“Brother,” Yue Zhishi picked up the nameplate and held it in his palm. “Can you give this to me?”

Song Yu frowned. “What do you want mine for?”

“Don't you have two?” Yue Zhishi clutched it, his eyes wide as he pleaded, “Give me one, please. Just as a souvenir.”

In Song Yu's eyes, the way he looked now was exactly the same as when he wanted a little dolphin keychain at the aquarium, a toy from a fast-food meal set, or to collect cards in a game. There was no difference.

Turning his face away, Song Yu raised the air conditioner's temperature a little, his eyes fixed on the documentary.

“Whatever.”

'So careless.' Yue Zhishi thought. 'To give away something everyone considers so precious so easily.'

Yue Zhishi looked down at the nameplate in his palm, feeling very lucky. If he had asked for it a little later, this little thing might have been casually given to someone else when Song Yu returned to school tomorrow. After all, so many people really liked Song Yu.

Imagining someone else holding this nameplate, Yue Zhishi felt a little grateful for Song Yu's carelessness.

He didn't need to plead for too long.

A souvenir was like a pacifier. Once a child got what they wanted, they would quiet down a lot, whether at an ocean park or on a bed in a bedroom. By giving him the nameplate, Song Yu could finish watching this episode in peace.

When the opening credits for the next episode played, his attention drifted to his side. He found that Yue Zhishi had fallen asleep, his head tilted, his slightly curly hair a mess, his lips slightly pouted. He looked genuinely tired, his chest rising and falling gently, but he was still clutching the nameplate in his hand.

Song Yu tried calling him to get him to go back to sleep, but to his dismay, he couldn't wake him. It seemed cruel to use a louder voice or shake him awake forcefully, so he gave up and didn't make any move.

Qin Yan sent a message. The phone vibrated, and though Yue Zhishi didn't wake up, he stirred slightly. Song Yu quickly picked up his phone and, for the first time, opened and read his friend's WeChat message without any delay.

[Qin Yan: You won't even come for an all-nighter at the internet cafe. You just finished the college entrance exams and you're not even coming out to have fun. Mr. Socially Anxious Hottie, what are you playing at home?]

[Qin Yan: Don't tell me you're asleep.]

The continuous vibrations were troublesome. Song Yu first switched to Do Not Disturb mode, then replied with a single word.

[Song Yu: Mmm.]

He put his phone aside, leaned back himself, and lay down, but he put some distance between himself and Yue Zhishi.

There was a faint scent of kiwi in the blanket, sweet and sour. Song Yu hadn't drunk the juice he brought, but it was as if he had already tasted it.

Yue Zhishi woke up at the crack of dawn. He felt a little disoriented, but very comfortable. He cracked his eyes open slightly and found that he was sleeping while hugging Song Yu's back, his arm wrapped around his lean waist, his cheek pressed against his spine.

They were both lying on their sides, like a bunch of bananas broken off until only two remained, pressed tightly against each other.

Yue Zhishi's heart suddenly started to beat faster. He pulled his hand back, even forgetting to worry about whether he would wake Song Yu. The movement wasn't small, and sure enough, Song Yu stirred.

He didn't wake up, but he turned over and pulled the fast-hearted Yue Zhishi into his arms, as simply and naturally as hugging a pillow.

The way they fit together was just right. Yue Zhishi's cheek was pressed against Song Yu's neck, and their bodies were pressed together. His heart was pounding violently, almost as if it was about to break free from his chest and leap into Song Yu's, which was only a hand's breadth away.

The projector hadn't been turned off all night. So this documentary was that long.

Just like the time flowing at this very moment.

The school notified the third-year students to return the day after the exams to clear out their books. Song Yu's alarm was still set from before the exams and went off at six o'clock. He struggled to open his eyes and turn it off. The bed was empty. He had wanted to sleep a little longer, but after a moment's thought, he forced himself to get up.

The projector had been turned off, and even the untouched juice on the bedside table had vanished without a trace. Not a single sign was left behind.

As he bent down to tidy the blanket, something fell out, clattering onto the floor. Song Yu glanced down, saw it was his nameplate, and bent to pick it up.

'He said all the nice things when he wanted it, but once he got it, he didn't care anymore.'

The door was suddenly pushed open. Yue Zhishi seemed to be in a hurry, a panicked look on his face. He swallowed. “I-I left something behind.”

Song Yu pretended not to know anything and turned to ask, “What?”

Yue Zhishi was in a rush and charged straight over to rifle through the bed he had just made. Although he was messing it up, Song Yu was surprisingly calm, not angry at all, and even in a slightly good mood. When he saw that Yue Zhishi was genuinely panicked, he finally held it out. “Here.”

Seeing it in Song Yu's palm, Yue Zhishi visibly sighed in relief and took it from his hand.

“Lost it so quickly. Seems like you don't need it that much after all.”

Yue Zhishi didn't want Song Yu to know how flustered he had been when he snuck out that morning, so he calmly accepted Song Yu's sarcastic accusation and said obediently, “It won't happen again.” To prove it, he pinned the nameplate directly onto his school uniform, right next to his own, and then quickly left for morning self-study at school.

