Liang Xia and Xu Qingyan made their relationship public, but limited it to their own narrow social circles.
Under the scorching sun, Jiuqiu licked the ice cream in her hand bit by bit and said, "I really envy Liangxia for having a boyfriend, but I am still alone... I am so lonely."
"You have me." Jiang Han's voice suddenly sounded behind him.
Jiu Qiu was so scared that he trembled all over and turned his head to complain: "You walk without making any sound?"
"You were so absorbed in your thoughts that you didn't notice me coming over." Jiang Han looked at the watch on his wrist and asked, "Aren't you going home yet? The get out of class has been over for fifteen minutes."
"Rest for a while." Jiuqiu still leaned lazily on the stairs, letting the sun burn his skin like fire.
Jiang Han said quietly, "Let's go. No one wants you if you get tanned. You're not pretty anyway."
As soon as he finished speaking, two hands quickly pinched the flesh on Jiang Han's thighs.
Jiang Han cried out, opened Jiuqiu's hand, and stepped back a few steps as if avoiding a snake or scorpion.
"I'm not beautiful?" Jiuqiu asked back with sharp eyes cast on Jiang Han.
Jiang Han stepped back step by step, saying fearlessly: "You are quite self-aware." After that, he ran away. Jiu Qiu screamed and started to chase him.
On the track, they ran one after the other, unaware that the distance between them was slowly closing.
During those days, Jiuqiu had Jiang Han by her side, and Xu Qingyan would occasionally go to Jiang City to visit Liangxia, and they all lived a very happy life.
It was in the winter of that year that the monitor of the class suddenly sent a message to the high school classmates QQ group that had been silent for a long time:

There will be a class reunion on January 12th. Please try your best to attend. We will let you know the specific location and time after discussion.

After seeing this news, Jiuqiu quickly asked Liangxia: "Are you going?"
Liang Xia was silent, because she knew that if she went, she might meet Tang Cheng. However, she now had her own new life and a boyfriend who loved her, so why should she be afraid of meeting Tang Cheng?
So Liang Xia said, "Go ahead."
Liangxia, Jiuqiu and Jianghan went together.
Both girls were ready to meet Tang Cheng, however, they did not see Tang Cheng, but only saw Guan Linxiu whom they had not seen for a long time.
The squad leader said: "The only one who hasn't come is Tang Cheng. Guan Linxiu, don't you have Tang Cheng's contact information?" Guan Linxiu shook his head.
For some reason, Jiuqiu felt a little disappointed when he didn't see Tang Cheng. Jiang Han saw this disappointment.
"Wouldn't it be better if he didn't come? If he came, wouldn't you and Liang Xia feel more uncomfortable?" Jiang Han said.
"I didn't think about that." Jiuqiu avoided the question and walked out alone with a glass of wine.
Looking at her back, Jiang Han's brows were tightly furrowed.
After Guan Linxiu finished his first glass of wine, he walked past Liang Xia and said silently, "Come with me." Liang Xia made sure that she had heard correctly, then followed Guan Linxiu out of the daily-rented apartment.
At the end of the corridor of the apartment, the weak sunlight shone on the glass window. Guan Linxiu had his back to the corridor, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking from his back.
Liang Xia walked over and asked, "Do you have something to tell me?"
Guan Linxiu turned around and handed Liang Xia a letter: "I think this is what Tang Cheng wanted to give you."
Liang Xia hesitated for a moment, then took the letter and opened it. It was indeed Tang Cheng's handwriting, and it was indeed written to Liang Xia.
Sorry, Liangxia.
However, what qualifications do I have to ask for your forgiveness?
When we are young, we may not understand love very well, but, precisely because we are young, the pain we suffer in our hearts will be more unforgettable.
I... really never thought of deceiving you. After all, I was too cowardly and did not dare to express my feelings. I could only shrink by your side like a poor creature, looking up to the person I wanted to look up to.
Liangxia, you shouldn't forgive me, but please forgive Jiuqiu, because in this relationship, none of us three got what we wanted. Jiuqiu was doing this for your own good from the beginning to the end, but she just used the wrong method by mistake.
You two shouldn't have become like this because of me.
Liangxia, Lin Liangxia...
The thing I regret most in my life is falling in love with Jiu Qiu and deceiving you...
Sorry, Liangxia.
