three

Isn't he a friend of Gu Ciyuan since childhood? So, does that mean I am the only one who doesn't know what happened

Later, Junliang told me that it was in that moment she made the decision not to give up

Actually, during the summer vacation, Du Xun and I... how should I put it? I invited you to join me for a graduation trip to Shanghai, but you said you couldn't go because you were broke, so I had to go alone. Who would have thought that I would run into Ci Yuan there, and even more surprisingly, he turned out to be childhood friends with Du Xun

Gu Ci Yuan could not help but laugh, but I am not a fool; I can tell that his laughter is not mocking. There is not a hint of sarcasm in that smile.

At the end of the call, I braved my mother's X-ray-like gaze and said, "Well, Junliang, as long as you feel happy!" To avoid my mother dissecting our current situation in college, I used the excuse of "I have to go to the nursing home tomorrow" and retreated to my room to sleep early

By the silent lake, I hear my long sigh; the loneliness that cannot be expressed or dispelled within me sinks entirely to the bottom of the lake with this sigh

His gaze was fixed on a certain gap, motionless: "It wasn't the time I threw your umbrella..."

I remained silent throughout the journey, recalling that night when Du Xun said, "Song Chuwei, I have long admired your esteemed name."

Do not blame Ci Yuan either; it was I who asked him not to speak for now, after all, everything is still unclear

Of course I remember, at that time many girls liked him, which made Junliang appear very different.

She took a deep breath: "Do you remember when I returned to school after my art examination and told you that I asked a boy for his phone number for the first time in my life? That boy is Du Xun."

The air in the smoking area is quite poor, and some people leave without even extinguishing their cigarette butts. Gu Ciyuan patted his shoulder, and I was too lazy to be coy and pretentious, so I simply leaned my head over. Just like that, I caught a whiff of the fragrance on him

However, after a long standoff, he finally compromised, pulling Junliang up and giving her forehead a firm flick: "I am afraid of you now"

As I shifted my gaze to his face, Gu Ci Yuan shrugged and said, "Jun Liang mentioned that she would talk to you herself, so I didn't say much."

The white ball struck the red ball with just the right amount of force, sinking it in one stroke. Gu Ciyuan sighed, saying: "It's nothing much, she absolutely refuses to believe that I like her, insisting that I must have some ulterior motive."

The most frustrating thing was the woman selling socks, who, as if having a mental breakdown, desperately pulled the socks to their limit and then shrieked, "Honghu water, waves crashing, our socks are different!"

With a face flushed crimson, Junliang walked up to the boy in the black shirt, who stared at her in a daze. She smiled beautifully and said, "Handsome, there’s a girl over there who wants to get to know you. How about giving her your number?"

At that time, I felt that Gu Ciyuan resembled a young boy, full of sharp vigor, but I placed greater emphasis on qualities such as restraint, prudence, and rationality

In fact, Du Xun is a skilled snooker player, but that night his performance was quite poor, as he failed to pot a single red ball after several attempts.

In high school, I always asked Junliang why she never accepted any boys

I couldn't help but rush over and pinch her: "In life, there is never a lack of beauty; what is lacking is the discerning eye to discover it!"

Gu Ci Yuan cautiously observed me out of the corner of his eye, but I simply did not want to pay him any attention

I still wanted to say something when an empty taxi stopped in front of us. Gu Ciyuan swiftly opened the car door and pushed me inside, then said to the driver: "Train station"

After finally dispersing from the meeting, I, burdened with a large bag of luggage, shot past Gu Ciyuan like an arrow. To my surprise, he was quick-witted and caught me in an instant. I was so furious that I was about to go mad: "Let go of me, you pig! I need to catch my train!"

I couldn't help but gently ask him: "Do you really like me?"

Amidst the cacophony, his voice was soft yet distinctly reached my ears

She is truly kind to me, even remembering to buy a smoothie for me. Watching her from a distance, I feel deeply moved

I organized my thoughts for a long time, but in the end, they turned into a helpless smile: "Junliang, I will slowly tell you in the future."

