one

Perhaps it is because I have never seen Su Junliang so despondent over all these years, that after she finished speaking this sentence, I, who usually have a quick tongue, found myself at a loss for how to refute her for a long, long time

Upon mentioning this name, the expression on Shen Yan's face was truly amusing, making it hard to suppress a smile. I initially intended to explain to her why Jun Liang was not present, but in a flash, another thought seized me: "Boyfriend? Are you in a relationship!"

I was left speechless by him, questioning the heavens in silence, what a wretched fate I have, that even a stranger I barely know can adopt a stern expression to lecture me

I encountered Yuan Zuyu on the street in such a strange manner. After calming down, I watched him assemble the phone that I had smashed into pieces for quite a while, before I nervously asked, "Can it still be used?"

Gu Ciyuan's usual humility and calmness suddenly vanished, perhaps because my words made him feel severely humiliated—especially being humiliated in front of an outsider who appeared out of nowhere. He let out a cold laugh and said: "Song Chuwei, have you been bitten by a mad dog? Didn't you ask me to take her back? What are you going crazy for!"

Thus, the situation turned into a scene where the two of them were drinking heartily, while I sat by, bored and eating vegetables

Yes, I asked you to take her back, I didn't ask you to... stay at her house as a guest! And you turned off your phone, afraid that I would disturb you both, right!

If it weren't for Yuan Zuyue clearing his throat, I wouldn't have known how long I was supposed to stand at the apartment door. Before he left, he called out to me from a distance, saying, "Remember to bring the invoice for the warranty," which brought me back to reality

Perhaps we were enemies in a past life, otherwise why is it that every time I meet Yuan Zuyu, it always ends up being so unpleasant

After he tinkered for a while, he announced to me: "With my skills, I am powerless to help; you might as well take it to a professional for assistance."

She shrugged indifferently: "Hmph, no matter how ugly she is, she can't be uglier than the Fuwa dolls. Those Fuwa dolls didn't scare me at all; can she scare me?"

We all understand that sometimes words of comfort can feel very hollow, yet I still said to her: "We willingly endure the pain of the present because we know that we will surely gain from it in the future"

As for Gu Ciyuan and me, I always appear to be nothing more than his maid

Sometimes one cannot help but marvel at the fact that some individuals are truly gifted. Shen Yan, with his ethereal and otherworldly demeanor, is hard to associate with someone who is a fervent glutton for desserts.

After hanging up the phone, I made an OK gesture to her. She looked at me and gently raised the corners of her mouth, smiling.

When Lin Muses suggested, "Why not invite your boyfriend to join us for dinner? The more, the merrier," I, with my pig-like brain, surprisingly did not think much of it and immediately took out my phone to call Gu Ciyuan.

She shrugged: "That's not right, I was talking about that boy, what kind of taste does he have?"

Of course, no one knows that this has been my only way to vent since childhood: first covering my head with a blanket, then crying silently

One sentence almost brought me to tears; perhaps my aggrieved expression made him realize that there was no benefit in provoking me further, so he slightly restrained the harshness in his words: "Oh well, it's still under warranty, so why not take a look..."

Junliang and Du Xun are also a perfect match

I have always believed that her original intention in making this suggestion was also very pure

At this moment, I was so angry that my whole body trembled, yet not a single tear could be shed.

I made a great effort to suppress the sob in my voice, snatched the phone from his hand, and turned to walk towards the platform, not caring that he followed me onto the bus after calling out "Hey" several times behind me.

After I had a rather unkind laugh, I finally told her that the version she saw was already quite good. If you were to see her without makeup in our dormitory, it would probably scare you to death

The first snow of winter has fallen in a flurry, and Jun Liang bitterly smiles as she says, "No, Chuwei, we willingly endure the current suffering because we have no other choice"

There was only one traffic light for crossing the street, yet that brief minute made Shen Yan feel as if she were sitting on pins and needles. When it finally turned green, she dashed across the crosswalk like an arrow released from a bow, her high heels clicking against the pavement. Breathless, she leaned over the ATM, repeatedly and meticulously checking it N times, before finally resigning herself to the harsh reality that "the card has been taken."

