Chapter 22
Time seemed to be fast-forwarded, flying by amidst the turning of pages and the scratching of pens. The tense atmosphere of final exams, like the rising summer temperature, permeated every corner of the campus.
The library was packed, the air thick with the smells of caffeine mixed with the ink of paper. Qiu Yayu and Lü Xiaoyan sat side by side in their usual window seat, thick textbooks and notes piled up in front of them. Sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows, casting bright spots of light on the table, making Qiu Yayu's slightly furrowed brows stand out even more.
"Ah... this communication theory is so hard to memorize..." she sighed, put down her pen, rubbed her throbbing temples, and habitually leaned her head on Lü Xiaoyan's shoulder next to her.
As Lü Xiaoyan was highlighting key points in a thick history of photography, he felt the weight on his shoulder. He turned his head, looked at her slightly tired profile and the faint dark circles under her eyes, put down his pen, and pushed the still-warm cup of honey water in front of her.
"Take a break." His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet library.
Qiu Yayu took the cup and sipped the warm, sweet liquid, feeling her tense nerves relax a little. She tilted her head to look at him; the sunlight from the window danced on his thick eyelashes, casting small, fan-like shadows. The way he focused on his book always made it hard for her to look away.
"Summer vacation..." she lowered her voice, filled with anticipation, "Let's go to that town where we can see the stars, okay? I've already looked up the travel guide, and there's also delicious farm-style food there."
Lü Xiaoyan hummed in agreement, his gaze remaining fixed on the pages of the book, but a barely perceptible smile played on his lips. He, too, had been looking forward to it. He looked forward to a trip just for the two of them, to taking the most beautiful photos of her under the dazzling starry sky.
“But first,” Qiu Yayu sat up straight, took a deep breath, as if to encourage herself, “I have to get through this damn final exam!”
Seeing her renewed fighting spirit, Lü Xiaoyan's smile deepened. He liked her ever-energetic demeanor, like a sunflower tenaciously growing towards the sun.
Exam week finally came to a close amidst the chaos. When the bell rang signaling the end of the last exam, the campus erupted in a cacophony of relief and elation. Students, dragging their suitcases, said goodbye to each other, their faces beaming with the relaxed smiles of a holiday beginning.
Qiu Yayu and Lü Xiaoyan also ushered in their second summer vacation in college.
They didn't leave the school immediately. Qiu Yayu's radio station still had some finishing work to do, while Lü Xiaoyan needed to organize all the photography works and negatives from this semester. The half-empty campus seemed exceptionally quiet, even the cicadas' chirping sounded much more languid.
That afternoon, Qiu Yayu finished organizing the last of the materials at the broadcasting station and walked out carrying a cardboard box. The setting sun cast a long shadow of hers. She saw Lü Xiaoyan waiting by the tree-lined path outside the broadcasting station, leaning against a sycamore tree, looking down at his phone. The golden light of the setting sun outlined his slender figure, making him look as beautiful as a painting.
She walked over quickly, a bright smile on her face: "Have you been waiting long?"
Lü Xiaoyan put away his phone and naturally took the somewhat heavy cardboard box from her hand. "No." His gaze fell on her cheeks, slightly flushed from her busy work. "Is everything finished?"
"Mmm! I'm completely free!" Qiu Yayu stretched happily, then took his arm. "Shall we go home tomorrow?"
"The day after tomorrow," Lü Xiaoyan said. "Tomorrow I'll go and pack up the last of the things in the darkroom."
"Okay, then I'll go with you!"
The two walked side by side on the campus path bathed in the golden afterglow of the setting sun. Around them were students dragging suitcases, hurrying to the station, the air filled with a faint sadness of parting and eager anticipation for the holidays.
“This summer vacation feels so long,” Qiu Yayu said, shaking his arm as she made plans. “We can go to the town to see the stars first, and then… how about we go to the beach? I haven’t seen the sea with you yet!”
“Okay.” Lü Xiaoyan nodded, listening to her excitedly planning the itinerary, his heart was filled with a simple yet fulfilling happiness. He began to feel that this was how the future would be, with her by his side, listening to her chatter, walking through one spring, summer, autumn and winter after another.
