Rejecting Tsinghua and Peking Universities: I Will Lead Harbin Institute of Technology to World Lead

Lin Feng was stunned.

To be honest, he had considered that Shen Moran might express her gratitude, or even subtly show her goodwill.

But such a direct, intense confession, imbued with five years of pent-up emotions and lingering fear of death, was completely unexpected.

His life trajectory is completely different from that of ordinary people.

In my past life, I was amidst gunfire and bullets; in this life, I am surrounded by stars and the sea.

His outstanding appearance and unparalleled talent naturally attract a lot of attention.

But the cold, aloof temperament he carried from his past life, and the sense of alienation that naturally arises from his preparation to shoulder heavy responsibilities in this life, acted as an invisible barrier.

This keeps the tender or timid feelings of most admirers at a safe distance.

He had received many love letters, but none like Shen Moran's, who looked him straight in the eye, and with a trembling yet firm voice, offered him her burning heart without reservation...

She was the first.

Lin Feng's gaze fell on Shen Moran's flushed cheeks, which were red from nervousness and intoxication.

She is undoubtedly extremely beautiful, possessing a vibrant and lively beauty that combines the fiery spirit of the mountain city with the gentle grace of the Jiangnan region.

At this moment, those beautiful eyes were filled with a desperate expectation, as well as a deep-seated fear.

She was afraid of being rejected.

The ripples in Lin Feng's heart caused by her confession gradually subsided.

Reason has regained the upper hand.

He took a deep breath, met those expectant eyes, and uttered two words clearly and calmly:

"Feel sorry."

These two words, like icicles, instantly pierced all the light in Shen Moran's eyes.

The color drained from her face at a visible speed, turning her as pale as paper.

His pupils dilated slightly, and his body swayed almost imperceptibly.

A wave of immense disappointment and embarrassment overwhelmed her.

"I……"

Lin Feng wanted to explain something else.

"Stop talking!"

Shen Moran abruptly interrupted him, her voice choked with suppressed sobs.

She stubbornly held back the tears that were rapidly welling up in her eyes, raising her chin defiantly, but she couldn't hide the sense of heartbreak she felt.

"I understand... Sorry to bother you."

She turned around hastily, wanting to escape this heartbreaking place.

His steps were unsteady, and his frail figure was heartbreaking.

"Senior Shen, wait a minute!"

Lin Feng almost instinctively reached out and grabbed her wrist.

It felt slightly cool to the touch, with a subtle tremor.

Shen Moran stiffened, neither struggling nor turning around.

She stubbornly turned her face to the side, biting her lower lip tightly, desperately forcing back her tears.

Lin Feng could feel the tension in her body and the dignity she was trying so hard to maintain.

He sighed softly to himself, his tone softening, with an unusual patience for explanation.

"Senior Shen, please let me finish what I have to say, okay?"

Shen Moran did not turn back, but she also did not force herself to leave.

It can be considered tacit approval.

Lin Feng released her hand, walked to her side, and made his voice clearer.

"Before you said these things to me, I didn't really have many plans for my personal relationships, or even marriage."

His gaze became distant and resolute.

"I am prepared to dedicate my ideals, my energy, and everything I have to the country. I want to see it strong and stand at the top of the world. This path is destined to be lonely and arduous, and I am even prepared to dedicate my life to it."

"So, from both an ideal and a realistic perspective, my initial reaction was to refuse."

Shen Moran's shoulders twitched slightly.

"However," Lin Feng changed the subject, his tone becoming more complex.

Your confession made me feel something... different.

He paused, seemingly considering his words.

"Perhaps it's because you're the first person so brave to tell me your feelings face-to-face. Your sincerity and courage make it... impossible for me to completely ignore you."

Shen Moran finally turned her head slightly, her eyes, beneath her wet eyelashes, filled with surprise and a glimmer of renewed light.

"The first one? How is that possible..." Her voice was hoarse and incredulous.

Given his qualities, he should have countless suitors.

"It's true." Lin Feng nodded frankly, even revealing a hint of helpless smile.

"Many people may have feelings for me, but most stop at writing letters or watching from afar. You are the only one who came straight to me like this."

This slightly teasing affirmation was like a gentle breeze, lightly brushing away some of the frost in Shen Moran's heart.

Her tense body relaxed slightly.

"Senior, please let me finish," Lin Feng continued, his tone becoming even more serious.

"I've thought carefully about what you just said. Your feelings for me are very genuine, and I can feel it."

