Chapter 188: Graduation Party
After two grueling days, the national college entrance examination, the gaokao, finally concluded. Yu Linna, having given it her all, could finally say she had completed this rite of passage. Though she could have gotten into a university without much effort, she had taken it seriously, knowing it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
With the exams over, their senior year was officially finished. A year of hard work, of sweat and tears, now a memory, a bittersweet feeling washing over them. They had longed for this day, for the end of this hellish exam season, yet now, they felt a pang of nostalgia, a reluctance to leave their classmates behind. Humans were indeed complex creatures.
That evening, their class held a graduation party, a mandatory event. Yu Linna, having never attended a graduation party before, initially planned to skip it, but Fang Jiangning’s persistent pleas finally convinced her to go.
For the occasion, Yu Linna, at Fang Jiangning’s insistence, had shed her usual tracksuit, dressing up in a short skirt and white tights, a rare departure from her usual attire. Fang Jiangning, feeling something was missing, styled her hair.
Her golden hair, now in twin tails, cascaded down her shoulders, the silky strands framing her face. Yu Linna, looking at her reflection, was surprised by her own appearance.
“Is that… me?”
The twin tails made her look even younger, her already youthful features now even more pronounced.
She looked like a loli, she thought.
“See? A change of hairstyle makes all the difference! You’re so cute now!”
Fang Jiangning was pleased with her handiwork. With her natural beauty, Yu Linna didn’t even need makeup to be captivating.
Such a cute girl… it would be a waste if she married a man. She should stay like this forever, an adorable loli for everyone to admire.
“Don’t I look… even younger now?”
“Younger is good! Isn’t it?”
“…”
Though slightly taken aback, she decided not to make a fuss.
The graduation party for the top class of First Municipal High School was held at a small hotel. They had booked a private room and a KTV suite. By the time Yu Linna arrived, the party was already in full swing. Her classmates were stunned by her new look, and the girls immediately flocked to her, eager to get closer, taking selfies with her.
“Sniff… Little Linna, we barely got to hang out this year, and now you’re graduating! We have to take a picture together, for old times’ sake!”
“Exactly! We haven’t even bought you enough snacks yet, and you’re already leaving! Come on, let’s take a picture!”
“I hope we can go to the same university, even though it’s unlikely. Let’s take a picture!”
The girls in the top class were particularly emotional. Thinking about how little time they had spent with Yu Linna over the past year, tears welled up. They had spent the last month buying her snacks, hoping to win her over, but a month had flown by in the blink of an eye. Oh, cruel fate!
For them, their “feeding plan” had just begun, and now it was over. It was so frustrating.
So, before graduation, they all wanted a picture with her, a memento. Though they weren’t particularly close, Yu Linna was beautiful, an adorable creature. It would be a waste not to have a picture with her.
“My dear deskmate, you’re so popular.”
Fang Jiangning, sitting on the sofa in the KTV room, chuckled.
Yu Linna, sitting beside her, sighed. She hated being the center of attention. These girls were a bit too enthusiastic.
Fortunately, the boys weren’t as forward. Though they also wanted a picture with her, Yu Linna simply nodded politely, and they kept a respectful distance during the photos, their fear of the girls’ glares a powerful deterrent.
The top class had few boys, less than ten in total, and these rare specimens weren’t treated with any special care. On the contrary, they were often subjected to the glares of the entire female population, especially when they tried to get too close to the class pet.
“Little Linna, um, can we take a picture too?”
Huo Ningning, blushing, approached her, sitting down beside her, her phone ready.
Yu Linna nodded, and Huo Ningning, emboldened, put her arm around her shoulder. Click. A selfie was saved to her album.
“Why so close?”
“For a better shot. Come on, Little Linna, one more.”
“…”
“This one isn’t good. Let’s take another.”
“…”
“Just one more.”
“…”
Would this ever end?
Huo Ningning was definitely the most enthusiastic photographer in the class. While others took one or two pictures, she had taken over ten.