The waitress at the dessert shop was already familiar with Shen Yan. The last yogurt cake was specially reserved for her. After it was beautifully packaged in a box, Shen Yan opened her wallet only to realize that she did not have enough cash. She had no choice but to go to the ATM across the street to withdraw money

Junliang's attention was entirely focused on those silver-gray shoes: "Ah... Hmm!"

In the face of his furious anger, I also appeared to be arguing my case. What I almost blurted out was, "I didn't ask you to throw yourself onto her bed, did I?" However, that remaining shred of rationality stopped me just in time from going over the edge.

I just sent a poop emoji, and Lin Musuo pushed open the fitting room door and came out. Seeing my astonished expression, she looked puzzled and asked, "Is it not nice?"

After a fleeting moment of awkwardness, Tang Yuanyuan quickly regained her composure and walked straight towards the chubby boy sitting on the same sofa as me, smiling brightly as she asked, "Isn't it beautiful? I spotted it the moment I walked in, and it really suits me."

In fact, after they left, I did not return to school immediately, but instead wandered aimlessly on the brightly lit streets.

As if possessed by a supernatural force, I suddenly hurled my phone with great force, as if doing so could also cast away the vague and inexplicable fears that resided within me

Based on this layer of fondness, when she called to say she was so bored and asked me to accompany her to go shopping for clothes, I readily agreed.

Shen Yan smiled: "Chuwi, when I first met you, I thought you were a little girl, not as composed and understanding as Junliang. It seems I was wrong; in fact, you understand everything in your heart."

He shot me a glance and said, "Did you not consider the consequences when you threw a tantrum, Miss Fa?"

Despite Shen Yan and Li Lang's firm insistence on sending me back to school, I resolutely rejected them, as my attitude was even more determined. I felt quite dissatisfied with their doubts about my intelligence and sense of direction: "I am not an idiot; I can go back by myself!"

It was only then that I came to my senses and realized that he did not take the same bus as me by coincidence, but rather with the intention of escorting me home

I turned my head and saw Gu Ciyuan with a face full of anger

I swear, if I had a knife in my hand, I would stab it in one go

I looked at him without saying a word, perhaps my cold expression reminded him of something. Suddenly, he slapped his forehead and said, "Oh, it's you! I remember now. Your boyfriend is very wealthy, right? Then just drop it, break it, and buy a new one. It will help increase my income."

I stared in astonishment at Shen Yan, who was on the verge of losing control, while Li Lang, standing beside me, quickly stepped in to mediate: "Sister Chuwei, it is a pleasure to meet you. If your stomach is not too full, I would like to treat you to some ice cream"

At that moment, the phone hit one of my feet, and then I heard a boy chattering at me: "Hey, are you out of your mind? Do you know you just hit someone?"

Why do I feel that he is a scoundrel? Just when things had eased up a little, he added, "If it really can't be fixed, have your boyfriend buy you another one. There are plenty of girls like you, I am used to seeing them."

Then, she leaned in and kissed his cheek

I asked her: "Are you talking about girls?"

Perhaps it was Shen Yan's casual remark that unveiled the indescribable feelings that had been lingering in my heart. I spent the entire night in a state of unease, several times reaching into my bag to grasp my phone, yet I could not bring myself to call Gu Ciyuan first.

I raised my head in annoyance to look at the meddlesome boy in front of me. His eyes were like deep pools, but they did not evoke thoughts of eternal love; they only made me think, "Get lost!"

After withdrawing the money, she let out a long sigh and happily crossed the street to rush into the store to make the payment. Holding the paper box, she was ready to leave... Suddenly, her expression changed as if she had seen a ghost, startling the store staff. Then, with a piercing scream, she dashed out of the store, exclaiming: "Ah! I forgot to take my card!"

Gu Ci Yuan's face twisted in anger; since we met, I had never seen him like that: he said nothing, just stared at me with a gaze that could almost kill. After a moment, he snorted through his nose, shot me a fierce glare, and ran off without saying a word

Lin Musuo is also a very interesting person. Before I met her, I never thought that girls could be so vulgar, yet her vulgarity is not off-putting; instead, it makes her seem genuine and endearing.

