Zongman: The post-2D era

"But you told me that everyone has their own light, even if it is weak, it can still illuminate their own path. You are such a person that I can't help but want to get close to you and want to learn your kindness and tenacity."

As she spoke, she gently approached Feng Feng, and their shadows lengthened in the sunlight, intertwining together, as if foreshadowing some kind of unspoken understanding and companionship.

The campus is gradually becoming quiet all around, with only the occasional bird calls in the distance and the rustling of leaves in the breeze adding a bit of liveliness to this tranquil scene.

Feng Feng smiled lightly, with a sly light in his eyes. He turned to look at Xiao Zuo Nei, with a hint of teasing in his tone:

"Well, Xiao Sane, since you said this is my world, let's have a special match - see who can make the other party say surrender first, and the last round of three games is the best."

As soon as the words fell, Xiao Sane couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and then a smile flashed in her eyes. She seemed to be amused by this sudden proposal, but she was unwilling to admit defeat easily.

Although according to the agreement between the two, everything the loser has, including love, will belong to the winner!

The two looked at each other for a moment, and there was a subtle tension and anticipation in the air.

Feng Feng was the first to break the silence. He gently stood on tiptoe, made an exaggerated face, his eyes widened, and the corners of his mouth raised exaggeratedly, as if he wanted to condense all the joy of the world into this moment.

"Xiao Zone, I'll stop if you admit defeat."

Yuki Osauchi's laughter was clear and sweet, like a stream jumping in the woods. She laughed so hard that she fell forward and backward, her hands tightly covering her stomach. Crystal tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, a sparkling look filled with joy.

She kept waving her hands. Although she didn't say anything, her smile clearly showed her endless pampering and challenge to Feng Feng, as if she was saying, "See how else you can make me laugh!"

Seeing this, Feng Feng's eyes flashed with a mixture of doting and helplessness. He shook his head gently, with a wry smile on his lips. Then he made a series of more exaggerated expressions, sometimes squinting, sometimes pouting like a pig. Every movement was an effort to break through himself, just to make the beauty smile.

However, Xiao Sane just laughed even more happily, and that laughter was like the warmest sunshine in spring, penetrating the clouds and spreading all over the playground of Liberty College, making everything around seem to be infected by this pure joy, becoming vivid and warm.

The sun gradually set in the west, stretching the two people's shadows long. On the playground of Freedom College, the dust was gently raised by the intense running, as if cheering for this special game.

Feng Feng and Yuki Kosauchi stood at the starting point of the 100-meter track. Sweat slid down their foreheads, dripped onto the track, and evaporated instantly.

"Ready—go!" With a brisk shout, the two rushed out of the starting point like arrows. The runway under their feet seemed to have turned into an endless battlefield. Every step they took showed firm determination and unyielding will.

The wind whistled in their ears, causing the corners of their clothes to flutter. Their figures intertwined and chased each other in the afterglow of the setting sun, like two lightning bolts chasing the light.

The two competed in the 100-meter race, the 1,000-meter race, and even the 10,000-meter marathon. Dust was rising in circles on the playground, and the sound of the two men leaning on their knees and urging each other to admit defeat echoed endlessly.

Xiao Zonai took Feng Feng to the rooftop of the teaching building. Feng Feng asked her what she was competing in this time, but Xiao Zonai stepped back to the edge of the rooftop and said:

"The game is over, and in the end I will bet my life on it."

The setting sun poured down onto the rooftop of the teaching building like molten gold, stretching Yuki Osauchi's figure to appear slender and lonely.

She retreated towards the edge of the rooftop step by step, and every step seemed to step on Feng Feng's heart, making his heart tighten.

The wind was stronger than before, ruffling her hair and blowing away the tranquility around them, leaving only the heavy breathing of the two and the vague noise in the distance.

"Feng Feng, you lose."

Her voice was soft but firm, with a hint of unquestionable determination.

She turned around, with her back to the abyss, and faced Feng Feng, with a complex light flashing in her eyes - reluctance, determination, and a barely perceptible relief.

Feng Feng's heart suddenly tightened, and he quickly took out his mobile phone from his pocket. The light on the screen seemed particularly dazzling under the dim sunset.

He quickly scrolled the screen, and Xueno's message was like a warm spring breeze blowing through his heart: "Feng Feng, don't worry and let her jump. We are all here to support you."

He exhaled lightly, the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously, and his eyes, which were a mixture of determination and tenderness, were cast at Xiao Zuo again.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on his face, outlining a firm outline and an unyielding light flashing in his eyes.

