While the fourteen-year-old Wen Lan Sheng had average grades, average looks, and was even introverted and timid, afraid to speak much to others.
They were like two extremes drawn with a single stroke, making him secretly admire her in his heart, but too insecure to express it.
After school, because they lived in the same direction, Wen Lan Sheng would quietly walk behind Fan Xia, watching her walk along the long tree-lined path with her other friends. The scattered sunlight fell on her smooth black hair, the cool breeze blowing through her strands, beautiful and immaculate.
But such beauty wasn't blooming for him alone. In fact, she never even noticed him walking alone behind her from beginning to end.
He would steal glances at her focused expression during class; would devoutly and carefully write her name all over his diary; would even learn to write love letters with pressed flower petals like those lovesick boys, but never dared to slip them into her drawer, let alone sign his own name.
It was a long and bitter unrequited love.
Until that day arrived.
His mother was driving their newly bought Santana car, taking him and his father to celebrate his sister Wen Jing's birthday. His mother, Wen Ming Yue, was very happy and had a few extra drinks. On the way back, there was a sudden loud bang, as if they had hit something.
The cheerful atmosphere in the car instantly froze. Wen Ming Yue's face turned pale. After getting out to check, she hurriedly returned to the car and quickly left the scene, heading to her grandmother's house in the countryside. They even sold the newly bought car.
At that time, Wen Lan Sheng had a bad feeling that they might have hit someone.
But he never imagined that the person they hit was Fan Xia's mother, Director Fan.
Half a month later, when the heat had died down and they dared to return home, they learned that Director Fan hadn't survived. Fan Xia's father had also passed away, and relatives, using the excuse that she was underage, had taken her house and sent her to an orphanage.
From being everyone's praised darling to an object of pity, Fan Xia's world had shattered.
Watching Fan Xia being taken away by the orphanage's car, Wen Lan Sheng suddenly realized that this moment was the closest he had ever been to Fan Xia.
Before, she was the moon in the sky, and even basking in her moonlight was a luxury for him. But now the moon had fallen, and he might have a chance to embrace the moon, to make her his alone.
After her parents passed away, Fan Xia was depressed for a long time. During that period, her temperament was gloomy, and her academic performance plummeted.
From being pursued by classmates before, to being avoided, even the teachers' eyes were filled with disappointment when they looked at her.
The love letters that once filled her desk drawer like flower petals quickly withered.
The whole world was isolating her.
A twisted joy arose in Wen Lan Sheng's heart. How wonderful, now that everyone else had left, he was closer to Fan Xia. He would let Fan Xia know who truly loved her.
Knowing that the orphanage often skimped on meals, he bought a box of milk and bread every day, slipping them into her desk before class. Although compulsory education didn't require tuition fees, the costs of various exercise books and materials were beyond what Fan Xia could afford at that time.
He took out his New Year's money and secretly gave it to Fan Xia, running away quickly when she looked at him in surprise.
Slowly, the two who weren't very familiar before gradually came together, and Fan Xia finally picked herself up.
In their second year of high school, they secretly kissed in the school's small grove.
The moon had finally become his alone.
But Fan Xia, who had pulled herself together, was like a bright pearl with its dust wiped away, radiating even more brilliantly than before, standing at a height he couldn't reach.
The people pursuing Fan Xia came back with a vengeance, even more frenzied than before. Wen Lan Sheng was constantly on edge, fearing that Fan Xia would be seduced away by some man.
The pain of losing after obtaining was something he couldn't bear.
Suddenly, a pair of warm hands embraced him from behind. Fan Xia hugged his waist and said softly, "I'm sorry. I'll try not to handle work at home in the future. Tomorrow's a day off, shall I take you out to play?"
The sadness in Wen Lan Sheng's eyes disappeared instantly, replaced by surprise: "Really?"
Fan Xia nodded and kissed his hair lightly: "Don't be upset anymore."
Wen Lan Sheng rested his head on her shoulder, his voice soft: "Actually, as long as you come to comfort me, I'm not upset anymore."
Xie Cen looked at the couple cuddling in the kitchen, gave Wen Ming Yue a look, and said in a low voice: "Look, our Lan Sheng is being coy. But the young couple's relationship seems quite good."
Wen Ming Yue looked up from the financial news, gazed at Fan Xia's shadowy figure in the kitchen, and fell into thought.
After Fan Xia came out of the kitchen, she took the initiative to speak: "Fan Xia, finished with work? Come sit down."
Fan Xia nodded slightly and sat down beside Wen Ming Yue at a leisurely pace, asking with concern: "Auntie, is your leg feeling better?"
"Much better, now I just need to rest." Wen Ming Yue turned down the volume of the TV and asked, "What Aunt Zhou said earlier, don't take it to heart. She was just asking, not trying to get inside information from you."
Fan Xia nodded lightly: "Of course I know. It's just that some inside information shouldn't be known by too many people. Otherwise, it spreads from one to ten, ten to a hundred, and then inside information becomes public information."
Wen Ming Yue heard the other layer of meaning in her words and quickly asked: "You mean there really is inside information?"
Fan Xia lowered her eyes slightly and nodded: "Yes, but it's not good to say too much to outsiders, right?"
"Of course, who knows if they can keep their mouths shut. But what exactly is this inside information you're referring to?" Wen Ming Yue asked.
"It's about a pharmaceutical company. Their newly researched drug has a great effect on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The news will be released in a while, and the stock price should see a significant increase then."
Hearing this, Wen Ming Yue clenched her hand and immediately asked: "Which company is it exactly?"
Fan Xia was silent for a moment.
Wen Ming Yue knew Fan Xia was hesitating, but with a money-making opportunity right before her eyes, how could she bear to let it slip away? She took Fan Xia's hand and said earnestly: "Fan Xia, you're about to marry our Lan Sheng. You've been together for so many years, and we didn't even ask for much bride price. Why? It's because my husband and I truly consider you as family. The most important thing in a family is trust. I absolutely won't tell anyone else, rest assured."
Fan Xia's eyes wavered slightly, seeming to waver. After a while, she said: "It's... Suman Pharmaceutical."
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