Through mutual companionship and support, the three years of high school eventually transformed into stacks of exercise books and piles of exam papers.
The final morning runs, the final morning recitations, the closed classroom doors, the shuttered cafeteria windows...
Under the scorching June sun, the green pines remained as they always were.
At every class graduation party, there was no shortage of students laughing, crying, acting wild, and making scenes. Some used the alcohol to confess their feelings, some used it to break up, while others sang and embraced...
They were no longer children. Though they spoke of eternal friendship and promised to stay in touch, the reality was that after today’s parting, they would fly to different corners of the world. New social circles would replace old friends. Years later, if they met again, they might only sit across from each other and reminisce about these three beautiful years.
Each class chose a different location for their dinner. Cheng Yifei, Fei Cheng, Yu Qing, and Qiu Minmin agreed to meet at the bus station on the way home.
Jun Lu and Li Lijuan had dropped out in their second year of high school. Just like in Fei Cheng’s previous life, one had run off halfway to study fashion design, while the other had immigrated abroad with her family.
With the heavy workload of high school, it was normal for them to go from contacting each other every weekend to once every few months, until they eventually lapsed into silence.
June 9th, 11:00 PM.
Cheng Yifei was worried that Fei Cheng’s party had already ended. After saying his goodbyes to his teachers and friends, he hurried to the bus station, running into Fei Cheng, who was sprinting from the opposite direction.
A gentle night breeze blew, carrying the scent of barbecue and spicy crayfish.
Fei Cheng stopped to catch his breath and beamed at Cheng Yifei.
Under the amber glow of the streetlights, Cheng Yifei smiled back.
Fei Cheng tugged at his collar to let in some air. "What a coincidence, Brother Cheng. I thought you’d be waiting here already. I ran with everything I had; I’m exhausted."
The corners of Cheng Yifei’s mouth curled up as he looked at him. "I thought you’d be waiting here too. Did you drink?"
"Yeah, about two bottles of beer. Those bastards in the second group insisted on making me drink; they wouldn't let me leave otherwise. You didn't drink, did you?" Fei Cheng leaned in close to sniff Cheng Yifei’s cheek.
Cheng Yifei didn't retreat an inch. He looked down at the person in front of him, who was acting like a little puppy. "No."
Fei Cheng’s head felt a bit hot. He didn't smell anything, so he stepped back a bit after hearing the answer. He looked left and right, saying solemnly, "That’s good. We can't drink and drive."
Cheng Yifei let out a laugh and nodded along. "Right, no drinking and driving. You’re drunk."
"I am not!" Fei Cheng stared fixedly at Cheng Yifei for a moment before squatting down. "My head is just a little dizzy."
Cheng Yifei squatted down with him. Seeing Fei Cheng’s hair fluttering in the wind, he reached out and ruffled it.
"Brother Cheng, we’ve graduated again," Fei Cheng whispered, staring at the road beneath his feet.
Fortunately, Cheng Yifei had excellent hearing. He caught the words amidst the noise from the late-night snack stalls across the street. He gave an affirmative hum. "We’ve graduated again. Only university is left."
"University... I wonder if I’ll get in. If I don't, I won't be able to go to the same school as you."
Cheng Yifei said, "We will be at the same school."
"Hmm?" Fei Cheng lifted his head. His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were watery as he looked at him. "Really?"
Cheng Yifei suppressed the urge to do something more and simply patted his head. "Really. We’ll talk about it when you’re sober." He wasn't mimicking words like a parrot yet, which meant he wasn't severely drunk, but he wasn't exactly clear-headed either.
Fei Cheng grumbled a soft protest, "I’m not drunk! I’m perfectly sober!"
"Fine, you’re not drunk. I’m the one who’s drunk," Cheng Yifei said, supporting him by the arm.
"Brother Cheng, why did the road suddenly start rolling?"
"..."
"I need to stand steady. Brother Cheng, don't move!"
Cheng Yifei: "..." *I haven't moved at all.*
Seven or eight minutes later, Yu Qing arrived, his face bright red. He was the type whose face flushed easily from alcohol, but he wasn't drunk at all. Seeing Cheng Yifei supporting Fei Cheng, he immediately laughed. "Chengcheng, you brat, you’re drunk again!"
"No, I’m sober!"
Yu Qing held up a fist to tease him by asking how many fingers he was holding. After being kicked by Cheng Yifei, he grinned. "He’s definitely not drunk; he’s not repeating after me. Hey, where’s Qiu Minmin? Is she still drinking?"
Cheng Yifei looked up and saw a spirited Qiu Minmin running toward them from the street on the left. He tilted his chin. "She’s here."
