On a rainy night, the school beauty knocked on my door and asked for shelter

Watching Wang Lan dismantle the tent, she murmured with some reluctance.

Li Zhe, unusually, chimed in, "Happy times are always fleeting."

He carefully rolled up the moisture-proof mat. This time, his haul was quite good. Compared to when he came, his backpack contained not only his personal belongings but also several carefully pressed plant specimens.

Zhou Yue directed everyone to conduct a final, thorough cleanup of the campsite, ensuring that no trash was left behind.

"Although it's hard to leave, we have to be good tourists who see things through to the end," she said, her gaze lingering on the familiar meadow and stream.

Zhao Ya silently packed her luggage, carefully placing the sketchbook containing the secret into the innermost layer of her backpack.

She took one last look at the rock by the stream where Shen Xinghe often sat, her heart filled with mixed feelings—a sense of satisfaction mixed with a faint, inexplicable melancholy.

Shen Xinghe still had that aloof demeanor, but he was exceptionally meticulous when checking whether the camp had been restored to its original state, clearly showing his love for this natural landscape.

After Chen Mo and Su Yuqing finished packing up, they stood side by side, looking at the empty campsite.

"It's like a beautiful dream," Su Yuqing sighed softly, snuggling into Chen Mo's arms.

Chen Mo hugged her tighter and gently rubbed his chin against the top of her head: "It's not a dream, these are all real and beautiful memories. And... we will go to more places in the future and create more memories that belong to us."

Hearing this, Su Yuqing was deeply moved and touched.

Once all their luggage was packed and slung over their shoulders, the eight of them stopped in unison and looked back one last time at the valley that had held seven days of laughter and tranquility for them.

In the morning light, Yunxi Stream murmured, birds sang sweetly, everything seemed no different from when they first arrived, yet it felt completely different.

"Goodbye, Yunxi Ravine!" Wang Lan shouted towards the valley, his voice echoing through the valley.

"I'll come see you again next time!" Lin Xiaoxiao echoed, her voice filled with reluctance.

With hearts cleansed by nature and warmed by friendship, they descended the mountain along the familiar path.

It is said that going up a mountain is easy but coming down is hard, but their steps were not as heavy as when they came up, but their mood was much more complicated.

As we reached the foot of the mountain, we saw the familiar farmhouse again in the distance.

The uncle was sitting at the entrance of the courtyard weaving bamboo strips, while the aunt was busy in the vegetable garden.

Seeing them come down, the two put down their work and greeted them with smiles.

"You're back? Did you have a good time?" the uncle asked warmly in his Mandarin with a local accent, his kind eyes sweeping over everyone as if he were looking at his own children returning from a trip.

"That's great! That's so great!" Wang Lan exclaimed first, patting her stomach as she spoke. "Uncle, the cured meat, chicken, and vegetables you gave me are so delicious!!"

Zhou Yue stepped forward and, on behalf of everyone, sincerely said, "Uncle, Auntie, thank you for your hospitality this time. We'll come back to bother you again next time we have time!"

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all!" The old lady waved her hand repeatedly, her face beaming with smiles. "With you kids around, the yard is so much more lively. Seeing you having so much fun makes us happy too."

Shen Xinghe stepped forward and nodded slightly to the uncle and aunt. His tone was as calm as ever, but it conveyed familiarity and gratitude: "Uncle, Aunt, we're going back now. Everything is packed and the campsite is cleaned up."

"Alright, alright, we trust Xiao Shen with everything he does." The uncle smiled and added with concern, "Take care on the road and have a safe journey!"

Everyone gathered around to express their gratitude and say goodbye.

Zhao Ya whispered "Thank you, Auntie," and Su Yuqing and Chen Mo also smiled and expressed their gratitude. Before leaving, Zhou Yue insisted on buying some dried bamboo shoots and pickled vegetables from the uncle, saying she wanted to "bring back as much of the mountain flavor as possible."

The uncle and auntie escorted them all the way to the village entrance, watching them get into the car, and kept waving goodbye.

As you board the van waiting at the village entrance, you can still see the figures of uncles and aunties standing by the roadside through the car window. It's not until the car turns that the simple courtyards and kind smiles disappear from view.

This simple and warm hospitality from the mountain people brought a warm and fulfilling end to the journey.

The atmosphere inside the car was no longer as lively and noisy as it had been on the way there; it was much quieter.

Some people were taking a nap by the car window, while others were looking down at the massive amount of photos and videos they had taken over the past few days on their phones, with an unconscious smile on their lips.

Looking out the window, Li Zhe suddenly said, "Tsk, just thinking about going back and having to face military training makes my scalp tingle."

His words immediately elicited a chorus of groans and shared sentiments.

"Don't remind me of this cruel fact!" Lin Xiaoxiao lamented.

"Yes, the happy times are over, and the painful trials are about to begin." Zhou Yue also looked distressed.

Even the usually calm Shen Xinghe's eyes flickered slightly, clearly indicating that he was not entirely oblivious to the upcoming military training.

Wang Lan, on the other hand, a big guy and a sports fanatic, didn't seem to feel much about it.

As for Chen Mo, he felt even less; after all, he was a professional!
However, Chen Mo squeezed Su Yuqing's hand and whispered, "Military training is quite tiring. If you feel unwell, be sure to tell me and the instructors as soon as possible. Don't push yourself."

Su Yuqing grasped his hand and nodded. Although she was a little apprehensive about military training, the thought of him being by her side made her feel that there was nothing to be afraid of.

Zhao Ya listened quietly to everyone's complaints and "fear" of military training. Her gaze inadvertently swept over the profile of Shen Xinghe in the front row, and she wondered to herself what he would be like during military training. This thought made her secretly look forward to the military training that she had originally thought was boring and terrible.

When the familiar school gate came into view, the hustle and bustle of the city and the familiar environment instantly surrounded them, and they finally felt the reality of returning from the quiet mountains to the lively campus. These seven days felt like a lifetime ago.

Dragging my luggage along the familiar school path, surrounded by students and vehicles, the air filled with the unique scent of the city.

A tremendous sense of disparity washed over them, but miraculously, the peace and strength that everyone gained from the journey did not immediately dissipate.

"The air in the city is indeed vastly different from that in the mountains," Wang Lan said, stretching and taking a deep breath, her tone complex.

"Now that I'm back, it's time to get back into the swing of things and prepare for the challenges ahead." Li Zhe pushed up his glasses.

Zhou Yue clapped her hands, perking up again: "Alright! The Yunxijian team building activity has come to a successful end! Everyone go back and get some rest, recharge your energy, and then... let's face the military training together!"

"Go for it!" everyone shouted in unison, exchanging smiles.

Although it's hard to say goodbye, the journey has come to an end.

They returned to their familiar lives, carrying with them the starlight of Yunxi Stream, the songs of the stream, the warmth of the campfire, and the deeper friendship between them.

This shimmering autumn memory, like a pebble polished by a stream, is warm and solid, settling deep in their hearts. It will become a precious treasure from which they can draw warmth and strength in the days to come.

And ahead, their story of youth continues. (End of Chapter)