Having been given a second chance at life, who would still want to pursue her?

He agreed almost readily.

Pan Shuqi was slightly taken aback.

He then turned his head and glanced at the figure that was gradually walking away.

A slight smile played on her lips: "It seems you'd rather be with her than avoid me."

Upon hearing this...

Chen Jianji twitched the corner of his mouth.

"I don't want to be in the same space as her, but who's avoiding you? Don't talk nonsense."

Pan Shuqi swept her tied-up long hair to one side of her shoulder.

"This week... oh well, if it's not happening, it's not happening."

She beckoned to Chen Jianji with her finger, her lips slightly parted.

"Let's go, there's a private room over there, no one's there."

After saying that, she turned and left first.

Chen Jianji watched Pan Shuqi's retreating figure and followed her without any hesitation.

After all, he came today to see off this old friend.

......

The private room was empty.

Splash...

Pan Shuqi drew back the curtains.

A large amount of sunlight streamed into the private room through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Pan Shuqi squinted slightly, seemingly enjoying this moment of peaceful sunbathing.

Chan Kin-kei also stepped forward.

The gentle sunlight fell on him, and he spoke slowly.

"Are you really sure you want to go abroad?"

Pan Shuqi didn't look at him, she just nodded.

"Yes, my family has been talking about it for a while now, and I only recently made a decision."

After thinking for a moment, Chen Jianji decided not to press the matter further and instead spoke up.

"You are much more mature than your peers. Trust your own choices."

Pan Shuqi glanced at him sideways before looking back at the scenery outside the window.

"Indeed, I've always felt that many of my classmates or friends of the same age behave immaturely, which I find very distasteful and makes me feel out of place."

"Maybe... it's because I grew up in a single-parent family."

These words were spoken.

Chen Jianji paused slightly, scratched his head, and said sincerely with an apologetic expression.

"Sorry, I don't know."

Pan Shuqi shook her head, then casually pulled up a chair and sat down by the window.

She looked up at Chen Jianji and smiled, her eyes rippling like autumn water.

"Actually, I think you're the most immature one in our class."

"I?"

Chen Jianji smiled and pulled over a chair.

The two sat down facing each other.

The elongated shadows of the two people were reflected on the beige floor tiles.

Chen Jianji leaned back in his chair and gradually started talking.

"Zhao Yong, Liu Hai, Wang Li—aren't they all more naive than me?"

"They are simple-minded and don't understand social etiquette."

Upon hearing this, Pan Shuqi rolled her eyes at him.

"They're just naive. But seriously, do your buddies know you're talking about them behind their backs?"

"If you don't tell them, they won't know."

Pan Shuqi couldn't help but laugh, then shook her head, her voice gradually softening, filled with reminiscence.

Actually, I didn't like you at first.

"I think you're too eccentric, like that three-year-old kid who lives next door to me, always making a fuss."

She paused, then said in a slightly teasing tone.

"They also tend to bother others."

"For example, they would secretly let us vote in advance to elect someone as class monitor."

"For example, sneaking around asking people which medicine to buy for menstruation. I remember Zhao Yong asked you about it when he bought it a while ago, right?"

"besides..."

As Pan Shuqi spoke, she leaned forward slightly.

"Knowing she was short of money, we arranged with the shop owner beforehand that when she came to buy something, we'd tell her she was the 100th customer and would get a free meal. Have you forgotten?"

Looking at her face, which was blatantly mocking.

Chan Kin-kei also recalled those embarrassing moments of picking his toes.

He had no choice but to raise his hands in surrender.

"Okay, now that you mention it, it seems like I really am the most childish and stupid one."

*Pfft...*

Pan Shuqi couldn't help but laugh when she saw his expression.

After laughing for quite a while...

She then sat up straight again, her voice soft and gentle.

Do you remember the first time you tried to chat with me?

She seemed to be talking to herself, and continued before Chen Jianji could reply.

"The first time you called me, you called me Little Shu Qi. I think that was very impolite of you."

"He even said that we're all classmates and that we can come to him if we encounter any problems we can't solve. He seemed so irresponsible and all talk and no action, which made him seem really unreliable."

