When their lovely childhood friend returned, they were all in a panic!

Upon hearing this, Bai Yu looked at her in surprise.

The senior's profile was calm, but there was a faint sadness in her eyes.

"I was raised by my mother since I was a child. As for who my father is... I don't know."

Lu Yuxin spoke softly, taking the initiative to tell stories about herself from the past.

These were things Bai Yu didn't know, or rather, things that only she knew.

"My mother is a very famous pianist, so she raised me according to her own standards from a young age."

"Actually, I didn't particularly like the piano at first; I was just forced to learn it."

"Gradually, I learned to play other instruments. I guess I inherited my mother's talent."

"And my mother's job is... how should I put it, it's a government-affiliated job, and because of that I've made a lot of connections."

"Those so-called connections only associate with me because of my mother."

"I felt at the time that these things were particularly fake, and that they were all done with ulterior motives."

"I don't usually like to associate with them, even if they are so-called big shots that I can only see on TV... They are too far removed from me."

Lu Yuxin spoke softly, looking at the grandparents playing with their granddaughter not far away, her eyes filled with envy.

"So I envy this kind of simple life, or rather, this is the life I dream of."

"I don't want to pursue any grand ideals; those are too far-fetched and unrealistic..."

"Later at school, I met a few good friends, and at least I wasn't so lonely in my fake social circle anymore."

"But at my mother's insistence, I have to participate in some piano competitions, saying it's to increase the prestige of my work and pave the way for my future..."

"Is this why you took a break from school for a while, senior?" Bai Yu asked.

Previously, he had been a quiet listener.

But you still need to give her some feedback along the way, otherwise she won't know that someone is listening, or she won't be sure if that person is listening to her.

No one taught Bai Yu this; it was an experience he gained through putting himself in others' shoes and empathizing with them.

"Yes, because my mother has been very strict with me since I was a child, and she still is now."

Lu Yuxin nodded, raised her eyes, and looked at the distant night view with a soft light.

"Otherwise, I wouldn't want to leave Licheng either. I've been here for so long, and I really like the slow pace of life here. I've gotten used to the connections here... but I can't stay here."

"After graduation, I still have to follow my mother's arrangements and walk the path she paved for me in advance."

Upon hearing this, Bai Yu fell silent and did not speak.

He couldn't encourage his senior to rebel or anything, or interfere too much in her fate. What if it led to a bad outcome?

It is foolish to judge right or wrong before the outcome is certain.

At that moment, he understood why his senior had asked him if he had any plans to develop his career in other cities.

"After I came back from the competition, my friends had all graduated and gone their separate ways. At first, we kept in touch online, but later everyone got busier and busier..."

At this point, Lu Yuxin lowered her eyes: "Gradually, once familiar friends have become strangers, and this feeling is really unpleasant."

"There's a big difference between meeting someone in person and only chatting online; it allows you to gradually forget about them."

"Since then, if we are destined to part ways, I desperately wish that every minute I can spend with my friends could pass by a little slower."

She picked up the leaf that had fallen on her uniform and looked at the veins that were visible through the light of the streetlamp.

"This leaf would make a great bookmark."

Lu Yuxin suddenly uttered these words, turning her head to look at Bai Yu with a smile.

"Little one, do you want it? Consider it an early graduation gift."

"My graduation gift? Isn't it too early?" Bai Yu asked in surprise.

"If I don't send it in advance, it won't be delivered. I won't stay in Licheng after graduation, so it will be difficult to see each other again."

As she spoke, she put down the leaf, smiled, and shook her head.

"Never mind, sending just a single leaf is too perfunctory... I'll think about it again later."

"No, that's not true. Anything meaningful is not a careless gift. A gift without any sentimental value is more like a transaction."

Bai Yu denied it, saying, "At that time, people will feel that their gifts were too light or too heavy, which may cause some psychological imbalance."

"But speaking of which, I haven't decided what graduation gift to give my senior yet."

"A graduation gift?" Lu Yuxin chuckled. "Let's forget about that. I'm already happy just to have you spend more time with me."

"After all, you are all my friends now."

At this point, she deliberately added the word "they" to prevent Bai Yu from thinking about any special feelings involved.

"Since we're good friends, I have to make sure my senior's musical performance is perfect."

Bai Yu said with a smile.

"That's good." Lu Yuxin nodded gently. "Thank you."

We were talking about a rather heavy topic, but somehow the conversation was steered back to the main theme.

Well, my experience is nothing compared to the little guy's.

I just wanted to tell him... it's not that I don't want to stay in Licheng.

"Can you take care of yourself now?"

Lu Yuxin suddenly asked.

"It should be okay now." Bai Yu nodded, knowing what her senior was talking about.

What I'm referring to is whether one can cope with excessive psychological burden on their own.

"Then I'm relieved, senior." Lu Yuxin smiled as if she had been relieved and tossed the fallen leaves in her hand aside.

"It's getting late, I should head back. I have only a few days left, so I should work hard."

"I definitely will, senior!"

Bai Yu stood up after Lu Yuxin and watched her walk away under the streetlights.

She was all alone on that path, accompanied only by her shadow.

Upon seeing this, a word suddenly appeared in Bai Yu's mind.

Alone

Just as her senior was about to disappear from her sight, Bai Yu suddenly called out:

"Senior!"

"Um?"

Lu Yuxin turned half her body to the side at the end of the path.

"Even after you graduate, we should keep in touch!"

"We definitely won't become strangers, senior, you can rest assured!"

Upon hearing his words, Lu Yuxin's gentle eyes trembled slightly.

The little guy... is so silly.

She also abandoned her usual gentle and soft-spoken manner and shouted out in response to him.

"good!"