Volume Four: Onward

Fang Hui said, "I had a dream that day. I dreamt that we were still in high school. It was probably dusk, the sky was a dark yellow, and everyone was running on the playground. At that moment, I really wanted to just keep running like that forever..."

(1)

After spending a lot of time with Fang Hui, you can easily discover her clumsiness and naivety hidden beneath her indifference and loneliness.

That day, she told me about the first time she held hands with Chen Xun. As if afraid I wouldn't understand, she took my hand, placed it in my palm, interlaced her fingers, and said, "Look, that's how it is."

As Fang Hui did these things, her face was pure and innocent, without the slightest hint of ambiguity or shyness, like a child earnestly performing for adults. But when I held her hand, I unconsciously tightened my grip slightly. The warmth emanating from her palm made me feel intoxicated; I really wanted to hold onto this gentle girl forever.

Just then, my door was suddenly pushed open, and AIBA barged in, dragging a girl along, shouting, "Zhang Nan, have you seen Fang Hui? I didn't bring my keys!"

She quickly spotted us and our still-joined hands. After a couple of seconds of hesitation, she turned around and said, "The dog didn't bring an umbrella!" The girl behind her bowed deeply to us apologetically.

Fang Hui pulled her hand away from mine, her face flushed, and shrank back on the stool. The sudden chill of my palm left a void in my heart. I turned around and yelled at AIBA, "Damn it! Don't you dare speak that gibberish!"

"Look at you, you coward! Fang Hui, how could you actually go to him!" AIBA rolled her eyes at me and said.

"No... I... we're nothing, I was just chatting with Zhang Nan," Fang Hui quickly said, trying to distance herself.

I felt a little sad again, and suddenly felt like I had been incredibly presumptuous and that I was being unfair to myself. So I stood up, cut a piece of cake, and handed it to AIBA, saying, "It's my birthday today, this is a gift for you. Hey, you didn't even introduce her, who is this girl?"

AIBA cheered as he took the cake, handed it to the girl behind him, said a few words in Japanese, then turned to me with a smile and said, "Happy birthday! This is Kazuko, and I'm... well!"

"Oh!" I looked at Kazuko with a sudden realization, and Kazuko nodded at me in a friendly manner.

AIBA said something to her again, and she smiled, bowed slightly to me, and said, "I have Lou Xi pants!" (Japanese: Nice to meet you)

I quickly waved my hands and said, "No, no, no! I can't stand this!"

AIBA laughed and said, "It was just a polite greeting, Zhang Nan, you're really uncultured!"

"Damn! Their culture originated from us!" I said, glaring at her. Then, with a grin, I bowed and said to Kazuko, "You Japanese are utterly despicable! Marrying a Chinese woman is worse than marrying a Japanese man! If there were a few more Aiba, you'd be wiped out! Yoshi yoshi!"

Kazuko, who didn't understand Chinese, still smiled and nodded, then looked at AIBA questioningly. AIBA slapped me hard and said, "Fine! You son of a bitch! We can't afford to mess with you, so we'll just stay away! Fang Hui, give me the key, we won't bother you here anymore, otherwise who knows what she might say!"

Fang Hui quickly stood up and said, "That's not how it is, don't talk nonsense! I'll go back with you!"

I was stunned; it was a bit unexpected.

She walked past me, glanced at me, and whispered, "Thank you for tonight!"

The three people left my room one after the other, and only after the door slammed shut did I come to my senses. Looking down at the cake, wine bottle, cherry stems, and water stains on the table, I suddenly felt as if I had been transported to another world. For some reason, I suddenly thought of the story of Cinderella. After the midnight bells, when the carriage, the dress, and the prince all disappeared, she was probably as lost as I am now.

After that, our lives seemed to return to normal: studying, working, cooking, sleeping—nothing changed. Only Fang Hui became a little closer to me. Occasionally, when we met on the stairs, we'd chat about the weather and homework. If she was carrying something, she no longer minded me helping her carry it upstairs. If AIBA saw us, she'd give me a meaningful wink, and I'd push back, though I felt a pang of sadness inside. I think in Fang Hui's eyes, she had already treated me as a "sexually insensitive" person she could safely approach.

She never mentioned her story with Chen Xun to me again, and I didn't ask. I knew that Fang Hui that night was a product of a specific time, place, and circumstance, like a Super Saiyan in Dragon Ball. Unless there's a special occasion, Goku is just Goku and won't undergo any energy transformation. And when Fang Hui will transform again is something I have absolutely no control over and can't predict.

However, I didn't expect that Fang Hui would transform again so soon.

The incident started when Fang Hui and AIBA's room was burglarized.

Theft against international students is not the same as theft against ordinary residents. For local residents, being robbed only results in the loss of some property, which doesn't significantly impact their lives. However, for international students who already have little to no assets, losing anything is unbearable. When I first arrived, I lost my bag; all the tickets, cards, cash, school books and materials, and my phone card were gone. That left me almost without food for a week, and I was so desperate I wanted to go back home. Fang Hui and her friends lost everything; it was a complete catastrophe.

Despite AIBA's usual carefree and easygoing nature, she was truly dumbfounded this time. Judging from their interactions, AIBA's family wasn't wealthy. She lived with Fang Hui, partly because Kazuko had relatives in Australia and couldn't live with her, but also because Fang Hui could afford to pay more rent. After the theft, neither of them had any valuables left. They initially wanted to call the police, but Fang Hui insisted on stopping them. She explained that several Chinese magazines were missing; these were practically useless to thieves, yet the thief had taken them. Fang Hui was certain it was a Chinese person who did it.

We cannot completely hate our compatriots.

This is actually a unique tragedy for Chinese students studying abroad. Those who have been abroad probably all have this feeling: overseas, people from the same country are usually very close-knit, helping and looking out for each other whether they're working or studying. But Chinese people are different. It's one thing to be indifferent, but deceiving fellow countrymen is commonplace. Perhaps this unique national situation and upbringing have led to this phenomenon, and as individuals within it, it's difficult to change anything. Those of us who have been here simply hope that after we return, and after generations of change, when our children come here again, they can face another race with equality and proudly say they are Chinese.

Left with no other choice, AIBA temporarily stayed at Kazuko's place. She asked her family for some more money, and I also helped her out a little. Fang Hui lived alone in that room. She was usually considered well-off among international students, but after she used her remaining money to buy necessities, her quality of life plummeted to an unimaginable level: she only ate one meal a day, tried to avoid using water, electricity, and gas, worked two jobs at night, and walked home at two in the morning.

I couldn't bear to see her like this anymore. One day, I ran into her downstairs. She had just returned from the market, having driven two kilometers to buy large, generously sized cabbages for a cheaper price. I quickly took her bag; she was too exhausted to stand on ceremony and let me carry all the bags. I noticed the deep red welts on her shoulders and said with heartache, "Why are you living such a hard life? Call home and tell them the truth, ask them to send some money. If you keep going like this, I don't think you can hold on. If you get sick, the expenses will be even greater."

She shook her head and said, "I can't let them know, otherwise I won't be able to stay here any longer, and they will definitely make me go back to China."

I sighed. In that instant, I was furious. I didn't know what had happened to make her leave so resolutely, even after suffering so much, unwilling to set foot on her homeland again. I deeply hated the person who had caused her to end up here, because no one could bear to see her like this.

As she walked to the door, about to take the bag and thank me, I stopped her and said firmly, "Come eat at my place tonight! No! Eat with me until you solve this problem! Take a shower here too! Don't work that restaurant job anymore, you have exams coming up soon, right? Come back tonight and study properly! I have some money, we can split the cost!"

Fang Hui looked at me in surprise, a look in her eyes unlike anything I'd ever seen before, a look that sent a shiver down my spine. I was overjoyed, because she had never looked at me like that before, and this time, I was absolutely certain that her eyes were filled with nothing but me.

"No...no need," Fang Hui said, lowering her head. "I can still manage!"

"Stop talking nonsense. I know your home phone number. If you don't agree, I'll call your family and tell them what you're like now!" I threatened.

Fang Hui bit her lip and finally nodded.

Later, we lived together like semi-cohabiting for a while. Looking back now, it was really tough. I had practically no money at the time, and Fang Hui not working meant I had to work both of us to make ends meet. Sometimes when I got home, I felt like I was dead, and I could even fall asleep in the shower. But I was very happy, and I haven't been that happy since. A man can overcome any hardship when he's with the girl he loves—that's the conclusion I drew from that period.

It was around that time that I heard many stories about Fang Hui and Chen Xun.

(2)

1999 was a significant year in history in every sense.

However, for them living at that time, it was just another school year, no different from the past.

Fang Hui and Chen Xun had become accustomed to exchanging flirtatious glances in public, appearing more upright than anyone else on the surface, yet secretly their relationship was as sweet as honey. Lin Jiamo bluntly stated that they were engaging in blatant indecent assault in public, and she had used this excuse to get free meals and drinks countless times. Chen Xun suggested that telling everyone wouldn't be a bad idea, but Fang Hui didn't dare. The education she received at that time always made her feel that such behavior was inherently wrong, and she didn't want to be distinguished from her classmates in this way. Ultimately, she was still wary of being looked down upon.

Spring in Beijing can be beautiful or terrible. A few days of sandstorms can cover everything with a layer of yellow dust. Large particles of inhalable particulate matter float in the air, and sunlight refracts on them and then back onto people, creating a strange blue halo.

"What kind of awful weather is this!" Chen Xun said, brushing the dust off Fang Hui's hair. "I remember in the past, during spring when we had short weekends and half-day classes on Saturdays, the weather was always so nice! When I was little, my mom would always scare me by saying that if I didn't behave, the Yellow-Haired Wind Monster from Journey to the West would come. I always wondered what it would be like if that Yellow-Haired Wind Monster came. Now I know, it's just like this!"

"Stop messing around! Someone will see!" Fang Hui said, pulling his hand away and looking around.

"Wait, wait! There's still a willow catkin!" Chen Xun grabbed her and pulled the willow catkin out of her hair.

Fang Hui pretended not to care, blushed, and took two steps away, saying, "Have you decided on the spring outing yet? Did Teacher Hou mention it to you just now?"

"It's settled, we're going to Black Dragon Pool," Chen Xun said, flipping through a stack of forms in his hand.

"What are you looking at?" Fang Hui asked, leaning closer to look. "What's so interesting about a medical examination form?"

"Hehe, I'm looking for you!" Chen Xun said with a smile.

"Ugh! Don't look!" Fang Hui snatched it away and glared at him.

"What are you afraid of! I only care about your height, not your bust size!" Chen Xun said with a grin as he leaned closer.

"Chen Xun, you're such a scoundrel!" Fang Hui said, slamming the form down on him.

"Ouch! I'm not watching anymore!" Chen Xun said, stepping aside. "Let's go buy some snacks for our field trip after school, shall we?"

"I'm not going!" Fang Hui said, her face darkening.

"Go ahead, go ahead!" Chen Xun grabbed her sleeve. "I'll show you my medical examination report, okay?"

“Who wants to see this!” Fang Hui said, glancing at the form Chen Xun was waving.

"Then we won't watch it! We'll go together after school! It's a deal!"

“Then we’ll have to carry it home, it’s so heavy…” Fang Hui said hesitantly.

"How about we bring them all to my house after we buy them?"

"Hmph! Will there be any left by the time of the spring outing?" Fang Hui teased him.

"I don't eat the kind of snacks you like! Besides, what's wrong with eating more? I'm not fat!"

"You weigh 140 pounds! And you're not fat!"

"Huh? How did you know? Ah! You must have looked at my medical examination form! Didn't you say you wouldn't look at it?" Chen Xun shouted, pointing at Fang Hui.

"I...I guessed!" Fang Hui hurriedly stammered.

"Tch! So what if you want to look? What's there to be embarrassed about? I'm 184cm tall and weigh 140 pounds. What about you?" Chen Xun asked happily.

"Who...who saw that! I'm not telling you!" Fang Hui quickly changed the subject. "Let's leave the things at my grandma's house after we buy them. It's nearby, so it's convenient. If Jia Mo and the others come along, they'll definitely need them too."

"Alright then! I'll talk to Zhao Ye and the others." Chen Xun whispered in Fang Hui's ear, "You're neither too fat nor too thin, I like you just the way you are!"

Fang Hui watched Chen Xun run away, her face turning red again.

After school, a few of them went to Huapu Supermarket together. They pushed their carts around and made a ruckus, attracting the attention of passersby.

"I want Cardina and Oishi!" Zhao Ye exclaimed excitedly.

"You're a boy, right?" Lin Jiamo looked him up and down. "You actually eat this kind of thing!"

"Nonsense! How could I eat that! I bought it for you!" Zhao Ye said unhappily.

"Who said I wanted to eat that! I want to be good!" Lin Jiamo said, a little embarrassed, but pretending to be firm.

"Why do girls love eating this kind of stuff!" Zhao Ye said, throwing two bags into the basket. "They're not even full."

"It seems... toys are given out inside." Qiao Ran looked at Fang Hui questioningly.

"It's a small sticker," Fang Hui said with a smile.

"Do you like to eat this too? I'll buy you two bags!" Qiao Ran also put some into her basket.

Chen Xun, who was standing next to him, suddenly stopped what he was doing. He looked at Qiao Ran in surprise, and Qiao Ran smiled at him generously.

"No...no need." Fang Hui took two more bags of snacks out of his basket and put them back on the shelf. "I bought too much, I definitely can't finish them all."

"Alright then." Qiao Ran still smiled, while Fang Hui lowered her head.

When they left Huapu, everyone seemed to have a few more worries on their minds. The spring sunset reflected on the hearts of the young people, and gradually, the wrinkles in their hearts became visible.

Zhao Ye packed the bag and said, "I'm going to take a look over there. It seems like a new contemporary music scene has emerged."

“Ah! I want to buy it too. I saw the cover the other day, and it seems that Ekin Cheng and Maggie Siu really broke up,” Lin Jiamo echoed.

“Let’s go together then,” Chen Xun said. “How many years were they together? Why did they break up?”

"Because of Gigi Leung, I've heard, but I can't be sure," Lin Jiamo sighed. "Ekin Cheng's confession back then was so touching; he said he'd take care of her for the rest of his life!"

"Who can take care of someone for a lifetime, unless they die young?" Fang Hui said calmly.

"Why are you so pessimistic!" Qiao Ran patted her shoulder and said, "Let's go!"

Fang Hui shook her head indifferently. She pushed the bike and was about to walk forward when she suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Chen Xun asked from behind her.

"It's okay...you guys go ahead, I won't go," Fang Hui said after repositioning the car.

"Huh? Why? It's just across the street, not far," Lin Jiamo said, puzzled.

