Chapter 32 captures the only time they were together in their youth...

The bathroom lights were soft.

Su Cheng scooped up a handful of cold water and gently patted it on her face.

The coolness seeped into the skin, taking away the remaining warmth and gradually calming the chaotic thoughts, making them clear and peaceful.

With Qixi Festival falling on the weekend, popular restaurants in the mall were already fully booked.

But when Jiang Muzhou led her into the restaurant just now, there happened to be a window seat with a superb view of the river.

Perhaps fearing she might overthink it, Jiang Muzhou specifically explained that the meal was arranged to celebrate the successful completion of their joint live broadcast.

The reasons were flawless and there was no fault to be found.

But recalling the fleeting look of disappointment on his face when he looked at his phone earlier, Su Cheng couldn't help but start to ponder the matter in a roundabout way.

Could it be that he made plans with another girl, she stood him up, and he just went along with it and invited her to come along?

Once a guess takes shape, it's like a tangled ball of yarn, constantly being unraveled and re-woven in the mind.

Even though the answer is readily available, various considerations prevent them from asking.

I'm afraid of not getting an answer, but I'm even more afraid of getting an answer I don't want to hear.

A layer of mist rose on the mirror, blurring the girl's face.

Su Cheng looked up, and through the haze, she could only make out a pair of dark, clear eyes, bright and lustrous, filled with something that couldn't be hidden—a look of anticipation.

Many years ago, she dressed up just like that, on a similarly romantic holiday, and her heart fluttered for the same person.

-

It is May, the time when spring transitions into summer.

Most of the students at Linhai No.1 Middle School are top students with their own study plans, so many of them apply to the school to study at home.

After careful consideration, the school agreed to allow students to study at home for the last two weeks.

Therefore, the graduation photo shoot was scheduled for the last day of the senior year when everyone returned to school.

For many people, the college entrance examination is like a mountain that weighs them down, a double test of their mental strength and mentality.

On a rare morning without classes or homework, my pent-up emotions finally burst forth like a flood.

Throughout the second semester of senior year, countdown timers replaced dates and became the sole unit of time.

It wasn't until someone mentioned it that everyone belatedly realized that the day they took their graduation photos was actually May 20th.

The school requires students to wear formal school uniforms, which consist of a white shirt, trousers and a tie for boys, and plaid skirts and boutonnieres for girls.

Some girls borrowed dress pants, tied on ties, and looked exceptionally dashing and heroic.

Of course, some boys who wanted to wear skirts were strictly forbidden by the head teacher with a stern face.

Because the classes are divided in the second semester of the junior year, and everyone is busy studying in the senior year, they don't have the energy to develop new social connections, so most people are still more familiar with their original classmates.

The school specially arranged to take three graduation photos: first, a group photo of the senior class, then a photo of the original classes, and finally a group photo of the entire grade.

The playground was bustling with activity, as people gathered in small groups, taking advantage of the breaks while waiting to take individual photos with their close friends.

At that time, some people already had offers from prestigious overseas universities, some had passed the pre-admission process for Tsinghua and Peking University's independent enrollment programs, while many more were still standing at the crossroads, looking back and forth.

Perhaps after today, some of them will never meet again in their lives.

The young men and women repeatedly adjusted their clothes in front of the mirror, straightening their shirts and smoothing their hair.

They knew that what they were taking today was not just a few photos, but to forever preserve the most dazzling moments of their youth in their memories.

Su Cheng specially dug out a flip-screen digital camera from home and dragged Xu Zhisui to take pictures under the shade of a tree where there were few people.

The two girls made a peace sign at the camera and were about to press the shutter when a head suddenly popped out from behind Xu Zhisui and shouted, startling the two girls so much that they almost jumped up.

Even Shen Siqi, the culprit, was startled.

He had just finished taking the class photo and saw Xu Zhisui sitting here from afar. He thought she was with Su Cheng, so he wanted to play a prank on them.

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that Xu Zhisui was sitting next to an unfamiliar girl.

He scratched the back of his head sheepishly, then leaned close to Xu Zhisui's ear and whispered, "Who... is this?"

Xu Zhisui was quite frightened by his roar. She clutched her chest, glared at him, and said irritably, "Are you blind? This is Su Su!"

"Wow!" Shen Siqi's mouth dropped open as he squatted down to examine it closely.

In their three years as classmates, Shen Siqi had never seen Su Cheng like this before. She had taken off her thick-rimmed glasses, and unusually, she was wearing contact lenses. Her fair cheeks were powdered, and her lips were moisturized.

Most importantly, Su Cheng, who has always had shoulder-length short hair, now has a head of smooth, long, straight black hair!

"How did you get your hair like this?" He curiously reached out, wanting to touch the hair that had suddenly grown out overnight, but then felt it was inappropriate and quickly withdrew his hand.

“It’s a wig.” Su Cheng smiled faintly, her eyes crinkling.

Actually, she always felt that her face shape was not suitable for short hair, but she had too many wispy hairs. When she tied her hair into a ponytail, there were always a few unruly strands that stubbornly stuck up, and she had to use a bunch of clips to tame them.

