After the party,

A strange atmosphere permeated the campus.

On the way to the dormitory,

The cheerleading girls who had just been dancing energetically on stage were now walking quietly.

One of them suddenly stopped, took out his phone, and made a call.

He choked back tears as he spoke into the other end of the line:

"Hey, Grandma... It's nothing, I just miss you."

On the other side,

Several boys who usually love to discuss games and sneakers gathered in front of the bulletin board.

Looking at the old photos posted above, one of them pointed to the school sports meet in the photo.

He murmured:

"My brother was in this year's class. He said he broke his leg while running a relay race."

The PE teacher in the photo carried him to the infirmary...

My brother hasn't mentioned it in ages.

The hustle and bustle of previous years has been replaced by a heavy sense of melancholy.

People no longer discuss which show is good.

Instead, they all talked about forgotten people and things.

Tonight, Lin Que plunged the entire school into a grand remembrance.

...

Lin Que carried his schoolbag.

He deliberately avoided the crowds and slipped out through the side door of the auditorium.

The rain outside has stopped, and the air is damp and chilly.

He took a deep breath and exhaled the suffocating feeling in his chest caused by over-indulgence.

He looks calm and collected during the performance, but he's actually exhausted.

The feeling of precisely conveying emotions to two thousand people while controlling the pace to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control...

It is indeed more mentally taxing than writing.

"That kid, he's fast."

The sound of high heels clicking on the concrete floor came from behind me.

Lin Que knew who it was without even turning around.

Shen Qingqiu wrapped her coat tighter around herself and quickly walked to his side.

Her eyes were red, clearly she had cried a lot earlier.

But at this moment, his face wore an expression that said, "I am very pleased, but I won't say it."

"Teacher, please don't praise me."

Lin Que spoke first, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"I can't stand being praised. Once I'm praised, I get cocky, and once I get cocky, I'm prone to not handing in my homework."

Stop being so cheeky.

Shen Qingqiu reached out and gently patted the back of his head. The force was very light.

"You did a good job just now. The principal just told me that your manuscript will be printed and distributed to the whole school, and we will study it together during class meetings next week."

Lin Que's face fell:

"Wait a minute? Wouldn't that be like a public execution?"

If the whole school recites "death" three times, how can this school survive?

I've become a fourth death, worse than the third; I'm dead!

Shen Qingqiu was amused by him:

"Alright, we'll talk about the specifics later."

The principal and several city leaders were in the lounge, saying they wanted to meet you.

"Huh? You want to see me?"

Lin Que shook his head like a rattle drum.

"No, no, no, teacher, just tell me I was so nervous that I fainted and had to be taken to the infirmary."

I can't handle this kind of situation; it's all official jargon and platitudes. I'm afraid I'll lose my temper and start telling them ghost stories.

Shen Qingqiu glared at him:

"No respect for elders. That's a leader from the Municipal Education Bureau; countless people would love to see him but can't."

"Let's give that opportunity to Li Ze; he'll definitely be happy to take it."

Lin Que tightened the strap of his schoolbag and took two steps back.

"Teacher, I'm really hungry. I didn't eat dinner just now in order to get into the mood."

You wouldn't want to see your star pupil starve to death on campus, would you?

Shen Qingqiu sighed inwardly as she watched him rushing away.

This child lives life with such clarity and detachment.

He doesn't care about those so-called honors and connections.

In his eyes, it might not be as important as a hot meal.

"Alright."

Shen Qingqiu waved his hand.

"I'll cover for you, go eat!"

"Alright! Teacher Shen is so righteous!"

Lin Que felt as if he had been granted a pardon and turned to run away.

"etc."

Shen Qingqiu called him back again.

Lin Que slammed on the brakes and turned around:

"What's wrong now?"

She hesitated for a moment, but still asked the question that had been on her mind all along.

"Lin Que".

Her voice was a little lower than before.

"How did you write that manuscript?"

When Lin Que spoke of "ultimate death,"

She couldn't capture the desolate soul on stage who seemed to understand life and death.

He was now equated with the witty and humorous seventeen-year-old boy in front of him.

What untold story does this student carry?

Lin Que stood in the shadows, silent for a moment.

He remembered himself in his previous life, the one who died alone in a rented room.

I was reminded of myself, someone who was forgotten by everyone except when the landlord came to collect rent.

The so-called "three deaths"

Rather than seeing it in the movie, it's more accurate to say it reflects his most genuine fears from his past life.

"teacher."

Lin Que raised his head, a signature, enigmatic smile on his face.

"I told you, that's from a movie. But..."

He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze drifting to the dark night sky in the distance, a hint of self-mockery in his voice.

"Maybe it's because I've read too many novels."

Seeing too much of this will always lead to wild thoughts, wondering what it would be like if a person were to completely disappear.

Art, well, it's all just patchwork and copying from other sources, don't you think?

Shen Qingqiu stared into his eyes, trying to find a flaw in them.

But those eyes only held the clarity of a young boy and a lingering hunger.

"Alright."

Shen Qingqiu did not press the matter further.

"Go on, go on, drive carefully."

Seeing Lin Que fleeing as if he were about to escape, Shen Qingqiu shook her head, wrapped her coat tighter, and turned to walk towards the administration building.

...