"Yes, I really won't go. I still need to deliver these to Grandma's house," Fang Hui firmly refused.

“That’s fine, Zhao Ye, you guys go ahead, we’ll take the things back to Grandma Fang Hui’s house,” Qiao Ran said.

Chen Xun looked around in confusion. There was only one car parked next to the newsstand, and nothing seemed amiss.

"What's wrong?" Chen Xun asked softly.

"It's nothing," Fang Hui said with a forced smile.

On the day of the spring outing, everyone first gathered at Fang Hui's grandmother's house. Lin Jiamo wore a peach-colored top and black flared jeans, looking very fashionable. Fang Hui, on the other hand, wore a plain white T-shirt and jeans, looking like a middle school student from a distance. Seeing that it was getting late, and since they would be playing together anyway, they didn't differentiate further. The boys stuffed all the food into their bags and rode their bikes to school together.

The students started playing games on the way. Some gathered together to play "Catch the Black Cross", "Knock on Three Houses", and "Upgrade", some used playing cards to tell fortunes, and some listened to music on their Walkmans. The car roof was so hot that it almost got blown off.

Upon arriving at Black Dragon Pool, Teacher Hou gave a few instructions and then dismissed the group. Full of energy, Lin Jiamo, eager to catch up with the senior students ahead, quickly reached the front of the group. They didn't pay much attention to the scenery along the way; the large and small pools were just ponds to them. Their true joy came from the people around them. Perhaps the happiness of youth is so simple—a few actions and jokes are enough to bring joy.

Zhao Ye plucked a leaf, held it between his thumb and blew on it, producing a loud but unpleasant sound. Lin Jiamo covered her ears and shouted, "Zhao Ye! Stop imitating birds! You'll attract eagles!"

"Zhao Ye? Where is Zhao Ye?" Chen Xun asked, pretending to look around.

"You grandson! What do you mean?!" Zhao Ye said, leaning against a large rock.

"Oh! There you are! Come here quickly, I can't see you anymore! How many times have I told you, don't stand with Black Stone, you two are hard to find because of your looks!" Chen Xun said, waving his hand.

"Damn it!" Zhao Ye squatted down and splashed water at Chen Xun.

Chen Xun casually grabbed Fang Hui, who lost her footing and stepped into the stream beside them.

"Stop fooling around! Come on up!" Qiao Ran shouted anxiously, reaching out her hand.

Fang Hui hesitated for a moment, but still took Qiao Ran's hand and climbed up the rocks.

"Are you alright?" Chen Xun quickly helped her up and asked.

"Oh dear! My pants are all wet!" Lin Jiamo said, pointing.

"I'm so sorry! Why don't you wear mine?" Chen Xun said, putting his hands together in prayer.

Fang Hui rolled her eyes at him, then looked at her pants with a deflated expression.

"What time is it now?" Lin Jiamo suddenly asked.

"It's 2:30," Qiao Ran said, glancing at her watch.

"Aren't we supposed to meet at three o'clock? We need to hurry up and go," Lin Jiamo said.

"Huh? She needs to dry them in the sun! Pants are fine, but wet shoes will rub her feet!" Qiao Ran shook her head.

"Alright then! Chen Xun, stay and keep Fang Hui company. We'll go back first and tell Teacher Hou!" Lin Jiamo said, slung her backpack over her shoulder.

"Huh?" Everyone looked at her in surprise.

"Who told him to drag Fang Hui into this!" Lin Jiamo said with a wicked smile.

"Alright! I'll help her hang her pants out to dry. You guys go first, we'll catch up with you in a bit!" Chen Xun understood immediately.

"No...no need," Fang Hui said shyly.

"Let's leave it at that! We'll be late if we don't leave soon!" Zhao Ye stood up, dusted himself off, and said.

"See you later!" Lin Jiamo winked at the two of them.

After the three of them walked away, Chen Xun sat down next to Fang Hui. He grabbed Fang Hui's trouser leg and wrung out the water forcefully. Fang Hui's legs stiffened, and she couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

"Relax, I'm not going to eat you!" Chen Xun said, patting her knee.

Fang Hui angrily kicked him and said, "You're just being indecent!"

"Qiao Ran is serious, why don't you let him keep you company?" Chen Xun dodged her and said with a sidelong glance.

"Why do you keep calling him Qiao Ran? I didn't say he was good," Fang Hui said with a smile.

"Look at him all the way here, carrying your bag and making you a flower wreath... He's so attentive! He even pulled you along just now."

"They were pulling me up, but you didn't pull me up; you just pushed me down."

Chen Xun was silent for a moment before saying, "I think I should tell Qiao Ran about us."

"ah?"

"I always felt... that he seemed to like you quite a bit too."

"Where...where is it..."

“I know you feel it too; you stutter when you’re nervous,” Chen Xun said, picking up a stone and throwing it into the water.

“Then just say it…” Fang Hui said, lowering her head.

"Forget it, didn't you say you didn't want others to know?" Chen Xun stood up, took a deep breath, and said, "Let's go! Don't stay out too late, or our classmates will think we've been up to something!"

Fang Hui also stood up, pursed her lips and said, "Hey..."

"What?" Chen Xun turned around.

"Hold...hold hands..." Fang Hui slowly stretched out her arm and said, "There's no one here..."

Chen Xun was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. He grabbed Fang Hui and said, "Come with me!"

Fang Hui nodded and tightly grasped Chen Xun's hand in return.

The two were twenty minutes late, and feeling guilty, they spread out an exaggerated distance just before reaching the bus. Lin Jiamo, who had been waiting outside the bus, rushed over when she saw them and said, "Chen Xun, you go first! Fang Hui and I will stay behind."

Chen Xun agreed blankly, and Fang Hui asked her in confusion, "What's wrong?"

"Oh dear, you two really are having an affair! Teacher Hou was just saying whether you two are boyfriend and girlfriend!"

"Really...really?" Fang Hui turned pale with fright.

"It looks like a joke, but I have another explosive discovery," Lin Jiamo whispered.

"What?" Fang Hui asked, her heart pounding.

"Menlingcao seems to like Chen Xun!" Lin Jiamo said mysteriously. "When I was in the bathroom, I heard her talking to He Sha about something about having to find a chance to make things clear with CX. Think about it, besides Chen Xun, who else in our class could be CX? Besides, the words on the blackboard that you mentioned last time, the one that said you like Chen Xun, it probably was her who did it."

“Ah…” Fang Hui said thoughtfully.

"Anyway, you should be careful. It's best not to let word get out about what's going on between you two. I always feel like someone's watching you!" Lin Jiamo said worriedly.

(3)

It is said that since ancient times, personal feelings between men and women are as light as a feather in the face of the long-term interests of the nation. Before Fang Hui and Chen Xun could even worry about anything, several bombs blew everyone's attention away.

On the evening of May 8th, Fang Hui received a call from Chen Xun, who said anxiously, "Meet at school at nine o'clock tomorrow morning for a school-wide assembly."

"Huh? Is it about NATO bombing the embassy in Yugoslavia?"

"Yeah! Fuck NATO, they're such cowards! I'm not saying anything more, I need to notify the others!"

"Hmm, don't get so worked up!"

"Fine, that's it, damn it!" Chen Xun angrily hung up the phone.

Fang Hui sighed and turned on the television, which was filled with reports about the bombing. In the early hours of May 8th, NATO, led by the United States, brazenly used missiles to attack the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia, causing severe damage to the embassy building, killing three people, and injuring more than 20. Xinhua News Agency reporter Shao Yunhuan, and Guangming Daily reporters Xu Xinghu and Zhu Ying tragically lost their lives, plunging all of China into anger and grief.

The next day, all teachers and students arrived at school on time; not a single person was late. Students who were usually reprimanded for "standing in line and not talking" were unusually quiet that day, and the entire playground was shrouded in solemnity. Before the meeting, the national anthem was played, and the resounding melody of "Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves!" filled the air. Every student sang loudly, their voices soaring through the sky.

Some people say we are a selfish generation, with a weak sense of national identity, and that the once-strong backbone of the Chinese people has become a limp bud. But I think this is utter nonsense. Because we grew up with limited access to information, the first thing we learned under conservative education was to love our country, the Party, and the people; because we are only children, our sense of belonging is stronger; because we haven't experienced much hardship, we think China is pretty good, and we don't fawn over foreign countries or constantly talk about America; because our education was relatively good, we know to give up our seats to the elderly on buses, throw all our trash in bins, and don't spit on the ground; because we have self-awareness, we don't arrogantly judge our compatriots for lacking manners, but simply do our best; because we've experienced discrimination abroad and miss our parents dearly, I'm not making this up—I genuinely want to return to serve my country and look forward to its reunification, prosperity, and strength…

I think Fang Hui and Chen Xun must have had the same thought at the time. After the meeting, they went back to the classroom together. Zhao Ye's mouth didn't stop the whole way. He insulted the relatives, families, and reproductive organs of the NATO leaders, led by the United States and Britain.

"Damn it, what do you mean the map is wrong and the bombing is wrong? What the hell! Why don't you just make the map wrong all the time and see if you blow it up!"

"We can't blow it back! This is so frustrating!" Lin Jiamo scraped the eraser to shreds.

“Oh, right! I heard from my sister that their university is going to march at the US embassy! They made a lot of signs and slogans! Shall we go and take a look?” Qiao Ran said.

“Go!” Zhao Ye slammed his hand on the table and said.

“Let’s go together! Fang Hui, you draw a couple of slogans too, let’s take them with us!” Chen Xun suddenly perked up.

"Hmm... what should we write?" Fang Hui asked, taking out the leftover paper from the bulletin board under the podium.

“I’ll fuck your mother if you write Clinton!” Zhao Ye shouted indignantly, and everyone laughed.

The roads in the embassy district were under lockdown, but the crowds were as large as ever. Almost every university in Beijing had come, waving their school flags, banners, and chanting slogans, creating a scene of fervent enthusiasm. The Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau had arranged the march route, and the crowd moved slowly forward along the roads. Chen Xun and his group mingled among them.

Looking at the young faces around them, just like their own, and feeling a passion unlike any they'd ever felt before, they instantly became excited. Zhao Ye, the tallest of them all, held up the banner Fang Hui had drawn and walked ahead. It was written in large, blood-red characters: "Condemn NATO's atrocities, give back our compatriots!"

A college student walked by and asked, "Excuse me, which school are you from?"

"F!" Zhao Ye answered loudly.

"Oh? High school students? No wonder they look so young!" the college student said in surprise. "Wow! You guys have guts!"

“Our school didn’t organize a march; we came on our own!” Zhao Ye said proudly.

"Well, high school students probably wouldn't organize this kind of activity. You guys need to be careful and avoid getting jostled by the crowd!" the college student said, patting him on the shoulder.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xun quickly pulled Fang Hui closer to him and said, "Stay with me."

"Where are we going?" Qiao Ran asked, looking at the endless crowd.

"Following the route set by the Public Security Bureau, the final destination is the US Embassy. Each school is to stop there for three minutes and can chant slogans and protest," the college student said. "Did you take anything?"

"What is it?" Lin Jiamo asked, puzzled.

"Water bottles, ink bottles, and things like that!" the college student said with a smile.

"Huh? What's it for?" Zhao Ye asked, puzzled.

"Haha, let's teach them a lesson! They threw bombs at us, so it's not unreasonable for us to retaliate with ink bottles!"

"I understand!" Zhao Ye exclaimed in sudden realization. "I'll go pick up a few bricks!"

"No need for that, it might hurt someone. Here, I'll give you mine." The college student pulled out a bottle of carbon ink and handed it to Zhao Ye, saying, "Just aim carefully and throw it against the wall, smash them!"

"Ah! Thank you, brother!" Zhao Ye excitedly took it and said, "Don't worry! I play basketball, I'm very accurate with this!"

"Okay! You guys follow behind us! Be careful!" The college student waved and walked back to the front.

“Okay! Let’s shout together later!” Zhao Ye said, gripping the ink bottle.

The procession took a long time to reach the US Embassy, ​​where the crowd erupted into a frenzy. A student at the very front started chanting slogans, and the crowd behind him echoed each one.

"Protest against NATO atrocities!"

"Give me back my embassy! Give me back my family!"

"NATO is NAZI!"

"American is the killer!"

"The Chinese people cannot be bullied, and the Chinese nation cannot be humiliated!"

"Stand in solidarity with the people of Yugoslavia! Severely punish war criminals!"

Everyone shouted at the top of their lungs, and the beautiful little building seemed to sway precariously amidst the deafening screams. Through the shattered windows, one could vaguely see American soldiers inside, armed to the teeth. They wore helmets, but they looked anything but imposing; their swaying figures only revealed their inner terror. The usually bright and dazzling Stars and Stripes hung listlessly on the flagpole, not even fluttering in the occasional breeze.

Upon seeing the flag, Chen Xun suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He raised his arm and shouted, "Lower the flag! Make them fly it at half-mast!"

People around him noticed his shouts and joined in, gradually gathering more and more people until finally everyone was rhythmically chanting in unison, "Lower the flag! Lower the flag! Lower the flag!..."

Zhao Ye darted out of the crowd at the opportune moment, leaping high into the air and hurling the ink bottle he was holding into it. With a crisp cracking sound, a black stain appeared on the wall. Fang Hui let out a deep breath, finally releasing the humiliation she had been feeling.

They were exhausted after walking back from the American embassy. The long walk, coupled with shouting, had taken a toll on their energy. Despite their fatigue, they were still very excited. Zhao Ye suggested they have dinner together, so they found a barbecue restaurant by the roadside and went in. At that time, barbecue was just becoming popular in Beijing, but it was different from places like "Sanqianli" or "Quanjincheng" now. It was called "Music Barbecue," but it was really just a small restaurant playing loud pop music—something students like them could afford.

After the dishes were served, Lin Jiamo personally picked up a piece of meat and placed it on Zhao Ye's plate, saying, "Zhao Ye, you were great today! You're such a man!"

"That's right! The rise and fall of a nation is the responsibility of every citizen!" Zhao Ye said with a hearty bite.

On the other side, Qiao Ran also put a slice on Fang Hui's plate. He smiled and said, "You must be tired from walking today. Quickly replenish your nutrition! I was worried you wouldn't be able to keep going!"

"Thank you," Fang Hui said somewhat shyly, glancing furtively at Chen Xun.

"Eat this," Chen Xun said, picking up a slice of meat and placing it in Fang Hui's bowl. "I looked for ages, and this is the only one without chili. Don't you say you can't handle spicy food?"

"Ah... thank you..." Fang Hui became even more awkward.

"Oh? You can't eat spicy food!" Qiao Ran said awkwardly. "I didn't know that."

"No...it's okay!" Fang Hui quickly said.

