Love in the Depths of Time (GL) - Chapter 24

Since then, Lin Xi had completely disappeared, as if she had vanished into thin air. No one could contact her anymore. Wen Jia Le searched for her frantically, but he couldn’t even find a trace of her.

Lin Xi had not actually disappeared; she had just hidden herself away. On the night of her coming-of-age ceremony, she had never been more clear-headed. She told herself that she could no longer rely on anyone—she could only depend on herself. So, she threw herself into studying, and with her outstanding academic performance, she quickly gained the favor of her mentor.

“Lin Xi, you are the most hardworking student I have ever seen.” Her mentor looked at her exhausted yet determined face and said with admiration, “You have both talent and perseverance. I believe you will go far.”

With her mentor’s help, Lin Xi received an opportunity to study abroad. She told no one, not even Wen Jia Le. Carrying her hopes for the future, she embarked on her journey to a foreign land.

When Lin Xi first arrived, everything was unfamiliar to her. The signs at the airport were written in characters she couldn’t read, and the people around her spoke a language she was not fluent in. She stood alone on foreign soil, dragging her heavy luggage, feeling lost and anxious.

“Welcome to [Country M]. I’m your senior, and I’m here to pick you up.” A gentle voice interrupted her thoughts. She looked up and saw a girl with a bright smile standing before her.

“Hello, I’m Lin Xi.” She responded somewhat nervously.

The senior took her luggage and said warmly, “Don’t worry. I’ll take you to the school and help you settle in.”

With her senior’s help, Lin Xi moved into the school dormitory. Everything in the room felt unfamiliar—the simple furniture, the strange arrangement of things, and the chirping of birds outside the window. Sitting by the bed, she was overwhelmed by loneliness. She missed her family and friends back home. She even missed Wen Jia Le, who had once broken her heart. Loneliness clung to her like a shadow. Late at night, she often thought of Wen Jia Le and the beautiful memories they shared—walking together on campus, the times he held an umbrella for her, and his warm smile.

One day, while browsing the library, she picked up a novel about love. A sentence in the book brought tears to her eyes: “The most beautiful thing about love is having once possessed it. Even if it doesn’t last, it remains a precious memory.” She closed the book, her heart filled with complex emotions.

“Jia Le, are you doing well?” she silently asked in her heart. She knew she could never completely erase her feelings for him.

In this foreign land, Lin Xi began a brand-new life. She had no fixed address because she didn’t want to be disturbed. She devoted all her energy to studying and working, spending countless nights in the library, which became her second home. She avoided love because she knew it would only bring her pain.

Language was the first major challenge she faced. Although she had studied the basics before coming, real-life conversations were much harder. The professors spoke too fast, and she often struggled to keep up, relying on frantic note-taking and post-class research.

“Lin Xi, you seem confused.” A classmate noticed her struggling and approached her. “I’m John. If you need help, just ask.”

Lin Xi nodded gratefully. “Thank you. I do have trouble understanding sometimes.”

John smiled. “No worries, we can study together.”

With John’s help, Lin Xi gradually adapted to the pace of the classes. She also joined the language exchange program to practice speaking with other international students. Over time, her language skills improved significantly.

Cultural differences were another challenge. The food, etiquette, and social norms were completely different from what she was used to. At first, she often made mistakes, like eating with her hands at the table, drawing surprised looks from classmates. She was also unsure how to express herself in social settings, making her seem reserved.

But Lin Xi didn’t give up. She took the initiative to learn local customs and participated in social activities. She learned how to use a knife and fork properly, how to communicate with people from different backgrounds, and even tried local cuisine. Though some flavors were unfamiliar, she told herself it was part of adapting.

“Lin Xi, you work too hard.” Her classmates often saw her staying up late and advised her, “You need to take care of yourself too.”

She just smiled. “There’s too much to learn, and not enough time.”

The academic pressure was immense. The rigorous coursework, endless assignments, and difficult exams were overwhelming. She spent long hours in the library, researching and writing papers. Some nights, she worked until dawn just to meet deadlines.

“Lin Xi, you look exhausted.” Her mentor noticed her fatigue. “You need to rest.”

She forced a smile. “Thank you, professor. I’m fine. I must work hard and not disappoint you.”

Her mentor sighed. “I know you’re dedicated, but your health is important too. You can’t push yourself too hard.”

Following her mentor’s advice, Lin Xi began managing her time better, ensuring enough rest. She also learned to utilize school resources, such as digital libraries and academic lectures. Her grades steadily improved.

Life outside of academics wasn’t easy either. She had to cook, clean, and handle daily chores alone. At first, she struggled, but she never complained. She learned to cook, even if the food wasn’t great, and kept her small living space neat and cozy.

Realizing that she needed a social circle to truly adapt, she joined the international student association. There, she made friends from different countries, sharing cultural experiences and stories.

“Lin Xi, you’re amazing!” During a cultural event, Lin Xi organized a Chinese culture exhibition featuring calligraphy, paper cutting, and tea ceremonies. Her presentation was warmly received.

“I love Chinese culture. Thank you for sharing it with us,” a foreign student said, giving her a thumbs-up.

Lin Xi smiled. “I’m happy to share my culture with everyone.”

Through these activities, she made friends, integrated into the local lifestyle, and found her place in this new world.

As time passed, Lin Xi gradually adapted. She no longer felt lost or lonely but instead grew confident and full of energy. However, she still thought of Wen Jia Le in certain moments—when she saw couples embracing, when she worked late in the lab, or when she spent holidays alone in a foreign land.

One Christmas Eve, a classmate gave her a beautifully wrapped gift. Looking at it, she suddenly remembered the gifts Wen Jia Le had given her before. Her eyes welled up slightly, but she quickly composed herself.

Memories of their time together played in her mind like a movie. Those sweet moments would always be part of her. Though their love had ended, she couldn’t let go completely. Deep inside, she still hoped for a future reunion to mend the regrets of the past. But she told herself, “I must focus on the present and my future.”

Turning longing into motivation, she worked even harder. She believed that by becoming better, she would not let down the love they once shared.

Lin Xi excelled academically and began making her mark in finance. Her mentor praised her highly: “Lin Xi, you are one of the most outstanding students I’ve ever had. Your research has great potential, and I believe you will achieve great things in finance.”

She smiled. “Thank you, professor. I will keep striving.”

At a conference, she met a former classmate from home. As they reminisced, she thought of Wen Jia Le again, but this time, without pain.

“Jia Le, I hope you’re doing well too,” she thought. “We are both on our own paths, working hard. I hope we both find happiness one day.”