We ordinary people also need to fall in love.

Go abroad?

A thunderbolt struck Li Mubai's mind, leaving him momentarily stunned.

"Going abroad... for tourism?" He still held onto a sliver of hope.

Studying abroad.

Studying abroad was a term that only appeared in books. He never thought that he would meet people who studied abroad in real life, and he didn't even fantasize about the possibility of going abroad himself.

Xie Shu is going abroad to study! It's not a class change, nor is it a school transfer.

"How many years are you going to stay, squad leader?" he asked eagerly.

"Eight years, my family has arranged it all for me." Xie Shu smiled helplessly. "This June I'll be going to the University of Nottingham for my first year of international studies, and then I'll transfer to Imperial College London for five years."

Eight years. What kind of relationship can last for eight years? What kind of connection can endure? Especially when one is about to go to another country while the other remains in the same place.

Time introduces too much uncertainty into the future, and no one can guarantee that they will always remain the same.

The silent activity room held two silent figures. Li Mubai seemed drained of all strength; his soul cried out weakly:

Should he ask her to stay? Love is selfish, and deep down he wanted to selfishly do so, but...

Love is also selfless; how could he let her give up her promising future to play house with him?

"Class monitor, are you... leaving school in June?"

Xie Shu nodded slowly, but then she said:

"Maybe even earlier, I'll go there in May to get familiar with life."

"Then what about high school?" Li Mubai innocently tried to find some problems to make Xie Shu and her parents realize that going abroad now is not a good idea.

"My mother has already negotiated with the school leaders, and they are willing to issue a certificate of enrollment and transcripts, so I don't need to finish the senior year of high school."

In the stillness, he, who was not good with words, was at a loss for words and felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

"Class monitor, are you still going on the study tour?"

"I probably can't go. I need to prepare a lot of materials by the end of April."

Should she ask him to wait for her? Did she want him to wait eight years in vain? She didn't want that... Let it be. Don't create too many beautiful memories, because they will only become a source of sorrow for both of them in the future.

Xie Shu chuckled softly, breaking the somber atmosphere:

"Okay, stop thinking about it. While I'm still in school, I'll help you improve your English and math." She paused for a moment and then added, "By the way, I've only told you about this before."

"Class monitor, there are so many words. Unless we learn fifty a day, we probably won't be able to finish them in less than two months." A bitter smile appeared on Li Mubai's lips.

"Fifty a day is too much for you. Don't bite off more than you can chew. If you can't finish it... then go find Chen Qiuhe."

She seemed to be entrusting her orphanage to someone else; she smiled, but she wasn't very happy.

"Class monitor," Li Mubai's voice rang out.

"Hmm?" Xie Shu responded softly.

"Did you want to study abroad?"

Parents provide their children with food, clothing, shelter, and education, based on the Marxist historical materialism that the economic base determines the superstructure.

Before children become financially independent, they are inherently in a subordinate position. They should carry a sense of guilt towards their parents as they go to school and live their lives. They cannot refuse the orders of their elders.

However, as children, we should also make our own demands, at least let our parents hear our voices, let them know that we are not tools, and let them know that we are people with our own thoughts.

"no."

……

Li Mubai didn't know how he spent the rest of the time. He seemed to become dazed and confused, often spacing out. Once, he was even caught by Teacher Chen during math class.

Even if he knew Xie Shu wasn't doing it willingly, what could he do? Was he going to rush up to Xie Shu's parents and loudly beg them to give her some autonomy?

He has no position, nor any qualifications; that's the reality.

The teachers seemed to know that Xie Shu was going to study abroad, so they rarely called on Xie Shu to answer questions in class. Even Teacher Chen stopped using Xie Shu to belittle those of them who were bad at math.

However, they kept it very well hidden and basically didn't give anything away. English teacher Li even encouraged Li Mubai to go to her often to ask questions.

"Did you and Xie Shu have a fight?"

Before evening self-study on Wednesday, while Xie Shu was not around, Chen Qiuhe turned her head and asked in a low voice.

"No," Li Mubai said, feigning ignorance.

"No? Then why have you been so distracted in class lately, and become so quiet?"

"Did you install a camera on the back of your head? I can see you even when I sit behind you in class?" Li Mubai retorted. "As for silence, you know that's just my personality."

"Tsk tsk, do you know that your every emotion is written on your face?"

Haha, I don't believe it. He thinks he's done a pretty good job of hiding it.

"Not going to tell? Then I'll ask Xie Shu when she arrives." Chen Qiuhe said, while observing Li Mubai's expression. Seeing that he was confident, she finally believed him.

Chen Qiuhe, that fool, thought she would tell Xie Shu if she asked? That's why Li Mubai is so fearless.

"Let me get some warm water," he said, taking out a pale white water bottle from the side pocket of his backpack. His thoughts were instantly drawn back to Chen Qiuhe's birthday; this was the water bottle Xie Shu had given him.

There was too much room temperature water in the glass, so he went to the windowsill and used the extra water to water a few plants. Are there any jasmine plants here?

The scalding hot water poured into the cup, balancing the temperature with the room-temperature water. He was like a frog being slowly boiled in lukewarm water, waiting for the day Xie Shu would completely leave.

What can he do? It seems like he can't do anything.

Xie Shu seemed unchanged. She was still the same as usual, going out to eat with Deng Yi and Chen Qiuhe, giving him dictation, teaching him grammar, writing essays, and math. She didn't seem like someone who was going to leave.

I thought this would be a radical change, but life remained the same as before. Li Mubai pushed open the dormitory door and found Yang Kun and Zhao Feng still bickering, Jiao Yong washing up, Feng Wanli studying, and Wang Rui sitting on the bed seemingly reading an extracurricular book but actually secretly memorizing a political mind map.

Life was the same as before, with not much change. The only changes were his heart and emotions. Li Mubai washed up, climbed into bed, and there was a copy of "The Little Prince" on his pillow.

He was too slow. It was just a small book that could be finished in a week, but it took him several weeks. He felt guilty, guilty towards Xie Shu.

He opened the book, and there, quietly tucked inside, was the Little Prince bookmark Xie Shu had given him:

"Humans have forgotten this truth," said the fox. "You shouldn't forget it. You are forever responsible for what you have tamed. You must treat your rose with utmost care..."

"I will treat my rose with utmost care..." the Little Prince repeated, so that he would remember it. (The Little Prince, pp. 111-112)

"If you can do one thing, tell yourself, 'I can do it. I don't have to be perfect, even if it's just a little...'"

Xie Shu, these are the words you once said to me.