Chapter Thirty-Seven

—A complete record of the 8th anniversary celebration of the No.1 High School of the city and the 2024 graduation ceremony of the senior class.

At the center of the stage, a giant LED screen displayed a countdown: "08→00".

Xu Li, in a white shirt and ginkgo-embroidered tie, and Tan Yuze, in a dark gray suit and a dark red pocket with a ginkgo leaf tucked inside, stood side by side.

Xu Li: "Respected teachers, dear alumni, classmates, and friends—"

Tan Yuze: "Good afternoon, everyone! This is the live broadcast of the eighth anniversary celebration of the No. 1 High School of the city, which is also the graduation ceremony of the 2024 graduating class!"

Fireworks shot into the sky, and colorful confetti rained down like a sudden downpour.

Xu Li listened to the cheers and added with a smile, "Eight years is the time it takes for a ginkgo tree to grow from a sapling to a tall and graceful tree; it is also the time it takes for us to grow from children to teenagers."

Tan Yuze raised his hand to signal the band, and the drumbeats began—

"Next, please give a round of applause to yourselves, and to all of us who make this campus shine!"

The large screen displays the school anniversary theme text:

The countdown reached zero, the stage lights instantly illuminated, and the school anniversary celebration officially began.

[Scene] The teaching building corridor has been transformed into a 200-meter light and shadow tunnel, with graduation photos, homework books and sports meet bibs from previous years hanging in the air.

[Interactive] Each photo has an NFC tag attached. Simply tap your phone against the tag to hear a 30-second voice message from an alumnus.

[Feature] Xu Li passed by the 2016 class photo, her fingertips lightly touching it, and a familiar voice rang out—it was Old Cao's shy voice from eight years ago, "You are my first class of students." She turned back and smiled at Tan Yuze: "So Old Cao can be so nervous that he stutters too."

Forty-two drones spelled out a giant infinity symbol and an 8, before slowly lowering a 40-meter-long banner made of 800 real ginkgo leaves pressed into a film.

"From this moment on, we are all part of the growth rings of our alma mater."

Lu Yi was remotely controlling the broadcast from the ground, while Zhu Yu was live streaming with a gimbal; the chat was flooded with comments.

[Lu Shuai: How many college entrance exam points is this move worth?]

[Director Zhu: No fees charged, only screams.]

Xu Li and Tan Yuze watched from the side. Tan Yuze would occasionally nudge Xu Li, saying, "What are you doing? You're doing fine."

"Girlfriend, you haven't talked to me in ages. Tell me if I look handsome today?"

Xu Li really didn't want to talk to him, but he was so annoying, constantly tugging at her. Xu Li turned her head and glared at him, "Not handsome at all, you're ugly!"

Upon hearing this, Tan Yuze objected, "What's wrong with me being handsome? I'm such a handsome man, okay? You must feel so proud to have such a handsome man with you!"

"narcissism."

"I'm just naturally beautiful, okay?"

Xu Li rolled her eyes. "Ugh, what's with that expression? Are you disgusted with me?"

"without."

"Then give me a kiss," Tan Yuze said, and his lips moved closer.

Xu Li pushed his face away, "Get lost, you filthy scoundrel."

Tan Yuze laughed, "Yes, I'm a rogue."

Give me a kiss.

[Booth] The RumorShield 3.0 physical machine is on public display for the first time.

[Process] Leng Yuxuan's live demonstration: Input a simulated rumor, trace its source in 0.7 seconds, and generate a clarification poster in 3.2 seconds.

[Interlude] A sixth-grade student asked, "Brother, will it find out I'm secretly eating spicy snacks later?"

Bai Chuan squatted down and replied, "Yes, but it only tells your teeth." The whole audience burst into laughter.

The stage was set up in front of the library.

The entire program was selected by student vote:

1. "Sunny Day" Chorus (led by 2016 alumni)

2. A cappella "The Brightest Star in the Night Sky"

3. Tan Yuze's piano solo "∞ Under the Ginkgo" - an original piece, in which he created a loop by sampling the school bell sounds from the past 8 years.