“Oh, right,” Qiu Yayu suddenly remembered something, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him, “your birthday is coming soon! It’s during summer vacation! What do you want as a present?”
Seeing the mischievous glint in her eyes, Lu Xiaoyan knew exactly what she meant. He thought for a moment, then shook his head: "There's nothing in particular I want."
"Really?" Qiu Yayu tilted her head, teasing him on purpose. "Think about it again? Like... a 'tool' that you've been talking about for a long time?"
Looking at her adorable expression, as if trying to hint but not daring to say it outright, Lü Xiaoyan finally couldn't help but chuckle and reached out to ruffle her hair. "Anything you gave me is fine."
His laughter was low, yet it felt like a feather gently brushing against Qiu Yayu's heart, making her cheeks flush and her heart sweeten. She secretly made up her mind to give him the best birthday surprise.
They walked down to the dormitory building, and the moment of parting had arrived once again. This summer, they would be unable to see each other every day for nearly two months, unlike now.
"Then I'll come back the day after tomorrow morning to help you with your luggage." Lü Xiaoyan handed the cardboard box back to her.
"Okay!" Qiu Yayu took the suitcase, somewhat reluctantly. "Go home... remember to text me every day."
"good."
"You must miss me."
"……Um."
Seeing his slightly reddened ears, Qiu Yayu smiled contentedly. She tiptoed and quickly kissed him on the cheek, then turned and ran into the dormitory building.
Lu Xiaoyan stood there, watching her figure disappear behind the door. He raised his hand and gently touched the spot where she had just kissed him; the soft, moist touch seemed to linger there. The summer evening breeze ruffled the stray hairs on his forehead, carrying the last vestiges of gardenia fragrance.
Winter break is here, and summer break is just around the corner. They have seemingly long stretches of time to enjoy together. All separations are only temporary, and all reunions are worth looking forward to.
He looked up at Qiu Yayu's dormitory window; the light was already on. He took out his phone and sent her a message:
See you the day after tomorrow.
Soon, I received a reply—a cute smiley face.
Lu Xiaoyan put away his phone and turned to disappear into the gentle summer night. He looked forward to the day after tomorrow, to summer vacation, to the starry sky, to the sea, and to all the future that was connected to her.
He had no idea that the day after tomorrow, what awaited him was not a journey home together, but a nightmare from which he could never wake. The girl who said "see you the day after tomorrow" would forever remain in that summer, never again to keep any of his promises about the future.
On the last day before graduation, the campus was filled with an empty yet leisurely atmosphere. Most students had already left, leaving only a few figures dragging their suitcases toward the school gate. The cicadas' chirping became exceptionally clear, one after another, as if bidding a final farewell to the semester.
Lu Xiaoyan went to the darkroom early in the morning to do the final cleaning and organization. He properly disposed of the chemicals he didn't need to take home, carefully wiped his frequently used cameras and lenses before storing them in a desiccant box, and neatly categorized the negatives and finished photos taken this semester. His movements were unhurried and solemn, almost ritualistic. This small space, filled with the smell of chemicals and the red glow of lights, held so much of his exploration of technology and emotion, and witnessed every step of his relationship with Qiu Yayu, from their first encounter to their deep love.
When Qiu Yayu arrived, he was carefully placing the last dried photograph—"The Way Autumn Lives"—into his special collection. That was the beginning of everything.
"Is everything packed?" Qiu Yayu pushed open the door, bringing with her a gust of summer heat. Today she was wearing a simple cotton dress, her hair tied in a neat ponytail, and a light smile on her face as she prepared to go home.
"Hmm." Lü Xiaoyan closed the bookmarks folder and turned around. Her gaze fell on Lü Xiaoyan's empty hands. "Your luggage?"
"Everything's packed. It's just one box. We can take it with us tomorrow." Qiu Yayu walked to his side and looked curiously at the neatly arranged equipment on the workbench. "It feels like there's so much less space here."
Her gaze swept over the wooden compartment that had been emptied and used to store photos waiting to be developed, and her tone carried a hint of barely perceptible melancholy: "I haven't been able to come here for two months, and I'm still a little unaccustomed to it."
