Lin Ting jolted awake from her sleep.
She couldn’t tell whether it was the tears in her dream that she couldn’t wipe away, or the doomed-to-end youth that felt far too real.
Subconsciously, she raised her hand to touch the pillow beside her. It was icy cold and damp.
Outside the window, dawn had already broken. Strands of sunlight squeezed in through the gaps in the curtains.
After several consecutive days of rain, Jingbei was finally blessed with clear skies.
That day, the university was hosting a financial forum lecture. Lin Ting went with Fang Zhixiao, her roommate from the same major, heading together toward the auditorium.
At the entrance stood an extremely eye-catching orange Lamborghini, drawing curious glances from passing students.
Fang Zhixiao joked, “Tsk, the young master is really hardworking—already grinding early in the morning.”
Lin Ting hummed in response. At Jing University, there was no shortage of people with money and power. Luxury cars appeared on campus from time to time; she was long used to it.
Until her gaze landed on that familiar license plate.
Her steps paused for an almost imperceptible moment. A flicker of doubt crossed her eyes before she continued walking as if nothing had happened.
She knew whose it was.
Back in high school, when everyone else was buried in their studies, Lu Hesheng had already been playing with sports cars. This license plate had appeared on all kinds of different cars, one after another.
Flashy and unmistakable—impossible to forget.
Every Friday afternoon, after a long week of studying, those young masters would enthusiastically stir up plans to hang out.
Lin Ting was often invited along by Nan Sanning.
Colorful sports cars would line up at the school gate, engines roaring from time to time, the spectacle grand and imposing.
Lu Hesheng’s car was always parked at the very front.
The license plate read 00001—perfectly matching his consistently flamboyant style.
He would lounge lazily against the hood, a bottle of mineral water in hand, listening to his friends discuss where to go that night.
Sunlight fell on him, silently gilding him with a dazzling halo.
A girl would run up shyly, say something to him, then leave with a disappointed expression.
When Lin Ting and Nan Sanning shouldered their backpacks and walked out of the school gate, that was the scene they saw.
The group seemed to have settled on a plan and dispersed, each getting into their own cars.
Only Lu Hesheng remained, sitting there with his head down, playing on his phone.
Not far away, Nan Jiyun rolled down his car window and waved for his sister, Nan Sanning, to come over.
Nan Sanning casually replied, “Got it,” scanned the area, then pushed Lin Ting toward Lu Hesheng, clasping her hands together pleadingly.
“Young Master Lu, please please—give my friend a ride!”
Lu Hesheng lifted his head from his phone. He didn’t say anything, just kept staring at her.
Lin Ting immediately lowered her head in embarrassment, feeling extremely awkward. She gripped her backpack straps tightly and quietly took two steps back.
For a moment, she was so mortified that she wanted to refuse Nan Sanning and go home to do homework.
But Lu Hesheng suddenly laughed. He hopped off the car neatly and hooked a finger around the strap of her backpack from behind.
The stone that had been weighing on Lin Ting’s heart—and body—finally dropped. She secretly let out a sigh of relief.
He spoke casually, his voice clear with a boyish brightness.
“Sure.”
Her mind, lost in memories, was abruptly pulled back to reality.
Fang Zhixiao, unsure why Lin Ting had suddenly spaced out, helplessly shook her arm and whispered into her ear.
“Listen, did you hear what I just said?”
Lin Ting snapped back, her tone apologetic.
“Zhixiao, could you repeat it?”
Fang Zhixiao pouted.
“We’re late. Looks like there are no seats left.”
Lin Ting scanned the enormous auditorium, looking at the dense crowd before her.
She couldn’t understand why a hall that usually had more than enough seats for their department was now completely full—people were even standing in the aisles.
But one of their professors was among the invited guests, so neither of them could just slip away.
A staff member came over, urging impatiently,
“Students at the back, don’t just stand there. Hurry and find seats!”
The two of them were directly ushered to stools in the corner of the front row.
A blessing in disguise—the spot happened to offer a clear view of the guests on stage.
Having not slept well the night before, Lin Ting felt like she’d been floating ever since she got up.
She took out her tablet from her backpack to look busy, lowered her head, and quietly started catching up on sleep.
The speeches from the leaders around her instead turned into white noise.
