Looking Back

1. When Lin Nanxing saw Su Ranyu again, she fled in a panic.

That day, Lin Nanxing sat across from Ren Heze and told him all about how she'd felt when she unexpectedly ran into Su Ranyu at Ji Li's house. "When I saw him that day, it was more accurate to say that I was the only one who recognized him. At Xinglian, I actually heard his voice, but I was so panicked then. After that, I started having dreams again and again, all of them about high school. Today I saw him again. He asked if things had gone smoothly and said he was sorry. I couldn't handle it. I was afraid I'd remember everything at once, so I ran away."

Nobody was at fault in this relationship. If there was any blame to be laid, it was on being young and not knowing how to cherish what they had, not understanding the power of love, hate, jealousy, and longing, or how far apart people can drift until they never meet again. A parting without a goodbye ended with eight people falling apart and going their separate ways. One person found love despite society's condemnation. Another spent years thinking of and missing someone thousands of kilometers away, holding back time and again. Someone else carried their guilt through five years that no one knew about. And someone spent night after pitch-black night keeping the people in this story company.

2. At karaoke that day, Su Ranyu used Truth or Dare to ask the question he'd asked years ago. "So, Lin Nanxing, did you wish for me?"

Lin Nanxing felt a little drunk. Why was Su Ranyu the only person left in this place? Why was it always him? She looked up and hugged the person in front of her around the waist. "Ranyu, you're here? Did you come to take me home? I miss you so much. Do you miss me?"

"Nini, you can't keep running away like this, can you? I miss you so much, Nini." He bent down and kissed her.

Did everyone's wishes at the temple come true that day? V

3. The day they truly reunited was at Ji Li's house. As soon as Lin Nanxing left, Ji Li immediately confronted Su Ranyu. "What are you trying to do? You made up your mind to leave back then, so what are you doing now? Don't you think this is unfair to everyone? Nini back then... Forget it, I won't get into your business. But there were eight of us, and in the end we fell apart and went our separate ways. How much of that was your responsibility? You just up and left, but what about Chen Liang? Xu Jiayu? For all these years, none of you ever contacted us. And don't forget Han Yue and Xu Yuran. They were caught in the middle of that huge scandal, dealing with all the public criticism, and still went out to comfort Lin Nanxing again and again in the street, even knowing people would condemn them. Do I have to spell everything out for you?"

"Say something! Why aren't you saying anything?"

"I was the one who insisted on leaving back then. I should bear the consequences." Su Ranyu didn't seem particularly emotional. He spoke calmly, even saying, "See you next time. I'm sorry things turned unpleasant. I shouldn't have imposed."

Nobody won this battle, not Lin Nanxing and not Su Ranyu. One was tormented by depression, while the other went far away and spent five years alone.

Core theme: Love entangled with growth.