Thinking that if you caught the tail of summer, you'd caught eternity.
In the third year of junior high school, with a hundred days to go before the high - school entrance exam, Chi Xu, as the top student in the grade, stood on the platform built on the playground. He led the junior - high seniors in taking an oath with high spirits.
The young man was tall and slender, wearing the blue - and - white school uniform. The howling wind blew into his jacket, and the smile on his face was even brighter than the sun on the horizon.
Jiang Yuan was lost in the crowd. She tilted her head slightly, clenching her right hand into a fist and holding it above her head.
Looking at him was like looking at an attainable future.
As if they were telepathic, the boy on the platform, after saying the name of the oath - taker, suddenly turned his head and looked into the dense crowd that resembled an ocean. He spotted Jiang Yuan precisely.
Their gazes collided unexpectedly.
Jiang Yuan was stunned. She didn't know how Chi Xu knew she was standing there. She saw the boy mouth something silently.
The distance was too far, and he was standing so high. Jiang Yuan could only tell that he was mime - speaking.
After the 100 - day oath - taking ceremony for the high - school entrance exam, the grade director announced the dismissal, and the students slowly made their way back to their classrooms.
Jiang Yuan didn't go to find Chi Xu. She went up the stairs with her friend directly and returned to the classroom.
At the back door of the classroom, the boy was leisurely leaning against the wall. He was only wearing a black short - sleeved shirt inside, with the blue - and - white school uniform jacket tied around his waist. His features were sharp and handsome.
Hearing the noise, he lazily lifted his eyelids and looked at Jiang Yuan.
"Jiang Yuan, Chi Xu is here to see you again." Her friend nudged her and whispered with an ambiguous smile.
Jiang Yuan's cheeks flushed. She pushed her friend back impatiently: "He must have something to talk about. Don't eavesdrop on our conversation."
Her friend's eyes lingered on the two of them. She blatantly gave Jiang Yuan a gesture of "go for it" and went into the classroom with a playful smile.
Right after the 100 - day oath - taking ceremony, the corridor was crowded.
Jiang Yuan walked up to Chi Xu shyly and asked with a smile, "Why are you here? And you came so early."
Her bright, rippling eyes were full of a clean, lively spirit in the wind. He was unexpectedly captivated by her smile.
After regaining his composure, he stood up slowly and looked down at her: "Did you hear what I said on the platform just now?"
"No, it was too far away." Jiang Yuan shook her head and answered truthfully.
Chi Xu seemed to have expected this answer. The warm sunlight was reflected in his eyes, and laughter spilled from his throat. He patted Jiang Yuan on the head.
His warm breath hit her face.
It was like a little kitten was frolicking and jumping around in her heart.
She heard him say,
"May Yuan Yuan have a pen that gives birth to flowers and a mind as gushing as a spring. May everything go smoothly for you in the high - school entrance exam."
Her breath caught in her throat. Her fingers behind her back clutched the corner of her clothes. Her heart was pounding like thunder.
Jiang Yuan secretly raised her eyes to look at him.
Unexpectedly, their gazes met. He stared at her intently, his eyes lingering on her.
Jiang Yuan's ears burned. The smile on her face faded a bit, and shyness welled up in her eyes.
"Aren't you afraid the grade director and the others will find out?"
After holding it in for a long time, this was all she could say.
Chi Xu raised his eyebrows and smiled recklessly and brightly: "So what if they find out? During the oath - taking, I only hoped that my blessing could be for you and only you."
"Jiang Yuan, let's apply to the same university."
The topic jumped quickly. Jiang Yuan was a bit slow to react and then realized what he was saying.
"It's still more than three years away. Isn't it too early to talk about it now?"
"Not early. Time passes quickly. Look, I feel like we've known each other for almost nine years. In the blink of an eye, time has slipped away."
The young man waved his hand helplessly and continued with a look of frustration: "Time is such a thief. How come you and I have suddenly grown up and are about to enter high school?"
While hoping that time would slow down, he was also tangled and eager for time to pass faster, even faster.
He wished he could fast - forward to college graduation.
He wondered what he would be like then and what Jiang Yuan would be like.
Of course, what he cared about most was what their relationship would be like and whether it would be as he wished.
"Which university do you want to apply to? Your grades are so good." Jiang Yuan propped her arms on the corridor railing and looked into the distance.
The blue sky and white clouds, the golden sunlight shining on her body, made her heart feel warm.
"Jiang Yuan, let's apply to Beijing University together."
Suddenly, Chi Xu called her name seriously. His smile faded, and his dark eyes were full of gentle longing as he stared at the girl bathed in the sunlight.
He turned sideways. His shadow was stretched very long by the sunlight, and a shadow fell on his face, just covering his eyes. One couldn't see his deep affection.
Jiang Yuan raised her eyes. The wind blew through his shoulders and neck. The fine hair on his forehead fluttered slightly, and that shadow just covered his eyes.
"But I may not be able to get in." Jiang Yuan said sadly, looking aggrieved.
Even though she was very happy and delighted.
But it was Beijing University, a sacred place that students across the country dreamed of.
Jiang Yuan wasn't sure, especially since her grades weren't among the top.
She wasn't as outstanding as Chi Xu.
"Yuan Yuan, you have to believe in yourself." Chi Xu said firmly, staring directly at her. "Your foundation is good. You just don't want to work hard and spend a lot of time on study."
"If you spent all that time reading novels on study, getting into the top ten in the grade would be a piece of cake."
Chi Xu bent his finger impatiently and flicked Jiang Yuan on the forehead.
Jiang Yuan winced in pain. She glared at Chi Xu and retorted confidently and defiantly.
"Anyway, I can get into No. 1 High School. We'll talk about the future later."
"Novels are my life. Chi Xu, you're so heartless. You want to take my life."
Chi Xu was amused. He rubbed the place where he'd just flicked her and said softly, "I don't want your life, Yuan Yuan."
After a pause, he asked tentatively, "So it's a deal. We'll apply to Beijing University together?"
Jiang Yuan sighed and clenched her fists, waving them a few times as if to encourage herself: "Let's do it. We'll apply to Beijing University together."
Later, in order to fulfill this promise.
After entering high school, Jiang Yuan gave up all entertainment activities, including her favorite novels, and devoted herself whole - heartedly to study.
After her sophomore year in high school, her grades improved significantly, and she constantly ranked first in the grade.
She was also admitted to Beijing University as she wished, fulfilling the promise made three years ago.
...
In the darkness, Jiang Yuan slowly opened her eyes. Her pillow was soaked.
She lay there quietly. The alarm clock on the bedside table emitted a faint light, showing that it was a little after four in the morning.
She didn't understand why she suddenly dreamed about the year of the high - school entrance exam.
At that time, she was still the old her, and Chi Xu was still the Chi Xu of that time.
Maybe getting into Beijing University was the string that had been taut for three years of high school.
After meeting Chi Xu again, she realized that she still liked him, and that string broke without warning.
Everyone could tell that she liked Chi Xu.
She just avoided talking about it, didn't want to think deeply, and didn't want to admit this fact.