Volume One: Unforgettable

Fang Hui said, "There are always some things that people can't forget, no matter how hard they try."

(1)

The reason I chose to study abroad was because the first job fair in my senior year scared me.

Actually, I'm quite eligible, at least that's what I believe myself.

Peking University isn't exactly a top-tier university, but it's enough that I don't need to hide anything when writing my resume. During my freshman year, I took advantage of my position in the student union, using the excuse of helping move tables and chairs to strike up conversations with girls in my department. So, in the school work section, I confidently impersonated the external relations minister, taking charge of several seemingly prestigious events that actually had no more than 50 participants. Although my grades in my major courses occasionally teetered on the brink, I managed to get a passing grade of 60 thanks to my persistent pleading, flattery, and even sacrificing my charm. So, my transcript wasn't outstanding, but at least it was mostly blue. Coupled with my not-so-handsome, but still reasonably dashing appearance, I was quite confident.

"I won't even consider anyone with a monthly salary below 3,000! If the company provides a car, I'll have to ask whether it's a Sonata or a Passat! The year-end bonus has to be at least 10,000 before we can talk, otherwise, forget it!"

This is what I said to my roommate before going to the job fair that day. Although it's a bit funny, it proves that I once had boundless ambition.

My confidence nearly vanished after queuing for two hours and still failing to get into the venue. During this time, I gave a thorough explanation of population theory, social development theory, the living conditions of only children, China's employment problem, and so on.

Back in the day, when we were just born, we fought for hospital beds; when we entered kindergarten, we fought for little red flowers; when we joined the Young Pioneers, we fought to be among the first to join; when we were in elementary school, we fought for guaranteed admission spots; when we were in high school, the ratio was 1:8; when we took the college entrance exam, it was 1:4; and when we were looking for jobs, it was 1:N! We truly grew up on a single-plank bridge and advanced through the flames of war!

In the end, I came to the conclusion: We've had it really tough!

After finally getting into the venue, I thought I could finally show off my skills, but to my surprise, it was difficult to even squeeze close to the booths. Flyers and resumes were everywhere, and shouts were filling the air. Looking around, all sorts of people were using their special methods to get forward.

A male student looked down on a student from a university affiliated with the university, and loudly declared while handing over his resume, "I'm from Beijing University of Science and Technology!"

The UN General Assembly suffered a defeat.

Another boy immediately stood up: "I'm from Beihang University!"

Beijing University of Science and Technology suffered a defeat.

Another boy pushed him aside and said, "I'm from Peking University!"

Beihang University suffered a defeat.

Just as he was smugly looking down on everyone, a voice rang out from behind him: "I'm also from Peking University, a graduate student."

All the undergraduates were defeated...

This scene reminds me that the crosstalk routine "Reporting the Names of Dishes" could easily be changed to "Reporting the Names of Schools" to entertain the masses.

Further on, I saw a lot of girls crowding in front of a booth. The most eye-catching thing on the cover of their resumes was not their alma mater or their professional level, but their almost 5-inch photos, which made me think that I had accidentally entered the Super Girl selection competition.

Two girls walked past me.

A said, "Do you think there's a chance?"

B said, "It's risky. Those few second-tier foreign language students seem alright. The manager even got wrinkles from smiling at them!"

A sighed: "They did a pretty good job. You know XX from class one? She got double eyelid surgery three months in advance, and it looks natural. XXX only got it done two days ago, and it looks obviously fake. She even wore eyeliner, oh my."

B said, "That's why she took those photos that cost 380 yuan a set, just to cover it up!"

I stared at them in astonishment, thinking that the employment issue had indeed boosted domestic demand, and the cosmetic surgery and photography markets had been expanded as a result.

I finally found a company that met my requirements. Just as I was about to introduce my strengths, an older man walked over and handed a resume to the person in charge.

"Look at mine, I have relevant work experience!" he said obsequiously.

I looked him up and down and didn't think he was a fine young man of around 22, so I interrupted him: "Um... Uncle, isn't today's job fair for recent graduates? You..."

“I’m a college graduate too! Look, this is a copy of my certificate! I graduated a few years earlier than you!” he said with a righteous expression.

I thought to myself, how could this person be so inconsiderate, competing with a child for a job, and even cutting in line with such self-righteousness? I smiled and said, "You can't say that. It was a few years earlier. When you received your first paycheck, I was probably just born. When you were making your way in the business world, I was still making clay paintings. When you were on your wedding night, I had just joined the Young Pioneers. When you met me before your ambitions were fulfilled, I had just officially become a flower of the motherland, intending to dedicate my life to the cause of socialism. So, I should call you uncle, right?"