4. Xu Li's violin concerto "The Light of the Unknown" – the last note lasted a full 8 seconds, symbolizing the 8th anniversary. At the end of the piece, the entire audience turned on their phone flashlights, creating a sea of ​​lights that formed a galaxy of light.

[Ceremony] 412 graduating seniors, wearing "Ginkgo ∞" commemorative robes, lined up and passed through the "Teacher's Gate" formed by their teachers.

[Oath] All students clench their right fists, their voices resounding across the playground:

"At eighteen, I set my mind on the path, guided by the light; seeking truth and goodness, regardless of east or west!"

Each student received a "ginkgo seed"—a seed that Principal Feng personally soaked for 24 hours to germinate. Xu Li and Tan Yuze, as flag bearers, handed over the school flag and grade flag to the representatives of the second year of high school, the flags fluttering in the wind.

Location: Second floor of the school cafeteria, with long tables arranged in an "∞" shape. The menu features "memory kills" chosen by past graduates: Braised Lion's Head Meatballs – a 2016 cafeteria bestseller; Hot Dog 2.0 – Lu Yi's improved version with added cheese filling; Iced Plum Juice – a replica of Lao Cao's "exam proctor's special".

Midway through the banquet, the lights suddenly dimmed, and a 5-minute montage was played on the large screen:

The relay baton that was broken and climbed back up again in the sports meet over the past eight years, the skit that made people laugh out loud at the New Year's Eve party, the lights in the study room at four in the morning...

End credits: "You wrote your youth here, we planted our memories in the rings of time."

At 21:00, with 15 seconds left in the countdown, all lights will be turned off.

"Ten, nine, eight..."

Fireworks soared into the sky, the first scene being golden rain of ginkgo leaves; the second scene forming a dynamic rotating "∞"; the third scene freezing on the school emblem, before scattering into a sky full of sparks.

The firelight illuminated every face that looked up.

Finally, Principal Feng delivered a speech.

Principal Feng slowly walked onto the stage, holding in his hand the ashes of the fireworks that had fallen during the day and a newly sprouted ginkgo seed. The entire hall was silent, with only the sound of the wind rustling through the ginkgo treetops.

Principal Feng (excerpt from the transcript): "Eight years ago, I planted the first ginkgo sapling at the school gate and told myself: 'If it can grow one centimeter amidst the reinforced concrete, I will give the children one more centimeter of sky.'"

Today, it stands tall and majestic; and you, you have grown into light that shines even brighter than the tree.

"Xu Li and Tan Yuze, thank you for telling us with 748 and 733 that scores are just the annual rings on the treetop, and true strength comes from the sap flowing in the annual rings: it is called courage, kindness, and choosing the truth in the face of rumors."

"Lu Yi, Zhu Yu, Leng Yuxuan, Bai Chuan, and the 412 children sitting below the stage right now, please remember: the coming-of-age ceremony is not the end, nor is the school anniversary celebration. As you head towards Tsinghua University, Weiming Lake, and a wider future, please pin this ginkgo leaf to the most conspicuous place in your luggage—let it remind you in the wind: '∞' is not infinity, but infinite possibilities."

"The fireworks will go out tonight, but let the light that shines in your eyes never go out."

"With this, the 8th Anniversary Celebration and 2024 Graduation Ceremony of the No.1 Middle School of the City have come to a successful conclusion. May you walk on the path of light, and may our alma mater live on forever because of you."

Principal Feng bowed, then turned and gently placed the sprouted ginkgo seed into the glass time capsule in front of the school emblem.

The hatch closed, and the countdown timer jumped from 21:30 to 00:00. The ginkgo leaves rustled, as if saying:

Goodbye, goodbye—

Goodbye is not farewell, but the beginning of our next encounter.

—0.1 seconds after the time capsules closed—

Whispers inside the time capsule.

The glass door wasn't completely sealed when it was closed. A ginkgo leaf, about the size of a fingernail, got stuck in the gap, twirled in the wind, and gently landed at Principal Feng's feet.

Xu Li bent down to pick it up and casually wrote two tiny words on the leaf stem—"Unfinished." She tucked the leaf back into the crevice, as if leaving a surprise for the future.