"I said! Let's have some beer today!" Zhao Ye interrupted them.

"Huh? You think you can do it?" Lin Jiamo asked in surprise.

"Of course! Waiter, bring us two bottles of beer!" Zhao Ye said, making the arrangements.

The waiter brought over two bottles of beer, one green and one yellow. Zhao Ye exclaimed happily, "Hey! Not bad! There's even a bottle tip!"

"What is a liquor head?" Lin Jiamo asked.

“Look, it’s this yellow one. There’s only one bottle in the case; the rest are green,” Zhao Ye said, holding up the bottle.

"You really know a lot!" Lin Jiamo said admiringly.

“I think he knows a lot about this!” Fang Hui said with a smile.

"Hehehe! Who do you think you are! Who broke through the encirclement today and swung the ink bottle at the heads of those foreign devils?" Zhao Ye stood up and tapped her with his chopsticks.

"Alright! You're the best! Let's drink!" Chen Xun quickly stopped Zhao Ye.

Zhao Ye took a big gulp and said, "I'm telling you, just you wait and see! One day I'll be rich, and then we won't be coming to this shabby restaurant anymore! I'll take you to eat at a royal palace!"

"Okay! We'll be waiting for you!" Lin Jiamo said, suppressing a laugh.

It was already dark when they stumbled out of the restaurant, slightly tipsy. Most of them were a little drunk. Chen Xun and Fang Hui were at the back, and he, emboldened by the alcohol, grabbed Fang Hui's hand.

"You... let go!" Fang Hui exclaimed in fright. "Let them see!"

"It's okay, I can't see, it's dark!" Chen Xun grinned at her.

Fang Hui was still a little nervous. She struggled for a moment and said, "Wait...when we get home..."

"Hey! You two, hurry up! Keep up!" Zhao Ye turned around and shouted, swaying slightly. "If they're my men, follow me! If they're not, just throw your butts at them..."

"I...I know." Fang Hui hurriedly hid her hands behind her back and said, but Chen Xun still held them tightly. She angrily pinched the back of his hand.

Late spring in Beijing exudes a unique, languid charm. They laugh and chatter as they stroll through dimly lit alleyways. The daytime exuberance, like a whirlwind of youth, leaves them even more refreshing afterward. Whether it's a slightly off-key children's song or secretly clasped hands, everything is so pure and beautiful.

(4)

Not long after the parade, a new political task was assigned. October 1, 1999, was the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and F Middle School was assigned to participate in the marching and group dance performance. The school attached great importance to this matter, and immediately began organizing students to rehearse upon receiving the task. The second-year students were flipping flowers and holding up signs, while the first-year students were learning the group dance. The entire campus was suddenly bustling with activity.

Hou Jia naturally intended for Class One to stand out, so she appointed Chen Xun and Lin Jiamo, the most attractive students in the class, as their dance instructors, hoping to win first place. However, this was tough on the students of Class One. Not only were their physical education classes sacrificed for dance lessons, but they also often had to practice for an extra forty minutes after school. While other classes went home after school, they had to stand in a circle on the playground, learning to dance to songs like "Auspicious Beginning" and "Good Days."

Chen Xun was initially quite willing to participate in such activities. He was the kind of person who stood out the more people there were; as the saying goes, gold shines, and he was a particularly brilliant piece of gold who loved to shine even in stone. However, he wasn't very happy during the group rehearsals. Although the group dance involved boys and girls forming two concentric circles, facing each other and dancing in circles, sometimes stopping and linking arms, the regrouping formation was uniform, meaning there were relatively fixed dance partners. Fang Hui's partner was Qiao Ran. This annoyed Chen Xun. He and Lin Jiamo were junior instructors, so they usually couldn't stand in the group, and therefore he couldn't get close to Fang Hui. Even if they occasionally met, it was only for a few seconds before she turned back to Qiao Ran in the blink of an eye.

Fang Hui also had her complaints. She had no problem with Chen Xun and Lin Jiamo being together, but Wang Manman from Class 5, who was also a junior coach, was always with them. This girl was very cheerful and always chatted and laughed with Chen Xun, sometimes even wanting to cling to him, which made Fang Hui feel uneasy.

This back-and-forth made things a little awkward between the two of them. The regret of not being able to be openly together during the day was all made up for when they called each other at night. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Chen Xun's cordless phone was broken, and the handheld phone he used to contact Fang Hui in his room had fallen into the sink. It wasn't completely unusable, but the static during the call was much louder than the voice.

Fang Hui said that the two of them were really clueless back then, and they still called each other every night. To avoid being discovered by their parents, they agreed to secretly communicate at 10 pm every night. Because Chen Xun's family phone had an extension in his parents' room, Fang Hui couldn't call him; only Chen Xun could call her. Fang Hui's family phone was in the living room, so she had to act like a thief, running the phone line to her room, covering the phone with a pillow and blanket, and answering it immediately after one ring, afraid that her father would hear her.

Even so, they persevered in speaking, albeit with trepidation, amidst the rustling noise. Although their conversations often devolved into a comical guessing game of "Hey...what...say it again...can't hear me...what...oh...hey...can you hear me...or can't you hear me...", they thoroughly enjoyed it. The rare utterances of "I miss you" and "I like you" were enough to give them sweet dreams that night.

The first year of high school was drawing to a close amidst the busy schedule of group dances, entrance exams, and final exams. Every time finals approached, Zhao Ye would unleash his inner energy, relentlessly dragging Chen Xun and the others to study together. Unable to resist his nagging, they agreed to meet at the Dongcheng District Library on the weekend. The library was filled with students from nearby schools, and they frequently bumped into acquaintances. Fang Hui's geography atlas, biology notes, and computer books suddenly became hot commodities, circulating widely throughout the large study room.

At noon, they went to a small commodity market called Baolong nearby and ate cold noodles and hot and sour noodles. Upstairs, they also sold stationery and trinkets, so Lin Jiamo dragged Fang Hui up to browse.

Lin Jiamo picked up a plush pig and said, "Hui'er, isn't this cute?"

"It's alright," Fang Hui said.

"Have you ever given Chen Xun a gift?" Lin Jiamo asked, putting down the piglet.

"No," Fang Hui said, lowering her head. "His birthday is August 29th, it hasn't come yet!"

"Oh! You mean... what's a good gift for a boy?" Lin Jiamo asked, looking around.

"Huh? Who are you going to give it to?"

"Who else could it be! Su Kai! His birthday is coming up soon!" Lin Jiamo said with a smile.

What number?

"24, just in time for us to finish our exams!"

"And sent it in the name of 'Gao Yiyi'?"

"No! This time I want to send it in Lin Jiamo's name!"

Lin Jiamo smiled and spun around, but in that 360-degree turn, her world suddenly turned upside down.

Among the various toys, she saw Su Kai, with a girl standing next to him. Although she couldn't see clearly, she caught a glimpse of their hands clasped together before quickly separating.

"You guys are here too? Are you reading at the East Library?" Su Kai walked over and greeted them.

"Yeah..." Lin Jiamo forced a smile and said, "You're here to study with your classmates too?"

"Ah! Right!" Su Kai said embarrassedly, "Zhao Ye is here too, right? Tell that kid he must pass the high school entrance exam! Otherwise, it will be difficult if a university recruits students with special talents in the future."

"Mmm," Lin Jiamo said, lowering her head.

"What's wrong? You look so listless. Come on! I'll treat you to popsicles!" Su Kai said, leaning over.

"No need!" Lin Jiamo said, stepping back a step. "We're going back."

"Oh, then next time! You're usually so lively, it's really hard for me to see you like a wilted eggplant. If you have anything on your mind, talk to your brother tomorrow, and I'll answer your questions for free!" Su Kai rubbed her head and said affectionately.

"Who has something on their mind?" Lin Jiamo said, pouting.

"Haha! Still keeping it a secret! Okay! Then we'll head back first! Don't forget to remind Zhao Ye!" Su Kai waved to them and naturally helped the girl next to him walk away.

Lin Jiamo almost burst into tears as she watched their retreating figures. The large hand behind that girl must have been incredibly warm, but that protective warmth hadn't reached her at all; instead, it made her feel especially heartbroken.

Su Kai took a few steps, then seemed to suddenly remember something. He whispered a few words to the girl beside him and ran back.

Lin Jiamo quickly swallowed back her tears, wiped her eyes, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I forgot to mention earlier," Su Kai said with a gentle smile, "Could you please tell Gao Yiyi in your class to stop calling me and stop buying me water or anything like that? Please thank her for me, but... I can't be with her."

"Why?" Lin Jiamo's voice trembled slightly.

"I don't really know why, maybe it's just a generation gap. Besides, you all treat me like your younger sisters, and I just don't feel right about that," Su Kai said, scratching his head.

Lin Jiamo raised her arm, pointed at the girl standing there waiting for him, and said, "Is it because of her? Is she your girlfriend?"

Su Kai paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Yes, her name is Zheng Xue, and she's my girlfriend."

"I understand, I'll tell her! Goodbye!" Lin Jiamo didn't wait for Su Kai to say anything more before pulling Fang Hui away.

Lin Jiamo clung tightly to Fang Hui, even leaving red finger marks on her wrist, but Fang Hui didn't utter a sound. They ran until they reached a small alley and then stopped. Fang Hui hugged Lin Jiamo, gently stroking her head and said, "Cry, there's no one here. It'll be better if you cry it out."

Lin Jiamo, whose face was already covered in tears, finally let out a sob.

(5)

After that day, Lin Jiamo became depressed. She was absent-minded in both her studies and dancing, and her once rosy oval face became gaunt. She also stopped joking and chatting with others, and her temper worsened; she would easily argue with people. After being rebuffed by her a few times, Zhao Ye dared not tease her anymore. Fang Hui tried to comfort her, but to no avail.

Anyone with a modicum of sense could tell that Lin Jiamo was no pushover and would know to avoid her. But at this crucial moment, Wang Manman unintentionally walked right into her trap and became cannon fodder.

That day was a holiday, and the whole grade came to school to practice dancing. After a few laps and a break, Wang Manman walked up to Chen Xun and Lin Jiamo and asked meaningfully, "Who is the girl who always comes to you?"

"Huh? You mean Fang Hui?" Chen Xun asked.

"Yes! It's the one with the buttoned-up hem, Fang Hui, right? She's so funny!" Wang Manman said, looking at Fang Hui in the distance.

"What's wrong?" Chen Xun asked, puzzled.

"Look at what kind of pants she's wearing!" Wang Manman said with a smile as she moved closer to him.

Chen Xun and Lin Jiamo looked in the direction she pointed and saw Fang Hui talking to Qiao Ran. She wasn't wearing a school uniform; she was wearing a very ordinary collared T-shirt on top and a dark blue short skirt that had long been out of fashion.

"That's really tacky!" Wang Manman said with a laugh.

Chen Xun knew Fang Hui wasn't a fashionable girl. While other girls wore ropes or chains, she never did. Back then, F Middle School required everyone to wear uniforms, so everyone looked the same. The only place to show a little taste was on the shoes, so everyone put effort into their footwear. Boys from well-off families usually wore Nike, Adidas, and Reebok, while those from slightly less affluent families wore Li-Ning. The more fashionable girls wore platform shoes, chunky sneakers, or high-end women's athletic shoes, while the less affluent girls would buy a pair of brightly colored Pepsi or something similar. Fang Hui, however, always wore very ordinary cloth shoes, and even for PE class, she only wore domestic Double Star brand sneakers.

However, although Fang Hui was simple, she had a refined temperament and was exceptionally good at her studies, so no one ridiculed her for it. Chen Xun, in particular, never looked down on her; in other words, he didn't see any of that in her eyes. He thought Fang Hui was good no matter what.

But now that Wang Manman had said that, he felt uneasy and awkwardly said, "It's alright, I think it looks fine!"

"Not bad? Come on! I haven't seen culottes in years, I think it's been since I was in elementary school! Right, Jia Mo?" Wang Manman turned to Lin Jia Mo and said.

Lin Jiamo was already in a bad mood, and hearing this only fueled her anger. Chen Xun's answer also displeased her. She thought to herself, since everyone else was talking about Fang Hui like that, he should at least say something in response, but he seemed listless and had no intention of doing so at all. So she rolled her eyes at Chen Xun and coldly said to Wang Manman, "What's wrong with culottes? Didn't you wear shorts the other day?"

"Can they be the same? Denim shorts are all the rage this year. I just bought mine at Xidan Quanyechang a few days ago!" Wang Manman said unhappily.

"Anyway, these pants only suit certain people. Fang Hui has great legs, so she looks good in anything, right, Chen Xun?" Lin Jiamo said to Chen Xun provocatively.

"Yes! I think it looks great!" Chen Xun said happily, oblivious to her hidden meaning.

Now it was Wang Manman's turn to be angry. She was pretty and tall, the only flaw being that her calves were a little thick. She felt that Lin Jiaming was praising Fang Hui while subtly belittling her, especially in front of Chen Xun, which made her lose face.

She snorted and muttered, "Fine, fine, you're both in the same class. I'm not talking to you two anymore. He's just a country bumpkin. Why are you protecting him like this?"

"Wang Manman, don't talk about her like that!" This time, Chen Xun finally couldn't hold back and said fiercely.

"Are you ever going to stop?!" Lin Jiamo said almost simultaneously.

"What's wrong! Who is she? You're not allowed to talk about her!" Wang Manman also got anxious and shouted back with glaring eyes.

"Of course I can't say that. She's my good friend and his girlfriend!" Lin Jiamo finally felt a little relieved and said with a smug look on her face.

"Huh?" Lin Jiamo's words made Wang Manman forget her anger instantly. She looked at Chen Xun in surprise, her face full of disbelief.

Chen Xun glanced at Lin Jiamo. Lin Jiamo knew she had let something slip, so she didn't argue anymore and simply said, "What? You don't believe me? I didn't lie. She is Chen Xun's girlfriend."

"Really?" Wang Manman asked Chen Xun with a mournful look.

"It's true." Chen Xun nodded generously. "Don't tell anyone else."

After dance practice ended, Lin Jiamo pulled Fang Hui aside and looked her up and down, saying, "Don't wear this outfit tomorrow."

"Huh? What's wrong?" Fang Hui asked, puzzled.

"Nothing much, it's just that Wang Manman was talking about you today, saying you're no longer wearing skirts and pants." Lin Jiamo said casually.

"Oh." Fang Hui forced a smile, her hand unconsciously tightening around the hem of her clothes.

"It's okay, I've already pushed her back. She thought she was so cool, look at those thick legs!" Lin Jiamo patted her shoulder and said.

"Well, you don't need to argue with her about this. I know myself; I'm a bit unsophisticated," Fang Hui said self-deprecatingly.