It is said that love in youth is the purest and most beautiful, however, Tang Cheng said that he regretted falling in love with Jiu Qiu. It seems that in the past two years, Tang Cheng has suffered much more than Liang Xia and Jiu Qiu.
Liang Xia slowly folded the letter and asked Guan Linxiu: "Have you been in touch with Tang Cheng?"
"Yes." Guan Linxiu said.
"Is he okay now?"
"He...is gone."
Liang Xia Zhexin paused and stared at Guan Linxiu with wide eyes.
Guan Linxiu's expression was filled with sorrow. He said, "Tang Cheng...is dead."
"Boom——" For a moment, the world seemed to have exploded, making Liang Xia's head buzz. Liang Xia thought she had forgotten Tang Cheng, and even if they met again, he would not stir up any waves in her heart. However, when she heard the news, she was still shocked. Tears silently slid down her face.
"Dead...dead?" Liang Xia's voice was trembling. She had no strength left in her body. She only felt her body was light.
Guan Linxiu supported Liang Xia's arm. Liang Xia slowly backed away, leaning against the wall, trying to regain her sanity, and asked, "When did it happen..."
"Half a year." Guan Linxiu said, "He went to study in the northwest and cut off contact with everyone except me. Liangxia, you feel that you have been deceived, and you blame Tang Cheng; Jiuqiu feels that Tang Cheng shouldn't have told you the truth, and he also blames Tang Cheng... You all know how good Tang Cheng is, don't you? But because of this, he became silent and depressed. If I hadn't been with him all the time, he might have lost his mind a long time ago..."
Thinking back to the past, Guan Linxiu still feels a chill down his spine.
Back then, Tang Cheng and Guan Linxiu applied to the same university. Knowing Tang Cheng's experience, Guan Linxiu always paid special attention to him.
In the eyes of outsiders, Tang Cheng is not talkative and always sits in a daze alone, so few people are willing to be friends with him.
After learning that Tang Cheng suffered from depression, in order to prevent Tang Cheng's depression from becoming more serious, Guan Linxiu cooperated with the psychologist and tried to enlighten him little by little, pulling him out of the quagmire of depression.
Tang Cheng recovered very slowly, and sometimes he would become abnormally irritable and throw things in the dormitory. His roommates reported the matter to the counselor and asked Tang Cheng to move out.
The counselor had no choice but to let Tang Cheng move into another empty dormitory. Guan Linxiu was worried, so he moved in as well.
At first Guan Linxiu thought Tang Cheng was beyond help, but Tang Cheng's condition took a turn for the better because he fell in love with a girl whose personality and appearance were extremely similar to Jiuqiu. He transferred all his feelings for Jiuqiu to that girl.
Tang Cheng's pursuit of the girl was unexpectedly stubborn and brave, and the girl quickly accepted his confession.
After being with the girl, Tang Cheng slowly returned to normal.
Guan Linxiu thought that if things continued like this, Tang Cheng would get better.
However, he soon discovered that Tang Cheng liked that girl to the point of madness.
He was willing to do anything for the girl and was very possessive. The girl was an extreme sports enthusiast, and he accompanied her to participate in extreme sports regardless of his own situation.
"But, Liangxia, do you know?" Guan Linxiu suddenly raised his head and stared at Liangxia with a distracted look, "Tang Cheng has a heart disease—it was discovered during the freshman year."
Liang Xia was slightly surprised and guessed: "So, Tang Cheng is because..."
"Yes." Guan Linxiu stopped Liang Xia from speaking, because he knew what she had guessed, "Outdoor bungee jumping, Tang Cheng's life ended here."
A gust of wind blew in from outside, hitting the glass windows in the corridor, and time seemed to freeze. Liang Xia had a myriad of emotions in her heart, but she couldn't find a word to describe it.
"Liangxia..." A trembling voice sounded not far away.
Liang Xia looked back and saw Jiu Qiu. She had been standing at the other end of the corridor and heard the news of Tang Cheng's death...
Jiuqiu stood there helplessly, tears streaming down her face...
The boy they both loved in their youth has now turned into dust...
After the class reunion, the three people who lived in Yuncheng went back.
On the way, Guan Linxiu took Liangxia and Jiuqiu to Tang Cheng's grave.
There are many white tombstones in the cemetery. However, compared with the white-haired faces on the surrounding tombstones, only the photo on Tang Cheng’s tombstone shows a bright and childish face.
