Chapter 32: I’ll Come Back

“What? Dropping out? Are you crazy?” When Ye Feng gathered the guys in the dormitory and told them he was about to drop out, the room immediately erupted in chaos.
“Xiao Yezi, you should know our school is one of the best in the country. It’s hard for others to get in, yet you want to drop out?” said the sixth guy in the dormitory earnestly.
“The counselor has agreed. Once I complete the withdrawal procedures, I’ll go to New York in the U.S. — I have a new job there.” Ye Feng didn’t waste words arguing; he knew it was pointless.
“Lao Qi, if you’re sure this won’t make you regret it in the future, then go ahead!” After a brief silence, Xu Qiang was the first to express agreement.
“Thank you…” Ye Feng nodded with a smile. “I know what I’m doing. I’m very clear about it!”
“Don’t forget us when you become rich!” The sixth guy patted Ye Feng’s shoulder.
“Brother Qi, can you take me with you?” The eighth guy leaned in, pretending to be pitiful and unloved.
“Go away, kid! You failed all your exams. Would anyone want you?” The second guy in the dormitory pushed the eighth guy aside and sat next to Ye Feng. “Lao Qi, bring some delicious food when you come back! Don’t forget!”
“Alright, you foodie!” Ye Feng nodded helplessly.
After finally calming down the guys in the dormitory, Ye Feng took out his phone and scrolled through his contacts. When he saw “Brother Long,” he stopped scrolling. After hesitating for a moment, he dialed the number, pressed it to his ear, and heard “Just-the-way-you-are” playing — the song he first sang at the Emperor Bar…
Long Tian placed his phone on the black screen-printed glass table and watched the name displayed on the screen from afar, not reaching for it. It took over twenty seconds before the phone stopped vibrating. He picked it up, glanced at the missed call, and then leaned back on the sofa behind him, staring at the black screen-printed glass table, lost in thought…
For nearly half a minute, no one answered the phone. Ye Feng hung up disappointedly, sighing heavily. He bit his lip, looked up at the white ceiling, then picked up his phone again and sent a short message:

“Bro Long, it’s Xiao Feng. I’m heading to the US in a few days and wanted to say goodbye… Thank you for taking care of me over the past half year…”
Hesitating for a while, not knowing what to say, Ye Feng still sent that brief message…
The vibration in his hand made Long Tian turn his head immediately. Seeing it was a text message, he opened it right away. After reading its content, he hesitated for a long time before typing two words and sending them back. Then he slowly closed his eyes.
Ye Feng smiled upon seeing the message from Long Tian. The short message contained just two words: Take care!
…
Two days later, early in the morning, Ye Feng received a call from Yi Fan.
“Ye Feng, we’ve got your visa and passport ready! How’s things on your end?” Yi Fan sounded excited.
“So fast? I’ve finished everything else; I just need the principal to approve and stamp my withdrawal request before I can leave.” Ye Feng wasn’t expecting Yi Fan to be this efficient.
“Haha, good luck, I guess. I happened to meet an old friend who’s part of the Dragon Group yesterday, so I asked him to help. He brought it to me early this morning,” Yi Fan said with a laugh.
“No wonder… Wait, the Dragon Group?” Ye Feng, who had seen that name online before, could hardly believe his ears. “Are you talking about the Chinese Dragon Group?”
“Yes, that’s the organization!” Yi Fan confirmed. “The most mysterious group in the country, handling special cases!”
“It really exists?” Ye Feng wasn’t expecting the rumored organization to be real.
“Of course it does. If people like us can exist, why should their existence be strange?” Yi Fan said dismissively.
“That’s true…” Ye Feng had no argument.
“Hurry up and get that stamped withdrawal request from the old principal. I’ve been teaching for three days straight—it’s so boring!” Yi Fan complained. “I thought it would take some time to find you, but I ran into you on the first day of classes. I told the principal I’d be away for over ten days…”
“Alright, are you planning to run away at the last minute?” Ye Feng guessed Yi Fan’s intentions.
“How can you call that running away? I just told the old principal I have some urgent matters to return to the US!” Yi Fan strongly protested against Ye Feng’s accusation.
“…”
…
“Are you really sure?” In the principal’s office, the old principal and Ye Feng’s counselor were both there.

“Well, I’ve made up my mind. I think my choice is right!” There was not the slightest doubt in Ye Feng’s eyes—only firm determination. He knew very clearly what he wanted.
“Very well. From the school’s perspective, it’s a pity to lose a student like you. But from your point of view, making this choice might truly mark a new beginning in life.” The old principal’s face was covered in wrinkles that resembled chrysanthemums, but he didn’t seem unpleasant at all.
“Good luck, child!” The old principal handed Ye Feng the approved withdrawal application.
“Thank you. I’ll always be a student of this school, even if I might never get a diploma…” Ye Feng took the application from the principal and joked lightly.
After leaving the principal’s office, Ye Feng called Yi Fan. “Let’s go!”
“Are you sure you don’t need to stay a few more days?” Yi Fan wasn’t expecting Ye Feng to make up his mind to leave so quickly.
“No need. I’ll come back again, won’t I?” Ye Feng looked up at the blue sky above…