Hearing her words, Tang Song let out a breath.
The scenes that played out on the playground in the dream replayed once again.
Liu Qingning wrapped her arms around her bent legs, resting her white chin on her knees, "I suddenly realized, I might not really understand you, oh no, I mean I don’t understand the you of now."
"Qingning, I’m sorry..." Tang Song’s eyes flickered, and he hesitated to speak.
Faced with his first love, it was finally time to lay everything on the table, and there was an indescribable ripple in his heart.
"No, it’s not that." Liu Qingning shook her head, "I also have a lot of issues, you had no obligation to tell me these things, and I never realized it."
During college, she and Tang Song were separated by distance.
Most of the time she was busy, busy with studies, clubs, part-time jobs...
They only met occasionally on holidays.
Tang Song was no longer like he was in high school, in her peripheral vision and orbiting around her world.
Later, she started following Professor Wang to participate in project development, preparing for the "Internet+ Competition."
After that, it was a difficult yet fulfilling entrepreneurial journey, compressing her personal time and space to the limit.
When she seriously thought back, in these over seven years, her communication with Tang Song wasn’t actually that frequent.
Not even more than with Cheng Qingfeng, Zhang Xiaoni, and others.
And with personal growth and experiences, she had developed clearer dreams, goals, and pursuits, which became an important part of her life.
And to a large extent replaced Tang Song.
It was only upon looking back now that she realized.
She had missed a very crucial period of companionship in Tang Song’s growth.
Most of her deep impressions of him remained in their high school days.
Taking a deep breath, Liu Qingning suddenly lifted her head and asked, "Song, do you have a girlfriend?"
Tang Song struggled to open his mouth and said, "I won’t lie to you, yes."
Liu Qingning’s breath caught, and she forced her eyes wide open, "Ha, I knew it, you’re so outstanding now, there’s definitely no shortage of people pursuing you. Ah, seeing you doing so well now really makes me happy for you. When I’m not busy, I’ll come to Yan City to visit you, see your big house, and meet the girl you like."
"I’m sorry Qingning, after leaving the Imperial City, a lot happened around me, anyway, I’m sorry to you."
"Why say sorry?" Liu Qingning pressed her lips tightly, her gaze stubborn, "I’m nothing to you, we’ve always been friends."
Under the dim light, her face appeared unusually pale.
"I like you." Tang Song said softly, "I’ve liked you since we were kids, liked you for so many, many years, because of your words ’Peak Meeting,’ I’ve been working hard all these years."
Their gazes met for a long time.
The beautiful eyes began to mist over.
"Clink clink——" Crystal-clear teardrops fell.
His repeated declarations of "like" finally broke through her defenses.
Liu Qingning’s lips trembled, and she couldn’t hold back, lowering her head and sobbing.
The pain surged overwhelmingly, along with a flood of regret.
In her subconscious, she had always positioned herself as the emotional core between the two of them.
Coupled with the ingrained mindset from their school days, it made her feel that Tang Song should "rely" on her.
So she made life plans for them on her own accord and pushed both herself and Tang Song forward.
Yet she never clearly expressed her feelings of love, only interacting with him as a good friend.
Along with her busy work and studies, she overlooked some important issues.
Tang Song was also a complete individual with his own emotional needs.
Perhaps, in interacting with her, amidst the constant ups and downs, his feelings were also being worn away.
Liu Qingning raised her head, her tear-filled eyes looking at him.
Tang Song took a deep breath, just about to say something.
Immediately, a familiar scent enveloped him.
Her fiery lips stopped the words he was about to speak.
Her first kiss was salty, bitter, sweet.
Tang Song’s heart involuntarily picked up speed, looking at the first love right in front of him.
Liu Qingning stubbornly stared with her round eyes, tears still rolling down.
Thread by thread, sparkling like diamonds, beautiful like meteors.
She originally thought that as long as he was happy, as long as the girl he liked was better than her, she could be relieved.
But when the moment came, she realized that love truly was a raging beast.
Just like she thought when facing Teacher Wang’s question.
Ever since graduating high school, she’s been planning their future and putting in her utmost effort for it.
How could she easily let go?
She truly was unwilling!
Even if his current girlfriend was Su Yu, she still wouldn’t be willing!
A sharp pain from her lips brought Tang Song quickly back to his senses.
"If I tell you now, I like you too, really like you, do we still have a chance?"