Five

Before being with me, Lu Yihan was a famous nightclub playboy. He set a legendary record by only staying in three nights during certain years without going out to the bars, a fact that many people talked about until he met me

At that moment, Zhenghao Qingtian sneezed over there, and Zhou Jianian and I looked over together. I admit that at that moment, my gaze was a bit flustered, and as a result, Zhou Jianian laughed

If she does not understand these things, then so be it. Perhaps she would be content to stay with Chen Mobei, graduate, get married, support her husband and raise children, and live a happy and fulfilling life, which can be summed up in just a few simple words

I did not smile; I suddenly spoke to him in a tone I had never used before, implying that we should go have a drink.

Fortunately, there is still Lu Yihan, who is different from them

I will have to wait a very long time before I can confidently say yes to this question.

I sat in the darkness and suddenly tears streamed down my face. I did not know whether I was crying for Lu Yihan beside me or for Chen Mobei, who, despite his efforts, could not retain Gu Meng. I think that once upon a time, they were also our dreams day after day. It turns out that love is such a fragile thing, invisible, intangible, and elusive.

In the end, Father Lu still made an effort, changing "expulsion" to "advisory withdrawal". Although the essence is quite similar, it is certainly a bit more pleasant to hear.

The next day, the name of Zhou Jianian echoed in every corner of the campus through the school broadcast. Although Lu Yihan confessed to his family that he was the instigator of the incident and was subsequently beaten up for it, the serious consequences of the matter left Lu Yihan's father at a loss on how to resolve the situation

He probably really dislikes me, as he didn't even glance at me.

After she finished speaking, she released my hand with such decisiveness and determination. I noticed a small ring on her little finger, adorned with a dazzling diamond.

I truly feel like a failure; at the very beginning, I left such a terrible impression on Zhou Jianian, which really frustrates me

He said, "Oh my God, Su Wei, how did you unknowingly drink so much?"

However, Su Wei, everyone has a price. If one thousand yuan is unacceptable, what about five thousand? If five thousand is still unacceptable, then what about ten thousand? If ten thousand is still not feasible, what about one hundred thousand? As the amount increases, there will surely be a price that you will agree to.

But life is not a novel, and no author can confidently declare that this is the best outcome. I stared blankly at the tequila in the glass, feeling completely at a loss for words

Without saying a word, I entered the fitting room again, changed out of the dress that I originally thought was beautiful, and angrily walked out to Lu Yihan, saying, "It's hideous, I don't want it anymore"

She held only two small black paper bags in her hands, the double C logo on the bags exuding understated luxury

He has indeed changed a lot for me, and he probably genuinely wants to have a good outcome with me

At that moment, I thought of Zhou Jianian, a person whose identity I only knew through his name, his appearance, and some brief anecdotes occasionally mentioned by Lu Yihan. Can the feelings I have for him be called love?

He shifted his gaze back to my face and softly said, being foolish can be quite good, at least it is better than making baseless comments about others.

I stared blankly at her; she did not need my answer. This statement was merely a prelude to the sentences that would follow. At first, I was unwilling; at first, I also found this kind of transaction to be sordid. At first, I, like all of you, was filled with deep disdain for those who exchanged their youth for desire

Since then, no one dared to discuss matters concerning Zhou Jianian's family in his presence, yet no one was willing to befriend him again. The ugliness of human nature projected onto a youth who should have been innocent and harmless appears even more cruel.

Zhou Jianian chewed his food expressionlessly, showing no interest in the topic discussed by Lu Yihan and Qing Tian. The knife and fork in my hand cut into the steak in front of me with such force that it seemed as if this cow had been my nemesis in its former life

Many years later, I still remember the moment when I finished speaking and was about to leave, Gu Meng grabbed my hand and looked at me sincerely. In that instant, I felt that the Gu Meng I was familiar with had returned.

He said that after Jia Nian dropped out of school, he began to venture into society. His mother was too preoccupied with her own affairs to have any extra energy to take care of him. Sometimes he would travel alone for several months. He was different from others; he did not make any plans before traveling, did not book hotels, and did not carry much money. Sometimes, when the train stopped to pick up passengers, he would get off to take a walk. If he came across something he found delicious, he would turn back, get his luggage, and change his itinerary.

It truly is a grand banquet of intrigue; I do not know whether Lu Yihan and Qing Tian are genuinely that naive or simply wise beyond their years. The two of them have consistently maintained joyful smiles on their faces, a smile that appears to come from the depths of their hearts

The bet is one thousand yuan

Everything is going smoothly. Lu Yihan inquired early in the morning about which office, which desk, and which drawer the exam papers are in, and even had a copy of the key made.

As I looked, the bottles in front of me were all empty. I said, "Yihan, I don't know if it's your words that are captivating or if it's Zhou Jianian himself who is charming. Look, I ended up drinking so much wine just because of your story.

