On the first day of school, the school beauty in black stockings took me to a hotel.

There weren't many people on the second floor, so they found a seat near the front.

The car started moving slowly, and the street scene outside the window began to flow.

Like a curious child, Su Wanqing leaned against the car window to look out: "Chang'an and northern Beijing are really different. The buildings in northern Beijing are all very modern, with skyscrapers and glass curtain walls. Chang'an, on the other hand... has a more historical feel."

"It's the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties," Liu Yu said. "However, a lot of new buildings have been built in recent years, but the old town's charm has still been preserved to some extent."

As the car passed a section of the city wall, Su Wanqing excitedly pointed out the window: "Look! The city wall! How magnificent!"

"That's the South Gate. We can go for a stroll there at night. The city walls are lit up at night, it's even more beautiful."

Chang'an No.1 Middle School is located in Beilin District and is considered a long-established key middle school in Chang'an.

The school is small, but it has a long history. Most of the buildings are old buildings from the 1970s and 80s, with red brick walls covered with ivy.

Ten minutes later, the two stood outside the gate of Chang'an No.1 Middle School.

Because of the holiday, the school gates were closed.

A sign on the iron gate reads, "No unauthorized personnel allowed during the National Day holiday."

Through the gaps in the iron gate, you can see the empty playground and school buildings.

Su Wanqing peeked through the crack in the door: "I can't get in..."

"It's a school after all, they definitely won't let you in during the holidays. How about we just wander around outside? I'll take you to my usual little shop for something to eat!"

Su Wanqing didn't say anything, she just stared longingly at the campus.

Liu Yu's heart softened when he saw her like this.

He looked around and then pulled Su Wanqing toward the side of the school.

"What are you doing!" Su Wanqing asked.

"I'll take you through a 'special passage'."

The two went around to the side of the school, where there was a relatively low wall with broken glass stuck in the top. However, in one place, the glass had been cleared away, and there were several bricks piled up at the bottom of the wall. It was clearly a place left by the "predecessors" to climb over the wall.

Liu Yu pointed to the wall: "During my three years of high school, I climbed over here to go to internet cafes no less than fifty times."

Su Wanqing's eyes widened: "You can even skip class by climbing over the wall!"

"Everyone goes through a rebellious phase, but it usually happens on weekends or during evening study sessions. I still study hard in my regular classes, otherwise how can I get into Tsinghua or Peking University?"

He walked to the wall, tested the stability of the bricks, and then turned to Su Wanqing and said, "Come up, I'll help you across."

Su Wanqing looked at the wall, then at Liu Yu, and whispered excitedly, "We really can get in!"

"It should be fine, just be careful."

Su Wanqing handed the backpack to Liu Yu and walked to the wall. Liu Yu squatted down, clasping his hands together: "Step on my hands."

Su Wanqing carefully placed one foot on Liu Yu's hand and used her other hand to grip the top of the wall.

Liu Yu gave her a strong push, and Su Wanqing climbed up and sat on the top of the wall.

"Wow, what a great view! Liu Yu, come on up!"

Liu Yu threw the two backpacks over first, then took a few steps back, took a running start, pushed off the bricks at the bottom of the wall, and with a push of his hands, nimbly flipped over the wall.

"You...you're so skilled at this!"

"I told you, I'm experienced." Liu Yu jumped off the wall, turned around, and opened his arms. "Jump down, I'll catch you."

Su Wanqing glanced at the ground level, gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and jumped down, landing steadily in Liu Yu's arms.

"You can open your eyes now. Safe landing."

Su Wanqing opened her eyes and found herself being held in Liu Yu's arms, her face pressed against his chest, able to hear his strong heartbeat.

Her face flushed slightly, and she quickly stood up straight: "Th-thank you."

"You're welcome. Come on, let me show you around."

During the National Day holiday, students and teachers were on vacation, and the campus was quiet.

Liu Yu led Su Wanqing through the teaching building and pointed to a window on the third floor: "That's my senior year classroom. The fourth seat by the window is mine."

Su Wanqing looked up at the window, imagining Liu Yu, who was eighteen years old, sitting inside, engrossed in doing practice problems.

"What were you like in high school?!"

"Just... a regular high school student, I get up at six in the morning, go to school at seven for morning reading, have eight classes a day, and study until ten at night. Weekend tutoring, monthly exams, midterms, and finals all come in rotation."

"That sounds like a lot of hard work."

"It's alright, everyone goes through this. But the atmosphere in our class is pretty good. We play basketball together after class and secretly pass notes during evening self-study."

He led Su Wanqing to the playground: "This is the basketball court. I spent most of my free time here during my three years of high school."

He then went to the cafeteria, library, and laboratory building; each place held memories for him.

Just then, a shout came from afar: "Hey! You two students! What are you doing!"

Liu Yu's heart tightened, and when he turned around, he saw a middle-aged man in a security guard uniform walking towards him.

"Oh no, we've been spotted! Run!"

