Five

I am a person with a strong sense of possessiveness; I cannot tolerate my boyfriend frequenting such places every day. Moreover, given Lu Yihan's conditions, even if he does not seek out attention, there will naturally be girls flocking to him.

I called Lu Yihan and said I wanted to go eat seafood. He seemed a bit taken aback and repeatedly said, "As long as you are not angry, I will come to pick you up right away"

When Zhou Jianian left the school, he smiled at Lu Yihan and said, "Brother, I owe your family, consider it repaid"

He said: "Oh my, Su Wei, how did you drink so much without even realizing it?"

In essence, he is very sentimental; that incident is something I feel guilty about towards him. This is Lu Yihan's assessment of Zhou Jianian

However, as I was leaving, I suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps, followed closely by loud commands. The beam of the flashlight was so bright in the dark night, and the motion-sensor lights in the corridor, which had previously malfunctioned, suddenly returned to normal.

Fortunately, there is still Lu Yihan, who is different from them

He probably really dislikes me, as he didn't even glance at me.

I stared blankly at her; she did not require my response, as this statement was merely a prelude to the sentences that would follow.

That was the first time I saw him smile so freely. Before this, I had always thought that such an expression could never appear on his face, which bore a hint of childlike brightness along with a touch of adult indifference. These two qualities were clearly in conflict, yet on his face, they achieved perfect harmony

By the time she reached middle school, Lu Yihan's father's business had grown increasingly prosperous, thus elevating Lu Yihan into the ranks of the wealthy elite. However, Zhou Jianian was not as fortunate; his father's career was fraught with difficulties, leading to a downfall due to economic reasons, resulting in legal troubles and imprisonment.

If she does not understand these things, then so be it; perhaps she will be able to peacefully be with Chen Mobei, graduate, get married, support her husband and educate her children, and a happy and fulfilling life can be summed up in just a few simple words

But life is not a novel, and no author can confidently declare that this is the best outcome. I stared blankly at the tequila in the glass, feeling completely at a loss for words

When Lu Yihan accompanied me to buy clothes, the first person I saw when I walked out of the fitting room was not Lu Yihan, but rather Zhou Jianian walking towards me, along with Qing Tian by his side

One day, I accidentally opened a package and saw that it contained the dress I had tried on that day. My roommates all said it was truly beautiful

Hearing the name Zhou Jianian finally jolted me out of my stupor, I licked off the layer of salt from the corner of my mouth and raised my cup, drinking it all in one go

Tell me about your past with Zhou Jianian

That night, after the evening self-study session ended, Lu Yihan was the last to leave the classroom. As he stepped out of the classroom door, he saw Zhou Jianian leaning against the staircase, smoking.

Everyone at school knows that Zhou Jianian has a father who is a corrupt official. One time, a male classmate inadvertently mentioned this matter, and Zhou Jianian immediately lost his temper, grabbing the other person's head and slamming it against the wall, causing the other person to bleed profusely from a head injury

The next day, the name of Zhou Jianian echoed in every corner of the campus through the school broadcast. Although Lu Yihan confessed to his family that he was the instigator of the incident and was subsequently beaten up for it, the serious consequences of the matter left Lu Yihan's father at a loss on how to resolve it

At a critical moment, it was Zhou Jianian who pushed Lu Yihan into the adjacent display room, while he himself ran in the opposite direction. His footsteps sounded so abrupt in the silent night, and Lu Yihan's face turned pale with fear in the display room

I can no longer continue like this. Since my heart is no longer with Lu Yihan, how can I accept the gifts he gives me so carelessly? I think I must find an opportunity to clarify this with him.

Later, this matter was resolved by Lu Yihan's father. After coming out of the Political Education Department, Uncle Lu said to him, "Your father is your father, and you are you"

At the very beginning, I was also unwilling; at the very beginning, I also found this kind of transaction to be very sordid; at the very beginning, I, like all of you, was filled with deep disdain for those who exchanged their youth for desire

Her voice and expression are equally genuine, yet the words she utters send chills down my spine

The ugliness of human nature projected onto what should be innocent and harmless youth appears even more brutal

Since then, no one dared to discuss his family matters in front of Zhou Jianian, but he also lost interest in making friends with anyone

As I looked, the bottles in front of me were all empty. I smiled and said, "Yihan, I don't know if it's your eloquence or if it's Zhou Jianian himself who is charming; look at me, I ended up drinking so much wine just from your story."

I deliberately followed closely behind Zhou Jianian, pretending to be nonchalant while repeatedly asking: "Is that your girlfriend? Is she really your girlfriend?"