I cannot clearly articulate why, but I find myself lacking the courage to dial Lin Muse's number. Subconsciously, it seems I am evading something that may be quite difficult to confront. I crouch by the roadside, holding my phone, as a roaring sound approaches in my mind.

Of course, it is not unattractive; a girl with a full bust, a slim waist, and long legs can look good in anything. What surprised me was Tang Yuanyuan, who walked out of the fitting room next door.

Yuan Zuyue looked at me for a moment, secretly cursing under his breath "Damn", and under the streetlight, he looked no different from a child

There are indeed too many snobs in the world, and you see, I am one of them

Li Lang, sitting beside, always wore a calm smile on his face, a smile that contained a hint of indulgence and a touch of affection

Shen Yan sighed helplessly: "Chu Wei, your obsession with face will eventually lead to your downfall."

As I was inwardly sighing for her utter lack of self-awareness, she turned to greet me: "Oh, Song Chuwei, it really is you. I didn't see clearly just now. Let me introduce you, this is my boyfriend."

It was at this moment that Li Lang entered Shen Yan's life with a calm demeanor, unambitious and unassuming.

The stretch of road from the platform back to the girls' dormitory is not far, yet my steps are heavier than ever. Yuan Zuyu called out from behind me, "Hey, you've arrived, right? Then I'll be leaving."

It is only after experiencing it myself that I understand, the most sorrowful things in the world are those that you cannot express in words or write down.

This statement surprised me even more than her pretending not to know me. I stared blankly at the chubby boy with a beaming smile on his face. I thought, if he is Tang Yuanyuan's boyfriend, then... what does that make the class monitor Liang Zheng, who is always spouting phrases like 'zhihu zhe ye'?

Perhaps fearing that Shen Yan would feel embarrassed, Li Lang made an excuse to go to the restroom and stood up to leave. Shen Yan turned to glance at his back and then turned back to me, saying: "Chu Wei, I am different from you all. I have already passed the age of passionate love. For me now, love is simply having someone who can pour me a glass of warm water when I am feeling unwell"

We all took her statement as a joke, laughed it off, and moved on; no one took it seriously.

After we four finished our hot pot meal, we went our separate ways. Junliang and I returned to school, Lin Muse went to negotiate with her "ex-boyfriend" who had stood her up, while Shen Yan decided to first stop by a dessert shop he often frequented to buy a mango yogurt cake before heading home

I cast a suspicious glance at Gu Ciyuan, who quickly made a "not my problem" expression to distance himself from the situation before us. The chaos in front of me left me feeling dizzy: "You pay the bill, and then take her home"

I certainly understand what she is saying, but I pretended not to understand: "What to see?"

And Lilang, he is precisely that person

I also laughed, indeed, every flower has its own way of protecting itself, perhaps my way is to play the fool

Too direct words can make people uncomfortable, so I stubbornly refuse to admit it and insist on changing the subject: "Last time we had hot pot together, you were still single, so tell me how you two met?"

She wore a white sweater with a large neckline that revealed her beautiful collarbones. She had applied a light makeup on her face, and when she smiled, she looked exceptionally gentle: "I am having dinner here with my boyfriend, are you with Junliang?"

Although I spoke in a questioning tone, Gu Ciyuan understood very well that this was an imperative sentence. After giving me a glance, he could not be bothered to say anything further

In that moment, I shifted from frustration to anger. This was the first genuine argument I had with Gu Ciyuan since we met. Previously, it was just childish antics, but this time it was different. I looked at Gu Ciyuan, who appeared even angrier than I was, and coldly said: "Who is he to you? Lin Muse didn't keep you overnight, did she?"

Shen Yan's boyfriend, Li Lang, wears black-framed glasses on his nose. It is evident that he is no longer a youthful lad, but handsome men remain attractive at any age. Standing together with Shen Yan, he resembles a refined young talent, while she exudes a fresh beauty. I can't help but exclaim in my heart that they are truly a perfect match

Shen Yan was quite surprised to see me in such a carefree manner: "Why are you alone? Where is your boyfriend?"

Relying on the fact that he bullied me in high school, after we got together, I have been acting domineering in front of him. I know he has some grievances, but he is powerless against me.

