8 You are a heartless man
The midsummer morning light streamed across the playground of Weicheng No. 1 Middle School. In the ranks of Class 1 (3), Song Miao and Liu Yuwei were whispering. They had shared bunk beds since military training and, after the start of school, were assigned to the same desk. Naturally, they became inseparable friends. Song Miao's gaze was fixed on the freshman representative speaking on the platform. She tugged at Liu Yuwei's sleeve and lowered her voice, "Yuwei, how long do you think it will take me to win him over?" Her eyes gleamed with a sly yet confident glint. Jin Lang, the top scorer in the city's high school entrance exam who had entered Weicheng Middle School, was a "Three Good Youth"—good academics, good looks, and a good person. Even during military training, he had become the "male idol" of countless girls. However, while everyone was still speculating about the type of girl Jin Lang might be attracted to, during a break in the second semester of high school, Song Miao mysteriously pulled Liu Yuwei under the cherry trees at the edge of the playground. Pink petals drifted in the breeze, and Song Miao, with an unconcealed smugness on her face, quietly announced, "Yuwei, I have a boyfriend." Liu Yuwei followed her gaze and saw Jin Lang standing not far away, nodding with a smile. At that moment, Liu Yuwei naively believed that Song Miao was the biggest connection between her and Jin Lang. Although Weicheng was a small place, Weicheng No. 1 Middle School had always been a benchmark in the province. Every year, many sister schools came to observe its teaching, and as a result, the middle school always received high-quality resources from the Provincial Department of Education. Back then, Weicheng No. 1 Middle School had established a cooperative program with several universities in Singapore, sending outstanding students to Singapore for a year of preparatory studies, allowing them to enter university without taking entrance exams. However, the majors were relatively unpopular, mostly fields that locals would not choose. For Weicheng, Singapore might have been a more attractive city than Beijing or Shanghai. While the school's programs were excellent, a decade or so ago, in a small, third-tier city like Weicheng, not every family could afford to pay for five years of tuition and living expenses for their children abroad. Sometimes financial resources are a solid backing and the cornerstone of a choice. Song Miao comes from a wealthy family. Her parents are business owners and dote on her, especially when it comes to her education. So, during the summer before her senior year, Song Miao became the top student in her class and embarked on a journey to Singapore. Song Miao had not discussed her decision to go abroad with her boyfriend, Jin Lang, or revealed it to her deskmate and good friend, Liu Yuwei. After the final exams of her second year of high school, when the teacher announced the news to the students, everyone was shocked, but they also expressed their love for Song Miao...
The midsummer morning light shone on the playground of Weicheng No. 1 Middle School. In the team of Class 1 (3) of Senior High School, Song Miao and Liu Yuwei were talking in low voices.
The two of them had lived in bunk beds since military training, and were assigned to sit at the same table after school started, naturally becoming inseparable good friends.
Song Miao's eyes were fixed on the freshman representative who was speaking on the stage in the playground. He tugged at Liu Yuwei's sleeves and lowered his voice, "Yuwei, how long do you think it will take me to take him down?"
There was a sly and confident glint in her eyes.
Jin Lang, who scored first in the city's high school entrance exam and entered Weicheng Middle School, was a "Three Good Youth"—good at studying, good at appearance, and good at being a good person. Even during military training, he had already become the "male god" in the hearts of countless girls.
However, just when everyone was still wondering what kind of girl Jin Lang would like, during a break in the second semester of high school, Song Miao mysteriously pulled Liu Yuwei under the cherry tree beside the playground.
Pink petals fluttered in the wind, and Song Miao, with an unconcealable look of pride on his face, softly announced: "Yu Wei, I have a boyfriend."
Liu Yuwei followed her gaze and saw Jin Lang standing not far away, smiling and nodding at them. At that moment, Liu Yuwei naively thought that Song Miao was the biggest intersection between her and Jin Lang.
Although Weicheng is a small place, Weicheng No. 1 Middle School has always been a benchmark middle school in the province. Every year, many sister schools come to observe the teaching. Therefore, the No. 1 Middle School can always be allocated high-quality resources from the Provincial Department of Education.