"But that happened right in front of Chen Xun! You may not care, but he will."

"Is he here too?" Fang Hui stopped and looked at Lin Jiamo with concern.

"Yes, but don't worry, he's still on your side!" Lin Jiamo waved and said.

"So what did he say?"

“He…” Lin Jiamo stammered, then suddenly remembered that Wang Manman already knew about them, and hurriedly said apologetically, “He said you are his girlfriend and told her not to say such things about you. I let it slip, and that’s why he admitted it. I’m sorry.”

Fang Hui was stunned. Her heart was pounding. On one hand, she was secretly pleased that Chen Xun had bravely admitted it and firmly defended it. On the other hand, she was worried that their affair would get out. Wang Manman wasn't a classmate, so the effect was even more terrible. Once it spread, it would be a secret known to the entire grade.

"Don't be angry. I've been so confused these past few days, I've been talking nonsense, really..." Lin Jiamo said, shaking her arm.

"Well, the truth will come out eventually. I think this will be exposed sooner or later. Sigh... I hope she keeps her mouth shut and doesn't let the teachers find out," Fang Hui said helplessly.

“She definitely wouldn’t dare,” Lin Jiamo said. “But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Once your relationship is public, probably no one will want to mess with Chen Xun anymore. Didn’t you see how intimate Wang Manman and Chen Xun were? It was like she was Chen Xun’s girlfriend! She’ll definitely give up now!”

"Hehe, maybe she'll feel more at ease when she sees someone like me who's no threat," Fang Hui said, looking at Lin Jiamo. "Speaking of which, after seeing Zheng Xue, have you given up on Su Kai?"

Lin Jiamo fell silent. After that day, she inquired a little about Zheng Xue. That girl was a well-known beauty in the second year of high school, quiet and gentle, good at studies and popular. It was said that many people liked Zheng Xue, but she ultimately chose Su Kai. Their story was the talk of the town in the second year of high school, as if they were a match made in heaven.

These two weren't in the same class, but they fell in love almost instantly; their meeting was quite romantic. Su Kai forgot his textbook, so he went to Zheng Xue's class to borrow one. He originally intended to find a basketball team teammate, but instead, he ran into Zheng Xue. In that one glance, he was captivated by this girl with big eyes who resembled Vivian Chow. So, he deliberately struck up a conversation and borrowed a book from Zheng Xue. Borrowing books is a timeless trick in school—you always have to return them. And so, naturally, they fell in love. Lin Jia Mo knew that she and Zheng Xue were different types of girls; upon closer comparison, Zheng Xue seemed to have the upper hand in every aspect. But she still loved Su Kai, loved him so much it hurt.

When you're young, nothing is more heartbreaking than this, and Lin Jiamo was caught in this emotional turmoil, her life fluctuating.

"It seems she still hasn't given up." Lin Jiamo looked at Fang Hui with a bitter smile and said, "I'm so, so, so unwilling. I haven't even had a chance to tell him that Gao Yiyi is me, and that I am Gao Yiyi..."

"Don't think about it anymore. Isn't it good as it is now?" Fang Hui sighed, also affected by her sadness.

"Hmm! Even if we can't be girlfriends, being friends is fine too." Lin Jiamo sniffed and said, "I'll watch him play basketball, bring him water, call him when I get home, wait for him after school, and save up my one dollar from SK! I'll do so many things for him until he graduates, and then stand in front of him beautifully and tell him that I actually really like him..."

Lin Jiamo squatted on the ground and cried softly. Fang Hui leaned against her and put her arm around her shoulder.

"Fang Hui, am I really that bad?" Lin Jiamo looked up and asked, her eyes blurry with tears.

"No, Jia Mo, no..." Fang Hui's eyes also reddened. She wiped away Lin Jia Mo's tears while wiping away her own.

"Hehe, stop crying, why are you crying! So silly..." Lin Jiamo, still with tears in her eyes, stood up. She wiped her face vigorously, took a deep breath, and sang loudly:

"Watching her walk towards you, what a beautiful sight. If I were to cry, it would be out of joy. It's not easy for two people on Earth to meet. Even if I can't be your lover, I'm still grateful... I love you so much, so I'm willing to let you fly to a happier place. I love you so much, only when you have love can I feel at peace..."

Fang Hui gazed at Lin Jiamo's radiant figure in the sunset and suddenly felt a deep sadness. In that instant, she realized that liking someone wasn't just a beautiful thing between two people; it could also cause someone's heart to break. The feelings might be the same, yet the outcomes were either joy or sorrow, and it wasn't a simple matter of right or wrong. She couldn't imagine what would happen if someone else entered her and Chen Xun's lives, what she would do.

In the twilight of midsummer, Fang Hui shivered.

(6)

On the day the exams ended, Lin Jiamo handed in her paper early so she could celebrate Su Kai's birthday alone. She grabbed a gift and waited anxiously outside Su Kai's exam room. Su Kai was one of the last to come out. Seeing Lin Jiamo standing at the door, he exclaimed in surprise, "What are you doing in our class? Didn't you take the exam?!"

"How could that be! I handed in my paper early!" Lin Jiamo pulled him aside into the stairwell and said.

"You scared me..." Su Kai patted his chest and said, "What happened? Is something wrong?"

"It's nothing," Lin Jiamo said, looking down at her toes. "Isn't today...today your birthday? Happy birthday!"

"You came all this way just to tell me! Thank you so much!" Su Kai said with a happy smile.

"Um...and...this is for you!" Lin Jiamo took out a wrapped cartoon paper bag from her schoolbag and awkwardly handed it to Su Kai.

"Wow! There's a gift too? I'm so touched!" Su Kai excitedly opened the paper bag, inside was a pair of Nike wristbands.

Lin Jiamo brushed a stray hair behind her ear and said, "Hey, I gave this to myself..."

"Okay! I know, thank you! But this thing is quite expensive, isn't it? Why spend so much money?" Su Kai carefully reassembled it and said.

"It's not too expensive... but you must bring it with you when you play ball from now on!" Lin Jiamo emphasized.

“Okay! I’ll bring it every day!” Su Kai solemnly promised.

Lin Jiamo watched with satisfaction as he put the gift back into his schoolbag. Because of the exam, there weren't many books in there, and a red thing stood out among them.

"What is that? Is it a gift from Zheng Xue?" Lin Jiamo asked, feeling a little uneasy.

"This?" Su Kai took it out and showed it to her, saying, "No, it's a novel. Zheng Xue wanted to read it, so I borrowed it for her. It seems to be quite popular lately. It's called 'First Intimate Contact.' Have you read it?"

"It's 'First Intimate Contact'! I know, I've always heard people say it's very touching!" Lin Jiamo took it, flipped through a couple of pages, and said with great interest.

"Want to see it? If you want to see it, you can take it!" Su Kai said with a smile, looking at Lin Jiamo, who was holding the book with great affection.

"Huh?" Lin Jiamo looked up in surprise and hesitated before saying, "No need... that wouldn't be good, Zheng Xue still wants to see it."

"It's okay if it's a couple of days later, you can read it first." Su Kai took Lin Jiamo's schoolbag and stuffed the books inside without saying a word.

"Thank you!" Lin Jiamo said happily.

"Don't mention it!" Su Kai waved his hand and said, "By the way, let's have dinner together later, at Yuhua Restaurant, it's my birthday and you're treating!"

Before Lin Jiamo could say anything, Su Kai turned his gaze to the other side and waved vigorously. Lin Jiamo turned back to look and saw Zheng Xue walking gracefully towards them with her schoolbag on her back. She nodded to Lin Jiamo and turned to Su Kai, saying, "How did the exam go?"

"Not bad, passing shouldn't be a problem!" Su Kai said with a smile.

Lin Jiamo then remembered that Su Kai also had an exam, but she hadn't even asked him about it, as if she was afraid of losing out. She hurriedly said, "Yes! You always talk about Zhao Ye, but what about yourself?"

"You don't trust me that much?" Su Kai raised his chin and said, "If I didn't have this much ability, I wouldn't be the captain of the school team! Besides, I have a secret weapon!"

"What secret weapon?" Lin Jiamo asked curiously.

Su Kai looked at Zheng Xue and smiled gently, saying, "Ask her."

Lin Jiamo looked at Zheng Xue with suspicion. Zheng Xue lowered her head shyly and said, "Don't listen to his nonsense. He just took a few of my notes to look at before the exam."

“You’re She-Ra! That already grants me power!” Su Kai joked without any hesitation.

"Alright, alright!" Zheng Xue gently patted Su Kai and said, "Are we leaving now? Jia Mo should come along too."

Lin Jiamo felt a pang of sadness watching them flirt. She forced a smile, shook her head, and said, "I'm not going. You two have fun!"

"No way! It's my birthday today, you have to go! Don't worry, everyone's someone you know, Zhao Ye will be there too!" Su Kai said.

Just as Lin Jiamo was about to decline again, she heard Zhao Ye's voice from afar. He ran over and looked at Lin Jiamo with surprise, saying, "What are you doing here! Su Kai asked me to invite you to dinner, but I haven't had a chance to tell you yet! I was so anxious when I saw you hand in your paper so early! So you already knew!"

Lin Jiamo, of course, had no idea that Su Kai had wanted to invite her along, and she couldn't very well tell them that she had handed in her paper early to give them a gift, so she just mumbled "uh-huh" and reluctantly went to Yuhua Restaurant with them.

If you disregard Lin Jiamo's girlish feelings and melancholy, the meal was quite enjoyable. Most of the attendees were from the basketball team; only Zhao Ye and Lin Jiamo were from the first year of high school. During the meal, Su Kai, while taking care of Zheng Xue, also made sure to serve Lin Jiamo a few bites of food.

The boys on the basketball team ate with incredible gusto. The moment a dish was served, before Lin Jiamo could even pick up her chopsticks, countless pairs of chopsticks around her had already swiftly reached for it. When the next dish arrived, and she had prepared her chopsticks beforehand, everyone was already grabbing food with their hands.

Zhao Ye cried out that he had been wronged, and said pitifully, "You guys are so unfair! You don't even know how to give way to us! You're bullying us because we're young!"

Su Kai laughed and scolded him: "Get lost! If you're considered young, then there are no adults in China."

While serving Lin Jiamo soup, Zhao Ye said, "See? We have to fend for ourselves! You'd better eat more, they won't let you have any!"

"Of course, we're nothing compared to how considerate you are!" Su Kai replied meaningfully.

Lin Jiamo's face immediately darkened, and Zhao Ye, feeling embarrassed, picked up a soup spoon and flung it at him. Zheng Xue, standing to the side, tugged at Su Kai's sleeve and said, "Stop teasing him."

"I know, I know, our Zhao Ye is learning from Lei Feng, doing good deeds, and enthusiastically helping female classmates, LADYFIRST!" Su Kai said with a mischievous smile.

"Yes! I'm doing a good deed! Zheng Xue, give me your bowl! I'll serve you some too!" Zhao Ye said shamelessly.

"Go away! Go find somewhere cool to rest!" Su Kai said, blocking his hand.

"Tch! Jia Mo, look at him, he still has the nerve to talk about me!" Zhao Ye chimed in from the side.

None of these people knew what Lin Jiamo was thinking. She saw it all and felt the pain in her heart, growing increasingly heartbroken. Ignoring Zhao Ye's teasing, she picked up the glass beside her, filled it with beer, stood up, and said, "We've been eating so much, we haven't even had a chance to wish you a happy birthday yet! I'll start! Happy birthday to you!"

Su Kai raised his glass and said, "Jia Mo is the most conscientious one! Thank you, but once a day is enough, otherwise I'll feel older than you!"

Zhao Ye, standing nearby, exclaimed in surprise, "You've already wished them well once?"

Lin Jiamo nodded with a wry smile and raised the cup to her lips.

Su Kai quickly called out to her, "Hey! Little girl, that's enough! You're really going to drink it? Zhao Ye, why aren't you doing anything about it now?"

Zhao Ye tugged at Lin Jiamo and said, "You don't need to drink it, just take a sip. I'll drink the rest for you!"

"It's okay, I can handle it!" Lin Jiamo tilted her head back and gulped down the wine.

The seated basketball players below clapped and cheered, constantly urging her to drink more. Lin Jiamo didn't refuse. That day, she wished Su Kai a happy birthday countless times, taking a sip each time, as if she wanted to collect enough birthdays for Su Kai's entire life. Zhao Ye and Su Kai couldn't stop her and could only watch helplessly as she gradually became drunk.

After the party ended, Su Kai gave a few words of advice and then left with Zheng Xue. Zhao Ye took Lin Jiamo home, and it was quite a struggle for him to settle her on the crossbar of his bicycle, holding her tightly with his arm. Lin Jiamo leaned against Zhao Ye's chest, feeling dizzy, and hummed "I Love You So Much" indistinctly.

Zhao Ye knew he couldn't just send her back like that, so he took her on a ride around the Second Ring Road again and again.

When Lin Jiamo sobered up, it was already dark. She leaned on the handlebars, no longer singing or leaning on Zhao Ye. A sweet summer breeze blew between her back and Zhao Ye's chest.

Zhao Ye pedaled hard on the bike and asked, "Are you dizzy? Still feeling unwell?"

"No," Lin Jiamo said, closing her eyes and letting the wind blow through her.

"You know what? I've already taken you to the Yonghe Temple twice!"

"oh."

"Shall we go home now?"

"Um."

“Jiamo…”

"ah."

You're actually not happy today, are you?

"Um?"

Zhao Ye took a deep breath and said, "You must be unhappy, because when you're unhappy, I feel bad too."

"..."

Lin Jiamo didn't answer; she secretly cried because behind her, Zhao Ye started singing "I Love You So Much." He sang it all the way home, until he took her home.

Fang Hui said that from then on, Lin Jiamo underwent a kind of transformation. She couldn't quite describe the feeling, but suddenly Lin Jiamo became calm and reserved. Her emotions seemed to have undergone a distillation process, becoming more beautiful and pure. In this process, Lin Jiamo seemed to have grown up a step ahead of her. And just that one step led their lives in different directions.

(7)

That summer slowly slipped away amidst the cacophony of loudspeaker music and chaotic group dances.

After that, Fang Hui never wore skirts or pants again. The school provided her with T-shirts and black pants specifically for group dances. The T-shirts came in red and yellow, with a large, flamboyant "Dance" character printed on them. This relieved Fang Hui; her only hope was to blend into the crowd and avoid being noticed, and this group uniform was a great help to her.

After summer vacation started, F Middle School required the first-year students to come to school every morning, except for weekends, to practice group dance for three hours. Fang Hui found the daily commute too hot and troublesome, so she simply stayed at her grandmother's house.

