two

The phone that was set to silent kept lighting up and then going dark in the bag, lighting up again and then going dark. Throughout the entire night, everyone was looking for her: I, Ci Yuan, Du Xun, and her mother, but she did not want to answer a single call.

Some landmines are only the size of a bottle of Chanel No. 5, yet their impact can extend for dozens of meters

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

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

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

This is a significant issue

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

That woman is very intelligent and formidable. She did not take off her sunglasses until the very end, only saying to Junliang as she was leaving: "I just want you to know that behind your mother's dignified and elegant facade, she is nothing more than a shameless bitch"

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

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 infomercial they usually disliked the most, featuring a pair of exaggeratedly expressive men and women promoting a phone that looked exactly like an iPhone: "Ultra-long standby for forty-eight days!"

Junliang let out a heavy sigh: "Mother, I do not expect you to share in 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 worry about food and clothing, do not forget this."

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.

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?"

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 exchange one last time. Therefore, Shen Yan, who originally had no connection with Lin Muse, surprisingly also exchanged phone numbers with her

At that time, I did not understand that even in a time of peace and prosperity, there are still hidden bombs.

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

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

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."

Junliang raised her head to look at the woman in front of 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Perhaps it was because those shoes were too beautiful, after repeated 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.

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

Suddenly, a flash of lightning appeared like a vein in the night, the shadows of the trees resembled phantoms, and the thunder roared explosively

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.

She is no longer a naive girl who can be easily deceived, nor is she an inexperienced young woman who can be brushed off with a few casual words

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

Gu Ciyuan's voice sounded so ethereal yet so vivid on the phone: "Chuwu, did you see the headline news in today's Z City Daily?"

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

Halfway through 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."

Shameless, whore

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

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...

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

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

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."

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"

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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... The gazes of everyone seemed to mock, ridicule, and scorn you, with all eyes filled with malice...

I only remember 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.

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

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

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

I have not experienced it, I do not know

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

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

I am indeed foolish; what does it mean to bring humiliation upon oneself? I will illustrate it for him: "I laugh because this apple is fake"

When I was young, I used to read those romance novels and shoujo manga, and they always had scenes where two people, while arguing, ended up developing 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?

This sentence cut through her mother's facade of 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 false sense of peace were nothing but lowly tricks.

I was taken aback, and then I looked at him with a face full of 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..."

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

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

He gave me a smile that didn't reach his eyes and said, "Are you crazy?" My strongest feeling at that moment was that person must be too desperate, not even letting someone with your looks go.

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

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

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

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

I have found that to be friends with Lin Muse, one truly needs a strong heart, otherwise it can be quite overwhelming

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

Sitting on the bus, swaying all the way, I recalled the events that took place 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.

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!"

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

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

Perhaps the emotion I felt was excessive in my eyes, and in the eyes of others, it appeared as flattery. The young man sitting behind the counter, assisting other customers with after-sales issues, cast a glance at me, his face clearly showing disdain

Alas, such a fine cabbage has been trampled by a pig; how could such a beautiful name be given to a person with such a dark mindset

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 school?"

In a dessert shop across from the hotel, a woman wearing sunglasses ordered a hot drink for her—ginger milk pudding.

I certainly am not naive enough to believe that such mass-produced items are truly limited editions. While Gu Ciyuan went off to queue and pay, I looked around and suddenly noticed that the Apple logo on the laptop at their counter was a sticker.

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

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

Junliang once traveled to countries like Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia with her artistically gifted mother. Upon returning, she told me, "Do you know? Cambodia has a lot of landmines."

What does that have to do with you

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 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 thunder, and a torrential downpour began, as if it were going to drown the entire world.

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

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 may not necessarily belong to a wife, nor to a first love; it belongs only to the moment.

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

I shook my head, took his hand, and rushed outside. Before leaving, I shot Yuan Zuyu a fierce glare and cursed inwardly: "You little bun."

Oh, this world is truly too small

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

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

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

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

So narcissistic! At such a moment, shouldn't one say, "In my eyes, I can see no other girl but you"?

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

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."

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

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?"

The warm autumn sunlight spilled through the car window onto our tightly clasped hands. With such pleasant weather, my mood was also quite good, and I naturally had no desire to bicker with him: "Yes, I also find it strange. Shouldn't the targets of sexual harassment typically be girls of Lin Muse's type?"

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."

There is a breeze passing through the corridor

After a long standoff, her mother finally slumped onto the sofa, at a loss for words. Junliang turned and went to her own room. Just before closing the door, she heard her mother softly ask her: "When did you first find out?"

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

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

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

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, waiting for the right moment to erupt like a volcano, shaking the very foundations of the earth.

I shouted loudly at Junliang: "I'm not going! I'm going to the city center to find that person this weekend!"

She was very composed: "Yes, chewing gum and perfume are definitely things to carry with you. Who knows when you might need to kiss or go to bed? Of course, one must always be prepared."

I looked at him with tears of gratitude in my eyes. God knows, since my father disappeared... there has not been a single man who has ever spoken to me with such indulgent words. I have dreamed of someone saying to me: "I don't have much, but I am willing to give you my best." And that day has truly come.

At noon in the cafeteria, Gu Ciyuan was finally driven crazy by my nagging: "Miss, I'm not going to the afternoon class whether the teacher takes attendance or not. I'll take you to buy a phone!"

All along, Junliang has never told anyone what happened on her sixteenth birthday.

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. The daughter had developed a clear understanding of this family, this society, and even this world. She possessed her own distinct values and outlook on life.

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

Du Xun, I have returned

A woman wearing sunglasses stopped her at the school gate and said she wanted to take her to see something "very interesting". Yunliang, who has always been bold, followed without asking for the person's identity.

These bombs are invisible, they cannot be seen, but once they explode, the pain they bring may be even greater and more far-reaching than those buried in the ground.

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

After listening to her vivid narration, 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."

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!"

No, I corrected him: "We are a perfect match!"

In the mirror, tears were falling down from the face.

I also shot a glance back defiantly, and lo and behold, the name on the badge hanging from his chest read Yuan Zuyu, which sounds quite nice.

He asked me strangely: "Who?"

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

After carefully considering various options, I finally chose a Nokia smartphone in pink, which is said to be a limited edition.

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."

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!'"

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. With a naturally indifferent character, there is no need for an exaggerated smile: "Fool, why be so sentimental?"

This statement has even shocked Shen Yan, who is six or seven years older than us: "Too aggressive!"

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

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 torment with every passing second. I find myself murmuring to the phone, "Please answer, pick up, Junliang, answer the phone!"

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"

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?

The car window at night resembles a mirror, with eyes as lifeless as ashes staring at their own pale face reflected in the glass

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

I posed this question to him: "Hey, when you saw that lewd man filming me the other day, did you not feel as if you were witnessing a sacred goddess being desecrated?"

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

On that day, the streetlights illuminated her face in a yellow hue, and she remained silent, saying nothing, until the moment of our breakup when she finally uttered those words to me: "Chuwi, you are my only friend"

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 bursts with joy

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

Finally, she pressed the call button

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

Halfway through my meal, I suddenly heard a familiar voice behind me. When I turned around, it turned out to be Lin Muse.

Feeling good? In the future, whenever I see foreigners on the street, my mood will inevitably not be good

I am not that naive; they are a group of old friends, and I find myself stuck there unable to join the conversation, how boring it is. It would be better to go along with Junliang to enjoy some food and drinks.

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 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?"

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

The pain that makes one wish for death

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.

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

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

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

The room was enveloped in silence, and after hesitating for a moment without receiving a response, the woman ultimately turned and left.

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!"