He sighed: "That's right, so while I was struggling with elderly parents and young children and had no other options, you were still strolling around, having fun while looking for a job!"

Now I have nothing to say. Look at his weathered face, he's a fellow sufferer too!

"You worked as an assistant at Company S?" the manager suddenly asked.

"Ah, yes, yes, yes!" The uncle nodded vigorously. "So I'm quite familiar with the relevant business! You can investigate further!"

Seeing that they weren't interested in me anymore, I made a sacrifice and got my resume back, which cost 5.5 yuan per copy. I wandered around the venue twice and then left.

At that time, I decided that there are many ways to Rome, and it seemed that I would have to find a roundabout way to get a job!

(2)

Actually, getting a job through family connections wouldn't be too difficult. It's just that I overestimated myself at the time, so I never considered taking that path. Now, feeling the gravity of the situation, and unwilling to settle, I've chosen to study abroad.

Studying abroad has indeed become very popular in recent years. Returning from overseas studies significantly increases one's value, regardless of whether one ends up unemployed or unemployed; the word "overseas" in their name makes them more precious than local specialties. However, frankly speaking, studying abroad isn't necessarily a guarantee of success. Those from powerful families have children who become civil servants. Those from wealthy families have children who directly inherit the family business. Those from powerful and wealthy families have children who freely develop in fields I can't even imagine. Those from poor and powerless families have children who go on to graduate school, and if they don't strive for success, they'll end up serving the public. Those from families with a little money and power, who don't need their children's salaries, and who have bright futures and aspirations for the unknown, advanced world, like me, have gone overseas.

The desire for fairness is admirable, but reality is harsh. We may be naive, but we understand the principles of things.

Later, I enrolled in New Oriental, took the IELTS exam, had a farewell dinner with my classmates, packed my parents' hard-earned money into suitcases of all sizes, stuffed berberine and Niuhuang Jiedu pills into my shoe pockets, and flew to the other side of the world wearing a down jacket with all the pockets stuffed full.

At that time, I couldn't see the future clearly. I think maybe all of us of my generation felt the same way. From choosing between arts and sciences to choosing a major for studying abroad, I felt like I hadn't taken control of my own life. Life was controlling me; it beckoned to me with its face covered, and I followed it in a daze. Because I couldn't see its expression, I didn't know whether what lay ahead was a calamity or a blessing.

My first days in Australia were a mix of emotions. I got lost, lost my bag, and at my worst, I ate three loaves of bread a day but didn't want to ask my family for money again. I was too afraid to speak in class, and rushed to work after class. Standing in the bright sunshine, gazing at the blue sky, watching the modern city and people of different races strolling by, I felt lost and sad...

Looking back now, I don't complain or regret anything. At least I didn't give up, I didn't cheat people out of their money, I didn't wallow in the Chinese community, I wasn't expelled from school, and I didn't lose face. It might sound a bit sentimental, but that's a kind of pride.

Perhaps growing up happens in the blink of an eye.

I got to know Fang Hui because of Huanhuan.

Huanhuan is my girlfriend; she arrived in Australia a year before me. Actually, dating is quite simple for international students. Being in a foreign country, it seems like you need companionship even more, so relationships naturally progress quickly. From meeting to moving in together, it only took us 28 days.

Huanhuan has her own circle of friends now, and my life has become much more colorful as a result. That day, we went to KTV with some of her friends, and halfway through the song, two more people arrived.

“AIBA! Why are you guys so slow!” Huanhuan said.

"The dog didn't bring an umbrella! (Japanese, sorry)" said the girl named AIBA, who seemed to be Japanese. "Traffic jam! Traffic jam!"

Actually, I wasn't sure what words to use to describe AIBA at the time, because although she spoke very standard Japanese in her first sentence, she also spoke fluent Chinese later on. Also, before she opened her mouth, I thought she was a boy!

AIBA is very tall and thin, wearing a large floral T-shirt, cargo pants, and a crooked baseball cap. At first glance, you would definitely mistake her for a handsome young man. So much so that when I later saw Li Yuchun, I immediately felt a special connection.

"Is this the one you found?" AIBA said, sitting down next to Huanhuan and looking me up and down.

“Yes, this is AIBA and Fang Hui, and this is my Darling, Zhang Nan,” Huanhuan introduced with a smile.

That's when I noticed the girl who came in behind AIBA.

I can't really explain my first impression of Fang Hui.

