We ordinary people also need to fall in love.

"Education technology representative, quickly turn on the computer, get ready to watch the news broadcast."

It has become a tradition in Class 3 to show the news broadcast during the first evening self-study session after returning to school every Sunday.

"Good evening, everyone! Today is Sunday, April 23rd, the fourth day of the third month in the lunar calendar."

……

"Let's take a look at a set of international news flashes."

"The UK is experiencing a major outbreak, with daily new confirmed cases reaching a new high, and the death toll has now reached 1,024. The government has declared a state of emergency at the highest level, and many areas have implemented lockdown measures. There is still a possibility that the situation will expand."

"I hope it won't spread here."

Chen Qiuhe wrote this line on her notebook and placed it on the corner of Li Mubai's desk. After waiting for a long time without any movement, she glanced at it carefully and then remembered that he had been called away by Wu Changguo.

She glanced at the empty seat next to her. She wondered when, perhaps on a weekend when no students were around, all the books in the desk had been cleared away.

What did Chen Qiuhe think about Xie Shu's departure? She probably felt regret, regret that her friend left without a word.

"Sigh, Lao Bai and XS are really a pair of star-crossed lovers."

This is something Yang Kun often jokes about in the dormitory after Xie Shu left.

"Should we go through the formalities or just eat?" Zhao Feng asked.

"I forgot the beginning, I forgot the middle, in short, all the past events, in short, a pair of star-crossed lovers."

No matter how much they teased him, Li Mubai sat on the bed reading a book, seemingly unmoved.

"Zhao, what are the arrangements for our trip to Qingzi County?" Yang Kun asked Zhao Feng.

"Can't you check the arrangements in the class group chat yourself?"

"Won't."

"Lazy dog," Zhao Feng cursed. He took out his phone and read, "Depart on the morning of the 28th, take a bus to the former residence of a local celebrity in the afternoon, go hiking on the morning of the 29th, visit the local museum in the afternoon, and return on the 30th."

"And what about tonight?"

"You're free to do whatever you want in the evening."

"Then let's go see what fun things there are to do." Yang Kun chuckled.

"But the school is really sneaky, taking up the two days of May Day holiday on the 29th and 30th," Zhao Feng complained.

"Yeah, Wanli can't go. He has some family matters to attend to, so there are only five of us guys left."

"What happened to the five people?" Jiao Yong asked.

"Five people means one person has to be separated from the group."

"Didn't the lottery results come out? I'm in the same room as Prison King."

"Zhao Feng and I are the same."

They glanced at Li Mubai, who was reading a book; it seemed he had been assigned to a separate room.

This is a new book that Li Mubai bought this week. For some reason, Shen Nian'an always looks at him with a strange expression.

It wasn't until it was time to pay the bill that Shen Nian'an asked him if he was two-timing.

What?

How did he end up with two men at the same time?

Shen Nian'an betrayed his younger sister, Shen Nianning, without hesitation.

Li Mubai then remembered that when he went to No. 1 High School, he happened to run into Shen Nianning, so there might have been a misunderstanding.

"I was just saying, you already have such a good-looking guy, how could you possibly be two-timing?" Shen Nian'an said confidently.

"...not a partner either." Li Mubai knew who she was talking about.

"Not now, but it will be in the future," Shen Nian'an said casually.

We may never have the chance to meet again...

My thoughts returned to the present. My phone received a message from Xie Shu saying that she had booked her plane ticket for May 1st and that everything was arranged in the UK.

I wish you all the best, and I hope we'll have the chance to meet again in eight years, though that hope is very slim.

Snapped!

The dormitory lights are out.

"Not bad, you remember the words fairly well."

During Tuesday's English evening self-study session, as usual, Ms. Li checked Li Mubai's English dictation. She nodded affirmatively and returned the dictation book to Li Mubai.

How's your English grammar coming along?

"It's alright, I've basically got it."

"Can I use this in my essays?"

