Tomorrow, I'll leap through the Dragon Gate

Gradually...

The classmates who had been laughing and celebrating around them quieted down and turned toward the sound.

Chen Fan paid no attention to the change around him and continued singing softly.

"La la la... la la la

I don't want, don't want to grow up too fast

Those dreams we promised back then

How are you all now? I'm missing you

Could we go back to the way things were

Back to that summer after the rain

Shoulder to shoulder, talking about our wishes

Sitting by the sea as the breeze blew past

Missing the past, cherishing the present

Unwilling to say goodbye to our youth

..."

Chen Fan's voice was low and slightly husky, and the lyrics brimmed with emotion.

Before long, many of his classmates were moved. Some of the girls even began secretly wiping away tears.

Su Ruochu stood there quietly, exam papers fluttering down behind her like rain.

In front of her, Chen Fan wore jeans and a white T-shirt as he gently strummed the guitar.

He looked fresh, bright, and uniquely charming.

As she listened to him sing so tenderly, "That summer after the rain, shoulder to shoulder, talking about our wishes..."

Su Ruochu naturally thought of that rainy night a few days earlier.

That was the night she had agreed to go out with Chen Fan.

As she listened, her eyes reddened too.

"I don't want, don't want to grow up too fast

Those dreams from back then have come true

But you're no longer by my side

I'm missing you..."

Chen Fan repeated the last line twice, then handed the guitar back to the classmate beside him.

Applause rose all around them.

Chen Fan paid it no mind. Instead, he looked at Su Ruochu and gave her a radiant smile.

"Did you like it?"

"I loved it!"

Blushing, Su Ruochu nodded repeatedly.

"What's the song called?"

"Missing You."

"Huh?"

"I said... the song is called 'Missing You.'"

Su Ruochu looked puzzled. "Who sings it? How come I've never heard it before?"

Chen Fan grinned and declared shamelessly.

"I wrote it."

"For one particular girl, and no one else."

He silently added, Sorry, Richie.

You've got so many great classics. Surely you won't mind if I borrow one.

At Chen Fan's words, Su Ruochu's pretty face flushed again, but her heart filled with sweetness.

"It's such a lovely song."

"I really like it."

Chen Fan bent down and whispered in Su Ruochu's ear.

"If you like it, I'll sing it for you from now on. Just for you, and no one else. How does that sound?"

Su Ruochu's cheeks burned, and her heart raced.

After a moment's hesitation, she gave a small nod.

"Mm."

The celebration, which had lasted nearly an hour, finally came to an end.

Everyone began packing their belongings to leave school.

Chen Fan didn't have much. He took only his backpack and the textbooks he needed for the exams, selling all his other books and exam papers to the woman collecting recyclables downstairs.

Three years of knowledge fetched thirty-two yuan and sixty cents.

He used the money to buy two bottles of Coke, then ran back to the classroom.

But Su Ruochu's seat was already empty.

Chen Fan froze for a moment, then hurriedly turned and ran toward the school gate.

When he finally reached the gate, he spotted Su Ruochu in the distance, standing by the roadside with her backpack in her arms.

A black Mercedes-Benz was parked beside her.

A fashionably dressed young woman was helping put her books into the trunk.

Chen Fan stopped and watched from a distance.

Just as Su Ruochu was about to get into the car, she glanced toward the school gate, as though she sensed him there.

She saw Chen Fan, and her eyes lit up.

"Mom, I just remembered I forgot something. Wait for me a moment."

"What did you leave behind? If it isn't important, just leave it."

"No, it's really important."

Su Ruochu had already run off.

She rushed through the school gate, breathless, and stopped in front of Chen Fan.

Chen Fan smiled. "I thought you'd left without saying goodbye."

Su Ruochu stole a glance behind her.

Only after making sure her mother outside couldn't see them did she suddenly step forward and gently wrap her arms around Chen Fan.

She hugged him tightly, then quickly let go and stepped back twice.

"Chen Fan, don't forget what you promised me."

"The Gaokao is tomorrow. Make sure you do your best."

"Whether or not you get into the same university as me, as long as you promise to give it your all, I... I'll still be your girlfriend."

After saying that with a flushed face, Su Ruochu turned and ran back outside before Chen Fan could speak.

"I'll get in!"

Watching her retreating figure, Chen Fan shouted after her.

He watched Su Ruochu get into the car and leave, then returned to the classroom with a sense of emptiness.

To his surprise, Guo Shuai had returned.

Chen Fan walked over and handed him one of the bottles of Coke.

"How did it go?"

Guo Shuai nodded, then shook his head.

"What does that mean?"

Guo Shuai looked up at him.

"I told her, but she..."

"Turned you down?"

Guo Shuai shook his head.

"She didn't say yes, but it seemed like she didn't... turn me down either."

"What do you mean?" Chen Fan asked, puzzled.

"She said she wouldn't give me an answer today. She'd tell me after the Gaokao."

Guo Shuai scratched his head.

"Do you think that counts as turning me down?"

"Li Na really said that to you?"

Guo Shuai nodded.

"What do you think she meant?"

Chen Fan laughed and chided him. "Obviously, she was worried it would affect your performance on the Gaokao."

"So that means she turned me down?"

"Not necessarily."

"Anyway, I don't think Li Na dislikes you. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been eating with you these past few days."

Seeing that Guo Shuai still looked dejected, Chen Fan patted him on the shoulder.

"Come on. Pack your things and let's go."

"For now, just focus on getting ready for the Gaokao."

"Like you said before, if she gets in and you fail, then even if she wants to say yes, you won't have a chance."

Guo Shuai sprang to his feet.

"That's right. You've got a point."

"I need to do my best. I'll be like you and try to get into the same university as Li Na."

Chen Fan smiled.

"That's more like it."

After their talk, Guo Shuai seemed to come back to life.

"Come on, let's go. We still have to check out the exam venue this afternoon."

That evening.

Chen Fan sat alone at his desk, carefully reviewing all the exam questions and key points he had written down from beginning to end once more.

A knock sounded behind him.

His mother, Li Jinqiu, pushed open the door and walked in.

"Son, don't stay up studying too late. You have exams tomorrow."

Chen Fan smiled. "I know, Mom. You should get to bed. I'll study a little longer, then go to sleep."

Li Jinqiu came over and set a glass of warm milk on the desk.

"Drink this before bed. It'll help you sleep."

"Thanks, Mom."

Li Jinqiu affectionately ruffled her son's hair.

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

"Your dad hopes you'll get into a university and make the family proud, but he actually asked me to tell you in secret that it's all right if you don't. You can still go to a vocational college and get a factory job after graduation."

Chen Fan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Mom, I understand."

"All right, get to bed early. Don't forget to drink your milk."

Li Jinqiu went out and gently closed the door. Chen Fan sat in his chair, no longer in the mood to study.

Looking at the warm milk on his desk, Chen Fan's gaze gradually grew determined.

Since I've been given another life, I ought to make something of myself.

For Mom and Dad, for Ruochu...

I have to rise above the crowd.

Tomorrow's Gaokao will be my first step toward changing my life.

Clenching his fist slightly, Chen Fan murmured.

"Tomorrow, I'll leap through the Dragon Gate!"