When Stars Craved Summer — A Story of Seventeen, Silence, and a Supernova

"My love for him was like dandelion seeds—one gentle breath, and they scattered across the height of summer."— Sang Li It was the end of summer in September, on the campus of Jing University. A heavy downpour had just passed, and the sun peeked out once again from behind the clouds. The pavement, now exposed to direct sunlight, began to steam with rising heat. Even the breeze that brushed across one’s cheek carried a wave of sultry warmth. The sun blazed. Cicadas screamed in the trees. Sang Li sat behind the recruitment booth of the Art Society, dazed under the scorching sun. She squinted, trying to shield her eyes from the harsh glare, but the sunlight pierced right through her eyelids, stinging her eyes. She had pulled an all-nighter to finish a freelance design job, and then rushed to the administration office to help out without even grabbing breakfast. At this moment, she felt her eyelids battling each other, heavy with exhaustion. So tired. Hungry and tired. There weren’t many people around the Art Society booth, so Sang Li lowered her head and quietly opened the hidden album on her phone. She tapped on a photo she had looked at countless times. In the photo, summer sunlight streamed through a classroom window. Dandelions drifted in the air. A boy napped on his desk in a white school uniform shirt, his features sharp and striking, radiating a quiet strength. How time flies. Three years already. Whenever she felt overwhelmed, worn out, or on the brink of giving up, Sang Li would look at this photo. Just one glance, and she would find a reason to keep going. With a soft sigh, she put her phone down. For a moment, under the wash of pure white light, Sang Li squinted again and thought she saw a familiar silhouette. The one that had haunted her dreams for over a thousand days and nights. A boy stepped out from beside a black Rolls-Royce and extended his hand toward her. His hand was beautiful—pale and clean, slender as jade, with clearly defined knuckles. She could even remember the exact placement of the veins on the back of his hand. He looked at her, a rare smile breaking across his usually cool and distant face, as if the moonlight had fallen into his eyes. Blushing, Sang Li said, “Lu Tinghe, I like you.” “Babe, what a coincidence. I like you too.”... Suddenly, a chill touched her cheek, yanking her back to reality. Chu Yan bumped her hand lightly with a cold cup of iced coffee. “Didn’t sleep well last night? How are you already nodding off?” Sang Li took the coffee, feeling a hint of embarrassment. Another daydream. It’s been three years. When will she finally wake up? “Thanks, senior. I’ve been juggling a few part-time jobs lately. It's a bit much.” “If it’s too much, take a break. You can’t make all the money in the world.” “Mm.” Sang Li smiled faintly, saying no more. Chu Yan was her best friend Tan Weiwei’s boyfriend—a senior in Biomedical Sciences and the student council president. Because of Weiwei, he often looked after Sang Li as well.He glanced around the empty booth. “Why so quiet over here?” Sang Li sipped her iced coffee with puffed cheeks. “The Art Society’s entry requirements are too high. Plus, the campus belle herself—Weiwei—isn’t here today because of a competition. That’s why we’re missing the crowd.” “You’re a campus belle too,” Chu Yan chuckled. “If you’ve got nothing to do, want to sketch me for practice?” “Sure!” Sang Li grabbed a sketchpad and propped it on the easel. With a flick of the black elastic band around her wrist, she tied her seaweed-like hair into a high ponytail. Her T-shirt lifted slightly with the motion, exposing a sliver of fair skin at her waist that nearly glowed under the sun. She was undeniably beautiful—the kind of sweet heroine you'd find in a novel—and quite popular at Jing University. But only she knew that back in high school, with glasses, thick bangs, and a hint of baby fat, she was just a nobody in the prestigious Emperor High School of northern Jing City. She was there on a scholarship, a special admission among the sons and daughters of the elite. Raising her pencil, sunlight illuminated her delicate face, nearly translucent. Even the fine fuzz on the tip of her nose could be seen. The pencil danced softly across the page, sketching a strong, angular outline. “Senior, do you want a smile or something more stoic?” Sang Li asked with a grin. “Either works. You always make me look good. Honestly, I think you draw better than Weiwei,” Chu Yan replied casually. Sang Li blushed from the praise, even her ears turning pink. “I wouldn’t say that. Weiwei and I have different strengths.” “She always brags about your skills in front of me.” As they chatted idly, a sudden flash of orange darted past her vision. Like the sun itself had fallen from the sky on this late-summer day. In the next instant—bam! A loud crash. Before she could react, the easel collapsed, scattering into pieces. A basketball rolled across the ground with a lazy bounce. Sang Li and Chu Yan stood up at once, exchanging startled looks before turning toward the direction the ball had come from. Not far away, a tall figure approached. He wore a simple white T-shirt under a light blue shirt. His skin was fair, his frame lean and strong. His sharp features were carved in light and shadow by the summer sun, every line striking. Sang Li inhaled sharply. Her brain stalled for a second. Who was she? Where was she? Was she hallucinating again? The man stood with his hands in his pockets, tilting his head slightly, grinning with reckless charm. He turned to the equally good-looking guy beside him and said, “Bo Xingzhi, did your dad’s company go bankrupt? What’s with this cheap, trashy basketball? Zero grip. It practically flew out of my hands the second I touched it.” Bo Xingzhi: “...” Bro, was that the ball’s fault, or were you just being a menace? Three years. After three years, hearing that familiar low voice again, Sang Li’s fingers trembled. Her whole body went numb on one side. Lu Tinghe… he’s back from the UK? Lu Tinghe’s eyes swept over them lazily, finally settling on her. “Well, well, isn’t it little Miss Sang?” Sang Li’s breath caught. In an instant, memories from their final year of high school crashed over her. Back then, she’d been a fool—thinking that the only son of Jing City’s richest family was, like her, a scholarship kid. No. He couldn’t find out how she really felt. She’d already embarrassed herself once. She couldn’t do it again. This time, she needed to keep her dignity. Right then, Bo Xingzhi piped up, deliberately stirring the pot. “Wow, you’re hitting on someone? But come on, look at her. She’s stunning. She must have a boyfriend.” A faint blush crept across Sang Li’s face like morning mist, making her porcelain complexion even more exquisite. “Don’t mind him,” Bo Xingzhi continued. “He says stupid things. You’ve got a boyfriend, right?” Panicked, desperate to hide her feelings, Sang Li bit her lip, leaving a faint crescent mark. Her voice came out soft and sweet, “Yes… I do.”