Stand by Me – Zhao Jinmai, Bai Yufan

In the year 2008, Luo Qiqi returned to that place after many years. She remembered a girl who came from there, grew up here, and became her own self. Sitting quietly, Luo Qiqi recalled her past. She said to herself, "Hello, Luo Qiqi, and thank you, Luo Qiqi."

In December 1994, during the first semester of her sophomore year, Luo Qiqi entered the classroom with her backpack. A girl was painting her nails, and when she saw Luo Qiqi enter, she approached her, wanting to paint Luo Qiqi's nails too. Luo Qiqi didn't want to pay her any attention, but the girl persisted. Annoyed, Luo Qiqi accidentally spilled the nail polish on the floor.

The owner of the nail polish was Lin Xin, who had just come over to confront Luo Qiqi. A classmate loudly announced that the teacher was coming, and they all scattered. Luo Qiqi remained calm, reading a book. When the teacher asked her what she was doing, Luo Qiqi replied that class had not started yet. The teacher felt that Luo Qiqi was being disrespectful and angrily expelled her from the classroom. Inside the classroom, the teacher had the class monitor distribute the test papers. Luo Qiqi's grades were not good, and the teacher criticized the students, speaking mostly for Luo Qiqi's benefit outside the door.

This was Luo Qiqi's high school - teachers, classmates, going to school, coming back from school, but she didn't have many friends. She didn't need friends either, but there were always a few enemies. Every day after school, she rode her bicycle through the city to a familiar place called "Yao'er Alley." Luo Qiqi brought some magazines to sell to people there, but the person told her that these magazines were outdated and asked her to leave. Luo Qiqi found it strange since they had agreed just a few days ago. When she saw a few troublemakers across the street, she understood what was going on. Those people thought Luo Qiqi had taken their business, putting pressure on the boss. They chased Luo Qiqi through several streets, and she challenged them to do something if they had the guts, or else she would find Jiajia, another person.

Xu Xiaobo arrived and helped Luo Qiqi chase away those troublemakers. Xu Xiaobo was Luo Qiqi's older brother, and she had been with him in the streets of Yao'er Alley since she was young. Xu Xiaobo turned out all the magazines from Luo Qiqi's backpack and asked his friends to take a look. If they didn't want them, he suggested burning them. Xu Xiaobo rolled up Luo Qiqi's sleeves and applied medicine to her wounds. He asked her why she was making money, and Luo Qiqi told him she just liked making money. Xu Xiaobo told her she didn't need to make money since they had enough to eat and drink. She should focus on her studies.

Luo Qiqi always stayed in Yao'er Alley until very late, even when she returned home, everyone was already asleep. She didn't mind; she only cared about those who cared about her. Xu Xiaobo was her brother, like another family member. He spent his evenings in the game hall after school and had to take care of his sick mother when he got home. Uncle Li often helped Xu Xiaobo, like another family member. Xu Xiaobo was determined to get into his ideal university, and even though he had taken a year off, he was working hard. Luo Qiqi wanted to help him achieve his dream. She went to a recording studio, wanting to buy a tape recorder to listen to English tapes, but she didn't have enough money to buy it. As she left the store, she was confronted by Lin Xin and two others; they wanted Luo Qiqi to be their friend, but she wasn't willing.

Luo Qiqi hit the three of them with her backpack, and they chased her. In the end, all four of them were apprehended by the neighborhood security. Luo Qiqi was taken home by her mother, who told her to go to her factory, but Luo Qiqi refused and they argued. The next day, Luo Qiqi returned to the classroom to find her desk covered in paint, and her newly bought tape recorder was missing. She found Lin Xin and her group and asked for it back. As the leader, Lǎn Jiě knocked the tape recorder to the ground, and Luo Qiqi angrily spilled nail polish on her. The teacher asked Luo Qiqi to have her parents come in. When Luo Qiqi went to call her mother, they argued again, and her mother physically punished her.

Luo Qiqi arrived at school, and her desk mate, Zheng Yuxia, asked her if everything was okay at home. Luo Qiqi told her that it was fine and that she had already gotten used to it. Luo Qiqi glanced at Lan Jie and approached her to chat, but Lan Jie refused. They had planned to go ice skating together with Lin Xin and the others after school, and Luo Qiqi had followed them to the ice rink. When they were ready to leave, Luo Qiqi continued to follow them. Lan Jie couldn't tolerate it anymore and angrily confronted Luo Qiqi. She told Luo Qiqi not to think she wouldn't dare to act, but Luo Qiqi replied that she had fought before and that they couldn't beat her.

