Just because I wrote "Zhu Xian," the school beauty sent me razor blades.

In early summer at the Beijing Film Academy, the leaves of the plane trees gleamed glossy in the sunlight.

Along the playground and tree-lined paths, graduating students in their academic gowns were taking graduation photos everywhere, their youthful energy practically overflowing from the gaps in the trees throughout the campus.

A black minivan slowly drove into the school gate and parked in the parking lot.

Lin Yuan turned off the engine and turned to look at Gu Zhiwan in the passenger seat.

Today, she unusually didn't wear heavy makeup, just a light-colored lipstick, her long hair draped over her shoulders, and a loose white T-shirt. She looked almost exactly the same as when she first entered the school four years ago.

"It feels like a dream," Gu Zhiwan said softly, turning her head to look at the familiar school gate outside the car window, her eyes curving into a beautiful smile. "It feels like I just finished military training yesterday, and now I'm graduating."

"Absolutely." Lin Yuan casually picked up the graduation gown from the back seat and put it on, adjusting the collar absentmindedly. "Back then, during military training, we were singing songs late at night. In front of hundreds of people, you pointed at me with your fingertips and insisted on hooking me. The whole playground was chasing after us, shouting for us to get married on the spot. The noise almost knocked down the playground lights."

"Lin Yuan, do you have such a good memory? It's clearly your fault for being so cheeky! You pick up the lines better than anyone else!" Gu Zhiwan glared at him, then couldn't help but laugh, naturally reaching out to take his arm. "But speaking of which, if it weren't for how quickly you flirted with me when you said 'you love me,' I would have really thought you were a blockhead who wouldn't listen to reason."

"That's called the director's precise control over the emotional rhythm." Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow and let her take his arm. "Let's go back to the dorm first. Zixuan and the others were just urging us in the group chat, saying they'd tear down my bed if we didn't get there soon."

The two walked along the familiar path towards the dormitory area.

Along the way, many students who passed by couldn't help but turn their heads to look at him.

"Holy crap, isn't that Director Lin? And Gu Zhiwan too!"

"It really is them! Director Lin is even wearing an academic gown today!"

"Of course he's graduating this year too! I almost thought he was at the school casting..."

"I'm in the same year as an internationally renowned director who was nominated for an Oscar? Who would believe it!"

Several younger students excitedly raised their phones to take pictures. Lin Yuan and Gu Zhiwan didn't hide; they simply smiled and nodded politely at the camera before holding hands and smoothly turning into the dormitory area.

Boys' dormitory 602.

As soon as Lin Yuan pushed open the door, a plastic confetti tube, which he didn't know where it came from, exploded with a "pop" above his head, and confetti rained down on the two of them.

"Welcome, Director Lin, to Room 602 for your inspection!" Zhou Zixuan shouted at the top of his lungs, holding a hairdryer as a microphone and shoving it directly to Lin Yuan's mouth. "Director Lin, do you have any acceptance speech about finally graduating after four years of hard work?"

With colorful confetti all over his head, Lin Yuan expressionlessly brushed the confetti off his shoulders and pushed the hairdryer aside: "My message is, Zhou Zixuan, if you don't sweep up all this confetti today, I'll print out your last-place ranking in the acting department's final exams and stick it on your back."

"No, no, no! Bro! Brother Yuan! We're on the same side!" Zhou Zixuan immediately backed down, tossed aside the hairdryer, and expertly grabbed Lin Yuan's shoulder. "It's a joyous occasion today, let's not bring up embarrassing pasts!"

Qian Zhuangzhuang, who was squatting on the ground packing his suitcase, looked up and smiled憨厚ly: "Brother Yuan, you've finally arrived. Zixuan has been working on his hair since eight o'clock this morning, saying that he can't let you overshadow him in the photos later."

In the corner, Chen Mo had already set up two professional SLR cameras, pointing them at them and snapping away. He casually remarked, "It's useless. When it comes to looks, it's a game-changer. Even if you comb your hair like an adult, Zixuan, you'll only look like a sophisticated hairdresser at best."

"Chen Mo, whose side are you on?!" Zhou Zixuan yelled and lunged forward to grab Chen Mo, but Chen Mo easily dodged him. The camera still steadily recorded the embarrassing moment when Zhou Zixuan missed his target.

Lin Yuan looked at the three guys, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

He had seen top-notch film crews in Hollywood and countless A-list celebrities on the red carpet, but in this small room of 602, which was only a dozen square meters, these three playful guys were the most down-to-earth and relatable people he experienced during his four years of college.