Her grandmother's house was in Dongcheng District, in one of those typical large courtyard houses found in Beijing's hutongs. Three or four families lived there, and neighbors greeted each other according to their family seniority, addressing each other as "Third Uncle" or "Elder Aunt," as if they were one big family. Fang Hui's family occupied a north-facing room and a half-room west-facing room added later. The elderly couple lived in the north-facing room, while Fang Hui stayed in the tiny west-facing room, about the size of a pigeon coop. There was a communal water tap in the courtyard; when people saw each other while fetching water, they would politely say, "Please go first, please go first!" However, there was no toilet; to relieve oneself, one had to use the public toilet in the hutong. A little north of the toilet was a small grocery store where Fang Hui used to buy chilled plum juice as a child; now it had a freezer and sold high-end ice cream. Further along, at the small opening, there's a big locust tree. In the evenings, a group of shirtless men, young and old, gather there. Some play chess, others chat about current affairs. It's said that people near the capital love to talk politics; the "Do Not Discuss State Affairs" sign in Lao She's *Teahouse* is absolutely true. Even now, ordinary people still can't control their mouths. Occasionally, women in loose vests and trousers gather together, chattering about whose second daughter and fourth son are doing this or that. When the older folks meet, they always greet each other with, "Have you eaten yet?" or "Want to go for a walk this evening?"

In modern terms, Fang Hui was enjoying reliving the rich old Beijing culture, so she didn't find it too boring.

After dance practice, Chen Xun and his friends would always go to Fang Hui's grandma's house to play together for a while. At that time, he was addicted to playing the guitar. He had already mastered songs like "Little Grass" and "I Am a Little Bird" and had started practicing new pieces like "Love in the Dust" and "Those Flowers." When his feel was good, he could even play a bit of Xu Wei's "Elsewhere." Qiao Ran also learned guitar during the summer vacation, but he was still only at the beginner level of "My Deskmate." The two of them often carried their guitars together and took turns playing and singing in Fang Hui's little house. Lin Jiamo and Zhao Ye didn't know how to play, so they would sit on the small stools next to them and listen. Fang Hui's grandparents always prepared a lot of delicious food for them. As soon as they arrived, they would cut watermelons and boil corn, and take a large steel seed basin and put it on the ground to throw the husks and spit out the seeds. The house was small, and it was even hotter when the sun was shining from the west. Fang Hui would turn the old, creaky Huazhu brand fan on full blast, and then each of them would use a palm leaf fan to fan themselves. If there were mosquitoes, they would light a mosquito coil at the door.

Fang Hui laughed and said, "You can imagine how messy and leisurely they were back then. The sounds of guitars, fans, and conversations mingled together, and the smells of mosquito coils, watermelon, and sweat all blended together. Perhaps because we couldn't see the parting, time always seemed to move slowly."

Hearing her say these things in the air-conditioned Australian cottage filled me with a sense of sadness. Firstly, because I realized the pain of growing up was becoming increasingly clear to her; secondly, because she didn't seem to find genuine comfort in me. I suddenly doubted myself—whether I could truly elicit such a genuine smile from her in front of me. Between us, if there were no past, would there be a future?

However, Fang Hui did not notice my thoughts. Her thin lips moved slightly as she slowly began to utter Chen Xun's name again.

Chen Xun's birthday is fast approaching. It's the same day as mine, so he's destined to face the same problem: few remember the date, many forget, and we all grow up during summer vacation every year. Therefore, Chen Xun habitually celebrates his birthday with his childhood friends, not with his classmates. Now, with Fang Hui involved, things are different. He can't ignore Fang Hui, so these people will inevitably meet again. The way their last meeting ended made Chen Xun very uncomfortable, and he decided to mediate the conflict between the two sides. Because neither Fang Hui nor Tang Haibing are people he's willing to abandon. Moreover, given Chen Xun's personality, he doesn't want to dwell on the past. He feels that since it's all in the past, and it wasn't a happy time, then he should just forget about it.

The day before, Chen Xun called each of his childhood friends, firmly stating that he would definitely bring Fang Hui, so no matter what had happened to Fang Hui in the past, they shouldn't hold it against him. He himself didn't care, so they had even less reason to care. Anyway, he just liked Fang Hui, and there was no other way.

Sun Tao and Yang Qing agreed quite readily. Yang Qing had recently read many of Xi Juan's novels and was particularly moved by them. She said that Chen Xun's actions for a girl were incredibly manly, and that such love should be celebrated, promoted, and made into a novel and a movie—in short, it shouldn't be destroyed. She firmly stood by their side, resolutely opposing any evil forces that tried to separate them, and even vowed that if they eloped, she would definitely help them get tickets. She even specifically asked if they would travel to Shanghai and then change ships to Hong Kong, as that would fit the storyline and have a nostalgic feel.

Sun Tao remained calm. He completely ignored Yang Qing's girlish romantic fantasies and sincerely told Chen Xun that he didn't have much of an opinion on this. After all, Fang Hui was Chen Xun's girlfriend, not his. If Yang Qing had acted the way she did before, he would have dumped her long ago. But as a friend, his stance on this matter was singular: Chen Xun's own happiness. As for whether Fang Hui could make him happy, Sun Tao theoretically had reservations.

Chen Xun and Yang Qing didn't like what he said. Yang Qing cursed in fluent Beijing dialect on the other end of the phone: "You son of a bitch! You son of a bitch! You son of a bitch? I'll beat you to a pulp, you hear me? Say it again and I'll fight you to the death!" Seeing that he was in trouble, Sun Tao quickly hung up the phone. Chen Xun had already said everything Yang Qing wanted to say, and he was frustrated on the other end of the phone for a long time before he contacted Wu Tingting.

After listening to Chen Xun's confident statement, Wu Tingting pondered for a while. She shared Sun Tao's thoughts; she still couldn't quite accept Fang Hui. She felt the two weren't a good match—the one with more experience was too sensitive, while the one with less experience was too impulsive. Such a union was destined to disrupt their lives, and the harder they tried to get closer, the more painful it would be. However, Wu Tingting didn't say these things explicitly, only reminding Chen Xun that Fang Hui was different from her and couldn't remain indifferent. If Chen Xun was serious, he had to be more understanding. Chen Xun knew she was thinking of Bai Feng again, so he didn't say anything more. In the end, Wu Tingting still promised to take care of Fang Hui and advised him to talk to Tang Haibing about it himself, since only he had witnessed the situation and had the deepest emotional baggage.

In the evening, Chen Xun went to find Tang Haibing. They had lived in the same alley when they were children, but as Beijing developed, they moved around and were now scattered in different places. Chen Xun rode his bicycle between the red brick buildings, recalling the days when he and Tang Haibing would ride their parents' old Forever brand bicycles through the alleys. Back then, he was too small to even reach the seat, and Tang Haibing was always there for him. Whenever he fell because he couldn't brake in time, Tang Haibing would immediately get off to help him, and Chen Xun would always willingly clear the way for him, ringing the bell on the handlebars loudly. They always did these things naturally back then, and even now, Chen Xun felt that they should still be like that. Since he liked Fang Hui, Tang Haibing should play along too; it wasn't a big deal, and it shouldn't make them so unhappy. Thinking this, Chen Xun pedaled a few more steps.

When Chen Xun arrived at Tang Haibing's building, he happened to catch Tang Haibing returning from buying cigarettes. Tang Haibing waved happily, pointed to a shady spot nearby, and walked over.

"What brings you here today? Aren't you dancing right now?" Tang Haibing said.

"Damn! We jump in the morning, jumping now would be unbearably hot! I knew you forgot! What day is it tomorrow?" Chen Xun said, parking the car properly.

"I haven't fucking forgotten! It's just your birthday! What are your plans for tomorrow?" Tang Haibing pulled out a cigarette and said, "Want one?"

"No, no! I want to eat together first, and then go ice skating at Ditan Park," Chen Xun said, pushing his hand away.

"I'd forgotten you were a good student! Fine! Then I'll come find you with Sun Tao and the others tomorrow!" Tang Haibing took out a lighter, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag.

“Sea ice…” Chen Xun hesitated before speaking.

"ah?"

“I’ll take Fang Hui with me tomorrow,” Chen Xun said, looking straight at him.

Tang Haibing was stunned for a moment, then threw the cigarette on the ground, stomped on it hard, and shouted, "You still haven't given up! How come you're so stubborn! Fang Hui, she..."

"So what if the guy she liked in middle school died? What did she do wrong?" Chen Xun interrupted him. "So what? She didn't kill him, what did she do wrong?"

"You don't understand! That woman is a master at manipulating people... damn it! Think about it, if Li He hadn't tasted the sweetness, would he have risked his life for her?" Tang Haibing said angrily.

“She didn’t let Li He go and fight with anyone! Haibing, believe me, Fang Hui isn’t that kind of person,” Chen Xun said earnestly.

“Believe you? I saw it with my own eyes, okay!” Tang Haibing pushed him away and said.

“So what if you saw it with your own eyes? You’re not Li He, how would you know what he was thinking? Besides, it was an accident! It wasn’t something anyone deliberately arranged! Fang Hui couldn’t have imagined it either! Life and death are predestined. Bai Feng has been involved in this kind of thing before, can you say he’s a bad person?” Chen Xun tried his best to defend Fang Hui.

"Damn it! You actually brought up Bai Feng for her sake! Let me tell you, don't say that in front of Tingting! Otherwise, she'll hate you to death!"

"I know!" Chen Xun said irritably. "Hai Bing, I just like her. I don't dare to say it later, but at least for now, I'm definitely going to be with her. If you're a buddy, don't try to persuade me. Let's all have fun together tomorrow. Is it okay or not? Just say the word!"

Tang Hai looked at him coldly and said, "Fine! I understand! I won't argue with you. You're younger, so I'll let you have your way! But I'm telling you this: sooner or later you won't be able to stand it! What time tomorrow? I'll go!"

"Huh?" Chen Xun didn't expect him to agree so readily.

"What do you mean, 'Huh'? What time is it?" Tang Haibing said impatiently.

Chen Xun told him the time, and Tang Haibing didn't say anything more, turning around and going upstairs. Chen Xun felt particularly unhappy about this whole thing, but he couldn't complain. Fortunately, he finally managed to smooth things over with them, and everything was arranged except for notifying Fang Hui. Chen Xun planned to call her when he got home that evening.

But to his surprise, he couldn't find Fang Hui that night.

(8)

After returning home, Chen Xun naturally called Fang Hui's grandmother's house, but the usually kind old woman said coldly, "Fang Hui isn't here." Before Chen Xun could ask anything else, the line went dead. Chen Xun was a little confused, so he dialed her own home. Her father answered, and his tone was just as simple and indifferent. The answer surprised him even more; it was still the same: "Fang Hui isn't here."

Chen Xun was suddenly at a loss.

He found himself helpless, not knowing where she had gone, what she was doing, or even how to find her and ask her.

I imagine that feeling must have been incredibly desperate. Two people who were so close could be separated in an instant, and what's terrifying is that he didn't even know how far apart they were.

Back then, Chen Xun was still young, and he couldn't bear this disappointment. He didn't dare call Fang Hui's house anymore, so he asked his classmates and friends—Zhao Ye, Lin Jiamo, Wu Tingting, Sun Tao, Yang Qing, and so on—to call Fang Hui's house. He knew this behavior might be harassing, and he understood that it would further reduce Fang Hui's trust in him, but he couldn't care less. By now, Fang Hui's mystery was no longer an attraction for Chen Xun; to be precise, it was unease and torment.

But the result still disappointed him. Neither Fang Hui's father nor her grandmother said where she had gone. No matter how he asked, they only said that she was not there.

After almost a whole night of this, Chen Xun rode his bike to school early the next morning. He completely ignored his birthday and felt no joy or excitement whatsoever. He just wanted to see Fang Hui as soon as possible and ask her what had happened.

Chen Xun was almost the first to arrive. He didn't go inside; he just sat on the back rack of his bike at the school gate, looking around. People gradually arrived. Chen Xun was well-known and popular, and many greeted him, but he barely responded, just waving and moving on. When Wang Manman came in and wished him a happy birthday, he merely nodded. It was quite a while before Fang Hui finally arrived. She wasn't on a bike, and upon seeing Chen Xun, she quickly jogged over.

"Happy...Happy birthday." Fang Hui said with a smile, still catching her breath.

But Chen Xun showed no appreciation whatsoever. He coldly asked, "Where did you go yesterday?"

"Huh?" Fang Hui was taken aback by his question and said, confused, "I've been at home the whole time, I haven't been doing anything..."

"Is that so?" Chen Xun sneered, turned around and pushed the cart.

Fang Hui noticed his unhappiness. She suddenly remembered that she had indeed gone out yesterday to pick up the "rice necklace" she had ordered for Chen Xun at a small goods market. It was a popular necklace at the time, with a pendant that was a small glass bottle containing a clear, oily liquid filled with rice and some sparkling beads. You could write on the rice grains; the one Fang Hui had ordered said "Happy Birthday, Chen Xun." Fang Hui figured Chen Xun must be upset because he thought she hadn't prepared a gift for him. She took the necklace out of her bag, grabbed Chen Xun's arm, and said, "Oh, right! I went out for a while this afternoon, I'm going to..."

"Stop lying!" Chen Xun shook off her hand and said, "I'm asking you where you went last night! I had people call your own house and your grandma's house repeatedly, and they all said you weren't there! Fang Hui, is it really that hard for you to tell me the truth!"

Fang Hui's hand awkwardly froze in mid-air. The small bottle on the necklace dangled between the two of them before finally slipping to the ground. The small glass bottle shattered with a crack, and a few grains of rice with "Happy Birthday Chen Xun" written on them rolled and scattered, getting covered in dirt. Fang Hui looked sadly at Chen Xun and slowly withdrew her hand.

Chen Xun retorted without backing down, "Tell me! Where did you go last night?"

"At home," Fang Hui said, pursing her lips.

"Fang Hui!" Chen Xun almost shouted, "Don't..."

“At my mother’s house.” Fang Hui’s voice was soft, but it immediately stopped Chen Xun from roaring. “My mother and my father… are divorced.”

The loudspeaker on the playground announced the assembly call. Fang Hui walked past Chen Xun with her head down. Chen Xun hesitated, then tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "Why didn't you tell me..."

"I don't want to be different from others."

Fang Hui took a deep breath, broke free from Chen Xun's hand, wiped her eyes, and ran towards the playground.

Chen Xun felt as if his heart had been pierced, a sharp, agonizing pain. He silently squatted down and picked up the fragments from the ground, one by one. The white rice grains had turned black, and the faint writing on them intensified the pain in his heart. He desperately wanted to apologize to Fang Hui immediately, but then he suddenly remembered the promise he had made to her when he was pursuing her: he would never say sorry.