It is as if you are enveloped by an invisible glass container, where you can see the vibrant and colorful world outside, and the people outside can also see your solitary figure. No matter how close you are to each other, ... you can even feel the warmth of each other's palms pressed against the glass ... . However, this glass container has neither an entrance nor an exit

Faced with my mother, who is heartbroken, I actually feel quite guilty, but I provocatively retort without knowing when to stop: "What kind of yellow content is this? Isn't it just hugging, cuddling, and kissing? Su Shi said that the flavors of the world are pure joy, but that's a lie. The true flavors of the world should be the love between men and women"

In my memory, that afternoon was filled with torrential rain. I was running wildly on the main road in white rubber shoes, the sound of car horns rising and falling around me, but no one could stop me. I ran until a wave of bloody sweetness surged in my throat, my whole body drenched by the heavy rain

That night, perhaps Gu Ciyuan said something to Jun Liang, and Jun Liang came to explain it to me

It is Du Xun

The atmosphere is somewhat awkward, and the harsh white light above the billiard room feels a bit eerie at this moment. With Du Xun's silence, a subtle something begins to permeate the air.

Several days later, the girl with a tear mole at the corner of her eye questioned them tearfully: Who was the first to take the initiative?

Look, I am no different; everyone has their own difficulties. So what right do I have to criticize others

A long time later, after Junliang and I had each experienced the sweetness and bitterness of love, we calmly sat down to share a pot of fruit tea. She suddenly asked me, "Chuwei, do you remember when you asked me why I didn't like Ciyuan?"

She is also unwilling to be outdone: "After I polished the borrowed dog's eyes, I saw you, and had no choice but to poke the dog's eyes blind!"

So that was what he meant that day

From the gossip of the neighbors, I gradually pieced together the changes that occurred in this family during the time I was absent

What angers her the most is not the loss of money, but the fact that her daughter has developed the bad habit of stealing

He turned to look at me, a gentle smile blossoming on his face

I once secretly "arranged" for Gu Ciyuan and Jun Liang; I thought how delightful it would be if these two charming individuals were to fall in love and walk among the crowd.

Just like time, no matter how powerful it is, it cannot wash away the traces of sadness that have crossed through the pure white years

The shimmering waves ripple, a crescent moon hangs in the sky like water

The raucous music and the exhilarating beat in the bar seemed to pause for a moment as Junliang looked at that boy. Du Xiaofeng, with a spirited expression, urged Junliang: "You go and check the situation first. If he likes girls, then he is yours. If he doesn't like girls, I will take the initiative myself"

After Junliang confessed the whole story, I remained in a daze

After I rambled on with a lot of nonsense, I finally noticed that Junliang's mood seemed a bit off. I nudged her, and she came back to her senses from her daze, looking at me in confusion: "Huh?"

She looked at me with a bewildered expression and said, "Have all the boys in the world died? Why would I want to undermine you?"

Even though later on, I encountered many, many boys, some of whom were very handsome, some very neat, and others simply radiant, I still feel that Gu Ciyuan is the only refreshing oasis in my life's journey

I listened to her recounting without saying a word, but I knew she would never mention that person's name again

I cannot see her expression over the phone, but there is an indescribable quality in her voice that has never been present before.

Su Junliang, who has always kept others at a distance, took the initiative to ask a boy for his number; this is something I will never forget!

Junliang was bored, tossing dice on the table and planning to take her leave when Du Xiaofeng, who had a fondness for boys, suddenly rushed over as if electrified, leaning close to Junliang's ear and shouting loudly: "Hey, look, that guy at the table on the left is quite handsome, isn't he!"

I was taken aback and instinctively looked towards the door, and to my surprise, I really saw Gu Ciyuan standing there with a smile, looking at me. For a moment, I completely forgot to retort to Tang Yuanyuan.

I admit that he struck a nerve with me

In fact, at that time, I already knew that Junliang was a girl who lived with great clarity. She always possessed a kind of calm and composed strength: those who understand me do not say that my heart is troubled, and those who understand me do not question what I seek

After a prolonged stalemate, Junliang contentedly put away her phone and said, "Hello, my name is Su Junliang."