At that time, Weicheng No. 1 Middle School launched a cooperation project with several universities in Singapore. Every year, it would select outstanding students to study in Singapore for one year of preparatory courses, and then go directly to university without examination. However, the majors were relatively unpopular, and most of them were fields that local people were unwilling to choose.
For Acropolis, Singapore may be a more attractive city than Beijing and Shanghai.
While the school's program was excellent, a decade or so ago, in a small, third-tier city like Weicheng, not every family could afford to pay for five years of tuition and living expenses for their children abroad. Sometimes financial resources are a solid backing and the cornerstone of a choice.
Song Miao came from a wealthy family. Her parents were business owners and doted on her, especially when it came to her education. So, during the summer before her senior year, Song Miao became the top student in her class and embarked on a journey to Singapore.
Song Miao did not discuss the decision to go abroad with her boyfriend Jin Lang in advance, nor did she tell her deskmate and good friend Liu Yuwei.
After the final exams of the second year of high school, when the teacher announced the news to the students, everyone was very shocked, but they also expressed their envy and blessings to Song Miao.
As for what Song Miao said to Jin Lang, Liu Yuwei was not very clear, but she knew that the two of them must have parted on bad terms.
It was the last day before summer vacation. Song Miao squatted under a tree at the school gate and cried for a long time.
Liu Yuwei stood silently by, watching her curled up in a ball, her shoulders trembling slightly. Finally, he couldn't help but walked forward, patted her back gently, and handed her a pack of tissues.
Song Miao raised her head, her eyes red and tears streaming down her cheeks. She sobbed and said, "Weiwei, I didn't mean to hide it from everyone... I was just afraid, afraid that others would find out before there was any result."
Her voice was choked with sobs, filled with grievance and self-blame. "I don't want to break up with him. I really like him..."
Only then did Liu Yuwei realize that Jin Lang had broken up with her in a fit of anger.
It’s normal to think about it now. In that era when the Internet was not very developed, long-distance love seemed like a fantasy to high school students in third-tier cities.
As Song Miao's good friend, Liu Yuwei was entrusted by her to try to get a chance to explain to Jin Lang during the summer vacation. As a result, Liu Yuwei witnessed the decadent appearance of the bright and clear boy that she had never seen before.
In the evening of midsummer, the chirping of cicadas tears through the twilight. Although the sun has set, the heat wave shows no sign of receding and still fills the air, so sticky that it makes people breathless.
Liu Yuyi asked around, asking several of Jin Lang's friends, and finally found him near a small basketball court. The young man sat outside the three-point line, his legs propped up, sweating profusely. His T-shirt, already soaked through, clung tightly to his lean back.
The basketball was thrown aside casually, and the beer can at his feet shone coldly in the sunset.
He lowered his head, with strands of hair hanging down in front of his forehead. Sweat kept sliding down his cheeks and dripping onto the ground, leaving scattered watermarks.
Seeing this, Liu Yuwei turned around and ran to the nearest grocery store, quickly picked up two bottles of water from the shelf, and for some unknown reason bought a few cans of beer when checking out.
Hearing approaching footsteps, the boy looked up. The eyes that once reflected the cherry blossoms of March now resembled a bonfire doused by a rainstorm, even the embers covered in ash.
Liu Yuwei placed the plastic bag at Jin Lang's feet. "Here, have a drink of water first. I'll refill your drink."
As she swung the bag over, icy water droplets rolled down the bottle. One drop landed on the back of Jin Lang's hand, and his fingertips suddenly curled up.
"Song Miao asked you to come?"
His voice sounded like it rolled out of a rusty tin can, and every word had a rough edge.
"You can even send an envoy after a breakup? You're worthy of being a white swan who's about to go abroad to gild your reputation."
"I'm not your carrier pigeon."
Liu Yuwei frowned, with a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone.
"You two are so funny. One is crying like a baby, and the other is so dejected. Can't you just talk it out clearly? Why do you have to act like you're in an idol drama?"
She kicked the basketball at her feet and watched it hit the barbed wire alone.
Jin Lang laughed self-deprecatingly, "What else is there to say? She's going abroad to pursue a bright future. You and I are unimportant. We're just being notified."
Liu Yuwei pursed her lips and said slowly, "As her friend, I am truly happy for her that she can have a bright future and doesn't have to endure the torture of senior year of high school and the college entrance examination."