In fact, Fang Hui's parents divorced when she was in junior high school. That generation really experienced all sorts of misfortune. When she was young, the country had just been liberated, and the whole nation was in the process of rebuilding. They were incredibly poor and had almost nothing. During her school years, the Cultural Revolution was in full swing; all schools were closed, and no matter how well you studied, you were sent to the countryside or the Production and Construction Corps, scattered all over the country for years, thousands of kilometers from home. After the Cultural Revolution ended and the re-education of educated youth was completed, most of them were left behind in other places when jobs were assigned. Finally, national policy allowed educated youth to return to their hometowns, but getting their children's household registration was difficult. Finally, the prodigal sons returned home, and everything settled down. But after less than two years of stable life, the market economy forced them to lose their jobs.

Fang Hui's father, Fang Jianzhou, personally experienced all of these events. He wasn't very open-minded and couldn't understand why a perfectly good state-owned enterprise had gone under, why all the workers had packed their bags and gone home, and why he, with such excellent skills and the ability to draw such beautiful blueprints, was now without work. In contrast, Fang Hui's mother, Xu Yanxin, was much more shrewd. She became a self-employed individual early on, starting by selling boiled corn on the street and later trading "soft gold" cashmere. She did whatever made money, gradually accumulating capital to an astonishing figure.

Sociologists are right. The most stable marriages are those where the man has a slightly higher economic foundation and social status than the woman, while the most unstable marriages are those where the woman has a much higher economic foundation and social status than the man, like Fang Hui's parents. Their divorce wasn't because they had no feelings for each other; it was just that societal influences far outweighed their internal influences.

After the divorce, Fang Hui lived with her father and would regularly stay with her mother for a few days. Although she was unwilling to admit that her father was the weaker party, she actually understood that she was on the weaker side. She felt that her father needed her more, and having lost a complete family, wealth or poverty no longer meant anything to her. Moreover, she still harbored a slight resentment towards her mother; regardless of the reason, the result was that her mother had abandoned her for money.

I think Fang Hui's unique personality was shaped by these events in her life. However, as an observer, I, now an adult, might be able to see these things, but Chen Xun, who had just turned 16 at the time, probably couldn't understand them. Without understanding, there's no way to be considerate; without consideration, there's unintentional harm; and unintentional harm weakens the bond between them.

And for these young people, this may lead to a vicious cycle.

That day while dancing, Chen Xun was distracted. He kept his eyes fixed on Fang Hui, and as soon as the dance ended, he ran straight to her.

"Let's celebrate together later!" Chen Xun said somewhat shyly, "to celebrate my birthday with me."

Fang Hui didn't answer. Chen Xun's words that morning had hurt her a little, but it was Chen Xun's birthday today, and she didn't want to make him unhappy. If problems had arisen between them last year, she would have been timid enough to choose to break up. But this year, she couldn't make that decision, not because she had become brave enough to bear it, but because she had become more timid, too timid to leave, afraid of losing him.

"I made all the arrangements yesterday, but I just couldn't find you... I'm so incredibly anxious, I feel so uneasy. Fang Hui, from now on, no matter where I go, I'll be able to find you, okay?" Chen Xun looked at her, becoming more and more aggrieved as he spoke.

"And this... I picked them all up. I really like them. I'll wash them when I get home, and I'll keep them forever... I..." Chen Xun opened his palm, revealing a few grains of rice with "Happy Birthday Chen Xun" written on them. Because he had been holding them for so long, they were a little clean from the sweat on his hands.

"Okay." Fang Hui softened a bit and nodded, saying, "Then come with me to my mom's house first. I need to get my things. I won't be staying there tonight."

"Okay! I'll take you!" Chen Xun said happily.

On the way, the two were still a little awkward and didn't talk much. They rode their bikes around and around until they arrived at Chaoyangmen.

Chen asked, "Does your mother live here?"

“Okay, turn in from here!” Fang Hui patted him on the back and said.

That road is right next to Huapu Supermarket. Chen Xun suddenly remembered Fang Hui's unusual reaction during the spring outing and said, "Last time we came here to buy food, did you see your mom?"

Fang Hui paused for a moment and said, "Um..."

“I said it’s just across the street, why don’t you go? But it’s okay if you run into her,” Chen Xun said.

"I just don't want her to see. Turn left, we're here," Fang Hui said calmly.

Chen Xun stopped the car, looking at the upscale residential area in front of him with surprise, and said, "This is it?"

"Okay, wait for me a moment, I'll be right out!" Fang Hui said as she jumped out of the car.

At that time, most Beijingers had never even heard of duplex apartments, yet Fang Hui's mother, Xu Yanxin, lived in Julong Garden, a complex entirely of duplex houses. Looking at the lush gardens and the foreign children running around, Chen Xun couldn't help but marvel at the difference in their lifestyles. He had never imagined Fang Hui's mother was so wealthy; he couldn't tell at all from Fang Hui herself. He didn't understand why Fang Hui hadn't told him; he felt that being wealthy wasn't a bad thing, and there was absolutely no need to hide it.

A moment later, Fang Hui came out with her bag on her back. Chen Xun rode forward a couple of steps, and she jumped on top of him. Now, she was used to jumping on Chen Xun's bike.

"Where are we going? Why didn't we call Jia Mo and the others?" Fang Hui asked.

"Let's go ice skating at Ditan Park, but not with them. I spend every year with Tang Haibing and the others. We need to hurry, they've probably arrived by now."

"Huh?" Fang Hui said in surprise.

"It's okay! Don't worry, I've talked to them all. I'm going to be with you, so they won't do anything. From now on, I'll make you feel like everyone else is the same! There's nothing for you to be afraid of! But you can't hide anything from me anymore!"

"I can't ice skate..."

"I'll teach you!"

"I……"

"Hold on tight! I'm about to speed up!"

Chen Xun quickly started pedaling, while Fang Hui sat behind him without saying a word. Actually, she was extremely unwilling; she really didn't want to see Tang Haibing again, because every time they met, they would be reminded of the past, which would definitely not be pleasant. However, seeing how determined Chen Xun was, she couldn't refuse him anymore.

From that moment on, they gradually discovered their shortcomings. The fear brought by the small cracks made them nervously compromise in secret, even trying their best to mend them. However, I think they might have tried too hard, were too naive to bear it, or perhaps fate played a cruel trick on them. In short, they gradually drifted apart without realizing it.

(9)

Chen Xun arrived at Ditan Park with Fang Hui, drenched in sweat with two large watermarks on his back. Tang Haibing and the others had already arrived, and Sun Tao waved to him from afar. Perhaps due to nervousness, Fang Hui's pants got caught on the bicycle frame when she jumped off, causing the two to stumble and almost fall together.

"Damn... so fucking stupid!" Tang Haibing said disdainfully, squinting his eyes.

Yang Qing chuckled beside her. Wu Tingting nudged her and greeted her with a smile, "What's wrong? Why are you giving us such a big bow as soon as you arrive?"

"Don't be heartless! I was just worried you'd have to wait too long! My leg almost cramped up!" Chen Xun said with a smile. "Right, Fang Hui?"

Fang Hui timidly walked up behind him, looked around, and nodded as a greeting.

“We already met last time, so I won’t introduce you! Let’s have some fun today!” Chen Xun pulled Fang Hui closer to him and looked at Tang Haibing, saying, “So, Haibing, where are we going to eat today? Have you already planned how to rip me off?”

Tang Haibing lit a cigarette, casually pointed across the street and said, "Let's go to McDonald's! It's sweltering hot, and we're going ice skating later, so let's not go too far."

"Okay, wait for me to park the bike, then we'll go together!" Chen Xun pushed the bike towards the parking area.

Fang Hui didn't have time to catch up with him. She stood blankly next to a group of people, looking particularly isolated and helpless.

"Hey! You know what?" Tang Haibing walked over to Fang Hui, blew out a smoke ring, and said, "It was Li He who taught me to smoke."

Fang Hui trembled slightly, her face turning pale instantly. Wu Tingting slapped Tang Haibing on the back and said, "You! You're such a fucking loser!"

"Damn it! Go easy on me! You have a horizontal palm strike, it hurts!" Tang Haibing grumbled as he walked away.

"Ignore him!" Wu Tingting said to Fang Hui, "He has a foul mouth!"

Fang Hui nodded nervously. Chen Xuncun parked his car and ran over, grabbing her hand and saying, "What are you saying behind my back? Let's go!"

Holding Chen Xun's hand, Fang Hui felt a little more at ease. They crossed the overpass together and went to McDonald's opposite the Temple of Earth.

Several people occupied a large table, and as soon as Yang Qing sat down, she pouted and said, "Chen Xun, I want a chocolate sundae!"

"Okay, okay! Anything is fine with me!" Chen Xun said with a smile. "What else do you want? Let me tell you, this is a one-time offer! Once it's gone, it's gone forever! Don't spend more than 100 yuan."

“The Three Giants!” Sun Tao said, swaying as he held up three fingers.

"Damn it! Can you even finish eating?! You'll stuff yourself to death!" Chen Xun said angrily.

“Who says I can’t eat it! I do manual labor every day, so I need to replenish my energy! Isn’t that right, Qing’er!” Sun Tao said, glaring at her.

"Get lost!" Yang Qing punched him.

"You're such a lewd bastard!" Tang Haibing said with a malicious smile.

"Alright, you guys! There are good students here too!" Wu Tingting said, looking at Fang Hui, who was blushing.

"Tch...good students aren't necessarily good people!" Tang Haibing said sarcastically. "I want a McChicken!"

"Sea ice!" Chen Xun glared at him.

"What are you looking at! Take notes!" Tang Haibing shouted.

Fang Hui lowered her head silently, her mood sinking to rock bottom. She knew Tang Haibing wouldn't forgive her easily, and this period of time was too long and too unbearable for her.

"Fang Hui, what would you like to eat?" Wu Tingting asked her gently, trying to smooth things over.

"Whatever..." Fang Hui said softly.

“I know what she eats,” Chen Xun said, tossing down his pen. “Do you want anything else? If not, I’ll go buy it! No more orders!”

“That’s all. You sit down, give me the money, and I’ll go buy it,” Wu Tingting said, pulling Chen Xun aside.

"Okay." Chen Xun knew that Wu Tingting wanted him to stay and keep Fang Hui company, and said gratefully.

They were still young, and by the time they ate, the atmosphere among them had improved considerably. They seemed to have endless jokes to tell, revealing each other's shortcomings and recounting all sorts of old, trivial matters.

Just as Chen Xun finished recounting Tang Haibing's heroic tale of being chased all over the alley with a broom by his father, Tang Haibing immediately cleared his throat and said, "Hey! This time I'll tell you a top-secret story, one you've definitely never heard before!"

"Stop teasing me! Tell me!" Sun Tao said with a smile.

"The story is called 'Chen Xun and the Dog'..." Tang Haibing said slowly.

Hearing the name, Yang Qing laughed. She patted Tang Haibing and said, "'Chen Xun and the Dog'... You really know how to come up with something! 'The Fence, the Woman, and the Dog' too!"

"Don't fucking make this up!" Chen Xun said with a laugh.

“If I make this up today, I’ll write the character ‘Tang’ backwards!” Tang Haibing seemed determined to challenge him, raising his eyes and imitating Shan Tianfang’s voice, “Back in the late 1980s, in the East Compound of Dewai in Xicheng District, Beijing, it was a time of warlordism…”

"Damn! You still say you're not making this up!" Chen Xun said, throwing a French fry at him.

“Exactly! You need to be more concise! Do you really think you're a storyteller?” Sun Tao chimed in.

"Alright, alright! Do you guys remember the wolfhound that Old Zhang's second aunt raised?" Tang Haibing said with a smile.

“I know!” Sun Qing raised her hand. “When we first got it, it was quite small, but it grew huge in just two months! It was so fierce that I didn’t dare go to play in that yard! Later, I think it was caught by dog ​​catchers, right?”

“Yes, that’s the dog.” Tang Haibing nodded. “One night, Chen Xun and I went to the convenience store to buy popsicles. Chen Xun was craving some, so he secretly took some money from his mom and bought a bag of sticky candy. As soon as we stepped outside, we saw that dog…”

"Ah!" Chen Xun cried out in pain, grabbing Tang Haibing and saying, "Big brother! I give up, please don't talk about that anymore! Okay?"

"No, no!" Wu Tingting stopped Chen Xun, laughing as she said, "Hai Bing, ignore him! Tell me quickly, what happened next?"

Tang Haibing glanced smugly at Chen Xun and continued, "My second aunt wasn't around, and the dog wasn't on a leash; it was just wandering around by itself. He was a timid kid, and he was so scared he dropped everything. I told him, 'Don't move, pick it up and get out of here.' Everyone says dogs are afraid of people squatting, so I figured it wouldn't dare come over. But that dog was really fierce! As soon as it saw Chen Xun squat down, it thought he was going to hit it with a rock, and 'whoosh!' it pounced right there! Damn! I was so scared I grabbed Chen Xun and ran for my life!"

"Isn't it true that the more you run, the more they chase you?" Yang Qing interjected.

"Yeah! But who would have thought of that back then! And guess what? Don't let Chen Xun's small size fool you, he was a runner, he actually kept up with me! I didn't care anymore, I just darted into every alley I saw. I had just hidden myself when I saw a dark shadow 'whoosh' past, I'm not exaggerating, the speed was so fast I couldn't even tell if it was a person or a dog! A little while later, I heard the dog whining. I peeked over, and guess what? The dog was circling around, and Chen Xun was gone! Damn! He was faster than a dog!"

Everyone burst into laughter, and Fang Hui laughed too. She felt that Tang Haibing, who was talking about these things, really just seemed like Chen Xun's childhood friend, and not scary at all.

“Listen! There’s more to it! As soon as I was rescued, I went to Chen Xun’s house. He was sitting on a small stool crying. I looked up and saw a pair of wet underwear hanging on the clothesline in the yard. It was…it was the pair he was wearing just now.”

Tang Haibing couldn't hold back and burst out laughing first. Everyone was stunned for a moment, then erupted into laughter. Chen Xun, his face flushed, reached across the table to grab Tang Haibing, but Tang Haibing dodged him with a smile and said, "It's not my fault! I was just telling the truth!"

Yang Qing almost laughed until tears streamed down her face. She leaned on Sun Tao and said, "Oh my god, that's hilarious! That's a classic joke! Why haven't you told this before? And how did you get out of that alley? The dog ran away?"

"Bai Feng heard the dog barking and called Aunt Er to come and pull it away!" Tang Haibing said.

To everyone's surprise, after he said that, everyone who had been laughing and joking just moments before suddenly fell silent. Fang Hui looked at them, puzzled. Chen Xun glared at Tang Haibing, who, realizing he had said the wrong thing, lowered his head. Yang Qing looked cautiously at Wu Tingting, and Sun Tao sighed softly.