At that moment, I thought of Zhou Jianian, a person whose identity I only knew by name and appearance, and occasionally heard brief anecdotes about from Lu Yihan. Can the feelings I have for him be called love?

The matter between Chen Mobei and Gu Meng has prompted some reflections on my part. Just as I was beginning to forget about Zhou Jianian, he reappeared.

Everything is going smoothly. Lu Yihan inquired early in the morning about the location of the exam papers, specifically which office, which desk, and which drawer they are in. She even had a copy of the key made.

She said: "Su Wei, if Lu Yihan has nothing, would you still be with him?"

I am neither a bumpkin, nor blind, and certainly not a fool

At that moment, I looked at myself in the mirror and felt that Su Wei was truly shameless

Zhou Jianian extinguished the cigarette butt with his foot and walked over, smiling faintly as he said: "If we are brothers, I will not let you go alone"

That was an age destined to go against one's original intentions

For quite a long period, my mood was not very good. No matter what gift Lu Yihan gave me, I could only force a smile in return, and sometimes I was too lazy to even unwrap the packaging.

I am also friends with Gu Meng, but in that moment, what first came to my mind was that night, Chen Mobei's sorrowful face reflected on the surface of the lake

As Zhou Jianian got up to grab some fruit salad, I quietly followed him. When I reached the other end of the restaurant, I deliberately turned back to take a look at our table. Qing Tian and Lu Yihan were chatting happily, two rich young men laughing foolishly.

Zhou Jianian inherently possesses some elements of the underworld, prioritizing righteousness above all else. He has always sought an opportunity to repay the favor owed to the Lu family.

Without saying a word, I entered the fitting room again, changed out of the dress that I originally thought was beautiful, and angrily walked out to Lu Yihan and said: "I don't want it anymore"

After she finished speaking, she released my hand, so resolutely and decisively. I noticed a small ring on her little finger, but it was set with a dazzling diamond

He said that after Jia Nian dropped out of school, he began to venture into society. His mother was too preoccupied with her own matters and had no extra energy to take care of him. Sometimes he would travel alone for several months. Unlike others, he did not make any plans before his trips, did not book hotels, and did not carry much money. Occasionally, when the train stopped to pick up passengers, he would get off to take a walk. If he came across something he found delicious, he would turn back, get his luggage, and change his itinerary.

Yet she understood these things; the girls around her and the world before her were all different from the past

As a result, Lu Yihan said something that made me collapse on the spot: "It is better to meet by chance than to invite each other; let’s have a meal together"

I listened blankly to Lu Yihan's narration, as he said: "I have truly never seen anyone as casual as him."

At that moment, among the four people present, only my face lost its smile. I admit that I felt a twinge of jealousy.

Regardless of whether he insults me, strikes me, or humiliates me in any way, I no longer wish to be someone who is physically in the Cao camp but mentally in the Han. Since my heart is with the Han, my body must also be with the Han; otherwise, I would be betraying both the Cao camp and myself

I finally couldn't help but speak harshly, saying: "I don't think you would like her, with that silly and foolish appearance!"

Zhou Jianian chewed his food expressionlessly, showing no interest in the topic discussed by Lu Yihan and Qing Tian. The knife and fork in my hand cut into the steak in front of me with such force that it seemed as if this cow had been my nemesis in its former life

I do not even have the courage to tell him, "I am not angry with you; I am angry with myself"

I truly failed; at the very beginning, I left such a terrible impression on Zhou Jianian, which really frustrates me

Indeed, I can understand her yearning and longing for material possessions. In this era of overwhelming indulgence and excess, in this city where material desires run rampant, the pursuit of luxury brands and the craving for material wealth are entirely reasonable

The smile on my face froze at that moment, and my previously calm heart began to feel restless again. Lu Yihan followed my gaze and suddenly broke into a mocking smile. I heard him say, "It's quite rare, Zhou Jianian actually accompanies his girlfriend shopping."

Humans are indeed peculiar; they can get by with nothing at all, yet when they have one, two, or three, they begin to desire four, five, and six. Once they attain four, five, and six, they feel that seven, eight, and nine cannot be lacking either. In the end, everyone aspires to perfection.

They looked at each other in confusion, unsure of which link in the chain had gone awry

She said to me: "Su Wei, you have no right to disdain me"

He shifted his gaze back to my face and said softly, "Being foolish is not so bad; at least it is better than making baseless comments about others."

He has indeed changed a lot for me, and he probably genuinely wants to have a good outcome with me

The Zhou family, once bustling with visitors, has now become desolate and empty.

