6 The Campus Antagonist

Wu Qiyun blushed deeply under his friend’s teasing, yet he couldn’t explain why he diligently and willingly delivered food to Chu Xiang. Chu Xiang, however, remained calm and said, “I bought this with the castle. If you deliver food and drink to me, I’ll sculpt one for you too.”

Wu Qiyun glanced at the radiant smile on Chu Xiang’s face, then at his friend. Nodding, he felt an inexplicable sense of loss, though he couldn’t understand why. Liu Yanyan was surprised and asked, “What is it?”

Chu Xiang replied, “I’m full tonight; we’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

Liu Yanyan followed Wu Qiyun back, inquiring all the way about what Chu Xiang had given her. Wu Qiyun reluctantly revealed the sandcastle sculpture, earnestly affirming, “It’s really beautiful.”

The next day, Liu Yanyan dragged Wu Qiyun to find Chu Xiang. It was the last day of their seaside trip; they would leave for school in the afternoon, but the morning was free for everyone to roam the beach. Chu Xiang had rented a large umbrella and a lounge chair, reclining beneath it to enjoy life.

Sunshine, sand, a gentle sea breeze, and the rhythmic crashing of waves—how delightful it was.

Liu Yanyan approached, teasing him for being boring but secretly wanting to try lounging too.

“You said something about a sand sculpture yesterday? I’ll trade you today’s lunch for one! How about it, Chu Xiang? I’ve never seen a sand sculpture before!”

Chu Xiang lazily opened his eyes, looking at them both, and after a moment’s thought said, “Alright, but you have to get me the tools.”

Liu Yanyan eagerly agreed and went to a nearby shop to buy materials, while Wu Qiyun stayed behind with Chu Xiang to build sandcastles.

They used their hands to pile wet sand by the shore. Chu Xiang asked her, “What do you want to make this time?”

Wu Qiyun looked up, slightly surprised. “Why ask me? You should ask Yanyan.”

Chu Xiang sat down on the sand and said, “I don’t take orders. There’s only one castle. I’m not making one this time, but I can’t think of anything else. Can you help me come up with something?”

Wu Qiyun pursed her lips, her eyes softening. While molding sand, she pondered, her gaze drifting to the sea before looking back at him. “How about a mermaid? The daughter of the sea.”

Chu Xiang casually agreed, “Sure.” Then he roughly shaped the sand, adjusting it toward the outline of a mermaid.

With his eyes lowered, he carefully worked the sand. His demeanor was as calm as ever, but now with an added intensity that was captivating.

Wu Qiyun didn’t know the saying, “Those who are earnest are the most charming,” but this was the first time she saw Chu Xiang focus so deeply on something—just as when she first saw him pouring his all into a competition on the sports field. She couldn’t help but be drawn to him.

“But mermaids, though beautiful, aren’t worth emulating,” Chu Xiang suddenly said.

“Huh?” Wu Qiyun snapped out of her thoughts.

Chu Xiang smiled and looked up. “Isn’t it? Sacrificing oneself to play a supporting role for princes and princesses—though it sounds tragic and beautiful, no one really wants to be her.”

Wu Qiyun hadn’t considered it that way, but reflecting on his words, it seemed true. If it were her, she couldn’t do it.

She couldn’t help but think of her own parents: “Why can’t people who don’t love themselves make decisive choices?”

Chu Xiang’s heart stirred. He asked, “Would you be decisive?”

Wu Qiyun said firmly, “Yes. People should cherish themselves.”

Chu Xiang smiled faintly and resumed carefully sculpting the sand.

Soon, Liu Yanyan returned with the sand sculpting tools.

Chu Xiang sat on the ground, beginning to carve the details bit by bit.

Liu Yanyan, ever the sycophant, helped move the umbrella and chairs closer so he wouldn’t get sunburned.

Their activity quickly attracted classmates, many gathering to watch and marvel at the half-finished mermaid. Chu Xiang’s sculpting skills were strong—not a whim but honed from years of studying art and sculpture since elementary school. Though the material was different, his skill remained, and after some adjustment, he mastered the pressure, making the piece increasingly perfect.

Because of the mermaid, many groups on the beach started building sandcastles, most people playing with the sand.

Cheng Jin hopped over on one foot to join the fun. Seeing Chu Xiang quietly sculpting stunned her for a moment.