I had not spoken to Gu Ciyuan for a long time; he merely gazed calmly at the fleeting scenery outside the window. Suddenly, he gently said: "Song Chuwei, I once saw you cry."

Upon returning to the apartment, I, of course, wore a different expression. As soon as I entered, I shouted loudly: "Junliang, let me tell you, I have figured out Gu Ciyuan's scheme! He has a childhood friend who is a boyfriend, and in order to conceal his true sexual orientation, he wants to be with me! What a malicious person, sacrificing such a beautiful girl as me for his own selfish desires..." What a malicious person, sacrificing such a beautiful girl as me for his own selfish desires..."

She often says, "Those who understand me know my heart's worries, while those who do not understand me question my desires"

The night breeze carries the fragrance of plants, the night curtain outside the window, deep blue clouds drift by, and a crescent moon rises slowly into the sky

Despite the hot weather, Junliang still unhesitatingly took his hand.

However, when she discovered that the shoujo manga I was reading contained what she considered inappropriate content, her expression was truly one of wanting to take a mop and knife to chop me up for ancestral worship

When one likes someone, they are reluctant to mention their name; no matter what endearing term is used, each code name is inadequate, and every title falls short of representing all the desires and hopes they hold for him in their heart

Gu Ci Yuan stared at me with wide eyes for two seconds, then suddenly burst out cursing: "What the hell, how could you do this? I even made a reservation to take you out for dinner!"

A bitter smile appeared on Du Xun's face, his pitch-black pupils resembling an abyss. He thought for a moment and replied, "I don't know how to say it, and moreover, I don't know to whom I should say it."

In the midst of the bustling world and the swirling yellow sands, I, in my naive and ignorant state, grew up rapidly in that torrential downpour.

I happened to see Junliang; she came out of the dessert shop across the street, holding two cups of mango smoothies that we usually buy together.

Jun Liang did not make it difficult for him; she simply raised an eyebrow and decisively turned around to tell Du Xiaofeng, "You have no chance"

I have always been at a loss as to how to carefully choose my words in order to express the unspeakable grievances of my childhood in a vivid manner

At that time, I did not even know his name, because that cunning fellow Su Junliang had hidden him very well, and not a whisper of information had leaked out

That year, I was only 11 years old. To get to that unfamiliar elementary school from my grandmother's house, I had to pass through an old freight station, where the ground was covered with coal dust and mud. My white rubber shoes always ended up very dirty, and no matter how hard I scrubbed, I could never get them clean.

Not long after, the young man was about to leave. As he passed by Junliang, he smiled at her as a way of saying "goodbye." It was unclear whether it was the alcohol affecting his blood or some other reason, but in that moment, Junliang suddenly felt a deep sense of reluctance.

Do not mention Junliang, even I was taken aback

He patted Du Xun on the shoulder, his voice tinged with a hint of anxiety: "Make haste, she will be back soon"

One day it rained, and when I walked to the door to hail a taxi, I saw Su Junliang's mother driving over to pick her up. She called for you to get in the car, but you refused

I kept my head down, my face felt as if it were burning with intense heat

She said that she had read a sentence in an article by a girl before, which stated that in this world with over 6 billion people, at a certain moment, just one person can rival thousands of troops and the rising tides of the four seas. At that moment, I completely understood that feeling

On that day, they happened to wear the same brand of POLO, with the small crocodile logo on their chests echoing each other, and their shoes were also the same model of AF1. Junliang lowered her head and smiled at this unintentional yet harmonious coincidence

I have read many poems and books, and written numerous essays. From childhood to the present, I have always been the favorite student of my Chinese language teachers.

The first time I met Junliang's mother was also on that day. She sat in the car and smiled as she asked me, "Chuwu, shall we take you back?"

Junliang saw me like this and naturally sat down beside me. For a moment, we both fell into silence.

The boy walked straight up to her, furrowing his brows as he looked at her. Only then did she extend her hand and say with a smile, "My legs are numb, pull me up."