Liangxia and Jiuqiu bought Tang Cheng’s favorite flowers and stood solemnly in front of the grave.
"Tang Cheng's death is related to us, right?" Liang Xia looked at the young man in the photo, his voice and appearance were still vivid in her mind.
"It's okay, Liangxia." Jiuqiu's eyes became red and swollen, and he said with tears in his eyes.
Liang Xia was much calmer than her and said calmly: "But...he would become like this, with us..."
"It's okay! Liang Xia!" Jiu Qiu turned his head, even though there were tears in his eyes, his eyes were firm, "In this relationship, we are both victims, we have also experienced dark lives, but we survived. Tang Cheng... Tang Cheng just didn't survive."
Jiuqiu's eyes were filled with tears. She leaned over and stroked the photo on the tombstone, trying to keep herself smiling: "Tang Cheng... Tang Cheng just went to a better place..."
Liang Xia looked up in a trance, looking at the gloomy sky, recalling the years she had spent with Tang Cheng. Everything seemed like a dream, disappearing easily.
The young Tang Cheng was so gentle and kind that the two girls were moved by him.
Now, he was buried deep underground, along with the two girls' most unforgettable youth, all buried... Dark clouds rolled in the sky, it was going to rain...
Outside the cemetery, Jiang Han was waiting for Jiuqiu.
Seeing the two girls coming out of the cemetery in a daze, Jiang Han felt distressed: "It's going to rain, and we still have to go back to Yuncheng."
"Take Jiuqiu away. Xu Qingyan has come to Yuncheng and will pick me up later." Liang Xia approached Jiang Han and whispered, "Take good care of Jiuqiu."
Jiang Han nodded.
"Jiuqiu, you and Jiang Han go first." Liang Xia pulled Jiuqiu's arm.
Jiuqiu walked slowly towards the road outside the cemetery like a body without a soul. Jiang Han followed her silently, like a guardian.
Jiang Han has always been protecting her carefully.
Watching them walk away, Liang Xia sighed silently and turned to look at the cemetery.
Tang Cheng, if I forgive you now, can you feel it?
A strong wind blew, wrinkling the cool summer clothes.
More than ten minutes later, Liang Xia's phone rang. It was Xu Qingyan.
Xu Qingyan said on the phone: "Liangxia, I'm at the intersection."
Liang Xia walked over slowly and saw Xu Qingyan waiting by the roadside leaning against a taxi.
Xu Qingyan walked over, looked in the direction Liang Xia came from, and asked: "This is..."
"Meet an old friend."
Liang Xia answered and got into the car quietly.
It’s an old friend, but I can never see him again.
Jiang Han, who accompanied Jiuqiu home, could clearly feel the "low pressure" on Jiuqiu.
Although she said that Tang Cheng's death had nothing to do with them, she still cared about it deep down in her heart. After all, Tang Cheng had explained to her that he had always liked her, and it was she who had been avoiding him and trying to match him up with Liang Xia, whom he didn't like.
Tang Cheng's death was inextricably linked to her. The person he later fell in love with looked like Jiu Qiu. For so long, the person he had always been thinking about was herself. So his death...
Jiuqiu didn't dare to think about it anymore.
In the car, seeing Jiuqiu's absent-minded look, Jiang Han sighed deeply. He reached out and held Jiuqiu's hands folded on his legs.
Jiuqiu slowly pulled his hand out and leaned weakly to the side.
Although Jiang Han's face did not show much emotion, his heart was in turmoil.
On the way back to Yuncheng from the suburban cemetery, Jiuqiu didn't say a word. After getting off the car, Jiang Han wanted to take Jiuqiu into the community, but Jiuqiu refused.
"I'm worried about you like this." Jiang Han said truthfully.
"I want to be alone." Jiuqiu still refused.
Seeing her distraught look, anger slowly appeared on Jiang Han's face.
Finally, he couldn't bear it anymore, so he grabbed Jiuqiu and walked in a certain direction without saying anything.
Jiu Qiu was in no mood to get angry with him, so she just asked, "Where are you going?"
Jiang Han pulled Jiuqiu to a deserted corner: "Lu Jiuqiu, what do you want?"
"What can I do?" Jiuqiu asked blankly, his eyes lifeless.
Jiang Han looked serious and said in a sonorous voice: "You are not the Lu Jiuqiu I have seen. She should not be like you! The Lu Jiuqiu I know has a beautiful smile and a strong heart. She will not bear grudges because of an accident."