Every young girl harbors romantic dreams; her ideal type probably looked something like this: a white shirt, a refined face, calm and steady presence that instills peace, and when focused, irresistibly captivating.

“Hey, you lame one, don’t run around like that! Careful you don’t limp with both legs!” Yang Yunan’s voice startled many.

Cheng Jin angrily turned away. Chu Xiang set down his tools and smiled, looking up.

“Anan, if you chase girls like this, you’ll scare them all away.”

Yang Yunan froze mid-step, stammering, “Wh-what chasing girls? Don’t say nonsense!”

Chu Xiang watched him with amusement as his face grew redder.

Cheng Jin snapped, “None of your business! Just stay away from me and I’ll be fine!”

“You—” Yang Yunan’s discomfort vanished, and he stomped angrily.

Liu Yanyan was curious, “Who’s that? Yang Yunan likes her?”

Wu Qiyun didn’t care, and Chu Xiang smiled silently, no one answering her question.

Sand sculptures are ephemeral art; no matter how perfect, the rising tide washes them away. They would leave before the tide came, unable to take the sculptures with them.

Like the story it told, it would eventually vanish into foam on the sea.

Liu Yanyan was reluctant to part, taking photos from every angle, wanting to preserve it forever. Many students snapped pictures because the mermaid was truly beautiful and vivid.

Chu Xiang looked at Wu Qiyun, who hadn’t moved. “Don’t you like it? Why aren’t you taking photos?”

Wu Qiyun replied, “It’s beautiful. I’ve already taken some.”

A question mark popped in Chu Xiang’s mind—had she really? He must have missed it…

On the way back, students eagerly discussed Chu Xiang and the mermaid. Chu Xiang unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the trip.

After returning, many remained basked in the joy of the outing, not yet back to study mode. But students like Wu Qiyun, top of her class, quickly immersed themselves in the fast-paced lessons.

Chu Xiang noticed Yang Yunan gradually disappearing. Not only was he missing during the day, but suddenly he vanished at mealtimes as well. Even more surprising, the person who usually went home with him after school had been left to Yang’s family driver while Yang Yunan ran off on his own.

The driver and Chu Xiang exchanged wide-eyed looks. “Anan’s still not out of school?”

Chu Xiang sighed, “Probably turned into a dog by now.”

The driver was baffled.

Students like Yang Yunan, though disciplined by teachers, weren’t strictly controlled; but ordinary students who had truly earned their place were key targets for school and teachers—like Cheng Jin.

After midterms, Cheng Jin’s parents were called in.

Chu Xiang knew about this. In a previous life, Cheng Jin had cut off all contact with Yang Yunan because of it. Yang Yunan, unable to find her, grew angry, anxious, and obsessed, finally realizing he truly liked Cheng Jin.

In contrast, the original Chu Xiang worried about Cheng Jin’s situation. He found her at the long jump field, listened to her complaints, kept her company through her low mood, comforted her, and helped her through her slump caused by poor grades, disappointed teachers, and parental scolding.

By the time Yang Yunan finally caught up with her again, Cheng Jin had recovered, and the two were entangled once more.

But now, Chu Xiang and Cheng Jin had little to do with each other. He also felt the teachers and parents were not wrong. Cheng Jin came from an ordinary family and excelled academically. Education was her best path upward. Even if she ended up with Yang Yunan, with the Yang family’s status, Cheng Jin needed her own excellence to hold her ground.

Though they were only in high school, lovers should smooth out obstacles and overcome external conditions. She couldn’t rely solely on him, the secondary male lead, for lifelong support.

Meanwhile, Chu Xiang himself became busy.

He contacted his uncle, expressing his desire to learn business management.

His uncle was delighted, seeing his nephew grown and mature. Though it was bittersweet how fast he’d grown, it comforted his sister and brother-in-law.

Chu Xiang received many “assignments” from his uncle and studied diligently every day.

Yang Yunan, in a foul mood, came to talk with Chu Xiang, sitting beside him and complaining about Cheng Jin’s heartlessness, then worrying if something bad had happened to her.

“If you really like her, just talk it out,” Chu Xiang advised.

“I want to find her, but she won’t see me!” Yang Yunan fretted. “I can’t just barge into the classroom during lessons! If the teacher finds out, she’ll get in trouble!”