"Ha... I’m late!" Qiu Minmin panted as she looked at them. "Have you been waiting long? My roommates were crying and wouldn't let me leave."
"Nah, I just got here," Yu Qing waved his hand. "But Brother Cheng and Chengcheng were already waiting when I arrived."
"Ah, Fishhead, did you drink?" Qiu Minmin’s gaze turned serious. "Can you still drive if you’ve been drinking?"
Yu Qing promised, "I didn't drink much. My brain is perfectly clear!" With Brother Cheng here, would he dare get drunk? He’d be scolded to death.
Qiu Minmin rubbed her wrists. "Forget it. People who’ve been drinking aren't reliable. I’ll drive you instead."
Yu Qing: "?"
"I’m 178cm and 60kg. Are you sure you can carry me?"
Fei Cheng listened quietly, then suddenly analyzed with a serious face, "Based on your conversation, your vehicle definitely has two wheels. It takes at least two hours to bike home from here. Since it’s so late, it’s unlikely you’re riding bicycles. Therefore, you’re on a motorcycle!"
Qiu Minmin: "..."
Yu Qing: "..."
Cheng Yifei: "Good boy."
Qiu Minmin: "What’s wrong with Chengcheng? Haven't we always been riding a motorcycle?"
Yu Qing: "He’s just drunk."
Qiu Minmin and Yu Qing argued over who would drive whom. Finally, at Cheng Yifei’s command, Qiu Minmin took the keys from Yu Qing. She started the engine and revved the throttle. Once Yu Qing got on, she followed behind Cheng Yifei. Time to go home!
The cool night breeze brushed against their faces as the headlights illuminated the road home.
Sitting behind Qiu Minmin, Yu Qing didn't dare lean too close to her slender frame. He gripped the back of the seat tightly. "Slow down, slow down, Big Boss! Our lives are at stake. It’s fine if we get home a bit late!"
"Shut up, I’m only doing 40!"
Yu Qing leaned over to look; she was right, but it wasn't exactly slow either. He suggested, "Could you maybe do 20?"
Qiu Minmin: "How about I drop you off right now and you can pedal a bike?"
Yu Qing: "That won't be necessary. Just focus on following Brother Cheng. Watch out for other vehicles and don't ignore the brakes! If anything happens, we jump ship together!"
"Get lost." Qiu Minmin kept the motorcycle steady. After several turns and over half an hour of riding, they arrived at her front door.
Yu Qing took over the handlebars from her, muttering about how he, the one who had been drinking, still had to be the one to drive the bike back.
However, after half an hour in the wind, he did feel much better. Even Fei Cheng wasn't as dizzy anymore. Fei Cheng glanced at the house where he used to live, then withdrew his gaze. "Go on in. Call me immediately if anything happens."
"Okay," Qiu Minmin answered brightly. She turned to open the iron gate of the courtyard, walked to the wall, and waved at them. "You guys get home quickly too."
Before Cheng Yifei could turn the bike around, the door of the two-and-a-half-story house opened. A boy of about twelve or thirteen ran out. He stood by Qiu Minmin and called out "Sis," then looked at Cheng Yifei and Fei Cheng warily. "Why are you back so late? Mom and Dad called twice to ask about you."
Qiu Minmin said, "I’m back now, aren't I? There were a lot of classmates since it’s graduation. Why aren't you asleep yet?"
"Mom and Dad told me to wait until you were back. Oh, right, Auntie left some food for you in the pot."
"Okay, I got it."
Cheng Yifei revved the engine, waved to Qiu Minmin, and quickly drove Fei Cheng out of her sight.
Only when they were gone did Fei Cheng turn his head away from Qiu Xiaorui.
The butterfly effect of his changes had caused him to lose his foresight. For instance, in his previous life, this younger brother hadn't been this close to her. As Minmin’s grades improved, she became more and more adept at handling family relationships. It seemed there was no longer any need for him to intervene.
The night was deep and the dew was heavy; his back felt strangely cold.
Fei Cheng reached out and hugged Cheng Yifei tightly as he drove. "Brother Cheng..."
"Hmm? What is it?" Cheng Yifei asked, focusing on the road ahead. "Are you cold?"
"Yeah..."
"Then hold onto me for warmth. We’ll be home soon."
"Okay~"
Just as he spoke, Yu Qing overtook them. He seemed to let out a faint "tsk" as he passed.
Fei Cheng squinted, leaning against Cheng Yifei’s back as he watched the houses on both sides of the road.
The village had long since paved concrete roads, with a streetlight every fifty meters.