Following her gaze, Lü Xiaoyan saw that the box was filled with the moments he had photographed for her—smiling, thoughtful, looking back in the ginkgo rain, holding cotton candy in the botanical garden… Every still image exists vividly in his film and memory.
"I'll be back soon," he whispered, as if speaking to her, and also to himself. Summer vacation may seem long, but in the grand scheme of life, it's but a fleeting moment. He believed that there would be countless semesters like this in the future, and they would still be in this small space, one developing photos, the other quietly keeping each other company, or chattering away, sharing the interesting things in life.
Qiu Yayu turned her head, gave him a bright smile, and nodded vigorously: "Yes! When I get back, I'm going to use the camera you gave me to take lots and lots of photos! I'll record all the places I went to during summer vacation!"
The hopeful look in her eyes, devoid of any gloom, dispelled the faint melancholy that had arisen in Lü Xiaoyan's heart due to their parting, like sunshine. He reached out and gently squeezed her hand.
The two locked the door to the darkroom and walked together through the almost deserted campus. The sun was scorching, the shadows of the trees swayed, and the gardenias by the roadside were nearing the end of their bloom, their petals curling slightly at the edges, releasing their last burst of intense fragrance.
"What do you want to do when you get home?" Lü Xiaoyan asked.
"I'll sleep for three days and three nights!" Qiu Yayu said exaggeratedly, then laughed. "Then I'll spend time with my parents; they must miss me terribly. Oh, and I also need to meet up with my high school classmates... What about you?"
"Organizing photos, reading." Lü Xiaoyan's answer was as concise as ever, but he paused and added, "And, waiting for your message."
Qiu Yayu's cheeks flushed slightly, feeling a sweet warmth in her heart, but she deliberately said, "That depends on whether I'm in a good mood or not, and whether I'm busy or not."
Lu Xiaoyan glanced at her sideways, without refuting, but a very faint smile appeared in her eyes.
They went to the cafeteria and ate their last lunch of the semester at school. Only a few cafeteria windows were open, and there were only a handful of students eating. The atmosphere was somewhat deserted, but they sat in a familiar corner, as if it were still the same as always.
In the afternoon, Qiu Yayu accompanied Lü Xiaoyan back to the dormitory to pack his last belongings. He didn't have much, so they finished packing quickly. The two suitcases were placed side by side in the center of the dormitory, symbolizing the end of one period and the beginning of another vacation.
“I’ll pick you up at nine o’clock tomorrow morning,” Lü Xiaoyan said, looking at her.
"Okay!" Qiu Yayu nodded, looking at his handsome face, the feeling of parting finally belatedly welled up. Two months, not long, not short. She suddenly stepped forward, hugged his waist, buried her face in his chest, and said in a muffled voice, "I'll miss you."
Lu Xiaoyan's body stiffened slightly, then relaxed, wrapped her arms around her, and gently patted her back.
"Mm," he responded, his voice low. "Me too."
A summer breeze stirred the curtains, carrying the faint chirping of cicadas from afar. They embraced quietly in the empty dormitory, savoring their last tender moments before leaving school. All the plans for summer vacation, the promises to the stars and the town, the carefully prepared birthday gift—all filled this brief separation with sweet anticipation.
They all firmly believed that this was just one of countless ordinary holidays. The brief separation was for a better reunion. The autumn campus would once again welcome them, and their story would continue to be written here, until the very, very distant future.
However, fate takes an unexpected turn.
This seemingly ordinary hug turned out to be the last time in their lives they would embrace each other warmly and without gloom on a sunny summer day.
As night fell, the summer heat dissipated slightly. In the deserted campus, only the streetlights cast dim, yellowish glows on the ground. Lü Xiaoyan escorted Qiu Yayu back to the girls' dormitory building.
The moment of parting finally arrived.
"I'll leave you here," Qiu Yayu turned around to face him, a gentle smile on her face. "Go back and get some rest, you'll have to take a bus tomorrow."