Li Mubai thought for a moment and replied:

"It's probably not good enough yet; you need to practice your writing more."

"Then start practicing your writing. Write one English sentence every day, starting with simple sentences. Since Xie Shu isn't here, you can hand it in to me or a classmate who is good at English to check it every day."

"OK."

Xie Shu's hasty departure did indeed change some things.

Han Xiaowei directly became the acting president.

"Hello, senior." Zhou Ruo was as enthusiastic as ever. She still sat next to Li Mubai during the club meeting on Wednesday.

"Ahem." Han Xiaowei cleared her throat. "The main thing I want to say today is to congratulate Zhou Ruo, a junior from our club, on successfully publishing a short story in a provincial literary journal."

clap clap clap!

"Thank you, I will continue to work hard."

"I hope other members will continue their efforts. Anyone who wants to publish can contact me."

Published? Li Mubai also remembered that he and Xie Shu had written a seven-character quatrain based on the platform provided by Teacher Yang Yiyun, and received two hundred yuan. He heard that it would be engraved in a scenic spot in Jiangnan.

"Senior, this is a novel I wrote. Would you like to take a look?" Zhou Ruo pushed a thin magazine towards him, interrupting his thoughts.

"This one?" Li Mubai took it and pointed to one of the articles, asking.

"right."

"Senior Han Xiaowei, it seems I've also published a piece in a magazine." Tian Yulin suddenly raised her hand.

"What publication?"

"West Mountain Poetry Journal"

"Then let me see it; it can be displayed as an achievement of the club."

"Okay, I'll bring it over after May Day."

Xiyue Poetry Journal? Li Mubai hasn't published in a long time, and it seems just so-so. The lack of payment for manuscripts is its fatal weakness, and as Professor Yang Yiyun also said, most of the works in Xiyue Poetry and Couplets are unreadable.

"Senior, take a look quickly."

Seeing that he hadn't moved for a while, Zhou Ruo urged him on.

"Um."

The short story was at least 1,500 words long, and it took Li Mubai several minutes to finish reading it. He praised it, saying:

"It's well written."

"Hehe, I have an even longer one, I've already written over 200,000 words."

"sharp."

Li Mubai gave a perfunctory answer, but then it suddenly occurred to him that he might be able to make money by writing novels. However, he hadn't read a novel in a long time.

The president's seat was empty, and Han Xiaowei, the acting president, didn't sit down either...

Ring ring—

"Students, it's time to get up! Tidy up your belongings and get ready to learn new knowledge!"

The mechanical broadcast sounded on Friday morning, but unfortunately, the second-year high school students didn't have to attend classes today.

"That was awesome! That was awesome! I felt so good!" Yang Kun exclaimed excitedly.

All the boys were packing their luggage, except for Feng Wanli, who had already gone home before the holiday.

"By the way, how are we going to get to the high-speed rail?" Wang Rui asked.

"Take the school bus to the high-speed rail station," Li Mubai answered his question, appearing rather uninterested compared to them.

He picked up his packed luggage and went to the classroom with the boys.

A group of girls were gathered around the windowsill, looking at something.

"What are you looking at?" a girl who had just arrived asked.

"The jasmine flowers are blooming! They're quite beautiful."

It's blooming? Doesn't it only bloom in May? Li Mubai wondered.

"Is everyone here? If everyone is here, line up outside and get ready to board the bus!" Wu Changguo shouted.

"Everyone's here!"

"Line up outside the classroom."

As the crowd dispersed, Li Mubai took the opportunity to glance at the double-petaled jasmine he had bought. Miraculously, one of the flowers had already bloomed. He quickly ran over and took a picture.

"Li Mubai, count if everyone is here." Wu Changguo called out from outside the classroom.

His fingers flew across the keyboard as he sent a message to Xie Shu, then ran outside the classroom to start counting the number of students.

Li Bubai: "The flowers have bloomed."