y all being superficial together. Go ahead and look down on us.”At this moment, Wang Weiwei turned around, put the phone on speaker mode, cutting off the music. There was a brief silence as everyone c...Chapter 107: The Past

The quiet hallway, where a waiter was aimlessly picking at his fingernails, was startled by the sudden sound of a door opening. The tightly closed doors of the International School Principal Club were abruptly thrown open, and Su Can emerged expressionless, heading towards the elevator at the end of the corridor. Soon after, people began to peer out from behind him as the elevator doors chimed and opened, allowing in two or three individuals who seemed to be arriving for the evening event.

Everyone was eyeing Su Can, perhaps sensing something amiss due to the curious faces peering into the club. As he walked away, some turned back to watch him, while inside the club they found a scene of chaos.

The members from both clubs were left with an unsettling feeling that they couldn't process after this unexpected turn of events. Wei Dingding and Li Du were immediately escorted out by someone. The senior figures in the club were on their phones, unsure whether they were contacting the school authorities or other individuals to report what had happened. Many present were discussing the incident animatedly.

Lin Luoran sat quietly at a bar near the window, looking out over the city. Half of her reflection was visible through the floor-to-ceiling window as she pulled up her skirt with one hand, revealing long legs that seemed to be making a dramatic statement. The other hand remained clenched into a fist, and she made no further movements.

Behind her, Liu Xiaojing stood in a black dress, arms crossed, staring at Lin Luoran's back. She knew through the reflection of the glass window that Lin was also observing her, but there was no real communication between them. A floor-to-ceiling window with faint silhouettes on it separated two slender and beautiful figures, as if they were in different dimensions.

On this seemingly extraordinary night...

The elevator stopped at the second floor, where one could feel the lively Christmas atmosphere from below. Compared to the aloofness of the rooftop, this level felt more familiar to Su Can. The ballroom was open and bustling; some people were still excitedly heading to the restroom, indicating that the internal activities organized upstairs were quite active. It seemed everything was proceeding according to plan, with high spirits among the students, which reassured Su Can.

He headed toward an outdoor bar nearby and sat quietly in a corner, like a monk meditating in silence.

The trickling water of the rockery pool gave Su Can a sense of serene isolation from the world. Today being Christmas Day, many couples inside the bar were busy setting up romantic candlelight dinners. In such an atmosphere, Su Can couldn't help but smile slightly.

Originally hoping that his university life would be meaningful and memorable, today he had been expelled by two top clubs for disrupting their event on the rooftop. Su Can knew his actions upstairs this evening were shocking and possibly even a challenge to the authority of Esek and Bi's establishments.

Mere contemplation made it clear that tomorrow there would likely be a great commotion and considerable trouble.

But then he thought, could this also count as an alternative form of excitement Su Can shook his head, feeling somewhat like the character Ah Q from Lu Xun's famous story, finding comfort in self-deception.

Everything was a matter of chance. The chance encounter with Liu Xiaojing, who then turned out to be unfriendly towards him...

Lin Luoran has a dual personality. On one hand, she might be open and indulgent 【II】, while on the other hand, she might still adhere to traditional values with her own limits. Moreover, Su Can wanted to explain what happened but was infuriated by Wei Dingding and Li Du's provocations at the gatherings of ESSEC and FECC where bottles were thrown and fights broke out.

Therefore, when club organizers asked who invited him over, Lin Luoran didn't speak up for him; she only stood quietly with pursed lips. Su Can could understand her conflicted feelings.

There was no reason for Su Can to stay in such a situation either. If he refused to leave after the club's organizers spoke just two sentences, who would dare stop him if they didn't want the whole of Shanghai to know about it

But leaving could also be a way to cool down.

Su Can was unsure what kind of impression his act of throwing bottles at Wei Dingding left on Lin Luoran, but there's no denying that those words infuriated him and led him to lash out instinctively. He didn't think much about it then, nor did he need to worry too much about the consequences.

Wei Dingding might know about this incident soon as well as Lin Zouwu. The entire Beijing-Tianjin-Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai circle would likely be aware of it, and Lin Luoran would find herself in an awkward position where everyone she interacts with would take Wei Dingding's side because Su Can was merely a minor figure in their circles.

Consequently, tomorrow might bring rumors targeting him. The young scion he had smashed the bottle to might not let it go easily, and this incident could affect relationships between Wang Weiwei, Lin Zouwu, even Lin Luoran and himself.

Their shared upbringing was a precious memory for Su Can after his rebirth. However, due to his rich experiences, he knew that what many people once thought would never change often ended up drastically different in the course of their lives.

Especially among groups like Wang Weiwei and Lin Luoran who matured too early, learning the principles of self-preservation at a young age. Sometimes it wasn't personal preference but practicality that dictated whether to get close or stay distant from someone.

In comparison, those seemingly straightforward scions, despite their flamboyance, were more likable.

But as Wang Weiwei and others grew up and adapted to society, they sometimes easily abandoned past beliefs.

Su Can was indeed troubled. Looking out the window at Nan University's lights hidden among trees with festive decorative lights on them made his gloomy mood somewhat improve. Soft music played by a DJ filled the bar, sung in a bluesy American woman’s voice, stirring feelings in him.

Lost in thought, Su Can accidentally knocked over a basket of tissue paper. As he bent down to pick it up, soft footsteps approached silently.