She had long, flowing hair and wore large silver earrings. She wasn't strikingly beautiful, but she possessed a captivating charm that made her unforgettable. What struck me most was the bright red dress she wore that day. The skirt was very long, reaching her ankles, perfectly showcasing her slender waist and perfect hip line.

"Hello." Fang Hui smiled at me. Her eyes crinkled when she smiled, and she looked very charming.

"Hi!" I waved.

They ignored me and went to the other side to request songs.

AIBA played a few Japanese songs, and Fang Hui sat quietly to the side.

Because of Fang Hui's unusual attire, I stole a few more glances at her. She had a beautiful figure and charming eyes, but for some reason, she exuded an air of asceticism.

"Hey! What are you looking at?" Girls are the most sensitive, and Huanhuan quickly noticed the strange look in my eyes.

"No," I quickly replied.

"You've got your eye on someone?" She pinched me.

"No way!" I hugged her and said, "Who would want her! With you, I have enough for the rest of my life!"

At the time, I wouldn't say I was particularly attracted to Fang Hui, but I felt that this girl had a unique spirit that set her apart from others.

"Tch! I'm not afraid if you're interested in me. You have no chance!" Huanhuan smiled, a smile that held a deeper meaning, making me vaguely suspicious.

"He likes women, and she and AIBA are a couple."

He looked at me with a smug grin.

"Huh?" I exclaimed.

Fang Hui glanced in our direction, and I quickly turned my head away.

Even if I had any feelings for her, they vanished instantly at that moment.

(3)

I initially thought Fang Hui's incident was just a minor episode in my study abroad experience, nothing unusual among international students; there are plenty of far more bizarre cases. Many international students are much younger than us, unable to distinguish right from wrong, unaware that youth is both an asset and a danger, which leads to some unbelievable things happening. As for Fang Hui, I'll just listen and move on; I probably won't have any further contact with her. While I'm not particularly opposed to lesbians, I do have a certain reservations about it.

Unexpectedly, not long after, we ended up living under the same roof.

It all started when Huanhuan and our chubby landlady had a falling out. Actually, they'd always disliked each other. Huanhuan often talked behind her back, saying she was old and stupid, her husband was an alcoholic and womanizer, and her son looked like the famous actor—Dali from Harry Potter. Meanwhile, the chubby landlady would often give Huanhuan a detective's look, glancing down at her husband, who wasn't exactly a decent man, and whispering something in his ear.

And so, a bag of trash completely ignited a Sino-Australian war. Huanhuan, speaking English with a Sichuan accent, had a good rant with the fat woman, but although she had her fun, the fat woman played her trump card and firmly ordered us to "GOOUT," so we had no choice but to pack our bags and leave.

Just when we were hesitating and feeling frustrated, God intervened. He generously opened a window while closing one door. Coincidentally, AIBA and Fang Hui's neighbor went back to China, and we moved in at the end of the month. Huanhuan was very proud, saying that this was a case of "when one door closes, another opens," and that the fat landlord's scheme had failed.

I wasn't so happy. To be honest, I didn't think the fat landlady was that bad; she was actually quite nice to me. Huanhuan was indeed too picky sometimes, but you have to be humble when you're living under someone else's roof. Besides, the rent for this place is higher than before, and it's farther from my school. Most importantly, the neighbors next door are a lesbian couple, and I still have some reservations about them, afraid of hearing any unusual sounds or seeing any unusual scenes.

Fortunately, it turned out my worries were unnecessary. AIBA loved going out and had several part-time jobs. He was rarely home and spent most of his time out. Sometimes, when Fang Hui wasn't around, he would bring another girl back. This made me exclaim that there could be a third party in a homosexual relationship.

Fang Hui was very quiet, so quiet that I had the illusion that no one lived next door. She seemed to have a particular fondness for red, always wearing red coats, skirts, and capes. Occasionally, when I bumped into her, the vibrant color and her serene expression always created a unique contrast, like blocks of color dividing the space, making me momentarily disoriented.

As time went on, I found it quite convenient to be with them. They had been in Australia longer than Huanhuan and I, so they knew everything: where to buy groceries cheaply, where to go on holidays, and which restaurants offered the best pay. Especially AIBA—aside from her sexual orientation, she was a great person in every way: warm-hearted, straightforward, and funny. We went to the same school, so we often went to school together in the mornings.

Once, we were traveling by train when a mistake occurred during ticket inspection. Both she and I were using expired colored tickets. AIBA said that foreigners rarely check, so every penny saved is a penny earned; after all, they profit from exploiting and oppressing our ancestors, so there's no need to be polite with them. Unexpectedly, we were unlucky and the ticket was discovered.