"But a large part of this feeling stems from gratitude. Gratitude for me helping you when you were young and helpless, gratitude for me saving you from danger again in Beijing."

"Gratitude is a very beautiful and precious emotion. But it is not entirely the same as love, which arises purely from mutual attraction and a resonance of souls."

Lin Feng's gaze was clear and honest, without the slightest perfunctoriness or evasion.

"If I accept this relationship because of your gratitude, it's not fair to you. You deserve something purer, something based on the fact that you are you and I am me, and that's my own affection."

"One day in the future, when you step out of the filter of gratitude and realize that your feelings for me are not love, that will hurt both of us."

Shen Moran listened intently.

These words were so rational they were almost cruel, yet so sincere that she couldn't refute them.

In a corner of her heart, she had secretly asked herself in the dead of night: How much of her obsession with him was actually a projection of gratitude?

"So, Senior Shen," Lin Feng said, looking at her.

"Let's give each other some time, and give ourselves some time too, okay?"

"You still have some time before you graduate. I also have a few years before I graduate."

"During this time, we're not in a hurry to define each other. You can continue your studies and career, explore the wider world, and meet more people."

"You can calm down and carefully discern whether your feelings for me are an elevation of gratitude or genuine affection."

"And I will continue on my path. If... I mean if, when it's time for us to graduate."

Lin Feng's voice was soft, yet it carried a solemn sense of promise.

"You're still certain that you like Lin Feng as a person, not Lin Feng, the person who saved your life."

"And I, too, have developed feelings for you that go beyond mere admiration."

"Then, when that time comes, let's get to know each other again and see if it's possible for us to be together."

"Look, is this... okay?"

There was neither a fierce rejection nor an impulsive acceptance.

Yes, it is a deferral agreement based on rationality, respect, and long-term considerations.

Shen Moran fell silent.

She lowered her head, her long eyelashes drooping, concealing all the emotions in her eyes.

After a long while, she took a soft breath and raised her head.

The tears in her eyes had subsided, though they were still a little red, her vision had become much clearer.

"...Okay." She said softly, her voice slightly hoarse, yet unusually firm.

"I understand. Thank you, Lin, for taking my feelings so seriously."

There was no hysteria, no endless entanglement.

This unexpected calmness and acceptance made Lin Feng think more highly of her.

"Senior, let me take you back to your hotel. It's getting late." Lin Feng's tone returned to its usual gentleness.

"Okay, thank you for your trouble." This time, Shen Moran did not refuse.

On the way back, the atmosphere was quiet, but not awkward.

Both of them gazed out the window at the night view, processing what had just happened.

The car came to a smooth stop in front of the hotel where Shen Moran was staying.

"Senior, we've arrived," Lin Feng reminded her softly.

"Okay." Shen Moran unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the door, and got out of the car.

Just as she was about to close the car door, Lin Feng suddenly called out to her.

"Senior."

Shen Moran turned around.

Lin Feng handed out a folded, ordinary note from inside the car.

"This is my personal contact information. If you encounter any difficulties or need help while you are in Harbin, please feel free to contact me."

His eyes were clear and open, without any ambiguity, only a sense of concern and responsibility from his fellow alumni and friends.

Shen Moran was slightly taken aback, then reached out and took it.

The moment her fingertips touched the paper, she could feel the lingering warmth of his palm.

"Thank you." She clutched the note tightly in her hand, a genuinely relieved and relaxed smile appearing on her face for the first time that evening.

Goodbye, Junior Lin.

Goodbye, Senior Shen.

The car window rolled up, and the black sedan slowly drove away, disappearing into the night.

Shen Moran stood at the hotel entrance, the night breeze blowing through her long hair.

She unfolded the note in her hand.

Above is a string of clean, crisp numbers, and a short line of text:

[Lin Feng. Contact me if needed in Harbin. Take care.]

Looking at these words, Shen Moran felt that most of the disappointment, sadness, and grievances in her heart had been soothed by this simple act of care.

She didn't go into the hotel immediately, but instead looked up at the clear starry sky of Harbin.

A smile gradually spread across his face, and a bright and determined light rekindled in his eyes.

Yes.

Lin Feng is right.

Her feelings need time to settle and be discerned.

Gratitude is the beginning, but it is by no means the end.

And she, Shen Moran, is never one to give up easily.

Since he gave each other time and opportunity.

So, what will happen in the days to come?

She will prove it through her actions, by becoming a better version of herself.

From beginning to end, the person she loved was Lin Feng.

It has nothing to do with gratitude.

It has nothing to do with the past.

It only relates to him being himself.