School life + unrequited love
Sweet, gentle girl x forthright boy
How would you describe being eighteen?
Chu Xing thought it meant romantic summer-night fireworks, a first confession of love, and a beautiful first love.
.
A group outing after the college entrance exams.
Everyone partied wildly, drank until they were wasted, then tumbled into their tents to sleep.
But Chu Xing couldn't sleep.
Just two hours earlier, amid the thunderous roar of fireworks, she had heard someone say, "I like you."
Could you trust a boy's words after he'd been drinking?
Chu Xing didn't believe it, but she wanted to. Her thoughts drifted in confusion as she stared blankly at the stars and moon, until Ji Shiyan came to stand beside her and asked, "Did you like tonight's fireworks?"
Chu Xing nodded. "I loved them."
Then a low laugh sounded beside her ear. "What about me? Do you like me?"
Chu Xing froze, thinking he was still drunk. She murmured, "You've had too much to drink."
"Chu Xing, I'm perfectly sober."
"I was even more sober when I told you I liked you."
Those four words echoed in her ears again, and waves of uncontrollable excitement stirred in Chu Xing's heart.
Then she heard him say
"The fireworks were for you. I wanted to confess my feelings."
"I like you. I like you so, so much."
At his last words, tears stung Chu Xing's eyes.
Ji Shiyan, do you know? While fireworks bloomed across the night sky,
I was making a wish: that the person I liked would like me too.
Chu Xing gathered her courage and took a step toward him.
She tugged at his sleeve, rose onto her tiptoes, and gently kissed his cheek.
"Ji Shiyan, my wish came true."
The height of summer at eighteen, with the stars and moon as witnesses and fireworks bursting overhead.
Beneath the romantic summer-night fireworks, you leaned close to my ear and told me you liked me.
That first confession of love became the most beautiful moment of my eighteenth year.
Reader's guide:
1. Unrequited love, slow burn, pure romance, each other's first love, happy ending.
2. No dating or physical intimacy while underage.
Theme: Long live youth.