I shook my head and said no need, you all should go back quickly, my home is not far

Du Xun's manner of speaking was quite roundabout; he did not directly discuss his own matters, but instead first inquired about Ci Yuan: "How have you been?"

Anyone with a modicum of intelligence would understand why Junliang chased after her upon seeing her expression. The boy looked at her and smiled, and in the neon-lit night of the city, this girl resembled a breath of fresh air

Gu Ciyuan finally spoke up and asked: "Don't talk about me, what about you? Haven't you made it clear yet?"

They both fell silent for a moment, and she sighed: "Ah, Chuwei, it's not that I intentionally didn't tell you, but I always feel that something is amiss, that there is something uncertain. I want to wait until everything is clear before I tell you."

Tang Yuanyuan's gaze carried a hint of mockery: "Oh dear, your man is waiting for you at the door, are you in a hurry to go on a date?"

Yes, at that time I thought no one had seen it

There were only three girls, including Junliang. Later on, the other two girls left early. Among the remaining three boys, one has a girlfriend, one is the type that Junliang dislikes the most—a chubby guy, and the last one simply does not like girls at all

I quickly crouched down to check her forehead and asked, "Are you feeling unwell?"

On the day of my sixteenth birthday, I dragged Junliang with me to the school playground to release a Kongming lantern. Watching it gradually ascend, becoming smaller and more distant, I sighed and said, "If only I could fly away too"

The night breeze, carrying the fragrance of plants, sways my skirt, and I suddenly feel a refreshing coolness that touches my heart. Has early autumn arrived?

I rolled my eyes; of course I know this. Do you still remember which wretch made me cry

He spread out the newspaper, sat down first, and then patted the empty space beside him to indicate that I should come over

I possess good eloquence, and one could say that my words flow like a blooming lotus. Apart from never having won an argument against Gu Ciyuan, I have always been invincible in my verbal battles

Recalling the past, I felt an overwhelming sense of shame, but I did not expect him to say, "Actually, I have always been quite averse to you, thinking you were rather neurotic, and you always got me into trouble with your mother who would call me in for talks. However, that afternoon, seeing that scene, I suddenly felt that you might not be so unbearable after all.

I turned a deaf ear to what Junliang said, and sat down on the playground, lost in thought as I gazed at the distant horizon.

The young man was quick-witted, and in an instant, he understood Junliang's meaning

How can I express these feelings

I am almost in tears: "Brother, if you keep rambling, we will really miss the train."

Before the college entrance examination, while we were all busy with our final reviews at school, Junliang and other art students were traveling to various cities to participate in the art examination. On the day of her exam at the university we are currently attending, she performed exceptionally well. A few classmates who participated in the art examination together were in good spirits, so they made plans to go to a bar in the evening to celebrate with a couple of drinks.

I actually remember what he said about this matter

However, whenever this matter is mentioned, I find myself at a loss for words in an instant

I despise being deceived by others, Su Junliang, Gu Ciyuan, you have committed a grave taboo

Junliang tightly grasped my hand, and I think she may not even realize how much strength she used. Her long nails dug deeply into my skin as her eyes stared blankly out the window

He turned his head to look at me and said, "You probably don't know, but I was standing right across the street at that time, and I watched you for a long time"

He chuckled self-deprecatingly: "You may go back, I have no such hobby"

The boy has his back to us, but just by looking at his back, one can tell he must be handsome

I awkwardly changed the subject: "You must not have ridden on this kind of green train before... Certainly not. Back in high school, whenever it rained, I would see your family's car parked at the door. Someone like you, a second-generation rich kid, probably never imagined the conditions of the green train could be so harsh."

The broom at home was broken by her, and only after my hand went numb from the pain did she slightly calm her anger

I will always remember the faint fragrance that lingered on him

Junliang could not keep it from me for too long; sometimes, the world is just this small

Every afternoon after school, as I pass by the freight station, I can hear the long, lingering sound of the whistle. The railway extends infinitely towards the distance, where the setting sun is, while I, a small child, stand here.

