346: Chapter 346 marks the end of youth.

The noise of the break time echoed back and forth within the classroom of Grade 12 Class 3.

A few boys were gathered in the open space at the back, still discussing the explosive book signing event held in Shanghai over the weekend.

A few girls in the front row huddled together,

passing around this morning's newly issued Jiangcheng Metropolitan Daily, the front page of which prominently featured a photo of Lin Que at the signing table.

Just then, the wooden door at the back of the classroom was pushed open.

The sound of the door hinges turning wasn't loud, but it caused the students near the back door to immediately stop what they were doing.

They turned their heads, and upon seeing who it was, immediately nudged the elbows of the classmates beside them.

Fei Yuncheng walked at the very front.

This Dean of Students, who usually kept a stiff face and commanded the awe of the entire student body, now had an expression that revealed a rare hint of gentleness.

Carrying his familiar black backpack, Lin Que followed behind Fei Yuncheng with a steadier pace than usual, walking into the classroom he was about to bid farewell to.

In just three seconds, thirty-nine pairs of eyes converged simultaneously onto the two of them.

The noise that had been nearly lifting the ceiling came to a dead stop,

and the classroom instantly became so silent that one could hear a pin drop.

Fei Yuncheng didn't pay any mind to the students' reactions.

He walked straight through the aisle to the podium and placed the lesson plan in his hand steadily on the desk.

He cleared his throat, scanned the entire class, and spoke in a loud voice.

“Students, I’m taking up a bit of your break time to announce two things.”

The entire class sat up straight in unison.

“The first thing.”

Fei Yuncheng's tone was solemn, enunciating every word clearly.

“The Municipal Education Bureau has just issued a notice. The verification letter regarding Student Lin Que's recommendation for admission to Qingbei University has officially arrived at the bureau. All relevant files and audit processes have been completed.”

The classroom was silent for half a second, followed by a burst of soft, suppressed exclamations.

Several students who had been leaning against their chair backs unconsciously straightened up.

Although everyone had long known that Lin Que had won the national championship and his admission was a certainty,

the actual impact of hearing the Dean of Students personally announce that the matter was settled still left everyone shaken.

Fei Yuncheng paused, turned to look at Lin Que standing by the side of the podium, and his tone became even more serious.

“On the way back to the classroom just now, I also consulted Student Lin Que for his opinion.

In order to fully prepare for the upcoming ‘Qinglan Project,’ today will be his last day attending classes as a high school student.”

This sentence was like a giant boulder crashing into a calm water surface.

The classroom first fell into a dead silence that lasted for five seconds.

Immediately after, various complex emotions spread across the students' faces.

Fang Zhiyuan's eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape; the ballpoint pen in his hand fell onto the desk with a 'clack,' yet he was completely oblivious to it.

Wu Di subconsciously covered his mouth, his gaze fixed steadily on his deskmate on the podium.

Li Bowen pushed up the black-framed glasses on the bridge of his nose, his gaze toward Lin Que filled with heartfelt respect.

He knew that this youth of the same age as them had completely stepped onto a path that they could only look up to.

Not a single person made a cynical or mocking sound.

In this Grade 12 class where grades and strength did the talking, Lin Que had conquered everyone with his impeccable talent.

Everyone was using their most genuine reactions to digest this sudden news of departure.

A girl sitting in the front row lowered her head to quickly wipe the corner of her eye and muttered softly:

“Why does he have to leave so soon?”

Fei Yuncheng did not let this sentimental mood last too long.

He raised his hand and pressed down twice in the air, signaling for everyone to be quiet.

“Next, I will announce the second thing.”

Fei Yuncheng raised his volume, his tone mixed with an irrepressible excitement.

“As personally finalized by Director Huo of the Municipal Education Bureau, in order to commend Student Lin Que's achievements in the field of literature,

the city will host a ‘Jiangcheng Youth Literature Open Class’ within this week at the main hall of the Municipal Olympic Sports Center.”

Looking at the bewildered students below, he dropped the final sentence.

“The keynote speaker for this open class is Student Lin Que.

At that time, the Municipal Education Bureau will open a synchronized video live broadcast signal to all key high schools in the city!”

The classroom once again welcomed a brief dead silence.

After the brief silence, the suppressed emotions instantly broke through the shackles of classroom discipline, and the entire class completely boiled over.

“The Olympic Sports Center?! Did I hear that right?!”

A boy sitting in the back row jumped up from his chair in excitement, slapping the desk hard with both hands, his voice so loud it could be heard even in the hallway.

“That's a main venue that can hold tens of thousands of people! It’s a place usually used for large-scale concerts!”

“City-wide broadcast! Giving a class to all the key high school students in the city!”

Fang Zhiyuan shouted at the top of his lungs, his face flushed red.

