Summer Breeze
The late summer wind swept across the courtyard with the last trace of heat, and the leaves of the old locust tree rustled, as if softly singing the ending song for this story that began in the cold winter.
Xu Yang squatted beside the stone steps, gently brushing Xiaoju's fluffy tail with his fingertips - it has grown from a timid little ball of fur into a "little bully" who can make the dandelions in the yard fly all over the sky. At this moment, it is curled up at his feet, purring with satisfaction in its throat.
"Have you packed everything?"
Lu Jinyu walked out of the house carrying the last suitcase. Hanging on the canvas strap was the crooked wool pendant that the two of them had knitted together last winter.
When Xu Yang looked up, he saw the sunlight falling on the tips of Lu Jinyu's hair, casting a layer of light golden light, and the figure of the young man with a backpack on his back slowly overlapped with the figure they first met outside the physics competition tutoring class.
"That's all that's left."
Xu Yang held up the photo frame in his hand. A speck of dust still clung to the glass. Inside was a photo taken on New Year's Eve: the braised pork on the table steamed, the red light of a lantern reflected on their faces. At some point, Xiaoju had jumped onto the table, his paws resting on the edge of the fish plate, his eyes shining like stars.
They kept this photo on their desks for half a year. When they were reviewing late at night, they would feel warm in their hearts just by looking at it.
Lu Jinyu walked over and reached out to help him wipe the dust off the photo frame. His fingertips accidentally touched the back of Xu Yang's hand, and they both couldn't help laughing.
From the snowflakes on the day when we checked our physics competition scores, to the Spring Festival couplets we posted together on New Year's Eve; from the encouragement we gave each other when we couldn't solve the function problems before the college entrance examination, to the sweet watermelon in the infirmary on the day when we had heatstroke; to the hearts we drew on the beach, to the moment we jumped up together when we checked our scores - those tiny, shining fragments, like pearls strung on a rope, can be scattered all over the summer with a light pull.
"Let's go, it's time to report to school." Lu Jinyu picked up the suitcase and naturally held Xu Yang's hand with his other hand.
Xiaoju seemed to have noticed something. He suddenly stood up, circled around their feet twice, and meowed softly with a hint of reluctance.
Xu Yang squatted down, held Xiaoju in his arms, and gently rubbed his chin against its head: "We will be back to accompany you soon, dear."
Lu Jinyu also bent down, took out a small bag of dried fish from his pocket and put it in the cat bowl at the door - this was what they had agreed with the neighbor aunt long ago, that the aunt would help take care of Xiaoju after school started, and they would come back every weekend.
When locking the door, Xu Yang couldn't help but look back at the courtyard.
The Spring Festival couplets on the wooden door have faded a little, the lanterns hanging under the eaves are still swaying gently, the window in front of the desk is open, and the wind blows the curtains up, as if waving goodbye.
This is the place where they have the most tense and warmest time, the frustration of not being able to solve the questions, the joy of getting good grades, the peace of mind of being with each other, and the words spoken softly at the sunset by the sea.
"I love you".
"Don't look at it, there's plenty of time to come back later."
Lu Jinyu held his hand tightly, with a smile in his voice, "Maybe we can grow a pot of small succulents in our university dormitory, as cute as a small orange."
Xu Yang nodded, turned around and followed Lu Jinyu, walking out of the alley step by step.
The sunlight stretched their shadows very long and close together, like two lines that would never separate.
Next to the bus stop at the entrance of the alley, there is a bus going to the university. There are autumn ginkgo leaves painted on the body of the bus, as if heralding a new season and a new beginning.
When getting in the car, Lu Jinyu gave the window seat to Xu Yang and sat next to him with the suitcase at his feet.
Xu Yang watched the scenery outside the window slowly receding. He felt no sadness of farewell, but only full of expectations - he knew that this story about youth, dreams and companionship was not over, but had just begun in another way.
The bus slowly moved forward, passing through the streets lined with sycamore trees, and headed towards the distant area where the university flag was fluttering.
Xu Yang turned his head and looked at Lu Jinyu who was sorting out the registration documents beside him. He suddenly remembered what Lu Jinyu said to him outside the examination room on the day after the college entrance examination:
"We will watch many sunrises together and walk many roads together in the future."
He gently touched Lu Jinyu's arm, and when he looked up, he smiled with his eyes curved: "Lu Jinyu, our future seems to be more beautiful than the sunset at the seaside."
Lu Jinyu also smiled, and reached out to tuck his wind-blown hair behind his ears. His voice was gentle but firm: "Yes, because we will always be together."
The wind outside the car window blew in with the first freshness of autumn, brushing against the two people's clasped hands and their long future full of hope.
The story has come to the last chapter, but their new chapter has just begun.
This midsummer, the wind will stop, the rain will stop
But their love never ends.
-［End of Text］-
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