Those tender and innocent years, fragmented time

  Later, Liu Liangwei only remembered that the blackboard was filled with numbers she couldn't understand, the electric fan rotated very slowly, as if whispering softly. The glass on the classroom window was stained, and when looking out, even the leaves were covered in dust. She didn't know whose paper airplane fell straight from the sky without leaving a trace. The desk was illuminated by sunlight, with sharp angles, and golden powder danced actively in the light, unbound. Her textbook curled up at the foot of the page, stacked irregularly on the table, she lay there, her tears wetting half of her sleeve. When that sloppy boy approached her, she almost didn't hear him, focusing only on her own little world, until the boy hesitated and handed her a clean white tissue, saying: "Hey, wipe it off."

  Liu Liang slowly raised her head, her red and swollen eyes still dripping with tears. She looked at the young man in confusion, her fingers involuntarily intertwining together. The feeling of shame constantly hit her brain, she hesitated and said, "Why?"

  The young man smiled slightly, "I knew it was you, I already know."

  "Aren't you supposed to hate me? Why are you still like this."

  "I believe people are kind," Zhao Lei said with a serious face, "If I didn't take the blame, someone else might be unlucky. It's better to turn a big deal into a small one. I'll just suffer a bit and it's nothing, besides," he paused and said, "I originally liked Tian Tian anyway."

  "I thought you were an idiot." Liu Liangwei sighed with a bitter smile.

  "No one is born to be a fool, if you ever manage to deceive someone, it's just that they're pretending to be foolish. Tian Tian is different from me, she doesn't like to pretend to be foolish," Zhao Lei said.

  "It turned out that I was being clever for nothing, and in the end, I even deceived myself." Liu Liangwei said helplessly, her eyelashes covering her eyes, revealing no emotions.

  "Don't be like that, Liu Liangwei. You're great, with excellent grades and a pretty face. People like you, so you should have more confidence, shouldn't you?" Zhao Lei said.

  "Yes, you're right," she said with a bitter smile. "But my grades aren't as good as Tian Tian's, I'm not as pretty as her, and I don't have her popularity among the boys. She's a born winner, and from the start, I was destined to be trampled under her feet. Wherever she is, I'll always be dull and unnoticeable. Even when I try to play a prank on her, she'll always counterattack and leave me with nothing." Her chest was filled with bitterness, like bile that had been squeezed out, spraying onto her liver, giving her a desolate feeling like a field overgrown with weeds.

  Zhao Lei was at a loss for words, he didn't know how to comfort the girl again. But when he saw Liu Liang's tear-stained face, he couldn't help but feel some sympathy. He hesitated, struggled, and engaged in intense mental struggle. He shifted his feet, swallowed hard, stretched out his rough little hand, and after touching Liu Liang's head, quickly withdrew it, then mustered up the courage to put it back, awkwardly and childishly patted her, saying: "If you think like this, you'll never be happy, Liu Liang. Be a happy girl, be yourself, as long as you're strong enough, nothing can't be changed." The young man's gentle smile was like the warm sunshine on a spring day.

  "Zhao Lei, no matter what, thank you," Liu Liangwei raised her head, smiled sweetly, and seemed to have dazzling diamonds flashing in her eyes. She said, "I don't have any friends yet, would you like to be my friend?"

  Zhao Lei nodded heavily and said, "I'm willing."

  "Hurry up and wipe your nose, it's almost dripping into your mouth."

  Zhao Lei scratched his head awkwardly and smiled foolishly. The sound of their giggles echoed in the empty classroom, exceptionally clear and crisp. Two children sat on a bench, propping up their heads with their hands, sharing secrets with each other, just like sharing their favorite candies without any deceit, anger, or quarrels. They laughed so innocently, understanding each other without needing to say a word, like a sheet of pure white paper without any impurities. Years later, when they thought back to that summer's end, the azure sky as blue as lake water, and that big, dirty smile, the emotions in their hearts were too much to put into words.

  On the other side of the teaching building, Tian Cheng stood at the door of the classroom with a small backpack, looking around. The expected figure had not appeared yet. Tian Tian had told him that after school, he could only wait for her at the gate of the school and was not allowed to go anywhere else. Tian Tian's words were always executed as sacred decrees. His tender white face showed some anxiety. Today, his sister was half an hour late. He stomped his feet from time to time, looking at the passing children, but none of them had a familiar face. "Hey! Tian Cheng, aren't you leaving?" Lin Ling suddenly appeared behind him, startling him.

  "I'm waiting for my sister." Tian Cheng continued to gaze at the passersby, chatting with Lin Ling from time to time.

  "Tian Tian won't be coming to pick you up today," Lin Ling said with a hint of sadness, "didn't you know she's going on a date with the mayor's son?"

  Tian Cheng's nerves suddenly tightened, he turned his head and finally shifted his attention to Lin Ling, "What are you talking nonsense about."

  "Ah! Tian didn't even notify you? How despicable, going on a date and leaving you here, tsk... You're still waiting for her." Lin Ling shook her head with one hand on her elbow and the other tapping her chin.

  "Sister didn't say she had something on, so she'll definitely come pick me up. Are you not leaving yet? Don't disturb me while I'm waiting for someone." Tian Cheng said coldly, turning around and ignoring Lin Ling.

  Lin Ling ran to the front of Tian Cheng from behind, swayed in front of him, pouted and said, "Do you want me to find a driver to take you back? I can also invite you to dinner, what do you want to eat? Go to that restaurant? Or go for a ride...

  "Sister!" Tian Cheng's gaze passed over Lin Ling, looking towards the small figure in the distance. The hem of her school uniform skirt fluttered slightly in the wind, and he could even make out the faint smile on Tian Tian's face, like a fragment of jade, dazzlingly bright under the sunlight. Suddenly, the surrounding crowd seemed to fade into the background, dulling their original colors. Tian Cheng pushed Lin Ling aside and ran towards Tian Tian, not caring about Lin Ling's astonished expression.

  Lin Ling gazed at Tian Cheng's excited and lively appearance, he was usually quiet in class, sitting in his seat without running around like the other kids, always with a cold and indifferent expression, never seen him so radiant before. Tian Tian pointed in her direction as if asking something, Tian Cheng shook his head, then Tian Tian pulled Tian Cheng's hand and gradually disappeared from view, Lin Ling's face turned stern, unconsciously clenched his fists, and walked in the opposite direction.

  "Xiao Cheng, what are you and Lin Ling talking about? Is she bullying you?" Tian Tian asked with concern.

  "No, no, she asked me what my homework is tonight." Tian Cheng said with his head down, he was not used to lying to Tian Tian, he didn't want to make her worry so much, she was already tired enough, every day taking care of his food and drink, helping him review before exams, and racking her brains thinking of where to take him to play, protecting him from being bullied. Sometimes, he really wanted to be stronger, just a little bit stronger, until he had strong arms that could hold her tightly in his embrace.

  "That girl is quite cunning, you'd better keep a distance from her, got it?"

  "Got it!" Tian Cheng nodded vigorously and said, as he tightened his grip on Tian Tian's hand.