Volume 1: The Beginning Chapter 14: Eternal Farewell

  Xia Wenjie hailed a taxi at the school gate and rushed to the Central Hospital. When he arrived at the hospital, the doctor had stopped giving emergency treatment to Xu Jing, her injuries were too severe, and she herself did not have any desire to survive.

  In the hospital, Xia Wenjie saw nothing but a cold corpse.

  She left no note, nor any last words, and in silence, she chose to end her young life, leaving behind only endless sorrow and trauma for those who lived on.

  There were many people in the ward, but Xia Wenjie only saw Xu Jing lying on the hospital bed. She seemed to be asleep, without a painful expression, sleeping so peacefully and deeply that it was unbearable to disturb her.

  At that moment, Xia Wenjie seemed to suddenly understand Xu Jing's choice. For her, perhaps death was the real liberation, and perhaps only in death could she reunite with her loved ones on the other side of heaven.

  Unconsciously, tears rolled down his cheeks. Looking at Xu Jing, who was sleeping like a beauty, his heart had already shrunk into a ball.

  He couldn't stay in the ward any longer, he felt that the air here was solidified, as if he would suffocate if he stayed any longer.

  He took two steps back, suddenly turned around and rushed out of the ward. Once outside, he leaned against the wall, crying silently.

  At this time, his proud self-control was also unable to control his emotions. He instinctively raised his hand and covered his wide-open mouth tightly, with tears falling onto the marble floor, making a dripping sound.

  This is Xiaojing's own choice, he should bless her and Xuetong to reunite in heaven, but he can't control the sadness in his heart.

  Xue Song's death took away his closest friend and partner, and now Xiao Jing has also followed Xue Song, stripping him of his last remaining friend. She may have been freed, but for him, isn't this too cruel?

  Xia Wenjie burst into loud sobs in the hospital corridor, but he didn't make a sound, only letting out low, trembling gasps from his throat, his fists clenched tightly, and even his fingernails digging into his flesh felt no pain.

  Don't cry out loud doesn't mean he's not heartbroken, he just doesn't want to show his weakness.

  Since his parents passed away, he and his brother were kicked around like a ball by those relatives. After that, he never cried out loud again. The cruel fact taught him that in order not to be hurt, he had to learn to be strong first.

  At this time, a white handkerchief was handed in front of his eyes.

  Xia Wenjie was hunched over with his head down, he didn't see who handed him the handkerchief, his tearful eyes only saw a white skirt and a pair of white sandals in the blur.

  He didn't take the handkerchief, nor did he lift his head to glance at the other person. He raised his sleeve and roughly wiped away the tear stains on his face. Then, without warning, he suddenly swung his arm and unfolded the handkerchief in front of him. Immediately after, he rushed towards the stairs without looking back.

  Now, he doesn't need anyone's sympathy. He just wants to find a place without people, to quietly heal the wounds deep within his heart.

  She didn't expect him to react like that. Watching his back as he hastily walked away, Bai Yutong's delicate and beautiful face showed a look of astonishment.

  She didn't know Xia Wenjie and didn't even know his name, but it wasn't her first time seeing him.

  Two years ago, on a night, in this very hospital, she was accompanying her injured father and inadvertently discovered him crying alone in the depths of the corridor.

  The scene at that time was almost exactly the same as it is now. He covered his mouth and didn't make a sound, but his face was full of tears.

  She never knew that boys could also cry so sadly, even without making a sound, but it would still make people's hearts ache, and would naturally make them want to run over and hug him, comfort him.

  It was just that time she only took a peek from afar, silently memorizing his appearance. Who would have thought that after more than two years, time seemed to flow backwards, and in the same hospital, on the same corridor, he was still alone, holding his mouth and crying soundlessly.

  More than two years have passed, he has grown taller and his appearance has changed a bit, but what hasn't changed is that his silent crying still tugs at people's heartstrings, making them want to rush over and comfort the sorrow in his heart.

  This time she didn't hide aside to sneak a peek, but instead walked over proactively, handed her a handkerchief, and released kindness. However, he didn't even glance at her, opened the handkerchief she handed him, turned around and ran away.

  Fate is like this, it's inexplicably wonderful. It will suddenly appear when you're unaware, and when you want to grasp it, it will quietly slip away.

  When she came to herself, there was no sign of him in the corridor. She hurriedly chased to the staircase and looked down, but similarly, there was not a single person.