Although the two villages weren't far apart, he hadn't been back once. Sending Minmin home tonight, he realized his memories of this place were so foreign. It was as if everything except things related to Minmin had become a blur.
Actually, this was for the best. When the college entrance exam results came out, Fei Cheng was beyond ecstatic. He immediately called Cheng Yifei. Upon learning that they both surpassed the cutoff for B University, he jumped three feet in the air!
"Grandpa, Grandma! I got into Brother Cheng’s university!!" Without even hanging up the phone, Fei Cheng hugged the two elders who were waiting by the receiver.
Grandpa and Grandma Fei couldn't stop smiling. They patted his back. "Our grandson is amazing. You’re really going to make your parents proud. A university student—you’ll have a bright future!"
Fei Cheng didn't pay much mind to his biased parents. In both his past and present lives, his bond with his parents and brothers wasn't deep. Of course, he couldn't sever the debt of being raised by them; he would fulfill his filial duties and wouldn't ignore them, but they could forget about interfering in his life.
There were still two months before the university term started. The tuition for the first year alone was over five thousand yuan. He needed to find a summer job.
Thinking about the preparations ahead, Fei Cheng quickly calmed down.
He called Yu Qing and Qiu Minmin respectively. He learned that Yu Qing had just barely cleared the admission score for his first choice. It was hard to say if he’d be accepted in the first batch, but there was a good chance; if not, he’d definitely be on the second batch list.
Qiu Minmin hadn't been able to check yet because the system was busy.
Fei Cheng asked for her admission ticket number and went to an internet cafe to check for her. Once he found it, he took a screenshot and sent it to her phone.
Two minutes later, Qiu Minmin sent back a recording of her family’s ecstatic discussion.
Fei Cheng smiled along with them. Amidst the shocked face of a nearby classmate shouting, "Holy crap, are you even human? You got a 673!", he shut down the computer and logged off.
Once the admission letters arrived and everything was settled, Fei Cheng convinced the two elders. Ignoring his parents' arrangements, he went to B City—where the university was located—to work a summer job.
It was originally his own decision, but after telling Cheng Yifei, Yu Qing, and Qiu Minmin, it turned into a group of four.
All four of their universities were in B City. Except for Cheng Yifei, the other three didn't come from wealthy families. Especially Qiu Minmin’s family; her parents had just used twenty years of savings to buy a house in a second-tier city. They had reserved her tuition, but money was still tight.
On one hand, Qiu Minmin’s parents were touched that she was considerate enough to work a summer job to earn her tuition. On the other hand, they were worried because they hadn't left the province in decades. However, since their child had gotten into a good school, it was reasonable for her to go early and get familiar with the area. Thus, they suggested communicating with the parents of Fei Cheng and the others.
Even though the companions were all excellent students, there was still the matter of gender. With Qiu Minmin being the only girl, they couldn't help but worry.
Fei Cheng didn't dare give his parents' contact information to Qiu Minmin, fearing the two sets of stubborn parents would start an argument. Instead, he had Cheng Yifei’s more open-minded parents and Yu Qing’s parents talk to Qiu Minmin’s parents over the phone.
After the communication, all three sets of parents were very impressed with each other's children, and the matter was settled.
Fei Cheng’s older brother, Fei Qi, was a freshman in B City, which was why Grandpa and Grandma Fei felt more at ease. They personally saw Fei Cheng off at the county bus station, telling him to find his brother for help or call home if he encountered difficulties, and never to carry the burden alone.
Fei Cheng agreed readily in front of them. He boarded the bus to the city with Cheng Yifei and the others, then took a train from the city to B City.
Because the train ride was long, their parents were willing to pay extra for hard sleeper tickets. Except for Fei Cheng and Cheng Yifei, it was the first time Yu Qing and Qiu Minmin had been on a train. They were full of curiosity along the way. After fifteen hours, they weren't tired at all; instead, they were full of energy.
Amidst his admiration for their stamina, Fei Cheng declined Fei Qi’s offer to pick him up.
When the train arrived in B City, they each dragged a suitcase and followed the signs out of the station.
Checking routes, looking for directions, observing the new environment—they divided the tasks.
Although it was everyone's first time in B City, they were like newborn calves unafraid of tigers. They found their pre-booked rental apartment without taking any wrong turns. After a day of rest and figuring out the local routes, they officially began their independent lives.
From novelty to trepidation, and then to repeated bold attempts, they grew step by step—from their accents to their clothes to their inner selves.
Two months later, they had adapted to the climate and pace of life in B City.
Starting school, moving in, attending classes—everything was handled with ease.
