one

I am like this, and so is Yuan Zuyu

Lin Muse closed her smile and said seriously: "You understand very well the purpose of my visit here. No one needs to put on airs. I, Lin Muse, prefer to speak frankly. Indeed, I like you, and I want to be with you."

I walked over, nudged her, and asked, "Junliang, what is wrong?"

The night has grown deep, and there are few pedestrians on the road. Between the shadows of the trees, Chen Zhiqing's swaying figure resembles a specter

The ancient town at night is devoid of the hustle and bustle found in the city during the day, yet in such an atmosphere, the quieter it becomes, the more likely it is to give rise to something known as ambiguity

As I drool while hugging my pillow, I am, of course, unaware of the drama unfolding in the lives of Jun Liang and Gu Ci Yuan at the same moment

Du Xun walked over and looked at the two girls who were trembling. One had once shared passionate moments with him, while the other made him want to walk hand in hand into the future. At this moment, because of him, they both had suffered significant trauma

Her face, with only half of her eyebrows drawn, looked very comical, and she impatiently waved me off: "No! She hasn't come back all night... Your snoring kept me awake all night, please go buy a mask today!"

Junliang returned in the afternoon. When she pushed the door open, I was doing my homework, writing while complaining about the lack of justice in this world, questioning why university students still have to do assignments! It was simply overwhelming!

Her tears flowed like a winding stream across her smooth skin, and Gu Ciyuan, who had originally let his hand hang down, finally raised it and reached out towards her face

If he can truly disregard all etiquette, law, and morality, and if he genuinely possesses not the slightest sense of conscience or capability, then he would not have to endure immense guilt and torment

Her pupils rapidly constricted and then rapidly dilated, she said, Chen Zhiqing has jumped off the building

I saw you this afternoon

That night, he returned home very late. Pushing open the door, he saw a table full of dishes and soup still steaming. He called out nervously, "Mom"

In childhood, happiness is a simple matter; it is only upon reaching a certain age that one understands that simplicity itself is a form of happiness

Jun Liang was about to speak when he was suddenly pulled behind by Du Xun, who said, "It is I."

You must be with him!

In the next moment, Junliang turned around and embraced me, murmuring in a daze, what should I do? ... what should I do ...

My legs felt as if they were rooted in the snow, unable to take another step.

At noon, when class was dismissed, the students rushed towards the cafeteria in a frenzy; the scene could truly be described as magnificent. However, I had no appetite at all

These words, reminiscent of a curse, made Junliang involuntarily shiver. She steadied herself, stepped forward, and with a face that expressed a readiness to face death, said to Chen Zhiqing: "I know that whatever I say now is futile. Whatever you want to do to me, I accept it, but I must be with Du Xun!"

All the gods are silent, all things are quiet, under the shroud of night, the world awaits his answer

In the sleepless depths of the night, one is most prone to chaotic thoughts, and these disordered musings are fundamentally beyond the control of reason

At that moment, I suddenly wanted to ask Gu Ciyuan, do you really love me

However, a mistake is a mistake; this mistake is forever etched on the fringes of time and the universe. It cannot be forgiven, and thus cannot be absolved. Junliang understands this better than anyone else.

Lin Muse raised her eyebrows slightly, leaned close to his ear, and whispered softly: "Are you afraid of me?"

However, knowing is easy, but acting is difficult. When it truly happens to oneself and one's loved ones, it is not quite the same matter.

I looked at her expressionlessly: "If we say that a daughter is the lover of her father in a past life, then perhaps in my past life I castrated my lover, and that is why I am suffering retribution in this life..."

You are afraid that Song Chuwei will be harmed, but what about me

The lively heart of Chen Zhiqing, which was beating in her chest, became silent upon seeing Jun Liang walking out from behind Du Xun

I have never considered that to be a form of bravery; in my view, the perseverance of Goujian, who endured hardships and bided his time, is more worthy of respect than the self-inflicted death of Xiang Yu.

It was only at this moment that he realized he had indeed overestimated himself. Indeed, everyone would say, "Do not look down on those who live poorly," "Without the working class, there would be no us today," or "Anyone who earns a living through their own hands deserves respect..."

Liang Zheng's expression appeared somewhat pained and bewildered. After a brief pause, he turned to me with a pleading look and said, "Song Chuwei, if it is convenient for you, please help me ask her. I do not want to trouble her; let her come to me when she has thought it through."

