"elder brother--!!!"
A shout that was full of energy, a little domineering, and extremely penetrating, like a cheerful war drum, instantly shattered the stagnant air, coming from far away and spreading near!
Hua Jinyue swept in like a summer hurricane laden with golden pollen! Her long hair was tied up in a vibrant ponytail, her face flushed, her nose dripping with sweat, and her large eyes burning with a scorching flame.
She held a mountain of test papers and ran wildly while throwing them away, creating a violent "Golden Butterfly Storm".
"Brother! It's graduation time! Our class is going crazy too!" Hua Jinyue pushed through the crowd, locked onto Ye Qingliu, and rushed towards him cheering.
The moment Ye Qingliu saw his sister, the deep calm in his eyes suddenly stirred into a gentle wave, and the frost that had been there for thousands of years melted and evaporated! The clearly visible doting warmth spread like the spring sun.
He opened his arms and accurately caught the small cannonball that was flying towards him.
"Brother, brother! Happy graduation! The happiest person in the universe!" Hua Jinyue hugged Ye Qingliu's neck tightly and shouted, "The roof of our class just blew off! Look!"
She lifted the remaining test papers and threw them into the air. Golden butterflies rained down. "I've brought the 'Grave of Youth' to be buried with you!"
There was laughter all around. Bai Zhiye smiled gently and shook her head.
Ye Fanshuang glanced sideways slightly, and the "smile" on his icy jade face seemed to be more real due to the fresh heat, and a glimmer of almost envy flashed in his eyes.
Ye Qingliu held his sister firmly, letting the golden butterflies fall all over her body. He looked down at Hua Jinyue's bright and excited face and said softly, "Yes. Happy graduation, Jinyue."
He raised his hand and wiped the sweat from the tip of her nose very naturally.
"Brother! Gift! The finale!" Hua Jinyue jumped down and took out a simple dark brown clay jar from his school uniform pocket.
The jar has no patterns on its body, and the rim is tied with an indigo cotton rope. The surface of the jar is covered with drenched mud and the smell of kiln fire, giving it a primitive and rustic feel.
She stuffed the pot into Ye Qingliu's hands, her big eyes lit with nervous anticipation: "Open it quickly! I made it myself! I've been burning it for three days!"
Ye Qingliu was slightly startled. His fingers caressed the rough, moist surface of the pot. He followed the instructions, untied the cotton string, and opened the lid.
A clear fragrance with the aroma of soil and the spirit of plants filled the air, overwhelming the smell of sweat and paper dust.
The jar is filled with a deep green, semi-solidified paste. It is as delicate as silk, reflecting a warm and restrained luster in the sunlight, like the concentrated green of an early summer forest.
On the surface of the paste lies a small round seal made of fired clay, with the ancient seal character "守" engraved on the bottom.
"Pine soot ink!" Hua Jinyue puffed out her chest proudly. "I collected soot from old pine trees in the mountains, mixed it with morning dew, added lapis lazuli powder and honeysuckle vine juice, and then pounded and washed it countless times! It's an ancient method!"
She pointed at the seal, "'Guard the Heart' seal! Brother, use this when you write and draw in the future! Write as if inspired by God, and the clouds will part to reveal the moon!"
Ye Qingliu looked at the ink stick in the jar, which was as deep blue as a pool and contained the scent of the forest and earth, looked at the sweat beads on his sister's nose and the mud on her fingers, and looked at the childish but powerful "Guard the Heart" seal.
He remained silent. His usual indifference was replaced by a deep sense of shock. He solemnly closed the pot, tied the cotton string, and clutched the small seal tightly in his palm, the rough edge of the clay rubbing against his palm.
He placed a solemn and gentle kiss on Hua Jinyue's smooth, slightly trembling forehead. His voice was low and clear, with unprecedented warmth: "Thank you. Brother will use it and write well."
He paused, "Write the best words."
Hua Jinyue covered her forehead and let out a happy gasp. She jumped up and hugged Ye Qingliu's waist tightly, burying her face in his school uniform that was scented with ink and paper dust, and her shoulders shrugged slightly.
There was applause of understanding all around.
Bai Zhiye looked at the simple and heavy pottery jar in Ye Qingliu's hand, and saw the warmth in his eyes, and smiled gently.
Ye Fanshuang's gaze fell on the dark brown pottery jar for a long time. The "smile" on his icy jade face froze, and a complex and indescribable light flashed in the depths of his eyes, like an undercurrent surging under the ice.
"Brother! Take a photo! The last one!" Hua Jinyue looked up, her eyes slightly red and her smile bright. She pulled his hand and shook it, "Let's take a photo with Sister Nai! Sister Ye! Everyone wants one!" She called Ye Fanshuang.
Ye Qingliu was infinitely tolerant of his sister. He let her pull him along, posing in the classroom where paper butterflies fluttered, in the corridor of golden ruins, and finally in the butterfly-filled courtyard.
Hua Jinyue stood on tiptoe to hook his shoulder (he had no choice but to lower himself to cooperate), and seriously took his arm to imitate Ye Fanshuang's coolness (causing laughter), and then hugged his arm tightly with her face against his arm and smiled brightly.
Ye Qingliu cooperated throughout the whole process, with a rare gentle and indulgent smile on his face. His eyes were focused on the energetic sister. Occasionally, he was amused by her exaggerated imitation, and his brows relaxed and the corners of his lips turned up. His smile was like the spring tide of thawing glaciers, attracting everyone's attention.
Bai Zhiye smiled as she captured this precious moment. Ye Fanshuang was drawn into the camera by Hua Jinyue. When Hua Jinyue passionately took her arm, Ye Fanshuang's body stiffened for a moment, but she ultimately didn't break free.
She maintained the demeanor of a noble lady. When the flash came on, the faint "smile" at the corner of her lips seemed to deepen for a moment from an angle where no one could see, like a transparent snow lotus quietly blooming under the ice.
The shutter freezes again and again, solidifying the scene where the flowers on the high mountain are briefly warmed by the sincere "little sun" and a hint of spring leaks out under the ice.
The setting sun melts gold, casting the campus into a flowing, warm amber. Ivy leaves ooze golden light. The "golden butterfly remains" in the courtyard are coated with a deeper, warmer hue, like a frozen sunset.
The ecstatic noise subsided, the tide of excitement receded, and deeper and more complex emotions spread like dusk.
Students left their final handwriting on their uniforms, exchanging yearbooks filled with blessings and lost memories. Hugs, whispers, hopes, and confusion… The sadness of parting and the uncertainty of the future flowed silently through the golden dust and the rising evening breeze.
Ye Qingliu walked alone back to the classroom, where the noise had died down. The last rays of the setting sun splattered like molten gold across the empty tables and chairs, the polished floor, and dragged a long, lonely shadow.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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