Three days before the college entrance exam.
School had already started the holiday.
After a whole year of restraint in senior year, grades were set in stone, and studying or not in these last few days made no difference.
Better to go back a few days early to relax the taut nerves and adjust one's attitude.
On this departure day, the school held a coming-of-age ceremony and a graduation event.
It was for junior students to perform and showcase their talents, bidding farewell to their senior peers.
Then it was time for school leaders to give some morale-boosting speeches, followed by a montage of photos from various activities attended throughout senior year, and some videos shot around the school.
Quite a few girls ended up teary-eyed, while the boys laughed themselves into stitches.
Xu Musen was hardly interested, having experienced it all in his last life, and apart from He Qiang, he had no friends in school, so it didn't really touch him.
Since school was about to break for vacation, mobile phones weren't restricted today, so Xu Musen took out his phone and sent a message to An Nuannuan.
"Bored by yourself?"
On the other side, An Nuannuan replied quickly, "Hang out?"
"The usual place."
"Okay. (Rabbit OK emoji)"
Xu Musen sneaked off to the garden behind the playground, where An Nuannuan had already arrived.
The place was as quiet as ever, with Xu Musen leaning back on a bench, looking at An Nuannuan, feeling a bit sentimental now.
"Nuannuan, we're getting off for the holidays today, might not have the chance to come here again."
"Yeah..."
An Nuannuan also nodded somewhat dazedly, then turned her gaze to Xu Musen, "So, will you still come to see me in the future?"
Xu Musen smiled and nodded, "Of course, we're friends, aren't we?"
He always felt particularly comfortable when he was with An Nuannuan, even though sometimes she would jab him with a serious remark, he was quite happy about it.
Of course, it was also because An Nuannuan really was very pretty and was willing to let Xu Musen take some liberties.
Who isn't a sucker for good looks?
"By the way, Nuannuan, do you have any universities in mind that you want to apply to?"
Xu Musen suddenly brought up the topic.
Most people worked so hard to study just to get into a good university, to study a good major for easier job placement in the future.
But in An Nuannuan's case, she could choose any major she liked and pursue further education at university.
After a moment's thought, a glimmer of brightness flickered in An Nuannuan's eyes, "I'm thinking of Hu Hai or Chuan City."
Both cities were pretty good.
One, a top international metropolis in the mainland.
The other, a cultural city very suitable for living.
"Why do you want to go to these two places?"
"My mom is from Chuan City. She loved taking me to eat hot pot when I was little..."
As An Nuannuan spoke of this, her eyes held a hint of nostalgia. She continued, "But I also really like the seaside, and my parents met at Hu Hai University too."
"I see..."
Xu Musen nodded, his expression growing a bit complicated.
Because in his past life, he and Yao Mingyue had attended Hu Hai University.
He felt, in this lifetime, there might well be a myriad of connections.
Xu Musen had now decided to develop a future in e-commerce and short video streaming.
Hu Hai, including the Hangzhou area, was the breeding ground for internet platforms, offering resource advantages.
But then, he thought the Chuan City area wasn't bad either; with places like Taikoo Li to stir up events, turning out internet celebrities wouldn't be difficult.
"Xu Musen, if we go to the same university, does that mean we could hang out together every day?"
An Nuannuan suddenly proposed to him.
Xu Musen looked into her eyes and suddenly smiled, feeling like their thoughts had almost coincided without them even trying.
As Xu Musen gazed at her delicate cheeks and her dazed yet earnest eyes, he felt something indescribable stirring in his heart.
"Nuannuan, if you play with me every day like this, what will you do if another boy wants to date you in the future?"
An Nuannuan considered seriously for a moment, looking into Xu Musen's eyes, "What are the benefits of dating?"
"Well, a boyfriend would take his girlfriend shopping, on trips, treat her to meals, and even bring her some lovingly prepared breakfasts..."
As Xu Musen was speaking, An Nuannuan interjected, "That feels pretty much the same as now, doesn't it? We're friends, too." S~eaʀᴄh the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Friends of the opposite sex and boyfriends or girlfriends.
These are not the same concept at all.
Xu Musen looked at her and changed his tone slightly, "But if you had a boyfriend, I wouldn't be able to accompany you like this every day."
"Why not?"
"Because people have a desire to possess; when boyfriends and girlfriends enjoy the happiness of being together, they also have to pay some price. For example, maintaining a certain distance with others of the opposite sex, sharing hearts and thoughts every day, consulting with each other on many things, and taking care of each other's feelings..."
Xu Musen explained bit by bit.
An Nuannuan blinked, "Oh, that sounds troublesome..."
Her mind seemed unable to deal with so many social intricacies.
"Of course, everything comes with its price."
Xu Musen sighed. What he had said was normal, but dealing with someone like Yao Mingyue would be the real headache.
An Nuannuan looked at the candied hawthorn stick in her hand, then at the half-eaten grilled sausage, and then at Xu Musen. The images of their time together over the past month floated in her mind.
Her eyes brightened for a moment, and the look she gave Xu Musen softened, "Xu Musen, you've been so nice to me without asking for anything in return. You really are a good person. From now on, I won't play with any other friends. Is it okay if it's just the two of us playing together from now on?"
Xu Musen didn't know whether to laugh or cry for a moment.
For some reason, it felt like An Nuannuan's words echoed those of a female Casanova raising fish.
Never reject, never take the initiative, never take responsibility.
Xu Musen thought to himself, shouldn't that be my line?
But, looking into An Nuannuan's pure and innocent eyes, he couldn't help but smile softly.
"What if one day, I suddenly want to ask for something excessive?"
An Nuannuan blinked, "Like what?"
"...It's just that."
Xu Musen's gaze wandered over An Nuannuan's body, from her lovely little toes peeking out from beneath her long dress, to her fair legs, to the ample "assets" that stood out confidently, to her delicate and cute face.
But in the end, as Xu Musen looked into her clear eyes, he could only smile and shake his head.
"Never mind, I'll talk about it when there's a chance in the future."
"Oh..."
An Nuannuan nodded thoughtfully.
The noise around the ears was festive, and an event was still being held on the sports field. After today, the next time they'd meet would be to receive their graduation certificates.
For many people, today could very well be the last time.
An Nuannuan saw Xu Musen spacing out and slowly pushed her wheelchair closer to him.
"Xu Musen."
"Hmm?"
"Can I just be best friends with only you from now on?"
An Nuannuan tugged gently at his sleeve, offering the hawthorn stick in her hand.
Xu Musen silently watched her for a while, and the sentiment of campus farewells softened at that moment.
Just with you alone...
Xu Musen took a bite of the candied hawthorn.
"Sure."