Chapter 20: If You Are Well, It Is a Sunny Day

The day of parting finally arrived. One by one, the students rolled their suitcases across the campus, reluctant to say goodbye.

Tian Yu, Ling Fei, and Hui Qian had all chosen not to venture out to faraway cities. Each returned home instead. Before everyone went their separate ways, the close friends who had spent the past few years with Sheng Han and Tian You decided to have one last farewell dinner.

At the table, there was the same laughter and chatter as always, but beneath the light-hearted surface was a subtle bitterness that couldn’t be ignored. They reminisced about the past and looked forward to the future.

“One day, when I’ve made it big with my own business, I’ll fly everyone back for a reunion. I’ll even pick you all up in a luxury car!” someone boasted.

“Ha! Then we’d better get that in writing and keep it as evidence, in case ‘President Wang’ tries to back out later!”

“I’m heading back to my hometown tomorrow. My family’s already arranged a job for me at the university’s academic affairs office. So much for using my college education!”

“I got hired by a local hotel’s HR department after submitting my résumé at the campus job fair. I’ll be starting in a couple of days.”

“I’m staying at the school, working in the Party Affairs Division. If any of you come back to visit, be sure to reach out. I’ll be waiting.”

…

Everyone chatted excitedly, one after another. Someone turned to ask Tian You, “What about you two? Going to Fengdu together? When are you leaving?”

Tian You glanced at Sheng Han and smiled. “We’re planning to stay in Migu for another week. Just to explore the area and take it all in before we go to Fengdu.”

Sheng Han nodded in agreement.

Just then, Sheng Han’s phone rang—it was Xiu Jie.

Tian You’s hand instinctively clenched. His gut told him this call, coming right at Sheng Han’s graduation, was no coincidence. It felt like a threat. But in the end, he gave in.

He understood: What is meant to be yours will be, and what isn’t, no matter how hard you try, will never stay.

“Go ahead and answer it,” Tian You said calmly, though tension gripped him from within.

Sheng Han nodded and stepped out with her phone.

—

“Hello?”

“Sheng Han, how have you been? Graduation must be soon, right?”

“Mm. I’ve graduated.”

“I just got back to the country. You were the first person I wanted to call.”

“Are you going back again?”

“Yeah, next month. I’ll be starting my graduate studies.”

“Congratulations, and good luck.”

“Thanks… Sheng Han, after graduation, are you going back to Qiong Mo?”

“No. I’m heading to Fengdu.”

“Oh… I see…”

A brief silence followed. Then Xiu Jie said, with forced lightness, “I’ve never been to Migu, you know. Are you in a rush to leave for Fengdu? If not, stay a little longer—wait for me. I’d love to visit the mountains and rivers there… with you as my tour guide.”

Sheng Han was caught off guard. She laughed teasingly, “Xiu Jie, I have a boyfriend now. What, you planning to come all the way to Migu just to steal someone’s girl?”

“If there’s still a chance, stealing someone’s girl isn’t off-limits… right?”

Sheng Han stood there, stunned, gripping her phone, momentarily at a loss for words.

“Aaah~ I’m so jet-lagged. I really need a good sleep to fix it. I’ll talk to you later, okay? Good morning~ good afternoon~ good night~ I’m off to bed now! Bye-bye~”

And with that, Xiu Jie hung up, leaving Sheng Han alone, her heart in turmoil.

For the past four years, she had dreamt of Xiu Jie almost every single night. In her heart, his place had never been shaken.
“There is a grave in my heart, where a living soul is buried.”
Xiu Jie had lived in her heart for four long years. Sheng Han had often felt conflicted about it, especially when thinking of Tian You. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t lie to her own heart. Whether they met or not, her feelings for Xiu Jie never wavered—quiet, unwavering affection.

Now, if she gave him just the slightest sign, Xiu Jie would come back to her in a heartbeat.
But… what about Tian You?

The boy who had stayed by her side after graduation for a whole year in Migu. The one who had silently protected her all these years. Sheng Han couldn’t bear to hurt him.

Back at the dinner table, Sheng Han remained distracted. Tian You had likely guessed what the call was about.

After the dinner, as they walked back in the quiet night, Tian You thought for a long while before finally gathering his courage.

“He called to take you back, didn’t he?” he asked.

“No,” Sheng Han replied. “He just got back to the country and wants to visit Migu. He asked me to be his tour guide.”

“You silly girl,” Tian You muttered, frowning, though the words stabbed at his heart.

“Are you… are you going to stay and show him around?” Tian You paused, then continued, his voice getting quieter and shakier.
“Sheng Han… after this trip, maybe you should go back with him. He… he came back for you…”

It was the first time Tian You had ever spoken so uncertainly.

“Tian You,” Sheng Han interrupted softly. “I don’t know how to face him. I’m too much of a coward—I’ve only ever dared to keep him in my heart. Take me away, Tian You. Let’s go to Fengdu. Let’s leave the day after tomorrow.”

“Have you really thought it through?”

She nodded after a long silence, biting her lip, her voice barely audible. “Mm.”
But in her chest, her heart twisted in unbearable pain.

Two days passed quickly.

At the airport, right before boarding, Sheng Han turned around and took one last look at Migu, the place she had spent four formative years in. At this moment, she realized just how hard it was to leave.

“Will Xiu Jie still come?”

Actually, just a day earlier, Xiu Jie had already packed his bags, ready to board a plane to Migu. He had intended to ask Sheng Han what time her flight was so he could plan accordingly.

But when he called—her phone was off.

For an entire day, Xiu Jie tried over and over, dialing her number again and again. But it was always unreachable.

“Sheng Han, do you really not even want to see me once?”
He whispered, defeated. “I miss you… so much.”

He stared at the packed suitcase for a long moment, then slowly began taking everything out, putting it back in place. His eyes misted over until his vision blurred.

The plane took off.

Sheng Han sat quietly in her seat, staring out at the boundless sky and rolling sea of clouds.
But her heart ached with every breath.

“Xiu Jie, I’m sorry. Please forgive my cowardice.
I really, really love you. I really, really miss you.
But I don’t have the courage to face you again.
I can’t allow myself to hurt Tian You like that.
I’ve already broken one heart—I can’t break another.

Xiu Jie, I’m sorry. In the end, I chose to leave.
I hope your days ahead will be filled with peace and joy.
If you are well, it will always be a sunny day.

Xiu Jie… I’m sorry.
I love you. I truly do.”