"until..."

"I was the lead dancer in that New Year's Eve gala performance. Everyone had been rehearsing hard for half a month, and I bought a bag of snacks that day."

"I just didn't expect to buy the spicy version that I can't eat, but because I was craving it, I forced myself to take a bite and went to the bathroom several times."

"My legs were a little numb by the end, my costume was dirty, and I felt like I didn't have the energy to perform anymore."

"I was hiding in a corner of the stairwell, surrounded by teachers and students anxiously looking for me to go on stage. At that moment, all I wanted to do was hide. I had messed everything up."

"You were also helping the teacher find me, and you were the first to find me. When I saw you asking me with a teasing look, 'Why are you crying?' I thought, given your usually loud and boisterous nature, you would definitely spread the word about me."

"I might as well just throw caution to the wind and tell you I have an upset stomach and my clothes are dirty, so you can tell the teacher."

As Pan Shuqi spoke, her eyes flickered slightly.

"But you didn't respond to my question; you just asked me if I still wanted to go on stage?"

"What can I do if I say I want to?"

"You nodded and left. When you came back, you had a bottle of stomach medicine, a pair of scissors, a stapler, and a piece of red cloth in your hand."

"While I'm taking medicine, you keep trimming and adjusting my costume, saying that the stage is far away and you can't tell if there's too much or too little fabric in the costume."

As he listened to her words, the scene from that day gradually came to mind.

"You were very persistent. You took advantage of the ten-minute break to catch your breath and insisted on going on stage to finish the performance. That dance was very beautiful."

Pan Shuqi rolled her eyes at him, her tone tinged with displeasure, but the corners of her eyes still curled up slightly.

"What I hate is that you promised you wouldn't tell anyone, but you still told me this embarrassing story last time."

Chen Jianji chuckled: "Don't slander me. You told me not to say anything, but I didn't agree."

Upon hearing this, Pan Shuqi ignored him and continued speaking.

"Although you seem like you haven't grown up, you are inexplicably approachable. I think you will grow up eventually, it's just a matter of time."

"But lately, you seem the same as before, yet you've changed."

"For example, resolutely ignoring Lin Qingxue."

"For example, although he still jokes around in class, there is a hint of quietness in his eyes."

"For example..."

As she spoke, she looked up into Chen Jianji's eyes and spoke softly.

"They never called me 'Little Shu Qi' again."

Chen Jianji paused, just as he was about to say something.

Pan Shuqi shook her head.

"I misspoke at the beginning."

"Huh? What?"

Chen Jianji was somewhat puzzled.

Pan Shuqi slowly stood up and bowed slightly as she walked up to him.

"I misspoke when I said I didn't like you at the beginning."

She stared into Chen Jianji's eyes, her expression smiling.

"I'm the one who doesn't like you the way you are now."

Chen Jianji scratched his head: "This is a bit convoluted."

Pan Shuqi straightened up, took two steps back, and then stretched out her hands.

"My flight is tonight, let's give each other a hug, and wish your old friend a safe journey."

Chen Jianji looked up at her profile, which was radiant in the sunlight, and her bright, sparkling eyes.

The two were classmates for three years.

She is about to go abroad, and we may never see each other again.

Chen Jianji slowly stood up.

He stretched out his hands, leaned forward, and gently wrapped his arms around her back.

Out of the corner of his eye, he seemed to see that Pan Shuqi's eyes were red.

Chen Jianji sighed, and then said softly.

I hope everything goes well for you in the future.

He paused for a moment before calling out the name.

"Little Shu Qi".

Pan Shuqi's body visibly stiffened for a moment.

The treetops outside the window were swaying in the wind.

The sunlight was gradually blocked by the shadows of the trees, falling in dappled patterns on the two of them.

......

soon.

When Chan Kin-kei tried to pull his hand back, ending the brief embrace...

"Wait a moment."

Pan Shuqi reached out and pressed him down.

"What's wrong?"

Chen Jianji was somewhat stunned.

But before Pan Shuqi could reply...

Squeak...

A noise came from the doorway of the private room.

Chen Jianji glanced over instinctively.

The door to the private room was opened.

......