Wu Tingting didn't say anything. She picked up her cup, finished the rest of her cola, wiped her mouth, and said, "Let's go now that we've finished eating."

Fang Hui noticed that her hands were trembling slightly and quickly asked, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Everyone gave her meaningful glances, and Fang Hui was somewhat at a loss. Chen Xun quickly tugged at her from under the table.

“Okay! Let’s go then!” Sun Tao said, standing up.

As he left, Chen Xun deliberately walked over to Wu Tingting and whispered, "Are you alright? Hai Bing didn't mean it..."

“I know, you don’t need to tell me!” Wu Tingting interrupted him.

Chen Xun frowned and said, "Don't be like this, Tingting. Seriously, it's been so many years. Can you stop obsessing over it? Nobody knows where he is or if he'll ever come back. Why are you making yourself suffer like this..."

"Aren't you fucking annoying?!" Wu Tingting almost yelled at him, her eyes red. "You haven't even sorted out your own affairs yet, and you're still meddling in other people's business! What I do is none of your concern! I'm telling you this now, watch out today, Haibing is clearly up to no good!"

Chen Xun turned to look at Fang Hui, hesitated, and stopped. He stared at Wu Tingting's retreating figure for a moment, then followed her: "I don't believe Hai Bing can do anything. I can't just ignore you like this. You've always been stubborn and prone to lying, keeping everything bottled up inside. You're such a grown-up, and still like this... Don't cry! They'll see you! Otherwise, they'll all gather around and annoy you to death!"

"You fussy mom! Mind your own business!" Wu Tingting sniffed hard, then smiled and wiped away her tears.

(10)

After Fang Hui recounted what happened next, I complained a bit like a woman. I felt that if Chen Xun hadn't been talking to Wu Tingting, things would have been better. He had played the good guy, leaving Fang Hui out in the cold, and that's why all those things happened…

Now I think it's probably because I desperately wanted to be in Chen Xun's position that I had such unreasonable thoughts. Because it wasn't until much later that I understood two things: first, this wasn't the first or the last time Chen Xun had walked up to Wu Tingting like this; second, if he had been with Fang Hui at that time, what was going to happen would have happened anyway.

Just as Chen Xun was comforting Wu Tingting, Tang Haibing walked over to Fang Hui. Fang Hui flinched slightly, but still managed a smile at him.

Tang Haibing didn't smile. He frowned and said with a troubled expression, "Do you like Chen Xun?"

Fang Hui was taken aback, then nodded.

"Just like when you liked Li He before?" Tang Haibing didn't mean anything sarcastic this time, but Fang Hui still felt a shiver run down her spine.

"No...no." Her voice trembled slightly, yet remained firm.

“No, that won’t do either, you understand?” Tang Haibing lit a cigarette and said, “I know this might be a bit unfair to you, but you can’t emphasize fairness in this world. If it were fair, why did Li He die, but the idiot who stabbed him is still alive and well? Does killing someone when you’re young mean you don’t have to pay with your life? Was Li He a bad person? Did he deserve to die? No, but why did he die?”

Fang Hui's tears welled up in her eyes. She thought of Li He, and the times when they used to play "pulling roots" together, with Tang Haibing cheering and making trouble on the side. Back then, they never imagined that one day things would turn out like this.

"To be honest, I was the one who put the earthworms in your pencil case, I was the one who pulled out the valve cores from your bicycle, and I was the one who made it a rule that you had to apologize to Li He every time you spoke to another boy. And the little white flower you wore for three years—that was my idea too. You probably think I'm a total jerk, but I had no choice. No matter why, he wouldn't have died if it weren't for you. So I felt I had to do something to make things right for Li He. You know what? He really liked you back then..."

"Don't say anymore, I don't blame you." Fang Hui touched her eyes. "I still remember that day, and I burned paper money for him during Qingming Festival."

"Well, you're alright then. But you still can't be with Chen Xun. Li He is like an older brother to me, and Chen Xun is like a younger brother. I just can't accept that they're connected through you. I watched Li He die beside me, and the last thing he saw was you, even if you didn't see him. Just this one thing makes it impossible for either of us to feel comfortable looking at the other. And it's not that I'm making excuses; I know Chen Xun too well. I think there's absolutely no chance for you two, it can't be together. Don't blame me for being harsh, but to put it bluntly, I don't trust you, and of course, I don't trust him either. Isn't it just about having fun when you're young? I absolutely won't interfere if you find someone else, I might even wish you well! But Chen Xun, absolutely not." Tang Haibing said firmly, looking at Chen Xun's back.

Fang Hui remained silent for a long time, carefully going over Tang Haibing's words in her mind. Although Tang Haibing was usually quite unreasonable, he genuinely meant what he said, and some parts were indeed true. However, she couldn't give up on Chen Xun because of these words. The time Fang Hui spent with Chen Xun was arguably the most comfortable period of her life in the past ten years. It wasn't just the innocent love between a young boy and girl; more importantly, Chen Xun showed her the beauty of life. And she, who had originally been in despair...

It's like someone contemplating suicide by jumping off a building. If you ignore them, they'll just die. But if you pull them back halfway, their will to live is incredibly strong, and once they're saved, they'll never attempt suicide a second time—that's a psychological conclusion. Fang Hui's situation is somewhat similar.

Tang Haibing stared intently at Fang Hui, her hands clenching unconsciously with fear and tension, her knuckles turning bluish-white.

"I...I still...love Chen Xun," Fang Hui said, her voice trembling slightly. "Hai Bing, I won't leave him."

Tang Haibing was surprised that this timid girl, whose voice trembled, would answer him like that, so he said even more sternly, "Don't be stubborn and ask for trouble!"

Fang Hui gritted her teeth, shook her head, and said, "I can't do it."

Tang Haibing nearly fainted. He remembered that back in junior high, no matter what he did, Fang Hui never dared to resist. He had thought that this method of half-hearted persuasion and half-coercion would be effective, but he had underestimated Fang Hui's courage. Just as he was about to say something more, the pager on his waist beeped. He took it out, chuckled twice, and said, "Fang Hui, then don't blame me."

Fang Hui smiled sadly. Chen Xun, walking ahead, was as radiant as spring flowers, while Tang Haibing, walking behind, was as dark as an unfathomable abyss. Perhaps by distancing herself from the angel, the devil would no longer entangle her, but for that sliver of light, she chose to face the future and turn her back on the past.

They went to the Ditan Ice Rink and rented skates at the front desk. Fang Hui had never skated before, and the sight of the gleaming blades made her dizzy. Chen Xun smiled and helped her up. She clung tightly to Chen Xun's arm, like a small animal in a strange place, her face full of fear.

"Hey! I just noticed, why are you wearing shorts?" Wu Tingting said as she tied her shoelaces and walked over.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Fang Hui managed to stand up and looked up to ask.

"It's cold!" Wu Tingting breathed on her palms and said, "Besides, it's easy to break if you fall on the ice. Chen Xun, really, you didn't even remind me!"

"Oh, I really didn't think that much about it, but even if I did, there's no way I could tell her," Chen Xun said.

Fang Hui knew he was still bothered by not being able to find her last night, so she didn't say anything more. She smiled at Wu Tingting and said, "It's okay, it's not particularly cold."

Wu Tingting glanced at Chen Xun and then slid in.

Sun Tao and Yang Qing had already completed one lap inside, playfully rubbing against each other and laughing and joking. Perhaps fearing trouble from Tang Haibing, Wu Tingting insisted on learning to skate backwards. Tang Haibing cooperated, patiently staying with Wu Tingting and not coming over to speak to Chen Xun or Fang Hui.

Chen Xun pulled Fang Hui to the other half of the lap, held her shoulders and asked, "Are you cold? If you are, go outside and sit for a while."

"It's alright," Fang Hui said softly, her lips slightly purple.

"What do you mean, 'go for it'? You're talking nonsense!" Chen Xun grabbed her arm. "Let's get out!"

"Then will you stay with me... okay?" Fang Hui looked at Chen Xun pleadingly. The reason she had endured for so long was that she was afraid that Tang Haibing would say something to her again when she was alone outside.

"Nonsense! What else would I do if I didn't go with you!" Chen Xun rubbed her hands and said, "Look, they're almost frozen! Why don't you say anything!"

"I think it's alright..." Fang Hui smiled. Although Chen Xun kept muttering complaints, his hands were clenched tightly, and the little bit of warmth in his palms seemed to warm her up.

Once outside, Fang Hui sat on a stool, her stiff fingers unable to untie her shoelaces. Chen Xun returned the shoes, walked over, squatted down, and said, "Let me do it."

"No...no need!" Fang Hui quickly pushed him away, saying, "I can manage on my own!"

"Look at you, shivering like an old lady, come on." Chen Xun started untying his shoelaces. "If only I had thought more. I didn't realize it was so cold, otherwise I would have made sure you wore more clothes."

"Yes, I know," Fang Hui said with a smile, her hands resting on her sides.

"Are you not angry about what happened this morning? Are you happy today?"

"It's...it's pretty good."

"Really? I told you so!" Chen Xun raised his head excitedly. "Don't let their thuggish appearance fool you, they're all good people at heart! Especially Hai Bing, he's incredibly loyal!"

Fang Hui's smile was tinged with bitterness. She lowered her head, her legs swaying as she shuffled along the ground, the white socks she wore on her feet stained with a thin layer of gray.

Chen Xun tossed his shoes aside, sat down next to Fang Hui, and said, "When we were kids, we used to play a game of drawing pictures. I was the best; I had a whole set of Transformers pictures that no one else had, and they were really cool! But then a few older kids from the next alley got their eyes on them. One time they played with me, and when they lost, they tried to cheat me by demanding my set. Of course, I refused, and they got angry and tried to take it from me. Sun Tao really lived up to his name; that bastard was a coward. As soon as he saw things weren't going his way, he ran away. Only Hai Bing and I held on until Bai Feng arrived and we finally calmed things down. So, Hai Bing may look fierce, but he's kind-hearted. You get used to him after spending time with him."

Fang Hui nodded. Actually, she already knew Tang Haibing's characteristics quite well, because they had been classmates for three years, and during that time, she had fully experienced Tang Haibing's loyalty. Fang Hui didn't want to discuss Tang Haibing with Chen Xun anymore; the topic made her uncomfortable, so she changed the subject and asked, "You guys keep talking about Bai Feng, Bai Feng, but who exactly is he? Why have I never seen him?"

"Bai Feng... let's talk about it next time."

When Chen Xun saw Wu Tingting and the others come out, he stood up and waved to them.

(11)

Fang Hui wearily walked out of the ice rink with them. Her movements were stiff from wearing the heavy skates for so long; taking them off suddenly didn't feel easy. Her legs felt weak, and she landed on the ground with a limp, unreal feeling. Just like her mood, she had been suppressing her feelings for a long time. Now, it seemed like nothing was bothering her anymore, but instead, she felt vaguely lost and unsure of what to do.

After Tang Haibing left, he said he had something to do and left first. Sun Tao took Yang Qing home, and Chen Xun and Wu Tingting went the same way. Fang Hui went back to her grandmother's house. There was a bus stop across the street, so she said goodbye to them and planned to take the bus home by herself.

Chen Xun stopped her and said, "Let me take you to the station!"

"No need, it's just a pedestrian bridge, you can go now," Fang Hui said.

"Let me take you home. I'll leave after you get on the bus," Chen Xun said, turning to Wu Tingting. "Come with me to see her off, then we'll go home."

"Okay, okay!" Wu Tingting waved her hand and said, "I'm not going to be a third wheel. I'll go get the car first, and you can come back to find me."

Chen Xun smiled and said, "Okay, then wait for me."

Late summer in Beijing was still quite hot; the heat that had been baking on the asphalt during the day evaporated completely by evening. The two walked onto the overpass, Chen Xun leading the way, humming "Birch Forest," while Fang Hui followed a small step behind him.

"Come sit next to me!" Chen Xun said, turning to the side. "Otherwise, I can't see you."

"There are a lot of people," Fang Hui said, looking up at the crowd on the steps in front of her.

“No, then you go ahead of me!” Chen Xun simply turned around and stopped.

"You..." Fang Hui smiled helplessly, and Chen Xun also laughed, grabbing her and pushing her in front of him.

Fang Hui lost her balance and bumped lightly into someone next to her. The person cried out "Ouch!" and said, blushing, "What the hell!"

"I'm sorry," Fang Hui quickly apologized.

"Can't you watch where you're going?! That's a huge hole, is it for venting your anger on?" The man looked like a thug, with dyed red hair and a T-shirt that almost reached his knees. There were two other people with him, neither of whom looked like good guys.

"Watch your mouth! It didn't happen! Is it really that big of a deal?!" Chen Xun yelled at him.

"Damn it! Where did you come from?! What's it to you?!" The redhead shoved Chen Xun.

"If you do that again..." Chen Xun blocked his way, pointing at him and about to curse, when Fang Hui stopped him, saying tremblingly, "Stop arguing, forget it, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

"Get lost! I'll fuck your mother!" The red-haired man didn't hold back at all, pulling Fang Hui aside and punching Chen Xun in the stomach.

Chen Xun had never been beaten much in his life, and this punch almost made him vomit bile. He instantly became enraged and charged forward to fight the red-haired man. His two accomplices, not to be outdone, immediately surrounded Chen Xun and began punching and kicking him. Although Chen Xun was taller and bigger than them, he was outnumbered and quickly found himself at a disadvantage.

Fang Hui was going crazy. She tried to pull them away again and again, but they pushed her away each time. She shouted Chen Xun's name and yelled for them to stop fighting, but no one listened to her and no one helped her.

Finally, she used all her strength to grab the redhead's arm, crying and begging him to stop, and only then did the redhead stop. He cursed as he kicked Chen Xun again: "Let this bastard be so arrogant! Damn it! I'll beat the crap out of him."

"Stop hitting me, please...please..." Fang Hui hurriedly grabbed him, sobbing uncontrollably.

The red-haired man looked at Fang Hui with a mocking expression and said, "That guy is too annoying. This is to teach him a lesson. You heard him cursing at me just now. He can't just let it go unpunished. I have to slap him across the face. After that, we'll be even!"

"Damn it..." Chen Xun clutched his stomach, struggling to speak, but Fang Hui quickly stepped in front of him and said, "If you want to hit someone, hit me!"

"Sure!" The red-haired man seemed to have been waiting for these words. He struck quickly and ruthlessly, slapping Fang Hui across the face right away.

Fang Hui staggered from his blows, half her face swollen, and her ears ringing. Pain and humiliation surged through her, and in a daze, she felt as if she had returned to those difficult days in junior high school.