"Are you talking about Tang Cheng's death?" Jiu Qiu raised his head and said, "That was not an accident. I am not immune to it..."
"Can't get away from it? Lu Jiuqiu, I've been rejected by you so many times, what have I said or done?" Jiang Han asked back.
Jiuqiu was startled and slowly looked towards Jiang Han.
Jiang Han took a deep breath and said, "Jiuqiu, Tang Cheng's death has nothing to do with you or Liang Xia. He was not brave enough! When he realized that he liked you, he did not tell you clearly, nor did he tell Liang Xia. In order to stand with you, he did not hesitate to deceive Liang Xia! What's so pitiful about him? After all the truth came to light, the first thing he did was not to immediately ask Liang Xia for forgiveness and deal with the harm he brought to you two sisters, but to choose to avoid it and hide in the far northwest! I really don't understand why you and Liang Xia like such a person? Why did Tang Cheng go bungee jumping when he knew he had a heart disease? You don't have to take the responsibility on yourself. It's not you who forced him to die!"
"Don't say that..." Jiu Qiu begged with tears streaming down her face.
"Is there anything wrong with what I said?" Jiang Han said sternly, "Don't tie yourself up with moral shackles, because this has nothing to do with you! Jiuqiu, the relationship between Tang Cheng and you and Liang Xia is just the past. Now, you and Liang Xia have walked out of the past early, and only he is still deeply trapped in it. He brought harm to himself, and it has nothing to do with you. If you pity Tang Cheng's death, just come and see him on his death anniversary or every Qingming Festival. The person is already dead, and the living should stop torturing themselves, right?"
"But I feel... sad and scared, and I don't know what to do..." Jiuqiu shook his head and slowly leaned against the wall behind him.
Jiang Han walked up to him, gently embraced Jiu Qiu in his arms, and said, "Don't be afraid, I will walk with you..."
Jiuqiu threw herself into Jiang Han's arms and felt a real sense of peace.
During the days when she lost Liang Xia, it was Jiang Han who accompanied her through it all... He didn't say anything at the time, and she didn't know anything, but he just walked through it all like that...
This time, too, right?
"If it weren't for you, I don't know what would be happening now. So, thank you, Jiang Han," Jiuqiu said.
In this world, there are no difficulties and sorrows that time cannot erase. If there are, it is because time is not long enough.
Liang Xia did not blame herself for Tang Cheng's death. Even if she did, she would bury it deep in her heart, not letting others find out and not letting it affect her life.
Jiuqiu is not as brave as Liangxia and is not good at keeping these things in her heart, but fortunately, she has Jiang Han by her side.
Time flies, and before we know it, Liangxia and Jiuqiu are about to graduate.
With the help of Jian Yingfei, Liang Xia returned to a good school in Nanshi to work as a teacher.
She rented a house near the school and did not live with Xu Qingyan for the time being. She said she needed to wait until she was completely stable before living with him. Xu Qingyan also understood, so he only visited occasionally and cooked a meal for Liangxia.
Upon learning that Liang Xia had found a job, Jiu Qiu became anxious in front of Jiang Han.
Jiang Han asked: "How about we go back to South City?"
"What kind of job are you looking for when you return to Nanshi?" Jiuqiu asked.
When she was choosing her major, she chose it casually because she had just had a conflict with Liang Xia. She didn't like her major.
Jiuqiu had just been idling around when he was in school and hadn't learned anything at all. Now that he had to do an internship, he was suddenly at a loss.
"If I were given another chance, I would definitely choose a major that I like! Study hard and never be lazy!" Jiuqiu sighed to the sky.
Jiang Han held her head and asked her to face him, "Have you decided? Are you going back?"
"Go back! It's cool in summer and close to home." Jiuqiu said decisively.
"Then I'll go buy the tickets." Jiang Han said as he took out his cell phone to book a ticket.
Jiuqiu took this opportunity to call Liangxia: "Little cutie, can you take me in? Keep me here until I find a job, then I'll move out and treat you to a big meal! I'll pay for the water and electricity!"
Liang Xia said: "You can just come directly."
"I know you're the best, honey!" Jiuqiu hung up the phone in a sloppy manner. Coincidentally, Jiang Han's train ticket was also booked.
"Don't regret it when you go back." Jiang Han waved his cell phone in front of Jiu Qiu.
"No regrets!" Jiuqiu said firmly.