Luo Qiqi told Lin Xin and the others that her issue was with Lin Lan, and they had nothing to do with it. She asked them to leave quickly, and Lin Xin and the others had already wanted to leave. Lin Lan challenged the two of them to try and leave if they dared, and they were not afraid of Lin Lan, so they left. It was just Luo Qiqi and Lin Lan left. Lin Lan asked her what she wanted to do, and Luo Qiqi told her that she didn't want to cause trouble at school. She wanted to focus on her studies, and in the future, they should go their separate ways, and their paths shouldn't cross. Lin Lan informed her that her mother had already arranged for her to drop out of school. Luo Qiqi was shocked to hear this; she had no idea, and she felt a chill run down her spine.

Back home, Luo Qiqi confronted her mother, asking if she had arranged for her to drop out of school. Her mother had to admit it, but even so, Luo Qiqi refused to comply with her mother's plan to work at the factory. She told her mother that she wouldn't even go to the factory to wash dishes. The two of them argued again, and Luo Qiqi went to apply for a job at the cinema. The boss initially thought she was too young, but seeing that she was clever, he agreed. Luo Qiqi then went to the arcade to find Xu Xiaobo, but he wasn't there. She saw a child sitting on a bench nearby who looked very much like she did when she was young. She couldn't help but approach him, gave him some food, and chatted with him for a while.

When Xu Xiaobo saw Luo Qiqi waiting for him, he approached and asked if she was preparing for exams. Luo Qiqi didn't know how to answer, so she just nodded. Xu Xiaobo continued, saying that if she studied the materials he had given her, she could achieve above-average results. Luo Qiqi didn't know how to tell Xu Xiaobo that her mother had arranged for her to drop out of school. She asked Xu Xiaobo if he found the third year of high school tiring, and he replied that it was indeed exhausting. Luo Qiqi then asked why he persevered if it was so tiring. Xu Xiaobo said he liked being at school because it was very pure and quiet there. He encouraged Luo Qiqi to study well.

Luo Qiqi didn't dare to tell Xu Xiaobo about dropping out of school; she was afraid he would be angry and disappointed. She studied alone in the classroom, and when school ended, she went to find Xu Xiaobo again. She told him that her hair had grown long and asked him to help her cut it. While cutting her hair, Luo Qiqi revealed to him that she had dropped out of school. Xu Xiaobo was furious and asked her what she was thinking. Luo Qiqi told him that she didn't want to work in the factory as her mother had planned; she could earn money by working elsewhere. Xu Xiaobo was very angry and told her to go home right away and tell her parents that she didn't want to drop out of school. In the midst of their argument, Luo Qiqi left in frustration.

Luo Qiqi went to the bus station with the intention of leaving this place, but when the ticket seller asked her where she wanted to go, she had no destination in mind. She sat on the station bench, staring at the clock for a long time. She thought about the happy times she had spent at her grandfather's house when she was a child. She remembered her grandfather cutting her hair, making pumpkin lanterns with her, preparing her favorite dumplings, and telling her stories at night until she fell asleep on his lap. Initially, all of this was beautiful, but one day, her mother came to take her away.

Luo Qiqi bid her grandpa a reluctant farewell and returned home to Hannan with her mother. Jun Hong was delighted to see Luo Qiqi, realizing how much she had grown. Luo Qiqi started at her new school, where the teacher assigned her to sit with Chen Jin and instructed them not to talk during class. During break time, Chen Jin initiated a conversation with Luo Qiqi, who was curious about why the teacher had forbidden them from speaking. Chen Jin explained that it was because his father was worried about his studies and didn't want him to have a talkative desk mate. Luo Qiqi asked if no one talked to him anymore, and Chen Jin nodded. She assured him that she would talk to him in the future and that she wasn't afraid of the consequences.

Luo Qiqi informed Chen Jin about a dead bird on the playground and asked if he wanted to go see it. Chen Jin agreed, so Luo Qiqi raised her hand to inform the teacher that both of them needed to use the restroom. Although the teacher was surprised, she agreed. They went to the playground and found the dead bird. Luo Qiqi suggested giving it a proper burial. She thought Chen Jin was very clever, but Chen Jin believed there were smarter people than him. Luo Qiqi couldn't understand the classical Chinese text Chen Jin shared with her, thinking he was the smartest. Chen Jin taught Luo Qiqi how to read quickly, and their relationship grew stronger.