He grabbed Su Wanqing and tried to run, but the security guard was quite agile and quickly caught up.

"Stop! Which class are you from! Why are you still at school during the holidays?!" The security guard, panting, stopped them, then stared at Liu Yu for a few seconds. "You...you're Liu Yu?!"

Liu Yu was taken aback: "Uncle, you know me!"

"It really is Liu Yu!" The security guard smiled. "Don't you remember me? I'm Old Zhang! The one who used to watch you guys play basketball all the time!"

Liu Yu looked closely before recognizing him. It was indeed Uncle Zhang, the old security guard at the school. He was a very kind man; sometimes when they played ball until dark, Uncle Zhang would remind them that it was time to go home.

"Uncle Zhang! It's you! I'm so sorry, we just... came back to visit."

Uncle Zhang glanced at Liu Yu, then at Su Wanqing beside him, and suddenly realized: "He brought his girlfriend back to visit their alma mater!"

Liu Yu nodded naturally: "Yes, I brought my girlfriend to see you."

Su Wanqing, standing to the side, couldn't help but smile, but still said, "Who's his girlfriend..."

Uncle Zhang laughed heartily: "The little girl's still shy? Liu Yu, you're something else! You got into Tsinghua or Peking University, and you even found such a beautiful girlfriend. You've got potential!"

Liu Yu scratched his head and grinned foolishly.

"You climbed over the wall, didn't you!" Uncle Zhang pointed to the side wall. "I told you that it needs to be raised a bit higher over there. Every year, students climb over from there."

"I'm sorry, Uncle Zhang, we'll head out now," Liu Yu said quickly.

"It's alright, it's alright. Since you're already here, take your time looking around. There's hardly anyone at the school right now, so feel free to wander around. But please be careful, don't go into the teaching buildings, the doors are all locked."

"Thank you, Uncle Zhang!"

Uncle Zhang chatted with Liu Yu for a few more minutes, then patted him on the shoulder and said, "Study hard and bring glory to our No. 1 Middle School! I'm off; I have to go patrol over there."

Watching Uncle Zhang walk away, Su Wanqing nudged Liu Yu: "You're quite popular, even the security guards know you."

"Uncle Zhang is a good person and he used to take good care of us. Once, I sprained my ankle while playing basketball, and he rode his bike to take me to the school clinic."

The two wandered around the campus for a while longer before finally exiting through the main gate.

Stepping out of the school, the sun was still shining brightly.

Liu Yu checked the time; it was a little past three in the afternoon.

"Where to next!"

Su Wanqing took his arm: "I want to walk the route you take to and from school every day, and see the place where you've lived for eighteen years."

"OK."

Liu Yu led Su Wanqing onto the road home that he had walked countless times.

The road wasn't wide, and it was lined with sycamore trees. Their leaves had turned yellow, and when the wind blew, they rustled down.

"I walked this road for six years, three years of junior high and three years of senior high. I left home at 6:30 every morning and came back at 10 pm after evening self-study. Spring, summer, autumn and winter, sunny days and rainy days, I knew where the potholes and bumps were with my eyes closed."

Su Wanqing held his arm and listened attentively.

"I bought all my study guides at this bookstore. The owner is an elderly gentleman, but he's very kind and often gives me discounts."

"My buddy's crush works at this bubble tea shop. To win her over, he dragged us here three times a week. Now I feel like throwing up whenever I see bubble tea."

Su Wanqing chuckled, "You guys are so clumsy when it comes to pursuing girls."

"Back then, I didn't know anything. I just thought that being good to her was enough. But they actually ended up together. They got together after the college entrance exam. Now one of them is at Northwestern Polytechnical University and the other is at Xi'an International Studies University. They're doing great."

The two continued walking forward.

"This mala tang (spicy hot pot) place is our class's usual hangout. The owner is from Sichuan, and his food is really authentic, but it's too spicy. Every time we finish eating here, we have to buy an iced Coke."

Reaching a crossroads, Liu Yu stopped and pointed to a stall across the street: "That roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) stall has the best roujiamo in all of Chang'an."

"real!"

"I guarantee it with my eighteen years of experience living in Chang'an." Liu Yu pulled Su Wanqing across the street. "Come on, I'll take you to try it."

The stall owner, a woman in her fifties wearing an apron, was chopping meat on the cutting board. Seeing Liu Yu, her eyes lit up: "Xiao Yu! You're back from your holiday!"

"Aunt Wang! Two roujiamo (Chinese hamburgers), one with fatty and lean meat, one with only lean meat."

"Alright!" Aunt Wang deftly began working, glancing at Su Wanqing as she went. "This girl is...!"

"This is my girlfriend, Su Wanqing," Liu Yu introduced. "Wanqing, this is Aunt Wang. I grew up eating her roujiamo (Chinese hamburger)."

"Hello, Aunt Wang," Su Wanqing greeted politely.

"Oh, good, good," Aunt Wang beamed. "Xiao Yu's got a great girlfriend! Wait till I get you some extra meat!"