The game's heroine has come true? The aloof school beauty is in tears.

The morning sunlight filtered through the dense foliage of the camphor trees, casting dappled shadows on the stone paths of the high school campus. Today was the day of preparations for the coming-of-age ceremony, and white and gold banners bearing the slogan "Eighteen Years Old, Live Up to Your Youth" were hung along both sides of the main road.

A breeze blows, and the ribbons flutter gently, carrying the faint fragrance of roadside roses and gardenias.

Most of the students, who usually wear loose school uniforms, have changed into their everyday clothes. Some are adjusting their ties, while others are smoothing out the wrinkles in their skirts. They gather in twos and threes, adjusting their smiles for their phone cameras, and the crisp sound of camera shutters ringing out.

For most students, the only task at graduation is taking photos.

High school is a very memorable period in itself.

And this is a rare time when everyone can openly bring their phones and wear nice clothes.

So most people are making appointments to take beautiful photos.

Only Shang Qingya remained dressed in jeans and a hoodie, with a school uniform jacket draped over her shoulders, quietly observing her surroundings.

This coming-of-age ceremony had nothing to do with her.

She had neither parents to attend nor pretty clothes to prepare for the photos.

The only thing I'm looking forward to is having an afternoon to rest after going through the coming-of-age ceremony.

"Line up."

Shang Qingya saw her homeroom teacher shouting on the playground, so she followed the crowd over.

This is the first step in the coming-of-age ceremony.

Everyone had to line up and walk through a gate that symbolized "adulthood".

On the other side of the door, parents will be waiting for their children, and everyone will sign for the package.

Standing in the queue, Shang Qingya still didn't look up, because no one was waiting for her on the other side of the door.

All she had to do was walk quietly through the door and wave to the school photographer from the middle of it.

Are there any students in our class whose parents haven't arrived yet?

The homeroom teacher is conducting a final inquiry to ensure that no parent misses the first step due to traffic congestion.

"Teacher, it seems that Shang Qingya's parents haven't arrived yet."

Everyone turned around in unison, following the sound.

Shang Qingya was among those who turned back.

Because those words were spoken by Shen Jia.

"Shen Jia, don't talk nonsense."

The homeroom teacher reprimanded him.

The matter from last time even reached the head of the teaching department.

Therefore, the homeroom teacher was also aware that the relationship between the two had deteriorated to a certain extent.

Shen Jia stood in the back row and pretended to cover her mouth obediently.

But before he could cover his mouth, one sentence still lingered in the air.

I'm stating the facts.

No one can deny that this is true.

Even the homeroom teacher has to admit that this is true.

Because Shang Qingya's father is a rare parent who doesn't even have a way to contact her.

However, she had asked Shang Qingya beforehand and confirmed that no parents would be present.

So she didn't plan to say much.

After all, girls are always very sensitive in this situation.

"That's true, none of my parents came."

Shang Qingya was very frank and took the initiative to admit to it.

After a series of events, this incident was no longer enough to affect her emotions.

But this did not stop the students from whispering among themselves.

Shang Qingya could feel Shen Jia watching her, but she just smiled and shook her head.

Too many lice won't bite.

That kind of trick is too childish.

She had prepared herself mentally long beforehand.

"It's okay, Shang Qingya, my parents aren't here either." Shen Jia approached her proactively, looking very helpful.

She said, "We'll hold hands and walk through this door then."

"Could you please move away from me?"

Shang Qingya moved half a step to the right.

Shen Jia followed closely behind.

"By the way, didn't your boyfriend come?"

"First of all, he is not my boyfriend, and secondly, he has his own things to do."

Shang Qingya replied helplessly.

Lu Yuan's image also flashed through my mind.

She ultimately did not take the initiative to ask for an invitation to her coming-of-age ceremony.

Because she was afraid of interfering with Lu Yuan's busy schedule.

It would be a lie to say I wasn't looking forward to it, after all, coming-of-age ceremonies are quite memorable events.

What's more, this is a rare opportunity for Lu Yuan to be involved in her life.

She shook her head, dismissing the thoughts from her mind.

Ignoring Shen Jia's behavior of following closely behind her, she continued walking forward in the pre-arranged order.

As she passed through the center of the doorway, she looked up and smiled at the camera.

This was also a pre-arranged segment, because she is very beautiful, and her part of the footage would be edited out and included in the promotional video.

Her smile was very natural.

She walked to the end of the door and saw that both sides were filled with familiar and unfamiliar parents.

She was unfamiliar with almost all of the parents.

She only knows one person.

The road is long.

Seeing the familiar figure she had seen that morning appear before her, Shang Qingya's face was filled with a smile.

Like a flower bud about to bloom.

She was both surprised and delighted.

Is there anything more joyful than the realization of something long awaited?

No.

But there are things that are worse than that.

Shen Jia walked past her first.

At that moment, the emotions that had been dormant all morning were instantly ignited, and Shang Qingya frowned as she walked quickly forward.

But Shen Jia seemed to have sensed her arrival.

He turned around first and said, "Let me introduce you, this is my cousin."