When Xiao Lan learned of this news, she cried for days at home, with no appetite for food or drink. She realized why Hai Chun had drowned—it was to save her. His life was the price paid for her chance to live.
That day, Xiao Lan spent the whole day by the riverbank, sitting quietly alone, remembering every detail about Hai Chun. Pebbles thrown into the water created ripples, and as the sun set, she stood up, determined. She resolved to live well; otherwise, if Hai Chun knew what had become of her, his heart would shatter in the afterlife.
From that day forward, Xiao Lan gradually recovered. She threw herself into her studies, and her efforts were not in vain. She eventually passed the examinations with excellent results and was admitted to a middle school in the county town, the same school attended by Liang Yueming.