However, one day, Chen Jin skipped a grade and moved up to the eighth grade, leaving Luo Qiqi without anyone to talk to. One day, their classmate Zhou Yun lost her pen, and another classmate, Liu Jun, accused Luo Qiqi of taking it. Luo Qiqi was scolded by the teacher and had to stand at the back. Zhang Jun, who got into a fight, was also punished to stand against the back wall. Luo Qiqi saw the mistakes on Zhang Jun's test paper and explained them to him, realizing that her explanation matched what the teacher had said. When she returned home, Luo Qiqi received a pen and overheard her mother telling her father that giving her the pen was a bad habit from her childhood. Hearing this, Luo Qiqi planted a negative seed in her young heart.

On Sundays at home, her father, Hongjun, was always busy accompanying her younger sister, dancing and playing games, completely neglecting Luo Qiqi. She felt like she was back at her grandpa's house, so she retreated to the closet to read and play on her own. As she played, she fell asleep. When she woke up, the house was pitch black, and there was no one around. She called for her sister and father, but no one answered. She ventured outside and ended up at the Yanger Guaijiajia Arcade. While carrying a drink, she bumped into Wu Zei, who loudly asked whose child she was and told her to go play somewhere else. This was Luo Qiqi's first encounter with Wu Zei.

The next morning, Xu Xiaobo arrived at the arcade and saw Luo Qiqi sitting in the corner. He approached her and asked why she hadn't gone home. Luo Qiqi was so engrossed in her book that she didn't hear what he said. Luo Qiqi's mother happened to find them there, and she angrily scolded Luo Qiqi, mistaking Xu Xiaobo and Wu Zei for troublemakers and scolding both of them. When they returned home, Luo Qiqi's mother punished her once again. Luo Qiqi felt very wronged, but her mother didn't understand her. She even told her not to be like her grandpa because no one would like her if she acted that way. Luo Qiqi was shocked and raised her head, thinking her grandpa was wonderful, so why wouldn't anyone like him?

On her way to school, it started raining heavily. Zhang Jun happened to be passing by with an umbrella, so he gave it to Luo Qiqi and told the teacher that he had slipped, but Luo Qiqi insisted on going in together. As a result, both of them were punished to stand outside the classroom. Zhang Jun, impressed by Luo Qiqi's help with the math problem last time, thought she was very clever. He took Luo Qiqi to meet the math teacher, Teacher Gao, who gave her some basic math problems. Luo Qiqi answered them all correctly, and Teacher Gao invited her to join the math class to bring honor to the school. Luo Qiqi asked if her parents would like her if she did this, and Teacher Gao told her that not only her parents but also many others would like her.

Luo Qiqi looked at a girl named Zhou Xiaowen who was sitting alone in class, and she felt a bit sad. This girl's desk mate was Zhang Jun, her good friend, but he hadn't been coming to school for the past few days. Unable to contain her curiosity, Luo Qiqi asked Zhou Xiaowen why Zhang Jun hadn't been coming, but Zhou Xiaowen didn't know what had happened. Feeling upset, Luo Qiqi rested her head on her desk. At that moment, a new student named Guan He entered the classroom. The teacher was angry to see Luo Qiqi still lying on her desk and scolded her, saying that she wouldn't be able to get into college like this. Liu Jun joined in, saying that even he, with three hands, could go to college now. Luo Qiqi, furious, used a stone to strike him on her way home.

Liu Jun and his friends chased after Luo Qiqi. Luckily, Zhang Jun was waiting at the corner, and he pulled Luo Qiqi aside. She asked Zhang Jun why he hadn't been coming to school, and he explained that something had happened at his home, but it was resolved now. Luo Qiqi gave Zhang Jun a piece of chocolate that her grandfather had given her, saying that she usually only ate one piece a day, but today she had two because she wanted to share one with him. She had been carrying it for a week. Luo Qiqi also gave Zhang Jun her math practice book, which contained the key points taught by Teacher Gao. They made a pact to win first place together. When Zhang Jun returned home and started working on the practice problems, his dad came back and told him that he and his mom were getting divorced.

