The port city was a slow-paced, small town. People leaving work pedaled their bicycles along the streets in twos and threes, while Chen Hansheng and Wang Zibog strolled leisurely under the glow of the sunset. The twilight, with its enchanting light and shadows, stretched their figures long and thin.
Chen Hansheng spent the walk curiously observing the scenery; some of the buildings wouldn't exist ten years later, so seeing them now felt surreal. As he was engrossed, a crisp sound of a bicycle bell suddenly came from behind. He turned his head and inwardly complained, "It's just the first day of my rebirth, and I'm already tangled up with them."
It turned out that Chen Hansheng and Wang Zibog were walking so slowly that they were soon caught up by Xiao Rongyu and a group of classmates on their bicycles. Wang Zibog waved politely, while Chen Hansheng, finding it bothersome, turned his head away, pretending not to see them. However, Xiao Rongyu called out to him.
"Chen Hansheng, Wang Zibog, you're the only ones who haven't left a message in my yearbook."
Xiao Rongyu stopped her bike and pulled a beautifully bound notebook from her bag. "Write something, anything, as a keepsake."
Initially, Chen Hansheng wasn't very interested, but seeing the scene, his oily soul prompted him to carefully study that pretty, pink face. Xiao Rongyu smiled, the dimples on her cheeks faintly appearing. Her slim, rounded legs rested on the ground, making for quite a pleasant sight.
"Chen Hansheng, focus on the yearbook! Where are you looking?"
Gao Jialiang had already turned his attention elsewhere, but couldn't resist sneaking a glance at the lovely view. However, when he turned his head, he saw Chen Hansheng boldly staring at Xiao Rongyu from head to toe. Infuriated, Gao Jialiang swore under his breath. Even Wang Zibog was puzzled; while Chen Hansheng was known for being unrestrained, he had always shown respect for Xiao Rongyu and rarely scrutinized her so rudely.
Xiao Rongyu was not the type to be easily trifled with. She noticed Chen Hansheng's inappropriate gaze and immediately put on a stern face, raising her small fist as a warning. "If you keep looking, I'll gouge your eyes out. I'll tell Auntie Liang later!"
The young woman, on the cusp of college, was already beginning to mature. Chen Hansheng smiled as he took the yearbook, filled with messages that were both clichéd and nostalgic.
Some were from girls: "No matter how long the future may be, cherish every moment we spent together. Even after countless cycles of life, I will always be your friend."
Some were poetic: "Friendship won't fade as we go our separate ways; fate won't be cut by graduation; blessings won't be forgotten, even from the ends of the earth."
Some were simple: "I wish Xiao Rongyu eternal happiness in college."
There was even a playful rhyming version: "Green hills, clear water, youthful years,
We've spent many a year in cheers.
No gift to offer as we part,
A line of blessings from the heart."
Chen Hansheng even came across Gao Jialiang's attempt at poetry: "May we be two white birds on the crest of waves, bored with the glitter of falling stars before they fade; the soft blue star in morning's dawn awakening in us both, a thread of undying sorrow." – Gao Jialiang.
Gao Jialiang had shamelessly plagiarized Yeats' The White Birds and passed it off as his own. Xiao Rongyu clearly recognized the poem as romantic verse, blushing slightly before pretending to scold Chen Hansheng. "Stop flipping through it and find an empty spot to write."
Chen Hansheng passed the notebook to Wang Zibog. "Here, you write first."
Wang Zibog, desperate to think of something to impress the beautiful Xiao, grabbed the pen nervously. "I haven't thought of anything yet," he mumbled unhappily. Under pressure, he could only write the safe and simple, "Wishing Xiao Rongyu grows more beautiful and stays happy always."
Then it was Chen Hansheng's turn. He originally wanted to write, "May you walk through half of your life and return as a youth." But it was too literary and not quite interesting. After some thought, he earnestly wrote: "You live well in the pond; the loach is ugly but speaks cheerful words, the toad is clumsy but fun, the snail is a gentle recluse, and the little crucian carp is your shared goddess."
Gao Jialiang, who had been keeping his distance, felt compelled to move closer. When he saw what Chen Hansheng wrote—a whimsical world of aquatic creatures—he scoffed, "Childish scribbling."
One of the girls shook her head. "Not necessarily. It seems silly at first, but if you read it again, it has some charm. Xiao Rongyu is, after all, your goddess."
Though lacking in social tact, Gao Jialiang, a product of their elite school, understood the depth after rereading it. Yet he wouldn't admit it. Impatiently, he urged, "It's getting dark. Let's go home."
Xiao Rongyu, too, grasped the playful tone and subtle personification. However, she wasn't overly surprised; Chen Hansheng had always been sharp-witted and amusing. Their homeroom teacher, Mr. Xu, once remarked, "If he ever settled down to study, he'd definitely be top-tier."
"Not bad. I'll let the smoking incident slide for now, but you'd better not do it again," Xiao Rongyu said crisply. She spoke with a hint of pride, characteristic of someone who had always grown up in favorable circumstances.
When the group of soon-to-be college students rode away, Wang Zibog, who had been nervous all along, finally gave Chen Hansheng a playful shove. "You made me write first when I wasn't ready, you jerk."
Chen Hansheng didn't argue. He simply asked, "What's the point of writing beautifully? Are you going to pursue Xiao Rongyu?"
"No way!" Wang Zibog jumped. "I only talk bad about her behind her back. I can't even look her in the eye."
At least he had the self-awareness to admit it. Chen Hansheng, with a smile, wrapped an arm around his friend's neck, just like 17 years ago.
"Then stop complaining. I'll treat you to McDonald's at Shuangqiao Square another day."
"Why not tonight?" Wang Zibog asked. McDonald's was still a novelty in the city.
"Not tonight," Chen Hansheng refused immediately. "I'm having dinner with my parents."
Wang Zibog blinked. "But you always said they were too nagging."
"You don't understand," Chen Hansheng said, waving it off without further explanation. "See you later."
Watching his friend's silhouette under the dim streetlights, Wang Zibog felt as if there were countless stories untold.
…