01

I lay in bed, my mind filled with the words that Mu Lianru had just spoken. The helplessness on her face was genuine; this was her sorrow, as well as Ding Chushan's sorrow

If you pursue further studies, it will cost a lot of money. Mu Lianru is also aware of this. She gently touched Ding Xuan's head and comforted her, saying: "Darling, don't worry, your mother will do whatever it takes to send you abroad for further studies. Darling, you are amazing, unlike some people who just eat and drink all day without doing anything."

I do not know why the days of supplementary classes always feel longer than those of regular classes. I sit in a seat by the window, watching the wintersweet flowers in the flowerbed below bloom in the wind

The title of Ding Xuan's entry is "Unrequited Love." He painted a hollow boy, and within the hollow space of the boy, he depicted a girl. The girl has no eyes and no heart, so she cannot feel the boy's affection. Just by looking at that empty chest cavity, I can sense the sadness associated with unrequited love. This painting seems to pierce through the secrets buried in the hearts of many.

When Mu Lianru returned, her cheeks were flushed, as if she had consumed quite a bit, yet her mind remained clear

Mu Lianru cast a cold glance at me and said, "If you do not want to ruin him, then help me keep this a secret from him."

People are always so laughable, only realizing the preciousness of what they once had after it is lost

Mu Lianru furrowed her brows, took off her high heels, kicked a few times in frustration, and said impatiently: "Do you think I want to be like this? If I don't rely on a wealthy benefactor, what will you eat and wear! Are you going to sell yourself for that?"

Ding Lanyin, if you wish to continue staying with the Ding family, then keep everything you have seen today to yourself

As I looked at the sky, Zhuang Li happened to look up as well; perhaps this is the only intersection we have.

I originally thought that Mu Lianru would calmly look for a job, but all her thoughts were focused on dressing up. What I didn't expect was that on the weekend, when Sun Qing and I were working part-time distributing flyers, we encountered Mu Lianru.

Mu Lianru's method is too simplistic and foolish, akin to a moth flying into a flame, playing with fire and burning oneself, just like I did in the past

Before I could even ask her, she lunged forward and struck me without warning. I took a few steps back, crossed my arms, and looked at her coldly

The only thing worth celebrating is that Ding Xuan won the gold medal in the international painting competition. In no time, he became famous, and the neighbors praised Mu Lianru for having a good son. Mu Lianru's face was filled with pride

Later, there was a period when I particularly enjoyed gazing at the sky, as it would create a sense of illusion for me

Mu Lianru has been a full-time housewife for over ten years, and it would be extremely difficult for her to find a job. Moreover, given her personality, she certainly would not seek employment.

She was dressed beautifully, holding the hand of a stranger, her smile radiant as a flower

Every time I see that empty seat, my heart also becomes empty. Sometimes, I find myself shedding tears unconsciously during class.

I think I have fallen in love with Zhuang Li, but I have personally severed the future between him and me

I can only silently lower my head

When she said the last sentence, Mu Lianru looked at me without any hesitation

During the remedial class mock exam, I performed terribly and was harshly criticized by the homeroom teacher. Holding that test paper, I couldn't help but imagine how Zhuang Li would react upon seeing it. Would he remain expressionless, or would he coldly mock me?

On the day Ding Xuan went to register for the competition with his work, he kept holding onto my arm and nervously asked, "Is my painting not good enough?"

For this competition, Ding Xuan invested a great deal of effort, traveled to many places, and tore up countless sketches. While there were many excellent works among the others, it was this painting, characterized by its monotonous colors and profound meaning, that emerged victorious

After winning the championship, Ding Xuan's mood was in a state of decline. He stated that his painting skills had hit a bottleneck and he could not improve them. This victory was largely due to luck, as he avoided the vibrant colors and meticulous styles of painting, which is why the judges found this淡雅 painting refreshing.

Those memories, which are clearly very vague, flash back in my mind like a movie being replayed

Are you that eager? I don't need to be polite with her either

They approached a Mercedes-Benz, with the man taking the driver's seat while Mu Lianru sat in the passenger seat. The man even helped Mu Lianru fasten her seatbelt, and in the process, he discreetly stole a kiss. Mu Lianru smiled shyly and pushed the man away with her index finger

The distance under the same sky is so far away

The man is probably in his forties, with nearly bald hair and a noticeable beer belly. He wears a gold chain around his neck that is about the thickness of a pinky finger, giving the impression of being wealthy and extravagant

The first semester of the third year of high school has concluded, and the students in their final year no longer have a winter break, as they need to attend supplementary classes

Throughout this long passage of time, I always recall Zhuang Li's cold demeanor, his proud appearance, and his aloofness. Each of these images is etched into my very bones, impossible to erase.

In a moment, I was left speechless and hurried back to the bedroom

Have you considered Ding Xuan's feelings?

At the moment he stood on the podium, he radiated brilliance, like the bright moon in the sky, inspiring only admiration. Since when did that little boy in my memory become so outstanding?

The Mercedes-Benz slowly drove past me, and suddenly, Mu Lianru in the car turned to look outside. Our gazes met, and for a moment, there was a flicker of fear in her eyes, which quickly returned to normal.

Later, when distributing the flyers, I felt a constant sense of unease in my heart

I have never seen Mu Lianru in such an alluring manner. For more than ten years, Mu Lianru has always been indifferent towards Ding Chushan.

I do not dare to easily answer whether it is good or bad, after all, I am just an outsider and can only see the surface of the painting, which is colorful, vivid, and lifelike. As for those abstract pieces, I truly cannot understand the value of those distorted paintings.

Sun Qing pulled me, who was in a daze, and said: "Ayin, stop looking."

In the solitude of time, I often find myself thinking of Zhuang Li.

This is my retribution, the choice I made myself, and I deserve to bear this consequence. Although it is painful, I still do not regret it, because one should not be too greedy in life

Mu Lianru returned at one o'clock in the morning, while Ding Xuan had gone to bed early. I sat in the living room watching television, without turning on the lights. The light from the television screen cast a colorful glow in the living room, yet I was not paying attention to what was on the screen; my mind was repeatedly occupied with the scene of Mu Lianru pushing that man with her index finger. That ambiguous demeanor of wanting to welcome yet hesitating left me feeling inexplicably restless.

I came to my senses, not knowing why my nose felt a sudden soreness. My first reaction was that if Ding Xuan knew, he would definitely go crazy