Gu Yuena Has Always Had a Dream

The cozy little shop.

"Wuwuwu~ When I first entered the academy and met Sister Xing Lan, I... I fell hopelessly in love with her."

Xu Lizhi sat by the window. Empty bowls had already piled high on the table before him. As he carelessly wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve, he spoke through sobs, his voice thick with a nasal tone.

"Even though I knew from the start that it might only be my own wishful fantasy, I still couldn't help wanting to stay by her side, to watch her smile, to step forward and protect her whenever she needed me..."

He picked up a freshly filled bowl of mung bean soup beside him and tipped his head back, draining it in one gulp. The cold, sweet taste slid down his throat, yet it could not suppress the bitterness surging in his heart.

"When Sister Xing Lan nodded and accepted my confession, I actually knew that she might have only... only pitied me, felt sorry for how I looked. But even so, I was so happy that I couldn't sleep the entire night. I felt like I was the happiest person in the world."

At this point, Xu Lizhi's voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of agitation before quickly falling again. "That's why I kept training desperately, working harder than anyone else. I just wanted to become a little stronger, then even stronger, so that one day, she would truly see me and look at me differently..."

"But, but... wuwuwu~"

At those words, all his strength came crashing down. Xu Lizhi collapsed over the table, his shoulders shaking violently as scalding tears rolled down his round, fleshy cheeks and struck the rims of the empty bowls with soft little sounds.

He grabbed a bowl of mung bean