The next day, Ye Chen called Xu Liang over.
Xu Liang said with a chuckle, "Ye Chen, you finally remembered your brother."
Ye Chen said, "Xu Liang, I want to ask you for a favor."
Xu Liang said, "Ye Chen, no need to be so polite with me. Just say what's on your mind."
"Yingluo's birthday is coming up soon. She's been in a bit of a bad mood lately, so I want to give her a special birthday gift."
...Xia Yingluo's mood hadn't been very good these past few days.
She was always staring blankly out the window.
In the evening, the Hot Pot Restaurant was still open for business.
She sat in front of the restaurant's display window, staring blankly at the night sky.
Some say that lost loved ones turn into stars, watching over you from the heavens.
Xia Yingluo kept thinking that her mom and dad must be watching her from the sky at this moment, too.
"Yingluo, come out for a walk with me."
Song Yuyu suddenly ran over and grabbed Xia Yingluo's hand.
Xia Yingluo shook her head. "I don't want to go out. I just want to stay here quietly for a while."
Song Yuyu wouldn't take no for an answer. "No way, just come with me."
Xia Yingluo had no choice but to follow Song Yuyu out of the Hot Pot Restaurant.
The two of them walked along the road.
Xia Yingluo soon realized something wasn't quite right.
"Where are we going?"
Xia Yingluo realized that Song Yuyu seemed to be leading her toward Jiangzhou Middle School.
Song Yuyu rolled her eyes playfully. "We're just taking a stroll. Look how round the moon is tonight."
The two of them finally arrived at the gate of Jiangzhou Middle School.
As it turned out, the school gate wasn't closed today.
With a mischievous grin, Song Yuyu pushed Xia Yingluo directly into the school.
Just as Xia Yingluo was about to turn around, the school gate closed.
The surroundings were pitch black.
"Yuyu?" Xia Yingluo turned around and found that the girl, Song Yuyu, had already disappeared to who-knows-where.
Suddenly, she noticed the lights in the Class Five Classroom flickered on.
A familiar voice echoed through the campus.
"Hey, Student Xia Yingluo, can you hear my voice?"
Xia Yingluo stared blankly at the campus loudspeaker overhead, her face full of confusion, not knowing what was happening.
"Student Xia Yingluo, please give me a chance to tell you a story about a girl, okay? Now, look down at your feet, then follow the arrows and walk forward."
Xia Yingluo lowered her head and discovered a directional arrow on the pavement.
She followed the direction of the arrow toward the teaching building.
As she walked, Xia Yingluo found herself back at the Class 5, Grade 12 Classroom.
Looking at the Classroom, Xia Yingluo couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.
After all, there were so many of her beautiful memories here.
After graduation, Xia Yingluo originally thought she wouldn't have the chance to return here.
She didn't expect to be back so soon.
"Yingluo, this is where our story began."
Ye Chen's voice came over the loudspeaker again.
Xia Yingluo walked into the Classroom and saw the projector overhead light up.
On the slide was a drawing.
In a Classroom, a girl was sitting with her head down, reading a book.
Xia Yingluo knew that the girl was her.
"In our Classroom, there was always a girl who was like a cute little white rabbit, always liking to curl up in a corner. Back then, we probably didn't even say two sentences to each other in an entire semester."
"I've always regretted wasting so much time. If I had come to your side starting from the first year of High School, I probably would have given you much more happiness."
Hearing that voice, a faint smile tugged at the corners of Xia Yingluo's mouth.
Ye Chen's voice continued over the broadcast, tinged with a bit of regret.
"But fortunately, one day, our two parallel lines finally intersected."
Then came a scene of a boy giving Xia Yingluo an egg.
"Back then, I never did my homework, so I used eggs to trade with you to copy yours. But back then, you were still closed off in a corner, unwilling to talk to anyone. I know that our friendship back then was just a transaction."
Xia Yingluo looked at the image, feeling quite emotional.
In truth, Xia Yingluo was truly grateful to Ye Chen in her heart.
Many times, when she was so hungry her stomach was stuck to her back, it was Ye Chen who brought her piping hot tea-stained eggs.
To her, those were her favorite food, more delicious than any delicacy.
Listening to Ye Chen's somewhat teasing voice, Xia Yingluo couldn't help but let a smile show on her face.
Ye Chen continued, "Until one day, a chinese crepe let me get to know you. It turned out you were so beautiful, so pure, and so cute. From that day on, our ugly duckling turned into a white swan. I am very lucky to have seen the most beautiful moment of you at eighteen."
Seeing this, Xia Yingluo's eyes were already a bit moist.
If it weren't for Ye Chen, she would probably still be that girl with low self-esteem hiding in a corner.
It was Ye Chen who changed her.
He let her know she wasn't alone and let her know that life could be so beautiful.
At this point, the girl in the slide was wearing a dress and looked very confident.
"Yingluo, please come to the Playground."
Xia Yingluo walked out to the Playground.
Ye Chen's voice continued over the broadcast: "This is the story of the girl I wanted to tell, a story that belongs to us. Today is your birthday. I want to say to this girl: Happy Birthday. I want to tell her: you must always be happy. Oh, and look at the sky."
Almost simultaneously, fireworks shot into the sky and exploded, transforming into beautiful displays of light.
A wonderful piece of music began to play.
"Backpack filled with green memories, about to embark on the journey of growth. At this crossroads, don't see me off, just go back. Meeting and then parting with a goodbye, the past will not reappear. When you feel lost, please believe in yourself as I do."
...Xia Yingluo couldn't help but cover her mouth as tears finally streamed down her face.
The song ended.
Ye Chen's voice rang out.
"I know you once had a warm home with a mom and dad who loved you. It's a pity they can't continue to love you now."
"But, you still have me by your side. I will protect you with all my heart and continue to take care of you in their place."
As his voice faded, Ye Chen walked out carrying a birthday cake.
Following behind him were all the students from Class Five.
Seeing all her classmates there, Xia Yingluo's face instantly turned bright red, and she felt a bit embarrassed.
"Happy Birthday, Yingluo!"
"Happy Birthday, Goddess!"
The students smilingly crowded around Xia Yingluo.
Xia Yingluo was truly moved.
At this moment, the knot in Xia Yingluo's heart finally unraveled.
Yes, her parents were gone, but there were still so many people who loved her.
With so many people to cherish, she had to live happily.
Only then would she live up to her mom and dad.
Xia Yingluo glared at Song Yuyu, who was laughing the hardest nearby.
"You big meanie, why didn't you tell me in advance? You made me cry so embarrassingly."
Song Yuyu said with a look of grievance, "It was Ye Chen who wouldn't let me say anything. If I had, he would have docked my pay."
Seeing the happy Xia Yingluo, Ye Chen couldn't help but smile too.
At this time, Wang Chao also walked out.
"Yingluo, happy birthday."
Xia Yingluo's face flushed. "Thank you, Teacher Wang."
The fact that Ye Chen could hold this birthday party at school was actually all thanks to Wang Chao.
Wang Chao was the one who communicated with the school so they could have their celebration on campus.
Ye Chen smiled and said, "Today, I'm treating everyone to barbecue. Drinks are on the house, and there's plenty of meat!"
The students all cheered.
This birthday party would be the final curtain call of their High School life.