To Be Continued

In the midsummer of seventeen years old, the shadow of sycamore trees covered half of the corridor. Jiang Ling was a well-known "problem student" in the school. He came from a wealthy family but was riddled with thorns. Skipping classes and fighting were common. There was a closedness and brokenness forced by family trauma hidden in his eyes. And Wu Yan was the only light in his youth, the white moonlight that he could never forget in the years to come. Wu Yan transferred to another school with a secret illness. He is a top student who is "definitely a master of Qingbei" in the words of his teacher. He is silent and transparent, gentle but edgy. She was not afraid of Jiang Ling's anger like others, but saw through the fragility under his disguise - he skipped class and hid on the rooftop to smoke, and she handed him his notes; after he was domestically abused by his father, he squatted in the corner of the playground to clean his wounds alone, and she silently put down the band-aid and a bottle of medical treatment. She used topical medicines to treat bruises and bone-related injuries, and said softly, "If bruises are not treated well, they will become the root cause of the disease in the future." But she didn't say another word, leaving only the silhouette of his back and the fragrance of the medicine bottle; when he was ostracized by his classmates, she dared to stand up and say, "The reason is not that there are many people." She is like a soft but firm light, taking the initiative to approach but not being humble. With the sobriety of "I am willing to help you, but you also want to get better", she accompanies him to fight against the indifference of his family and teaches him to let go of his guard. On the bench on campus, she made up for missed classes for him; under the streetlight after evening study, he clumsily brought her hot roasted sweet potatoes; the unsent love letters concealed their careful feelings. Everyone in the group portrait saw it: squad leader Song Jiale was gentle and responsible, silently taking care of Wu Yan who was in poor health; beautiful girl Xi Simiao was jealous that Wu Yan could enter Jiangling's world; best friend Lin Longyu witnessed the unique bond between them, which has become an indelible footnote in youth. But Jiangling's isolation and passivity, the continuous suppression by his native family, and Wu Yan's worsening illness eventually made this relationship unbalanced. Wu Yan's gentleness has never been bottomless accommodation. When her efforts were ignored and her concerns were ignored, she soberly took back all her thoughts and left quietly during the graduation season without leaving a word of farewell. Wu Yan left his hometown with regrets, fighting the disease while completing his studies, and lived a tenacious and dazzling life; but Jiang Ling only woke up after losing her. The girl who took the initiative to approach and tolerated him tenderly had already been engraved in his bones and blood. He lost his youthful anger and tried his best to make up for the absurdity of the past, but there was no trace of Wu Yan again. Five years later, Jiang Ling relied on acquired efforts to gain a foothold, but he always lived in his thoughts. He blocked class monitor Song Jiale at the class reunion and asked Wu Yan's whereabouts with red eyes. Song Jiale was silent for a long time, only handing him a yellowed notebook, and said in a low voice that was almost inaudible: "She died last winter... Of bone cancer." He paused and added, "Actually, this type of bone cancer has a high success rate of treatment. As long as the treatment is persisted, most people can survive. But she... Couldn't hold on in the end." The illusion of reunion collapsed instantly, and the tugging feeling turned into heart-wrenching regret - he didn't even know she was sick, and he didn't even have time to say an apology. Song Jiale's words were like a dull knife, cutting through all the luck: it wasn't that she couldn't be cured, but that she was too lonely and tired, and couldn't even hold on to the hope that should have been hers. The notebook contains sporadic diaries from each day when Wu Yan just transferred to school. The last page reads: "The wind is very cold in the summer night, and the regrets are long, but thank you for making me feel that there is light in the darkness." Everyone in the group portrait also bears the scars of youth: Song Jiale is still gentle, but always remembers the girl who silently shouldered everything; Xi Simiao puts away his sharp edge and feels guilty for his jealousy back then; Lin Longyu witnesses everything, but can only regret that they missed it. The sourness of secret love, the warmth of mutual redemption, and the determination to wake up and let go are ultimately not worth the suffering of illness and the time missed. Wu Yan became the eternal white moonlight in Jiang Ling's heart. He could be seen but not touched, remembered but not touched. Those unspoken thoughts and unfulfilled agreements eventually dissipated in the summer night wind. This is a feast about love and regret, and it is also a tragedy that a group of teenagers and girls tried their best in the flower season and rainy season but missed it in the end. Intention: The unfinished redemption is the final chapter of youth. Unfinished youthful affairs are the sadness of youth.