two

At the same time that Gu Ciyuan was accompanying me to buy a mobile phone, Du Xun, who was attending a class at University A, received a strange text message consisting of only two words: Come out

During the weekend, I accompanied Junliang to meet Shen Yan. After all, Gu Ciyuan had no idea what was going on in secret. It was said that an old friend, whom he had known for quite some time, had returned from abroad and wanted to hold a gathering. He even pretended to ask me, "Are you coming along?"

She has considered removing it, but that area is the heart, and she does not dare to take the risk; she is uncertain whether she can endure that kind of pain

Perhaps I looked too foolish, and Gu Ciyuan wore a smile that seemed to say "I can't do anything about you." Oh dear, actually my boyfriend is really quite handsome!

Gu Ci Yuan looked at my tearful expression and laughed: "Go ahead and choose, I have the card with me."

Junliang raised her head to look at the woman before her, who appeared fierce but was weak at heart. She would not understand how sad it made her, as a daughter, to utter these words.

Oh, this world is truly too small

However, in the end, he still nodded slightly: "It will be fine once you return"

Junliang let out a heavy sigh: "Mother, I do not expect you to share his hardships, as that would be unfair to you. Over the past years, although he has had some... outside, at least he has provided us with a life free from worries about food and clothing, do not forget this."

I looked at him with tears of gratitude in my eyes. God knows, since my father disappeared, no other man has ever spoken to me with such words full of affection. I have dreamed of someone saying to me, "I may not have much, but I am willing to give you my best," and that day has truly come.

She let out a soft, bitter laugh: "Sixteen... or perhaps even earlier."

If the words she is about to say will hurt her mother like a sharp knife, it is also because, many years ago, her mother's actions pierced her heart like a sharp knife and have remained fixed there ever since

I truly feel very sad without my phone. When I encounter those teachers whose lectures are so dull that they make me drowsy, I can only lay my head on the desk and sleep. Even the right to text and annoy Gu Ciyuan has been taken away from me

Accepting gifts from others can lead to obligations, and if I were to accept the mobile phone he offered, he might take the opportunity to make unreasonable demands of me. What should I do in such a situation... However, I would rather die than accept food given out of pity. Yet, this isolated life is truly unbearable...

A bunch of nonsense was interrupted as he was beaten up: "Song Chuwei, can you stop with all the nonsense! Giving you a phone, it's a trivial matter, there's no need to elevate it to that level!"

I am indeed foolish; what does it mean to bring humiliation upon oneself? Let me illustrate it for you: "I laugh at this apple being fake"

If it were a usual situation, Junliang would definitely disdainfully say: "From a distance, it looks like an apple, but up close, it turns out to be an orange"

Therefore, those who live there all know that places overgrown with wild grass should be avoided, areas where goats have been should not be approached, and houses with closed doors are even more off-limits, as those places may contain landmines, and a moment's carelessness could cost you two legs or even your life

I also shot a glance back defiantly, oh, the name on the badge hanging on the chest reads Yuan Zuyu, quite a nice name.

All under heaven are brothers, what is this great matter? With a wave of Junliang's hand, come quickly

Without the slightest feeling of emotion, that would be false. Many fragments of the past flash before my eyes like fleeting shadows, and the troubles of being caught in a dilemma are overshadowed by the emotions of a long-awaited reunion. Before he turns away, I quickly adjust my facial expression. My inherently indifferent character means that my smile does not need to be overly exaggerated: "Fool, why be so pretentious."

After much contemplation, I still feel quite conflicted. Gu Ciyuan also understands my numerous concerns. After a moment of thought, he said: "Then shall we go take a look first?"

Some landmines are only as large as a bottle of Chanel No. 5, yet their lethal range can extend to several dozen meters

On a tranquil night, my pleas seem so helpless and so desolate

After settling the bill, the four of us gathered in front of the bathroom mirror to tidy up our appearances. Lin Museche was chewing gum while taking out a small bottle from her bag, spraying it on her wrist and dabbing some behind her ears. I curiously asked her, "Do you carry perfume with you?"

Junliang's phone is not unreachable, but the fact that no one answers after the call connects is even more concerning. The prolonged busy tone feels like torture with every passing second. I find myself murmuring to the phone, "Answer the call, answer it, Junliang, pick up the phone!"