The school rented six buses to take the graduates to their "last night" campsite in the city center. Before the buses started moving, Lao Cao stood by the door with a megaphone: "You can cry, you can laugh, but don't make me pick you up from the police station tomorrow!"

The taillights lit up like six red comet tails, slicing through the dark playground.

The campsite was chosen on the riverbank lawn, with the lights of the bridge spanning the river visible in the distance.

A campfire was lit, and the firelight cast everyone's shadows taller than the ginkgo trees. Lu Yi shoved the ukulele into Tan Yuze's arms: "The last song, you play."

Tan Yuze didn't refuse; his fingertips landed on the strings, playing the prelude to "Farewell." When he sang "Outside the long pavilion, beside the ancient road," Xu Li suddenly took over, softly humming the next line in English:

"Withwillowsgreen,thebreezeiskindlykeen."

Everyone was silent for eight seconds, and then the chorus broke through the mist on the river.

Midnight email.

By the campfire, my cell phone signal suddenly went full strength. A scheduled email simultaneously popped up in 412 inboxes—Sender:

Subject: [Hello, this is us in 2032]

The main text contains only one photo:

At the entrance of the No. 1 Middle School in the city in 20xx, the ginkgo tree from back then has grown taller than the wall. Under its shade, 12 children in school uniforms stand, each holding the same "∞" shaped leaf.

The last line of the email:

"The leaves have been received, the story continues. — From you in 20xx." Whether by coincidence or a system easter egg, a fiery meteor suddenly streaked across the river, so bright that it dimmed the bridge lights.

Xu Li clasped her hands together, and Tan Yuze turned to look at her: "Did you make a wish?"

"Um."

"What is the promise?"

"Keep it a secret."

The boy smiled and handed her another ginkgo leaf from his pocket—with a line of small words laser-engraved in the vein: "If your wish is too big, share half with me."

The bus returned to the school before dawn. The school gates were still closed, the driver had turned off the engine, and the bus was quiet. Zhu Yu, who was in the front row, suddenly said, "We seem to have forgotten to return the school flag." Xu Li stood up, unfolded the flag that had been resting on her lap, and walked to the door.

"Then I won't pay it back for now."

She pushed open the car door, jumped out, and the flag fluttered in the morning breeze.

Tan Yuze followed, and the two of them, one on each side, hung the flag on the lowest branch of the ginkgo tree. The corner of the flag swept across the newly sprouted ginkgo fruits, making a very soft rustling sound—like a silent "Good morning."

As the sun rose above the horizon, the school gate opened automatically. Principal Feng stood at the entrance, holding two cups of freshly brewed soy milk.

Good morning, students.

Xu Li took the soy milk and pointed to the flag on the tree: "I'll borrow it for a bit, and return it at the school anniversary celebration in ten years." Principal Feng smiled: "Ten years later, remember to bring an even bigger flag."

Tan Yuze added, "There are even bigger ginkgo trees." The two returned to 302 and powered on the RumorShield server one last time.

A new log entry pops up on the screen:

【2032/06/09 06:30:01】

[Event: Alumni Return]

【Status: Ready to receive】

She turned off the computer, unplugged the power, and locked the door. Instead of returning the key to the security department, Xu Li strung it with a red string and hung it on the highest branch of the ginkgo tree.

A gust of wind makes the key spin, reflecting tiny glimmers of light.

But they found that all the students were already standing neatly inside the school gate, wearing "Ginkgo ∞" T-shirts and holding the same leaf in their hands.

No slogans, no tears. Only a unified cry: "Teacher!" Then 412 leaves were simultaneously tossed into the air, like a reverse ginkgo rain.

The school bus slowly drove away. In the rearview mirror, the school gate grew smaller and smaller, while the ginkgo tree grew taller and taller. Principal Feng stood under the tree, looking up at the school flag that was still fluttering.

He suddenly remembered the day he planted the tree eight years ago, when he buried a note next to the tree roots: "May this tree remain evergreen, and may the youth here always strive upwards."

By now, the note should have rotted in the soil, but a new leaf has sprouted from the top of the tree. On the leaf stalk, two tiny words can be faintly seen—"Unfinished."

The story continues at this moment.