His fiery personality, if he were to hear me use such words to describe him, it is likely that a cup of iced cola would be poured over my head

Recalling the bits and pieces of the past few years between Gu Ciyuan and me; remembering all the changes that have occurred to Junliang over a long period; thinking of my mother who is alone in City Z—strangely, as I think of my own mother, I also recall Yuan Zuyu

The worst is over and the best is yet to come? Yuan Zuyue looked at the gray sky after stepping out of the school gate

He originally wanted to say something more, but looking at his mother's expectant gaze, he ultimately swallowed all his words: "Mom, in any case... your health is the most important."

At the very moment he stood up, a single remark from his mother made him feel as if he were stripped bare and paraded through the streets, instantly overwhelmed by a profound sense of humiliation

Jun Liang covered her left face, not turning her head for a long time

Behind me, I heard Liang Zheng's voice. I turned around in confusion, and he had a face full of hesitation. Having known him for so long, I had truly never seen him in such a state.

It seemed as if a century had passed, and finally, he said: "No."

Too lazy to think so much, let it be that alcohol has muddled her mind. A sly smile appeared on her slightly tipsy face as she leaned in and kissed him.

Afterward, Gu Ciyuan's utterly flustered appearance nearly made her laugh to death

A mocking smile appeared on her face; at this moment, she was rather the more relaxed one.

When he said "no," Gu Ciyuan did not dare to look directly into Lin Muse's eyes. Whether it was disgust, helplessness, or guilt, he could not clearly articulate it at that moment. This conflicting emotion, for the adept Lin Muse, was nothing more than a child's play.

That night, I could not sleep at all; time seemed to flow back to many years ago. I lay on the narrow wooden bed at my grandmother's house outside City H, tossing and turning, gazing at the eternal, vast night outside the window and the moonlight like flowing water.

After the host exaggeratedly exclaimed "So touching" while retracting the microphone, he then extended the microphone towards me and asked, "So, this beautiful lady, what about you?"

Perhaps it is because the story he told me tonight was too poignant, and although I cannot empathize with it fully, if I were to consider it from his perspective, it truly represents a cruel youth

For an entire morning, my phone felt as if it had died; even the number 10086, which I saved as "shameless," did not come to remind me to pay my phone bill. This feeling of being abandoned by the entire world is truly unpleasant

After a long time, she softly said: "I went to the hotel last night"

In my current situation, I am in no position to discuss the welfare of the world. My only wish is to not add to my mother's burden. She is alone... and her health is poor... There will be opportunities to study in the future, but there is only one mother.

It has already reached an extreme, when will Tai arrive

As if ten thousand horses are galloping, tsunamis and hurricanes are raging, and sand and stones are flying

On that snowy afternoon, school was dismissed early, and a group of classmates headed home together, among them was Yuan Zuyu

Hahaha, how amusing, truly ridiculous..." Chen Zhiqing laughed until tears streamed down her face, "Du Xun, I can't believe I am still here waiting for you, I can't believe I was foolish enough to think there was still a chance for redemption, you two despicable people, may you not have a good death!

On a quiet night, this slap sounds so loud

Guilt crawled across Gu Ciyuan's back like a bedsore. He stood still for a long, long time, until Lin Muse released him, her eyes shimmering with light: "What about me?"

She, who had been restraining herself all along, suddenly began to laugh, and that laughter was simply chilling. As she laughed, she picked up her bag, pushed aside Du Xun, pushed away Jun Liang, and staggered out.

The movements were too vigorous, causing the coat to open. Beneath the white lace nightgown, a beautiful silhouette of the chest was faintly visible. In the next moment, two clouds of crimson appeared on Gu Ciyuan's face.

At this point, Ci Yuan was too lazy to pretend to be innocent. He looked directly at Lin Mu Se and said, "Stop being irrational, let me go. I won't let Chu Wei know about this."

A person's life is always filled with severances

At this very moment, my best friend Su Junliang stands before me, looking generous as she informs me that not only has she not broken up with that two-timer, but she actually went to a hotel with him last night

Gu Ci Yuan stiffened for a moment, then subtly withdrew his hand: "You should go to sleep. I'll give you the bed, and I'll just get a blanket and sleep on the floor later."

In the sleepless depths of the night, one can only count sheep, and the number of sheep increases day by day. The light in the kitchen always waits until the night is very deep before it goes out. He does not dare to get up to take a glance at his mother, who is vigorously kneading the dough, not even for a moment.

After finishing her bath, Lin Muse did not even put on her underwear; she simply wrapped herself in a thick coat and sat down beside Gu Ciyuan. Her hand, painted with champagne-colored nail polish, gently covered his right hand that was holding the mouse

Before I finished speaking, Junliang had already dragged me away. That night, we sat together in front of the television for a long time, watching an interview that featured many girls who were not as beautiful as us, yet we were not included.