The sound came from two smooth and elegant legs encased in plain party high heels that caught his attention instantly.

Lifting his gaze, Tang Wu’s slender, sharp-featured face looked like the most enchanting star of the night sky, looking down at him majestically.

The dark pupils were profound and distant, as if no matter how secretive one's heart was, it would be revealed under such a gaze. Su Cen wondered what power this pair of eyes possessed that could keep someone awake at night.

Han Wu spoke calmly, "Why are you here" She had seen Su Cen enter the bar from the corridor and now noticed his bad mood. However, Tang Wu did not ask further; she was not good at consoling people, but if necessary, she could stay with him for a long time throughout the night.

"There are some things that make me feel suffocated." If there were anyone in this world who could share both Su Cen's joys and sorrows from two lifetimes, Tang Wu before him would certainly be one such person, possibly even the only one. There was no choice; everyone knew each other too well.

Tang Wu, being intelligent, did not need Su Cen to tell her what had happened and smiled as she said, "When I was young, I cared a lot about others' opinions of me—teachers’ remarks and classmates’ evaluations. Not only because I was the class monitor but also because people expected great things from me. Their comments, my grades on paper, and the expectations at home were all sources of pride for me. I worked hard to live up to them, striving so that others would care and maintain this high level of pride in their eyes. But I never realized how exhausting it was until someone came along and told me that I could be myself, do what I wanted, not live according to others' wills, and step out into a bigger world. Even if there were obstacles or hindrances, I should not forget the direction I chose."

Su Cen stared dumbly at Tang Wu. Although she blushed under his gaze, she did not look away as usual. She gathered her courage and continued, "At first, I didn't understand, so I thought about giving up. Under a lot of pressure, I couldn’t remain stubborn like him. But in the end, he was right, and I was wrong. However, this fool is still confused now. How should I tell him"

Under Tang Wu's cold gaze, Su Cen suddenly smiled broadly and said, "Just tell him that it would be better if he hugged you to console himself."

Su Cen felt overwhelmed by his own shamelessness when he spoke.

In the dimly lit bar, outside the window was a sea of city lights. Candles burned on each table in the bar.

Tang Wu's heart raced as she stared at Su Cen, her face flushed and surprised. She bit her soft lips slightly and nodded.

Su Cen stood up, wrapped his arm around Tang Wu’s waist, and hugged her tightly. At that moment, their bodies were closely aligned; the blood rushed through their spines to every limb. Su Cen held her quietly without any other moves, while Tang Wu gritted her teeth, prepared for Su Cen's potentially unruly hand. However, Su Cen just embraced her gently and sincerely.

Last Christmas Eve in Boston was very cold. This year, the temperature in Shanghai wasn't much higher; frost formed on the windows. Under dim lights, Tang Wu and Su Cen’s breaths turned into mist.

Despite the cold, their embrace brought warmth.

In Room 19 of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, International Principals Club, Lin Luoran was walking back and forth near the window while on a phone call. After hanging up, she hesitated for a moment before rushing out and taking the elevator down to the second floor.

Upon reaching the party venue, she frowned but still summoned her courage to enter. Su Cen's class Christmas party was nearing its end, with people beginning to leave in an orderly fashion. Lin Luoran’s appearance caused a stir among the class.

Han Han and Xiao Xu recognized Lin Luoran and rushed over when they saw her arrive: "Are you looking for Su Cen This guy has no idea where he is. You might want to try calling him."

Lin Luoran made an "oh" sound and nodded, stepping out. At this point, the bilateral Christmas晚會 were nearing their end, and Zhenji had called to tell her it was time to return to school.

Outside the hotel entrance, under the colorful lights of the Christmas trees on both sides, the organizing party's bus, as well as many members' cars, had already arrived and parked on either side of the open space and water pool. Some were heading directly back to school or home, while others planned to continue with evening gatherings elsewhere.

Wei Dingding and others went to the nearest clinic for treatment regarding Li Du's large bump on his head; many club members still talked nonstop about this matter, which could be considered one of the most shocking events that occurred on Christmas Eve this year.

During this period, Lin Luoran received numerous calls from friends asking about what happened. She eventually got annoyed and hung up all of them without answering.

Lin Luoran found Su Cun's phone number in her call log but hesitated to make the call. Liu Xiao Jing walked out of the hotel, got into a dark blue Beetle car, started it, and left directly. As she passed by Lin Luoran, their eyes met; these two girls who were always the focus wherever they went might have some mutual hostility.

On the other side, the bus turned around, and a senior sister at the door waved her hand: "Luoran, hurry up, get on the bus."

"Okay." Lin Luoran quickly boarded the bus, found an empty seat undisturbed by others, and looked out the window at the towering hotel in front of her and Nan University Campus.

The engine of the bus began to hum as it entered the main road under a path covered with colorful lights.

In the end, Lin Luoran still did not make that call.

And so Christmas Eve passed. And thus concluded the last month of the year.

The year 2002 arrived. The eagerly awaited winter vacation for students in universities across Shanghai and all over China was finally here.

Every holiday is exciting, naturally this year was no exception.

...

I'm late again; it took me until now to finish writing this chapter. Sweating profusely.轉碼失敗！請您使用右上換源切換源站閱讀或者直接前往源網站進行閱讀！