To Qianlan 01
I know that I will grow old in solitude in the future, and I want to live on through memories, which is why I have decided to write down so many trivial matters
I do not like drinking milk, but I still take it with me every day when I go out
In my childhood, I was often bullied by my peers. While other children my age were nestled in their parents' arms, whining and crying, I was already able to help the elderly woman at the end of the alley pick up trash to earn a meager income for my mother. As for those who bullied me, I fought back with my fists to earn my place.
A faint fragrance of gardenias lingers in the air, which is very pleasant to the senses. I am heading to a place, an old factory, my secret base
Upon leaving the school, there is an unprecedented sense of relaxation
I did not pay attention to his question and, almost instinctively, retorted: "Who are you?"
The Grain in Ear has just passed, and the breath of summer is gradually intensifying
Indeed, being beautiful may count as one.
Since I became sensible, I have been defending the lives of myself and my mother. If others do not offend me, I will not offend them; if they offend me, I will return it tenfold
I often sit like this for an entire afternoon, lost in thought for an entire afternoon
Lanlan, do not forget to bring the milk
Yet I cannot bring myself to smile
I gritted my teeth and wondered what kind of person would compete with me for this scholarship ... The strength of the second place is far inferior to mine, so I need not worry, but this person ...
Yes, they changed seats in their class a few days ago
This old district resembles a scar on the skin of a modern city; the city's brilliance cannot illuminate the hardships of the people at the bottom.
I completed the assignment that was due in the afternoon ahead of time. When I requested leave in the afternoon, the teacher turned a blind eye and granted me the leave.
The murmurs subsided.
The beverage is intended to mask the smell of the beer
To be honest, I am not a likable girl; apart from gently smiling in front of my mother, I cannot identify any other virtues of mine
In my memory, these seventeen years feel as long as an entire century
He is dead, at least I can comfort myself that my father died in a car accident, which is better than having to admit that my father was an irresponsible person, allowing my mother and me to fend for ourselves while he enjoyed his own carefree life.
On the way to school, I always hear others discussing in low voices
She confidently turned the wheelchair and made her way to the window, as if she did not want to waste a single moment. I tightened my grip on the glass bottle, sniffed, and reached out to push the door open
A place that uniquely belongs to me
The distance between our teaching buildings is quite close, often allowing classrooms to see each other. Some girls intentionally sit by the window just to see the handsome boys from the opposite class. I do not like noise, so I have always sat in the last row by the window.
A month ago, I participated in the mathematics competition. The prize for winning the competition was 5,000 yuan. If I could secure this amount, I would no longer have to worry about tuition fees for university next year. After several rounds of elimination, there was one person who kept pursuing me relentlessly. Qi Beichen, known for his exceptionally high IQ and strong background, was a name I was not unfamiliar with.
Undoubtedly, I possess a good appearance, as evidenced by the fact that every time I go to the convenience store to buy daily necessities, a group of delinquents by the roadside always stares at me and whistles.
In the alley where we reside, there are always quarreling couples and troublesome rascals. On sunny days, one can smell the stench from the sewers when stepping outside, and on rainy days, one's shoes inevitably get soaked with standing water upon returning home
The ballpoint pen in my hand spun countless circles as I glanced at the exam paper filled with formulas, resting my chin on one hand, and gazing out the window in boredom
Although they praise my appearance, I still find it bothersome. I put on my headphones and randomly picked a blank exercise book to start writing.
Beautiful women become increasingly vain due to the flattery of men; some women settle in their beauty, while others sink in it. When Qi Beichen approached me, I naturally thought it was because of my appearance
How should we describe our life in Tongluo Lane over the past seventeen years
Indeed, I can fight, and I do so with precision and decisiveness, rarely losing. Fighting feels like an innate skill of mine, sufficient to protect myself
Qi Beichen is from the opposite class? No, the previous seat at that window was occupied by a girl. Did they change seats?
But what does the hatred of others matter? Currently, the only thing I care about is this matter, making money through points
God is quite fair; although He could not provide me with a complete family, He has given me a good appearance and an intelligent mind
It is this person again
I extended my hand, my index finger piercing through the cold glass, resting on that person's name... Qi Beichen...
Yes, my dream is quite cliché. I dream of earning a lot of money so that my mother can live in a big house and not have to worry about making a living. It sounds rather funny, doesn't it
Can I leave now? I looked up at him
"Look at that... Is that Yin Shuitong? That woman is going to find him again, how thick-skinned she is. The campus belle is impressive, but she is not as good-looking as Xiang Qianlan from our class."
Fifteen minutes remain until the tardy bell, and I stand in front of the red bulletin board, staring at the latest rankings displayed above. The name "Xiang Qianlan" occupies the top position, tied for first place with Qi Beichen.
Bus route 2 travels north, passing twenty stops to reach the vicinity of the school. The journey takes one and a half hours each day, so I need to leave home one hour in advance to avoid being late
I bought a can of beer and a bottle of beverage, putting them in my backpack to catch a ride. Sometimes, I find myself a bit enamored with the taste of alcohol, which brings a momentary numbness to my nerves, but I dare not let my mother find out that I am drinking; it would make her sad
At the age of five, a car accident caused my mother's spine to suffer severe injuries, leaving her unable to walk again. That man, however, emerged unscathed. Unwilling to bear the burdens of the family, he chose to divorce and abandon my mother and me. I often thought maliciously, why is it so unfair? Why did he come out unhurt? Why did he not die?
