Looking up at the endless galaxy above.
That star that kept me company back then.
Do you still remember the stories from here?
If there's a tomorrow...
Wishing you all the best, my dear.
The song 'Old Boy' comes to an end.
Evan Lin stood outside the crowd and saw a few boys who'd just finished shouting the song, already unable to hold back their tears.
Youth, huh.
Leaning against the wall, Evan listened to the song, feeling a surge of indescribable emotion.
On the Immortal Martial Continent, years of lonely cultivation left no chance for anything like the bittersweet feeling of graduating from senior year.
Outside the crowd, Byron Yang had somehow walked over.
His expression was decent, just a bit nostalgic—probably thinking of his own graduation days as he looked at the students before him.
After graduation, everyone goes their separate ways, full of hope for the future, but in the end, most just become ordinary people.
"In a bit, you can all go home. Be safe on your way back."
"All I can do as your teacher is encourage you spiritually. Do your best on the college entrance exam—try to get into your dream university!"
Byron Yang was all smiles.
Even though this class brought him plenty of headaches over the years...
In the end, they're graduating all the same.
"Teacher!"
Someone in the crowd raised their hand.
Byron looked over. It was a sweet-looking girl, the study monitor of the class—good grades, quiet personality.
"What's up, Yang? Is there something you need?"
Byron looked at her and asked.
"Teacher, I'd like to ask for leave!"
Her voice choked with emotion: "Since graduation is near, I want to ask for a long, long vacation! Please approve, teacher!"
Her voice was hoarse as she called out.
"Please approve, teacher!"
As soon as she finished, the boys and girls around her instinctively shouted in chorus.
The sound was deafening.
The energy was through the roof.
Byron's carefully controlled emotions finally broke. He turned, wiped his face hard, then turned back and, voice trembling, joked: "I've never seen students ask for leave like this before. If I don't approve it, are you all going to beat me up?"
Byron sniffled, trying to lighten the mood, but the more he spoke, the harder it got.
"Long vacation approved!"
As soon as he said it, all the boys and girls in Class 12 got teary-eyed.
Evan stood in the crowd, let out a deep breath, and was just about to leave when chaos broke out at the end of the hallway.
There were boys causing a commotion and girls screaming.
Greg Zhao, right on cue, handed the mic to Lynn Chen.
Screech...
The loudspeakers in the hallway crackled with static.
Hello everyone, I'm Wendy Wen, the outgoing radio club president.
After the static faded...
Wendy Wen's pleasant voice came through the speakers, reaching every corner of the school.
Wendy Wen!
Senior!
Some of the younger students still got excited hearing Wendy Wen's voice.
To them, Evan Lin, Wendy Wen, and Lynn Chen were all legendary figures in the school.
As for the senior boys who'd been following Wendy Wen as their arts goddess for years, they'd listened to her radio broadcasts all through high school—the connection ran deep.
For a moment, everyone suddenly went quiet.
After today, I'll be leaving the school, my class, and the radio club.
Wendy paused for a moment before saying, "So today is my last time talking to you all from here!"
Her words were full of sadness.
No matter how much everyone wanted to hold onto this moment and stay at school, time never lets anyone stop. It charges forward like a wild beast, dragging everyone along.
Senior, you could repeat a year!
A sophomore boy in the crowd couldn't hold back and shouted.
Screw you, you're the one who needs to repeat! Senior's going to get into a top university!
His friends grabbed him and started beating him up.
Today, I have a friend—Lynn Chen from Grade 12 Class 2—who wants to say a few words to Evan Lin from Grade 12 Class 32!
Wendy Wen took a deep breath and finally said it.
Lynn Chen?
Evan Lin!
What's she going to say? That's not right—isn't this backwards? Why is a girl going to talk to a boy!
Boom!
As soon as Wendy Wen spoke, the whole school went wild.
At the door of Class 12, Byron Yang and all the students instantly turned their eyes to Evan Lin.
Evan heard his name and froze.
Lynn Chen!
It really is her—what's she going to say to Evan?
Oh my god, this is going to be good!
More and more voices filled the hallway, rising and falling.
The crowd kept splitting to both sides, leaving a narrow path just wide enough for one person.
Everyone's eyes were locked on the scene.
Even the students on the opposite side of the hallway were craning their necks to see.
Get out of my way!
Hearing the broadcast, Henry Wang shouted in frustration, but the boys around him were too pumped up—they picked him up and carried him off to the side, surrounding him so tightly he couldn't escape, yelling all the while.
Nobody paid him any attention; most were just excitedly watching the hallway outside Class 12.
There, in the center of attention, Lynn Chen's face was slightly flushed.
Boys and girls crowded around her, eyes burning, faces full of excitement.
Straight ahead, Evan leaned against the hallway wall. Hearing the commotion, he turned his face to look over.
Sunlight streamed in from the hallway, casting Evan's shadow long across the floor.
In front of Evan, all the students had instinctively cleared a path, making sure not to block anyone's view.
Lynn Chen took a deep breath, her hand trembling as she gripped the microphone.
She walked forward step by step. It was only a dozen meters, but it felt like forever.
Every step took all the courage she had.
She was nervous, as if walking on thin ice.
Finally, she got closer and closer.
She picked up the microphone.
Evan Lin from Grade 12 Class 32, hello, I'm Lynn Chen from Grade 12 Class 2.
Her voice was soft, with a tremble she couldn't suppress.
Wendy Wen sat in the broadcast room, having Greg Zhao start a video chat so she could watch the scene live.
Hello.
Evan nodded.
Lynn Chen's skirt fluttered and her cheeks were flushed. Her face, more beautiful than ever, had lost its old arrogance and now held a gentle softness.
I've always wanted to talk to you properly, but I've never had the courage.
Today, I don't want to wait any longer!