This matter was resolved by Lu Yihan's father. After coming out of the political education department, Uncle Lu said to him, "Your father is your father, and you are you"

That evening, I went to see a play with Lu Yihan. The four seats were quiet, and the passionate male lead stood on stage, clutching his chest, delivering his lines with an extremely fervent and desperate tone

When I hang up the phone, I can't help but want to slap myself twice. Why are people so despicable? What we cannot obtain is always the best. Those who are favored act with impunity. Why do I treat Lu Yihan this way?

I understood something before Chen Mobei did: he has forever lost that innocent Gu Meng, who was as pure as a flower bud.

Yet she understood these things; the girls around her and the world before her were all different from the past

Lu Yihan and Zhou Jianian are childhood friends who grew up together

For quite a while, my mood was not very good. No matter what gift Lu Yihan gave me, I could only force a smile in return, and sometimes I was too lazy to even unwrap the packaging

I watched Gu Meng with a cold gaze. At first, there was a hint of timidity on her face under my scrutiny, but gradually, that timidity disappeared, replaced by a look of determination.

It was Lu Yihan who first mentioned Qing Tian, saying that the world is truly small, as my father and her father’s companies actually have business dealings. I heard that this young lady has quite a temper, but she didn’t show any of that in front of Jia Nian.

When I came out, Lu Yihan looked at me with eyes blurred by tears that had smudged my eyeliner and smiled, saying, "You are really too into the role, aren't you"

Indeed, I can understand her yearning and longing for material possessions. In this era of overwhelming distractions and indulgences, in this city where desires and materialism flow abundantly like a forest of fiery trees and silver flowers, the pursuit of brand names and the craving for material wealth are entirely reasonable

I cried so hard because I knew it was over, Lu Yihan, it is truly over between us

The smile on my face froze at that moment, and my previously calm heart began to feel restless again. Lu Yihan followed my gaze and suddenly wore a mocking smile. I heard him say, "It's quite rare, Zhou Jianian actually accompanies his girlfriend shopping."

I listened blankly to Lu Yihan's narration; he said that he had never seen anyone so casual as him.

By the time she reached middle school, Lu Yihan's father's business had grown increasingly prosperous, elevating her status to that of a young noble in the city. However, Zhou Jianian was not as fortunate; his father, who was involved in politics, was brought down due to some economic issues, faced legal troubles, and ended up in prison

I am also friends with Gu Meng, but in that moment, what first came to my mind was that night, Chen Mobei's sorrowful face reflected on the surface of the lake

However, as I was leaving, I suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps, followed closely by loud commands. The beam of the flashlight was so bright in the dark night, and the motion-sensor lights in the corridor, which had previously malfunctioned, suddenly returned to normal.

In fact, it is truly unreasonable to make a fuss; even if Haruka is indeed his girlfriend, what does it have to do with me

Meaning, tell me about your past with Zhou Jianian

She said, Su Wei, if Lu Yihan had nothing, would you still be with him

The daughter of a nouveau riche in the dormitory next door particularly enjoys declaring to the world while carrying large bags of spoils, "I may not have anything else, but I have money." She truly is just wealthy, lacking any sense of taste, and every item she brings back is secretly criticized by everyone for its utter lack of refinement.

I called Lu Yihan and said I wanted to go eat seafood. He seemed a bit taken aback and repeatedly said, "As long as you are not angry, that's good. I will come to pick you up right away"

In fact, he is deeply emotional and values gratitude and reciprocity. This is Lu Yihan's evaluation of Zhou Jianian

Zhou Jianian inherently possesses some elements of the underworld, prioritizing righteousness above all else. He has always sought an opportunity to repay the favor owed to the Lu family.

At that moment, among the four people present, only my face lost its smile. I admit that I felt a twinge of jealousy.

That night, after the evening study session ended, Lu Yihan was the last to leave the classroom. As he stepped out of the classroom door, he saw Zhou Jianian leaning at the stairway, smoking.

I am a person with a strong sense of possessiveness; I cannot tolerate my boyfriend flirting with alluring women in those extravagant places. Moreover, given Lu Yihan's qualities, even if he does not seek out attention, there will naturally be women flocking to him.

I was standing at the dormitory entrance in that bright yellow dress waiting for Lu Yihan when I happened to run into Gu Meng. When she saw me, an extremely unnatural smile appeared on her face, and then she hid the item she was holding behind her back.

As a result, Lu Yihan said something that made me want to collapse on the spot: "It is better to encounter by chance than to invite; let us have a meal together"

Everyone at school knows that Zhou Jianian has a father who is a corrupt official. One time, a boy inadvertently mentioned this matter, and Zhou Jianian immediately turned hostile, grabbing the other person's head and slamming it against the wall, causing the other person to bleed profusely from a head injury

I have fallen in love, and I am serious about it. What is wrong with that

I cried for a long time that night, and Lu Yihan always thought that I had not detached myself from that play.