He was stunned by my abrupt question, remaining silent for a long time as he continued to lower his head and spread out the newspaper

The other party looked down at her, raised an eyebrow and smiled, showing no intention of offering help: "Acting cute? I don't fall for that."

Du Xun couldn't help but laugh: "That's probably because you behaved so poorly in the past. I heard that back then, you were quite capable of hurting others more than once or twice."

Junliang glanced at me and said, "Hurry back to eat, your mother just texted me asking about you."

It is all the trouble caused by my wicked mouth! Just because of those words, I wore sunglasses and a mask to school for a full half month. Except for Junliang, no one knew that I was beaten up like that by my own mother

Meanwhile, I wandered slowly by the lakeside on campus alone, and after an unknown duration of wandering, I finally sat down on a stone by the lake.

She cautiously asked me, what is going on at your home

He said, how to put it, my feeling at that moment... it was as if a cup of water had been overturned in my heart

Junliang was amused to the point of laughter, but since they were out to have fun, she decided to let go and enjoy herself.

What a graceful and dignified woman, living in such a luxurious environment, should theoretically have no worries. What could have happened that is so terrible that it would cause her to lose control of her emotions?

After a long time, I heard myself softly say, Junliang, it is not that I do not consider you a friend, it is just... I have never known how to express it

Junliang laughed even more joyfully: "Who says younger sisters are all female? That one over there is a male younger sister."

When he turned around to prepare to cross the street with Junliang, I was stunned

He knows that I am Song Chuwei, that I am the infatuated girl who pursued Gu Ciyuan during high school, that I am the one who always had Junliang use hand signals with 1, 2, 3, 4 to represent A, B, C, D during English exams, ... he knows that I am the infamous little girl at Deya Middle School who, relying on her mother being a teacher at the school, shows no respect for her elders ...

The tears that had been held back for a long time came crashing down on that rainy afternoon. I forgot to bring an umbrella when I left in the morning, and by the time school was over, many of my classmates' parents were waiting at the school gate with umbrellas for their children

It is essentially a story of waiting

We arrived at the platform breathless, with only two minutes left before the train departed. A metallic sweetness filled my throat, and I saw stars before my eyes. The cramped carriage was packed with people, and the murky air was a mixture of various odors, along with the cries of children

The wheels scraped against the steel tracks, producing a tremendous noise. I leaned against the window at the smoking area, taking a long time to calm my breath.

After that boy left for a few minutes, she suddenly picked up her bag and chased after him. To her surprise, he had not gone far and was chatting with a friend at the door

The setting sun casts a layer of ambiguous, shimmering light over all things in the world, and the sky quickly darkens. The West refers to these brief few minutes as the "wolf dog hour." In such light, Junliang squints and smiles.

Clearly it was her mistake, yet he is willing to bear this blame on her behalf

The night sky resembles an inverted sea, with turbulent waves and sea creatures roaring

Just like time, no matter how powerful it is, it cannot wash away the traces left by sorrow.

I slipped away while Gu Ciyuan was not paying attention. After he called out "Hey, hey, hey" behind me for a long time, he lost the desire to bother with me. Du Xun patted his shoulder and asked, "Shall we go to the billiard room?"

Jun Liang looked at him with a smile, saying, "I beg you."

It was not for me; that cup of mango smoothie was cheerfully held up in front of the person who got out of the car by her.

My name is Song Chuwei. It was not until I read that poem that I realized the origin of this name: "The osmanthus moon first rises, and the autumn dew is faint."

On Friday afternoon, Liang Zheng insisted on holding a class meeting to discuss joining clubs. I was so anxious that I was sweating profusely, wishing I could rush to the podium and slap this idiotic class monitor, who kept saying "this is OK, this is OVER".

As Junliang's best friend, I have met her mother many times. Sometimes when I have a quarrel with my mother out of anger, her mother would invite me to their home for dinner. Over the years, I have never seen any expression on her face other than a smile.

