02

My heart feels as if it is tightly bound by vines. As I hurried to her house, I contemplated countless possibilities, the most frightening of which was that something might have happened to her while racing.

The bald man said that Sun Qing hasn't been to the repair shop for a long time. I couldn't find anyone anywhere, so I had no choice but to return to school

I washed my face haphazardly, hurriedly tidied up, and went out. As I passed by the hotel reception, the young lady at the counter smiled and said, "Your boyfriend is very handsome"

I once mentioned the matter of Zhuang Li to Su Jingnian, but he did not say much. Seeing that his expression was normal, I also refrained from saying more.

Sun Qing immediately cried out in protest: "No, I only love you in this life!" She desperately wiped her tears and ran a few steps to the edge of the rooftop, bending over and shouting fiercely: "Su Jingnian, you either like me, or I will die."

Her words left me in shock for a long time I, being slow-witted, never knew that Sun Qing liked Su Jingnian, which is why I agreed to be Su Jingnian's girlfriend in the first place I had no intention of showing off anything in front of Sun Qing, yet I still hurt her deeply I feel an immense sense of guilt, lowering my head, tears streaming down like a flood, I said in a choked voice: "I'm sorry..."

In the photograph, Su Jingnian is bare-armed, embracing another girl. However, the girl's features are too blurred to discern her identity. Nevertheless, I am certain that it is undoubtedly Su Jingnian, and this photograph shows no signs of editing.

After sending a text message to Su Jingnian, I hurried to the rooftop. Sun Qing was sitting on the ground, wearing a very short skirt that revealed her long legs. She seemed completely unconcerned about any potential exposure, simply drinking alone, her eyes glistening with tears, and her face already showing signs of inebriation. The ground was littered with empty bottles, and the air was thick with the strong scent of alcohol.

Having lost Zhuang Li, I truly do not wish to lose Su Jingnian from the bottom of my heart. After all, being with him is such a happiness, and I do not want that happiness to turn into a bubble, only to burst.

I looked at the empty rooftop, just moments ago Su Jingnian was still holding my hand, his warmth still lingering on my palm, his gentle voice still echoing in my ears, as if what had just happened was merely a dream

Su Jingnian held my hand tightly and would not let go. He asked softly, "Ayin, do you like me?"

Ding Xuan shook his head and continued, "I know I shouldn't stop her, but I really can't accept it..."

Su Jingnian is indeed quite handsome, which is why the other young girls are infatuated with him

When I turned around and saw him, I inexplicably felt a sense of relief in my heart

Ding Xuan chattered about many family matters, initially in high spirits, but when it came to Mu Lianru, he lowered his head

Late at night, Sun Qing called to say she was waiting for me on the rooftop of the teaching building. Sun Qing seemed to have had quite a bit to drink, as her tone of voice was laced with inebriation.

Sun Qing turned her head, staring at me intently, and coldly said: "Ding Lanyin, could you please put away your hypocritical facade? All you are doing is making me dislike you even more"

Su Jingnian's lips curled into a bitter smile. I cannot comprehend why, despite his betrayal, he appears so lost and heartbroken.

I asked him why, and he said: "I can only treat you better so that you will stay by my side forever..."

With a loud bang, it felt as if a large hole had been smashed open in my heart, and bright red blood gushed out

Su Jingnian amicably extended his hand and said with a smile, "You must be Ding Xuan, I am your brother-in-law"

I remember getting drunk last night, and then...

When I opened the multimedia message, my expression changed completely

Although saying more "I'm sorry" is of no use, I still sincerely apologize

However, some wrongs will never be forgiven, nor should they be. They will only bring retribution, one after another

The scene was akin to a slow-motion shot from a film, filling one's heart with even greater despair and fear. The night was too quiet; I could even hear the sound of Su Jingnian's body brushing against the wind

My heart has risen to my throat

I ran over in two or three steps and anxiously asked, "Where has Qingqing gone?"