When Zhou Jianian left the school, he smiled at Lu Yihan and said, "Brother, I owe your family, consider it repaid"

That was an age destined to go against one's original intentions. I deliberately followed behind Zhou Jianian, pretending to be nonchalant as I asked, "Is that your girlfriend? Is she really your girlfriend? If she is your girlfriend, then you should formally introduce her.

One day, I accidentally opened a package and saw that it contained the dress I had tried on that day. It was bright yellow, with an off-the-shoulder neckline, slightly cinched at the waist, and accompanied by a very beautiful chain. When I tried it on, my roommates all said it was truly stunning

I am neither a bumpkin, nor blind, and certainly not a fool

Zhou Jianian remained silent, but he took this favor to heart.

This point, Gu Mengsheng has too much of it

I quietly watched him and thought, Oh my God, how can I possibly win this person over

I can no longer continue like this. Since my heart is no longer with Lu Yihan, how can I unreservedly accept the gifts he gives me? I believe I must find an opportunity to clarify this with him.

After hearing this sentence, Qing Tian displayed a very pleased expression, while Zhou Jia Nian merely smiled and did not offer any explanation

I do not even have the courage to tell him, "I am not angry with you; I am angry with myself"

At that moment, I looked at myself in the mirror and felt that Su Wei was truly shameless

That was the first time I saw him smile so freely, before that I had always thought such an expression could never appear on his face, it carried a hint of childlike brightness, yet also a touch of adult indifference, the two qualities were clearly in conflict, but on his face they achieved perfect harmony

At a critical moment, it was Zhou Jianian who pushed Lu Yihan into the adjacent display room, while he himself ran in the opposite direction, his footsteps echoing abruptly in the silent night. Lu Yihan's face turned pale with fear in the display room

I responded softly to her emphatic words, saying, I do not despise you; it is enough that you feel at peace with your conscience.

Money does not mean much to Lu Yihan, but he cannot afford to lose face

The Zhou family, which was once bustling with visitors, has since become desolate.

Her voice and expression are equally genuine, yet the words she utters send chills down my spine

I couldn't help but speak harshly, saying, "I don't think you would like her, with that foolish and dull appearance!"

Su Wei, no matter how you view me, I no longer care. Compared to being poor, this little bit of self-esteem is nothing.

When Zhou Jianian was finally captured by the security personnel, they loudly asked him, "Where are your accomplices?"

I know what happened

Humans are indeed peculiar; they can get by with nothing at all, yet when they have one, two, or three, they begin to desire four, five, and six. Once they attain four, five, and six, they feel that seven, eight, and nine cannot be lacking either. In the end, everyone aspires to perfection.

If it were not for Zhou Jiani, perhaps we would have continued on like this, hand in hand, fulfilling all the eternity and permanence.

You are different, unique, soft, clean, like the sky... You are my warm gloves, cold beer, a shirt that carries the taste of sunshine, the dreams that repeat day after day

Years later, when Lu Yihan spoke of this matter, her face still showed signs of guilt, feeling very sorry for Zhou Jianian. Amidst the colorful laser lights, there was an unmistakable sense of helplessness in his eyes

Lu Yihan accompanied me to select spring outfits at the girls' section of the mall. When I walked out of the fitting room in a new dress, the first person I saw was not Lu Yihan, but rather Zhou Jianian walking towards me, along with Qing Tian by his side

She said to me, Su Wei, you do not have the right to disdain me

As Zhou Jianian got up to grab some fruit salad, I quietly followed him. When I reached the other end of the restaurant, I deliberately turned back to take a look at our table. Qing Tian and Lu Yihan were chatting happily, both appearing like carefree scions of wealthy families, oblivious to the troubles of the world.

This opportunity will arrive soon

At that time, Lu Yihan and Zhou Jianian were both spirited youths, exhibiting a surplus of courage in their actions and demeanor, yet lacking in consideration. Before the examination, Lu Yihan made a bet with a boy in his class, assuring him that he could obtain the examination papers. The boy looked at him with disdain, and it was that very expression of contempt that provoked Lu Yihan, who slammed his hand on the table and vowed that he would definitely acquire them

Hearing the name Zhou Jianian finally jolted me out of my stupor, I licked off the layer of salt from the corner of my mouth and raised my cup, drinking it all in one go

His academic performance has also plummeted.

Zhou Jianian extinguished the cigarette butt with his foot and walked over with a faint smile: "If it is a brother's, it will not let you go alone"

They looked at each other in confusion, unsure of which link in the process had gone awry

Regardless of whether he insults me, strikes me, or humiliates me in any way, I no longer wish to be a person whose body is in the Cao camp while my heart is with Han. Since my heart is with Han, my body must also be with Han; otherwise, I would be failing both the Cao camp and myself

The matter between Chen Mobei and Gu Meng has prompted some reflections on my part. Just as I was beginning to forget about Zhou Jianian, he reappeared.

It was the first time I discovered that Gu Meng's gaze could be so sharp; she was not always so shy, smiling like a little white rabbit.

Lu Yihan clearly heard, at the end of the corridor, Zhou Jianian's voice was so calm, he said, it is only me.