"But honestly, I think she should have at least announced it in advance so that everyone could be mentally prepared, instead of doing it like it is now."
Liu Yuwei pulled a can of beer from a plastic bag and opened it. This was the first time she'd taken the initiative to drink. The bubbles, wrapped in the flavor of hops, exploded on her tongue, like swallowing a miniature firework.
"I thought you had the same idea as me. Or are you afraid that she'll forget you if we lose contact?"
She took another sip of beer and frowned. This stuff really didn't taste good. At that time, she didn't know that one day in the future, she would need to drink to relieve her sorrow.
Liu Yuwei suddenly remembered the time after the art festival ended, when Jin Lang secretly put the cherry on the cream cake into Song Miao's soda bottle. The stars in his eyes at that time were now mixed with wine and sweat, seeping into the cracks in the concrete floor.
"Of course, you have your own thoughts and concerns. I'm not you, and I don't necessarily understand you, so I don't want to interfere with any decision you make, nor will I try to persuade you."
"Song Miao hopes to have a good chat with you before leaving. I think it would be better for you to calm down and say goodbye properly."
Liu Yuwei stroked the condensed water droplets on the jar. "Did you know that cherry pits have to be buried in the soil for seven years before they sprout?"
"If you don't say something now and bury it deep in your heart, it might take root and grow out later, and it might keep you awake all night."
After saying that, she stopped talking and just drank her wine.
Jin Lang silently pulled another can of beer from his bag, tilted his head back, and guzzled it down. The amber liquid flowed down his jaw and into his collar. Then, as if to vent his anger, he slammed the empty can to the ground. The metallic whine startled the sparrows hiding in the treetops.
The remaining wine at the bottom of the bottle splashed out, leaving a large white foam on the ground. Liu Yuwei watched the foam disappear little by little and become a watermark on the ground, feeling a mixture of emotions.
Jin Lang's voice broke the silence, choking with sobs, "You know, she is my first love."
This sentence seemed to have exhausted all his strength and was deeply engraved in Liu Yuwei's heart.
In countless nights that followed, whenever Liu Yuwei woke up from a dream, these words would always echo in her ears, becoming the last sentence she could remember.
It's like an unbreakable curse, lingering in my heart forever.
…
As the night progressed, the bar became increasingly crowded. Lao Liang couldn't take any more time to care for Liu Yuwei, who sat there drinking several glasses by herself. When he finished his work and returned to the bar, Liu Yuwei was already sprawled out on the table.
"Xiao Wei, wake up, you've drunk too much. Call your friend to pick you up." Lao Liang patted Liu Yuwei's shoulder.
"Ah, Brother Liang, I'm fine." She raised her head with a dazed look in her eyes, obviously a little drunk.
"No, you can't go home like this!" Lao Liang quickly stuffed the phone into her hand.
Liu Yuwei burped and casually dialed a familiar number.
"Hello..." The phone was connected and a clear male voice came out.
"Jin Lang, you are a heartless man, a bastard..."
…
The last promotional event of "Summer Like You" came to a successful conclusion. The crew carefully arranged a small-scale celebration party. The director, main creators and some staff members who stayed in northern Beijing gathered together and raised their glasses to celebrate in a private room of the hotel.
When Liu Yuwei's voice came out from Jin Lang's mobile phone receiver, everyone in the room instantly switched to silent mode. They looked at each other, their eyes full of curiosity and confusion.
Jin Lang's expression changed slightly, his brows furrowed instantly. He ignored the gazes of the people around him and strode towards the door.
The atmosphere in the private room grew tense, with everyone at the table having their own thoughts. Jin Lang's manager, Zhang Yi, was shocked at what kind of trouble he had gotten himself into, wondering if the girl had even come knocking on his door.
Lin Yuwei was sitting next to Jin Lang. Before he answered the phone, she accidentally noticed that the caller was "Xiao Yu". She wondered to herself, could it be that he really has a girlfriend outside the circle?
Several artists who usually had a casual relationship with Jin Lang were now excited and whispering to each other, thinking that they had really tasted some big news at this meal. Usually everyone praised him for being clean, but it seemed that he was just like that.
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