The Lantern Festival has just passed, and school is about to start. The last semester of university, finding a job has become the keyword in the lives of graduates, as news of classmates signing contracts one by one arrives, the restless atmosphere unique to the eve of graduation has also reached a boiling point.

  He Luyan was the first to sign an employment contract in their dormitory. She chose to return to her hometown and become a teacher at a vocational technical school, which meant she could finally reunite with her boyfriend who had been assigned back to their hometown after graduation. The other girls in the dorm didn't blame her for this decision, as her grades were good and she might not have found a better job if she waited longer. Especially Li Wei Juan, who complained that He Luyan was foolish to return to such a poor and remote place when everyone else was trying to get into big cities. However, as Ruan Ruan said, "How can you know what makes others happy?" Everyone has their own life, and no one can predict the future.

  Zhuo Mei wasn't enthusiastic about finding work, as her family would arrange something for her anyway. She joked that if she couldn't find a job, she might as well get married. Zhu Xiao Bei was determined to take the postgraduate exam, saying that society was too complicated and she wanted to delay entering it for as long as possible.

  Li Wei Juan was often busy looking for work, and once Zheng Wei saw her using the IP phone in the lobby instead of their dorm's phone, which made Zheng Wei chuckle and comment to Ruan Ruan, "Is it necessary to be so cautious?" Ruan Ruan just smiled. At that time, Li Wei Juan had a boyfriend who was a graduate student, but they had different opinions on what to do next, and she ended up breaking up with him. When they parted ways, Li Wei Juan was sad for a few days, but Zhu Xiao Bei asked her why she had to be so decisive, suggesting that they could have just stuck together and gotten through it. However, Li Wei Juan said resolutely, "University life is lonely and suffocating, and it's enough to have accompanied each other for a while. When our values are different, it's best to part ways."

  Ruan Ruan was asked by Zheng Wei about her future plans, and she replied that although she had excellent grades, she didn't want to pursue further studies as it would be a waste. She said she was a woman without great ambitions, not wanting to become a scholar or a strong career woman. She felt that reading books up to this point was enough, so she decided to stop there. She only hoped for a simpler and happier life in the future.

  She told Zheng Wei that she had secretly agreed with Shi Yong that neither of them would return to their hometowns. Shi Yong's internship unit in S City was very satisfied with his performance and intended to formally sign him after graduation, so Ruan Ruan would definitely look for work in S City and settle there with Shi Yong.

  Ruan Ruan said they had no choice but to do this because Zhao Shi Yong's family was too powerful. Only by distancing themselves from them could they find peace, as the saying goes "the sky is high and the emperor is far away".

  Zheng Wei was heartbroken, she said: "Ruan Ruan, I really want to work in the same city as you, so that whenever something happens, we can find each other right away. And then we can still go shopping and eat together like before."

  Ruan Ruan smiled and said, "There's no banquet in the world that doesn't disperse. I'm with Shi Yong, just like you can't bear to part with Ah Zheng. Besides, G City and S City are adjacent, and now communication and transportation are so convenient. If we want to see each other, isn't it something we can do at any time?

  "But are you sure Zhao Shi Yong can sign in S city smoothly? I mean, won't his family have already made arrangements for him, and he's such a obedient person." Zheng Wei still had some worries about Ruan Ruan.

  Ruan hesitated for a moment, then said firmly: "He promised me, I believe him."

  Later, Ruan Ruan signed with an architectural design institute in S city with her impeccable grades and comprehensive quality. Zheng Wei and A Zheng also took part in the preliminary examination of China Construction soon after the start of school. Although China Construction still told them to wait for notification, she was quite satisfied with her performance and firmly believed that she and A Zheng would be able to pass the re-examination smoothly and successfully get into China Construction.

  It's strange to say, but as the graduation class has fewer and fewer courses, Chen Xiao Zheng seems to be getting busier and busier. He no longer hangs out with Zheng Wei every day like he used to, and many times, even Zheng Wei can't figure out what he's busy with. Occasionally when they eat together, he's also in a hurry, distracted. Zheng Wei knows that asking him won't get her an explanation, so she can only categorize his symptoms as: Graduation Intermitent Syndrome. She thinks, as long as this period of time passes, everything will be fine.