They were originally childhood friends

At that time, Lu Yihan and Zhou Jianian were both spirited youths, exhibiting a surplus of courage in their actions and demeanor, yet lacking in consideration. Before the examination, Lu Yihan made a bet with a boy in the class, assuring him that he could obtain the examination papers. The boy looked at him with disdain, and it was that very expression of contempt that provoked Lu Yihan, who slammed his hand on the table and vowed that he would definitely get them.

Money does not mean much to Lu Yihan, but he cannot afford to lose face

I watched Gu Meng with a cold gaze. At first, under my scrutiny, her face showed a hint of timidity, but gradually, that timidity disappeared, replaced by a look of determination.

It truly is a grand banquet of intrigue. I am unsure whether Lu Yihan and Qing Tian are genuinely that innocent or simply wise beyond their years. Both of them have maintained a joyful smile on their faces, a smile that appears to come from the depths of their hearts

I did not smile; I suddenly spoke to him in a tone I had never used before: "Yihan, let's go have a drink."

After hearing this sentence, Qing Tian displayed a very pleased expression, while Zhou Jia Nian merely smiled and did not offer any explanation

It was the first time I discovered that Gu Meng's gaze could be so sharp; she was not always so shy, smiling like a little white rabbit.

I will have to wait a very long time before I can confidently say yes to this question

Su Wei, no matter how you view me, I no longer care. Compared to being poor, losing this little bit of self-respect is nothing.

Many years later, I still remember the moment when I finished speaking and was about to leave, Gu Meng grabbed my hand and looked at me sincerely. In that instant, I felt that the Gu Meng I once knew had returned.

Lu Yihan clearly heard, at the end of the corridor, the calm voice of Zhou Jianian. He said: "Only I am here."

I cried for a long time that night, and Lu Yihan always thought that I had not detached myself from that play.

Before being with me, Lu Yihan was a famous nightclub playboy. He set a legendary record of only having three nights in two specific years when he did not go out to party. This matter was a topic of much discussion among many people until he met me

You are different, unique, soft, clean, like the sky... You are my warm gloves, cold beer, a shirt with the taste of sunshine, a dream that repeats day after day

I cried so hard because I knew it was over, Lu Yihan, it is truly over between us

When I hang up the phone, I can't help but want to slap myself twice. Why are people so despicable? What right do I have to treat Lu Yihan this way?

Zhou Jianian remained silent, but he took this favor to heart.

The bet is one thousand yuan

This opportunity will arrive soon

I understood something before Chen Mobei did: he has forever lost that innocent Gu Meng, who was as pure as a flower bud.

I responded softly to her emphatic words, saying: "I do not despise you; it is enough that you feel no remorse in your heart."

If it were not for Zhou Jiani, perhaps we would have continued on like this, hand in hand, fulfilling all the eternity and permanence.

However, Su Wei, everyone has a price. If one thousand yuan is unacceptable, what about five thousand? If five thousand is still unacceptable, then what about ten thousand? If ten thousand is still not feasible, what about one hundred thousand? As we continue to increase the amount, there will surely be a price that you will accept

I know what happened

I was standing at the dormitory entrance in that bright yellow dress waiting for Lu Yihan when I happened to run into Gu Meng. When she saw me, an extremely unnatural smile appeared on her face, and then she hid the item she was holding behind her back.

In fact, it is truly unreasonable to make a fuss. Even if—I'm saying, even if—Haruta is indeed his girlfriend, what does it have to do with me

I have fallen in love, I am being serious, what is wrong with that

Just then, Qing Tian over there sneezed. Zhou Jianian and I looked over, and I felt a bit flustered, but Zhou Jianian laughed.

I quietly watched him, wondering, my God, how can I possibly win this person over

She held only two small black paper bags in her hands, the double C logo on the bags exuding understated luxury

I sat in the darkness and suddenly tears streamed down my face. I did not know whether I was crying for Lu Yihan beside me or for Chen Mobei, who, despite his efforts, could not retain Gu Meng. I think once upon a time, they were also our dreams day after day. It turns out that love is such a fragile thing, invisible, intangible, and elusive.

It was Lu Yihan who first brought up Qing Tian. He said, "What a small world, my father’s company actually has business dealings with her father’s company. I’ve heard that this young lady has quite a temper, but she didn’t show any of that in front of Jianian."

When Zhou Jianian was finally caught by the security personnel, they loudly asked him: "Where are your accomplices?"

That evening, I went to see a play with Lu Yihan. The four seats were quiet, and the passionate male lead stood on stage, clutching his chest, delivering his lines with an extremely fervent and desperate tone

When she came out, Lu Yihan looked at me with eyes blurred by tears and smiled, saying: "You are really too into the role, aren't you"