The smoke wafted lightly in the air, accompanied by a drizzle. Five people, four umbrellas, stood together until long after the fire had burnt out. Finally, it was Su Qing who broke the silence.

"Qingzi, take the stuff out. Now that everyone is here, it won't be easy to gather like this again in the future."

"Alright!"

With that, Qin Wei took a tablet out of his backpack, turned it on, and skillfully found an encrypted file which he passed to the others. Only after each of them entered the password did they finally open it.

Placing the tablet in front of the gravestone, he tapped play, and a familiar figure appeared. As soon as Xu Yuezhen, standing in the center, saw it, tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Hi, everyone. If I'm not mistaken, this should be the third year after my death, right? How are you all? By now, you've probably graduated from college," the voice on the video, in his hospital gown, though it was daytime, seemingly morning.

He sat by his window, with sunlight streaming in from behind him. Though he looked frail, his smile was bright, and his voice as clear as ever.

"Time flies swiftly. Thinking about you all working hard in society, starting families, brings this old father immense comfort. Don't be distressed. While it's regretful, I haven't even lived half my life. I never got the chance to confess to the girl I like, watch a sunrise, finish my favorite comics and novels, travel, or even touch the latest iPhone. It's quite helpless, indeed."

"Lately, I've been reminiscing about the past—the times during high school when we got punished to stand outside by teachers because of you all. Thinking back, I still want to smack you guys."

But memories are beautiful. Fate is torturous, and who'd have thought I'd be too weak to even get out of bed one day? It's pretty laughable, huh? Don't be fooled by my current facade; my whole body aches. I recorded this video for you all, teeth gritted. Aren't you moved? Hahaha!"

Hearing his familiar hearty laughter, Su Qing and the others smiled. It wasn't a bitter smile but a genuine joy to see an old friend again, even if it was just a video recorded three years ago, it warmed their hearts immensely.

After all, how many people leave this world without even a final goodbye, leaving the living with deep regrets?

Then he began to chatter about past trivial matters, and everyone listened, faces smiling. After a while, he continued,

"You know me well. I'm not educated, and I don't like all that weepy stuff, so I'll pass on the sentimentality. I can only say sorry; I have to get off the ride midway. By my calculation, it's been three years now; you shouldn't be that sad anymore, right? Today you can reminisce about me, but come tomorrow, let me be in the past and live well."

"I hope the past few years brought you joy. Now I might just be three years old, but I don't regret meeting you. Your journeys are long; you'll turn 29, 39, 69, while I'll forever be 19. I have no regrets, so please, no 'if only' about me. Death isn't the end. As long as you remember me, I'm still here. I'm not greedy; just a moment of reminiscence is enough, then go and embrace your new lives. In the next life, let's be friends again, growing up together."

With tears streaming down, Meng Ziming smiled through it all. No one wants to die, let alone bid farewell in such a manner.

A 19-year-old child facing death, how could he not be afraid?

He wiped away his tears with his sleeve and laughed heartily:

"Hahaha, come to think of it, I don't even know whether you're wearing black suits, holding black umbrellas to mourn me. If there are others around you now, they might think I had a mysterious past unknown to them, huh? Really wish I could see you all."

"Ah~~ Today's weather is quite nice, isn't it? Sunshine and all, why did I never notice how beautiful the outside world is? There're no memories today that the wind can't blow away. But... I plan to say goodbye to you all officially today.

Tides on Qiantang River rise, today I realize who I am, fate grants only eight-tenths, never seeking a full measure. Farewell, everyone!"

The video lasted over ten minutes, yet how could such a short time outweigh their memories? Three years after, had his life reached its period.

It's like finishing a well-loved novel, regardless of reluctance, it must end, leaving only sighs and nostalgia.

"You dumbass, why did you have to leave so soon? Even the video's short; you could've recorded a tad bit more," said Wang Xing, trying to play it again, but his hand was stopped.

"Let it be; videos can be replayed endlessly, but San'er said to say goodbye today."

After saying this, Su Qing glanced at Xu Yuezhen beside him. This girl was probably San'er's would-be girlfriend from college, but they never took that step, leaving an unimaginable regret, especially knowing the feelings were mutual, making it all the more unforgettable.

Many life instances only hurt when reminisced years later, just as today's gathering made them recall the last three years back, the true meaning in San'er's gaze became clear, but it's been three years.

Had they known it was the last time, wouldn't they have lingered longer, skipped the meaningless chatter, taken a few days off earlier...

One afternoon in their high school days, opposite directions from the school gate, under the willow trees, five youths wished each other graduation joy. Back then, it didn't feel like farewell, always thinking there would be more time; if only they hadn't graduated.

They met in summer, summers will come again, the wind will rise again, and the sunset's glow will shine upon clueless youths' faces, except those youths... are no longer us.

Xu Yuezhen's face was already overflowing with tears, as the four gentlemen simply exchanged helpless glances, unable to console her.

"Have a drink, bid farewell to San'er," Su Qing suggested solemnly.

Then Wang Xing took out a bottle of liquor from his plastic bag, filling each of their cups, while Su Qing held up a soda bottle toward the tomb with a laugh:

"Don't drink and drive, you said it." Then he turned to Xu Yuezhen and said, "You do it for me, I think he'd be happy."

Handing her a cup, Wang Xing poured a small amount, just ceremonially, but the woman pressed down on the bottle, filling the cup quickly.

"Qingzi... this…" Wang Xing was at a loss.

In response, Su Qing sighed, waving it off: "It's fine, liquor is special, the love bean in a painter's world, the moon-like hook in a poet's eyes, a small boat of nostalgia for a wandering thinker, it must be vented, mustn't it?"

With that, they raised their cups, toasting a distant memory.

"Cough, cough," Xu Yuezhen coughed after a spicy sip, swallowing nearly half.

Seeing her wanting more, Su Qing held her arm down with a smile: "That's enough; leave some for San'er."

Then he took her cup, poured it on the grave.

They stood, watching as the drizzle turned to light rain. Five people, three umbrellas, stood before the tomb.

The last umbrella sheltered the incense, silent until it burnt out.

"Phew~~"

Su Qing exhaled, spoke in a low voice: "Alright, let's go and leave San'er to some peace."

Then turned, asked Xu Yuezhen: "Hey, we're going to stroll around the school, do you want to join?"

With this, the girl was startled a moment, then nodded earnestly.

"Then say goodbye to him properly."

He nudged her toward the gravestone, where Xu Yuezhen clasped her hands, as if making a wish, silently closing her eyes.

But Su Qing heard a voiceover.

[May I die young, with no future lives.]

So he sighed.

Oh San'er, if you can't be a blessing in someone else's life, don't step into it; though you didn't mean to, you left a huge problem behind even in death.

Those who long for death, especially lovestruck, are most stubborn. Love is where it wills, most hurting.

The purer the love, the more it's like this. What past led this girl to feel so deeply?

Shaking his head, holding his umbrella, the group packed up, descended the hill as a cold wind blew.

Chase the wind and the moon, never linger, beyond the flat plains lies the spring mountain!

...

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