บท 72: A bleak and tempestuous future
Before my arrival on Demon Island, I would never have uttered such words. However, I now possess a newfound courage, shedding much of the timidity that once compelled me to second-guess my actions. Upon hearing my words, Pan Li'er bit her luscious, rosy lips, her brows knitting together in concern. I must admit, Pan Li'er is an exceptionally alluring girl; compared to the pure and innocent Ye Ying, she attracts far more admirers. That enticing gesture momentarily left me spellbound, prompting me to regain my composure.
"Being friends with me won't bring you any misfortune. Aren't boys often fickle? It might just be you who abandons me in the end!"
"Hey, Miss Pan, we are not even in a romantic relationship, so how could we talk about fickleness or abandoning old flames? After everything I've been through... I'm no longer so naive. From now on, I intend to focus on my studies and postpone matters of the heart until after graduation."
"What university do you plan to apply to?"
"We're only in our first year of high school; university seems a distant prospect. I aim to attend an art school, though I'm unsure if I can persuade my parents, who are more inclined toward financial studies."
Pan Li'er is certainly not an unpleasant girl, but her presence often leaves me feeling somewhat insecure. As we walked home together, we casually discussed life, aspirations, and the future—topics that resonate deeply yet often leave us bewildered, forging a sense of camaraderie among peers. Passing by an ice cream shop, I decided to buy two cans of cola, considering the pride of a boy. I opened one for myself and handed the other to the girl beside me. Pan Li'er accepted it silently, gracefully opening the drink, which unexpectedly sparked a thought within me.
"Pan Li'er is quite beautiful as well; pursuing her might yield a higher success rate than chasing after Ye Ying. Had I chosen Pan Li'er as my target from the start, perhaps we would already be a couple."
Since returning from Demon Island, my aesthetic preferences have shifted significantly. I once favored the pure and innocent type like Ye Ying, yet I now find myself drawn to the more mature. However, I am not particularly distinguished at school; while I am confident that I can become a prominent figure in the future, I currently lack the self-assurance to casually approach girls. I swiftly banished any inappropriate thoughts from my mind, hardly noticing that Pan Li'er seemed to be grappling with an important decision.
As we approached the largest bookstore on our route home, I was about to bid farewell to Pan Li'er when she interjected, "Will you let me be your girlfriend?"
I choked on my drink in surprise, the cola spewing forth and accidentally splattering a tall man in an expensive-looking suit who happened to be passing by.
"I sincerely apologize; it was an accident. Would you prefer compensation for the damage, or should I assist you in taking it to the dry cleaners? If you're uneasy, I could accompany you home; I assure you I won't run off in an unethical manner."
The tall man I had splashed was a rare mixed-race individual, robust and exuding an air of confidence—truly a heartthrob. Upon hearing my apology, he smiled slightly, seemingly unbothered, and said, "You're still a student; it's commendable that you can apologize, so compensation is unnecessary. I overheard your young friend confessing her feelings; do not pretend you didn't hear; it would only hurt her feelings."
"Why is this guy so talkative?"
While I was relieved to hear I needn't compensate him, I was genuinely at a loss regarding how to respond. Just moments ago, I had entertained the notion of shifting my affections toward Pan Li'er, yet in the face of her confession, I found myself utterly flustered. The tall mixed-race man, noting my hesitation, continued, "Receiving a confession from a girl is a rare and beautiful experience for a boy; if you reject her, you may regret it for the rest of your life."
"I do regret it—regretting splattering cola on this chatty crow."
I seized Pan Li'er and promptly fled; such a conversation should be confined to a private discussion rather than a public display of emotion. Besides, engaging in romantic matters as high school students is often deemed premature, and such behavior in public lacks social decorum.
"Dear student, rejecting a girl's confession may lead you to find yourself confessing a thousand times in the future to earn her acceptance. Don't let this opportunity slip by!"
This voice echoed behind me, startling me as I turned to see the mixed-race man smiling faintly. Honestly, I felt an urge to hurl something at him. As he watched us depart, his expression shifted to one of deep contemplation, murmuring to himself, "I never expected to return to this city and encounter this boy again. The feeling of youth is truly wonderful... If only I had accepted your confession back then, perhaps I wouldn't have left and lost you."
Had I not possessed formidable mental fortitude that allowed me to sense a broad range of energy, I would have missed his musing. My attention toward this mixed-race man was not solely due to his words, but rather because I sensed an aura of "qi" emanating from him. Only those who have cultivated their strength to a significant degree exude such palpable spiritual pressure. While he did not seem overwhelmingly powerful, the chilling aura of malice he projected suggested he was someone capable of taking lives.
In that fleeting moment, I glimpsed a vision of the future: the mixed-race man wielding peculiar weapons, standing upon a rocky outcrop, radiating immense spiritual pressure. The winds howled, and torrential rain fell as Pan Li'er lay motionless upon the cold rocks beneath him.
This vision nearly drenched me in cold sweat, yet it vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving me in a state of bewilderment. Unconsciously, I tightened my grip on Pan Li'er, who suddenly cried out and forcefully broke free from my hold. When I looked up again, the mixed-race man had vanished.
"Must you exert such force? And what kind of behavior is this, pulling and tugging in public? You haven't even accepted my proposal; we're not in a relationship yet, so please refrain from being so handsy."
"This isn't a soap opera; I can't be bothered to utter sweet words. Here, let me give you a gift."
I casually handed Pan Li'er a summoning stone for a magical hound, then, with a serious expression, cautioned, "Remember, never let this stone out of your possession. Also, I will be looking for you in the coming days, so don't go to the beach with anyone else."
"How annoying! You just became my boyfriend, and already you're being so controlling. Is this chunk of stone made of diamonds?"
"Diamonds? Hardly! I'm not proposing to you."
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