Summer Challenge Camp (Part Two)
Jiang Yichun was packing his luggage in the dormitory.
She saw the news that she had passed the initial review on the graduate admissions system of University A a week ago.
The list of recommended graduate school admission information accounts I follow on Xiaohongshu has also been released, and her name is prominently featured on the list.
Although some universities have spread jokes about casting a wide net for graduate school admissions and some absurd stories about it, Jiang Yichun's goal remains the same: University A.
Although proving herself to those awful relatives was gradually becoming insignificant to her, she still wanted to pursue her dream of attending A University.
Although she still didn't know why she was moving forward, she had already received the preliminary test notification, so there was no reason not to move forward.
The summer camp at University A was about to begin on the second day, and she would soon be packing her bags and taking the subway to leave.
She picked up a piece of clothing at random.
It was a light blue coat.
It has a faint scent of kapok flowers.
It was the coat she had left behind that rainy night, the one she had hugged while crying but hadn't shed a tear.
She looked around and found the dormitory empty.
She unfolded the coat and slowly pulled it into her arms.
"Old He, you're a liar."
"……abnormal."
The words on those memos flashed before her eyes.
Jiang Yichun, Xiaochun, and her.
The timeframe has continued from the beginning of March until now.
Each sentence, each word, records her preferences, her experiences, and... his journey of falling in love.
She likes the bibimbap served in the cafeteria.
We're friends now.
It's wrong to lie to her.
I like her.
Do you like me...?
You like me.
Do you like me?
Her mind went blank, and her heart started racing.
The words spoken by Sister Xixi suddenly struck her heart.
So, he was talking about me back then?
He's happy when he sees me.
He would worry about everything I did.
He really likes me.
He Yinxin, who was already sickly, struggled to get up, her face even paler.
"Xiaochun, did you see everything?"
He wasn't wearing his glasses and coughed a few times.
He braced himself on the edge of the bed with both hands, his lips trembling.
Those eyes were staring straight at her.
"What do you see?" Jiang Yichun took a step back, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Yes, I saw what you said." She casually placed the bread and water she had bought in her pocket on his bed.
She raised her eyes, biting her lip, suppressing the pounding of her heart: "He Yinxin, you really are..."
The word "pervert" was on the tip of her tongue, but she ultimately didn't say it.
He Yinxin gasped for breath, her fingertips trembling uncontrollably: "Xiaochun, I just wanted to understand you better, I'm not..."
He coughed even more violently, clutching his chest.
Jiang Yichun turned off his phone and put it in his hand.
A faint scar on his palm was instantly revealed to her.
"What's with this scar? He Yinxin, you wouldn't..."
Jia Shugui chimed in, "Oh, this? Old He was being silly the other day and broke a jar, shards everywhere."
"He cut his hand while picking it up."
"The jar? The one that holds mint leaves, right?" Jiang Yichun turned his head and met He Yinxin's gaze.
He Yinxin coughed heavily a few times, then raised his hand: "Xiaochun, let me explain. It was an accident, not intentional..."
"I can't get it right no matter how I try. I'm sorry."
Jiang Yichun's mind became increasingly confused, filled with the phrase "I like her".
She didn't respond to him further, turning her back to him: "I'm busy with my graduate school application these days, so don't come looking for me, and don't try to bump into me."
"Take care of your health and make money."
"Although I hate you, I will never take back my birthday wishes to you."
"I hope you will always be free and at ease."
Jiang Yichun lifted his foot and left the emergency room.
Instead of saying she left, she preferred to describe it as fleeing in panic, fleeing with a frantic heartbeat.
She...didn't see him much during that month.
Perhaps he listened to those words, or perhaps he had his own things to do.
In short, she never saw him again in the small campus, in the library, or in the study rooms.
"Am I going to die?" His delirious words kept echoing in her ears, and the smell of medical alcohol in the ambulance gradually overwhelmed her sense of smell.
He Yinxin, I told you not to see me, but please don't actually die.
Jiang Yichun stroked the garment, thinking of lingering with it a little longer.
"Squeak!"
"Xiaochun, have you packed your luggage?" Zhang Xingxing returned to the dormitory with a box of toast.
Jiang Yichun tossed the coat aside, stuffed it into his suitcase, and slammed the suitcase shut.
She stood up, picked up her suitcase, and smiled at Zhang Xingxing: "All packed, we're off to A University in a bit."
"I booked a hotel near University A."
Zhang Xingxing put the toast on the table and stretched: "Okay, by the way, Xiaochun, do you want some toast before you leave?"
"want!"
Jiang Yichun rubbed his burning cheeks and ran to her side.
Zhang Xingxing smiled, wrapped the piece of dark chocolate toast in a tissue, and stuffed it into her hand.
The two looked at each other and smiled.
"Xingxing, when does your summer camp start?" Jiang Yichun asked, chewing on a piece of dark chocolate bread.
The dark chocolate is rich and fragrant, the bread is soft and fluffy, and there is an ice cream filling inside.
All those restless thoughts were soothed by the delicious food in my mouth.
Zhang Xingxing smiled and picked up a piece of bread to eat: "It'll be soon. I'm going to Beidu City the day after tomorrow."
"Xingxing, do you want to develop your career in the north?"
"Yeah, that's right. After all, my parents are there, and I'm thinking of finding a job there after graduation, preferably a stable one."
"Besides, I'll have someone to support and look after them over there."
