Chapter 51: A Silent Farewell

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A cold month passed. Han Tianyue, Mao Xuanzi, Fang Zhe, and Feng Shang spent the entire time lying in their hospital beds. After a month, the four of them emerged from the infirmary with renewed spirits.

“How does my face look?” Feng Shang asked anxiously.

“Oh dear, there’s a scar here!” Fang Zhe feigned composure as he pointed at Feng Shang’s face and exclaimed.

“What!” Feng Shang wailed, “How am I supposed to face anyone now?”

“I was just kidding!” Fang Zhe burst out laughing.

Feng Shang, upon hearing this, was furious, but to be sure, he checked himself in the mirror. Finding his face as flawless as before, he finally relaxed.

“Let’s go, stop dawdling!” Mao Xuanzi said impatiently.

Han Tianyue, Mao Xuanzi, Fang Zhe, and Feng Shang made their way toward the classroom.

Wherever the four of them went, every student they passed looked at them with admiration. Seeing the approving gazes of his classmates, Feng Shang straightened his back and made a point of walking in a stately line beside Han Tianyue, Mao Xuanzi, and Fang Zhe.

“Welcome back, heroes!” As soon as they entered the classroom, everyone burst into applause.

“All right, take your seats, class is about to begin!” Instructor Song’s expression shifted, and he resumed his role as teacher, launching into the lesson.

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Everything returned to normal—classes began and ended as always. The seat once occupied by the Crown Prince was now taken by Mao Xuanzi, yet Han Tianyue still gazed at that spot out of habit, silently watching as he always had.

Back in the dormitory, everyone chatted, ate, and joked as usual. No one knew about the pact Han Tianyue, Mao Xuanzi, Feng Shang, and Fang Zhe had made.

Lately, though, Feng Shang had become much quieter.

After class, Fang Zhe did not return to the dormitory straight away; instead, he wandered around the campus.

Han Tianyue walked to Instructor Song’s office, lingered for a moment outside the door, then turned and left.

“Let’s go back to the convalescence room for a look,” Han Tianyue gathered Mao Xuanzi, Fang Zhe, and Feng Shang. The three of them joined him and entered the convalescence room, where they found Instructor Song sitting quietly inside.

“What brings you here?” Instructor Song heard footsteps and stood up, only to see it was Han Tianyue and the others.

They entered and exchanged a few pleasantries with Instructor Song. Han Tianyue took out the key to the convalescence room, handed it to Instructor Song, and said, “Mr. Song, the competition is over. I’m returning this to you.”

Instructor Song took the key, glanced at it, and tucked it into his pocket.

After a few more words, everyone went their separate ways.

Afterward, Mao Xuanzi climbed the hill behind the school alone. He reached the edge of the cliff on the western side, amidst the trees—a place where many things had happened. Mao Xuanzi sat quietly at the cliff’s edge, gazing up at the sky. The sky, at least, had not changed.

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Han Tianyue, Feng Shang, and Fang Zhe returned to the dormitory together. That night, everyone stayed up late talking—

Just before bedtime, Feng Shang let out a long breath and said, “Wow, today was great. I’m really happy to talk with you all!”

Peng, Wen Pin, and Qing Mu replied, “Let’s keep chatting tomorrow!”

“Sure!” Feng Shang agreed cheerfully.

Fang Zhe lay on his bed and squeezed his eyes shut.

Han Tianyue sat on his bed and smiled faintly.

“Goodbye, school!” In the stillness of the night, four figures slipped away through the school gates and vanished.

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