Xiao Mubai first met Shen Nian at the beginning of his junior year, when she was a freshman who had just started college.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Even when recalling that dayter, Xiao Mubai still remembered it vividly.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
In truth, it was a very ordinary day, with sunshine as bright as ever, perhaps even a bit hotter than usual.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
But it was on this day that he saw Shen Nian.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
A University had a monument for outstanding students, where the names of students who had participated in majorpetitions or achieved significant aplishments were recorded by the school.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">3
The September sun was still fierce, its strong rays making skin sting, and female students heading to ss all carried parasols.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Shen Nian stood under the zing sunlight, gazing at the monument before her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">3
The monument wasrge, and she tilted her head slightly upward. From Xiao Mubai''s perspective, he could clearly see her slightly raised chin.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
She was very thin, her jawline prominently defined.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
The dazzling sunlight shone on her face, entuating her distinct features.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Though she stood in the scorching sun, surrounded by the bustling crowd, she exuded an otherworldly, cool aura that effortlessly made her the most eye-catching figure, drawing sideways nces from passersby.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Including Xiao Mubai.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
When Xiao Mubai noticed her, she was staring at the monument. For some reason, at first nce, Xiao Mubai sensed a sadness about her, but he didn''t know what she was looking at or why she seemed sorrowful.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">1
It wasn''t untilter that Xiao Mubai learned that on that day, she had been looking at Lu Lingchuan''s name on the outstanding student monument.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">1
After that encounter, Xiao Mubai saw Shen Nian a few more times, in the library and the cafeteria.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">2
She was unique. While others were always in groups of three or five, she was always alone, without friends, not talking to anyone.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Whether studying or eating, even when walking along the winding paths of the campus, one could only see her solitary figure.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
She looked very lonely, immersed only in her own world.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">1
It didn''t seem like the world had abandoned her, but rather that she had abandoned the world.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">1
Xiao Mubai had never been one to meddle in others'' affairs, but Shen Nian''s uniqueness caught his attention.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">1
The chancellor of A University was an older brother of Xiao Mubai''s mother, which made him Xiao Mubai''s uncle.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
The university hadndscaped an area of the campus with a small river, an arched bridge, a pavilion, and cobblestone paths. These were essential features, but therge expanse ofwn made it look too empty. After consulting with Xiao Mubai, the chancellor decided to nt a few trees a bit farther from the path.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
All the other saplings had sessfully taken root, except for one that looked wilted and on the verge of dying.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
The chancellor thought it wouldn''t survive and wanted to dig it up and rece it, but Xiao Mubai believed the tree wasn''t dead yet and disagreed with removing it.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Because of this, the two found themselves arguing by the small tree.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Xiao Mubai firmly believed the tree could be saved and debated with his uncle, wasting no small amount of breath. Feeling parched and wanting to leave, he looked up and saw a graceful figure standing on the cobblestone path not far away, holding something in her arms, watching them intently.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">2
She seemed to find their argument interesting, her beautiful lips curled into a smile, gentle and shy.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
With just one nce, Xiao Mubai was stunned. He took the initiative to speak, "Hello, student..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Although he had seen her before, he didn''t know her name.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">1
When Shen Nian heard his voice, her smile froze. She immediately withdrew her smile and turned to leave hurriedly.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
In her haste, she didn''t even notice that she had dropped something.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Xiao Mubai walked over, crouched down, and picked up the item.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">3
It was a folded A4 paper, but when he opened it, he found a pressed sunflower specimen inside.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">2
He looked up, but the graceful figure had already disappeared.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
For the next few days, Xiao Mubai didn''t see her. To prove to his uncle that the tree could be saved, he woulde every day during his lunch break to water and fertilize it, observing its condition.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">3
One day, due to some matters, he arrived half an hourte. As he hurried over with the watering can, he saw that familiar figure crouching beside the small tree, carefully tending to the soil.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
She seemed unfamiliar with tree nting, so she kept her phone in hand, frequently tapping and swiping the screen, asionally looking up to carefully check the tree observation information Xiao Mubai had recorded on a tag hanging from a small branch.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Xiao Mubai smiled, not approaching, but quietly watching her busy work from a distance.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
When she seemed to be nearly finished, he walked over and initiated conversation.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"Hello, student. My name is Xiao Mubai. What''s your name?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Shen Nian, absorbed in her task, was startled. When she looked up and saw Xiao Mubai, her eyes shed with nervousness and avoidance. She gathered her things, ready to leave, but Xiao Mubai called out to her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"You dropped somethingst time," he said.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">1