Zhang Jun was overwhelmed with emotion, unable to believe that his mom would leave him. He cried and wanted to run out to find his mom, but his dad stopped him and told him that he would be going on a business trip next week. His aunt would come to pick him up and gave him some pocket money, which Zhang Jun angrily threw on the ground. The next day, Luo Qiqi participated in a math competition and won first place in the city. However, Zhang Jun didn't attend, and she couldn't find any joy in her victory. Teacher Gao praised Luo Qiqi as the youngest winner of the first prize and the one with the highest score. Luo Qiqi asked Teacher Gao if Zhang Jun had won any prizes, but Teacher Gao comforted her by saying that he didn't win this time but could win next time.

When Luo Qiqi returned home and proudly showed her award certificate, her younger sister, Luo Yuanyuan, asked for an apple, using it as an excuse to distract Luo Qiqi. While Luo Qiqi was away, Luo Yuanyuan tore up her award certificate. Angry and hurt, Luo Qiqi hit her sister. When their parents returned home, they saw Luo Qiqi hitting Luo Yuanyuan and scolded her. They dismissed the importance of the certificate, saying it was just a piece of paper. They patiently consoled Luo Yuanyuan and then went to comfort Luo Qiqi. Left alone, Luo Qiqi retreated into her closet and tore her award certificate into tiny pieces, crying alone for a long time.

Luo Qiqi returned to school and saw Zhang Jun. She asked him if he had looked at the notebook she had given him, but Zhang Jun ignored her.

Luo Qiqi kept pestering Zhang Jun with questions, and he finally showed her the notebook, saying it was useless. Luo Qiqi, angry, hit Zhang Jun. The teacher called Luo Qiqi into the office and asked her mother to come to the school. However, the school staff told her that Luo Qiqi's mother wasn't at work and that her grandfather had passed away. Her mother had gone to handle the arrangements. Upon hearing this, Luo Qiqi was shocked and ran out of school. She reached a crossroads, crouched down, and started crying. Coincidentally, Xu Xiaobo passed by and asked if Luo Qiqi had gotten lost again. Luo Qiqi told him that she was going to Nanzheng to find her grandfather, and Xu Xiaobo accompanied her.

Luo Qiqi arrived at a place she was familiar with and crawled into the closet she used to hide in. She talked to her grandfather as she used to, asking him questions and waiting for answers, but this time, she heard nothing from her grandfather. She touched the drawings she had made inside the closet, reminiscing about the joyful times with her grandfather, and cried alone. Her younger sister, Luo Yuanyuan, heard her crying and came over, happily eating a duck leg. She told Luo Qiqi that she couldn't have any because their mother had said it was for herself. Heartbroken, Luo Qiqi left with Xu Xiaobo, and they went to Li Shu's house. Li Shu was worried about her and had Xu Xiaobo and Jiajie keep an eye on her. Yangerguai became her temporary home, but she decided to leave and bought a ticket to Xi'an.

Luo Qiqi was sitting in the newly opened nightclub run by Jiajie and heard the sound of Xu Xiaobo's arrival. She stepped outside and met Xu Xiaobo, informing him that she had already bought a ticket and planned to leave after the Chinese New Year. Xu Xiaobo asked her if she really had to go, to which Luo Qiqi replied that she was not happy here. Xu Xiaobo questioned whether happiness was the most important thing, and Luo Qiqi emphasized that it was crucial to her. Although Xu Xiaobo seemed upset on the surface, he had actually been secretly working to resolve some issues related to the nightclub's name.

Luo Qiqi's parents were also arranging for her to work in the factory, but she didn't want to be forced into their plans and tried to escape, only to be stopped by both of them. They had booked a private room and intended to introduce Luo Qiqi to some people from the factory. Luo Qiqi escaped from the taxi and called Wu Zei and Xu Xiaobo for help. Xu Xiaobo witnessed Luo Qiqi's mother hitting her, and he felt deeply saddened as he rushed in to rescue her. Luo Qiqi asked Xu Xiaobo if he had really gone to find the documents, and he nodded. Wu Zei searched all over Han Nan but couldn't find any place to make signboards.

He took a wooden board, wrote "Water Side" on it, and hung it at his new shop, setting off fireworks to mark the opening. Once again, Xu Xiaobo asked Luo Qiqi if she truly intended to leave, and she remained silent. Xu Xiaobo expressed that he had always considered her a little sister and had imagined that one day she would leave, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon. He had hoped that she would focus on her studies, get into a good university, and have a bright future. He believed she was very intelligent and well-read, but he hadn't realized how unhappy she was here. Xu Xiaobo asked her to let him know when she decided to leave so he could see her off. Wu Zei encouraged her not to give up on her education.

