Chapter 16: Broken – hearted

Lin Sitian sat down beside Zhou Sheng.
The dinner table scene grew awkward—some perceptive ones stayed silent, while clueless boys were about to make noise. Yang Xuelin suddenly stood, removing the empty wine bottle from the center. “This is boring. Let’s call the waiter for more wine, Wang Yue.”
Wang Yue, about to tease Lin Sitian, frowned. “Why don’t you go?”
Yang Xuelin glared at him.
“Got it, got it. I’ll go, Miss.”
Then everyone laughed as if nothing happened.
The boys at the other table started bragging. Since returning, Lin Sitian hadn’t spoken to Zhou Sheng, half – turned toward Yang Xuelin. The two besties chatted about a hilarious anime, getting more excited. Lin Sitian laughed so hard she nearly rolled on the ground.
Zhou Sheng probably sensed the awkwardness, glancing at her several times. She seemed fine—even a bit tipsy, cheeks rosy, eyes bright like stars, radiant.
She was drinking with others too.
If it was funny, drink; if you lisp, drink; Class 8 students came over—drink if you know them, drink if you don’t. In short, no reason not to drink.
“Lin Sitian.”
He called her from behind. Yes, she sat beside him but had turned her back completely.
Lin Sitian seemed not to hear, still arguing with Li Hailiang about who could drink more.
“Lin Sitian.” Zhou Sheng gently tapped her back.
He wanted to persuade her to stop drinking.
They’d agreed to talk tonight.
If she got drunk, would the talk still count?
Maybe from too much beer—she was slow, no reaction.
“Lin Sitian.” He persisted.
The chair scraped the floor. Lin Sitian stood abruptly. “I’m going out to sober up.”
Worried about her, Zhou Sheng started to rise, but Lin Sitian turned, frowning impatiently. “You’re annoying.”
The room was bustling; no one noticed the tense atmosphere between them.
This was the first harsh word Lin Sitian had said to Zhou Sheng since they became deskmates.
Zhou Sheng stared at her, frozen mid – rise, unsure what to do.
Lin Sitian walked away, not bothering to explain.
Behind the farm – stay, a mountain path wound through lush trees. No streetlights—only moonlight faintly illuminated it. Midway, a wooden railing stood; beyond, a gap in the rocks revealed an empty valley, with occasional gusts of wind.
Lin Sitian leaned on the railing, blowing the wind.
Footsteps came—someone tapped her shoulder.
“You okay?”
It was Yang Xuelin.
Lin Sitian shook her head, resting her cheek in one hand. “Drank too much, sobering up.”
“No need to pretend in front of me.” Yang Xuelin leaned on the railing beside her. “Tell me if it hurts. We’ve been besties for years—you think I don’t know you, Tian Tian?”
Lin Sitian used her other hand to prop up her cheek, her pretty face squished by both hands.
“I’m broken – hearted.” She said.
Yang Xuelin sighed.
“I’m broken – hearted, Xuelin.” Tears suddenly spilled. “I’m a fool, a huge fool.”
Yang Xuelin moved closer, wrapping an arm around her, resting her forehead on Lin Sitian’s. “It’s my fault—I was too hasty.”
She’d thought she was clever. Seeing Zhou Sheng’s reactions and his “open to dating” reply, she’d wanted to push things along—only to mess it up.
“It’s not you.” Lin Sitian shook her head, holding back tears. “He’s open to dating, but not with me…”
“But…” Yang Xuelin found it hard to believe. Zhou Sheng didn’t seem uninterested in Tian Tian, but after messing up once, she didn’t dare judge.
Her nose sour, mouth downturned, Lin Sitian wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “I never want to date again, never want to like someone…”
Her heart ached, a sharp, throbbing pain.
A whole lemon seemed squeezed into her veins—every nerve ending sour, brain oxygen – deprived from crying.
When did it start?
She fell for Zhou Sheng.
Maybe from “It’s okay, wait a bit” when he patted her head.
Too easy—falling for someone is so easy, this kind of liking is too cheap.
When you like someone, you fear nothing. She bettered herself for him, mustered courage, reached for every tiny possibility, secretly rejoiced at every small closeness—him walking her home, tutoring her, rewarding her, hugging, holding hands, saying “see you tomorrow”.
Only to get—he’d date, but not her.
Secret love sprouts in April, wild and unchecked.
Someone accidentally stirs a spark, igniting a prairie.
Those fiery feelings, those heartbeats without return.
Just a hollow joy. “You go back first. I’ll be back soon.”
After venting to her bestie, Lin Sitian finally calmed down—though her eyes were still puffy. She sent Yang Xuelin away first.
Yang Xuelin gently wiped her eyes, urging, “I’ll go first. Don’t stay alone too long—they’ll come find you. Don’t overthink. You’re cute, Tian Tian—plenty like you.”
