graduation

"Xiaochun, I want to take a picture with you!" Yang Fei put her arm around Jiang Yichun's shoulder, stood in front of the red signboard, and picked up her phone.

Jiang Yichun smiled, holding her graduation cap on one hand, walked to Yang Fei's side, and gave the camera a smile.

A selfie quickly appeared on Yang Fei's phone.

Yang Fei looked at Jiang Yichun: "Xiaochun, you look much better lately."

Jiang Yichun chuckled: "Of course, after all, I'm finally free from the torment of writing papers."

Of course, the goji berry and black fungus soup that a certain robot dog cooked while she was staying up all night writing her thesis also made a great contribution to her "thesis battle".

Thinking of this, even though Jiang Yichun had argued with the robot dog a few days ago because of some differences in their views, the corners of her mouth still slowly curled up.

Yang Fei sighed and rubbed her forehead: "Yeah, at least I passed the defense. Okay, now I'm going to go back to my job with a monthly salary of three thousand."

Jiang Yichun blinked: "Feifei, so your monthly salary is really three thousand? Renting a place here in Huaxing isn't cheap."

Yang Fei smiled and patted her shoulder: "The internship salary is three thousand a month. I estimate that I will be a full-time employee after graduation, and the salary will go up then. Xiaochun, you don't need to worry about me. Right now, my parents are covering some of the rent for me, and I can also go back to the suburbs to live with my parents."

"That's good."

Jiang Yichun straightened his graduation cap and nodded.

She looked down and opened her phone's photo album, which was full of photos of her and her classmates.

Qiao Maizi, Zhang Xingxing, and some other classmates all took various photos with themselves.

Sunlight filtered through the trees, falling on them and illuminating their youthful yet happy faces.

Four years of university passed in the blink of an eye. Jiang Yichun felt like just a second ago she was standing at the school gate, dragging her big bags of luggage. At that time, her mother was busy with work and her grandparents were too old, so she came to the bustling Huaxing City alone.

She met her two other roommates by herself, and single-handedly cleaned up the dorm, got a phone card, and rented an air conditioner.

Now, she still stands at the school gate, but she is wearing that black graduation gown, a pink collar with the joke "monthly salary of three thousand," and a graduation cap that looks like it might be blown off by the wind.

But she was no longer the timid girl she was when she first came to university, nor was she alone anymore. The naivety had faded from her, and those childish thoughts of eagerly proving herself to others had vanished without a trace.

In just four years, she met three good roommates, experienced the prosperity of Huaxing City, and perhaps understood where she came from, why she came, and where she was going in the future.

And then... I met him.

That silly, human-machine robot dog who always cared about her.

Jiang Yichun opened the photo with He Yinxin.

She cradled his face in one hand and gently pressed her lips against his cheek.

She closed her eyes, while he wore a worthless smile.

Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she could only close her eyes tightly, the faint scent of his hair wafting to her nose.

His cheeks were like a soft loaf of bread, and the fine stubble on them rubbed against her chin, making it a little itchy.

During the year they were together, He Yinxin's face had become much fuller, and she was no longer the "thin bamboo pole" she had been when they first met.

Sometimes the two would chat by sending messages to each other in the dormitory, and he would even suddenly send a selfie of his abs, claiming that "the contract requires Party A to check Party B's training results."

She complained that "he had clearly been plotting to provoke her wicked intentions," while secretly saving his photos in her phone's album, and then confronting him face-to-face when they met.

He Yinxin would blush and speak seriously, but their hands would touch each other inappropriately.

Even though the two had been together for almost a year, whenever they were together, it was like two flints rubbing together, producing sparks that eventually consumed them completely.

Jiang Yichun's ears grew hotter and hotter as he looked at them, and a wave of heat washed over them.

Yang Fei approached at some point, her tone teasing: "Oh, Xiaochun, you and Director He seem to have a really good relationship."

"I've seen this photo before. Director He's phone beeped during a meeting, and when I glanced at it, it was this one."

"After the meeting, I went to ask him, and he was very serious at that time, and he gave a very good answer."

"What are you saying? Oh dear, I just think this photo looks better." Yang Fei lowered her voice, imitating He Yinxin's serious way of speaking.

"But anyone with eyes can see that Director He used to share either departmental activities or very serious things on his WeChat Moments, but it's different after your official announcement."

"My WeChat Moments are full of you, even the background is you."

"I have to say, his photography skills are really good. I thought he was your fanboy."

Jiang Yichun felt his ears burning even hotter, and a strange sweetness welled up in his heart.

Yang Fei linked arms with her and continued chatting: "The junior who just joined our department saw his profile picture and name and thought he was a cute and aloof senior. He called her 'senior' every day and kept bothering her—but when we met in person, he was dumbfounded."

"How come this senior is such a cold guy? Haha! Director He's expression at the time was hilarious. He tried so hard to suppress his laughter that his face turned red, but he just wouldn't laugh."

Jiang Yichun laughed out loud: "Serves him right for pretending to be a girl to fool me before, now people really think he's a girl!"