Zhang Jun went to the cinema to find Luo Qiqi but was informed by the cinema staff that she had already left and was said to be working elsewhere. Zhang Jun brought something to see Teacher Gao and ran into Chen Jin there. They talked about Luo Qiqi, and Zhang Jun was surprised that Chen Jin still remembered her. Chen Jin, recalling that she was his desk mate and very intelligent, said that he often saw her name in Han Nan's library. He mentioned that the book on mathematics, which he wanted to read, was still with her. Zhang Jun asked Chen Jin for a favor, and when Luo Qiqi returned books to the library, she ran into Chen Jin. He stopped her and expressed that he remembered her. They once again engaged in a math competition at the library.

Luo Qiqi realized her mistake, but she no longer cared about these things. She believed she wouldn't make money from studying and no longer attended school. Chen Jin told her that he remembered her not just because she was his desk mate but because she had read more books than he had. Chen Jin asked her why she wasn't going to school, believing that people who liked the library should also like school. Luo Qiqi asked him not to meddle in her affairs, but Chen Jin felt it was a pity that she wasn't going to school anymore. Luo Qiqi boarded a long-distance bus bound for Xi'an, and Xu Xiaobo came to see her off. He asked if she really couldn't bear to leave.

Luo Qiqi remained silent and started solving math problems on the bus window. Suddenly, a beam of light hit her face. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a field in Nanzheng. She encountered her younger self, who felt embarrassed for losing to Chen Jin. In truth, Luo Qiqi didn't want to leave; she was just tired of feeling unloved by her parents, and Xu Xiaobo was the only one who cared to listen to her stories. Finally, Luo Qiqi came to her senses and decided not to leave. She called her mother, admitted her mistake, and said that she didn't want to go anywhere. She wanted a chance to stay and go to school, hoping her mother would give her that opportunity.

"In the Water Side" officially opened, with Jiajie, also known as Wu Zei, as the boss. Some people in the crowd encouraged him to say a few words, and Jiajie was delighted, hoping for a prosperous opening and financial success. Luo Qiqi was helping out, and Xu Xiaobo asked her if she was exhausted. Luo Qiqi replied that she wasn't tired, but Wu Zei was the one exhausted. Xu Xiaobo said he was happy inside. Luo Qiqi asked Xu Xiaobo how much money they thought they could earn today, and Xu Xiaobo replied that it would definitely be more than what they earned at Jiajia's. He wished they could have this many customers every day. A waiter came to tell Xu Xiaobo that some people from Meinong had arrived, who were rivals of Jiajie. They came looking for him but couldn't find him, so they approached Xu Xiaobo instead.

Xu Xiaobo told them to behave if they were there to consume, but if not, they should leave. Luo Qiqi asked why they were here, and Xu Xiaobo explained that they knew the new shop was opening today and wanted to join the celebration. He warned Luo Qiqi that they were not easy to deal with and asked her to stay away from them. Luo Qiqi returned to school, where the homeroom teacher told her that she could come and go as she pleased since the school was practically hers. He told her she could come, but if her grades didn't improve and she continued causing trouble, she might have to leave. After chatting with the homeroom teacher, Luo Qiqi was on her way back to her classroom when the Chinese teacher called her. She informed Luo Qiqi that the essay she had written last semester had received the highest score.

The teacher told Luo Qiqi about a speech competition next week and suggested that she participate. However, Luo Qiqi said she didn't want to. The teacher insisted that her talent shouldn't go to waste and encouraged her to think it over. Lin Lan and the others were discussing the speech competition when they saw Luo Qiqi enter the classroom. They stopped talking and wondered why she had come back. They thought she was annoying. Xiaofei also arrived in Hannan, and Zhang Jun's good friend was instantly smitten with her. He saw her every day at her stall. While Xiaofei was strolling downstairs, she ran into Wang Zheng and asked where he was headed. Wang Zheng said he was going to perform at a new shop.

