The alma mater had not changed so much after they graduated. Only people had changed for the past three years. The alma mater, which they spend four years living in, carried with their unforgettable memories.
Some students were reading quietly on the grass or near the bushes. It was like a harmonious and peaceful scene. Ye Fan and others felt like returning to the past, a time when they were away from the impetuousness and disorder of the city.
After graduation, everyone of them stroke for their lives and dreams. Many left the city and went far away. Except for Ye Fan and several other students, it was for the first time they went back to the alma mater.
Waves occurred on the surface of the small lake nearby. The scene was the same as past. They could clearly remember those melancholy or brilliant figures who played the guitar and sang folk songs near the lake.
Familiar melody stirred the heart of people, making they recall the innocent golden age of their lives, with faint sorrow .
Time left the sediment of a rainbow-like dream, mingled with a bitter sweet taste.
They didn’t know whether onetime music lovers could still pick up their guitars and sing as before. It was hard to find them after graduation.
"I heard that the melancholic guitarist sang in a bar in another city. Unsatisfactory life aged him a lot."
“Do you remember that talented pretty girl of the school band? She was once beautiful and pure like snow. It is said that she’s now working in a nightclub as a barmaid.”
Everyone sighed.
After graduation, many people encountered the conflict between dream and reality. Life was kind of tricky, confusing the diligent and frustrating the courageous.
After a brief silence, the crowd continued to walk forward.
At this time, Lin Jia came to Ye Fan.
She wore a blue-and-white chiffon dress with hem to the thighs, making her long beautiful legs look more attractive and touching. A black belt was tied on her supple waist. Her long hair spread over her plump chest, setting off her perfect body curve.
She had exotic charming eyes and a pretty face with pale smooth skin, which made her attractive and fascinating.
“Obviously you had a car. Why didn't you tell me yesterday?"
“I didn’t get a chance to say.”
"Don't you take me back to the hotel today?"
"With great pleasure. I’m willing to take you back, my lady."
They both laughed.
Lin Jia mentioned the embarrassing affair between Ye Fan and Liu Yunzhi at party, because she didn’t want to leave a bad impression on Ye Fan.
After saying this, she smiled and turned away. Lin Jia was a clever girl. She just had a few words with Ye Fan without excusing herself. It was not helpful for their relation if she explained too much for previous embarrassment on the party.
This subtle change naturally happened to other students as well. They all tried to repair relation with Ye Fan.
It was nearly noon when they left their alma mater, and the crowd came to the Food Street. They found a nice restaurant for lunch.
Wang Ziwen privately invited Ye Fan to sit with them. Ye Fan just smiled and went to toast them, sitting with his friends as usual.
"Ye Fan, I was drunk yesterday. Please forget about my drunken words.” “I want to apologize to you today, please accept my apology.”
The boy who said his fiancee was the niece of a bank executive tried to explain what happened yesterday in a low profile. The girl who said her husband had been promoted to vice president also changed her attitude and made an apology to Ye Fan.
“Cheers, everyone!”
……
Compared to yesterday, everyone kept clinking glasses with Ye Fan. The atmosphere here was very lively and happy. People from other tables came over to toast Ye Fan one by one. Ye Fan politely clinked glassed with others, even with the ones who made him unpleasant yesterday.
Liu Yunzhi was calm today, although he was embarrassed by Ye Fan yesterday. There wasn’t any unusual look on his face, and he acted like nothing had ever happened before.
"You guys, I received a call last night from the other side of the pacific ocean..."
Zhou Yi stood up from the seat and said to others. He was an elegant young man, with rumors that he had a very strong family background. It was not a secret among his classmates. Zhou Yi was the one Wang Ziwen waited for outside the entertainment center yesterday.
Everyone stopped chatting and looked ai Zhou Yi. He was as easy-going and gentle as before.
Zhou Yi said that three students studying abroad on the other side of the ocean had already set off to return to China. A cheer suddenly went up in the hall.
……
"After graduation, we came to different places of the world. Everyone has his own life track. It is not easy for us to get reunited. When we meet again in the future, we may be fathers and mothers. We don’t know how soon will that day come. Now three of our friends studying abroad will return, so I have a proposal to slightly extend this gathering.”
……
After lunch, Ye Fan drove home and made himself a cup of green tea. Then he quietly looked out the window at the sycamore trees, falling into memory.
Vanished wonderful things in the life, such as the missing friendship or the disappeared love, were like those falling leaves of the sycamore trees.
The name of Li Xiaoman had long faded away from Ye Fan's memory.
Li Xiaoman went to study abroad when she graduated from university. In the first few months, she kept a close relationship with Ye Fan. As time went by, their e-mails and phone calls became less frequent than before. Finally, their connection was completely cut off.
Maybe forgetting about each other was the best way for them. Their “underdog” love finally came to the end as expected.
When he heard that Li Xiaoman was about to return, Ye Fan had some strange feelings when he heard her name, a name once known by heart but now unfamiliar with.
……
The gathering was extended, and the classmates planned to visit Mount Tai together. All expenses would be afforded by Wang Ziwen and Zhou Yi. It might be a huge expense for others, but for them it was nothing.
Three days later, Ye Fan saw the familiar figure again after three years at the foot of Mount Tai. Li Xiaoman was standing there, graceful and gorgeous. She had not changed so much.
She was about 170 centimeters tall, wearing a pair of sunglasses, with long black hair fluttering in the wind. Dressing in a casual and simple style, Li Xiaoman wore shorts above her knees and a T-shirt with a cartoon print, show off her slender thighs.
It was no doubt that Li Xiaoman was a beauty with delicate skins and seductive figure. Her eyes were big with long lashes, making her look agile. Li Xiaoman was confident and quiet as usual.
She became the center of attention, talking with others warmly and friendly.
There was a tall young man standing beside her. It is said that the man was her American classmate. Compared with typical eastern face, he belonged to the type of western physiognomy, prominent nose, brooding eyes, and curly hair.
"Hello, I'm Cade, longing for Mount Tai ... and finally seeing it." His Chinese was not so good, barely conveying his meaning.
The other two students who also returned from studying abroad were surrounded by many enthusiastic classmates, answering questions about their study and living.
Three years later, Ye Fan saw Li Xiaoman again, and he had a feeling of time disorder.
The reunion was uneventful for both of them. They greeted each other politely. After a long separation, they have alienated each other and busted up. Now, their relationship was just as plain as water.
Without saying a word, Ye Fan passed her by. Silence seemed to be made for the scene.
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Alexanda Jerry (New Translator) is waiting for your feedback!
Kind of Montage :) Hope you like this chapter.
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