To save time on daily hair care, she decided to cut off her long hair, which she had kept for a long time, before starting high school.

Perhaps it was so that she could look back on the photo album years later and smile as she recalled this youthful time, perhaps it was to leave the most beautiful image in other people's memories, or perhaps it was simply to make herself happier. After learning that she would be taking graduation photos, Su Cheng secretly prepared a wig and went to an optician to get transparent contact lenses.

She got up earlier than usual today, listening to the English translation of memorable quotes while awkwardly applying a light makeup to brighten her complexion.

"How about it? Aren't you amazed?" Xu Zhisui put her arm around Su Cheng's shoulder. "With a little bit of dressing up, our Su Su is the pinnacle of beauty in No. 1 High School."

"That's true." Chen Siqi gave a thumbs up and pointed to himself proudly, "The best-looking guy in No. 1 High School is definitely here."

He straightened his tie and raised an eyebrow at Xu Zhisui, "Want to take a picture with the most handsome guy in the world?"

"Stop being so vain." Xu Zhisui rolled her eyes at him again, but her hand subconsciously reached for her phone in her pocket.

Seeing this, Su Cheng wisely got up and walked away, leaving the two of them alone.

She raised her camera; in the viewfinder, the sky was high and the wind was gentle, the sun blazing fiercely.

The figures of teenagers kept passing by, their eyes gleaming with fearlessness, sincerely wishing each other success in the college entrance examination and a place on the honor roll.

The camera panned across the playground, and a bright white figure caught her eye.

Su Cheng paused, her fair and clear cheeks gradually turning red in the sunlight.

She carefully zoomed in on the image on the screen, trying to chase after a dream that seemed unattainable.

The innovation class is taking a group photo. Two rows of long benches are arranged in staggered steps and filled with people.

Her gaze passed through the camera lens and the crowd, landing solely on him.

Even though it was the same white shirt, it made him look exceptionally clean and fresh.

The top button was neatly fastened, and a gust of wind caused the hem of the shirt to flutter gently, revealing the sharp waistline cinched by a belt.

The boy had regular features and well-defined bone structure, and his whole demeanor was elegant and aloof.

Her tall, slender figure was bathed in the bright sunlight, so white it almost glowed, and in the viewfinder, it was even slightly overexposed.

It was during the long break between classes, and people gradually gathered around to watch the excitement. In addition to the senior high school students taking group photos, some students from other grades also came over.

She stood at the very edge of the line and, when no one was looking, quietly raised her camera.

Her eyelashes trembled, and her breathing became rapid. She turned her head and pretended to take a selfie.

The direct sunlight made it hard for her to open her eyes. She rubbed her swollen eyes, and when she opened them again, she saw that the originally orderly line was gradually dispersing.

The figures on the screen overlapped and separated, like her unspoken thoughts, lingering between blurriness and clarity.

The crowd receded like the tide, leaving only her pounding heartbeat.

She knew that his pre-admission results had come out, and that he was going to Beijing to spread his wings and soar.

This might be the last time they see each other.

Like having a green plum in her mouth, her throat was enveloped in a sour and astringent emotion, like a giant net that made it hard for her to breathe.

She frantically adjusted the camera angle, barely managing to squeeze the two figures into the same frame.

They were so close that they were only a finger's width apart on the screen.

They are far apart, separated by the hustle and bustle of the world and by mountains and rivers.

It captured the only time they were together during their youth.

Several younger girls nearby seemed to have suddenly received a signal and all rushed towards a certain direction.

Su Cheng put away her camera, her gaze following the figures until it finally settled on the center of their group.

People can't help but want to get closer to outstanding people.

Throughout his three years of high school, he received countless confessions of love, but without exception, all he received were polite thanks and distant apologies.

If you reject too many girls, fewer girls will come knocking on your door.

Knowing that today was his last day at school, or perhaps because it happened to be May 20th, the girl, with her face flushed, boldly handed over the pink envelope, encouraged by her friends.

It's not necessarily about getting a positive response; I just want to make sure my fleeting youth leaves no regrets.

Su Cheng watched from afar, sincerely admiring the girl's courage.

It takes so much courage to finally speak out about something you've kept hidden for so long.

At least, she herself doesn't have it.

In the grand drama of youth, he is always in the spotlight, while she, standing in the shadows, goes unnoticed even during her curtain call.

But no one knew that she had already built her own stage in her heart, staging a grand and secret one-woman show, which she performed for three years.

She drew the stage curtain and didn't watch any further.

A dragonfly skimmed across the surface of my heart, but instead, it spread ripples across my eyes.

Perhaps, youth is meant to leave some regrets.

Author's Note: Finally, we've reached this part of the synopsis.

I've always wanted to write a sweet story, and I don't want to overemphasize the bittersweet parts of unrequited love. But no matter how grand it may seem in retrospect, the excitement, sensitivity, loneliness, and irresistible urge to get closer during adolescence are all real experiences.