  Although that's the case, sometimes she wants to talk to him, but for a while can't find him. She has a quick temper and inevitably gets angry when she sees him. Chen Xiao Zheng seems to feel somewhat guilty as well, after comforting her, he solemnly promises her that in a few days they'll both have no classes, so he'll accompany her properly, wherever she wants to go is fine.

  Zheng Wei suggested going to the zoo, reasoning that she had been in G City for four years and had never been to a zoo before. Chen Xiao Zheng teased her about being childish, but was still willing to accompany her. In the southern city of April, flowers were blooming everywhere, and after getting off the bus, they walked for a while. Chen Xiao Zheng saw that she had fine sweat on her forehead, so he suggested going to buy her a bottle of water. Zheng Wei magically pulled out two full bottles of mineral water from her backpack and said with a smile, "See, I knew it would come in handy."

  Chen Xiao Zheng took the water she handed over, smiled in surprise, "You carried two big bottles of water and walked such a long way? Isn't it heavy? No wonder you're sweating like that."

  She's a lazy person, in the past when she went out, bringing an umbrella was too heavy for her. Now this is really not like her style. She heard and said with flying eyebrows and dancing colors, "You don't understand this, do you? A bottle of water costs at least one yuan, I come here and save at least two yuan, right? Money is accumulated bit by bit like this. I'm not even going shopping now, I have to save money until May 1st when I go to Yuanyang, then I'll play big and have fun."

  To be honest, it's a bit heavy.

  Chen Xiao didn't say a word and put her bag on his own shoulder. He took a sip of water, the taste of which only he knew.

  The zoo ticket was 20 yuan per person, which made Zheng Wei feel a little painful, but the cute animals in the garden immediately made her feel worth the price. She fed the monkeys and teased the birds from time to time, laughing like a child, and even Chen Xiao Zheng couldn't help but laugh along with her all the way.

  When they passed by the aquarium, they originally wanted to go in, but were stopped by the staff at the entrance and only then did they realize that this place required a separate ticket. Zheng Wei stared intently at the cute dolphins on the promotional poster and lingered, unwilling to leave. However, thinking of the 15-yuan ticket price per person, she steeled herself and pulled Chen Xiao Zheng away, consoling herself by saying, "What's so great about this? What's so great about this?"

  She took a few steps forward with force, only to find that Ah Zheng was standing still on the spot, not moving. He let go of her and walked to the ticket counter to buy a ticket for her, handed it to her, smiled and said, "You can go in and take a look by yourself, my home is near the sea, I don't like these things, I'll wait for you at the entrance."

  She shook her head, "No way, what's the point of me going in alone? You'd better return the ticket. If we're going to go in, we'll go together; otherwise, neither of us will go."

  When she got stubborn, it wasn't easy to persuade her. The two obstinate young people quarreled over the ticket at the entrance of the aquarium for a while. Finally, the old aunt who sold the tickets saw that the two young people were so pitiful, and since today was not a weekend, there was no one around, she took the initiative to let them in quietly, both of them going in together.

  Zheng Wei was so angry that she almost rushed up to kiss the plump auntie, but in the end, she flattered her with a sentence, "Auntie, you have a good heart, it's hard to manage being so young and beautiful." The auntie couldn't help but laugh and hurriedly waved her hand for them to go inside quickly.

  After a day, the two of them had a great time playing and on their way back, they sat on the bus. Zheng Wei was tired, so she leaned against Ah Zheng's shoulder and happily sighed, "It's been a long time since I've had so much fun." After a while, she heard the person next to her softly hum in agreement.

  Is there a feeling more wonderful than leaning on the shoulder of your loved one after being tired? Zheng Wei's heart was playing a lively tune, satisfied and at ease as she leaned on his shoulder, drowsy. In her half-dreaming, half-waking state, she felt him gently stroke her hair, then lightly touch her long eyelashes that fluttered like butterflies. Immersed in the warmth and sweetness, Zheng Wei suddenly felt this scene was familiar. Ah yes, more than four years ago, when she was 17, she also felt a boy she had a crush on give her a light kiss on the eyes on a swaying bus. At that time, Little Dragon's heart was filled with secret delight, like a little bird flapping its wings to fly. She thought no one was luckier than her, thinking everything would go as she wished, but what followed was his departure without saying goodbye, crossing the ocean, and a long separation.

