Chapter 1: You Are Like the Moon, Out of Reach

“Look! Another clueless guy is confessing to Mo Yuqing!”

“But this guy is pretty good-looking, he’s my type.”

“He is, but look at the girl! She’s so beautiful, and her family is loaded. Don’t bother, it’s impossible.”

“I heard they’ve known each other for a long time, and this guy has been chasing her for a while. Sigh, a simp, a simp, he’ll end up with nothing.”

Spring had just arrived in Hangzhou, and all the plants were just starting to sprout new buds. The surroundings seemed a bit desolate. Even on the campus, which lacked scenery, a circle of onlookers had gathered.

Chen Lu just listened silently to the sneering remarks around him. He knew he was the laughingstock right now.

He stood on the field, holding a bouquet of roses, looking at the girl walking towards him. She was the most beautiful girl in the whole school, the girl he had been pursuing for seven years, Mo Yuqing.

The weather was still a bit cold, and the cool breeze kept blowing on Chen Lu’s flushed cheeks, also blowing on Mo Yuqing’s cascading black hair and milky white dress.

It seemed that temperature had no effect on girls like her. Her collarbone and her white, smooth neck were exposed.

Mo Yuqing’s expression was indifferent, her lips slightly pursed, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes like shimmering autumn waters, making it impossible to look away.

Heaven had not been stingy in bestowing upon her a delicate and cold beauty, making her every frown and smile captivating.

Chen Lu let out a breath and walked forward. He didn’t want to confess in public, he felt it was like moral blackmail.

But he didn’t want to let Mo Yuqing brush him off again.

Yes, the person being confessed to feels a lot of pressure.

But, Mo Yuqing, you don’t.

You are out of reach in everyone’s eyes, the moon everyone worships, and the people you reject can line up outside the school?

No matter how “worthless” the rejected people are, they will become stepping stones for your continued rise.

As expected, Mo Yuqing saw the growing crowd of onlookers and remained indifferent, only slightly furrowing her brows because the pursuer this time was him.

“You… how long have you been chasing me?”

Mo Yuqing asked, her cold voice mixed with the cold wind, reaching Chen Lu’s ears.

“Exactly seven years today.”

She didn’t let Chen Lu speak first, and Chen Lu, in turn, didn’t shout out “I love you” in public because… this was his second confession.

The first time was in high school, Mo Yuqing said she needed to focus on her studies, and Chen Lu said he understood.

Then he gave up his dreams of going to other cities and came to the same university.

After realizing that their relationship hadn’t changed at all after coming to university, Chen Lu already had an answer in his heart.

If two people genuinely have feelings for each other, they’ll get together quickly. If two single people know each other for years and there’s no progress, it means they’re basically impossible.

Moreover, although he had been pursuing her for seven years, they had known each other since they were very young.

They were truly childhood sweethearts.

So now he just wanted to have closure, to put an end to his seven years of being a dog, happy with just a little bit of response.

I’ve worked hard for seven years to be worthy of you.

Seven years is too long, Ms. Mo, I’m tired too.

It’s time to settle this inexplicable relationship between us, isn’t it?

Finally, Mo Yuqing’s lips parted, pulling Chen Lu back to reality.

“Yes… seven years, Chen Lu.”

Her expression was indifferent, her tone cold.

“After so long, haven’t you realized that I don’t like you at all?

Let’s just stay friends.

If you bring this up again, we won’t even be friends.”

Chen Lu looked up at the gloomy sky, unexpectedly calm, “Friends? And watch you be with someone else, watch you get married and have children? Mo Yuqing, I like you, but I’m not that pathetic.”

Mo Yuqing didn’t say anything more. She glanced around coldly and turned to leave, leaving Chen Lu with a graceful yet utterly heartless back.

“Mo Yuqing! I like you!! I’ve liked you for seven years!!” Chen Lu watched her retreating figure, shouting loudly, ignoring the gazes of the people around him.

As the surrounding crowd began to buzz with discussion, he continued with a self-deprecating smile, “But not anymore……”

Then he turned and left, his back to the crowd, alone and desolate.

Like a gambler who had lost everything, he had lost completely.

Chen Lu suddenly realized that besides sadness, he also felt a sense of relief.

Not liking someone is very simple, but it’s actually a more insurmountable gap than family background, appearance, or personality differences.

You can work on the others, but not liking someone is just not liking someone.

Thinking about this, Chen Lu gave a smile to Jiang Chao, who was waiting for him.

He was Chen Lu’s good brother and adopted son. He had a strange, somewhat “gangster” vibe, and he would bring breakfast to his roommates every morning after his morning run, so Chen Lu and the others jokingly called him “Boss”.

“There’s better things ahead!” Jiang Chao put his arm around Chen Lu’s shoulder, comforting him, “We didn’t even prepare to celebrate, you know? Because whether you succeed or not, it’s not that you’re not good enough for her, but that she’s not good enough for you!”

Chen Lu looked at the many firecrackers that had just been thrown into the trash can, smiled and said nothing, “Let’s go out and give these roses to the kids on the way, don’t waste them. Young kids should like them.”

“See, I told you, with your personality, who wouldn’t be happy to be with you?”

Jiang Chao said with a look of disgust, “Not to mention your other qualities are not bad either.

What’s wrong with you? Does she really think that just because she’s good-looking, she has no worries? Whenever she has trouble, aren’t you always there with a phone call? And you always solve her problems! If I were a girl, I’d drag you to the registry office.”

“Alright, alright, I’d be touched if you hadn’t said that last part.”

Chen Lu looked around and asked, “Where are the other two?”

“Those two guys had something urgent to do, they’ll pay for the drinks later. Let’s go, I’ll take you out to clear your head.” Jiang Chao said as he pulled Chen Lu towards the school gate.

As the sky gradually darkened, streetlights lit up one after another, and many vendors had already gathered at the school gate.

Bright little light bulbs were hung on their modified tricycles, and many insects were flying around the bulbs. The oil in the pots kept bubbling up with a hot, fragrant aroma.

These various food stalls supported countless university students who disliked the food in the cafeteria.

Looking at Chen Lu’s sad expression, Jiang Chao said in a deep voice, “You two have known each other for so long, if she really liked you, she would have agreed long ago…… Don’t torture yourself anymore, you’re such a smart guy, Chen Lu.”

Why are you obsessed with this place?

Chen Lu looked blankly into the distance, a complex smile on his lips, “I’m not chasing her anymore.”

These three words used up all his strength, the relief hidden within endless sadness.

“Really not chasing her anymore?”

“I’ve gained enlightenment at the cost of half my life. If I look back even once, I should die.”