Jiang Yichun lowered her eyes. She thought about how her other three roommates would call their parents almost every night, while she, except when she was running out of living expenses, would hardly talk to her parents at all.
Occasionally, when her father discovered some novel gadgets or successfully developed a food with a long shelf life, this man, who was like a bard, would send her a special "postcard".
Occasionally, when her mother participates in a performance, she will share her joy with her in the chat box.
There are no other exceptions.
"By the way, Xiaochun. If I really get accepted into Beidu University of Finance and Economics for graduate school, if you ever travel to Beidu City, you have to come over for a meal." Zhang Xingxing's words pulled her out of her inexplicable melancholy.
Jiang Yichun chuckled and patted her shoulder: "Okay, Xingxing, if you ever come to Huaxing City for tourism in the future, be sure to remember to ask me for a meal."
"Definitely, after all, Xiaochun, you're a food connoisseur. I'll have to try A University's cafeteria sometime." Zhang Xingxing finished the toast completely.
Jiang Yichun took out a wet wipe, and the two dried their hands.
Jiang Yichun turned around and pulled up the handle of his suitcase.
"Yan Yue is still filming. Fei Fei heard that tonight is the final of her club's dance competition, so, Xing Xing, I have to say goodbye to you today."
She pulled her suitcase and waved to Zhang Xingxing.
"Okay, bye-bye, all the best."
"The same to you."
Jiang Yichun turned around, closed the door, and dragged his suitcase toward the school gate.
The early summer evening breeze was already carrying a faint warmth, making her head feel a little dizzy.
"Yo, Jiang Yichun?" Qiao Maizi was wearing a pink dress and carrying an ita bag.
Jiang Yichun, pulling his suitcase, smiled at her: "Qiao Maizi, did you just come back from shopping?"
Qiao Maizi swung her twin ponytails, causing the sparkling hair accessories to flutter: "Yeah, by the way, Jiang Yichun, what are you doing dragging your suitcase? Going on a trip?"
"No, I'm going to attend the University A summer camp."
"Oh, I see. You're aiming for a master's degree through the recommendation system, right?"
"Hmm. And what about you?"
"I'll study abroad. My family has money, and my grades aren't bad."
"Oh, I see. I understand." Jiang Yichun smiled at her and continued walking forward, pulling his suitcase.
Qiao Maizi watched her retreating figure and called out to her, "Jiang Yichun, you must succeed in getting into graduate school! Don't embarrass yourself!"
"What I mean is, good luck with your graduate school application!"
Jiang Yichun paused, her hand gripping the lever, and turned around, saying, "Don't worry, I won't embarrass myself."
"Qiao Maizi, you too, IELTS 8, got an offer."
Even though they had chased each other many times, and even though they had used harsh words to fight each other, when their fates were to go in different places, they ultimately chose to wish each other well.
The two waved to each other across the long road under the dim light, then walked back to back in their own directions.
Jiang Yichun continued walking forward, and in front of the school's turnstiles, she saw that familiar figure.
The first thing she noticed was the pink bunny charm dangling from the canvas bag, and only then did she see the tall figure from behind.
After a month apart, she could only see his profile.
He Yinxin's nose bridge is more prominent, and her eye sockets are slightly sunken, but these are covered by her glasses.
He was holding a phone in one hand and a bag slung over his shoulder in the other, talking to the other person.
His eyes were fixed ahead, seemingly unaware that she was walking towards him.
Jiang Yichun's rationality kept pulling her away from him, but her legs still moved towards him.
She wanted to smell if he still had that familiar kapok scent, and to see if he had suffered a lot these past few days.
She finally reached his side, the wheels of her suitcase making a rattling sound on the concrete.
He Yinxin put down her phone and turned her head slightly in her direction.
He stopped in his tracks, then started walking towards her.
Their eyes did not meet; instead, they remained as straight as the parallel lines they had drawn earlier.
Jiang Yichun walked towards the subway station outside the school, while He Yinxin walked towards the turnstile inside the school.
As the two passed each other, the little rabbit on He Yinxin's bag swayed and brushed against Jiang Yichun's hand.
The furry touch sent a jolt of electricity through the back of her hand, traveling along her nerves to her brain in an instant, and finally reaching her heart.
Her heart pounded again.
Those senses that had been dormant in her heart were completely activated at this moment.
She caught a glimpse of his longer bangs, smelled the scent of laundry detergent on him, and heard his deep, husky voice:
"Xiaochun, good luck with your postgraduate application!"
"I must go to University A."
She paused, her hand holding the suitcase still, and her pace gradually slowed.
She detected a food aroma amidst the scent of laundry detergent.
Jiang Yichun inexplicably wished that time could slow down a little, so that perhaps he could say a few more words to himself.
It wasn't just auspicious words like "may you be accepted into graduate school smoothly," but also words about himself and his family.
Unfortunately, time flows evenly and fairly. After saying that, he quickly quickened his pace and passed by her.
When Jiang Yichun turned his head, only two security guards remained standing guard at the turnstile at the school gate.
She shook her head and turned to walk towards the subway station.
Two parallel lines that will never intersect are touched at this moment by a little rabbit.
As night fell, Jiang Yichun lay on the hotel bed. She took the coat out of her suitcase again, hugged it tightly to her chest, and imagined him lying beside her.
"It's so good that you're still alive."
Jiang Yichun closed his eyes and drifted into a dream.
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