When I hurried to her house, I did not see her; instead, I saw a bald man squatting at her doorstep, irritably smoking a cigarette

It feels as if someone is performing an open-heart surgery on me, severing all the blood vessels, causing that heart to detach from the body, inflicting an unbearable pain

Upon hearing my answer, a faint layer of sadness clouded his eyes

My hands tremble as I hold the phone, and my heart feels as if it has been shattered into pieces by a sudden lightning strike

A person should have the opportunity to be forgiven, I comfort myself again and again. Su Jingnian merely took a wrong turn once, or perhaps he was just drunk; everything that happened was not intentional

I have liked Su Jingnian for a full ten years. Ten years! Do you know what kind of heartache that is? I have worked so hard to keep up with his pace, yet you effortlessly took away this happiness. Ding Lanyin, every time I hear you talk about how loving you and Su Jingnian are, it feels like you are digging into my heart. At this point, Sun Qing was already in tears.

Her grandmother has passed away

With a feeling of unease, I called Su Jingnian

Ayin, as long as you are by my side, that is enough

I do not know whether this can be considered love, I only know that I cannot be without him

This serves to exonerate Su Jingnian, solely for my own peace of mind, solely to continue the love. His kindness towards me is sufficient for me to deceive my own heart

Sun Qing laughed sarcastically: "You have that innocent expression again, our Ding school beauty is just like a pure white lotus." Every word she spoke was laced with irony

He frowned at me and asked somewhat displeased, "Who is he?"

She was holding a cup, pouring a glass of wine down her throat, and I hurried over to snatch the cup away from her.

Unable to obtain an answer, I had no choice but to take out my phone and call Su Jingnian. The phone displayed that I had received a multimedia message sent by Su Jingnian

Such a crazy Sun Qing, I do not know how to face this, perhaps Su Jingnian would handle it more appropriately

We walk hand in hand across every inch of the campus, and we are also recognized as the school's iconic couple. Every night, we engage in long phone conversations, as if there are endless topics to discuss. We promise each other to always love and care for one another until we grow old.

She must be in great pain now. She grew up with her grandmother, who was her only relative. And now, with her only relative gone, Sun Qing has become an orphan. I understand that feeling all too well, as if the whole world has been reduced to just oneself, and even breathing feels meaningless

However, he did not. Su Jingnian, as usual, held my hand and asked if I was hungry and what I wanted to eat

I am behind you

The little girl shook her head

Since the last birthday party, I have not gone to find Sun Qing, nor do I know how much she drank that day. The day after I sent Ding Xuan off, I went to look for Sun Qing, but the people in her dormitory said she hadn't been to class for several days. I hurriedly called her, fearing that something might have happened to her

Do not drink anymore

"Ding Lanyin, please give Su Jingnian to me, consider it a request. You have been with Zhuang Li, and you are no longer pure, unworthy of the pure Su Jingnian. Will you let him go to me, please?" Sun Qing suddenly grasped my hands, her eyes filled with pleading.

I looked into his dim eyes and retorted, "You are so outstanding, everyone likes you"

My mind is in a complete mess

Do you know where he went

I tapped his forehead and said, "Dear brother, you are already in your third year of high school. If your mother finds out, she will surely scold me to death"

I held Su Jingnian's hand and signaled him not to provoke Sun Qing any further. However, he continued, "I have only regarded you as a sister, and from the very beginning until now, I have not felt any romantic feelings for you. You are a good girl and will surely find someone better and more suitable for you than I am."

What happened to your mother

Sun Qing stared blankly at her own hands, unable to believe the actions she had just taken. She shouted Su Jingnian's name at the top of her lungs and stumbled down to the bottom of the building

Sun Qing's piercing scream continued to stab at my eardrums, reminding me that everything was not a dream. I felt completely drained of strength, kneeling on the rooftop, the color draining from my face little by little, gradually becoming numb. I stared blankly at the spot where Su Jingnian had just stood, opening my mouth to call his name, but those three words were stuck in my throat, unable to be uttered.

Sad tears fell on the phone screen, the photo is so glaring

For example, losing one's closest friend forever, or accidentally causing the death of the person one loves the most

The wind scattered Sun Qing's long hair and lifted her skirt, presenting a posture imbued with a kind of desperate and sorrowful beauty

How I ended up here is completely beyond my recollection. This place seems to be a hotel, and both Sun Qing and Su Jingnian are absent. I rubbed my groggy head and went to the washroom to freshen up. The person in the mirror had disheveled hair and a pale, haggard complexion, resembling a woman in her forties.