Shen Yan and Li Lang seemed to have discerned something from the corners of my eyes and brows, taking turns to tell jokes to cheer me up. No matter how oblivious I was, I still had to acknowledge their kindness, so I managed to force a smile that was more skin-deep than heartfelt in response to them

Later, in order to express my heartfelt gratitude, I invited him to that little café called 'Fei' for a cup of mocha, which only cost thirty-five yuan, haha, isn't that a great deal

Returning to the relatively simple and clean environment of campus from the stormy city of Z, Junliang's mood calmed down a little. While I accompanied her for a walk around the school in the evening, she linked her arm with mine, slipped her hand into my jacket pocket, and said in a tone that suggested she had survived a disaster: "Now the classmates in our class look at me a bit strangely, but fortunately, I have been used to it since I was young."

After calming her emotions, she took out her phone to prepare to report the loss. Suddenly, a gentle male voice sounded from behind her: "Miss, this card belongs to you, doesn't it?"

After I explained the whole situation to her, she looked at me in disbelief: "Chuwi, have you really lost your mind? How could you possibly feel at ease letting them be alone together!"

Yuan Zuyue stopped, standing in place with a rather shameless expression, coldly watching us.

Yet, Gu Ci Yuan is also a person who values his pride; a gentleman can be killed but cannot be humiliated. Isn't it just drinking? He must not lose to a girl, even in death

As I closed the car door for them, I smiled and reminded Gu Ciyuan to be careful not to let Lin Muse vomit on him, and in the rearview mirror, I wore a sincere smile.

He picked up the phone that had been dropped along with the battery, took a look at it, and said: "Oh dear, it actually has our store's label on it. I didn't expect it to belong to one of our customers."

I eagerly asked: "What happened next?"

She forgot to hang up the outgoing call, and in astonishment turned her head back, only to see a pair of eyes resembling deep pools.

It was not until I returned to the table that I noticed Lin Muse's face was flushed, swaying unsteadily, and he was still shouting, "Keep drinking..."

Her words are not a joke; everyone has their peculiarities. Some people use their extracted wisdom teeth as decorations, while others tattoo the names of their loved ones onto their skin with ink. There are also those who enjoy piercing many holes in their bodies. As for Shen Yan, her quirk is that she must have dessert every night before going to sleep

I don't know if I look foolish, but Shen Yan couldn't help but laugh: "At my age, I still can't date, do you really hope I become a leftover woman?"

Due to it being the weekend, there was a long line at the fitting room entrance. Lin Muse proudly issued orders to the sales assistant: "This one, this one, and this one, bring me all in the smallest size."

Tang Yuanyuan certainly did not answer my question; she quickly pulled the chubby boy up and went to pay for the tickets, her actions so decisive that I had no opportunity to express my doubts. After they left, Lin Muse said, "It really is a case of hunger making one indiscriminate in choice"

Just like all life, in the beginning, it is pure and flawless. We are not born with an understanding of the malice of society, the injustice of fate, and the ugliness of human nature. However, time will inevitably layer upon the originally pristine canvas, adding one layer of grime after another.

After much contemplation, I finally made the call to Gu Ciyuan, but to my surprise, the phone was turned off

If there is anything in my life that I regret, perhaps due to my nagging personality, I could go on and on about a long list of grievances, but I would absolutely not include the incident that occurred after we left the shopping mall

I shook my head: "No, I am also with my boyfriend, and... Lin Musuo."

Junliang nodded in agreement: "Yes, we can kill and eat it by the time the New Year arrives"

Her tone of bravado is even more heart-wrenching than a cry for help, and I hold her hand, just as I did on that night when she was sixteen

Junliang and I exchanged a smile, and I thought, indeed, there are still many interesting people and things in the world. It reminded me of the times when we were once so lively and carefree, and I couldn't help but say with a hint of sadness: "Alas, we have truly grown up"

I was not aware that I was actually trembling

Sitting on the bus back to school, I said to Junliang: "Sister Shen Yan really has a great temperament, how could she be single?"

After Shen Yan finished recounting her acquaintance with Li Lang, she chuckled self-deprecatingly: "Isn't it a very old trope? It's not thrilling at all, I must have disappointed you, right?"

I stared at the phone screen in disbelief, almost doubting that I was hearing things!

