VOL.03

I opened my eyes wide, feeling at a loss as I looked at the long and fair hand extended before me. It seemed as if my feet were fixed in place, and a faint scent of lemon made me so nervous that I could hardly breathe

If one does not believe in one's own destiny, one will only be ridiculed and struck down time and again, ultimately being abandoned by everyone

First place × × ×

Doctor? Jin Yingming also seemed unable to adapt to such awkwardness. He glanced around and found that there was no one else in the medical room besides us

Did he see the phone I gave him? ... Why does he look so serious? ... ...

This is the agreement between you and me

Sister Yue gently walked over and helped me up

Faintly, I want to hear the sounds outside the door clearly, but why do the sounds become increasingly indistinct

Oh? Aren't you the little sparrow that charges forward without fear? How could you fall to the ground from such a minor collision?" Yue Mei, holding onto Zi Lei, appeared in front of me with an arrogant expression, while the group of Huazhi cast sidelong glances at me, glaring fiercely.

He left just like that, without giving me any response. I once thought that miracles would always happen; I once thought that persistence could move others. Little did I know, a sparrow is still a sparrow, and can never transform into a phoenix

This voice ... ... is Senior Yue!

My name has never appeared

Ming? Is Qiu Qiu alright now? Why aren't you taking care of her inside...

From the moment I arrived at the airport

The long examination has finally come to an end, and I am squinting in front of the bulletin board displaying the top fifty names, searching intently...

I... I just want to prove..." I cautiously looked up at Jin Yingming, whose face still bore an expressionless indifference. I took a deep breath and continued, "I want to prove that perhaps I... I can..."

If others do not believe you, you must prove it to them and make them believe

In the empty room, I am the only one left, and I even doubt whether the person who just spoke to me was Jin Yingming

Never to return again

"Doctor, it seems... not to be here." I dared not look at Jin Yingming, speaking in a voice so soft that only I could hear.

It turns out that Jin Yingming had already left me a long time ago

"Ah, Qiū Qiū," Senior Yue exclaimed in surprise, pointing her finger at my ankle, "Your foot is bleeding!"

The room once again fell into a terrifying silence. I felt as if someone had a grip on my throat, my breathing became rapid and irregular, while the person beside me seemed to be so quiet that they were almost nonexistent

No need for that... The voice of Jin Yingming was clearly so light, yet when it reached my ears, it transformed into a heavy stone weighing a thousand pounds, making it difficult for me to breathe. "... This is our agreement..."

Hello? Little Sparrow?" The voice of Montai Yi came through the phone, and it was only then that I realized I had just dialed Montai Yi's mobile phone.

Jin Yingming was momentarily taken aback by my words, but a slight expression was quickly masked by calmness

From now on, your world... ... will be without me... ...

Maqiuqiu—"The purple bud slightly bent down, her eyes flashing with a fierce light. 'Don't think that just because you passed the exam, you can smoothly participate in the competition. As long as I am here, I will not let you have a good outcome!"

Is it true? How wonderful! Montai's voice sounded even happier than mine, "Little Sparrow! I'll meet you at the school gate in fifteen minutes! Wait for me there! We are going to celebrate properly today!"

Finally, I heavily sat on the hospital bed, and at that moment, I felt almost faint!

At last, my finger pressed the dial button in accordance with my subconscious, and the phone connected with a beep-beep sound

"Do as you please..." Jin Yingming suddenly interrupted my words and turned to walk to the door of the infirmary

Never to return again

Jin Yingming and I walked across the campus towards the infirmary. Students along the way gathered in surprise, pointing at us and discussing loudly. Although the surroundings were so noisy, I felt an eerie silence!

"Um, I'm fine..." I forced a faint smile and gently nodded, lacking the courage to raise my head and look at the expression on Jin Yingming's face

Should I tell him this message? If he knows that I ranked in the top fifty, would he be as happy as Montai? Perhaps he will no longer see me as the same timid Ma Qiuxiu as before, or maybe he will support me like Montai and Xiaoru do

Just as my gaze was about to leave the report card, I suddenly froze

Ah, Montaiyi, it's me!" I said loudly with a joyful laugh, "I have some good news to tell you, I checked the list, and my name is on it! I ranked in the top fifty!"

"Can't you walk?" A deep voice sounded as Jin Yingming turned around to look at me, who remained still.

