Hearing Jiang Zhixu’s words, Xu Si’s mind went blank, with a constant ringing in his ears. He fell to his knees beside her bed and gently took her hand that was exposed outside the blanket. Even though it was summer, her hand was very cold. He held her small hand in his, but couldn’t warm…

On June 7th, volunteer drivers across the city organized to help transport exam takers. There was free water at the school gates, construction sites paused work, and no cars were allowed to honk around exam venues… the whole world seemed to make way for the college entrance exam. Xu Si had imagined sitting in the…

Although they knew this day would come, Jiang Zhixu still found it hard to accept. She quit her job. On her last day, everyone asked: “Why are you suddenly resigning when everything’s going well?” “Because I came to City A for one person, and now I need to spend the remaining time with her.” Hearing…

April 3rd – neither hot nor cold. The phoenix trees lining the school paths stood tall, their broad leaves lush and green. Students’ attire showed extremes – some in summer short-sleeve uniforms, others still in fall jackets. Only 66 days remained on the countdown. Xu Si looked at his new report card. 598 points. The…

February 5th. Senior students returned to school. 151 days until college entrance exams. Previously, many students slept through Chinese class. Now most were buried in practice problems. The exam countdown loomed like a mountain over everyone’s head. Tests increased to twice monthly. Xu Si improved by one rank in the first monthly test – ninth…

As if with a life of its own, the firecracker darted under Yang Shikun’s feet and exploded. Yang Shikun: “Exciting! I’ll try one too.” Xu Si tugged at Jiang Rong’s sleeve: “Stand back.” Jiang Rong stepped back with him. Yang Shikun and Jiang Zhixu were having a great time playing. “What’s this?” Jiang Rong picked…

As January was coming to an end, high schools in City A gradually began their winter break. Jiang Rong had moved back home – she disliked the smell of disinfectant in hospitals and the all-white rooms even more. She could only feel overwhelming depression there. January 26th. “Students, have a happy winter break.” “Happy holidays,…

Jiang Rang wore loose hospital clothes, looking out the window. The tree she often saw before had somehow suddenly died, with only the topmost branches still growing green. She felt like a death row prisoner from ancient times, waiting for her death sentence. She would soon start chemotherapy again. In her first year of high…

In the last exam of sophomore year, Xu Si made it into the top 40, breaking 400 points for the first time. But the gap between him and Jiang Qiang remained vast – a deep chasm, hard to cross. He needed to work harder. Even harder. In early July, a large sign appeared in the…

Jiang Qiao returned to her seat, momentarily stunned by the various gift boxes on her desk. Yang Shikun said: “Scholar Jiang, the bottom one is mine.” Hao Ming: “The ugliest, most obvious one is his.” “Shut up, Datou. Yours is the ugliest. Mine has nice colors.” Jiang Qiao smiled at them: “Thank you.” Almost every…