Gangcheng was a small city where life moved at a leisurely pace. Workers pedaled home in twos and threes on their bicycles, while Chen Hansheng and Wang Zibo ambled along under the afterglow of sunset, their shadows stretching long under the golden light.
Chen Hansheng spent the walk soaking in the scenery—many of these buildings would vanish in a decade, making the sight feel surreal.
Just as he was lost in thought, a crisp bicycle bell jingled behind them. Chen Hansheng glanced back and groaned inwardly: *"First day back, and I'm already stuck dealing with them again?"*
Unlike their biking classmates, Chen Hansheng and Wang Zibo were on foot, moving slowly. It didn't take long for Xiao Rongyu and the others to catch up.
Wang Zibo waved politely, but Chen Hansheng, not in the mood, pretended not to see them. Xiao Rongyu, however, called out to him anyway.
*"Chen Hansheng, Wang Zibo—you two are the only ones who haven't signed my yearbook yet."*
She braked, pulling a hardcover notebook from her bag. *"Just write something—anything. Consider it a keepsake."*
At first, Chen Hansheng wasn't interested. But Xiao Rongyu's sweet, striking looks had a way of drawing attention, and his rebellious soul couldn't help but study her delicate features.
When she smiled, faint dimples appeared on her cheeks—no wonder she'd been the school's belle.
*"Chen Hansheng, you're supposed to be writing in the yearbook, not staring at her!"* Gao Jialiang, who'd been indifferent at first, turned just in time to see Chen Hansheng shamelessly scanning Xiao Rongyu from head to toe.
Furious, Gao Jialiang cursed him out. Even Wang Zibo was puzzled—Chen Hansheng had always been bold, but he'd never been *this* disrespectful toward Xiao Rongyu before.
Xiao Rongyu wasn't the type to tolerate nonsense either. Noticing Chen Hansheng's wandering gaze, she scowled and raised a tiny fist in warning. *"Keep looking, and I'll gouge your eyes out. And I'll tell Auntie Liang about it too."*
The girl, on the cusp of college, had blossomed into her youth. Unfazed, Chen Hansheng took the yearbook with a grin. The messages inside were cliché yet nostalgic.
There were girly entries:
*"No matter how long the future is, please cherish every moment we shared. No matter how many lifetimes pass, I'll always be your friend."*
Artsy ones:
*"Friendship won't fade with distance; fate won't break with graduation; blessings won't vanish no matter how far apart we are."*
Simple ones:
*"Wishing Xiao Rongyu happiness and joy in college."*
And even a silly rhyme:
*"Green hills, green streams, green youth,*
*Years together, that's the truth.*
*No fancy gifts to send your way,*
*Just these words to make your day."*
Then Chen Hansheng flipped to Gao Jialiang's entry—a love poem:
*"Would that we were, my beloved, white birds on the foam of the sea!*
*We tire of the flame of the meteor, before it can fade and flee;*
*And the flame of the blue star of twilight, hung low on the rim of the sky,*
*Has awaked in our hearts, my beloved, a sadness that may not die."*
*"—Sincerely, Gao Jialiang."*
*"D*mn, this guy's shameless,"* Chen Hansheng thought. *"Plagiarizing Yeats' 'The White Birds' and passing it off as his own."*
Xiao Rongyu, noticing his browsing, flushed and snapped the book shut. *"No peeking! Find an empty spot and write something."*
Chen Hansheng tossed it to Wang Zibo. *"You go first."*
Wang Zibo, still racking his brain for something profound to impress the beauty, fumbled with the pen. *"I-I'm not ready yet!"*
Under pressure, he scribbled a safe, generic line:
*"Wishing Xiao Rongyu even more beauty and endless happiness."*
Then it was Chen Hansheng's turn. He'd initially considered writing:
*"May you return from life's long journey still a youth at heart."*
But that was too literary—and not nearly playful enough. After a pause, he penned:
*"You lived well in the pond.*
*The loach was ugly but told good jokes.*
*The toad was careless but full of fun.*
*The snail was a gentle introvert.*
*And the little crucian carp? She was your shared goddess."*
Gao Jialiang had been keeping his distance, but curiosity (and jealousy) drove him closer. When he saw Chen Hansheng's amphibious metaphor, he sneered. *"What is this, a grade-school essay?"*
A girl nearby shook her head. *"Not necessarily. It seems silly at first, but there's depth if you read it again. Isn't Rongyu basically your goddess?"*
Gao Jialiang's social skills might've been lacking, but his literary sense was decent. After a moment's thought, he grudgingly recognized the cleverness—though he'd never admit it. *"It's getting dark. Let's go home."*
Xiao Rongyu, too, sensed the whimsy and subtle personification in the words. But she wasn't overly surprised—Chen Hansheng had always been quick-witted and amusing.
Their homeroom teacher, Old Xu, had once said: *"If he'd just focus on studying, he'd be Tier 1 material."*
*"Not bad,"* Xiao Rongyu said crisply. *"I'll hold off on telling Auntie Liang about the smoking—but don't do it again."*
Years of being the adored beauty had left her with an unconscious air of pride.
Only after the biking entourage left did Wang Zibo, finally brave enough, turn on Chen Hansheng. *"You shoved me into writing first without warning!"*
Chen Hansheng didn't argue. *"What's the point of writing something fancy? You planning to chase after Xiao Rongyu?"*
*"Hell no!"* Wang Zibo nearly jumped. *"I'd never dare even look her in the eye!"*
At least he knew his limits. Chen Hansheng slung an arm around his neck, just like old times.
*"Then quit whining. Next time, I'll treat you to that new McDonald's at Twin Bridge Plaza."*
*"Why not tonight?"* Wang Zibo asked. McDonald's was still a novelty in Gangcheng.
*"Can't."* Chen Hansheng shook his head. *"Dinner with my parents tonight."*
*"Since when do you *want* to listen to their nagging?"*
*"You wouldn't get it."*
Without explaining, Chen Hansheng waved and walked off.
Under the dim streetlights, Wang Zibo watched his friend's retreating figure, sensing untold stories in his wake.