Her gaze, through the noisy crowd, fell precisely on Ye Qingliu, who was surrounded by Hua Jinyue and Bai Zhiye.
The bright, unclouded smile on his face was something she had never seen before. That smile did not belong to her, not even to the cold and distant Ye Qingliu she was familiar with.
It belongs to this sunny afternoon, to the end of this grand exam, and to those close to him.
Ye Fanshuang watched silently for a few seconds. Her sunglasses hid all her emotions, and only her tightly pursed, slightly pale lips revealed a subtle hint of loneliness and relief.
Finally, she nodded very lightly, almost imperceptibly, like a silent farewell. The car window slowly rolled up, blocking out all the noise and images outside.
The black car slid smoothly into the traffic and disappeared in the sea of people and cars, without taking away a cloud.
Ning Xiwan happened to catch this moment. She looked in the direction the car disappeared, then glanced at Ye Qingliu, who was smiling brightly beside her, and understood.
Some scenery is destined to be admired from afar; some emotions must be let go. Ye Fanshuang's pride made her choose the most dignified exit.
"Let's go!" Hua Jinyue pulled Ye Qingliu with one hand and tried to pull Duan Shuce with the other, jumping excitedly.
"Let's go celebrate! Have a big meal! It's my treat! Celebrate the successful completion of the college entrance exams for Brother Shuce, and Sister Nai! And also for Sister Wanwan's successful completion of her 'guardianship' mission!"
"Okay! Let's celebrate!" Duan Shuce responded enthusiastically, putting his arm around Ning Xiwan's shoulders. "Wanwan, what do you want to eat? I'll treat you today, and you can choose the place!"
Ning Xiwan smiled and slapped his hand away: "Who asked you to treat? Jinyue said she would treat."
"I don't care. I just want to treat you." Duan Shuce was playing tricks.
"Listen to Jinyue," Ye Qingliu spoke up, his voice relaxed after the exam. "She's been talking about it for several days."
Bai Zhiye also smiled and nodded: "Well, let Jinyue be the host for once."
Hua Jinyue immediately raised her chin proudly: "See! Listen to me! I know a great barbecue restaurant! They have an ice cream buffet!"
"Okay! Let's go to the barbecue restaurant!" Duan Shuce made the decision.
The group chatted and laughed as they walked towards the school gate, going against the crowd that was still immersed in the afterglow of ecstasy.
As the sun sets, the golden-red afterglow fills the streets, stretching the shadows of the young boys and girls very long.
Ye Qingliu walked in the middle, one arm tightly embraced by Hua Jinyue, while Bai Zhiye quietly accompanied him on the other side. The smile on his face remained bright, and his gray-blue eyes reflected the sunset, filled with expectations for the future.
Duan Shuce held Ning Xiwan in his arms and walked a little ahead, turning back from time to time to exchange a few words with Ye Qingliu, which made Hua Jinyue giggle.
Ning Xiwan was half-hugged by Duan Shuce, listening to the laughter coming from behind, feeling the warmth from his palm, and looking at the road ahead dyed golden by the setting sun, her heart was filled with unprecedented ease and satisfaction.
The chirping of cicadas seemed to be much gentler, no longer harsh, but instead sounded like a joyful movement for this grand finale.
The air was filled with the scent of the approaching summer night, mixed with the aroma of food wafting from roadside stalls and the smell of sweat and youth from young people.
The college entrance examination, this battle that lasted throughout the summer of youth, has finally come to an end.
The moment the bell rings, the thick test paper is closed, and the ink left on the tip of the pen solidifies into a pass to the future.
The cicadas are still noisy, but they are no longer death-dealing drumbeats. Instead, they have transformed into a celebration of freedom.
Ye Qingliu's bright smile like a melting glacier, Duan Shuce's unrestrained hug and spin, Hua Jinyue's "winning talisman" like a treasure, and Bai Zhiye's fingertips gently wiping sweat, together outline the most vivid silhouette of this hot afternoon.
Ye Fanshuang's silent farewell behind the car window added the final restrained footnote to this grand narrative of youth.
The setting sun melts into gold, stretching the figures standing side by side infinitely.
All pressure and constraints evaporate at this moment, leaving only the chirping of cicadas, the evening breeze and the scorching heat of the palms, announcing the end of the long summer and the prelude to infinite possibilities.
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