Volume One: High School Days Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Lonely Ghost

Over the next two days, Wang Chen remained unconscious due to severe blood loss. Meanwhile, the Northern-Southern Group retaliated against the He family corporation for He Xun’s assault on Wang Chen, leveraging various connections to shut down many of the He Group’s businesses. He Xun was also arrested for the crime of seriously injuring Wang Chen.

During these two days, Liu Meng continued attending her classes. No matter if it was after school at noon or in the evening, she would always go straight to the hospital to keep vigil by Wang Chen’s side. In this time, she earned the approval of Wang Chen’s parents.

On the third day of Wang Chen’s coma, during the fourth class at noon, Liu Sheng found himself glancing at Liu Meng again and again. It was only now that he realized how beautiful and captivating she truly was. Yet, unlike before, Liu Meng no longer gazed at him as she once did.

After school, Liu Sheng approached Liu Meng and said, “Let’s go to the hospital together. I want to visit Wang Chen too.”

The truth was, Liu Sheng didn’t really want to see Wang Chen; he simply wanted to be with Liu Meng. He knew that Liu Meng was no longer the girl who clung to him—she’d made up her mind about Wang Chen, and no one else would ever find a way into her heart.

Liu Meng didn’t refuse his company. Then, Liu Sheng called out to Ren Xiadong and Yang Fan, and the four of them headed to the hospital together.

On the way, Liu Sheng wanted to speak with Liu Meng, but he didn’t know what to say. She seemed so unfamiliar to him now—her boyish nature had become ladylike, and from ladylike to cold and distant toward him. He struggled to adapt to this change.

Liu Sheng rode his e-bike with Liu Meng on the back, while Ren Xiadong and Yang Fan each followed behind on their bicycles.

Trailing behind, Yang Fan said to Ren Xiadong, “Sister Liu Meng and Brother Liu Sheng really make a great couple.”

Even Liu Sheng and Liu Meng overheard this. Ren Xiadong quickly whispered, “Don’t say that. No matter how good Liu Meng is, Liu Sheng already let her go.”

At first, Yang Fan was incredulous. She wanted to ask why Liu Sheng hadn’t treasured such a wonderful girl, but she kept quiet, afraid of making him angry.

On the back seat of Liu Sheng’s e-bike, Liu Meng suddenly hugged him from behind. Liu Sheng didn’t know whether to be happy or sad—happy that she embraced him, sad because she already belonged to Wang Chen.

“Liu Sheng, I hope you can learn from what happened between me and Sister Xiao Ya. You’re a good person, good to everyone, but remember: you can pretend to be modest with anyone but never with your own woman. Always put the one you love first.”

Liu Sheng understood—her talk of modesty referred to Xiao Ya, and being the most important referred to herself.

Liu Meng continued, “It was only after I chose Wang Chen that I realized you liked me too. But it was too late. I can’t hurt Wang Chen any further. Waiting for someone is agony. You waited for Xiao Ya, I waited for you, and Wang Chen waited for me! So it’s best if only one person suffers rather than all three.”

Liu Sheng was at a loss. Nearly at the hospital, he finally asked, “Why is it always me who has to suffer?”

“Because all their pain is because of you,” Liu Meng replied, and said nothing more.

Liu Sheng’s mind raced: Xiao Ya suffered from his selfishness; Liu Meng suffered because she couldn’t wait for him; Wang Chen suffered because he couldn’t win Liu Meng’s love. In the end, Xiao Ya married someone else, Liu Meng and Wang Chen ended up together, and he was the only one left with nothing—alone with his pain.

When the four entered the hospital room and saw Wang Chen eating, Liu Meng ran to his bedside and said, “You’re awake! Now I’m relieved. You scared me half to death!”

Liu Sheng approached and politely greeted Wang Chen’s parents. “Hello, Uncle, Auntie.”

Wang Chen’s mother beamed at them. “Liu Meng is a wonderful girl, and Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong are both outstanding young people. My son is truly lucky to have such a good girlfriend and such good friends.”

She then turned to Wang Chen. “If it weren’t for Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong, you might not have survived. And Liu Meng has visited you every chance she got. Shouldn’t you thank them properly?”

Wang Chen quickly said, “Liu Sheng, Ren Xiadong, thank you. You saved my life. If you ever need anything, I’d go through fire and water for you.”

Then, looking at Liu Meng, he added, “You’ve worked so hard and worried so much. I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life. By the way, are you still planning to study abroad? If you go to the same country as me, no one will be able to get between us.”

Liu Meng nodded, moved by his words. Wang Chen then looked up at his parents. His father said, “Alright, I’ll take care of everything immediately.”

In that moment, Liu Sheng’s heart ached. “Is she really leaving for good? My heart hurts so much. If only—just if only—I could ask her to stay.” But he held back and said nothing.

“Oh, Ren Xiadong’s little sister is here too! Do you remember me? We met at the celebration banquet for the Ancient Legends project,” Wang Chen said, looking at Yang Fan.

Yang Fan replied sweetly, “Of course I remember—the young master of the Northern-Southern Group! But no matter how powerful you are, if you ever dare bully Sister Liu Meng, I—no, all three of us—won’t let you get away with it!”

Everyone in the room, including Wang Chen’s parents, broke into laughter at Yang Fan’s earnest warning.

“What a lovely child. You all chat for a while. I’ll go contact the school and handle Liu Meng’s paperwork as quickly as possible,” Wang Chen’s father said, grabbing Liu Meng’s documents and hurrying out.

