Momo's Gradual Change

C103. The Heart's Yearning, the Water's Indifferen

Chapter 103: The Heart’s Yearning, the Water’s Indifference

Song Yimo could hardly contain her excitement. It had been half a month since Zhai Muyang went abroad.

Despite the daily calls and messages, absence still lingered between them, and now he was waiting just outside the school gates, stirring a lightness in her step.

“Wait a second, Momo—look over there. Are those two arguing?”

Song Yimo paused, glancing in the direction pointed out. It was Yu Xi and Chen Fangfei.

Miao Zhiruo clicked her tongue in mild disdain. “Those two still entangled?”

Just then, Chen Fangfei spun around and, ignoring Yu Xi entirely, stormed toward Song Yimo, a glint of reckless abandon in her eyes.

Miao Zhiruo immediately stepped forward, spreading her arms protectively like a mother hen. “What do you want?”

Yu Xi tried to catch up to restrain her, but Chen Fangfei shook him off forcefully. She was about to push Miao Zhiruo aside when Miao Zhiruo, surprisingly, stepped back on her own—no, it was the person she was protecting who had gently pulled her back.

“Is there something Senior Chen wants to say to me?” Song Yimo asked.

Chen Fangfei had words waiting, accusations, and reproaches ready to lash out. But staring into Song Yimo’s calm gaze, they all melted away. Even her fury lessened.

A bitter smile tugged at Chen Fangfei’s lips. “How did you end up at No. 1 High School?”

“Does my presence here matter that much to Senior Chen?”

“Of course. If it weren’t for you suddenly showing up, how could Yu Xi have turned me down? He wasn’t always so... resolute.”

“Chen Fangfei!” Yu Xi interrupted anxiously, glancing at Song Yimo, afraid she’d take Chen Fangfei’s rambling to heart. He couldn’t very well say in front of her that his past indecision was only because he’d never taken her confession seriously.

Song Yimo’s expression was as composed as ever. “If a man doesn’t love you, he never will, no matter who else is in the picture. If he does love you, even if you aren’t that beautiful, he’ll still love you. And if love demands you trample your dignity, it’s not worth having. Before you love someone else, you should learn to love yourself.”

Chen Fangfei forced a smile. “What if you can’t let go because you love him?”

“Then become someone so remarkable that when you meet again, he’ll regret never having loved you.”

“It’s easy to say, but can you do that?”

“I cherish myself. For years, I grew up starved of love, so I had to love myself even more. Until I’m strong enough to handle the hurt of loving someone and still let them go with grace, I won’t love anyone.”

Song Yimo’s serene demeanor contrasted sharply with her youthful face. “Senior Chen, I’ll take your story as a warning—to never be so pitiful.”

Chen Fangfei, on the verge of tears, laughed despite herself, caught somewhere between grief and humor.

Yu Xi watched Song Yimo with a complicated look, then turned to Chen Fangfei. “I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you. Thank you for caring so much for me; it’s probably the purest, most selfless love I’ll ever know.”

Tears quivered in Chen Fangfei’s eyes, fists clenched in trembling restraint, yet not a single tear fell. She looked back at the boy she’d loved for three years. “I won’t ever love anyone else like this again. From now on, I’ll wait for someone who’ll give me this much love, and I won’t reject him. I’ll let him love me forever.”

Finally, she couldn’t hold back. The tears streamed freely, though she lifted her head, biting her lip to stifle her sobs.

Everyone else stood in respectful silence.

“Since we won’t see each other in the same examination hall, let’s just say goodbye here,” she said with a light laugh. “I promised myself that today would be the last time I tangled with you. I mean it. You probably won’t see me for quite some time.”

“I’m sorry.”

She pretended not to hear, turning instead to Song Yimo and pinching her cheek lightly. Before Miao Zhiruo could leap in defense, she withdrew. “Such wisdom—are you planning on becoming a life coach?”

“Probably not.”

Chen Fangfei flicked her long hair back, regaining a trace of her old elegance as the school beauty.

“Song Yimo, I don’t dislike you. Can you believe that?”

Yimo nodded. “I believe you.”

“I wanted to hate you when I first knew of you, but I couldn’t.” Chen Fangfei extended her hand. “Let’s shake on it.”

Song Yimo took her hand.

“I passed my art exams. I shouldn’t have any trouble with the academic side, so you might see me on TV one day. Don’t be too surprised.”

Seeing the phone in Song Yimo’s hand, Chen Fangfei snatched it and dialed her number, letting it ring once before hanging up. “Don’t change your number. You never know—I might need to call you.”

“Alright.”

The softness in Song Yimo’s voice made Chen Fangfei laugh. She pinched Song Yimo’s cheek one last time, then dashed off, hands waving, without looking back.

On her face were tears, smiles, regrets, and release.

This had been the most vibrant and bittersweet chapter of her youth. It had started abruptly, and now, with Song Yimo’s words, it hadn’t ended so badly after all.

She thought that from now on, she’d probably remember Song Yimo as often as she remembered Yu Xi.

After Chen Fangfei’s figure disappeared, no one spoke.

“Yimo, I was never entangled with her…” Yu Xi ventured.

“I know. Senior Chen was the one entangled with you. She just admitted as much.” Song Yimo glanced at the time. Her brother was likely growing impatient. “I have something to attend to; I’ll go now.”

Yu Xi wanted to call her back and ask what she’d meant with all those words. But he didn’t dare. Deep down, he already knew.

To Yimo, he was like Chen Fangfei to him: the blossom yearns, yet the brook is unfeeling.

Chen Fangfei wouldn’t give up easily, and neither would he.

But he wasn’t like her; he wouldn’t chase Yimo, nor make her want to hide from him.

They were all still young, with plenty of time ahead. With someone like Yimo, patience was key.

Outside the school gates, Song Yimo suddenly sneezed. Zhai Muyang hurried forward and steadied her by the shoulders. “Caught a cold?”

“Oh, I’m not that delicate. Dr. Chen says my health’s better than ever now.”

Song Yimo clung to Muyang’s sleeve, a radiant smile lighting her face. “When did you get back?”

“A little while ago. Didn’t you say the school would let out early today? I thought I might miss you.” He nodded at Miao Zhiruo, who was trailing behind. “Zhiruo, you seem even more tanned?”

Miao Zhiruo grimaced. “Every summer I get dark, every winter I try to lighten up, but it lasts a month at best before I start darkening again. It’s a never-ending cycle. I don’t think I’ll ever be as fair as Yimo.”

Zhai Muyang chuckled, leading both girls toward the car.