Looking back now, I was just an innocent young man back then, too shy to say anything when questioned by the ticket inspector. In AIBA's words, I was like a young widow who had just cheated on her husband for the first time, blushing and desperately trying to back away, almost wiping away tears with my hands on my clothes.

AIBA was unlike me. She immediately put on an innocent, girlish act, her eyes filled with tears, and said, "I'm sorry... We're from Japan... We just left in Australia two months ago. We can't speak English very well. We can't find the station. I'm very sorry..." Then, while bowing 90 degrees, she said in fluent Japanese, "I didn't take an umbrella," and I stood next to her with my mouth agape.

The ticket inspector was clearly bewildered by AIBA. He very kindly told us which platform we should get off at (we probably knew it better than he did), and didn't make us buy tickets. AIBA waved goodbye to him with a "Thank you" in Japanese, and I bowed in return.

As we pulled out of the station, I patted her on the shoulder and said with a laugh, "Why did you call us Japanese?"

AIBA frowned and said, "Australians are very polite to the Japanese. Besides, we can't afford to lose face for the Chinese!"

"Aren't you a Japanophile?" I said.

"You're the one who's a Japanophile!" AIBA glared at me. "Me? I'm just so unlucky! My life is a tragedy more Shakespearean than Shakespeare's! I was such a straight girl back then, hoping to have a passionate romance, marry a man, raise a dog, and live happily ever after. But then I finally liked someone, and damn it, she's Japanese! What's worse, she's a girl! What can I do? Fate is playing a joke on me. Can I just tell her to go back to where she came from and I'm done playing this game?!"

"Japanese? Fang Hui is Japanese?" I asked in surprise.

AIBA rolled their eyes at me: "Didn't you guys say last time that you were all from Beijing?!"

"Oh right, right! So you... you said the person you like... is Japanese." My voice trailed off.

AIBA rolled her eyes at Tian: "Huanhuan, you little wench, is just talking nonsense! She told you that Fang Hui and I are... you know, right?"

I nodded vigorously.

AIBA chuckled and said, "You think Fang Hui is really a lesbian?"

I nodded hesitantly. Actually, I felt that she wasn't in love at all. Judging from her expression, she didn't seem to have any desire to be in love with anyone.

"She's not a lesbian, she's madly in love with men, and she lives with me so that she won't have the chance to love anyone else."

AIBA looked out the window and sighed.

(4)

After that day, my curiosity about Fang Hui was rekindled.

I simply can't understand why she would put herself in such a loveless and desireless state. According to AIBA, it's probably because of heartbreak, but is heartbreak really that serious? If it were, the world's population would have been controlled long ago! I wouldn't need to come all the way to Australia to "gild my resume." However, I can't fathom any other reasons.

That night I asked Huanhuan, "If I dumped you, would you impulsively go after someone like AIBA?"

Huanhuan pinched me and said, "Hmph! If you dump me, I'll endure hardship and find a handsome and rich man sooner or later, and make you jealous!"

I grabbed her hand and said, "Wouldn't you feel physically and mentally exhausted, preferring to be gay with lesbians rather than love men anymore?"

Huanhuan pulled her hand away and glared at him, saying, "Zhang Nan, if you have any ideas, just say so. Don't try to drag me into this gay stuff! Let me tell you, I'd rather find a disabled man than a woman!"

I quickly hugged her and said, "I was just teasing you. I just wanted to see how much you care about me. Sigh, it seems like there's no way I can get you to stay chaste for me. If I die before I even get started, you'll probably be cheating on me before my body is even cold!"

Huanhuan twisted her body and giggled, saying, "How about I go find AIBA tomorrow and see if there's any possibility that you'll become gay?"

I rolled over and pinned her down, saying, "No, no, no, Miss, you shouldn't get involved in the gay world. Just stay in our 'adult' world!"

Huanhuan didn't go into the gay community; she went into the foreigners' community.

Simply put, she ran off with a foreigner.

When we broke up, Huanhuan seemed quite upset. She said she actually loved me more, but after coming to Australia, she realized that many things are very realistic. For example, Chinese people are considered inferior, and she had to be bullied by people like the fat landlord. She knew she couldn't change the entire Chinese world and make her compatriots stand tall and live with dignity, but she didn't want to live like that anymore. What could change the status quo? Find a foreigner and integrate into their lives. That way, she could argue with the fat landlord without fear of being kicked out. So, as a Chinese person, in order to live equally in Australia, she gave up her personal relationship with me and chose a foreigner she didn't really love for the sake of China's rise.