Yang Yunan was beginning to consider others, albeit little.

Chu Xiang said, “I asked Chen Qian about the midterm results. Cheng Jin’s ranking dropped a lot. Could it be because of that?”

Yang Yunan was surprised, “Just because of that?”

Chu Xiang stopped typing and looked at him helplessly. “Cheng Jin’s not like us. If we fail, we can still go home and inherit the family business. She’s under a lot of pressure, just like my deskmate—he cares deeply even if his rank drops by one.”

Yang Yunan frowned. “Then she should just tell me. Why disappear without a word?”

“I don’t know. I don’t understand your situation either.” Chu Xiang thought for a moment and gave a small warning to his somewhat immature friend: “If you’re serious, you should consider Cheng Jin more. Girls without family background—if they don’t have good education and skills, would their families agree?”

Yang Yunan ran his hands through his hair, overwhelmed: “I never thought of that. That’s too far off…”

Chu Xiang shook his head, thinking of their futures, and said no more.

Yang Yunan sat alone for a while, then came over to see what Chu Xiang was doing. Expecting games or chatting, he was shocked to see Chu Xiang reading some company five-year plan documents and stared wide-eyed.

“What the heck are you looking at?”

Chu Xiang patted his head. “I’m an adult now; I have to learn to manage the family business. Anan, only by having enough capital in hand can you live freely. Otherwise, we’re always just kids. Adults forbid us from doing this or that, and we can’t.”

Yang Yunan sat back thoughtfully, silent for a long time on the sofa.

After a while, he suddenly asked, “Have you ever been stopped from doing what you want? Why did this idea come up suddenly?”

Chu Xiang paused and thought before answering, “No. I just realized that when a person doesn’t control their own fate, they become helpless. So helpless that despair feels pitiful.” Like Wu Qiyun’s mother, and the opposite example is the future Wu Qiyun.

Yang Yunan lay back quietly on the couch, staring fixedly at the ceiling.

Having just realized he liked a girl who wanted to keep him at arm’s length, missing her and growing restless and irritable for days, he suddenly felt calm.

Chen Qian, through his girlfriend, suggested an idea. He had initially wanted to tease Yang Yunan, who’d always been cocky, but it seemed like he’d finally gotten over that hump.

He hesitated and asked, “Anan, do you still want to find Cheng Jin?”

Yang Yunan said, “Yes.”

Chen Qian replied, “Then why do you look so unhurried?”

Yang Yunan rolled his eyes. “If you have a plan, say it. If not, don’t bother me.”

Chen Qian chuckled. Used to his bad temper, he still wanted to help and shared his idea: “I’ll have my girlfriend invite her out during evening study. You two can talk, clear things up, and if there are misunderstandings, resolve them quickly.”

Yang Yunan’s eyes lit up immediately. “Great!”

Chen Qian finally felt relieved—that was a normal response.

Before going to see Cheng Jin, Yang Yunan asked Chu Xiang, “I want to date Cheng Jin, but only if it doesn’t affect her studies. Do you think she’ll agree?”

Chu Xiang said, “Just tell her your thoughts and do your best. If you really like her, even if she rejects you, you can keep trying.”

Yang Yunan thought it over and happily left.

That night, Yang Yunan didn’t return to the classroom. Chu Xiang saw him on the way home in the car and could tell at a glance it had failed.

At this time, Cheng Jin didn’t like Yang Yunan much yet.

She was still in a low period, being scolded by family and school and probably afraid to be distracted by romance.

Chu Xiang comforted Yang Yunan for several days but soon got busy himself, no longer paying much attention to his friend’s romantic progress.

Since Chu Xiang expressed his wish to study business management, his uncle had been very excited, eager to teach him everything overnight. They communicated daily, and his uncle frequently assigned him tasks.

Sometimes he’d be reading documents late into the night.

As the second year of high school neared its end and third year approached, Chu Xiang planned to apply to a foreign university for business management based on discussions with his uncle. Such prestigious schools required solid academic results.

Once indifferent to everything and drifting through life, the boy now had a goal. Without others’ prodding, he became self-motivated and hardworking.

Those around him were somewhat influenced. Yang Yunan started going out with his father and joined Chu Xiang in discussions about news, policies, or his father’s subordinates’ conduct.

—He was thinking now.