"Xiao Zone, I will not admit defeat."

His voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to burst out from the depths of his heart, with unquestionable determination.

Xiao Sane slowly closed his eyes, tears swirling in his eye sockets, and finally burst out, turning into crystal beads, drawing long and thin tracks in the air, against the direction of the wind, as if trying to break through the constraints of gravity and fly to where Feng Feng was.

Her body lost support at that moment, as if being gently pushed into the abyss by an invisible hand. The sound of the wind around her suddenly intensified, whistling like a tragic elegy.

The afterglow of the setting sun spread out behind her, dyeing her final figure with a layer of sad golden red. At that moment, time seemed to freeze.

Chapter 813: The Common People's Talk

Tuesday, September 27

Feng Feng was murmuring Osauchi Yuki's name on the bed, while the shouts of "no" and the sound of the cell phone alarm were competing in the bedroom.

Feng Feng watched Yuki Sane fall from the building, his pupils suddenly shrank, and his heart almost jumped out of his chest. He suddenly lunged forward and stretched out his hand, but could only grab a wisp of residual shadow and a few strands of scattered hair.

Osane's tears flickered in the air, meeting his desperate gaze. At that moment, he seemed to be able to hear the silent call from the bottom of her heart, whether it was the nostalgia for life, or the regret for the unfinished love between them.

The wind, carrying her last bit of warmth, brushed across his cheek, and her figure had turned into a sunset glow that gradually moved away in the sky, leaving Feng Feng with endless emptiness and sorrow.

Feng Feng suddenly woke up from his dream, his pillow soaked with sweat, his heartbeat as rapid as a drum. He wiped his face carelessly, trying to dispel the lingering shadow.

The time on the phone screen glaringly showed "06:30". He mechanically pressed the button to turn off the alarm. The surroundings returned to tranquility, but it was difficult to calm the waves in his heart.

When he stood up, his body still seemed to have traces of the struggle in the dream, and his legs were weak. He staggered to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face, trying to clear his mind.

The look in the mirror was hollow and tired, but gradually a trace of determination gathered. After a simple wash, he changed into his school uniform, each piece of clothing like a heavy armor, ready to face the challenges of the new day.

On the way to school, the morning light was just breaking, and the shadows of the sycamore trees on both sides of the street lengthened the pace of pedestrians.

Feng Feng took slightly heavy steps, and each step seemed to carry the weight of last night's dream.

Along the way, students walked in groups of three or four, laughing and talking happily. From time to time, someone would stop and look at him curiously.

"Feng Feng, I heard that Xiao Zuo Nei shot a super cool short film of jumping off a building yesterday. Is it true?"

A boy wearing a baseball cap ran over, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Feng Feng was slightly startled, and forced a smile on his face, feeling mixed emotions. "Yeah, it's really cool."

His voice was low and hoarse, and his eyes drifted unconsciously into the distance, as if Xiao Sane's figure from yesterday was still there.

At the school gate, the sun has quietly spread across the entire campus. The golden light and the morning breeze are intertwined, adding an unusual color to this daily gathering.

Feng Feng and Xue Nai met unexpectedly, and their figures slowly approached each other at the school gate, as if it was a clever arrangement of fate.

Xue Nai's long hair fluttered in the wind, her eyes flashed with tenderness and understanding, and she said softly to Feng Feng:

"Feng Feng, regarding the short film that the classmates mentioned, it was actually a misunderstanding."

"I used the excuse that Xiao Sane had an accident while filming a stunt for a high-altitude scene yesterday and has now been rushed to the hospital. We spread the word like this just to hope that everyone won't worry too much and give Xiao Sane some space to recover."

In the classroom, the morning light shines through the half-open curtains and onto the wooden floor, creating mottled light and shadows.

Feng Feng and Xue Nai walked in one after the other, and the warmth of their conversation seemed to still linger in the air.

Feng Feng walked to his seat quietly and placed his schoolbag on the chair without making any sound.

He slowly unzipped his bag, with a barely perceptible heaviness in his movements, as if even the weight of the bag had doubled because of last night's dream.

Yukino sat on the other side of the classroom, with the sunlight shining on her desk. The golden light and her soft profile complemented each other, making her look particularly peaceful and beautiful.

She gently placed her schoolbag under the table with graceful and calm movements, then took out her homework books and textbooks from the bag and placed them neatly one by one. Each book seemed to be given a sense of ritual.

