Godslayer

Study hard and strive to improve.

Keep going, keep going. Keep going every day. Keep going for your parents, and for yourself.

Don't care about ridicule, discrimination, gossip, youthful smiles, or brilliant sunshine.

She was the same. She was Chen Yan, sixteen years old, in Class Two of Year One. She had earned her place here through her own efforts. They were the same—equally young, equally full of dreams.

Chen Yan looked calmly at Chen Wanwan and said loudly, "You are Chen Wanwan. Chen as in the surname Chen, Wan as in hair tied up. Your deskmate is Yu Cong—Yu as in abundance year after year, Cong as in clever..."

That entire morning, only Chen Yan's voice rang clearly through Class Two of Year One.

Every name carried such weight.

"You are Su Yan. Su as in Suzhou, Yan as in Rock."

"I am Chen Yan. Chen as in the phrase 'Chen Yan Wu Qu,' Yan as in the swallows before the halls of the Wangs and Xies of old."

Godslayer

That long, quiet morning ended amid fervent applause.

In that moment, everyone cheered for Chen Yan.

Chen Yan clapped as well. She was applauding herself.

For the first time, she felt joy overflowing within her.

A girl's sixteenth year was the loveliest season of her life, when so many held pure dreams in their hearts.

But she had once thought her own dream had been shattered. Shattered by herself, within the confines of her narrow pride.

How could she stop caring about other people's gazes and indifference? She had been trapped in a dark box by such things for more than ten years. From childhood to adulthood, she had tried countless times not to care, but time had told her that living freely and boldly was difficult. Changing oneself and defeating oneself was harder still.

Yet when the truth stood right before her, everything became so simple.

What she needed was not a wealthy family, pretty clothes, or a brilliant mind.

What she needed was so simple: one more friend, a little more care, a few more smiles, a few more greetings.

She was Chen Yan, sixteen years old.

When she was sixty-six, she wanted to look back on her finest years and remember them with a sincere smile.

The cold wind brushed across her cheeks, carrying away her warm tears.

Her bicycle stopped before the drab little house. Chen Yan wiped away her tears and walked inside with a smile.

"Dad, I'm back."

The uncle busy making lunch in the kitchen did not even raise his eyelids. He simply grunted in acknowledgment.

Standing in the kitchen doorway, Chen Yan said, "Dad, I became the Youth League secretary."

The busy man's hand paused. He turned around in surprise. "Youth League secretary?"

"Mm, I handle the League members' affairs. You know about joining the League and joining the Party, right, Dad? Middle school students join the League, and only after university can they apply to join the Party. Teacher asked me to be the Youth League secretary. I'll work hard and do it well."

After hearing his daughter's explanation, a smile finally appeared on the weathered man's face. In that instant, his eyes seemed to brighten. "Dad understands. Youth League secretary—doesn't that mean managing the League members? I get it. A class officer, right? Very good. It's your first time being a class officer, and the teacher thinks so highly of you. You have to work hard. Don't let anyone find fault with you."

Chen Yan nodded hard, her nose stinging.

She thought of Cinderella's story. She felt as though she had already been enchanted. The ballroom of youth had opened its doors to her.

All she had to do was step inside bravely.

On the other side of that door, her footprints would remain.

That afternoon, the homeroom teacher rearranged the entire class's seating.

Chen Yan was moved to the second row of the second group. This time, her deskmate quietly accepted her without voicing any displeasure.

Su Yan was moved to a seat by the window, with Liang Kui as his deskmate.

This time, they were true deskmates, with no aisle between them.

"Heh heh, it looks like Yanyan's classmate doesn't seem happy to be your deskmate."

"Whatever." Su Yan curled his lip. Since his rebirth, many things had changed, but many things had remained the same. For instance, this deskmate had been decided in his previous life as well. Teacher Ma was a very conscientious homeroom teacher, and she generally paired deskmates to complement each other.

Liang Kui looked awful. He was extremely unwilling to be Su Yan's deskmate, but he would not argue with the teacher over such a trivial matter.

"Su Yan, can I discuss something with you?"

"Go ahead."

"I want to switch seats with you. I like sitting by the window." Liang Kui gazed longingly at the window seat.

Su Yan shook his head mercilessly. "I love this window."

What did it matter that you liked it? Could your feelings possibly run as deep as my love?

Liang Kui exhaled irritably. "We really are incompatible!"

Liang Kui sulked over the deskmate issue for half the day and did not say a single word to Su Yan. Since he did not take the initiative to speak, Su Yan was even less likely to open his mouth.

It was not until after four in the afternoon, while the teacher was lecturing at the front, that Su Yan could no longer endure it. Out of habit, he pulled out a tomato and secretly stuffed it into his mouth. After taking a few bites, his weary body and mind immediately perked up. Su Yan let out a satisfied breath.

Liang Kui was even hungrier than Su Yan. He liked playing basketball during the lunch break, often missing his nap and burning through plenty of energy. Every afternoon felt like a year to him. His eyes were tired, his stomach was tired, and his whole body felt weak.

Even with only five minutes left before class ended, Liang Kui could not hold on. The moment he saw Su Yan's tomato, a green gleam flashed in his eyes. He involuntarily licked his dry lips and coaxed, "Su Yan, can you give me a tomato? I'm really hungry." He forced himself to ask, feeling rather embarrassed inside. If it had been anyone else, he would never have been ashamed, but who was Su Yan? Su Yan never gave him any face. Never!