The stainless steel spoon in Shen Yan's hand fell onto the glass table with a "bang"; perhaps, in some mysterious way, she had already perceived something.

Power off? Gu Ciyuan... He powered off!

I have always believed that Lin Muse was not malicious at that moment

Shen Yan shot me a glance, took out a box of Shou Bai Nian from his bag, lit a stick, and amidst the curling smoke, Shen Yan slowly spoke: "It was indeed after we finished eating hot pot last time that I met this person."

No, not at all... I sincerely say, "I am not disappointed at all. This world does not have so many natural disasters and man-made calamities, nor so many terminal illnesses and separations. We are all just ordinary people; how could we encounter those scenarios from movies every day?"

Those eyes truly evoke thoughts of eternity.

Standing by the lake at school, I watched as classmates, about our age, excitedly rushed out of the dormitory to have a snowball fight. One boy even ran out wearing flip-flops, and many people surrounded him, taking photos with their cameras and phones

She gazed at me, deliberating for a moment before speaking: "Shall we go take a look?"

I was choked to the point of being speechless, aliens, when will you come to take these well-built Earthlings away

On this particular evening, my emotions were exceedingly difficult to control. Under normal circumstances, I would either argue with him or simply laugh it off, but that night, I found myself unable to do either. My threshold for tears had suddenly become very low, as if even the slightest touch would cause my eyes to brim with tears and shatter instantly.

How could I, as foolish as a head pig, have thought that after I turned around, the drunken Lin Muse would suddenly open his eyes and smile at Gu Ciyuan

She winked at us and said, "Because I couldn't afford it before, I worked hard to earn money later and bought it for myself to enjoy."

Shen Yan's gentle reprimand left me in a daze for half a day. Seeing my disheartened expression, she could not bear it any longer: "Alright, alright, consider that I said nothing. Let's go."

I sat on the sofa, waiting for her while chatting casually on QQ with Gu Ciyuan on my phone. I asked, "Do you like girls with big breasts?"

I can only comfort myself with that old cliché: what is yours cannot be taken away by others, and what is not yours will not matter how hard you try

Gu Ciyuan's eyes were as wide as copper bells, but under my coercion, he reluctantly took out his wallet to pay the bill. While we were waiting for a taxi on the street, supporting Lin Muse, I said to Gu Ciyuan: "After you send her back, call me. I will go find Sister Shen Yan to hang out and see what her boyfriend looks like, okay?"

She smiled apologetically at the waiter: "You must save it for me, I can't sleep at night without it!"

That night, Junliang noticed that something was off with me, but I deliberately avoided her concerned gaze, using the excuse of being "too tired" to finish my washing up early and climb into bed.

She is wearing a new seasonal dress, bright yellow, paired with a black belt. I believe that dress would look very fitting on Junliang, but on Tang Yuanyuan, it seems somewhat out of place. It's not that the dress is unattractive; rather, the brilliance of the dress overshadows the person.

He waved his hand impatiently, seemingly annoyed by such a pretentious tone, and decisively turned to leave. In that instant, we simultaneously heard Gu Ciyuan's cold voice echoing from a distance: "Who is he!"

I am not someone who lacks discernment; even though his words may be sharp, it is evident that this young man has a good heart. Therefore, I quickly smiled at him and said, "Yes, I have arrived, thank you!"

We said nothing along the way, my face always turned towards the window. I wondered what was happening tonight, why even the strangers on the road seemed more unfamiliar than before.

It was originally just a meal, but who would have thought that as we were eating, we actually started drinking. Watching Lin Mu Se tilt her head back and down a glass, I couldn't help but exclaim, what a remarkable woman!

I waved my hands repeatedly, unable to express my thoughts clearly. She, however, did not mind; she patted my head and casually said, "Come find me after you finish eating," before gracefully leaving. I stood at the bathroom door watching her figure, pondering what kind of person would be worthy of someone as wonderful as Shen Yan.

Gu Ciyuan took half a day to reply to me: "I don't raise dairy cows, so this model is barely acceptable."

While I was on my way to the restroom, someone suddenly tapped me on the shoulder. When I turned around, I couldn't help but exclaim loudly: "Sister Shen Yan, what a coincidence!"