Happy Birthday

The story begins with a birthday and ends with a birthday.

At eighteen, Jiang Xinjiu stood in an empty classroom and once again became certain of one thing: people are formed from the past, which fades away and then gathers again. She had thought she had escaped her past, and was grateful to have met a group of warm, shining people. But the love that withered and ended along with the orange peel suddenly made her realize that she had never moved on from that moment in her childhood.

Surprise! This is actually an ensemble story.

There's one class, with six incredibly capable teachers and a group of "dedicated" class officers. Ever since the class was formed in the second semester of seventh grade, its members have never been shuffled around.

So, what's this class like?

Jiang Xinjiu: "Pretty good. I can't say more, or they'll all gang up on me."

Qin Yan: "When other people complain that life is so boring they yawn three hundred times a day, I'm just grateful that the people in this classroom have shared some incredible times."

Lu Chen: "Remember, don't be too loud when opening a bag of chips between classes. I hope you never find out why."

Gao Yuxin: "Let's put it this way: our class is like a zoo. Its most famous attraction is 'the apes along both banks keep calling without end.'"

Yang Ziyu: "...Sometimes, it gets a little tiring."

Su Yue: "Yang Ziyu means that managing everyone can be really tiring sometimes! Let me tell you, as the zoo director, on the afternoon before every school holiday..."

"Ahhh, Class President, shut up!" Everyone desperately stopped the twenty-thousand-word rant hurtling toward them.

Having close friends who are like family is a gift. Fifty people, aged twelve or thirteen, came together and spent years seeing each other from morning till night, day in and day out.

Recognizing people by their writing and telling them apart by their voices gradually became second nature. They didn't have to worry about being judged for asking about a problem they couldn't solve, or feel awkward over trivial things. They were people who had walked a long road together. Even when an unexpected change to the college entrance exam lay ahead, they wouldn't be at a loss, because they knew they weren't alone.

"Whatever. Class One will handle it."

Theme: Love and hope never fade