Lin Sitian smiled through tears, pushing her. “Go already.”
“Come back soon—lots of bugs in the mountains.”
“Got it.”
The mountain path soon fell silent. Lin Sitian leaned back on the railing, gazing at the valley at night.
Soon, footsteps came again. Lin Sitian didn’t turn, pursing her lips. “Told you I’ll be back soon.”
“Huh.”
Hearing a boy’s voice, Lin Sitian turned—Meng Qiaoyu stood awkwardly.
“Oh, sorry—I thought it was Xuelin.”
“Fine. Just passing by.”
“Passing by?”
“We ran out of wine. The 老板娘 was busy, so she said we could get more from the storage if we hurried. The storage is up ahead, her father – in – law watches it.”
Lin Sitian stood, feigning tiredness. “I’ll go with you.”
“I can manage.”
“I’m bored.” Mostly, she was embarrassed to stand there alone.
Meng Qiaoyu didn’t hesitate. “Sure.”
Walking the mountain path at night, Lin Sitian remembered something. “Sorry—my classmates teased you.”
“So what?” Meng Qiaoyu shrugged. “I don’t treat it as a secret.”
“Then can’t you be more discreet?”
“Why hide?” Meng Qiaoyu asked openly, hands in his jeans pockets, walking briskly.
“People will know…”
“Is it embarrassing?”
…Isn’t it?
“I like you, you don’t like me—simple as that.” Seeing a low branch, Meng Qiaoyu jumped to reach its leaves. “You’re not wrong, nor am I—no shame in that.”
He reached the leaves, plucking two.
Lin Sitian was stunned by his words.
He mimicked a basketball shot, tossing the leaves.
Sneakers crunched dry grass. “And am I not good enough? I think I am—got all the qualities you want.”
“You’re so full of yourself…”
“What can I do if you prefer Zhou Sheng?” Meng Qiaoyu suddenly said.
Lin Sitian stopped, looking up in surprise.
Meng Qiaoyu laughed at her stunned reaction. “Why stare? Your feelings are obvious.”
He showed his white teeth. “I wasn’t sure before, but you ‘revealed your wolf self’ in Truth or Dare.”
“That’s Truth or Dare, not Werewolf!” Her secret love exposed, Lin Sitian felt flustered.
“Metaphor, metaphor.” Meng Qiaoyu didn’t care.
They reached the storage. A dim bulb swayed under the eaves. Soon, an old man came out. After explaining, he gave them two baskets of beer.
Carrying the beer back—only a few minutes’ walk.
“I thought I hid it well.” Lin Sitian stared at the moonlit path. “Turns out, besides that fool, even strangers can see it.”
Wait—did Zhou Sheng see it too? So he rejected her indirectly?
“No.” Her thoughts halted—did Zhou Sheng notice long ago, using this to reject her?
“You hurt my feelings—what do you mean ‘stranger’?” Meng Qiaoyu placed a hand on his chest. “We’re on the same team now.”
Lin Sitian glanced at him.
“We’re both broken – hearted—I got rejected, you got rejected. Aren’t we a team?”
“You’re annoying, Meng Qiaoyu!” Lin Sitian kicked him.
“I don’t get it—what’s so good about him?”
What’s good about him? Yeah, what’s good about Zhou Sheng?
Zhou Sheng is no good—he only knows how to study.
Spring night, quiet. Walking, beer bottles clinked in the basket, a crisp sound.
She suddenly stopped.
…Is…is it?
No, right?
He treats her equally when others give up on her.
He reaches out when she gives up on herself.
He hands her tissues when she’s sad, praises her when she tries.
His world is simple, but he lets her in, making space for a stranger—even if it complicates his world.
Her Zhou Sheng is perfect, except—
He isn’t “hers”.
Never was, never will be.
She can’t like him anymore.
Just two sentences, but back to heartbreak. Seventeen – year – old hearts are sensitive, like tight violin strings—slight touches bring echoes. Lin Sitian bit her lip, the suppressed sourness returning, making her eyes water.
“…What’s wrong?” Realizing she fell behind, Meng Qiaoyu turned. “Lin Sitian?”
She lowered her head, biting her teeth to hold back sobs—but the tears were too many, spilling over. She started crying.
Meng Qiaoyu panicked, bending to wipe her tears. “I said something wrong—don’t cry.”
When someone cries, “Don’t cry” is useless.
Clumsy fingertips wiped her eyes.
“Lin Sitian, if it hurts so much, look at me—am I not good?”
Meng Qiaoyu stood before her, mountain wind rustling, fueling his passion.
“Like me…Lin Sitian.”
“I’ll never make you cry.”
…
…Maybe it’s time to give up.
She thought.
“Lin Sitian——”
At the mountain path’s end, Zhou Sheng stood, outlined by the night like a moonlit shadow.