Shen Nian ignored him.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"It was a sunflower specimen. It must be something very important to you."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">2
If it weren''t important, she wouldn''t have been carrying it with her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Sure enough, Shen Nian stopped in her tracks, turned around, and reached out her hand: "Please return it to me."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Xiao Mubai smiled slightly and took a white floating box from his pocket, handing it to her. "It was just pressed between paper, which could easily damage it. So I took the liberty of putting it in a floating box. This will protect it as much as possible, and you can open it anytime."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Shen Nian took the floating box Xiao Mubai handed her, pursed her lips, and still said, "Thank you."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">1
Seeing that she was finally not avoiding him, Xiao Mubai tried to make conversation: "This sunflower specimen must be very precious to you."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">2
Shen Nian held the floating box close to her heart without speaking. Just as Xiao Mubai thought she wouldn''t answer him, she spoke.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"This was made by hand by my best friend."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">3
That''s why she cherished it so much.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
At that time, Xiao Mubai didn''t know Lu Lingrui, so when he heard her say this, he was momentarily taken aback, then his smile deepened.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">2
Cherishing a friend''s gift so much showed she must be a very gentle girl.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
He asked again, "My name is Xiao Mubai. Can you tell me your name?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">2
She pursed her lips: "Shen Nian."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"Niàn?" There weren''t many characters with this pronunciation, so Xiao Mubai immediately knew which character it was.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
But he still asked, "Is it the ''nian'' from ''missing'' or ''remembering''?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"..." Shen Nian didn''t answer, only looking at him with an unreadable expression. Then she shook her head and corrected him.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"It''s the ''nian'' from memorating''."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"Commemorate..." he murmured these words.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
The ''nian'' from ''missing'' and the ''nian'' from memorating'' were actually the same character.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">3
"Most people rarely use this word to describe it."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
They would usually say it''s the ''nian'' from ''missing'', ''longing'', or ''never forgetting''.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Because the character "dian" is usually used in the phrase "jidian" (meaning "to offer sacrifices to the dead"), which is considered inauspicious, it''s only used in funeral ceremonies.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"..." Shen Nian remained silent, still looking at him with that inscrutable gaze.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Then, she quietly turned and left.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
For a while after that, Xiao Mubai didn''t see her again. However, whenever he went to check on the little tree a bitter than usual, he would find signs of her presence.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">3
She must have beening every day. When she saw him approach, she would leave without a word. On days when he was too busy to tend to the tree, she would appear and take over his tasks.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">1
He took the initiative to invite her to care for the little tree together.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
At first, Shen Nian was ufortable, but she agreed nheless.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
She didn''t talk much and appeared shy. When silent, she seemed aloof, but while tending to the little tree, she was incredibly gentle and attentive. asionally, she would even smile.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
She had no friends and was all alone.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">2
After a period of care, the little tree, meeting their expectations, survived and began to thrive. Their rtionship also grew closer, and she would asionally initiate conversations with him.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
One day, as they were tending to the little tree as usual, he spoke up.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"Nian Nian," he said.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"Hmm?" she responded.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Holding a small shovel in his hand, he watched her watering the tree and said, "In my eyes, you''re a wonderful girl. If it''s possible, would you consider dating me?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">3
"tter..." The watering can slipped from Shen Nian''s hands, spilling water onto her shoes.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Shen Nian seemed not to notice. She just quietly looked at him for a few seconds, then wordlessly got up and left.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Xiao Mubai thought his rudeness had offended Shen Nian and was about to apologize when she sent him a message, inviting him to meet on the arched bridge next to the little tree.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
When he hurried over, she was already there.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Standing on the arched bridge, she was quietly gazing at the water below.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">3
He approached her, and when he was about three meters away and about to speak, she beat him to it.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"Someone died here," she said.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Xiao Mubai was stunned, not immediately grasping her meaning. He reflexively asked, "What?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Shen Nian turned to face him, pointing at her own belly: "Here."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">3
He immediately understood her meaning.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Shen Nian saw the surprise in his eyes and gave a softugh. "So, I''m not as good as you imagine. I''m not a good person at all. Anyone who gets close to me bes extremely unfortunate. Do you understand now?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
The surprise in his eyessted only two seconds before disappearing. Most guys would have been scared off by now, but apart from his initial shock, Xiao Mubai quickly regained hisposure.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">1