I deeply mourn our lost love and express my sincere understanding and support for Huanhuan's actions. I couldn't help but support her; what could a penniless international student like me offer Huanhuan to establish herself in Australia? How could I enable her to argue with Australians using Sichuan-accented English?

Despite what I said, I was still annoyed for a while, especially at night, when it felt really unpleasant to be alone.

AIBA sympathized with my situation, so even though Huanhuan moved away, we remained friends. Moreover, I had more opportunities to interact with Fang Hui.

That day, Fang Hui took the initiative to contact me. An unusual panic appeared on her usually calm face. She knocked on my door and said somewhat nervously, "Zhang Nan, could you... come and see me?"

I quickly followed her to their room, and I was stunned as soon as I entered. A foul stench wafted out of the door, and the entire floor was covered with some disgusting liquid mixed with a small amount of solid.

She stood next to me, blushing, and said, "This is what happened when I got back. It seems like the toilet pipe is cracked, and AIBA isn't here, so... what do you think we should do?"

I grabbed her arm and took two steps outside, saying, "Don't stay here! Go wait in my room!"

She pulled her hand away from mine and looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" I quickly put my hands behind my back and said, "I'll take care of it, you don't need to worry about it, hurry up and go! This room is uninhabitable!"

"Thank you."

I thought Fang Hui would be a little touched or something, but to my surprise, she reverted to her indifferent self and turned away. I figured it must have been my outstretched hand that made her uncomfortable.

After contacting the rental agency, I did some quick salvage work. I couldn't possibly let Fang Hui deal with all that fresh Australian seafood! Of course, I doubted she could either; if she had a solution, she certainly wouldn't have come to me.

I took the opportunity to observe Xia Hui's room, hoping to find any clues about her past, but I gave up after a while. Firstly, I couldn't see anything special, and secondly, the smell was simply not suitable for me to continue my search.

I finally got the gist of it, and I didn't want to stay a moment longer, so I headed out. But just as I was about to step out the door, I slipped and knocked over a small vase. A small stone spun around and rolled to my feet.

I picked it up and looked at it. It was a signature stone that could be found everywhere at a small stall in Beijing in a certain era. The name was drawn on it crookedly with gold and silver powder, such as "Beibei" or "Shuaishuai". I used to have one too, but I don't know where I threw it away a long time ago.

"Give it to me." Fang Hui must have heard the noise, so she came in.

"ah?"

Her expression was stern, and an inexplicable, intense sense of oppression made me freeze.

Fang Hui didn't say anything more. She snatched the stone away without even glancing at me, as if it were some kind of treasure.

Before I even had a chance to wash my hands, the stone must have been dirty. I could even clearly see that her fair hands were stained with some unclean things, but she seemed not to care at all. She just stood there beside me, her eyes unfocused, clutching her hands tightly.

"That... it's dirty..." I didn't know what to do, so I could only say that.

She trembled, as if she had come back to her senses, then stood up abruptly, walked straight to the window, opened it, and threw it out in a beautiful arc.

I stared in disbelief at her retreating figure, finally feeling that I had found the clue I was looking for.

There is a name on that stone: Chen Xun.

(5)

After that, Fang Hui stopped talking to me.

But that incident left a deep impression on me. Someone like her wouldn't even glance at a perfectly clean Australian conch shell placed in front of her. Yet, she recklessly snatched a dirty stone, and then threw it away—it was utterly unbelievable. That shabby thing with her name drawn on it was enough to make her lose control of her emotions, showing that Chen Xun was very special to her.

Fang Hui's mysterious past initially eased my heartbreak, but as time went on, I lost interest in gossiping about other people's lives. My birthday arrived in the blink of an eye. Huanhuan had been excitedly promising to give me a limited-edition watch and a romantic night at a hotel, but now I was all alone. The contrast was more intense than I had imagined.

On my way home, I passed a cake shop with a beautiful window display and shelves filled with all sorts of fancy cakes. I stood at the door and looked at one; it had a cherry cheesecake that looked incredibly appetizing, and it was Huanhuan's favorite flavor. But at the time, neither of us wanted to spend the money to buy it. She said she would definitely buy it for me to try on my birthday.

The chubby cake decorator inside smiled at me through the glass. I gritted my teeth, walked straight in, pointed to the cake, and said, "I want this one."