He was very close to me, his scorching breath making it hard to breathe. In such close proximity to someone of the opposite sex, a normal girl would have probably screamed by now, but I merely closed my eyes indifferently, not intending to pay him any mind
Only five minutes left, I am about to be late. I smiled at him insincerely and left without looking back. Two people from the same school, who had never met in two years, could establish a connection simply because of a casual remark.
Isn't that Qi Beichen? He seems to be looking at us here
The abandonment by my father shattered my mother's world. In addition to her physical ailments, she suffered greatly from psychological distress. From a young age, I understood that I was my mother's hope for survival. To preserve this hope, I vowed to strive to live happily and diligently.
For many years, my mother has been sitting by a small table by the window, sewing and mending. The living room, no larger than a palm, is filled with other people's worn-out clothes piled on the sofa. Due to her hard work, my mother has aged rapidly; her eyesight has deteriorated, requiring her to wear reading glasses. She is reluctant to spend money on medical treatment, and her legs have missed the optimal period for treatment, leaving her in the company of a wheelchair for many years. Only in the past two years, after my insistence, has she begun to go for regular check-ups at the hospital.
The factory remains unchanged, with the rusted iron gate slightly ajar, welcoming my arrival. I jumped out of the car, traversed through the waist-high weeds, and climbed up to the rooftop on the second floor via the stairs.
I squeezed out a smile and raised the white glass bottle in my hand towards her: "I remember."
Mother pushed the wheelchair out, covering the blanket over her knees while instructing me. In the morning light, her face, no longer young, left me momentarily dazed.
Later, I met Chai Quan here
He did not respond to my words, but pointed to the side of my index finger and asked me, "Do you have any objections to him?"
I silently withdrew my hand, intending to leave, but unexpectedly he suddenly leaned closer to me, his warm breath brushing against my ear. I turned my head away, calmly looking down at the ground, where the leaves, illuminated by the morning light, revealed their intricate patterns.
I caught a glimpse of a gloomy face from the corner of my eye. He was wearing a school uniform, not unattractive, with distinct features. His eyes were indifferent, radiating a sense of detachment. When he spoke to me, he slightly raised his chin, appearing both disdainful and unpleasant.
I am drinking beer, sitting on the railing, swinging my legs, squinting my eyes as I watch the birds flying one by one overhead
I am inherently beautiful, am I not
I heard that a cyber café has opened on West Street, and the internet speed is very fast. Let's go play there together on the weekend
Spring has arrived, yet the blossoms are nowhere to be seen; after winter sets in, a thick white mist envelops the alley, bringing a chilling coldness.
The photograph hanging on the wall depicts my mother in her youth, presenting a stark contrast to her current appearance, as life has deprived her of the right to beauty
Haitian Department Store has released the latest style of skirts, and we will go shopping after school
I have a diary with a red patent leather cover, which records my life from the age of ten to seventeen
Young faces are beaming with smiles, while I, with a tense expression, seem somewhat out of place. I walk past them, step into the campus, and head towards the classroom along the tree-lined path
After staying in a noisy place for a long time, there is a strong desire to find a secluded spot where no one can discover me. I do not need to do anything, just lie down, listen to the wind, and gaze at the sky, and my mood will improve.
The pair of malicious eyes across from me scrutinized me wantonly, so I quickly drew the curtains to block his gaze
Having spoken, without waiting for his response, I pushed him aside with considerable force, not holding back in the slightest. He was shoved to the side and glared at me with some annoyance
Where do those flying birds go?
I have no friends, and I lack common topics with others, living like an elderly person; perhaps the elderly are more vibrant than I am. Learning is the most cost-effective way to enhance personal value in the world, so I do not miss any opportunity to obtain a full scholarship through learning. I am an excellent student with both good character and academic performance, as well as a proud and beautiful girl, loved by teachers and despised by many girls. Learning is the most cost-effective way to enhance personal value in the world, so I do not miss any opportunity to obtain a full scholarship through learning. I am an excellent student with both good character and academic performance, as well as a proud and beautiful girl, loved by teachers and despised by many girls
A low voice came from beside my ear: "I am asking you a question"
At the age of fifteen, our teacher asked us to share our dreams. Everyone rushed to the podium to speak, and when it was my turn, I simply said two words: "make money." After I finished, I was met with a wave of laughter from the audience.
Flirting is a common tactic employed by men; a compliment, a cocktail, a greeting—often these can successfully initiate a conversation with a woman
When he asked this question, I was almost certain of his identity; it turned out that Qi Beichen was just an unremarkable fellow
After a moment of stalemate, he seemed to grow annoyed. A sound of "pa" echoed in his ears as he struck the nearby bulletin board forcefully, raising an eyebrow and asking, "Are you perhaps Xiang Qianlan?"
"Who are you?" A cold voice echoed from above.
Xiang Qianlan appears to be cold and aloof, I have heard that she ... ...
Above my head are the crisscrossed power lines and the clothes hung out to dry by each household, while light gray clouds drift in the low sky. The alley in the early morning feels somewhat desolate as I eat my bread and walk all the way to the bus stop outside. In a year, I will begin my four-year stay, and thinking of my mother being left without care suddenly fills me with a sense of loss. No matter what, I cannot be too far from this city.
Beneath the shade of the banyan leaves, a pair of eyes in the opposite classroom gazed at me with a semblance of a smile, seemingly having watched me for quite some time, which startled me