Epilogue
After that day.
Pei Sijin had not pestered me anymore.
According to Yueyue, he had probably returned to school.
Meanwhile Guan Junyang stayed by my side every day, chattering nonstop.
He talked about work, gossip, and what to eat for dinner.
He had helped me fix my watch, so I tolerated it.
The following days passed in my internship and preparing my graduation thesis.
In June of the second year, I graduated smoothly and returned to school for the graduation ceremony.
Guan Junyang insisted on tagging along, saying he had never seen what a mainland graduation ceremony looked like.
I knew he had his own little schemes in mind.
But I could not talk him out of it, so I let him come.
Once back at school, Guan Junyang followed me to take graduation photos.
Yueyue looked utterly shocked and asked how I had gone to Hong Kong and brought back a family member.
"...But gotta say, he's not any worse than your previous one."
Guan Junyang's eyes lit up right away. "This classmate, you have great taste. I am indeed Song Zhiyuan's family member—"
I had to step forward to clarify. "He crowned himself. Don't let him get ahead of himself."
Even after I put him in his place, Guan Junyang did not get angry. "A family member in reserve is still a family member. I wasn't wrong."
"..."
I was just about to tell Guan Junyang to shut up when a familiar figure suddenly walked past in front of me and caught my attention.
I was somewhat surprised.
"Isn't that Su Yu? How... she looks different from before."
She had cut her hair short, and her entire demeanor appeared timid and shrinking.
Wherever she passed, some classmates would point at her and whisper.
Yueyue slapped her forehead. "Oh right! Such big gossip, and I forgot to tell you!"
Once she started on gossip, Yueyue's words poured out nonstop.
"At the start of this semester, Su Yu tried the same old trick again. She got flirty with a graduate senior who already had a girlfriend."
"When that senior's girlfriend found out, she flew into a rage. She stormed into Su Yu's classroom, grabbed her by the hair, and dragged her out, refusing to let go no matter what."
"The matter caused a huge commotion. The teaching building was packed with people, and even security showed up. The senior said she had depression and no one could control her unless they took scissors and cut Su Yu's hair. Otherwise, she would never release her."
"Su Yu cried her eyes out and personally handed the scissors over. Then the senior took the scissors and, right in front of everyone, cut her hair strand by strand."
Yueyue shrugged. "After that day, Su Yu became famous around the school. Who told her to meddle in someone else's relationship?"
"Anyway, ever since that incident, she has turned into what she is now."
After hearing it, I felt a pang of emotion.
It was not that I pitied Su Yu. It just reminded me of one saying.
Su Yu had brought this on herself.
I had not returned to school for half a year, so Yueyue had a ton of gossip saved up to tell me.
We were chatting away here and did not even notice when Pei Sijin appeared.
When he called out to me, I was still a little slow to react.
"Zhiyuan, can we take a photo together?"
Just after seeing Su Yu, Pei Sijin had shown up.
What a coincidence.
Half a year apart, Pei Sijin's hair had grown much longer, and the smile on his face looked much gentler and more restrained.
It was completely different from his previous outgoing personality.
I snapped back and did not refuse.
He held a bouquet of flowers in his arms. Seeing that I agreed, he placed it in my hands.
We had taken many photos together before, but none had ever felt this distant.
There was enough space between the two of us for another person to stand.
After the photo, Pei Sijin stared at the instant photo for a long time.
I handed the flowers back to him.
He shook his head instead, a trace of bitterness in his smile.
"This bouquet was originally prepared for you."
"I heard that after graduation you will be going abroad to work. This might be the last bouquet I give you. Whether you throw it away or do anything else, you do not need to return it to me."
"Zhiyuan, I... wish you a bright future ahead."
Pei Sijin was soon dragged away by his group of roommates with their arms slung around each other's shoulders.
As they left, their voices still drifted back to my ears in fragments.
"To see Song Zhiyuan again today, weren't you preparing for more than half a month?"
"Yeah, I saw you didn't sleep a wink last night. How come you only talked for less than two minutes after meeting her?"
What answered them was Pei Sijin's silence.
I stood there holding the flowers, my heart actually quite complicated.
But no matter how complicated it was, it lasted only that moment.
Guan Junyang came over and patted his chest. "Good thing your ex was sensible today and did not pester you."
"What if he did pester me?"
"I would definitely drive him away. Isn't that why I followed you back?"
...I knew he had followed me back with ulterior motives.
However, I was not repelled by it.
After all, having someone always by my side trying every way to make me happy was quite comforting.
The weather was very nice today.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the tree leaves and sprinkled down. I squinted my eyes and heard Guan Junyang ask me.
"After the internship ends, will you choose the Australia branch or Singapore?"
"Why are you suddenly asking about this?"
"I am fine with anything, but it's better to know in advance. After all, I will go wherever you go."
I found it strange. "Who said I was willing to let you follow me around?"
Guan Junyang blinked and looked at me seriously. "Then can I apply to you right now?"
I could not hold it back and finally let out a chuckle.
"Okay, I... approve your application."
The sun hung high, and the temperature rose higher and higher. Guan Junyang pulled out a portable fan from his bag and held it up to fan me.
Looking at the sweat on his nose, I suddenly thought...
Good thing the future between me and him was still very long.