"But I'm very satisfied. He deserved it, hehe."

"Xiaochun, you're always like this. You're always sarcastic towards Director He, but everything you do is for his benefit."

"Hmm, after all, he's quite fun."

Yang Fei laughed and hooked her arm around Jiang Yichun's shoulder. The two continued chatting while watching the rolling crowd in front of them.

The two were exchanging pleasantries when Zhang Xingxing came running up, panting, carrying a large bunch of sunflowers: "Xiaochun, Feifei, I'm here, I'm here! Hurry up and get to the auditorium, the graduation ceremony is about to begin."

The two nodded, and the three of them headed to the school's central auditorium together.

Sitting in the auditorium, as one of the outstanding graduate representatives, Jiang Yichun listened to the principal's passionate speech, holding a sunflower in his hand, waiting in line to have his tassel turned.

Looking at the surging crowd, her thoughts drifted back to the day she confirmed her choice of University A.

She and Zhang Xingxing got up early and met at the school cafeteria on the first floor.

They turned on their computers and waited for their dream schools to send messages confirming their participation in the interview and their admission.

The two sat upright in front of the computer, pressing the refresh button.

When the screen displayed a line of small print asking a question, Jiang Yichun took a deep breath and held his breath.

She moved the mouse, placing the small arrow over the "Accept Admission" button.

She looked at the light reflected off the computer screen; she could see the dark circles under her eyes and the happiness radiating from her lips.

The tireless efforts that began in high school and the relentless explorations during university have finally yielded a glimmer of hope at this moment.

Beyond her academic achievements, she also found herself amidst the ups and downs of life and finally no longer had to live under the lens of others; she could now freely pick up a camera and record her own life.

Jiang Yichun's heart was surging with emotion. By the time she came to her senses, her fingertips had already pressed the confirmation button.

Zhang Xingxing turned around, her eyes shining: "Xiaochun, are you sure?"

Jiang Yichun didn't jump up or scream, she just smiled at her and said, "Yes, confirmed."

She had imagined celebrating her victory like a warrior who had slain a dragon, but when she was actually accepted, it all felt so natural, like eating a bowl of steaming rice porridge that morning.

Perhaps she didn't come to this point to shake up the world, but simply wanted to live a good life and be happy.

That's all.

"Congratulations on your graduation." The professor's voice rang in her ears.

"Thank you, Professor."

Jiang Yichun bowed slightly to him, accepted the degree certificate and graduation certificate he handed over, and bent down.

A gentle breeze stirred her hair, and a deep blue tassel fell onto her cheek.

Jiang Yichun graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics.

On the night after the graduation ceremony, the four girls from class 306 went to Grandma Tianfang's barbecue restaurant for a get-together.

Tian Fang's barbecue stall has been upgraded to a barbecue restaurant, and she also renovated the store, making the whole store spacious and bright.

There are also many more employees in the store than a year ago, moving between the tables.

When she saw the four girls, the wrinkles on her face deepened, and she smiled as she placed the skewers on their table.

Jiang Yichun nodded and thanked Grandma Tian Fang, then turned to look at his three roommates.

She saw the smiles on their faces.

Su Yanyue took the skewers, took a big bite, and then downed a swig of beer, recounting the interesting stories from filming and the local customs and culture.

Another film of hers has wrapped up filming. In the last movie, her outstanding performance in the death scene attracted a lot of praise, and her resources have gradually improved.

Her familiar "ex-boyfriend" reappeared in her WeChat Moments.

Yang Fei immediately pulled the beer ring and started chattering on about all the gossip she knew, while also making a few jokes about Su Yanyue's career.

She has found a job in Huaxing City, and the salary is quite good after she becomes a full-time employee. She also has the support of her parents.

She had several boyfriends that year, and although they all ended in breakups, she remained as carefree as a gust of wind.

Zhang Xingxing sat quietly to one side, taking small bites of kebabs while nodding as she listened to Yang Fei's incessant chatter.

She was admitted to Beidu University of Finance and Economics, which allows her to attend university closer to home.

Because of her excellent writing, her graduation thesis was rated as an outstanding thesis, and she also received the title of outstanding graduate.

Jiang Yichun smiled and ate, then picked up the can of beer and drank it all in one gulp.

If I had to pick the biggest change in myself this year, it would probably be that my drinking habits have improved considerably, and the chances of me going crazy after drinking have significantly decreased.

As the alcohol took effect, she stood up, the beer in her glass still sloshing around: "Well then, I wish everyone a happy graduation and all the best for the future! If you become rich and powerful, don't forget me!"

"good!"

"Borrow Yichun's auspicious words!"

"May everyone get better and better."

The metal cans collided, making a crisp sound.

Seeing the smiles on each girl's face, Jiang Yichun's smile widened.

Even though they had very different personalities, even though they would soon be going their separate ways, and even though Jiang Yichun felt she might not be able to become good friends with them, she still silently wished them well in her heart.

May everything go smoothly in the future, and may your future be bright.