  She stood still for a while before softly letting out a sigh and slowly turning back to walk towards the ward.

  Xu Jing's suicide was a devastating blow to Xia Wenjie, and he became depressed for a long time because of it.

  During this period, he was like a walking corpse, mechanically repeating the same actions, going to school, returning home, sleeping, day after day, in a straight line.

  He often indulges in wild fancies, suspecting that he might be the reincarnation of a disaster star, and won't rest until he has killed off all his close relatives.

  There were several days when he was worried that something unexpected would happen to his brother Wen Hao, and he would nervously call Wen Hao from time to time to ask what he was doing.

  A few days later, Xia Wenhao couldn't take it anymore. In his words, his younger brother was more diligent than his girlfriend in checking on him. Serving one woman was enough for him to bear; if he had to serve a genderless younger brother in the future, he would go crazy.

  Actually, Xia Wenhao had also heard about Xu Jing's suicide and could understand his brother's mood. He suggested to Wenjie that they take a long leave from school and go somewhere else to clear their minds. The college entrance examination is not as important as one's life; if this year's exam doesn't go well, they can always retake it next year. But if someone were to be driven mad, that would be an irreparable tragedy for the rest of their lives.

  Xia Wenjie was initially reluctant and didn't want to leave his brother alone at home, but after Xia Wenhao's repeated persuasion, he finally accepted his brother's suggestion and went to the place he had always wanted to go with Xiao Jing - Mount Tai.

  He was away for seven days, during which he thought a lot and understood many things. He didn't really tour or play in Mount Tai, but instead visited all the Taoist temples there.

  In the Taoist temple, listening to the Tao, he gained many insights into life.

  The Taoist school has many ideas that Xia Wenguang despises, such as the concept of non-action and uselessness. However, the Taoist school also has many ideas that Xia Wenguang appreciates, such as the idea that softness can overcome strength.

  Teeth are hard, but the tongue is soft; yet though the teeth are hard they cannot chew up ice, and the tongue, though soft, can melt it. This is the Taoist idea of using passivity as a means of attack, and this again has something in common with Hsia Wen-yen's opportunistic philosophy.

  In just seven days, Xia Wenjie felt as if he had been reborn, and the gloom that had been hanging over his head for days was swept away.

  A month later, the college entrance examination finally arrived, which is a two-day fate for most students who have been studying hard for twelve years.

  Xia Wenjie was not nervous, or rather, he had already made up his mind.

  The first day of the college entrance examination, the Chinese language exam is at 8:30 in the morning.

  It turned out that Hu Binbin was in the same examination room as him, and their positions were also the same as in class, one in front of the other.

  It's been too tense this month, and Hu Binbin and Xia Wenjie haven't said a few words. After sitting down in the examination room, she slightly turned her head back and asked in a low voice: "Xia Wenjie, how is your review going?"

  "It's still the same." Xia Wenjie said absent-mindedly.

  "This time, I'm sure my score will be higher than yours."

  She said that to encourage herself and also to boost Xia Wenjie's morale. The period before the college entrance examination is the most important time, but Xia Wenjie often asked for leave, which would have a significant impact on his grades.

  Xia Wenjie nodded solemnly and said, "You will."

  Hu Binbin couldn't help but turn his head and take a look, wanting to say something more. Xia Wenjie reminded him in a low voice: "The proctor is looking at you, if you speak again, you might be 'invited' out."

  Upon hearing this, Hu Binbin immediately shut his mouth and didn't dare say another word.

  At 8:30, the test papers were distributed on time. Xia Wenjie first took a rough look at the test paper and then quickly filled it out.

  He finished all the multiple-choice questions and then ignored the rest of the questions, directly writing the final essay.

  The essay topic is 'Now and Future', with a word limit of 800 words.

  Xia Wenjie picked up his pen and wrote an 800-word essay. This essay made a big criticism of the current social situation, finally mentioning that the country's future cannot be like this. The government's top priority should be to rectify the social atmosphere, uphold justice, and maintain righteousness.

  We all have the heart to make our country strong, but unfortunately we don't have the power to change the situation. This text is saying something inappropriate in an inappropriate setting, and it's bound to get zero points. Even if one has a lot to say, they can't express themselves, this is the sorrow of our nation.

  After finishing this composition, Xia Wenjie let out a sigh of relief, wrote his name on the exam paper, flipped it over, raised his hand and said: "Teacher, I'm submitting my paper."