I have not experienced it, I do not know

The smile on her mother's face pierced her eyes like a sharp blade, also cutting into her originally pure and flawless youth

I stood in the dark corridor holding my phone, unable to utter a single word

I clearly remember the night when Junliang hurried back to City Z without leaving me any notes or messages. Suddenly, the sky was filled with flashes of lightning and claps of thunder, and it began to pour down rain as if it were going to drown the entire world.

I certainly am not so naive as to believe that such mass-produced items are truly limited editions. While Gu Ci was away, queuing to pay, I looked around and suddenly noticed that the Apple logo on the laptop at their counter was a sticker.

It will be a long time before he understands: love can burn, and it can also be eternal, but these two cannot coexist

That was buried during the early years of the war, and it was not completely cleared. Many innocent people have been maimed or even killed by landmines

Junliang once traveled to countries such as Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia with her artistically gifted mother. Upon returning, she said to me: "Do you know that Cambodia has a lot of landmines"

I was taken aback, and then I looked at him with sorrow and hatred: "What do you take me for! Do you think I am with you for your money? Let me tell you, I am not! I am not that kind of person..."

Shakespeare once said, "To be or not to be, that is the question"

She was once a mass of flesh and blood from her own body, and now she is a completely independent life

On that day, the streetlights cast a yellow glow on her face, and she remained silent, saying nothing, until the moment of our breakup when she finally said to me: "Chuwi, you are my only friend"

How incredibly narcissistic! At a time like this, shouldn't one say, "I can't see any other girls besides you in my eyes"?

Junliang took the late-night train back, and since she bought the ticket at the last minute, she had no seat and could only stand in the smoking area

Although wearing a thick wool coat, and still donning gloves and a knitted hat, at that moment, it felt as if one were stripped bare and tied to a cart for public display, with everyone looking at you with eyes filled with mockery, derision, and disdain... all eyes were filled with malice...

For some reason, Shen Yan was very adamant: "I am not short of a few hundred yuan. I said I would give it to you, so I will. Little sister, let’s just consider it fate."

Junliang steadied herself and said: "Mom, you know that I am speaking the truth. Even if we take a step back, can you honestly say that you have never done anything to wrong Dad?"

All three of them have a strong tolerance for spicy food, so they simply ordered a fully spicy broth. Spicy hot pot is most suitable for a boiling friendship

A woman wearing sunglasses blocked her at the school gate, saying she wanted to take her to see something "very interesting". Junliang, who was always bold, surprisingly followed her without asking for her identity.

I hung my head and couldn't be bothered to look at her: "I lost my phone and I'm very sad. Please don't pay attention to me, just let me fend for myself."

Sitting on the bus, swaying all the way, I recalled the events that occurred on the bus when I accompanied him to look at the DSLR on the first day of school. A wave of warmth surged through my heart for no apparent reason. I think, perhaps unknowingly, I have really started to like this guy named Gu Ciyuan.

After making an appointment with Shen Yan, Jun Liang came to me, who was feeling melancholic, and said: "Come with me then, I'm afraid it will be awkward if there are too few people and we have nothing to talk about"

This is the first time in many years that Junliang confronts her mother directly. She is different from me; my rebellion is merely a show of bravado, a minor disturbance, while her rebellion is deeply buried within her heart, accumulating slowly over time. When the right moment arrives, it will erupt like a volcano, shaking the very foundations of the earth.

The other party smiled and said, "It is better when it is still hot; what you will see later will make you feel cold all over."

The room was enveloped in silence, and after a moment of hesitation, the woman who received no response ultimately turned and left.

At that time, after I listened to her vivid and detailed account, I confidently said, "That has nothing to do with me; I am not going to Cambodia, and I won't be affected by any bombing."

She continued to coax gently: "Oh dear, I didn't ask you to go today, how about the weekend? Perhaps you'll feel better by then!"

In my childhood, when I read those romance novels and shoujo manga, there was always this trope where two people, while arguing, would develop genuine feelings for each other. At that time, I thought it was truly absurd. How could such a thing happen? How could someone who seemed so disagreeable suddenly become someone you liked? How could one fall in love?

Without a mobile phone, I cannot know the time, without a mobile phone, I cannot take selfies, without a mobile phone, I cannot survive!