The way she hung her head reminded me of when my mother took me back from my grandmother's house in City H to City Z in the sixth grade. The joy in my heart was still swelling when I suddenly realized that someone was missing at home. The happiness transformed in an instant into a balloon that had been punctured, with powder scattered all over the ground

She shook her head and forced a smile, saying, "I am fine, I just called my mother. Although she tried her best to hide it, I could tell that she was crying."

A single sentence left me speechless

But I do not know this person, he is the one who encouraged Gu Ciyuan to set aside his concerns and confess directly, he is the one who ignited Jun Liang's passion for the first time in so many years, ... he is the one who was admitted to A University as the science top student of Z City ...

Gu Ciyuan handed me a bottle of mineral water. When I came to my senses, he had already bought a newspaper and spread it on the ground, inviting me to sit down. Watching him, a young master, busily attending to my needs, I was unexpectedly touched for a moment.

After the girl raised her hand, Junliang suddenly pushed the boy away and took the loud slap herself

Her eyes widened even more: "If all the good-looking people in the world were to be with other good-looking people, what would happen to someone like you?"

It is indeed not far, yet that brief journey of twenty minutes took me a long, long time to walk. The rain poured down on my body and face, washing away the tears that no one could see.

It would be better for me to die than to sit in this kind of carriage

Originally, Gu Ciyuan intended to have a serious discussion regarding the issue of "About Us"; fortunately, Du Xun appeared just in time to alleviate my embarrassment

I even secretly asked Jun Liang, why aren't you together with Gu Ciyuan

Gu Ciyuan spoke again: "I know you are very angry right now, feeling that Junliang and I are not being loyal, but think about it, you also have things that you are unwilling to be open and honest with us about, don't you?"

As a people's teacher, my mother generally communicates with me by reasoning, despite my stubbornness; however, there are also unexpected moments

Have you ever experienced a moment when, regardless of how many people around you are laughing, arguing, or expressing their emotions, and no matter how close your friends are by your side, you still feel lonely

After confirming that all the friends at that table were male, the young man also laughed and said, "Are you joking? There are no sisters at that table, only younger brothers."

She said, Chuwei, in this era, everyone is talking about the thirty-six strategies of love, but I still believe in that thing called fate

On the contrary, the other party not only refused to cooperate but also patted their chest and pretended to vomit, saying: "Do not take this route, it will be fatal"

In the blink of an eye, he said: "MD, I will accompany you back."

The only time she hit me was because I took the money she had placed on the dining table to buy a girls' comic.

Upon thinking this, I was about to make a call to her and say, "I am going back to City Z, you can have the smoothie yourself," but just as I took out my phone, I was momentarily stunned...

Perhaps considering that my phone was on roaming, she called my home phone. My mother was sitting in the living room watching television, and it was quite inconvenient for me to speak while holding the receiver. However, the more silent I was, the more Junliang thought I was angry.

Junliang walked over, let out a long breath, and directly held out her phone in front of him: "Here, this time it's a girl who wants your number, will you give it or not?"

Jun Liang looked at her pale face, and the scene of herself stubbornly extending her hand and sitting on the stone steps, refusing to get up, quickly surfaced in her mind.

At this point, Junliang could no longer hold back and interjected, "So when did you meet Du Xun?"

Upon receiving her call and stepping out of the apartment, the young man immediately spotted her sitting on the stone steps. She was so radiant, embodying the very essence of the term "beauty".

Just as she was about to speak, someone interrupted her and said: It is me

When I was being beaten, I gritted my teeth and did not make a sound, not because my willpower was particularly strong, but because I knew that even if I cried or shouted, it would be of no use; no one would come to save me

I explained my thoughts to her: "You all look great!"

Gu Ci Yuan is not a fool; he could discern some clues from the tightly furrowed brows of Du Xun Shen.

Junliang's voice was almost a whisper: "All things have their own fate."

In fact, I should apologize to Gu Ciyuan

Gu Ciyuan looked at the troubled Du Xun; this was the first time he had seen Du Xun in such a difficult situation since they had known each other.

The human sense of smell far surpasses the visual, tactile, and auditory senses in terms of memory for objects