  She didn't know why she was like this, but at the happiest moment, she was most afraid to think of parting. She suddenly hugged Ah Zheng's arm tightly and murmured, "Ah Zheng, don't leave."

  He seemed startled and reacted with such surprise, "Weiwei, what did you just say?"

  She felt embarrassed about her sudden nervousness, "I didn't say anything, but suddenly I was afraid you would disappear. Ah Zheng, promise me, don't make me wait for you again, I'm afraid I won't have enough courage to keep waiting in the same place, and even more afraid that as we walk, we'll lose each other again."

  He didn't answer.

  That night, the dormitory lights went out, and Zheng Wei was lying in bed when she suddenly heard Li Wei Juan exclaim "Ah", saying: "Zheng Wei, I forgot to tell you, this morning as soon as you left the door, a man called looking for you. I said you weren't here, he asked if I knew where you went, I said it seemed like you went out with your boyfriend, he 'oh'ed and didn't say anything else, nor did he leave his name. Do you know who was looking for you?"

  "Who is it?" Zheng Wei looked up at the top of the mosquito net with a puzzled face, "It can't be Old Zhang, can it?" Old Zhang had graduated for more than half a year now, but he still occasionally called to harass Little Zheng Wei.

  Li Weijuan smiled, "How could that be? I can still recognize Old Zhang's terrible voice. The person who called today was so polite when speaking. I dare say I've never received a call from him before. Hurry up and tell your sister, is there some new good resource again? If there is, don't forget that your sister is single now, but absolutely no letting the fat water flow into someone else's field."

  Zheng Wei said doubtfully, "The problem is that I don't even remember knowing such a person. Never mind, if it's really important, they'll call again." She thought for a moment, still without a clue, and then put the matter behind her.

  At the same time, in the boys' dormitory, Chen Xiao Zheng also couldn't sleep. He was at his desk, putting the final touches on the small house model he had spent several months working on. Looking at it, this was a labor of love that he had poured his heart into, but now even he didn't believe that this little house could protect his love and keep them from being battered by the wind and rain.

  He suddenly remembered what Zeng Yu had said to him that day, pointing at the school's multimedia building under construction, "Do you see those people wearing safety helmets? Apart from migrant workers, there are also some people like us, who studied architecture in college. This society is just so realistic, no matter how talented you are, without connections and background, you'll still have to struggle on the construction site. Of course, maybe one day you'll make it out, but when will that day be? Maybe in a year or two, maybe three to five years, or perhaps even longer... who knows? So, Zheng, you need to think carefully, not all roads that go wrong can be retraced."

  Reality is such a cruel thing, it always destroys your faith and the promises you thought you could keep, little by little, when you're not aware of it. What is growing up? When a child knows that diamonds are more precious than pretty glass balls, he has grown up, he understood this truth earlier than any other kid.

  The girl he loved was so innocent and naive, she loved all the little things that were full of small emotions and interests, unaware of what sorrow was. She was a brave and straightforward jade-faced little dragon, her man should give her the widest sky. And him? He only had a broken roof. Of course, as long as he was willing, he believed she would always stand by his side, never leaving or abandoning him. However, after the sweetness of love faded away, in the wear and tear of life, would she become a realistic and haggard woman because of him? He shivered at the thought, if that day came, he would hate himself - he was even more afraid that when that day arrived, he would hate her.

  Mom's words were cruel, but she was right. His choice had always been between himself and Zheng Wei. He looked at his own hands slowly dismantling the small house piece by piece - in fact, the choice had long been made in his heart.

  Before May Day, the train station started selling tickets ten days in advance. Sleeper tickets were hard to come by, and Zheng Wei waited in line for an entire afternoon at the crowded train station without getting any. Luckily, she was clever and thought of Old Zhang, who had become a socialite. Old Zhang was always smooth-talking and knew many people from all walks of life. Zheng Wei gave him a call, and he readily agreed to help her out. In less than two days, he managed to get her two hard sleeper tickets from G City to Nanchang. Once she arrived in Nanchang, it would be easy for her to transfer to Wuyuan, which was within the territory of her friend Xiaofeilong.