“This is too exaggerated! Has Jiangcheng ever had an open class of this level in its history?”

Wu Di waved his fist excitedly and roared loudly:

“Brother Que's prestige is simply invincible! Even the top scorer of the College Entrance Examination doesn't get this kind of treatment!”

“Too awesome! Our class actually produced a big shot who can give a lecture at the Olympic Sports Center!”

Exclamations and excited discussions intertwined, waves of sound coming one after another.

Everyone's faces were flushed with a surge of excitement and pride, as if they shared in the glory.

A classmate was going to give a lecture to high school students across the city in a stadium holding tens of thousands; this was something they wouldn't have even dared to dream of before.

That strong sense of collective honor instantly ignited the entire classroom, diluting much of the earlier sadness of departure.

Looking at the boiling students below, Fei Yuncheng raised his hand to press down again.

Once the wave of sound had subsided slightly, he turned to look at Lin Que and nodded firmly.

“Lin Que, prepare well. Show your level to the whole city.”

Then, he looked at the entire class again, his tone becoming earnest and well-meaning.

“Students, cherish this last day of being together.

Student Lin Que has proven with his hard work that as long as you have real ability, the stage will be as big as you want.

You must also seize the final moments to sprint toward your own College Entrance Examination.”

After saying this, Fei Yuncheng picked up the lesson plan on the podium again and left the classroom with steady steps.

As he walked out, he gently closed the front door.

With the soft 'click' of the front door closing, it was as if some kind of seal had been lifted in the classroom.

Wu Di was the first to rush out.

He ran to Lin Que in three steps, said nothing,

and directly opened his arms to give Lin Que a solid, forceful bear hug.

Wu Di's arms were clamped very tight, the force so great that Lin Que could clearly feel his suppressed trembling.

This boy, who was usually always laughing and carefree, now had red-rimmed eyes.

“Brother Que, are you really leaving?”

Wu Di's voice was muffled against Lin Que's shoulder, carrying a distinct nasal tone and trembling.

“Once you leave, who's going to skip class with me in the future?”

This joke, delivered with a bit of a nasal twang, made several boys nearby who already had red eyes burst into laughter.

Other students also left their seats one after another and silently gathered around.

Everyone formed a warm circle around Lin Que, crowding the open space in front of the podium so tightly that not a drop of water could trickle through.

“Brother Que, do well once you get to the capital. Let those outsiders see the strength of our Jiangcheng,” the Physical Education Committee Member said, waving a fist.

“Lin Que, keep it up.”

Zhang Ya stood a bit further away; her voice wasn't loud, but her tone was very sincere.

No one shouted loudly, and no one pushed.

That unreserved reluctance, blessing, and respect flowed quietly through the still air.

Li Bowen stood on the outer edge of the crowd, nodding solemnly to Lin Que across the shoulders of several classmates.

He used this restrained manner characteristic of a science student to express his respect.

Fang Zhiyuan patted Lin Que's arm hard, his lips moving, but in the end, he only said one thing:

“Brother Que, once you become a great writer in the future, don't forget us brothers.”

Feeling the force on his shoulder, Lin Que raised his hand and patted Wu Di's back twice with strength.

His movements were steady and powerful, carrying a reassuring sense of groundedness.

He gently pushed away Wu Di's embrace, his gaze scanning every familiar face before him.

These classmates who had accompanied him through these years of youth—each of their faces seemed so vivid.

A shallow curve rose at the corners of Lin Que's mouth, his voice gentle and calm.

“I still have to finish all of today's classes; it's not like I'm leaving right this second.”

Looking at Wu Di's reddened eyes, he added another sentence.

“When the holidays come, we can all get together again. It'll be my treat then.”

This sentence made several boys nearby laugh, and the somewhat heavy atmosphere instantly lightened quite a bit.

Just then, the class bell rang abruptly.

The crisp ringing echoed in the corridor, interrupting the warm atmosphere in the classroom.

Although their hearts were full of reluctance, the students still patted each other's shoulders with great tacit understanding and dispersed back to their seats.

Everyone took out the textbooks and stationery needed for the next class from their bags, and the classroom gradually returned to the order expected of Grade 12 students.

Wu Di sniffled and walked back to his seat with Lin Que, neatly arranging the books on the desk and then sitting up straight.

Lin Que was in no hurry to pack his things; instead, he calmly flipped open the slightly dog-eared Chinese textbook on the desk.

The autumn sun outside the window was just right,

the golden light spilling through the glass onto the desk, illuminating the printed words on the page.

Looking at the countdown of days written on the LCD screen on the blackboard, his heart was filled with a myriad of emotions.

He decided to quietly finish these last few classes of his high school career,

putting a complete period on this period of youth.

...