The woman was both intelligent and formidable; she did not remove her sunglasses until the very end. Just before leaving, she said to Junliang: "I just want you to know that behind your mother's dignified and elegant facade, she is nothing more than a shameless bitch"

From a distance, I watched Shen Yan approach us, clad in white garments, exuding a clear and refined demeanor

This statement shocked Shen Yan, who is six or seven years older than us, saying: "So fierce!"

Junliang said that it does not have to be hot; cold is also acceptable

I find it quite strange: "No, I'm not a journalism major, why would I read the newspaper? What's the matter? Did our high school get recognized as a national key high school?"

At that time, I did not understand that even in the peaceful and prosperous times, there were still bombs buried beneath the surface

I have found that to be friends with Lin Muse, one truly needs a strong heart; otherwise, it is really hard to bear

Her mother also realized for the first time that her daughter had grown into a resolute adult amidst the torrent of time, and she was not at all as she had imagined. She had developed a clear understanding of this family, this society, and even this world. She possessed her own distinct values and outlook on life.

This is a significant issue

What a pity, such a good name has been given to a person with such a dark mindset.

What moves me to the point of excess in my eyes may appear as flattery in the eyes of others. The young man sitting behind the counter, assisting other customers with after-sales issues, cast a glance at me, his face clearly displaying disdain

The warm autumn sunlight spills through the car window onto our tightly clasped hands. The weather is so pleasant that my mood is also quite good, naturally making me disinclined to bicker with him: "Yes, I also find it strange. Shouldn't the targets of sexual harassment all be girls of Lin Muse's type?"

After much deliberation, I finally chose a Nokia N series smartphone in pink, which is said to be a limited edition

These bombs are intangible, invisible, but once they explode, the pain they bring may be greater and more far-reaching than those buried in the ground

Gu Ciyuan returned after settling the bill and found my face flushed, which he found quite strange: "Are you feeling hot?"

She seemed quite excited to see me and Junliang: "Ah, what a coincidence! I was stood up by someone, so let me join your table!"

Suddenly, a flash of lightning appeared like a vein in the night, casting eerie shadows of trees, and the thunder erupted with a deafening roar

Feeling good? From now on, whenever I see Afanti on the street, my mood will certainly not be good

I am a bit surprised: "Ah, so what do you plan to do?"

Du Xun gazed at this face, a face so clean that it bore not a single wrinkle. The beauty mark at the corner of the right eye remained there. When did this face begin to gradually blur in his mind? When it reappeared, he surprisingly felt a hint of strangeness.

Shameless, whore

I am not that naive; they are a group of old friends, and I am just stuck in the middle trying to interject, which is quite boring. It would be better to go along with Junliang to enjoy some food and drinks.

Shen Yan is a very straightforward person: "That's fine, this way you can feel at ease!"

Junliang poured a cup of boiling water and drank it before finally regaining a bit of spirit: "You can get a divorce, but I will always be his daughter."

However, today she did not even have the strength to speak; the short distance of just a few meters from the entrance to the sofa was a difficult journey for her

The only light in the dark night comes from Junliang's phone, and Du Xun's name seems like a divine oracle

She said calmly: "Yes, chewing gum and perfume must be carried at all times. Who knows when one might need to kiss or go to bed? Of course, one must always be prepared."

No, I corrected him: "We are a golden boy and a jade girl!"

He asked me strangely: "Who?"

She tightly pressed her lips together, trying to grasp something to gain a bit of strength, but in the end, her hands could only rest on the cold car door handle

I cannot help but exclaim: "Only after seeing a woman like this do I understand what it means to be extraordinary and transcendent"

However, other matters underwent earth-shattering changes without making a sound

Lin Muse, sitting next to me, is dressed quite appropriately this time, wearing a black chiffon outfit paired with a white belt. Her makeup is also not overly done. I must sincerely say that if I were a boy, I would be attracted to her.

He gave me a glance that was more of a smile on his face than in his eyes and said, "Are you crazy?" My strongest feeling at that moment was that this person was perhaps too desperate, not even letting someone with your looks go by.

It's over, today is definitely not just for "taking a look". I can withstand anything in this world, but the one thing I cannot resist is temptation

While eating, she asked me: "You bought a new phone, right? Let's exchange numbers, and we can hang out together when we have time. I have no intention of studying anymore."

The phone, set to silent, flickered on and off in the bag throughout the night. Everyone was looking for her: I, Ci Yuan, Du Xun, and her mother, yet she did not want to answer a single call

She turned her face and smiled: "Playing with the world, alright, quickly give me the number."