  Zheng Wei grasped the train ticket he had just gotten from Old Zhang, and happily ran back to his dormitory. As he pushed open the door, he hummed: "I'm smiling proudly, I'm smiling proudly."

  "Wow, you've already got the tickets for our honeymoon trip so early?" Zhu Xiaobei couldn't help but tease when he saw her smiling face.

  "Of course, I not only got the tickets but also arranged a seven-day itinerary. I want to take him to Wuyuan and Mount Lu to show him the beauty of Jiangxi's mountains and rivers. And naturally, we'll also pay a visit to my parents, who will be his future in-laws." Zheng Wei responded without any shyness.

  Ruan Ruan also laughed at her, "As they say, people from Jiangxi are good at reading books and raising pigs, it's time to let Chen Xiao Zheng see what that means."

  Zheng Wei was in a good mood, very generous, and waved her hand to show that she didn't care about them. She sat down on the stool next to the phone and said, "I need to call Ah Zheng first and tell him that I've already gotten the tickets."

  The phone had just dialed halfway when the dormitory door was pushed open, and Zheng Wei looked over with displeasure. Li Wei Juan rushed in with a sweaty face.

  "What's wrong with you, we're about to graduate, are you going to destroy the gate that can't be taken away too?" Zhu Xiaobei said.

  Li Wei Juan however had a fiery look on her face, "I'm too lazy to bother with you guys, Zheng Wei, something big has happened, I heard some terrifying news..."

  "Scoff, when don't you have some explosive gossip?" Having heard it for four years, Zheng Wei was no longer interested in Li Wei Juan's "rumors" and continued to dial her phone.

  Li Wei Juan pressed one hand on the phone, "I'm telling you, being sold out and still counting money for others. I just got reliable news from the student union that Chen Xiao Zheng from your family took up one of the two public-funded overseas study quotas in the whole school. It's said he's going to America and his visa has already been issued. He really has a good future, keeping such a big thing secret without leaking any wind, you silly fool still being kept in the dark?"

  Zheng Wei was taken aback, then burst out laughing. "I'm telling you, those rumors are getting more and more absurd! I had dinner with him just the day before yesterday, and he even mentioned going to Yuanyang with me. Li Daoshi, you're really something, trying to deceive people like this is a bit too much!"

  Li Wei Juan was really anxious this time, pointing at Zheng Wei's nose and saying, "You're stupid if you think you can joke about this. This news has spread throughout the department, not just within our school. Whether or not you believe it, don't come crying later when there's nowhere to turn."

  "You're talking nonsense!" Zheng Wei also stood up in a huff, "He's never told me about this before, of course I believe him. I'm his girlfriend, how could I not know about his affairs?"

  "You... never mind, it's me being too nosy. My kindness is being treated as a donkey's liver and lungs by you. If you don't believe me, go confront him in person." Li Wei Juan stamped her foot.

  "Just go then." Zheng Wei was the kind of person who acted on impulse, and as soon as he finished speaking, he had already run to the door. "Wait till I've questioned him clearly, and see how you'll still dare to wag your tongues!"

  She slammed the door shut with a loud and urgent sound, startling Ruan Ruan and Zhu Xiaobei, who looked at each other in surprise. Ruan Ruan suddenly said, "Oh no." Zhu Xiaobei immediately understood and widened her eyes, "Mom, something's wrong!" The two of them didn't say another word and took off running out the door.

  After coming down from the building, Zhu Xiaobei pulled Ruan Ruan and said, "You think we should go to those lakeside or reservoirs to look for her? She wouldn't have thought of doing something stupid..."

  Ruan immediately interrupted her, "What's the point of saying these now? You head towards the self-study room in our dorm, I'll go take a look around Chen Xiao Zheng's dormitory. Remember, just take a look, if nothing's going on, we'll come back."

  "Got it." Zhu Xiaobei responded, and the two of them went their separate ways.

  Ruan Ruan wasn't wrong, Zheng Wei was heading in the direction of Chen Xiao Zheng's dormitory. She walked for a while, ran for a while, and when she went upstairs, she met a male classmate face to face, without even saying hello, and rushed straight to his place.