He asked her, "Was it voluntary or forced?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Although he didn''t specify, she knew what he was asking. She nodded, "Voluntary."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Xiao Mubai nodded, then asked, "And here?" He pointed at her belly with his index finger. "You said someone died. Was that voluntary or forced?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"..." This time, Shen Nian fell silent, her eyes filled with darkness.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Her silence was the best answer. Xiao Mubai suddenly broke into a big smile: "So, I wasn''t wrong about you."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"..." She looked up at him, confused.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">1
"I don''t know what you''ve been through in the past, and you don''t have to tell me because that''s your life. Everyone has a different life journey, experiencing things others won''t. That''s what makes our memories unique."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"When I judge someone, I don''t deliberately try to understand what they''ve been through or use that to evaluate whether they''re good or bad. I trust my own eyes."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"From the time we''ve spent together, I can see that you''re a good person. You''re not showy or calcting. Even if you repeatedly tell me how unworthy you are, I think I''d justugh it off and not take it to heart."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Shen Nian asked, puzzled, "Why?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">3
Xiao Mubai smiled gently, "Because I simply can''t believe that a girl who willingly spends so much time and patience caring for an abandoned little tree could be so terrible and unworthy."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"..." Shen Nian was taken aback, then gave a wry smile. "I never realized you were such a persistent person."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Persistent... In the past, when Shen Nian described Xiao Mubai this way, he had just smiled it off, not taking it to heart. It wasn''t untilter, upon careful reflection, that he realized how apt Shen Nian''s description was.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
He was indeed too persistent. Once he set his mind on something, he would keep at it. Just like protecting Shen Nian - it was a firm belief from the very beginning. Even knowing she didn''t love him, even knowing she couldn''t let go of Lu Lingrui and Lu Lingchuan, he was unwilling to give up on her until he was certain of her happiness.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Because her life had been too bitter - devoid of familial love, romantic love, and friendship.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
His presence might not give her much, but it could tell her one thing.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Don''t be afraid. No matter how difficult the road ahead is, I''m behind you. I''ll be here to protect you.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
It was also after that conversation that they became very good friends.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">1
...<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Xiao Mubai stood at the entrance of the operating room, never before realizing how time could stretch so long, each minute and second seeming to slow down by thousands of times.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
He leaned dejectedly against the wall by the operating room door, lowering his gaze to look at the blood on his hands, so vivid, so ring.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">2
ncing at the time on his watch, he realized only ten minutes had passed, even though he had already meticulously recalled his entire history with Shen Nian.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Finally, the light above the operating room went out, and the door opened. The doctor removed his mask but didn''t speak, just shaking his head gravely at Xiao Mubai.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Then, Shen Nian was wheeled out by a nurse, a white sheet covering her face.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">2
Upon seeing that white sheet, Xiao Mubai finally broke down, stumbling over to her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
He bent down and grasped her hand that had fallen outside the sheet.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
It was so cold, so chilling.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
He couldn''t see her face, only feel the iciness of her hand. The doctors and nurses quietly stepped back, not wanting to intrude on their moment.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
There was no heart-wrenching cry. He just knelt on one knee, holding her hand, and suddenly smiled.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
With reddened eyes, he looked at her and said, "I''ve been constantly thinking about how to keep you alive, but on careful reflection, I realize I''ve been too selfish. I never considered your feelings."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Large teardrops fell onto the back of her hand as Xiao Mubai lowered his head to blow warm air on it, continuously rubbing her hand, hoping to warm it up even just a little...<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">1
He remembered her saying that she liked to see him smile because his smile was so warm.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
If she liked it, he would smile. So he smiled, a big, broad smile.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Scalding tears kept falling onto the back of her hand. Xiao Mubai quickly wiped them away. His eyes were rmingly red, yet he was still smiling.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"If living bes too exhausting, then we''ll stop living."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
"We''ll stop living..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
There''s a saying that a man''s knees are worth their weight in gold.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
But at this moment, in the hospital, outside the operating room, a man nearly six feet tall was kneeling beside the surgical trolley, holding a hand that would never grow warm again, repeating those five words over and over.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Everyone present was moved; even the doctors and nurses'' eyes reddened.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
...<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
An elderly professor at A University was about to retire. For his final lecture before retirement, he invited all the students he had taught over his many years.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
This included Xiao Mubai, as well as Shen Nian.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">0
Originally, Xiao Mubai hadn''t nned to attend, but considering how much Shen Nian respected this professor, he decided to go after all.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="css-i073lf">3