After chatting for a while, Wang Zheng told her his dream was to earn enough money to go to Xi'an to record songs. He didn't expect her to understand, mounted his motorcycle, and prepared to leave. Xiaofei asked him where he would be singing, and he replied it would be at Yaoger, inviting her to visit him there. After school, Luo Qiqi ran into the people from Meinong, who invited her to play with them. They took her to the roller-skating rink, where she bumped into Zhang Jun. Luo Qiqi asked them why they were here, feeling that there was no one left in Meinong because of her. Mimi Ge told her it had nothing to do with her, but someone she knew. Luo Qiqi said they didn't dare to look for Xu Xiaobo, so they came for her instead.

Zhang Jun told Mimi Ge that she was his classmate and asked them to leave her alone. Luo Qiqi didn't want to get involved with him and took out some money to pay for roller-skating, saying she had come to spend money. She wondered why Zhang Jun, who was a student, was hanging around outside all the time. Zhang Jun explained that he did it to avoid bothering his father, to be able to go out every day, and not to become a real troublemaker. He then asked Luo Qiqi why she had returned to school. Before she could answer, Xu Xiaobo and the others arrived. Xu Xiaobo came to pick her up and informed her that Uncle Li had told him that anyone who spent over 100 yuan at Water Side would receive a Meinong admission ticket. However, they needed to get rid of Black Leather.

Wu Zei confronted Black Leather and gave him a beating, warning him not to touch their people again. Luo Qiqi told Xu Xiaobo about the Chinese teacher inviting her to participate in the speech competition, and she had decided to join. Luo Qiqi realized that when she had wanted to leave before, it wasn't because she hated school or her mother. It was because she wanted to find her own way out, and now she understood that it all depended on herself. Zhu Hui arranged for Xu Xiaobo to come to her house for additional lessons on Saturday, and he agreed. In the classroom, the Chinese teacher announced that Luo Qiqi would participate in the speech competition. Lin Xin, thinking she had plagiarized her essay, declared that anyone who talked to Luo Qiqi would be in trouble. Luo Qiqi spent a long time writing her speech and finally placed it on the Chinese teacher's desk. On her way home, Xiaofei was followed by someone and mistook Zhang Jun's good friend Ma Li for a bad guy.

Zhang Jun found Xiaofei and asked her to explain things at the Neighborhood Watch. Otherwise, his good friend Ma Li would remain detained. Luo Qiqi saw the girls in her class playing volleyball and decided to join in. Lin Xin accidentally hit her with a ball, but Luo Qiqi retaliated by hitting the ball right back at Lin Xin's head. Because Zhang Jun had been dragging Xiaofei to the Neighborhood Watch, they both got caught by the teacher and were punished by standing outside the classroom.

The Chinese teacher asked Xiaofei to select the essays for the competition, and if any were marked, they should be excluded. One particular essay was not chosen. Late at night, Xiaofei was reviewing the essays, and she came across the one written by Luo Qiqi. When she saw Luo Qiqi's name, she froze. Her thoughts were suddenly transported back to their childhood when they used to play together. Xiaofei couldn't help but cry. She remembered the times she and Luo Qiqi used to play together and recalled the story of the matchstick girl that Luo Qiqi had told her. Before she could finish reminiscing, her father burst in and slapped her.

The Chinese teacher told Luo Qiqi that her essay didn't meet the standard, which frustrated Luo Qiqi. The teacher insisted that rules were rules, and Luo Qiqi had to follow them. Luo Qiqi asked what the standards were or if it meant she, as a person, didn't meet their standards. The homeroom teacher chimed in, telling Luo Qiqi not to look down on the school or the teachers. If she disagreed so strongly, she could stand on the ping pong table. In anger, Luo Qiqi walked over to the ping pong table, reflecting on all the injustices she had encountered along the way. She was furious but had no way to vent her frustration.

On another ping pong table nearby, Chen Jin was playing ping pong with his classmates. He glanced at Luo Qiqi and continued playing. Lin Xin, outside the classroom, looked triumphantly at Luo Qiqi, feeling that she had won. Luo Qiqi noticed everyone was watching her and thought about what her grandfather had told her — that caring too much about what others think can be exhausting. Xiaofei spotted Luo Qiqi and joyfully ran over, calling her name. Luo Qiqi recognized Xiaofei, and the two embraced each other happily. They sat by the field, gazing at each other, and both thought the other had become more attractive. Xiaofei told Luo Qiqi that after she left South Zheng, she cried for a long time and even asked her mother where Luo Qiqi had gone.