Her eyes were focused and gentle. She occasionally looked up to the window, as if she was thinking about something, or perhaps just enjoying this moment of tranquility and preparing for the day that was about to begin.

In the classroom, other students gradually quieted down and were busy with their own things. The whole space was filled with a sense of anticipation and tension that was about to be filled with knowledge.

Feng Feng spent the whole morning chatting with his classmates about Xiao Sanei and the short film. At lunch time, the classmates walked to the cafeteria in groups of three, discussing what to eat.

The sunlight slants on the tree-lined avenue leading to the cafeteria. The mottled light and shadows interweave with the students' brisk steps to form a vivid picture.

Feng Feng walked side by side with a few friends. Their conversations were one after another, and from time to time they were mixed with speculations and admiration about Xiao Sane's short film.

The air was filled with the aroma of food, which made everyone speed up their pace involuntarily.

The cafeteria was bustling with people, and long queues formed in front of various windows, with students either looking down at their phones or excitedly discussing their lunch choices.

Feng Feng and his friends squeezed into the crowd, exchanging opinions from time to time, and finally decided to try the newly opened window -

The steaming ramen has a few green chopped green onions and a few tempting slices of barbecued pork floating on the soup, the aroma is so fragrant that it makes people salivate.

They laughed and made noises, and waiting in line seemed less boring and more fun.

Surrounded by the smiling faces and lively conversations of his classmates, all of this made Feng Feng temporarily forget his morning dreams and immerse himself in the noise and warmth of youth.

The afternoon sun shone through the half-open windows of the cafeteria onto the dining table where Fengfeng and Xueno were sitting opposite each other, giving this ordinary moment a warm golden edge.

Xueno gently pushed the phone in front of Fengfeng, and the picture on the screen instantly attracted his attention.

In the photo, Kobato and Kosane are standing side by side at the hospital entrance. Kosane's face is filled with a smile of surviving a disaster. Although he looks a little tired, his eyes are shining with his love and expectation for life.

Xiaojiu, on the other hand, had a concerned look on her face and put one hand on Xiaosanagi's shoulder. The two of them were elongated by the setting sun, looking particularly harmonious.

Below the photo, a string of fireworks patterns were jumping happily, and a few colorful words (We are discharged from the hospital) seemed to be celebrating this good news.

Feng Feng's gaze stayed on the screen for a long time, the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously, and the burden in his heart seemed to be lightened a lot at this moment.

He looked up at Yukino, his eyes full of gratitude. "Thank you, Yukino, this really puts my mind at ease."

Yukino smiled slightly, with a warm light in her eyes, as if she could see into the deepest softness of people's hearts. "We are a family, aren't we?"

Her voice was gentle but firm, which made Feng Feng's heart surge with warmth. The hustle and bustle around them seemed to have stopped at this moment, leaving only the tacit understanding and care between the two of them that did not require any words.

"Xiao Sane doesn't remember how she got hurt, but she remembers that Xiao Jiu saved her. She came to pick Xiao Jiu up from the hospital today. Do you want to go meet them?"

Feng Feng lowered his head to eat noodles, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and murmured: "It is better to forget each other in the world than to support each other in times of adversity. I, will not go."

Chapter 814 Short Video Aftermath

Wednesday, September 28

Feng Feng stared at the short video of Yuki Osauchi jumping off the building on the screen. After seeing millions of views, he covered his forehead and sighed.

Yukinoshita Yukino added: "A certain TV series happened to have a scene of jumping off a building, but it was criticized for nothing because of the comparison on the Internet."

"So that actress tweeted about coming to school to meet Sane-chan and you."

Feng Feng rubbed his forehead and said, "Yukino, please use your authority as the student union president to help me reject that actress. I don't want to be a star."

Xue No shook her head: "Sister Yang No has already agreed, and you know that actress Feng Feng."

Upon hearing this, Feng Feng frowned and tapped his fingers unconsciously on the table, making a rhythmic twanging sound, as if knocking away the uneasiness in his heart.

He looked up at Yukino, and a hint of helplessness and complexity flashed in his usually calm and clear eyes. "Yukino, are you sure? That actress...how could she know me?"

As he spoke, several vague figures flashed through his mind, but he couldn't pinpoint which actress it was.

Xueno nodded slightly, with a barely perceptible smile in her eyes, as if she could see through Fengfeng's thoughts.

"Yes, her name is Ruby Hoshino."