jiamu?

No, someone like him could only watch from the shadows, silently yearning for that glimmer of light.

A secret crush, so secret that it spanned three years. He couldn't take the first step then, and now he couldn't even remember which foot to start with.

But what choice did Lin Jie have?

There was no choice.

It just so happened that in that year, she was radiant, and he was consumed by insecurity.

...

Outside the apartment building, Lin Jie stood, slightly uneasy, glancing up at the streetlight.

It was already nine o'clock, and there was still no sign of Su Jiamu.

At this moment, a wave of frustration crept into his heart. What began as confidence and excitement had slowly been chipped away by the long wait, and the insecure Lin Jie, who had been buried deep inside, seemed to resurface.

The impulse and courage brought on by his earlier resolve were now all but gone.

"She usually comes home early..." Lin Jie muttered to himself, lifting a foot to pace, though he had already been doing so for nearly two hours at the entrance of the complex.

It was their final semester of senior year, and many students had applied to become day scholars, allowing them to study from home. Both Lin Jie and Su Jiamu had chosen this option, which explained his anxiety. Su Jiamu, who usually returned home on time, was suddenly nowhere to be seen.

Sensitive and prone to overthinking, Lin Jie's heart sank... Could someone have told her?

But he had only confided in his two best friends, and they would never do something as senseless as telling her.

And even if they had told her, it wouldn't make sense for him to assume she was avoiding him.

"Don't be so insecure. Be confident," Lin Jie told himself.

Gradually, he calmed down, attempting a smile. He lifted his head, not to look at the streetlight this time, but to gaze at the starry sky above it.

It was a beautiful night, with a beautiful sky.

Before long, the items Mo Jiale had sent arrived. After politely thanking the delivery man, Lin Jie gingerly picked up the bouquet of vibrant red roses.

He brought them close to his face, inhaling their dewy freshness. How remarkable it was to receive such exquisite roses at this hour.

Mo Jiale had really put effort into this. For reasons unknown, a sudden wave of emotion welled up inside Lin Jie, causing his nose to sting.

He inhaled the delicate fragrance, though he couldn't quite place its scent.

At the very least, it wasn't the stench of unrequited love.

Lin Jie's parents had always been busy, which was why he had grown up as a left-behind child.

Even after the family's financial situation improved, his parents still had little time for him. They provided him with everything material, and when Lin Jie expressed his desire to become a day scholar and live on his own, they agreed without hesitation.

He had always been a thoughtful child, mature beyond his years.

He exhaled softly, his eyes fixated on the distant street at the entrance of the complex. The road stretched on straight and seemingly endless, much like the distance between him and her.

Nine o'clock. Nine thirty. Ten. Ten thirty. Eleven.

It was strange—just over an hour ago, Lin Jie had been tormented by a whirlwind of emotions, nearly suffocating under the weight of it all.

But now... Lin Jie felt nothing. His eyes stared blankly into the distance, devoid of emotion.

The light drew closer. A taxi appeared from the far end of the road, which stretched into infinity.

Perhaps it was a premonition, for as the taxi neared, Lin Jie's gaze remained locked on it, as though he was certain Su Jiamu was inside.

The taxi soon pulled up at the entrance of the complex, and from it emerged a figure in white—Su Jiamu.

A bright, cheerful smile adorned her face, her cheeks flushed with warmth. After stepping out, she gently dusted off her white dress, her back turned toward Lin Jie.

Lin Jie didn't move. The suffocating sensation that had disappeared not long ago suddenly returned.

The next moment, another figure—a boy—stepped out of the taxi. He said something to Su Jiamu, then playfully ruffled her hair.