I chatted casually with the cake decorator, and knowing it was my birthday, he generously gave me candles and sold me a small bottle of peach sparkling wine at a promotional price. However, as I walked out alone carrying the beautifully packaged and expensive cake, I found myself feeling even more pathetic. Someone once said that in the face of loneliness, warmth is merely a desolate disguise.

I ran into Fang Hui in the apartment building hallway. Normally I would have gone up to her and said something, but I was in a really low mood that day, so I just nodded. As a result, I missed the strange expression on Fang Hui's face.

"Is today your birthday?" she asked, looking at the cake and candles in my hand.

"Hmm," I said, taking out my keys.

"August 29th?" she asked, as if she couldn't believe it.

"Yes." I opened the door and casually said, "Would you like to come in and sit down?"

I was a little taken aback when Fang Hui actually followed me in. Luckily, the cake was there as cover. I untied the ribbon and said, "Let's...let's eat together. I can't eat this much by myself."

"Cherry cheesecake?" Fang Hui's eyes sparkled as she looked at the cake.

"Haha, girls all like this, right?" I said with a laugh.

“Some boys like it too,” she said, taking out a candle.

“Yes, I like it too,” I said, and she gave me that special look again.

"What else do you like?" she asked with a smile.

She had never treated me so gently, so I perked up.

"I'm a jack-of-all-trades, I'm always out of touch with trends, I'm clueless about social situations, and everything I like is so outdated. Back when I watched Saint Seiya, everyone else idolized Seiya, but I just thought he was an invincible cockroach, and as a result, none of the girls in my class would lend me their books anymore. Besides, boys don't usually like sweets, but I do, and I honestly told everyone, which often got me laughed at... And also, these days, soda is super popular, do you know what I like?"

"Pepsi?" she asked quite seriously.

"That's so chic! I'm telling you, but you're not allowed to laugh." I waved my hand mysteriously and said, "Iced tea, Uni-President."

Fang Hui gave me a deep look, which made me almost afraid to look back.

"I'm going to try something trendy today, peach flavor, wanna have some?" I shook the small bottle in my hand to hide my nervousness. Fang Hui's eyes followed the light pink glass back and forth, and finally she fixed her gaze on me. That kind of gaze made me feel confused. I didn't know if I had done something or what, but Fang Hui was a little...special to me today.

Just as I was lost in thought, she lowered her head and said softly, "Okay, give me a cup."

I took out two mugs and poured the wine into them. One of them was Huanhuan's; she didn't take it with her, and I didn't throw it away either. It turns out that people have an incredible obsession with the past.

Fang Hui had already lit the candles, and the whole room was enveloped in a soft halo of light, romantic yet unreal.

"Sorry, I ate some cherries." Fang Hui pointed to the small piece of cake that was missing and smiled mischievously. At that moment, I thought I was hallucinating.

I picked up a cherry and popped it into my mouth, then spat it out after a few tries. The cherry stem had tied a neat knot, a masterpiece of my tongue.

"If you can tie a cherry stem into a knot, it means you're good at kissing!" I said nonsensically, not knowing what to do or say to Fang Hui.

Because they are different, truly different.

Unfortunately, the knotted cherry stem didn't save me from embarrassment; on the contrary, it had a effect that I still can't quite say whether it was good or bad.

Fang Hui's usually pale cheeks flushed slightly pink, and her eyes were misty. She looked at me through the cherry blossoms, raised her glass, and said with a slight movement of her lips, "Happy Birthday!"

She downed the peach wine in one gulp; perhaps sweet things evaporate most easily, and a tear slid from the corner of her eye.

Then she burst into tears.

In that instant, I suddenly understood.

Tonight, every word Fang Hui spoke, every cute little gesture, every smile, and every tear was not for me.

I waited silently until her shoulders stopped trembling, then asked her, "Is today also Chen Xun's birthday?"

Fang Hui raised her head, and the vivid face that had been there just now had disappeared. This was the real Fang Hui in front of me.

Strangely, I felt somewhat uncomfortable after discovering this.

"Do you believe it? There are always some things that people can't forget, no matter how much time passes or how far they hide. Just a little bit is enough to hold onto something in your heart." She gently said, holding Huanhuan's mug. "You share the same birthday, August 29th, both Virgos..."

Later, on my and Chen Xun's birthdays, Fang Hui slowly told a very long story in my little house in Australia. It was so long that I stood on one side of the sea and saw the other side. It was so long that I relived those years and months with them. It was so long that it spanned a full ten years. It was so long that I saw my youth suddenly turn into gray hair...