The riverside during National Day was the liveliest, with lanterns and decorations everywhere, and bustling crowds. Everyone had bright smiles, and many people were holding inflatable hammers, playfully hitting both friends and strangers. The old street was especially crowded, and Lu Heng, worried about getting separated from Xiang Yu, walked over and held her hand. Xiang Yu turned to see Lu Heng, smiled at him, and held his hand back. Lu Heng's heart skipped a beat, and feeling self-conscious, he lowered his head to sneak a glance at her, only to see Xiang Yu excitedly looking around, completely oblivious to his discomfort. Zhou Siping and Xiao Zhanyuan noticed Lu Heng and Xiang Yu holding hands. They exchanged glances, with Siping's eyes full of amusement while Zhanyuan's eyes showed disapproval. The four of them were pushed along by the crowd, feeling a bit uncomfortable, so they decided to take a less crowded side street. Xiao Zhanyuan saw Xiang Yu being jostled in the crowd and wanted to protect her, but Lu Heng beat him to it, pulling Xiang Yu into his arms and using his body to shield her as they made their way to the side street. Zhanyuan and Siping quickly followed.
They stopped in a less crowded area, tidied up their clothes, and luckily, hadn't lost anything. Xiang Yu was particularly happy today, chattering non-stop. Lu Heng was used to it, but Xiao Zhanyuan had rarely seen this childish side of Xiang Yu. The Xiang Yu he knew was always calm and composed, even as a child. Today, she seemed especially like a young girl, lively and bright, charming and shy. Xiao Zhanyuan felt a slight bitterness in his heart. He had always thought of Xiang Yu as his best friend, even like family, but seeing her with Lu Heng made him uncomfortable very uncomfortable.
They walked to the riverside to watch the fireworks, with Lu Heng and Xiang Yu bickering and playfully hitting each other along the way. Zhou Siping occasionally joined in, helping Xiang Yu retaliate against Lu Heng. Only Xiao Zhanyuan remained silent, his expression not good. Soon, everyone noticed something was off with Zhanyuan and asked if he was feeling unwell or tired and if he needed some water. Zhanyuan opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. "Maybe it was too crowded just now; I feel a bit unwell." Xiang Yu pointed to the steps of a nearby shop, "Let's sit there for a while and have some water." She sat next to Zhanyuan, occasionally looking up to check on him. "You really don't look well, a bit pale. Let's rest here until you feel better, then we'll go home," she said, taking a mandarin out of her small backpack, peeling it, and handing it to Zhanyuan. "Eat something sweet; maybe it'll make you feel better." Zhanyuan ate a couple of slices and said, "I'm fine. We're already out, let's watch the fireworks before we go back." "We can always watch the fireworks next year. If you're not feeling well, we should go back early," Xiang Yu insisted. "I'm really fine. Sitting here for a while will do." "Then let's just sit here and wait. We can see the fireworks from here too," she said. So, the four of them quietly sat on the steps, not saying much.
At ten o'clock, fireworks lit up the night sky, illuminating the faces of the teenagers beautifully. Xiang Yu looked up at the dazzling display, a satisfied smile on her lips. Lu Heng and Xiao Zhanyuan, however, didn't watch the fireworks. They turned to look at Xiang Yu and then exchanged glances, understanding each other's thoughts. "We'll be friends for life, never apart," Xiao Zhanyuan said, taking Xiang Yu's hand and extending it forward. Zhou Siping also reached out and held their hands. "And me and Han Xing, too. We'll always be good friends." "Yes, friends for life," Xiang Yu said, looking at Zhanyuan and then at Siping. Finally, she turned around, took Lu Heng's hand, and placed it on top of theirs. "We'll never be apart."