"Have you packed your luggage all?" Lin Yuan walked to his long-empty bed and touched the ladder with its slightly chipped paint.

"Almost done." Qian Zhuangzhuang patted his heavy suitcase, somewhat emotionally. "Zhuangzhuang, I'm going to Tianxing next week to intern in the art department. Yuan-ge, I'm counting on you for support."

"Working with Director Lin is like eating seven meals in three days," Zhou Zixuan interjected. "I've also signed with Tianxing. So, Director Lin, remember to give me a role with lines in your future films. I'm not picky; I'll even play a villain who gets killed by the male lead!"

Chen Mo adjusted the lens cap and said casually, "I'll continue working as the B-team photographer for Brother Yuan's film crew. Anyway, I can make a living by working with him."

Lin Yuan looked at them, patted Qian Zhuangzhuang on the shoulder, and kicked Zhou Zixuan's butt: "Alright, stop being so sentimental, hurry up and pack up, the girls are probably all assembled by now."

Meanwhile, in girls' dormitory 404.

The atmosphere was equally lively and extraordinary.

When Gu Zhiwan pushed open the door, Su Zhiyuan was standing in front of the mirror, trying out different angles of her broadcasting voice: "Dear teachers and students, good evening! Welcome to the graduation concert of Jinghua Film Academy..."

"Kite, stop playing it! You're making me laugh while I'm doing my makeup!" Shen Qingci sat at her dressing table, carefully applying lipstick. She turned her head and waved to Gu Zhiwan, "Zhiwan! You're finally here! Come and see Wanyin's graduation eulogy... ah, I mean, graduation summary!"

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Xie Wanyin pushed up her glasses, holding several thick pages of manuscript in her hand. Her voice was soft yet carried a stubbornness unique to writers: "This is not an obituary, but an epic of our 404 dormitory over four years. I used metaphors and symbols to elevate every late-night snack we ate over the past four years."

"Where did it go? Did it go down to the stench of snail rice noodles?" Gu Zhiwan walked over with a smile, glanced at Xie Wanyin's face, and immediately burst out laughing. "Wanyin, you actually wrote about our collective food poisoning and hospitalization in our sophomore year as a 'rehearsal of camaraderie in adversity.' You truly deserve to be called a top student in the literature department; you're so good at creating words!"

A burst of cheerful laughter immediately filled the dormitory.

Although everyone went their separate ways after graduation—Shen Qingci took a supporting role in an idol drama, Su Zhiyuan became a TV host, Xie Wanyin stayed at school to pursue a master's degree, and Gu Zhiwan continued to fight in the film industry—at this moment, gathered in this small dormitory, all fame, fortune, and status were stripped away, leaving only pure friendship.

"Hey, Zhiwan." Shen Qingci, having finished applying her lipstick, leaned closer and whispered gossip, "How are you and Lin Yuan planning to show off in your graduation photos today?"

"What are you showing off for? Just shoot normally." Gu Zhiwan's face flushed slightly, but she said firmly, "Today's main characters are all our comrades from 404 and 602. We can't let him steal all the spotlight."

Su Zhiyuan slammed her microphone-shaped comb on the table: "That's true, but with Director Lin and Superstar Gu in the same frame today, our lineup has completely blown away the average quality of our graduation photos!"

"Alright, alright, stop teasing me." Gu Zhiwan straightened the collar of her graduation gown. "Let's go, those big guys in 602 are probably already waiting downstairs."

Downstairs in the boys' dormitory, under the shade of sycamore trees.

The four people in 602 and the four people in 404 finally reunited.

Eight people stood in the sunlight, their black academic gowns fluttering in the breeze.

As soon as Zhou Zixuan saw Su Zhiyuan, he immediately went up to her: "Su, the great host, you look really cool today!"

Su Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow: "Zhou, the great actor, I heard you were trying to steal the spotlight from Director Lin in the dorm just now? Would you like me to do an exclusive interview right here and tell you about your thought process?"

"No, no, no, I'm just a nobody in front of Director Lin." Zhou Zixuan immediately became serious, which made everyone laugh.

Chen Mo raised his camera and pushed the lens up: "Alright, stop fooling around. First stop, the main library entrance, let's go!"

"Walk!"

The eight people walked noisily along the tree-lined path.

Sunlight filtered through the lush sycamore leaves, casting dappled golden light on the ground.

Lin Yuan walked in the middle of the group, holding Gu Zhiwan's hand, with his brothers joking around and his best friend laughing heartily beside them.

At this moment, in this graduation season that belongs to them, youth is in full bloom.