Cheng Yifei and Qiu Minmin both chose Economics, though in different sub-majors. Fei Cheng chose Education, while Yu Qing chose Law. Although they weren't in the same department, it was very convenient to meet up.
University life was like a new chapter. Here, they met new friends, entered new circles, and accepted new challenges.
Cheng Yifei remained busy. He didn't lack money, so he didn't spend his free time on part-time jobs. Meanwhile, Fei Cheng, Qiu Minmin, and Yu Qing would do part-time work outside of their studies to supplement their living expenses.
However, after two or three weeks of working, they realized that the efficiency of earning money through part-time jobs was too low!
They couldn't go on like this.
On a scorching summer afternoon, they sat in the milk tea shop where Qiu Minmin worked, lost in their own thoughts.
Yu Qing was slumped on the table, browsing forum posts for interesting ways to make money.
Fei Cheng rested his chin on his hand, staring blankly at the road outside the window.
Cheng Yifei typed the last line of code and closed his laptop. "How about being a tutor?"
"I’ve decided! I’m going to start live streaming!" Yu Qing announced loudly the moment Cheng Yifei finished speaking.
Fei Cheng turned to look at him. "Are you serious?"
"What? Am I bad at games?" Yu Qing countered.
He handed his phone over. "Look, these people can easily earn ten thousand a month just by playing games!"
Fei Cheng took it and gave it a quick browse. He wasn't very interested. "They have the looks, the skills, the eloquence, and a signed guild. What about you? You have no foundation. Plus, there’s a two-month transition period where income isn't guaranteed, and it’s quite time-consuming."
Yu Qing’s face fell. "Am I not good at LOL? I’m at least Master tier! You can't expect me to be a booster, right? Brother Cheng?"
Cheng Yifei only said two words: "Not enough."
Yu Qing returned to his 'salted fish' expression. Finding a side job was so hard!
Fei Cheng didn't want to discourage his friend. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Once you’ve truly decided, I’ll think of something."
"Chengcheng, you have a way to infiltrate the enemy from within?!"
Qiu Minmin happened to come over. Hearing Yu Qing’s words, she stopped. "What are you talking about?"
Yu Qing looked up at her. "I said I want to be a streamer to make money, but Chengcheng says it’s not feasible."
Qiu Minmin asked, "What kind of streamer?"
Yu Qing: "A game streamer!"
"Hmm? I don't know anything about games, so I won't comment. Good luck!" She patted Yu Qing’s shoulder and turned to serve other customers.
Yu Qing watched her back with a brooding gaze and said to Fei Cheng, "For some reason, I feel like your sister’s temper is getting wilder and wilder!"
Fei Cheng: "?"
"She’s clearly bright and generous. Are you blind?"
Yu Qing: "..."
Seeing that he wasn't needed, Cheng Yifei opened his computer and continued typing.
Fei Cheng leaned over to take a look but couldn't make heads or tails of it. He lazily used Cheng Yifei’s shoulder as a pillow, listening as Cheng Yifei introduced him to basic computer knowledge.
Fei Cheng wasn't particularly interested in computers, but Cheng Yifei’s voice was pleasant to the ear. He found himself drifting off as he listened.
Bored, Yu Qing looked up at the scene across from him. He immediately looked around guiltily. Sure enough, several girls were casting curious glances their way!
"Psst! Chengcheng! Chengcheng!" Yu Qing gently kicked Fei Cheng’s foot under the table.
Fei Cheng didn't react.
Cheng Yifei stopped his fingers on the keyboard and looked at him indifferently. "You kicked my foot."
Yu Qing: "..."
"Hey, it’s the same thing! You two should be careful in public. Don't get so close, okay? Look at them!"
Fei Cheng opened his eyes and looked at Yu Qing. He moved his head away from Cheng Yifei’s shoulder and leaned against the back of the sofa to continue resting with his eyes closed.
Cheng Yifei felt a sense of regret. He stared at Yu Qing with a cold, wooden expression. "What kind of trash is your head filled with?"
Yu Qing froze. He realized Cheng Yifei was right. Why was he being so paranoid?
When Qiu Minmin finished her shift, they agreed to go to a food stall for dinner.
Cheng Yifei carried his laptop bag, walking at the back while chatting with Fei Cheng. In front of them, Yu Qing was telling Qiu Minmin about his grand plan to make money.
"Minmin, seriously, what do you think about me being a game streamer? Haven't we played together? I carried you to so many wins~"
Qiu Minmin didn't like playing violent tower-defense games, but that didn't stop her from knowing the basics. "The games you carried me in were normal matches, right? And my rank back then was only Silver. Besides, I had zero game experience."