Song Yu turned around, stared at the bed that he had messed up again, and after a moment, decided not to tidy it. He went downstairs for breakfast.

Lin Rong had made kiwi juice again. She thought Song Yu probably wouldn't like it much, so she didn't pour him any. Unexpectedly, Song Yu asked for it himself and even had a second glass.

“It's pretty good.” Song Yu's unprecedented comment on Lin Rong's drink put her in a great mood.

The relaxed atmosphere of the returning third-year students even infected the security guards at the gate; those who used to give students a hard time all seemed amiable today. On the classroom blackboard were the words “We’ve Graduated.” Song Yu glanced at it as he entered, but it didn't feel very real.

The classroom was lively. The students around him were excitedly planning their vacations, and the class president was holding a roster, having everyone sign up for the teacher appreciation banquet. To lighten the workload for the cleaning staff, the school had long emphasized to the third-year students that celebratory book-tearing was forbidden. In reality, only a few students actually wanted to tear up their books.

Many people moved their books downstairs to sell as soon as they arrived.

Those bags of books, lifted onto the scales by the old man, were their heavy yet young hearts that had been stretched taut for so many days.

Qin Yan arrived early and had already finished packing up his things. He pulled a stool over and sat down next to Song Yu, looking completely relaxed. “Want me to help?”

Song Yu shook his head, saying he could manage.

“Why didn't you have your auntie come along? My dad just left; he took all my stuff.” Qin Yan slung an arm around Song Yu's shoulder. “See how loyal I am? I stayed behind to keep you company.”

Song Yu couldn't be bothered to banter with him and silently organized his review materials. It got a little noisy at the classroom door. Qin Yan nudged Song Yu's shoulder, hinting for him to look up. Song Yu frowned, looked up, and saw several girls, one of them leading the way as the rest followed her in.

“Hey, a beauty.”

Song Yu turned to look at Qin Yan. “Where?”

Qin Yan: “...”

The girl in the middle was very pretty, with long, shoulder-length black hair. She was a bit shy, and the girls surrounding her were practically pushing her forward. Qin Yan whispered that she was the belle of the second year. Song Yu knew nothing about the second year, let alone any school belle, and just figured this was probably Qin Yan's type.

When he arrived at school that morning, before he even went upstairs, Song Yu had been intercepted downstairs by a girl with a ponytail. She had a sunny and confident smile and spoke lines similar to those in a school drama. Song Yu kept his distance, stood still and listened to her finish, then rejected her graduation gift and confession.

She pressed him for a reason, unwilling to give up, but Song Yu said there was no reason and continued upstairs.

But after getting away from her and reaching the third floor, he stopped at the entrance to the Sky Corridor and stood there silently for a short while.

These girls who came in were even more eye-catching than the one from the morning. There were already a lot of people packing things in the classroom, and seeing this spectacle, they all started to hoot and holler.

Qin Yan seemed unreliable, but he was actually a very sensible person. He was usually noisy around Song Yu, always trying to tease the deadpan guy for no reason, but at a time like this, he fell silent and just bent down to help Song Yu take books out of his desk drawer.

The class belle herself didn't speak, but her friend beside her was the first to pipe up. “Song Yu, our Yaoyao has something to say to you.” After speaking, she gave the class belle named Yaoyao another push, urging her to speak.

Qin Yan was already starting to feel embarrassed for them.

“Senior Song Yu, I've liked you for a long time.” The girl named Yaoyao spoke shyly, holding out the gift bag in her hand. “Inside is a gift I spent a long time picking out. I hope you like it. Before... before you were still reviewing for your exams, I never dared to say anything, afraid I'd disturb you. Now that you're about to graduate from Peiya, if I don't say it now, it might be too late.”

Song Yu didn't reach out to take the gift. The onlookers were all whispering and enjoying the drama, which made her friend very dissatisfied.

Yaoyao didn't seem to mind too much. She gathered her courage and asked again, “If you're willing, can we try being together?”

Halfway through organizing, Song Yu saw the paper box in his drawer. It was the one Yue Zhishi had made himself to hold the hand-drawn pain-relief stickers. In comparison, this box seemed childish and inexpensive, but Song Yu stared at it for a long while.

Seeing him a bit distracted, Yaoyao's friend grabbed the gift bag from her hand and placed it on Song Yu's desk. “Just leave it here. All you have to do is give it. He can figure out what to do with it himself.”

When she said that, Qin Yan nearly rolled his eyes. This had to be an unhelpful teammate.

But Song Yu remained expressionless. He simply separated the box Yue Zhishi had made from the other things and put it in his backpack. He didn't look up, but he finally spoke.

“I suggest you don't leave it on my desk. The cleaning lady might take it away later.”

The other girl was clearly choked by his words, and Yaoyao's face also showed some embarrassment. But like everyone who had ever confessed to Song Yu, she had come fully prepared mentally, so she tried again. “Senior.” She glanced at the cardboard boxes Song Yu was packing. “Are you taking all of this with you? If it's okay, could you give me some of your notes? Also, your nameplate...”

“I have a younger brother at home.” Song Yu cut her off, picked up a cardboard box from the floor, placed it on the desk, and looked at her.

“All my things are being saved for him.”