After returning to Nanshi, Jiuqiu has been living in the house rented by Liangxia.
Although they were best friends, Jiuqiu also understood that she couldn't live there for free, so she took on all the housework, even though she didn't do it very well.
Liang Xia asked: "Have you found a job?"
"I looked it up online and found it all unreliable." Jiuqiu was washing dishes.
Liang Xia finished wiping the table and went over to help Jiu Qiu: "Then you can find a direction, and then look for a job based on this direction. You can look online and check the background of the recruiting company. Or, you can go out and look at the recruitment advertisements of some companies and stores outside. There are recruitment advertisements on buses and subways now."
"I'll try my best!" Jiuqiu acted confidently, but he was really worried in his heart.
Liang Xia smiled, pulled away the clumsy Jiu Qiu, and said, "Let me do it. You, don't worry, take your time. Even if you can't find a job for a year or two, I will always have a place for you here. At worst, I can support you."
"Liangxia, how can you be so nice?" Jiuqiu hugged Liangxia from behind and said coquettishly, "Don't worry, because we are friends, I understand that I can't be a burden to you. Thank you for taking me in and understanding me, Liangxia."
When Liang Xia heard this, a warm smile appeared on her face and she said nothing more.
In order not to become a burden to Liangxia's life, Jiuqiu decided to find a job as a transition and then make long-term plans.
"Jiuqiu, I told you that if you want to work, just tell me and I can help you. Now you..." Jiang Han saw Jiuqiu cashiering at the convenience store and he lost the mood to buy things.
Jiu Qiu said unconvincedly: "Why? You look down on the cashier!"
"That's not what I meant. I just think this job is of no help to you and won't help you grow," Jiang Han explained.
"Is it not okay for me to be happy? Besides, I'm only doing this job as a transition, not forever. I don't need your help, I want to rely on myself." Jiuqiu said confidently.
"Okay, okay, rely on yourself, I won't stop you." Jiang Han knew Jiuqiu's temper, so he didn't say anything more and ran to the store to choose snacks.
When it was time to pay, Jiu Qiu packed the snacks for him in a bag and said expressionlessly, "Hello, the total is one hundred and eighty-four yuan."
Jiang Han paid the money and Jiuqiu handed the snacks to Jiang Han, but Jiang Han didn't take them and said, "Okay, I bought them for you anyway, just take them." After that, he left the convenience store.
Jiuqiu looked down at her favorite snacks in the snack bag, then looked in the direction Jiang Han left, pouting slightly, not because she was angry, but because of her attitude towards him just now. She felt her face getting hot.
Jiuqiu works in a convenience store, and Liangxia knows it but doesn't say anything.
Not long after, Jiuqiu lost control of his temper and had a quarrel with a difficult customer. Then, he resigned.
Jiuqiu used his meager salary to treat Liangxia to a meal, but Liangxia paid the bill before Jiuqiu.
Liang Xia looked at Jiu Qiu who looked a little depressed and asked, "Are you discouraged?"
"I'm not discouraged, I just can't control my temper." She spread her hands helplessly.
Liang Xia patted Jiu Qiu on the shoulder and said, "Find a job that will help you grow. It's okay. We can take it slow and try to submit our resume first."
Jiuqiu nodded.
In the days that followed, Jiuqiu carefully screened various recruitment information every day, while Liangxia was confused by another thing.
That day, Xu Qingyan said, "Liangxia, let's live together."
It was hard for Xu Qingyan to be separated for such a long time in the same city. Liang Xia did not refuse, but considering Jiu Qiu's current situation, she was not in a position to agree to Xu Qingyan's proposal, so she just said that she would respond after giving her a few days.
Xu Qingyan understood Liang Xia's situation and agreed after thinking about it.
What is normal life like?
Having friends, a lover, a job, a direction to work towards, value in existence, and space to get better, this kind of life trajectory seems to be normal.
It turns out that when people grow up, they can't help but go with the flow, because since they have come to this world, they have to learn how to survive in this world, and there are many ways to survive.
This is not a bad thing, or rather, it is the best thing.
People often say that they don’t want to go with the flow in this world. In fact, those who don’t want to just do what they originally wanted to do don’t want their original intention to change along with the world.
Only if one keeps his original intention, can he be happy.
However, many people fail to understand this truth and drift with the tide in this world.
Liangxia didn't want to be such a person, and neither did Jiuqiu.