Su Jingnian rushed over in panic, wanting to grab hold of Sun Qing. However, Sun Qing resolutely refused to come over. In the midst of the pushing and shoving, I watched in horror as Su Jingnian fell from the rooftop

I would rather remain silent than lose Su Jingnian

Unknowingly, all the memories have been reduced to the fragments shared with Su Jingnian

Upon hearing the last few words, the light in Sun Qing's eyes seemed to extinguish. She took a few steps back in a daze, shaking her head repeatedly, murmuring in disbelief: "You have always treated me so well, and even lent me money..."

I was awakened by a rumbling sound of vehicles, looking at the light on the ceiling, my consciousness gradually became clear, but my head was pounding painfully

I never expected these words to come from the mouth of a good friend; I could only stare at her blankly, not knowing what I had done wrong. The Sun Qing before me was so unfamiliar that it was hard to believe.

Ding Xuan stared at me, showing no intention of reaching out, as if he were sulking. I grabbed his arm and changed the subject, saying: "What brings you here?"

I struggled to detach myself, but ultimately gave up on that thought, merely whispering that I wanted to return to my dormitory to rest

That day, Su Jingnian and I took Ding Xuan for a stroll around the school, and then we went to the back street of the school to eat. Throughout the process, Ding Xuan did not show any pleasant expression towards Su Jingnian, but Su Jingnian did not mind at all

In my heart, Su Jingnian is whiter than snow; how could he possibly commit such a sordid act? Yet, everything in the photograph makes it impossible for me to deceive myself

I dare not continue to think further

Perhaps it is his guilt that makes him treat me even better than before, as he unconditionally agrees to all my capricious demands

I cannot believe she did not tell me such an important matter

"Not good." Su Jingnian's voice sounded behind me

As I was holding hands with Su Jingnian while returning to the dormitory, I saw Ding Xuan's figure from a distance. He seemed to have grown much taller, and the contours of his face appeared more defined. He had been smiling, but when he saw Su Jingnian beside me, his expression suddenly froze.

It is said that every mistake deserves a chance to be forgiven

His tone was as humble as it could be, far from the glorious Su Jingnian of the past. Perhaps it was due to his humble tone, or perhaps it was because of what he said, I couldn't help but lean in to kiss the corner of his mouth and said arrogantly: "Su Jingnian, you can only belong to me, Ding Lanyin"

My mother ... ... it seems she is with someone else ... ...

Ding Xuan pouted, looking very cute: "You haven't been home for a long time, so I came to see you"

However, the phone has been called countless times, yet no one answers

I hesitantly asked, "Qingqing, what is wrong with you?"

As I turned around, I saw Su Jingnian standing not far away, equally looking haggard. His eyes were still red, perhaps due to something with that girl

I crawled out of bed, looking at everything unfamiliar around me, and for a moment, I was at a loss as to what had happened.

He strode over, took my hand, looked at Sun Qing, and said slowly yet firmly: "I am sorry, the one I like is Ding Lanyin"

I also lament in my heart about what kind of boyfriend would satisfy Ding Xuan. Sometimes, Ding Xuan throws tantrums like a child, and even I am at a loss with him

She pinched my wrist painfully, and I frowned in silence

I am not at all surprised that Mu Lianru is with someone else; she is still young and remains so beautiful, so she certainly will not be alone for the rest of her life. However, I am quite curious about who she is with, so I asked, "Have you seen that person?"

Should I ask something? What if it turns out to be true after I ask?

The bald man forcefully threw the cigarette butt on the ground, then stepped on it, saying: "I have been squatting here for three days and have not seen her."

I understand what the obstacle in Ding Xuan's heart is, so I said no more, merely offering a comforting pat on his shoulder

"I don't care anymore," Ding Xuan forcefully squeezed between Su Jingnian and me, pushing him aside. "Ding Lanyin, why have you changed boyfriends again?"

Where are you

Should he reveal his hand now

Su Jingnian walked over a few steps, his gaze evasive as he said: "The hotel you were staying at is fully booked, so I found another one next door."

In those memories, there is no longer anyone named Zhuang Li, and even in dreams, there is only Su Jingnian.

What exactly happened? I have a bad feeling in my heart

After bidding farewell to Ding Xuan, Su Jing casually remarked, "It seems that your brother doesn't quite like me"