He, who thought he had already become a man, ultimately cried like a child in front of his mother

However, on that night, Yuan Zuyue informed me that it was not the case; he had withdrawn from school, and it was beyond his control

I must admit that my mood has taken a turn for the worse from this very moment

This sentence was like a heavy bomb dropped into a calm lake, and Ci Yuan, disregarding everything, shouted at her in exasperation: "Are you crazy? Didn't I tell you that day when I took you home? I only like Song Chuwei, and I will not let anyone harm her"

In the context of an increasingly strained economy, his mother's meager retirement pension is no longer sufficient to meet their living expenses. Perhaps out of necessity, she discussed with Yuan Zuyu the possibility of finding some work, even if it were just as a part-time worker, as it would help alleviate the burden somewhat

"It is true, Chuwei, I did not break up with Du Xun"

From the day my father passed away, all the grievances, pain, and sorrow that had been bottled up inside, along with feelings of self-blame and guilt, completely burst forth at that moment

Although my relationship with Song Chuwei cannot be described as a life-and-death friendship where one would risk everything for the other, we can at least be considered friends... Even though I am not a staunch defender of principles, I have never taken the initiative to undermine a friend's position.

No one knows how many times, during those days of gulping down the millet porridge that his mother had cooked, his tears would always fall with a clatter amidst the rising steam

This cry awakened him, and in a moment of inspiration, he pretended that something had happened. He slapped his forehead as if he had forgotten something at school and said, "Hey, you all go ahead, I will go back to get my things"

The sound of water from the faucet splashing is like the tears rushing in his heart, Yuan Zuyu self-deprecatingly asked himself, when did you become so sentimental, like a woman

I actually snore? ... This is truly hard for me to believe ... ! ... However, that is not the main point; the main point is, where on earth has Junliang gone!

From that day on, every day before dawn, Mother Yuan would push the small cart outside, and when Yuan Zuyu woke up, he would only see the breakfast laid out on the table, without a trace of his mother.

Before leaving school, he had always liked how his homeroom teacher called him into the office, closed the door, and made him a cup of hot tea, as if he were already being treated like an adult

When Yuan Zuyue first heard about this matter, he was almost driven to madness. Looking at his mother's increasingly deepening wrinkles, he truly hated himself for not being born ten years earlier

Because I was facing away from her, I did not see her expression. I just casually asked, "Where did you go last night? You didn't even make a phone call."

Junliang ran over to check Du Xun's wrist, but was hit on the head by a bag thrown by Chen Zhiqing. The weight of the metal rivets was not light, and for a moment, Junliang winced in pain.

Jun Liang was so angry that she pinched my arm until it turned red: "It's all your fault for speaking carelessly, I can't stand it!"

There was not a trace of displeasure on my mother's face; it was as if she had suddenly emerged from a state of deep contemplation: "Ah... you are back. I have been reheating the dishes every ten minutes, and the rice is still in the pressure cooker. Hurry and put down your backpack, wash your hands, and come eat..."

... ...

The ringtone of the phone rang abruptly in the solemn atmosphere. Junliang fumbled in her bag to press the call button, but before she could say a word, she was left in a daze

The so-called severance is not necessarily about distant mountains and long roads, but rather an indescribable sentiment, a feeling of sudden estrangement that is difficult to name.

It has been a long time since I have seen such heavy snow, with white covering the sky and the ground everywhere. In my childhood, I also believed in the existence of Santa Claus.

The gentle smile of a mother, that smile also evokes a sense of heartache: "Are you afraid that your mother will lose face for you?"

Under the gaze of the homeroom teacher, he softly said: "Teacher, do you remember when we first entered high school, you asked each of us to share our favorite ancient saying? At that time, I stood on the podium and said emphatically, 'When in poverty, one should cultivate oneself; when prosperous, one should benefit the world.'"

The soul seems to be frozen, unable to speak, unable to move, unable to think

A classmate next to him called his name: "Hey, Yuan Zuyu, what's wrong with you?"

After a moment of stalemate, his tone softened somewhat: "Enough, Lin Muse, last time Chuwei was already very sad, I do not want her to be hurt again because of us, can you let me go?"

Liang Zheng, seeing that I remained silent, became a bit anxious: "It seems she wants to break up with me."

That winter arrived particularly early, and Yuan Zuyu, who had lost his father, seemed to transform overnight from an innocent child into a resolute young man, with a piercing intensity in his eyes and brows that made it difficult for others to look directly at him

Because life is always filled with various unforeseen changes, I hope to be more open-minded, more tolerant, and even a bit more carefree.