A bit hypnotic.
Lin Ting rested her hands obediently on her thighs, muttering a complaint in her heart. Her head bobbed, and she soon drifted off into sleep without realizing it.
Suddenly, loud applause erupted throughout the auditorium.
Fang Zhixiao hurriedly shook her awake.
“Listen! Quick, quick—the person you like is on stage!”
The person she liked?
Half-asleep, Lin Ting lifted her head, her hazy eyes not yet fully focused.
In the next instant, her gaze met Lu Hesheng’s as he sat on stage, taking the microphone, a polite, practiced smile on his lips.
Her mind instantly cleared. All drowsiness vanished.
Only then did Lin Ting notice the refined elderly gentleman seated beside him.
A professor from multiple universities, a former bank president, a heavyweight in economics—and someone Lin Ting deeply admired and loved as an idol.
She patted her chest, her heart racing wildly. For a moment, she almost thought she was still dreaming, that her secret crush had been exposed in public.
She muttered softly,
“Why is he on stage too?”
Fang Zhixiao turned to look at her.
“Him? You mean Lu Hesheng?”
Seeing the concern on Lin Ting’s face, Fang Zhixiao remembered that Lin Ting had received Lu Hesheng during orientation yesterday. Photos of the two together had been posted on the school’s official account, sparking quite a bit of discussion in campus circles.
Half envious, half explanatory, she said,
“What can you do? He’s young and accomplished.”
“When we’re still babbling nonsense, people our age are already starting companies, securing investments, and talking on stage with big shots.”
Lu Hesheng’s rather serious voice carried through the microphone to every corner of the hall.
Ever since he went abroad, Lin Ting had heard many rumors about him—intentionally or not.
But buried among the messy negative gossip were only a few positive bits. Eventually, she decided out of sight, out of mind and blocked everything.
So it turned out that Lu Hesheng had done so many legitimate things.
As he spoke about topics he was genuinely interested in, his expression became more animated, viewpoints flowing one after another, drawing frequent nods from the audience.
Lin Ting listened quietly. While she was happy for him, something deep inside her slowly sank.
An indescribable bitterness spread through her heart.
The stage lights were dazzling—so bright they stung her eyes, making them feel hot and wet.
Her voice grew a little urgent.
“I’m going to the restroom.”
Fang Zhixiao raised her phone knowingly, giving her an understanding look.
“It’s fine. If the professor needs us, I’ll message you.”
Lin Ting checked the time. There were still half an hour left before the lecture ended.
She wandered aimlessly around campus.
As she walked, she lost track of time. By the time she remembered to check her phone again, an hour had already passed.
Fang Zhixiao:
【Listen, I had something to do and left first.】
【I put your backpack on the desk in the first row. Don’t forget to come get it. [Image]】
Lin Ting let out a sigh of relief, replied with a cute finger-heart sticker, and headed back to the auditorium to get her things.
Just as she reached the door, a girl’s dissatisfied, coquettish voice came from inside. The sweet, cloying tone echoed clearly in the empty hall.
“…I chased you all the way here from the U.S. for you. You won’t even give me a chance?”
Lu Hesheng sounded irritated, his arrogant tone carrying out.
“What does that have to do with me, Mu Li?”
“Did I buy your ticket back to China? Or force you to come to Jing University?”
Lin Ting froze in place.
She stared at the wide-open doors of the auditorium, her fingers unconsciously digging deep into her palm.
Realizing it was wrong to eavesdrop, she suppressed her suspicions and turned to leave.
At that moment, a girl in a Chanel-style suit, carrying a crocodile-skin handbag, ran out with reddened eyes.
Their gazes met unintentionally.
When Mu Li saw Lin Ting in person, clear surprise flashed through her eyes.
As if confirming something.
She then snorted softly, venting her displeasure.
Lin Ting had no idea when she might have met this person. She guessed Mu Li probably mistook her for another love rival who had gone in to confess.
Still thinking about it, her feet had already carried her into the auditorium, heading straight for the first row to retrieve her backpack.
Suddenly, a force tugged at her collar from behind.
Startled, Lin Ting instinctively waved her hands in refusal.
“I didn’t hear anything!”
Lu Hesheng turned her around.
He raised an eyebrow, questioning softly,
“Heard what, hmm?”