Leaf Xun put the empty bracelet box back into the drawer and came to the balcony alone.
It had been half a month since Leaf Xun broke up with her boyfriend Dai Qiang. During this half month, they hadn't seen each other or talked on the phone. There were many ups and downs between them, and this time it was the biggest rift. The passage of time made Leaf Xun feel fearful. The moment she broke up with Dai Qiang, the grief almost tore her heart apart. But now? Even though the sorrow still lingered, it had become much more indifferent. This feeling made Leaf Xun even more panicked. She was afraid that everything between her and Dai Qiang would gradually dissipate with the passage of time.
Leaf Xun walked onto the balcony, took a long sigh, and the wind chimes above her head tinkled. Leaf Xun raised her head and gently touched them a few times. The crisp sound somewhat comforted her heartstrings, instantly soothing her a lot. Her phone rang, and it was a call from Tong Tong.
"Tong Tong, when are you coming back?"
"I'll be back tonight!" Tong Tong sweetly smiled, "But I'm going to meet someone now!"
"Meet someone? Who are you meeting?" Leaf Xun asked curiously.
"I can't tell you, it's a secret!" Tong Tong said.
"A secret?" Leaf Xun seemed to suddenly understand something, "Are you going to meet a boy? Do you have a boyfriend now?"
"Sort of!" Tong Tong said, "Leaf Xun, do you remember what you promised me?"
"What did I promise you? Why don't I remember?"
"Why did you forget again?" Tong Tong said anxiously, "You clearly promised to give me the identity of 'Black Night Thousand Grass'!"
"Alright, since you like it, I'll give it to you!" Leaf Xun said, "What do you want to do with it?"
"That's also a secret!" Tong Tong said before hanging up the phone.
"A secret?" Leaf Xun shook her head and smiled.
Yang Ke was in his room reading a book. He planned to stay outside the campus tonight so that he could have a good read in the morning. Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in!" Yang Ke said, "The door isn't locked!"
Tong Tong walked in from outside, quietly approaching Yang Ke. Yang Ke happened to turn his head and wasn't surprised, but Tong Tong smiled cheerfully. Her bell-like laughter reverberated in the room, making people shiver involuntarily.
"Why are you here?" Yang Ke asked in surprise.
"What's wrong? Can't I come?" Tong Tong pouted.
"That's not what I meant!" Yang Ke hastily explained, "I meant, how did you know I live here?"
"It's simple!" Tong Tong said proudly, "This little thing can't stump me!"
"It seems you're quite resourceful!" Yang Ke said as he invited Tong Tong to sit down.
"Of course!" Tong Tong looked around Yang Ke's room and said, "To be honest with you, it was Yuan Yuan who told me!"
"Make yourself at home, I'll make you some tea!"
Yang Ke put the book into the drawer, and Tong Tong noticed a bracelet in the drawer. Yang Ke turned his head and saw Tong Tong staring at the drawer, and at that moment Tong Tong also noticed Yang Ke's expression. She quickly pretended not to care and turned her head to look elsewhere. As Yang Ke walked out of the room, Tong Tong couldn't wait to open the drawer and took out the bracelet. It was a broken bracelet, finely crafted, and must have been carefully cherished by someone for a long time. Tong Tong put it on her arm and admired it carefully. Yang Ke's footsteps came from the living room, Tong Tong hurriedly put the bracelet back in its original place, and gently closed the drawer. Tong Tong turned around and saw Yang Ke walking over with water.
"When are you free?" Tong Tong asked, "I want to treat you to a meal, let's celebrate our extraordinary encounter!"
"Let me do it!" Yang Ke said, "And by the way, let me introduce you to a friend."
"A girl?" Tong Tong asked somewhat sensitively, seeing Yang Ke nodding, she began to feel nervous.
Yang Ke nodded and added, "Just met recently!"
Coming out of Yang Ke's room, Tong Tong felt like a flower wilted by frost in the early morning, hanging her head dejectedly as she climbed the stairs. Yang Ke's words kept echoing in her mind, each reverberation letting out a sigh, making her whole body exhausted.
"A girl? Just met recently!" Tong Tong muttered to herself, her mind tangled like a knot, causing her discomfort.
Pushing the door open, Leaf Xun greeted her.
"Tong Tong, you're back!" Leaf Xun said excitedly, "I was just about to ask who you went to see!"
Tong Tong didn't hear Leaf Xun's question at all, still walking into the room with her head down.
"Tong Tong, what's wrong? Are you sick?"
"Ah!" Tong Tong glanced at Leaf Xun and said, "It's nothing!"
"Tong Tong, in the days you were away, I just met a friend!" Leaf Xun said happily.
"Another 'just met' friend?" Tong Tong muttered under her breath, climbed onto the bed with annoyance, burying herself in the blankets. Suddenly, she thought of something and screamed, sitting up from the bed, asking Leaf Xun, "Did you say 'just met recently'?"
"Yes!" Leaf Xun said, "I met a 'big sister' at the debate competition!"
Tong Tong instantly deflated upon hearing this. She covered herself with the blanket again, saying, "See you tomorrow!"
Leaf Xun watched Tong Tong's series of unusual behaviors helplessly and said, "See you tomorrow!"
Dai Qiang lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The alarm clock rang, the tight ringing almost uninterrupted, and the pile of cigarette butts in the ashtray next to him also shook. Dai Qiang reached out to turn off the alarm clock, then sat up from the bed. He pulled open the curtains, the glaring sunlight shining through the window, casting onto his face, making his eyes hurt. Dai Qiang rubbed his forehead, the pain of insomnia filling his entire head. He closed his eyes, leaning against the window lost in thought.
After a while, he opened his eyes again and looked at the calendar on the wall. Today's date was circled in red, marking its significance among the days of the year.
Yang Ke was browsing in a boutique, looking at the exquisite items swirling before his eyes, making him dazzled, not knowing which one to choose. Just then, Dai Qiang also entered the boutique.
"Yang Ke, you're here too!" Dai Qiang greeted.
"Yeah!" Yang Ke smiled and said, "Buying a gift for a friend who just went through a breakup!"
"Breakup? Why are there so many people breaking up nowadays!" Dai Qiang's words carried a hint of self-mockery.
"Dai Qiang, what are you doing here?" Yang Ke asked as he selected a gift.
"The same as you, picking out a gift to comfort myself after a breakup!" Dai Qiang said.
"So, everyone is breaking up together!" Yang Ke laughed.
Suddenly, Yang Ke saw the fast-food restaurant across the boutique. He thought of something and turned back, but found that Dai Qiang had already left, leaving quietly like the wind.