novelraw Chapter 0196 The Closed Loop of Youth
Chapter 0196 The Closed Loop of Youth
late autumn.
University A in City A (University A) is celebrating its centennial.
Colorful flags fluttered in the air on campus, and graduates in their academic gowns were taking photos everywhere, along with alumni who had traveled from all over the country to return.
The leaves of the old sycamore tree have turned yellow, and when the wind blows, they fall to the ground in a flurry, like a golden carpet.
Inside the auditorium.
Seats are full.
Even the aisles were packed with students who had come specifically to see the place.
"Next, let's give a warm round of applause to our distinguished alumnus for this year's anniversary celebration—Mr. Jiang Ci, founder and chairman of Limitless Group!"
The principal's voice was amplified through the microphone and resonated throughout the room.
Amid thunderous applause, Jiang Ci emerged from behind the curtain.
He wore a well-tailored dark gray suit, still with that aloof and refined demeanor, but the youthful naiveté and fierceness of yesteryear were gone from his eyes, replaced by a composure and peace that comes with the passage of time.
He walked to the front of the podium.
I didn't bring a manuscript.
Below the stage, countless eyes gazed at him with adoration.
In the hearts of students at University A, Jiang Ci is not just a name, but an unreplicable legend.
Jiang Ci's gaze passed over the school leaders in the front row, and over countless young faces.
It landed precisely in the middle of the first row.
Wen Ning was sitting there.
She wore a simple white trench coat today, with her long hair casually draped over her shoulders.
Time seems to have been exceptionally kind to her, leaving no trace on her face. She remains as radiant as that carefree girl who once ran rampant on campus.
And in her arms sat a little pink dumpling—Jiang Muning.
The little guy, dressed in a miniature version of his school uniform, was waving his chubby little hands and excitedly calling out "Dad" to Jiang Ci on the stage.
Jiang Ci couldn't help but smile.
The originally hard jawline instantly became incredibly soft.
He looked away, turned to the microphone, and slowly began to speak.
Hello everyone, I am Jiang Ci.
His deep voice had a unique magnetism.
"Standing here, many people may expect me to share some entrepreneurial experience or Limitless's business empire."
Jiang Ci paused, his tone calm.
"But I don't want to talk about those things today."
"Because if you work hard enough, or if you're lucky enough, you'll eventually be able to reach those things."
"Today, I want to talk about 'choice' and 'persistence'."
The auditorium was extremely quiet.
"Eight years ago, I sat in the last row of this auditorium. I thought that as long as I ran fast enough and wrote good enough code, I could control everything."
He looked in Wen Ning's direction again.
His eyes were deep, as if they could see through time.
"But I was wrong."
"On this road, I lost my most precious things."
"I once felt like my whole world had collapsed on a stormy night because of someone's departure."
A slight commotion arose from the audience.
Everyone knows about Jiang Ci's entrepreneurial history, and has also vaguely heard about his passionate love affair.
But no one expected that he would so frankly dissect his weaknesses in his speech at the centennial celebration.
"I used to think that true strength meant being invincible and not needing anyone."
Jiang Ci softened his voice.
"It wasn't until later that I understood. True strength is having the courage to love again even when you've hit rock bottom."
"It means that even after you have everything, you are still willing to bow down and submit to someone."
"So, junior students."
Jiang Ci smiled slightly, his gaze intense.
"If you encounter someone on this road called youth who makes you willing to stop and compromise for them."
"Please, hold on to her tightly."
"No matter what happens, no matter how many misunderstandings and difficulties there are."
"Keep going."
"Because in this world, no business empire can compare to a light left on for you."
The audience erupted in applause.
Enduring and uninterrupted.
Many girls even had tears in their eyes.
Wen Ning sat in the audience, looking at the radiant man on stage.
Tears welled up in her eyes, but a happiest smile graced her lips.
She raised Xiao Niannian's hand and clapped for him vigorously.
……
After the speech.
Jiang Ci declined the school leaders' invitation to lunch.
A family of three walked along the most famous tree-lined path at University A.
Little Niannian skipped and hopped ahead, chasing after the falling leaves.
Jiang Ci had one hand in his pocket and the other hand tightly holding Wen Ning's hand.
The two walked slowly, enjoying this rare moment on campus.
When I passed by the old teaching building of the Computer Science Department.
Wen Ning stopped in his tracks.
Under the shade of trees not far away.
A young couple was standing there.
The girl angrily shook off the boy's hand, her eyes red-rimmed.
"All you do is play video games! You don't care about me at all!"
The boy was sweating profusely, holding a cup of milk tea with a straw already inserted, and awkwardly coaxing her:
"I'm not that I don't care about you... I've been playing in a competition these past few days... Don't be angry, how about having some milk tea? Full sugar, your favorite..."
The girl persisted, but her eyes kept glancing furtively at the milk tea.
Wen Ning watched that scene.
He burst out laughing.
She turned her head and looked at Jiang Ci beside her.
A faint glimmer of light flickered in his eyes.
Mr. Jiang.
She shook their clasped hands.
"Look at them."
"Doesn't this remind you of us back then?"
then.
It's also downstairs in this teaching building.
She acted like an unreasonable tantrum, forcibly hugging him and making him drink the full-sugar strawberry milkshake she had already drunk.
Although his face was full of disgust, he still indulged her audacity.
That was where their story began.
It is also the beginning of all bonds.
Jiang Ci followed her gaze.
He looked at it for two seconds, then looked away.
He lowered his head and looked at Wen Ning.
Those dark eyes, weathered by time, no longer held the coldness and probing of yesteryear, only a deep, unfathomable affection and certainty.
"It doesn't look like it."
He retorted softly.
Wen Ning raised an eyebrow: "Why doesn't it seem like that? Isn't it usually the girl who's making a fuss and the boy who's trying to appease her?"
Jiang Ci shook his head.
He gripped her hand tightly, pulled her closer, and intertwined his fingers with hers.
"They're still arguing about whether they love each other or not."
He gazed into her eyes, his voice deep and tender.
"And we are much happier than them."
"because……"
He lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead in the sunlight.
It's like stamping these eight years with a perfect seal.
"Because we've already made it through."
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, falling on them.
A gentle breeze blows, and the fallen leaves dance like golden butterflies.
In the distance, little Niannian turned her head and called out in a clear voice, "Daddy, Mommy, hurry up!"
"They're here."
Jiang Ci, holding Wen Ning's hand, strode forward into the sunlight.
The cycle of youth came to a perfect end at this moment.
And their long, unending lives continue.