This farewell dinner left Jiang Cheng feeling melancholy.

After Old Xu finished speaking, the mood in the room became emotional. By the time they were halfway through eating, many people were already crying, first the girls, then the boys.  

After taking a sip of alcohol, they would bury their heads and sob bitterly. Those who used to fight and argue set aside their differences in this moment. They may continue their conflicts after stepping out of this dinner, but right now, we are all classmates of Class 8.

Not much food was eaten, but the alcohol was refilled twice. Some teachers from other classes wanted to stop it, but Old Lu shut them down with a line:

"Just this once, let them drink freely," Old Lu said. "Anyway, whatever they drink will be cried out."

Jiang Cheng only had two beers. Other than feeling melancholy, he did not experience the intense emotions like some of his other classmates.

After all, he had not spent that much time with these people. He barely knew many of their names. Part of why he felt melancholy was because he did not have as strong feelings towards Class 8. Looking back, it seemed the same with his old classmates at his previous school, except Pan Zhi.

Feeling detached from both ends left him confused.

The only one who could stir up intense emotions in him was Gu Fei, sitting next to him, face expressionless as he played with his phone.

Gu Fei was probably the only one.

After crying to their heart's content, it was time to exchange contact info and take group photos.

Gu Fei added a lot of classmates, while Jiang Cheng, other than those he played basketball with, basically didn't add anyone.

Now people started coming up to them one by one.

"Jiang Cheng, let's add each other," a boy squeezed next to him.

"Sure," Jiang Cheng nodded and took out his phone.

He was actually quite surprised. This boy looked familiar but up until a second ago, Jiang Cheng thought he was from Class 7.

After adding a few boys, some girls came up.

Asking for his number, wanting to take photos together.

Even Old Xu and Old Lu excitedly mingled around taking photos.

Jiang Cheng forced a smile taking group photos with several girls. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Gu Fei was no longer there. That cute little bunny really can run fast.

After Wang Xu forcibly pulled him in for a photo, Jiang Cheng also stepped out of the room. He saw Gu Fei leaning against the wall in the hallway.

"You run pretty fast!" Jiang Cheng glared at him.

"I always run when stuff like this happens," Gu Fei smirked. "Not like someone who used to have a girlfriend and enjoys this kind of thing."

"Cut the bullshit!" Jiang Cheng said.

"I want to take photos too," Gu Fei said.

"We don't have enough photos together?" Jiang Cheng laughed.

"Not like this," Gu Fei took out his phone and walked to the door, looking at him. "Come on."

Jiang Cheng didn't know what he had in mind but still went to stand next to him.

Gu Fei pulled him to stand with their backs against the door. One hand holding up his phone, the other arm around his shoulders. "Get ready, big smile."

"Okay," Jiang Cheng stretched his facial muscles as warm up, then said, "Ready, how do you want to take this? Isn't it too dark here?"

"Backlighting is beautiful too," Gu Fei lifted his leg and kicked the door open behind them. "Smile!"

Jiang Cheng immediately put on an exaggerated smile. But seeing the scene in the phone, he instantly switched to a genuine big laugh.

The people inside were either still wiping their tears or drinking with their arms around each other. When Gu Fei suddenly kicked open the door, everyone froze, stuck in their previous positions, collectively turning to look at the door.

Old Xu and Old Lu were being egged on by the group to drink from each other's glass. Their hands were raised with glasses, looking at them in shock.

Gu Fei clicked the shutter. "Done."

"Where did you run off to!" Wang Xu yelled and pounced over, grabbing Gu Fei's arm and dragging him back inside. "Come on! Everyone who wants a photo get over here!"

"Oh fuck," Gu Fei struggled to no avail as a crowd of tipsy, excited people rushed over to drag Gu Fei in and push him into a chair, before crowding around him for group photos.

Jiang Cheng laughed as he leaned against the door watching.

After tonight, probably no one would dare to press Gu Fei like this for photos again. He was known school-wide for being a cold lone wolf after all.

He also took out his phone and snapped a few shots of the chaotic scene indoors.

Consider it memories. Whether familiar or not with these people, they were a part of his high school life, the teenage boys passing through his 18th year.

After dinner, everyone wanted to go sing karaoke, so as usual Jiang Cheng and Gu Fei followed along at the back of the crowd. Watching the excited, somewhat stumbling group turn a corner up ahead, the two of them turned the other way to head home.

"You're not going to hang out a bit more with them?" Gu Fei asked.

"No more. My head's already pounding from everything," Jiang Cheng looked at him. "And looking at you, you should just go home and rest."

"How do I look?" Gu Fei touched his face. "Still as handsome as ever right?"

"You had a fever the whole day, and...." Jiang Cheng cleared his throat. "Too physically drained. Go home and properly rest for a couple days."

"I'm going home first thing tomorrow morning," Gu Fei said. "Er Miao is looking for me."

"Is two days her limit?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"Not necessarily. Three days has happened before. When I'm out playing in the past it's been two or three days," Gu Fei said. "When she gets anxious she throws tantrums and breaks stuff."

Jiang Cheng softly sighed. "If it's your mom, she completely ignores her and only listens to you?"

"Pretty much," Gu Fei took out a cigarette to light and smoke. "I can't really explain it clearly. She's not like kids born with autism or similar issues. She was just always quiet as a kid, probably didn't have any other problems."

"It's...after her brain was injured?" Jiang Cheng asked again.

"Yeah, but checks showed no issues with her brain," Gu Fei patted him on the back. "Stop worrying about this stuff. Think about your college applications, Old Xu will probably come talk to your family in a couple days."

"Another home visit?" Jiang Cheng sighed. "There's nothing to discuss about my applications. I decided long ago and will apply once the admission scores are announced."

"Oh," Gu Fei nodded.

Then more silence. Gu Fei didn't ask anything else about school and Jiang Cheng didn't really want to bring it up either. Which school, which major, he really didn't want to discuss it with Gu Fei.

Something that should've been exciting yet nerve-wracking, that he can't help but want to talk about with someone, but instead made him upset to say even one more word because of their impending separation counting down day by day.

After walking a whole street in silence, Gu Fei suddenly said, "I'll send you to your campus then."

"Hm?" Jiang Cheng was startled, then quickly shook his hands. "I didn't ask about Gu Miao for that reason."

"I know," Gu Fei smiled. "I just suddenly remembered and wanted to say, I'll go with you to campus."

Jiang Cheng leaned against him as they walked, gently nuzzling Gu Fei's arm a few times. "Okay."

Gu Fei rested for a few days then got busy again.

When resting, he basically just slept. At home, or at Jiang Cheng's place, with Jiang Cheng sleeping along. Like two people who never slept before, other than eating, just sleeping.

Jiang Cheng felt it was quite a waste to just sleep when they were together, since you don't even know you're still with the other person when you're asleep. Waking up a few hours would've just passed by.

But sometimes he also felt lying together, holding each other, listening to the steady breathing beside his ear, was the most reassuring and peaceful.

He was there when his eyes were closed. He was still there opening his eyes.