All those seated were young people in the prime of their lives, so youthful that it made seasoned veterans, already immersed in society, green with envy. Once upon a time, they too had been carefree.
Yet ten years later, no matter who it was, it would be hard to imagine what they would become, where they would go, who they would be with, whether they would still be happy, or if they would have found happiness.
Ren He watched everyone at the dining table laughing cheerfully; he smiled along. He had once fantasized about returning to this era where sitting together only required sharing a meal and a chat. Perhaps, beneath the surface, there would be a faint trace of affection—the person opposite him was the one he had liked in middle school, but it would be hard to see them again in high school.
Maybe the next time they would meet would be after high school graduation? Or perhaps never again…
Times like these were always so joyful yet carried a hint of sadness.
