A Young Man's Journey

A celibate, skinny guy x an innocent girl who pays no heed to worldly affairs

1: "Has anyone ever made you feel like you fell in love at first sight?"

++Chen Qingxu didn't answer and kept walking. The other person understood and didn't ask again.

++As everyone knew, he cultivated a cool, aloof image and embraced celibacy. Other than the academic rankings, nothing and no one interested him. He was utterly indifferent to everything else.

++The next day, Liyang No. 1 High School began its new term. Chen Qingxu found his seat by class number. His new deskmate was a petite girl, with fair skin, a pretty face, long legs, and a slender waist. Chen Qingxu liked to think he wasn't the sort to lose his head over a pretty face, but he had to admit that when she looked up, he lost himself.

2: Before the college entrance exams, Chen Qingxu, a guaranteed top candidate at Liyang No. 1 High School, and Wen Yao both took several days off.

++Afterward, the two of them coincidentally chose the same day to return to school, pack up, and go home.

++At the school gate, just before they parted, Chen Qingxu left Wen Yao a note with a string of numbers and a line of text. It was already smudged. Unfortunately, she didn't know what it said, and got into a black car without looking back.

Wen Yao silently groaned.

++At the time, the class was caught up in an unprecedented bout of gossip. Then the homeroom teacher announced the good news: both of them had been admitted early, one to a famous university abroad, the other to a top university in China.

The entire class fell silent, then bent over their desks and began writing furiously.

They'd thought their rival had become a lovesick fool. Who could have guessed they'd be the ones made to look like idiots?

3: Many years later, Wen Yao became a journalist. Thanks to her outstanding professional skills, she became a leading figure in journalism. In private, she was also a web novelist with many works to her name, though she wasn't particularly famous.

++One day, a comment appeared beneath the latest chapter.

++"Has the author ever been in love? Your romance has no feeling at all."

++Wen Yao stared at the screen for a while, then silently put down her phone.

++After 25 years of being single since birth, she'd never felt so insulted.

A little later, she picked up the documents beside her and began preparing for the next day's interview.

The man's resume was simple and clear. In the photo, his face was as lean as ever, though now he looked more mature. His gaze remained resolute, his eyes clear and bright, just as they had been when they first met.

There wasn't much text.

Name: Chen Qingxu

Education: Bachelor's degree, Department of Chemistry, H University

++++++Master's degree, Department of Chemistry, H University

++++++PhD, Department of Good News, H University

Just a few lines, yet they carried immense weight.

Wen Yao had a feeling this would be a reunion after a long separation. The next day, in the recording studio, she found out she was right.

The rising star of the chemistry world wore a crisp suit and sat somewhat casually in his chair. Their eyes met, and the cool expression on Chen Qingxu's face instantly turned into a smile.

He stood and held out his hand to greet her.

"Miss Wen, long time no see."

His voice was cool and clear, his tone seeming almost deliberately measured.

4: One day, Chen Qingxu was invited to give a speech at his alma mater. During the open Q&A, most of the students' questions concerned the marital status of this promising young doctor.

--"Doctor, are you single?"

"I'm married, thank you."

Chen Qingxu invited another famous alumnus, seated in the front row, to join him. She had smiling eyes and a gentle, beautiful appearance. Standing beside him, they made a perfect match.

Amid a chorus of gasps, he said, "This is my wife. We used to be deskmates."

++A three-year journey through youth, giving a boy memories to last a lifetime.

++Later, after entering the working world and witnessing countless scenes of people striving with passion, none could compare to those youthful days.

Theme: Hold on to both your career and your love.