  She pushed open the door and he was standing in front of his bed, with his back to her, as if packing things up, and there was a large trunk at his feet.

  He didn't turn around until he heard her panting after running quickly. "Weiwei?" He was initially slightly surprised, but soon his expression returned to normal, "How did you get here?"

  "I suddenly thought of coming to see you." She stroked her chest with one hand, trying to calm her breathing. "Azheng, you shouldn't be packing your luggage for Wuyuan so early, should you?"

  He turned his head to continue tidying up, she walked over to him, smiling and said, "You know, I just heard a joke from Lǐ Wéi-Juān, she actually said you're going abroad soon, and it's America, haha, isn't that ridiculous?"

  Chen Xiao Zheng suddenly threw down what was in his hand, turned around and grabbed her hand, "Wei Wei, come with me first, let's change places to talk."

  She silently let him pull her downstairs, to the basketball court near the boys' dormitory. It was noon break time, and the basketball court was empty, with only them and the wind.

  He stood still, released her hand, took a deep breath, "Weiwei, sorry."

  "Why should I apologize? Have you done something wrong again?" She looked at him with a bright smile, just like she always did.

  For a moment, Chen Xiao Zheng felt his heart tighten up, he thought he couldn't continue saying the rest of what he wanted to say. It turned out that after all, he was as determined as he had imagined, "What they said is true. I thought I could accompany you to Yuanyang, didn't expect the visa to come down so quickly."

  "Them? Are you referring to what Léi Wéijuān said? ā Zhèng, April Fool's Day was over twenty days ago, and you're still playing this trick?" She pulled on his hand, still smiling sweetly. But he just kept his head down, suddenly afraid of seeing her smile at that moment.

  She finally let go of his hand, with a hint of confusion, and muttered like a sleep talker, "So, I'm the last one to know?"

  "I've thought for a long time, but I still can't find a way to make you less sad."

  "I'm not sad. You've been hiding it from me until you couldn't hide it anymore and then admitted it, so I wouldn't be sad? Chen Xiao Zheng, what kind of logic is this?" Her uncooperative tears started to well up in her eyes again.

  She can't cry, she absolutely can't cry. If tears fall, it's equivalent to acknowledging that the sadness has become a foregone conclusion. She doesn't want this kind of conclusion, so she looks up at the sky, wondering if her tears can flow backwards?

  "I've said it before, my life is a building that can only be built once, so I won't make mistakes, not even a tiny one, not even a millimeter."

  Who said that the thin-lipped man was naturally cold-blooded and cruel?

  "So you've finally come to your senses and corrected that one-millimeter mistake? Officially sponsored study abroad, the person I like is indeed the most promising one. But what I don't understand is, must our futures be mutually exclusive? Even if you had confessed to me early on, I wouldn't have necessarily stood in your way. Is it because I was never part of your plan from the start?"

  He didn't speak, so she struggled to push him, "Explain, you can explain, I want your explanation..." Her voice strained to the point of hoarseness and turned into a plea, "A Zheng, give me an explanation, say whatever is fine, just say you were forced or that it was for my own good, I'll accept anything."

  He grasped her hand placed on his chest, "Weiwei, one day you will understand, people must first love themselves. I have no way to love you with nothing."

  "So you want to love yourself back?"

  "It's probably something you'll never understand, I'm used to being poor, but there's no way I can let the girl I like suffer from poverty."

  "You've decided that being with me will definitely lead to poverty? Why haven't you even asked me, maybe I'm willing to suffer with you."

  "But I don't want to!" His tone had strong emotional ups and downs for the first time.

  It has come to this, Zheng Wei. If you have any backbone, you should leave with your head held high. Even if you can't keep the love, at least preserve your dignity.

  But at this moment, Zheng Wei told herself that if she couldn't win back her love, could dignity make her less heartbroken?

  So in the last moment, she finally wiped away her tears and anger. "A Zheng, wait for me, I'll go back to tell my parents, then take the TOEFL exam, and be with you. At worst, I can still wait."

  He looked at her and said, "No, no, don't wait for me, because I may not be waiting."