Yu Qing: "..."
Qiu Minmin continued, "First of all, there’s no entry barrier for being a streamer, right? If you really like it, just open a channel and try it out. See how the audience reacts before deciding whether to sign with a platform. It doesn't require any upfront capital, so what are you hesitating for?"
A wave of clarity hit Yu Qing’s brain. Right, he had nothing to lose. Why was he hesitating?
"Fine! I’ll go back and find a platform to register a channel!" Yu Qing slapped his hand down and turned to Fei Cheng. "Chengcheng, I’ve decided. Didn't you say you had something to tell me?"
Fei Cheng looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What have you decided?"
"I’ve decided to be a game streamer! If I can't do it alone, I’ll add you and Brother Cheng. With us 'Three Musketeers,' we’re bound to make a name for ourselves."
Cheng Yifei said directly, "I can only play occasionally. I don't have much time to sink into it."
Fei Cheng had the time, but he didn't plan to get fully involved. He simply helped clarify the strategy. "There are many categories of games. You need to decide what kind of game streamer you want to be first."
Qiu Minmin added, "And since you don't have a fan base, it’s best to piggyback on a popular game. Then you can edit the highlights of your gameplay into four or five-minute short videos and post them online. I really like watching those kinds of short videos; they should be able to attract some fans."
Fei Cheng looked at Qiu Minmin upon hearing this. At this time, bullet-chat websites had just appeared and weren't yet mainstream, let alone short-video apps.
Noticing Fei Cheng’s gaze, Qiu Minmin asked with a smile, "Chengcheng, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing. I was just curious how you came up with the idea of editing highlights into short videos."
"Because my roommate often browses a bullet-chat site that doesn't have many members yet. There are some short videos of movie edits on there, and the uploaders who do a good job get followers. I thought this could work for games too. It’s a form of promotion, right?"
Fei Cheng nodded. Compared to his previous life, the Minmin of this life was a completely new individual. There was no trace of her former self left in her.
That was good.
Qiu Minmin thought for a moment and continued, "Fishhead, if you want fans to give you tips, you have to make them like you first. Skill is necessary; you have to make your gameplay visually appealing. When the time comes, I have a 'shameless' method to make you famous in one battle."
Yu Qing was incredibly moved that his old friend was helping him brainstorm. He asked urgently, "What shameless method? You’re not going to make me call some pro 'Daddy,' are you?"
Qiu Minmin: "..."
"I’m really worried about whether your brain can handle Law."
"Hey, hurry up and tell me. What method will make me famous in one battle?"
Qiu Minmin said, "Directly challenge streamers with a lot of fans to a 1v1. If you win, you’ll gain some fame. But be prepared to be flamed by their fans. After all, you can't get famous without some drama. Although it’s a bit underhanded, as long as you don't cheat, you don't have to feel guilty."
Yu Qing let out a "Holy crap!" "Qiu Minmin, you’re so devious. Is this what they call stepping on others to climb up? Shameless! Truly shameless! I love it!"
Qiu Minmin: "..."
Fei Cheng asked with a smile, "Are you two trying to start trouble? Fishhead, you won't be able to beat those top-tier streamers. They wouldn't be called 'Gods' if they didn't have the skills to back it up. Wake up."
Cheng Yifei curled his lips into a smile. "Anyway, I’m looking forward to the show."
Yu Qing was fuming!
He declared, "You two just wait. If I don't make it, I’ll stream myself doing a handstand while having diarrhea!"
"Streaming a handstand with diarrhea is also a good way to get famous! If you don't mind, you can try it. It’s a great gimmick," Qiu Minmin suddenly said, her words shocking everyone.
Yu Qing: "?"
Fei Cheng and Cheng Yifei looked at each other and laughed, their eyes reflecting each other's smiles.
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
B大 | B University | A prestigious university in B City.
硬卧 | Hard sleeper | A class of train travel in China with bunk beds.
直播 | Live streaming |
LOL | League of Legends | A popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game.
大师级别 | Master tier | A high competitive rank in League of Legends.
弹幕网站 | Bullet chat website | A video site where user comments scroll across the screen (e.g., Bilibili).
UP主 | Uploader / UP | A content creator on video platforms.
代打 | Booster / Boosting | Playing on someone else's account to increase their rank for money.
大排档 | Food stall / Open-air stall | Casual outdoor dining area.
匹配局 | Normal match / Matching game | Non-ranked game mode in LOL.
白银 | Silver | A lower competitive rank in LOL.
撕逼 | Drama / Infighting | Internet slang for public arguments or catfights used to gain attention.
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