The next day, when he went to process his withdrawal from school, all the teachers who knew him rushed to stop him. The expressions of regret and pity on each of their faces were genuine, but it was precisely this sympathy that further strengthened Yuan Zuyu's determination to withdraw from school.

During her tumultuous adolescence, she lost count of how many boyfriends she had and how many one-night stands she experienced. The trivial matters between men and women had become tiresome for her, yet Gu Ciyuan seemed to be somewhat different from those boys.

She remembered the night she pretended to be drunk, when that fool Song Chuwei actually let Gu Ciyuan take her home. Sitting in the taxi, the wind blowing in from the window was quite cool. In fact, before she leaned in to kiss his face, she had also gone through a mental struggle within herself.

Ah? I am even more confused. Could it be that the feng shui of our dormitory is really problematic? ... I thought it was only me and Junliang who were not doing well. In this situation, we indeed have no time to care about Tang Yuanyuan

After a long time, Chen Zhiqing trembled as she asked: "Who took the initiative between you?"

He is not indecisive; in fact, a long time ago, he wanted to clarify things with Chen Zhiqing, or perhaps with Jun Liang, but the right moment never presented itself. Delays continued to accumulate, ultimately resulting in the current irretrievable situation.

At that time, Junliang was still a noble daughter of a high-ranking official, and she presented herself as very knowledgeable and reasonable in front of the camera: "I am very grateful for the efforts my father has invested in me... Dad, I have been working hard, hoping to become a daughter that makes you proud"

After listening to everything Yuan Zuyi had to say, my feelings towards this person became difficult to articulate. However, no matter what, I will not tell him that I have developed a genuine sense of compassion for him.

In a state of confusion and haziness, I finally fell asleep. For some reason, I seemed to be less concerned about Gu Ciyuan's phone being turned off than I was last time.

I comfort myself by saying that nothing will happen, it must be that I am too busy. I need to be a sensible girl now so that I can become a virtuous and good wife in the future

"Are you going to be with him? What am I then!" When Chen Zhiqing shouted this sentence, she had completely broken down

I am also a person, and I have my own sense of dignity. Have you considered my feelings?

All the minutiae were captured by Chen Zhiqing's keen eyes. With a cold laugh, in the blink of an eye, she raised her hand and slapped it towards Du Xun's face

Gu Ci Yuan stood motionless, gazing at the girl before him. Her natural, unadorned appearance was also quite beautiful, yet this "beauty" seemed so perilous at this very moment

We?" Lin Muses couldn't help but laugh again, "Gu Ciyuan, you said 'we'... have you asked yourself honestly, do you really not have even a little, a little feeling for me?"

The next morning, I was surprised to find that it seemed no one had slept in Junliang's bed all night. I didn't bother to brush my teeth or wash my face, and I grabbed Tang Yuanyuan, who was putting on makeup, and asked, "Have you seen Junliang? Did you see him?"

After hesitating for a moment, he finally asked me: "You share a dormitory with Yuan Yuan, have you noticed anything unusual about her recently?"

Chen Zhiqing's gaze was vacant, yet her tone was piercing: "Du Xun, does it hurt? Let me tell you, no matter how much it hurts, it is not even one ten-thousandth of the pain in my heart"

The pen in my hand fell onto the clean manuscript paper with a "snap". I turned back in disbelief to look at her; her expression was as if she had anticipated everything, calm and composed, without a change in her demeanor

When I first met Yuan Zuyu, I purely thought that he, like many people who drift through society, had left that environment early because he did not love studying and was weary of the monotonous campus life day after day, using the most foolish means to resist the exam-oriented education they despised.

I stared at her, and for so many years, never once did I feel that we were so estranged from each other.

In the light, the mother's gaze was filled with understanding

When Yuan Zuyue spoke to me about these matters, he was already wearing a cheerful expression. That kind of nonchalance might deceive some naive girls, but not me

Song Chu Wei? Hehe... Lin Mu Se let out a cold laugh, "Do you think I would be afraid of her knowing?"

As if stung by a bee, Gu Ciyuan sprang up from his chair and awkwardly said, "How about I give you the room? I'll go sleep at a classmate's place..." While speaking, he walked towards the door, but unexpectedly, Lin Muse stepped in front of him in a swift motion.

However, Gu Ciyuan's profile is truly handsome, and the way he bites his lower lip appears somewhat dazed, yet also very cute

Without waiting for anyone's reaction, he swiftly turned around and ran frantically towards the direction of the school

As he quickly approached the street corner near his home, the gray figure sitting beside the small cart, guarding the last steamer of dumplings in the wind and snow, left him momentarily stunned.