  Ruan Ruan finally walked over when Chen Xiao Zheng had already turned around and left. She pulled on Zheng Wei's hand, "Wei Wei, let's go."

  In April, after Qingming Festival, dark clouds gathered at the horizon, and the sky quickly turned dark. The wind picked up sand and dust, easily blinding one's eyes.

  Zheng Wei struggled free from Ruan Ruan's hands, "Look, it's windy, how come I don't feel cold at all?"

  This is the path she chose, the man she chose, so it's also her choice to stand alone in such a wind, cold and unable to make a sound.

  Ruan Ruan stretched out her hand to block the wind and sand, "It's too dark, I can pretend I didn't see you cry."

  Zheng Wei shook her head, "I won't cry, Ruan Ruan, I'm willing to admit defeat."

  Four years in college, Zheng Wei was used to other people's gaze, but she still had to adapt herself to those mocking eyes with a hint of sympathy. The crowd's focus on the perfect couple, talented and beautiful, ended up with nothing but a dispersing crowd after the music stopped.

  She eats and sleeps as usual, occasionally being amused by Zhu Xiaobei's cold jokes to laugh heartily. What can be done? On the second day after saying goodbye to him on the playground, she wakes up feeling like the sky has fallen, but when she pushes open the window, the sky is so clear after the rain, and people passing by the window are busy with different expressions, perhaps sad or happy. The earth will not change its natural laws because one person's heart is thoroughly broken, in her dream, she can't believe there will be daylight again, but the next day the sun rises as usual, life goes on as usual.

  When she really couldn't hold on anymore, she secretly made a phone call to her mother under the quilt. As soon as the phone was connected, low and almost inaudible sobs were heard from the other end. Lin Bo's body was originally not good, and the intense emotional ups and downs and career setbacks led to his death a week ago. When he died, he was still the husband of his wife, a married man. Although he had made many promises to Zheng Wei's mother before his death and had insisted on divorce, after his death, she couldn't even enter the mourning hall to take a last look at him. Death allowed Lin Jing's mother, Sun Auntie, to win this protracted war, and she finally perfectly defended her marriage, and no one could take away her husband again.

  Zheng Wei didn't know how she ended the call with her mom. A few days later, she packed her bags and set off alone to Wuyuan with two train tickets in hand. As the train started moving, she dared not look up at the sky, wondering if he was gazing down from the clouds at that moment, and whether he would lower his head to search for the place he had once promised to reach with her together.

  The large Chinese scholar tree at the entrance of Li Zhuang Village was as lush and verdant as in her dreams, its ancient branches bearing witness to joys and sorrows, separations and reunions. The silent and stoic demeanor of the tree somehow comforted Zheng Wei's wounded heart.

  Xiang yuan - Zheng Wei in the village with fifteen pieces of money to hire a local guide, accompanied her side by side. The girl with a fox-like smile told her that the old locust tree at the entrance of the village had witnessed the love of men and women for generations. They met under the tree, prayed under the tree, and perhaps parted under the tree... Just yesterday, a city dweller scattered his father's ashes at the foot of the big locust tree according to the deceased's will.

  Zheng Wei recalled the story of a man who had an affair and before he died, left his house and inheritance to his wife and children, but gave the woman he loved a single leaf that he cherished. The weight of love is no more than a fallen leaf and dust after death.

  She asked Xiangyuan to help her dig a shallow pit at the foot of the old locust tree. Xiangyuan agreed, and she promised to dig the pit for 20 yuan, but she said that if Zheng Wei gave her 50 yuan, she would be willing to guard the contents of the pit well.

  Zheng Wei thought it was a good deal, so she finally buried her "Andersen's Fairy Tales" and the wooden dragon under the old locust tree. Standing at the top of the mountain, she looked down at the old locust tree below and heard someone shouting from afar towards the other side of the mountain, "I'm going to get rich!"

  She also gathered her two hands in front of her mouth and shouted with all her might: "America, the evil capitalist country, return my man to me..."

  "Distant mountains echo: 'Get rich... get rich... return it to me... return it to me...'"

  She laughed heartlessly with Xiang Yuan, then in this place she had dreamed of reaching, in front of an unrelated stranger, 22-year-old Zheng Wei finally burst into tears.

  (End of Upper Section)