University is a strange door; no one doesn’t want to squeeze through it to explore what’s inside.
But once inside, there’s a bit of dizziness—under those straight poplar trees, pairs of people holding hands, drifting with the passion of love.
Xiaoru stood still with her luggage, her eyes somewhat bewildered as she looked at the concrete monster in front of her. She didn’t know where her small room was.
“Are you reporting for the first day too?” A crisp voice sounded in her ear. She turned around in surprise and saw a small, pale face with a smile, curiously looking at her and her luggage.
She nodded vigorously and told her the building number and dormitory number.
The girl squealed in excitement, grabbed her hand, and said, “Oh my! Great, you’re in the same dorm as me. Come, follow me.”
On the way, the girl chattered non-stop. Xiaoru only understood a few sentences: she had arrived yesterday, and she was alone in the dormitory, scared to death, and really wanted someone to accompany her, and now Xiaoru had come.
Xiaoru spoke very little but kept a smile on her lips. She liked this girl, who called herself Liu Yuhan. That night, they became close friends, eating, going to classes, and returning to the dormitory together every day. They even went to the bathroom together. The later dorm mates joked they were like conjoined twins. Xiaoru smiled with her mouth closed, and Yuhan exaggeratedly burrowed into her bed, saying with a grin, “Now we are truly conjoined twins.”
Her exaggerated actions brought a burst of laughter, and that night she indeed stayed in Xiaoru’s bed.
It was the first time Xiaoru slept with someone else, though a bit inconvenient, she couldn’t refuse.
Xiaoru couldn’t help but comfort herself, feeling lucky to have such a friend. She had been lonely since childhood; her mother left her when she was very young. The only companionship she had was her grandmother’s calloused hands and the sighs, “Child! You must succeed, study hard, and have a promising future. That’s the best reward for Grandma.”
But her grandmother couldn’t wait to see her succeed. Grandma was too tired and still held a ladle to cook for her even in her last moments.
Thinking of her grandmother, Xiaoru’s tears fell, scaring Yuhan, who frantically wiped her tears, soothing, “Don’t cry, don’t cry… what’s wrong with you?”
The more Yuhan comforted her, the harder Xiaoru cried. Suddenly, a melodious flute sound broke the silence, stopping Xiaoru’s crying. They both looked up at the same time, seeing a boy leaning against a tree, playing the flute leisurely. The sound was clear and moving, making Xiaoru forget to cry.
Yuhan smiled, jumped in front of the boy, and said, “Your flute playing is so beautiful.”
The boy smiled faintly, the flute sound stopped abruptly. He looked deeply at Xiaoru and then turned away.
Yuhan quickly learned that the boy playing the flute was named Yan Ji, a third-year literature student and the head of the school literary group. When Yuhan spoke of him, her eyebrows danced, but Xiaoru just listened quietly, not offering any opinions, though she remembered all the information about him in her heart.
Yuhan declared she would join the literary group, but she had no talent in the arts. So, she pulled Xiaoru along. Xiaoru’s singing was good, Yuhan said it was like a nightingale’s voice. Xiaoru actually didn’t want to join the literary group for fear of affecting her studies and not fulfilling her grandmother’s dream.
But she couldn’t bear to see Yuhan’s disappointed face; her heart would ache as if pricked by a needle.
Xiaoru joined the literary group, allowing Yuhan to stay there legitimately, hoping to catch a glimpse of Yan Ji. However, Yan Ji didn’t notice Yuhan at all, only looking at Xiaoru gently with his eyes.
He wanted to find opportunities to be alone with Xiaoru, but Xiaoru was afraid of such opportunities. If friendship and love were placed together, she would only protect friendship. That’s her character, somewhat kindly timid.
Yuhan, carelessly unaware of all this, only knew she got what she wanted, could stay with her best friend, and see the one she loved anytime. She became content and happy, her laughter like silver bells, spreading joy in everyone’s hearts.
Gradually, the literary group members all liked Yuhan’s character, treating her as the joy-bringer, and she happily played this amusing role.
Days passed, and their relationship turned into a simple trio of friends. Only Yan Ji’s gaze at Xiaoru became more determined, and Yuhan’s eyes on Yan Ji more passionate. Only Xiaoru’s eyes always avoided their gazes, blankly watching the pairs under the poplar trees, occasionally sighing.
As Yan Ji’s graduation approached, Yuhan suddenly became a bit sad and distant. She confessed to Yan Ji, but returned with red eyes. Xiaoru’s heart ached, rushing to grab her hand. Yuhan shook it off forcefully, her eyes turning disgusted and resentful.
Xiaoru’s hand trembled slightly, and she turned to run out. She found Yan Ji and loudly questioned him, “What did you say to Yuhan? What exactly did you say to her?”
Yan Ji’s eyes were indifferent, and he said lightly, “Don’t you know what I said? After all this time, don’t you have any feelings?”
“I don’t! I don’t!… How can I not have feelings…” Xiaoru retreated, tears streaming down her face, unknowingly speaking her heart.
A hand gently pushed her from behind. She turned back in surprise, seeing Yuhan standing behind her, her face pale. Looking at Yan Ji and then at Xiaoru, she said, “Since you have the courage to say it, don’t retreat.” She pulled Xiaoru to Yan Ji’s side, whispering in her ear, “I know you didn’t dare accept Yan Ji because of me. It’s like putting shackles on love. Don’t worry, we will always be friends. You should take off those shackles and stop running away.”
Saying this, she walked away silently, her figure elongating in Xiaoru’s eyes.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