As Wang Chen’s father disappeared down the hall, Liu Sheng felt as if he were already gone himself—his mind echoing, “It’s over, it’s over, it’s over.”

Half a month later.

The He Group declared bankruptcy, and under pressure from the Northern-Southern Group, He Xun was sentenced to life in prison.

Liu Meng withdrew from school.

On the day of their departure, Liu Sheng personally drove Liu Meng and Wang Chen to the airport.

“Liu Sheng, thank you for bringing us. We’ll come back to visit when we have time. We’re brothers—if you ever need anything, find my parents. I’ve already told them about you, and they like you a lot,” Wang Chen said before leading Liu Meng toward the terminal.

Watching Liu Meng about to walk through the airport doors, Liu Sheng quickly used his special ability—freezing time for everyone but himself. He rushed to catch up with Liu Meng and Wang Chen.

He looked at Liu Meng and said, “I’m sorry. It was me who sent you away.” Then he kissed her on the lips.

Turning to Wang Chen, he pointed at the frozen figure and said, “You and Liu Meng ended up together because I made it possible. You should thank me. I used to feel guilty about what happened with He Xun, but now we’re even! Treat Liu Meng well, or I’ll make you pay—without you ever knowing how!”

When Liu Sheng had said and done everything he wanted, he returned to where he’d been, relaxed his ability, and the world resumed. Liu Meng and Wang Chen entered the airport hall, and as she walked in, Liu Meng looked back at Liu Sheng, whispering words he could not hear.

Liu Sheng quickly used his hearing ability and caught, “I really did love you, but…” At the word “but,” he stopped listening, unwilling to hear the rest.

What Liu Meng had said was, “I really did love you, but now I love Wang Chen more.”

Wang Chen, hearing this, replied, “As long as I’m here, you’ll be the happiest woman in the world.”

Back at his apartment, Liu Sheng saw traces of Liu Meng everywhere. He resumed the days washed in tears—the hardest days of his life.

Ren Xiadong kept trying to help Liu Sheng move on, but he was unreachable, as if he’d fallen into a deep silence, unable to listen or speak, spending his days lost in class and at home.

Finally, the summer break at the end of June arrived. On the first night of vacation, Ren Xiadong took Liu Sheng to a nightclub, convinced that only women could help him out of his shadow.

As they walked in, all the staff came forward to greet them, believing that anyone who could summon the young master of the Northern-Southern Group at will must be extraordinary themselves.

As they drank, countless dancers came over to flirt with them. Liu Sheng was awkward at first, but as the alcohol flowed, he loosened up. “The whole point of going out is to forget your troubles!” he declared.

He slipped his hand inside one of the dancer’s tops. She hesitated, but Liu Sheng pulled out five thousand yuan and tucked it into her shorts. Seeing his generosity, the dancer opened her collar and shouted, “Come on!”

That night, Liu Sheng let go completely—drinking, embracing the dancers, swaying to the music, and occasionally pulling at their clothes.

Seeing Liu Sheng so uninhibited, Ren Xiadong refused to be outdone and joined in, kissing and groping the dancers.

“Who wants to come home with me tonight?” Liu Sheng shouted.

Knowing he was wealthy, the dancers all raised their hands and called out, “Me! Me! Me!”

Liu Sheng picked two scantily clad dancers with striking figures. Ren Xiadong looked at him and said, “Might as well indulge while we're young!”

Afterward, Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong each took two beautiful women home in a taxi.

Back at his place, Liu Sheng went straight to the bathroom, hugging the toilet as he vomited for a long time. He brushed his teeth, took a shower, and when he finally emerged, he was a little more sober but still dizzy. He walked into the living room, heard the sounds coming from Ren Xiadong’s room, and, swaying, pointed at the door, muttering, “Young people!”

He pushed open his own bedroom door. The two dancers lay on his bed, striking seductive poses, beckoning him with their fingers.

Liu Sheng shook his head, trying to clear his drunken vision, but as soon as he saw them clearly, he jumped onto the bed without another thought.

The next day at noon.

Liu Sheng opened his eyes, his head throbbing. Staring at the ceiling, he wondered, “How did I get home last night?”

He looked around and saw a woman on each side of him. Shocked, he tried to recall what had happened.

Looking left and right, he thought, “What’s the use of having money? They’re not Liu Meng, nor Xiao Ya.”

Tears silently fell. He climbed out of bed and shouted, “Wake up, both of you!”

One dancer, still sleepy, asked, “What’s wrong, boss?”

Liu Sheng hurried to his safe, pulled out ten thousand yuan, tossed it onto the bed, and said, “Leave now. Quickly!”

The dancers, startled by his anger, dressed and left with the money. As they exited, one muttered, “Are all rich people this strange?”

Ren Xiadong, sitting in the living room, witnessed everything.

Liu Sheng, taking out his passport and other documents, hesitated. He’d gotten the passport days ago, intending to find Liu Meng, but he couldn’t bring himself to disrupt her happiness with Wang Chen.

Leaving his room before Ren Xiadong could speak, Liu Sheng said, “I don’t want to live here anymore. I’m going to travel until the new semester. Buy a new place for me—right around here. When I get back, I want to move straight in. This is your responsibility now!”

With that, he walked out with nothing but his limitless credit card.

Ren Xiadong, left alone in the living room, muttered, “What is all this?”

At the airport, Liu Sheng bought a ticket to another country—not the one where Liu Meng had gone.