In that quiet, empty moment filled with noise, Fang Hui vaguely heard the red-haired man lean close to her and say, "You'd better watch yourself."

Chen Xun was completely enraged by the slap. His eyes were swollen and he could barely open them, but through the red and swollen slits, he could still see Fang Hui's swaying body and desperate expression. At that moment, he couldn't think rationally anymore. He rushed forward and grabbed the red-haired man's neck, shouting incoherently, "What are you doing! What the hell are you doing! Fuck your mother! I'll kill you!"

The onlookers and the red-haired friend were all stunned by Chen Xun's imposing presence. Everyone stood there dumbfounded, and no one dared to go up and offer any advice or say a word.

"Let go! Let go of all of you!" Fang Hui suddenly screamed hoarsely, "Chen Xun! Let's break up... Let's break up! I don't want to be with you anymore! I can't take it anymore! I... I want to break up!"

Chen Xun was stunned by Fang Hui's words. His hands fell limply to his sides, and he completely forgot about the red-haired man beside him who was almost rolling his eyes. He felt as if time had suddenly stopped, and he stared blankly at Fang Hui standing opposite him.

Fang Hui's hair was disheveled, her cheeks were swollen and red, and tears rolled down her cheeks like beads, her eyes filled with unconcealable sorrow.

Chen Xun was somewhat bewildered. He didn't understand why he was suddenly in such a sorry state. Just a short while ago, they were chatting together, holding hands while ice skating, sitting in the back seat of the car talking about her family, and laughing and joking as they went up the overpass... The gift he gave her that morning, though now broken into pieces, was still safely in his pocket. Everything had been fine just moments ago, so why did it feel like he was about to lose everything?

Chen Xun couldn't accept it, and he didn't want to accept it at all. He staggered towards Fang Hui, ignoring the people coming and going on the overpass, and grabbed her, sobbing, "No! I won't do it! Absolutely not! I won't break up with you!"

The bustling city below the bridge rushed by like flowing water. The two young children, still young at heart, embraced tightly in that fleeting moment of time. At that time, they did not know what the future would hold. They simply believed that being able to hold each other so close by was eternity.

With teary eyes, Fang Hui gazed at the ancient archway of the Temple of Earth across the street from Chen Xun's shoulder. She clung tightly to his clothes, yet still uttered words of farewell: "Chen Xun, we...we shouldn't be together anymore..."

"No! No way! You must be angry, right? I shouldn't have fought with them? I promise I'll never do it again, I swear, okay? I won't break up, I'd rather die than break up!" Chen Xun also cried. At an age when boys can still cry freely, he was crying because he was afraid of parting.

"No...you saw it too, it's not that you're bad, it's me...these people today were definitely here for me...otherwise they wouldn't have done this..."

"Impossible!" Chen Xun held her tightly, not giving her any room to struggle. "What have you done to offend them? Those people are thugs! I promise I will never mess with them again!"

Fang Hui smiled sadly and said, "Didn't you see? There weren't three of them. As soon as they got off the overpass, one of them went over to talk to them. I know that person; he's also Li He's friend. He used to hang out with Hai Bing and the others... Don't you understand? We can't be together anymore. Your best friend doesn't want us to be together, and I don't want to see him either. Neither of us can compromise, and even if I did, it wouldn't make a difference... I can't bear to see you like this, really... I can't bear it..."

Fang Hui couldn't continue speaking. She buried her face in the shoulder of her favorite boy and burst into tears. She was scared and confused. She felt that she had loved Chen Xun very much and had not done anything to wrong him, but in the end, it still turned out like this.

"Tang Haibing, is that right? Then let's not see them anymore. We'll only hang out with Zhao Ye, Qiao Ran, and Jia Mo. Let's study hard, go to university in another city, and stay far away from this place, okay? Fang Hui, I don't want to break up with you, please, I like you, I don't want to break up, I really don't want to..." Chen Xun held Fang Hui's slender shoulders and kept whispering in her ear.

Fang Hui could no longer hold back. She was sobbing uncontrollably, and said haltingly, "I...I like you too, I like you so much...I like you so much...I don't want to...break up..."

"Then we won't break up! We'll never break up!" Chen Xun said firmly, leaving no room for doubt.

The two hugged for a long time before slowly separating. Neither of them mentioned the word "breakup" again. The experience they had just had made them feel deeply saddened and terrified. Separation was not just something to talk about; it was too heart-wrenching for them to bear.

Chen Xun held Fang Hui's hand and walked all the way to the station. He walked very slowly and kept stopping to look at Fang Hui.

Fang Hui's eyes were swollen from crying. She covered her face with her hands and said, "What are you looking at... It's so embarrassing."

“Not at all shabby,” Chen Xun said with a smile. “Fang Hui…”

"Why?"

"fine."

"..."

"Fang Hui."

What?

"fine."

"..."

"Fang Hui."

"What's wrong with you!" Fang Hui stopped and looked at him helplessly.

"Hehe, I was just saying it. I especially love hearing you answer me." Chen Xun said shyly, "The car is here, get in. I'll call your grandma's house tonight."

But Fang Hui barely moved. Chen Xun looked at her, puzzled. She blushed and said, "Wait...wait with me one more time. I really like hearing you call me that..."

A big smile spread across Chen Xun's swollen face. He called out "Fang Hui" in a clear and loud voice, and Fang Hui responded in a clear and loud voice, "Yes."

They waited for four trains back and forth, and it was getting dark when Chen Xun suddenly jumped up and said, "Oh no!"

Fang Hui was startled and quickly asked him, "What's wrong?"

"Tingting is still waiting for me at the parking lot! How could I forget her! I have to go find her right away! Tonight! I'll call you tonight!"

"Okay, you go ahead." Fang Hui said calmly. She had thought about it too. Although Chen Xun had promised not to play with them anymore, he and Tang Haibing had been friends since childhood. How could he give up so easily?

Chen Xun's handsome and upright figure sprinted across the overpass. Fang Hui looked up at him from below and sighed softly.

When Chen Xun arrived at the bicycle parking area, Wu Tingting was nowhere to be seen. However, next to Chen Xun's bicycle, she had written two crooked words on the ground with a red brick: "BYEBYE".

Watching this childish game, Chen Xun couldn't help but feel a little lost. He remembered Wu Tingting squatting on the ground drawing hopscotch in her little floral dress and plastic sandals when he was a child, and he also remembered the promise he had just made to Fang Hui and his childhood friends that he would never see them again. Between these two thoughts, he suddenly felt particularly dejected and lonely.

(12)

"Did he really cry then?" I asked, groping for the cup in the dark. To save electricity, Fang Hui and I didn't turn on the lights at night during that period. To avoid the awkwardness of staring at each other, I always had her tell stories.

"Hmm, she's crying... Ah! Be careful! Don't touch the right side!" Fang Hui exclaimed.

Her night vision was better than mine, and she stopped me from knocking the cup Huanhuan had left behind to the ground, thus preventing it from being smashed to pieces.

I carefully moved the little bear cup to the middle of the counter and asked her, "Would you like some water?"

"I'm not drinking... Stop messing around. If I want to drink, I'll pour it myself. You're too destructive. How many cups have you broken already?" Fang Hui cleared the way for me by tidying up the books.

"Hey! Who are you trying to smack?" I laughed as I walked over with the water. "So what if I have a little night blindness? Can't a perfect 21st-century man like me have even the slightest flaw?"

"No..." Fang Hui moved to the side and said, "How about... we turn on the light? I'll think of something else. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be in this situation..."

"Look at you! You're being too polite again, aren't you? You know, the four great joys of life are 'rain after a long drought, meeting an old friend in a foreign land, the wedding night, and passing the imperial examination.' We've experienced at least one of them, haven't we? So don't be so polite with me! Let me tell you, anyone who tries to stop me from helping my fellow villagers in distress will have to deal with me!" I quickly interjected, perhaps a little shamelessly, but I was afraid she'd find her own way to suffer with me, and I was willing to do that.

"Keep joking!" Fang Hui said with a smile. "Just hang in there a little longer, and good days are just around the corner."

"Mmm." Although I agreed verbally, I didn't really think so. I wished I could spend more time with her. "Go on, I didn't expect Chen Xun to be so sentimental, shedding tears at the drop of a hat!"

"No," Fang Hui seemed a little unhappy, "He didn't cry more than a few times..."

"Pshaw! I haven't cried since I graduated from elementary school!" I said, trying to show off.

"But I think it's good to be able to cry. At least it lets people know whether you're happy or sad. If two people are together and there's no one to cry or laugh with, then I guess that's the end of it. It was better when we were young. Look at people now that they're grown up, you can't guess their joys and sorrows anymore, it's so boring."

Fang Hui spoke calmly, and I knew she was actually protecting Chen Xun. I also admit that as we grow up, we all pretend to be something we're not willing to easily reveal our joys and sorrows. We all wish we were all the same. But I still felt quite awkward. I was a little jealous of the person who could hold Fang Hui and cry his heart out at that age. He could love and hurt her with all his might, while I couldn't even protect her openly.

"And then what happened?" I asked her while secretly cursing myself for being so spineless.

"Later..." Fang Hui sighed softly and continued her story.

After returning home that day, Chen Xun couldn't hold back and called Tang Haibing. He immediately launched into a tirade of insults, cursing Tang Haibing's ancestors and leaving Tang Haibing completely bewildered. It took him a long time to understand what he was talking about.

"Damn it! It was definitely not me! If I arranged it, I'd be Sun Tao's grandson! You're one of the top students in the whole grade, are you out of your mind? Think about it, even if I dislike Fang Hui, I can't take you down with me!" Tang Haibing was also anxious and tried to explain.

Chen Xun was stunned for a moment. He thought about it and realized that Tang Haibing was right. After all, Tang Haibing was doing this for him, so it was impossible for her to include him as well. But he still said relentlessly, "Damn it! Maybe you didn't explain things clearly to them, and they took me down with them! Maybe you deliberately used a family feud! Otherwise, why would anyone bother two students like us? Fang Hui said they had accomplices who were waiting for them on the overpass. She knows them; they used to be with you guys!"

"Fuck your mother!" Tang Haibing suddenly flared up. "If I were that cunning, I would have gotten into F High School back then! Would I be wandering around like this now? Don't you ever think about whether your hairy, monkey-smart Fang Hui framed me? I'm so damn stupid! I think you're completely bewitched by her!"

"Impossible! You didn't see what we looked like today!" Chen Xun shouted.

"Hmph, let me think about it... Hmm... Maybe it was Haozi who did it. That guy's out there. Damn it, let me ask him. If he dares to touch you, I'll fucking wipe him out too!" Tang Haibing was furious. There was a "snap" sound on the other end of the phone, as if he had broken something.

“No need for that, but you absolutely have to tell them to stop messing with Fang Hui! This time it was in front of Fang Hui, but next time I won’t be polite to them! I don’t care who they are, I’m going all out!” Chen Xun said seriously.

"Come on! What can you do about it? Don't give me that crap! Let me tell you, you better focus on your studies! Your mom was so happy when you got into F High School! She called every old neighbor to tell them the good news, and my mom got so angry she gave me a beating. If you get punished for this, let's see how you explain it!" Tang Haibing said with a light laugh. "Don't worry, if they really did it, I definitely won't let them mess with you again. But I'll say it again, the essence of this matter is Fang Hui, it's not something I can guarantee will happen. Back then, Li He didn't only have me as a friend, and I'm not the only one who's holding a grudge about this. So if you ask me, you should just break up with her. You're so good, gold shines wherever it is, are you afraid you can't find someone better than Fang Hui? She's just an average person at best, and she has a criminal record. I'm just wondering what you saw in her!"

"Go away! Don't mention this to me again!" Chen Xun said irritably. "I'm wondering about you guys! What era are we living in? Do you really think you're Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei? You're not brothers who would die for each other, yet you're always thinking about going to great lengths for each other and getting revenge. If you're so capable, go find the person who stabbed you! What kind of skill is it to hold a grudge against a girl!"

"Hmph, we'll deal with that guy sooner or later, he won't get away. As for Fang Hui, we can't say she has nothing to do with him. Back then, she knew better than anyone why Li He was staking out the school gate, but she never stopped him, not even to offer any advice. After he died, she was the first to run away. Only a fool like you would treasure a woman like that! I wouldn't even take her if she were given to me for free!" Tang Hai said with a cold laugh.

"Get lost! I'm not talking to you anymore, you're no match for me! I just like her, and I won't stand for anyone to bully her! Bye!"

Chen Xun slammed down the phone, went back to his room, and lay back on the bed. He was very angry, but he didn't know who he was angry at.

After their blood-soaked birthday, they returned to their disciplined school life. Although it meant waking up early, wearing school uniforms, doing homework, and taking exams again, Fang Hui enjoyed this kind of life—steady and without fear of being harmed. After all, student life, whether romantic or not, wasn't all about romance; what was truly unforgettable was the feeling of being together every day.

Therefore, on the first day of school, Fang Hui was in particularly good spirits. She greeted every acquaintance with a big smile, as if she were bathed in a spring breeze.

Qiao Ran walked up to her and said, "Why are you so happy? I think you're the happiest person in the whole class! Everyone else is looking forward to having a few more days off!"

"Really?" Fang Hui said with a smile as she collected the homework. "Starting school is great, isn't it? We can see each other every day again."

“That’s true!” Qiao Ran smiled and said, “Where did you and Chen Xun go after dance practice that day? We were even saying we’d go get some skewers together, but we couldn’t find you anywhere afterward.”

"Ah... I have something to do..." Fang Hui stammered, "Help me count the books."

Qiao Ran took the book and said, "Let's go home after school today. I don't think there'll be much homework."

"21, 22, 23... Hmm... Okay!" Fang Hui said, stamping the notebook neatly. "How many do you have?"

“20, why are two missing? Let me count again,” Qiao Ran said, frowning.

"No need, I just counted them all. It seems there are only two missing. Who didn't hand in their summer homework?" Fang Hui asked, looking up.

"Me! Me! Wait a minute! It'll be ready soon!" Zhao Ye said, raising his hand. Lin Jiamo urged anxiously beside him, "Hurry up! Hurry up!"

Fang Hui and Qiao Ran went over and saw Zhao Ye diligently copying Lin Jiamo's homework. Qiao Ran laughed and said, "I knew it was him! He's always like this, trying to get things done right before he's even started. Jiamo won't lend him any more next time! I won't tolerate his bad habit!"

"Hey! Qiao Ran, you're really disloyal!" Zhao Ye said angrily.

"Write it down quickly!" Lin Jiamo slapped him on the back, saying aggrievedly, "How was I supposed to know he was so short! I'm never lending him money again!"