Jin Yingming... In his world, there is now only the reflection of the river and the moon, and no longer any Ma Qiuqiu...

Thirty-fifth

I bit my lip tightly, limping with my head down as I followed Jin Yingming to the infirmary. I felt the part of my arm that Jin Yingming was supporting burning hot, that heat spreading continuously from my body to my face, and finally reaching the back of my ears

Snap

Suddenly, I was knocked to the ground by a powerful impact, my phone flew far away, and my foot happened to hit a stone, it hurt so much

Oh, isn't this the renowned Ma Qiuxiu!

Upon being reminded by Senior Yue, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my ankle! I looked down and discovered that my right sock had been stained red with blood, though I couldn't recall when it had happened! ... It was probably torn when I fell and my ankle hit the nearby stone ...

Jin Yingming ultimately walked over, one hand firmly supporting me, and the distance between us was perhaps only three centimeters... The faint fragrance on Jin Yingming's body, even his gentle breath felt so close to me! My ears began to heat up, as if I were near the sun, feeling as though I might be melted!

Outside the door, two rhythmic footsteps are gradually fading away, as if they are taking a piece of my life with them

Sister Yue, this is our seed contestant of the 'Tomorrow's Stars', Ma Qiuqiu. She fell to the ground because she was too carried away with joy

Oh my goodness! I actually made it into the top fifty!

"You need to go to the infirmary!" Senior Yue frowned at me, then suddenly turned to Jin Yingming and said, "Ming, can you take Qiuqiu to the infirmary? I will go tell Uncle Zhao that we will be back a little later, and I will go to the infirmary to find you soon."

I saw the familiar three characters "Ma Qiuxiu" written in the lower right corner of the leaderboard, and my heart raced! Fearing that I might be seeing things, I squeezed my way to the front of the crowd and confirmed it several times over!

The path from the school gate to the infirmary seems to have become very long...

No longer needed

No... no need, I can leave now. I quickly stood up with all my strength, my heart rate had already soared to two hundred and twenty!

Maqiuqiu... you clearly know all of this, so why do you still cling to such unrealistic fantasies? What have you been hoping for all this time?

Jin Yingming

The words that once shattered my heart completely occupy all my thoughts once again. I lowered my head, and tears quickly filled my eyes

Montai's words echoed in my ears, summoning all my courage: "I... I passed the exam!"

Agreement ... ... Agreement. ... ... ... Agreement ...

Forty-eighth, Ma Qiuqiu

Then, in a state of ecstatic joy, they took out their phone and dialed a phone number before their mind had made a decision

Jin Yingming's words echoed in my mind like a spell, over and over again... My hands trembled incessantly, while my heart sank along with something... sank... Jin Yingming and Senior Yue are really together... Suddenly, my eyes felt a wave of bitterness...

As I closed my phone, a thought that followed suddenly cooled my excited mood

Qiuqiu, how are you?

The door of the infirmary let out a muffled sound behind Jin Yingming, and I was taken aback, my heart racing faster and faster in my chest, as the blood surging up due to excitement made my head feel like it was about to explode

"Senior Yue, there's no need!" I quickly shook my head, but I saw Senior Yue was about to say something when a strong hand grasped my forearm, pulling me towards the direction of the infirmary.

I gathered my courage and opened my phone once more, my fingers trembling slightly as I tapped the keyboard, the number in my contacts both familiar and unfamiliar...

Is it possible that despite my tremendous efforts, I still cannot succeed? I squeezed the cat-patterned bell phone strap that Montaiyi gave me on the day of the exam, taking a deep breath.

Hmm! I understand! I will wait for you here! The image of Montaigne, with his face flushed with excitement, emerged in my mind, and unconsciously, a smile crept up on the corner of my lips

My heart suddenly constricted. In an instant, it felt as if the entire world had fallen silent, even the senior beside me, Yue, suddenly became quiet, silently observing everything, yet her eyes held a hint of an inscrutable expression.

... ...

Did you call me?

A voice broke the silence, and I suddenly raised my head, just in time to meet those pitch-black eyes. Should I tell him? I hesitated suddenly

Bang

... ...

Forty-second

"Qiu Qiu, is that you?" A voice interrupted Zilei's fierce warning. I looked up and saw Senior Yue and Jin Yingming not far away, with Jin Yingming holding a phone in his hand, frowning as he looked at me