“Huo Ningning, you think I don’t know what you’re doing…?”
“Ahem, we’re just taking pictures. Don’t misunderstand. By the way, do you have any plans for the summer?”
Huo Ningning coughed, changing the subject, her cheeks flushing.
“Not really. Probably get a summer job.”
“You already have a stable job. Why get a summer job? My family is planning a trip. Little Linna, you should come with us.”
“…I’m busy.”
“Oh, come on! Please come! Please, please, please!”
Huo Ningning grabbed her arm, pleading, her usual introverted demeanor replaced by a shameless cuteness. So pathetic!
Yu Linna’s resolve wavered. She tried to resist, but Huo Ningning’s relentless pestering was too effective.
“Little Linna~”
“…I guess… I can… for a week…”
“Great!”
Huo Ningning was ecstatic. She had only been trying her luck, not expecting to succeed. She would use this summer to mend their friendship. After graduation, they might not see each other again.
She had to seize this opportunity.
Fang Jiangning, sipping her drink, watched them, deciding not to interfere. She hadn’t known Yu Linna as long as Huo Ningning. But regarding university, she had decided to stay in Guangnan City. If Yu Linna also stayed, it would be even better.
With graduation approaching, the boys in the class were also getting bolder, deciding to confess to their crushes, one last act of courage before they parted ways. The girls, hearing this, gathered around, snacks in hand, watching the impromptu performances, eagerly anticipating the confessions, gossiping about who liked whom.
The first to confess, surprisingly, was a boy who had a crush on Yu Linna.
“Yu Linna! I like you! Though we’ve never spoken, I like you! I don’t want to have any regrets after graduation, so I’m shouting it out for everyone to hear! I like you! Will you be my girlfriend?!”
The boy’s voice echoed through the KTV room. Yu Linna, eating her snacks, paused, looking at the boy on the stage.
Can’t a girl eat her snacks in peace? she thought. What are these boys thinking? There’s no way I’m saying yes.
Though many of her classmates were cheering, she had no intention of accepting his confession.
“What do you like about me?” she asked.
The boy’s face flushed, and he stammered for a moment, then, gathering his courage, took a deep breath and continued.
“You’re beautiful, you’re cute, the cutest girl in the world. I liked you from the moment I first saw you. If you’ll be my girlfriend, I promise I’ll make you happy.”
He has guts, I’ll give him that, she thought.
His feelings were simple, a straightforward crush, no ulterior motives.
Every teenage boy had a crush on someone, and some, lacking the courage to confess, missed their chance. Not everyone could stand on a stage and declare their feelings. Many, out of shyness, buried their emotions, their love unspoken.
At least this boy had been brave enough to confess.
“You’re a good person, really,” she said. “But… you’re a good person. Thank you.”
The boy, dejected, left the stage, his disappointment palpable. But that was life; success wasn’t always guaranteed.
The girls in the class, curious, approached her, asking about her type, but Yu Linna, feigning aloofness, ignored them. Though she had lived as a girl longer than as a boy, her sexual orientation was… complicated. If asked whether she preferred boys or girls, she would undoubtedly say girls.
She preferred the company of girls over boys.
The graduation party for the top class continued late into the night, their last chance to be together, no one wanting to leave with regrets. Several other boys confessed to their crushes, some even succeeding.
Though Yu Linna wasn’t particularly close to her classmates, having never made an effort to socialize, she didn’t dislike them. In all her years of schooling, this was the first time she had felt a sense of connection to her classmates. It was a good feeling.
After the party, Fang Jiangning and Yu Linna, living in the same direction, walked home together, their classmates envious of their close bond. They had been in the same class for a year, yet only Fang Jiangning had managed to get close to Yu Linna.
“Haha, summer vacation is starting! Where should we go?”
“Sure. I want to rest for a while. I’ve been so tired lately.”
“You’ve worked hard, you great author.”
“You too, you great streamer.”
The deeper the night, the louder their laughter, their senior year graduation party finally coming to an end.