Lü Xiaoyan nodded, her gaze fixed on her face bathed in the soft glow of the streetlights, as if trying to imprint this moment clearly in her heart. A summer night breeze blew by, carrying the faint fragrance of her hair.
"Let me know when you get home," he repeated their earlier agreement, his voice sounding particularly deep in the quiet night.
"Okay, I'll send it to you as soon as I get home!" Qiu Yayu promised with a smile, then as if she remembered something, she took out a carefully wrapped, flat little square box from her bag and stuffed it into his hand, "This... is for you first."
Lü Xiaoyan took the box with some confusion.
"It's not a birthday present!" Qiu Yayu quickly explained, her cheeks slightly flushed. "It's... some photos I took before, which have been developed. You can look at them at home." They contained snippets of his life, captured with her rangefinder camera—his life "inside and outside the lens." She had originally planned to give them to him on his birthday, but considering she wouldn't see him for two months, she couldn't resist giving him some first.
Lu Xiaoyan held the small box, still warm from her body, his fingers tightening slightly. He could roughly guess what was inside.
"Thank you." He looked at her, his eyes swirling with emotion, but in the end, it all boiled down to these two words.
"You're welcome." Qiu Yayu smiled sweetly and waved. "I'm going up now! See you tomorrow!"
"See you tomorrow." Lü Xiaoyan stood still, watching her turn around, run lightly up the steps, and push open the glass door of the dormitory. Just before the door closed, she turned back again, smiled brightly and vigorously at him through the glass, and waved once more.
He also raised his hand and waved it gently.
The glass door closed completely, and her figure disappeared behind it.
Lu Xiaoyan stood downstairs for a long time until the warm light of that familiar window came on and he saw her figure appear by the window, gesturing for him to "go and rest." Only then did he slowly turn around and walk towards his dormitory.
The summer night sky was exceptionally clear, with the Milky Way stretching across the horizon like a hazy band of light. He looked up at the countless stars and remembered their promise to that star-studded town. A faint, expectant smile unconsciously curved his lips.
He returned to his dorm and opened the small box. Inside was indeed a stack of photos. There was a profile of him taking a nap on a library table, a focused expression on his brow as he adjusted equipment in the darkroom, a silhouette of him walking along a tree-lined path, and a candid shot of him picking food for her while they were eating together… The composition of the photos wasn’t perfect, some were even a little blurry, but every single one was full of the breath of life and her overflowing, tender love.
He examined each photo carefully, his fingertips gently tracing his own image in the pictures, as if he could feel the joy and preciousness she felt when she pressed the shutter. He carefully put the photos away in the innermost compartment of his suitcase, next to the handmade photo album "Inside and Outside the Lens" that she had given him before.
After washing up and lying in bed, Lü Xiaoyan took out her phone and sent Qiu Yayu a final message before leaving school:
"good evening."
I received her reply almost instantly after sending the message:
Goodnight! See you in my dreams! (￣▽￣)~*
Looking at that cute emoticon, he could imagine her holding her phone and grinning foolishly. A wave of tenderness washed over him. He put down his phone, closed his eyes, and felt little sadness about their brief two-month separation, for his heart was filled with certainty about their reunion and their shared future.
He planned to pick her up early the next morning, help her with her luggage, and take the bus home together. He would first drop her off at her apartment complex, watch her go inside safely, and then go home himself. During the summer vacation, they would contact each other every day, sharing their lives. He would take her to the town where she could see the most beautiful starry sky and take the most beautiful photos of her under the Milky Way. On his birthday, she would give him the gift she had secretly prepared for so long, the gift he had longed for…
All his imaginings about tomorrow were filled with specific, subtle details of happiness. With this warm and peaceful feeling, he fell into a deep sleep.
He had no idea that the words "See you in my dreams" on his phone screen were the last words he would ever receive from Qiu Yayu.
Little did he know that a few hours later, as dawn broke, what awaited him was not a morning to go home with her, but a phone call that shattered his world and plunged him into eternal darkness.
All the promises of "see you tomorrow," all the dreams of summer vacation and the future, came to an abrupt end and vanished after that seemingly ordinary summer night.
Autumn ended prematurely before it even arrived.
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