Tang Tang continued, "In conclusion, Shi Xinxin, I want to tell you to follow your heart. If you still love Sheng Chenjin, you can choose to accept him and continue being with him. Consider it a chance for him, and for you."
Shi Xinxin listened to Tang Tang's analysis without speaking.
"But I want you to understand, Shi Xinxin," Tang Tang went on. "You and Sheng Chenjin were together because of love. You should be able to be as close as you were before. You need to feel that certainty before being with Sheng Chenjin. If it's out of regret, I advise you to think carefully."
"In the end, you have to follow your heart." This time, Shi Xinxin understood Tang Tang's words.
Following one's own heart, perhaps that was the true meaning of love.
After finishing her conversation with Tang Tang, Shi Xinxin couldn't sleep for a long time that night. She thought about Tang Tang's words, her feelings for Sheng Chenjin, the past, and the present... so many things that had always been hidden deep within Tang Tang's heart, things she rarely explored.
Tonight, however, Tang Tang decided to face her inner self.
When the first ray of dawn appeared in the sky, Shi Xinxin got out of bed.
She walked to the window, gently pulled back the curtain, and peeked outside. Her gaze fell upon the large tree where Sheng Chenjin had been leaning for the past two days.
This time, Shi Xinxin felt a mix of disappointment and relief, because she didn't see Sheng Chenjin under the tree.
Shi Xinxin couldn't quite describe the feeling of not seeing him; perhaps it was disappointment, yet she was also happy that Sheng Chenjin finally chose to rest elsewhere instead of stubbornly waiting.
Just as Shi Xinxin was about to draw the curtain closed again, her peripheral vision caught a familiar figure.
She saw Sheng Chenjin, dressed in a new set of clothes, walking towards the large tree. As he leaned against it, he seemed to raise his head to look in her direction.
Shi Xinxin, quick as a flash, pulled the curtain shut. At that moment, her heart pounded, and she felt a blush creep up her neck. A surge of joy welled up within her. Perhaps she simply wanted to prove to herself that Sheng Chenjin still cared.
As usual, Shi Xinxin packed her belongings and prepared to go to class.
The moment she opened the door, Sheng Chenjin's voice greeted her, "Good morning, are you heading to class?" His tone was gentle and warm, and Shi Xinxin felt a wave of warmth spread through her.
Shi Xinxin glanced at Sheng Chenjin and continued to walk forward, still intending to ignore him.
But Sheng Chenjin followed her, "Have you eaten breakfast? Shall I go buy you some? What would you like to eat?"
All the way, Sheng Chenjin walked behind Shi Xinxin, but she refused to even look at him or acknowledge his presence.
Sheng Chenjin accompanied Shi Xinxin all the way to her classroom.
Shi Xinxin lived close to the school, so she walked to school and to her classes every day.
Sheng Chenjin entered the classroom with her and sat down next to her. The class had only about twenty students, so the sudden appearance of an extra person drew glances from everyone.
Some of Shi Xinxin's acquaintances even asked her, "Is that your boyfriend? He's very handsome."
Before Shi Xinxin could answer, Sheng Chenjin immediately replied, "Not yet, I'm still waiting for her to accept me."
"You can do it!" The classmates immediately turned to cheer Sheng Chenjin on.
As the classmates returned to their seats, ready for class, Sheng Chenjin received Shi Xinxin's first reaction of the day: an eye roll.
Sheng Chenjin sniffed, his gaze fixed straight ahead, pretending nothing had happened.
Shi Xinxin couldn't be bothered to deal with Sheng Chenjin any further. She considered the eye roll a warning.
Accompanying Shi Xinxin to class, Sheng Chenjin dared not utter a word, sitting beside her. However, his gaze remained fixed on Shi Xinxin throughout the entire lesson, never straying to anything else.
When the class ended, Sheng Chenjin immediately asked Shi Xinxin if she was thirsty, if she wanted juice or a drink. He inquired about her needs with meticulous care.
But Shi Xinxin continued to ignore him, as if he were mere air beside her.
"Young man, is the girl next to you more captivating than my lecture?"
Shortly after class began, the foreign professor noticed that Sheng Chenjin's eyes were not focused on the front but were constantly on Shi Xinxin. The professor was direct, addressing Sheng Chenjin.
At first, Sheng Chenjin was oblivious. But when all eyes turned to him, he finally registered what was happening.
Sheng Chenjin looked up at the professor's questioning gaze and quickly stood up from his chair, his expression conveying utter bewilderment.
The professor appeared exasperated but maintained a serious demeanor. "Do you like the girl next to you that much?"
Shi Xinxin, under the intense scrutiny of everyone, wished she could disappear into the ground. Seeing Sheng Chenjin's flustered state, she should have been pleased, but with the attention now on her, she couldn't feel happy at all.
"Can you explain?" the professor urged.
Sheng Chenjin then gave a sheepish laugh. "I'm sorry, Professor, I can't help it. The girl beside me is radiant in my eyes, and I'm completely captivated by her."
As Sheng Chenjin spoke, the students in the room began to whistle, exchange knowing glances, and even clap and cheer.
Sheng Chenjin stood boldly at the center of the attention, while Shi Xinxin wished she could move away and pretend she didn't know this audacious man.
Upon hearing Sheng Chenjin's words, the professor shrugged, seeming to accept his explanation.
"I was young once too, I understand that feeling. Ladies always have their charming side, and at times, you're like an arrow shot by Cupid, irresistibly drawn to a certain woman."
The professor, it turned out, was open-minded, and his words were met with enthusiastic applause from the students.
"However..." the professor's words took a turn. "Outside of the classroom, I support you. But in my class, I hope my lessons can also leave you utterly spellbound."