Junliang also praised, "The first time I saw her, she was wearing white; she is truly the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in white."

It was just the right time for a large lecture, with hundreds of people seated in the auditorium, and at a glance, all he could see were heads. He pondered for a moment, but ultimately, his curiosity triumphed over his desire for knowledge, so he crouched down and slipped out through the back door

I paced back and forth in the dormitory like a trapped beast. Tang Yuanyuan, who had already gone to bed, couldn't help but ask me to be quieter. Normally, I might have exchanged some banter with her, but at this moment, all my thoughts were focused on Junliang. So, I simply closed the dormitory door and went out to the corridor.

Suddenly, I wish to have a piece of fabric large enough to wrap myself in

In that moment, the image of Junliang smiling with her mouth wide open flashed quickly through his mind

When I reminded Gu Ciyuan again, he shamelessly put his arm around my shoulder and said, "Alright, no more talking, I know I'm handsome!"

Years later, on this stormy night, she once again recalled the scene from that day. In the dark room, she curled up tightly, clutching the pillow, burying her face in the blanket and weeping silently.

On the face in the mirror, large tears are falling down.

He concentrated for a long time, but in the end, he still shook his head, indicating that he truly had no impression.

This discovery made me burst into laughter, and Yuan Zuyu put down his work and asked me, "What are you laughing at?"

We took a stroll around the mobile phone plaza and finally squeezed into the store with the most people. I looked at the dazzling array of display models in the showcase, my eyes nearly spinning. I knew I was doomed

Junliang thought for a moment and finally compromised, but she still insisted that she could not accept gifts without reciprocation: "Then I will treat you to a meal this weekend"

Du Xun, I have returned

In the dessert shop opposite a certain hotel, the woman wearing sunglasses ordered a hot drink for her, ginger milk pudding.

In the spacious house, apart from the noisy voices of the salespeople on the television, there was no other sound. Time passed second by second, and finally, her mother spoke: "What are you doing back here instead of attending class? Your return is of no use."

She did not want to say a word, as if only by remaining silent could she preserve a breath of life to support her return to City Z

Aren't we the best of friends? What is there that we cannot bear together? I know you have a proud personality, but I am not just anyone; I am Song Chuwei, your only friend, Song Chuwei. Why do you even want to avoid me?

However, as her only friend, she did not let me know what she witnessed that noon.

I posed this question to him: "Hey, when you saw that sleazy man filming me the other day, did you feel as if you were witnessing a sacred goddess being desecrated?"

Her mother jumped up from the sofa in anger, pointing at her with a stern voice: "Junliang, is this how you speak to your mother?"

Halfway through my meal, I suddenly heard a familiar voice behind me. Turning around, I was surprised to see Lin Muse.

There is a faint glimmer of tears in Chen Zhiqing's eyes, which is no different from the way she cried uncontrollably at the airport two years ago

That sweet and soft voice was filled with a subtle sadness: "Don't turn back yet, I'm afraid I will cry."

It was on the day I lost my phone, when you came to pick me up, the girl standing next to me and Junliang, do you not remember her

This is the most shocking birthday gift received by Junliang on her sixteenth birthday

I only know that it was snowing heavily that day, and after the evening study session, she insisted on not going home and wanted me to accompany her for a while.

She is no longer a naive girl who can be easily deceived, nor is she a young woman who can be dismissed with a few casual words, oblivious to the ways of the world

Du Xun could feel her body trembling slightly. After a long time, she softly said: "This may just be an ordinary day in your long life, but I will always remember it, no matter how many years pass."

Years later, Junliang finally spoke of this matter in front of Shen Yan and me. She described her feelings at that time as if she had been force-fed a toxic substance, and her entire chest cavity silently rotted away

The sound of footsteps stopped at her door. After a long while, a weary voice came through the door: "We had already completed the divorce procedures before the incident. Tomorrow, I will take you to the lawyer's office to consult about the relevant matters."

The car window at night resembles a mirror, with dead gray eyes staring at their own pale face reflected in it

In the quiet corridor, there was not a single person; Du Xun's footsteps sounded particularly clear. After looking around to confirm it was a prank, he intended to turn back and enter the classroom. Suddenly, he felt a gust of wind by his ear, and before he could react, he was tightly embraced from behind by a pair of arms.