Before his words could finish, Lin Muse rushed over and embraced him. As his mind went blank, her soft lips touched his lips

Frankly speaking, I have never been very optimistic about the relationship between Liang Zheng and Tang Yuanyuan, and I have an even lower opinion of Liang Zheng as a person. Perhaps it was my initial impression that was not very good; it is not that he is unattractive, but rather that he always gives me a sense of being overly fussy and calculating. However, after he said this, I suddenly felt that being loved by such a person as him might not be an unhappy thing for Tang Yuanyuan after all

None of us are students of the drama department; acting is truly exhausting for us

Fate always nurtures each person's youth in different ways

There is neither Junliang nor Gu Ciyuan

Du Xun caught up to her and grabbed her, but he did not expect her to bite down on his wrist so decisively. The intense pain caused Du Xun to quickly release his grip, and upon looking at his wrist, he saw that the bitten area had rapidly swollen and turned red.

Yuan Zuyue was overwhelmed by a subtle sense of shame that had been lurking in his heart

To love someone is to empathize with her, to avoid disturbing her, to refrain from pressuring her, and to ensure that she is not harmed

At the dining table, neither the mother nor the son spoke. After Yuan Zuyu devoured two bowls of rice, he threw down his chopsticks and said, "Mom, I am going to read."

Just like when I was dialing Gu Ciyuan's number, I heard the voice prompt "The phone is turned off"

It feels as if a thick layer of dust has settled in my throat, rendering me unable to produce even a sound

Are there any other methods besides studying harder?

In the silence of the room, Yuan Zuyue gazed out the window, his thoughts drifting back to a long time ago, until his mother's next words broke the stillness: "Mom... do you feel embarrassed?"

Life is forcing him, and he is also forcing himself

If possible, Junliang simply wanted to kneel before her; if kneeling could atone for her mistakes, she would be willing to kneel for a long time without getting up

I hadn't even lifted my head, nor had I the chance to speak, when she added, "and Du Xun."

Is it because my trust in him has deepened? Or has Yuan Zuyu's story diverted my attention? I don't have time to think so much

On a certain Father's Day, Junliang and I were strolling down the street when we were suddenly stopped by a reporter from a television station. The heavily made-up host, who was more brawn than brains, first babbled a lot of nonsense into the camera, and then turned to us, holding the microphone, and said: "It is said that daughters are their fathers' lovers from a previous life. Ladies, on this Father's Day, do you have anything you would like to say to your fathers?"

On the night of Christmas Eve, one would foolishly place a sock at the bedside, falling asleep with sweet anticipation, dreaming of Santa Claus riding a reindeer bringing the latest puzzles, models, or toy guns.

Who can understand this feeling, as if watching a flawless white jade fall into a muddy pit

The impetuous youth could hardly bear these words; he immediately slammed the table and exclaimed: "Mom, what are you saying? I know that everything you do now is for my sake, I am just worried that your health cannot withstand it!"

Did I hear it wrong? There was still a glimmer of hope as I smiled and asked her, "What are you saying? How is that possible..."

On my way back to the dormitory, I felt completely lost. I really wanted to call and berate Gu Ciyuan's ancestors for eighteen generations, but the fact that his phone was "turned off" the night before had already drained me of my courage

My phone has always been powered on for twenty-four hours, but when I retrieved it from under my pillow, everything was normal, with no messages or missed calls.

Gu Ciyuan, I have taken a liking to you, and I dare to say this even in front of Song Chuwei!

Perhaps it is a feeling akin to when I once ran wildly in the rain, wanting only to run, to run endlessly, until I reach the ends of the Earth, the end of the world

The homeroom teacher, also a mother, could not help but tear up after hearing his words. After calming her emotions, she smiled and patted the shoulder of her once-proud student: "Good child, a temporary divergence does not necessarily mean a permanent misalignment. It is through hardship that one becomes great. I have always believed that after extreme adversity comes good fortune. Keep it up!"

It was like a tacit exchange; I lifted my face and smiled at him, saying: "Actually... I also grew up in a single-parent family!"

There is a blazing light in Junliang's eyes; she looks at me, yet it seems she is not merely saying to me: "Love, at times, simply means betrayal"

In this world, everyone is an actor; while others love to pretend to be serious, I enjoy pretending to be unserious

The portrait of the father hung on the wall, gazing peacefully at the mother and child who relied on each other. The mother lowered her head and thought for a moment, then made a concession: "Then I will learn from others and set up a stall at the street corner to sell some breakfast or something. I won't have to run around everywhere. What do you think?"

Ah! Although the exclamation is the same, the tone is completely different from before

Indeed, there exists a certain type of person who always interprets and expresses bloody facts in a humorous manner. They may not necessarily be very strong, but they are inherently inclined to show off their strength.