Chapter 707: Chapter 398, Just Like Students of Our Youthful Days_2
He did not miss the opportunity to change his fate; during his school years, he studied feverishly and his grades unsurprisingly topped the list. Later, he entered a higher-grade institution and continued to graduate as the best-performing student.
At that time, coinciding with the Alliance’s reclamation of Flying Wing Star, the policy for appointed study was issued, and it was his academic performance, his ideological enlightenment, and his outstanding performance during internships that earned him a chance to study at the ‘Flying Wing Star Liwen Law University, An Jiang Branch.’
The An Jiang branch of Liwen Law, while considered a third-tier school on Flying Wing Star and ranked only around 7,000 to 8,000 among the universities there, saw him still leading the pack in the first two years, and he was promoted to the main campus.
The main campus of Liwen Law University is indeed the top-tier school within the top 100 rankings on Flying Wing Star.
His talent was without question, and his own efforts were particularly pivotal. But he never forgot that his accomplishments were entirely due to Governor Gu Hang and the opportunities provided by the Alliance. Without the changes brought about by the Alliance, he would have either died or remained cluelessly turning screws in a factory—how would he have had the chance to attend one of the highest academies on Flying Wing Star, wander in the vast ocean of knowledge, and secure a bright future for himself?
For this reason, he never dared to slack off. He was acutely aware that every opportunity was hard-won; he was already far luckier than most people, and he had received so much from the Alliance. He needed to seize every precious moment and use it to improve himself.
…
What he had received, he hoped to one day give back to the society that had nurtured him.
Thus, no matter how many temptations surrounded him, he was always wholeheartedly devoted to his studies.
But today was truly exceptional.
The dozen or so people present were not just Shang Yanwen; the other young people also shared similar backgrounds.
They were the first batch of government-appointed students sent by the Alliance to study on Flying Wing Star and had just completed their four-year education and passed the exams.
Starting tomorrow, they would go their separate ways, returning to their respective homes on different planets, back to their appointed posts, to contribute their share to the development of the Alliance, their hometowns, and to their own futures.
Today was their last gathering before parting ways.
No matter how focused Shang Yanwen was on his studies, indifferent to worldly affairs, he had to attend this gathering.
What intoxicated him was not just the alcohol, not just the sentimentality of parting with his classmates, but also the passionate words of a group of young men with shared aspirations.
“Fellow students! Fellow students!” one of them jumped onto a table.
Shang Yanwen recognized him; he was also from Korolya, a “fellow villager,” though not from the same Nest Capital. In Shang’s memory, this guy had always been mild-mannered, but now his collar was torn open, his movements were willful, and his expression was spirited:
“Listen to me, fellow students!”
“We come from different worlds, different Nest Capitals. We have different backgrounds and different origins. But we all came here for one goal! We all came here for the entire Alliance, for our hometowns, for the myriad changes brought by Governor Gu Hang, to change our fates and gather here.”
“I wholeheartedly embrace the Alliance’s ideals, I deeply believe that our world, our Alliance, will become better and better under Mr. Gu’s leadership!”
“This is an era of vigorous youth; we are true to our prime years. We all graduated with excellent grades, and I am proud of every one of us!”
The young people cheered and shouted for joy.
The man on the table gestured with his hands, crying out, “But! But! Fellow students! We must be sober! We must realize that all of this is just the beginning! The end of our studies only means that we have acquired the knowledge we needed. What comes next is of utmost importance!”
“What should we do?!”
“We must take everything we’ve learned here back to our hometowns!”
“We must apply the knowledge we bring back to our future work! With our intelligence, with our sweat and blood, we will merge into the Alliance!”
“The founders of the Alliance emerged from Rage Owl Star, saved countless people, and changed countless fates. They created the past, and we, we will inherit these wills and create an even better future!”
“In the future, more people, with brighter brains, will take over our cause, making the Alliance everlasting! Today, we are taking over a world brimming with life and bursting with youthful energy, and I hope that the world we hand over to the next generation will be even more prosperous, more dynamic than it is now!”
“Classmates! Do you share my confidence?”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
Shang Yanwen also raised his glass and shouted along!
What should have been a melancholic farewell party for classmates had now been pushed to an exuberant climax.
There was no sorrow, only the surging passion of the youth. In their anticipation for the future, everything became exciting and beautiful.
With the last sip from their glasses, they made a pact to meet again in ten, twenty years. When they looked back, they hoped each person could stand tall and proudly share with their classmates how much they had lived up to their ideals over the years.
Amidst laughter and smiles, the party eventually drew to a close.
Arm in arm, they headed back to the dormitory, but then their steps halted.
“Eh? Little Shang, Little Shang… Lu Shaoyu is up ahead, definitely waiting for you.”
While talking to a classmate about what to do after returning and how a recent letter had described the situation back home, Shang Yanwen suddenly heard someone calling him.
He looked up and saw a black-haired girl in a white dress standing ahead of their group.
He stopped too.
His brothers patted his shoulder and, with mischievous smiles, left, leaving just the two of them behind.
Soon, the noise faded into the distance, and the night breeze grew quiet.
“Yanwen…” Lu Shaoyu began, her eyes carrying a hint of plea, “I’ve asked my father, his company has just completed privatization, and now there are many vacancies… you…”
“Shaoyu, there is no need to speak further, we have already discussed this issue.” Despite the alcohol in his head and a sense of guilt in his heart, Shang Yanwen was resolute, “I have to return to my hometown. More than Flying Wing Star, my hometown needs my capabilities.”
“But!” Lu Shaoyu rushed in front of him, looking up into his eyes, her own brimming with tears, “Do you ever think about me? Once you go to Korolya, how long will it be before we can see each other again…”
“I’m sorry… I understand, which is why I never dared to accept your kindness. You belong here, you deserve everything you should have, enjoying the bird songs and flower fragrances of Flying Wing Star, enjoying the progressive urban civilization. You should be drinking coffee on a sunny afternoon, doing a job you love. But I… I’m different, I come from the never-ending darkness of Nest Capital’s lowest level in Nuo Yan City, I can never escape from there. How could I allow myself to enjoy life if I cannot make it possible for everyone in my hometown to laugh and enjoy their afternoons? How could I?”
In his speech, driven by alcohol and emotion, Shang Yanwen couldn’t help but pull the girl before him into his embrace.
But this tenderness was only momentary.
“I’m sorry… I can only fail you, I can only fail myself. But I would rather do that than fail my hometown, fail the Alliance.”
He decisively let go of her arms and quickly walked past the girl.
Lu Shaoyu turned around, face already streaming with tears: “I’ll go with you!”
Shang Yanwen did not look back, just waved his hand behind him.