At noon in the cafeteria, Gu Ciyuan finally snapped after I kept nagging him: "Auntie, I don't care if they take attendance in the afternoon class, I'm not going. I'm taking you to buy a phone!"

He suddenly recalled Borges' words: As a person enters old age, there will be many memories, but those that frequently surface in the mind are likely not numerous. Among them, there will be a young face and the brilliant memories it evokes. This face does not necessarily belong to a wife, nor to a first love; it belongs only to the moment.

I shouted loudly at Junliang: "I won't go! This weekend I want to go to the city center to find that Afanti!"

I shook my head, took his hand, and rushed outside. Before leaving, I shot a fierce glare at Yuan Zuyu and cursed inwardly, "You rural bully, you pancake."

The events in this world are indeed quite interesting. The other day, when Lin Musuo saw Gu Ciyuan running breathlessly towards me, it was almost like a fly spotting dung—oh, that comparison is not quite appropriate; it should be more like Pan Jinlian seeing Ximen Qing—though that too is not entirely fitting. To be precise, it was like when I see that annoying lady in the cafeteria giving me extra change: my heart was filled with joy.

Finally, she pressed the call button

Occasionally, there are a few lights in the mountains and fields outside the window. After a long, long time, she closed her eyes

At that time, I thought things were really simple, believing that everything could be explained with the term "fate". I just didn't consider then that fate also has distinctions between good fate and ill fate.

The next moment was when I exchanged phone numbers with Lin Muse, I exchanged phone numbers with Shen Yan, and Jun Liang exchanged phone numbers with Lin Muse. Since we had already exchanged so many, it didn't matter to do it one last time. Thus, Shen Yan, who originally had no connection with Lin Muse, surprisingly also exchanged phone numbers with her

Behind that dignified and elegant mask, your mother is nothing more than a shameless woman

There is a breeze passing through the corridor

What does that have to do with you

The voice of Ci Yuan sounded so ethereal yet so vivid on the phone: "Chu Wei, did you see the headline news in today's daily report from City Z?"

Shen Yan's voice sounded quite pleasant on the phone, and she teased Jun Liang: "You really have patience; if you don't call tonight, I'll be wearing this to work tomorrow"

Suddenly, I wish that I could vanish into thin air at that moment

At this moment, she walked up to us, stopped, and smiled: "Ladies, let's go eat hot pot!"

Of course, I can take a look. It doesn't cost anything, and I eagerly nodded like a chick pecking at grains.

He remained silent for a full minute before finally speaking: "Junliang's father has been placed under double regulation"

For as long as she could remember, Junliang had never told anyone what had happened on her sixteenth birthday.

In unbearable pain, one wishes for death

The once-familiar scent of perfume suddenly made him realize the identity of the person behind him

After a long standoff, her mother finally sat helplessly on the sofa. Junliang turned to go to her own room, and before closing the door, she heard her mother softly ask her: "When did you first find out?"

Lin Muse was unimpressed and raised an eyebrow: "That chubby character Kim Sam-soon in the Korean drama said, 'Go love, as if you have never been hurt.' This statement is somewhat pretentious; it should be said, 'Go love, as if you are still a virgin!'"

Perhaps it was because those shoes were too beautiful, after much hesitation, Jun Liang ultimately retrieved the business card that Shen Yan had given her that day and dialed the string of numbers written on it.

Taking out the key to open the front door, Junliang saw her mother sitting on the sofa watching television. The content on the TV was the shopping channel they usually disliked the most, featuring a pair of overly dramatic men and women promoting a phone that looked exactly like an iPhone: "Ultra-long standby for 48 days!"

What does it feel like to see one's mother walking out of a hotel with a man

Thus, I did not attend class in the afternoon, and Gu Ciyuan also did not attend class. Strangely, we felt no guilt at all. He sighed and said, "We are truly in collusion."

Jun Liang also felt quite embarrassed: "You don't need to send me off, I will buy it at the original price."

I stared at him blankly, my mind engaged in a fierce struggle: to go, or not to go

This sentence pierced through her mother's mask of feigned sorrow like a sharp knife. Faced with a daughter who had already seen through the truth, she suddenly felt powerless to conceal anything further. She suddenly realized that the efforts and means she had employed to maintain a facade of peace were nothing but lowly tricks.