Xiaofei revealed that she rediscovered Luo Qiqi when she saw her essay. Luo Qiqi recited a poem she liked, and Xiaofei liked it too. Luo Qiqi gave Xiaofei a ride back home on her bike. After Xiaofei went upstairs, she took a few steps and ran back to hug Luo Qiqi, telling her that they must meet again tomorrow. As Luo Qiqi walked away, she heard an argument from Xiaofei's home. She felt concerned and hurried back. She reassured Xiaofei that her English paper was the best she had ever written, and the English teacher had asked her to present it. Xiaofei responded, and Luo Qiqi finally felt at ease. The next day, on the way to school, Luo Qiqi ran into her Chinese teacher.

She asked the teacher why she didn't like her speech, but the teacher insisted she didn't dislike it. Luo Qiqi asked if she was satisfied with the speech she had written herself, and she replied that she was very satisfied because it expressed her thoughts. The teacher told her that if she was satisfied, why care about others' opinions? She warned Luo Qiqi that if she cared too much about what others thought, she would gradually lose herself. Luo Qiqi seemed to understand what the teacher was trying to convey. Riding her bike on the way back home, her mood became brighter. She felt that she came into this world to find her own sunshine. Although her speech hadn't been selected, she had found Xiaofei.

Luo Qiqi and Ge Xiaofei were studying together when Ge Xiaofei complained to Luo Qiqi about the difficulty of chemistry. Luo Qiqi asked her whether she would choose humanities or sciences in the future. Ge Xiaofei told her that she would definitely choose humanities because she was terrible at science. When she goes to college, she plans to major in Chinese language, and she'll write lyrics for Wang Zheng. She'll become the famous lyricist Ge Xiaofei. Zhang Jun happened to pass by them, and Luo Qiqi lifted her head to look at him. Ge Xiaofei guessed her thoughts, and although Luo Qiqi didn't admit it, Ge Xiaofei told her that she knew her secret, and they both knew each other's secrets, which nobody else could know.

Luo Qiqi invited Ge Xiaofei to Inshuiyi, but Ge Xiaofei wanted to take her to watch Wang Zheng's rehearsal.

Ge Xiaofei took Luo Qiqi to the place where Wang Zheng was rehearsing, which was in an underground basement. Luo Qiqi asked if Wang Zheng was rehearsing here, and Ge Xiaofei said she had tracked Wang Zheng several times to find out. Luo Qiqi asked if she wasn't afraid of being discovered by Wang Zheng, and Ge Xiaofei said, "Let him discover." Ge Xiaofei felt that listening to Wang Zheng's songs made her feel free, as if he was singing to her. She had seen Wang Zheng's father scold him several times, but he would always come out, just like Luo Qiqi, ready to resist.

Luo Qiqi went ice skating at the rink, and Zhang Jun was playing basketball nearby.

The members of Wang Zheng's band told him that this time he had to write his own lyrics, and if he had his own style, it would definitely work. Ge Xiaofei quietly stood outside, listening to him sing and play the guitar. Luo Qiqi was standing at the classroom door reading a book when a classmate ran into her. As Luo Qiqi was about to go down the stairs, she happened to bump into Zhang Jun. She panicked and tried to run away, but Zhang Jun looked at her and said, "See you at the Binhe Park on Saturday." Luo Qiqi didn't respond and quickly went downstairs, but she was secretly happy. She arrived at Inshuiyi and happened to run into Jiajie, who is Wu Zei, and his girlfriend, who were having an argument. They ended up parting ways, and Jiajie's girlfriend, Wang Ling, asked for a breakup.

Jiajie, heartbroken, drank and sang. Xu Xiaobo asked him how long he planned to keep drinking since he had to work the next day. Jiajie said he would stop drinking when Wang Ling came to find him. Luo Qiqi's mother called her to go to her aunt's house, but Luo Qiqi refused. She went to Binhe Park, where Zhang Jun was playing shooting games. He saw Luo Qiqi standing not far away and walked up behind her, saying that he knew Luo Qiqi would come. Luo Qiqi was startled by Zhang Jun, and she hastily said she wasn't there to see him; she was looking for her brother. Zhang Jun offered to accompany her in finding her brother, but Luo Qiqi declined. Zhang Jun then held Luo Qiqi's hand and invited her to have soy milk.

Looking at Luo Qiqi drinking soy milk, Zhang Jun said that soy milk shouldn't be drunk in vain and suggested they go play bumper cars together. They played again and again, thoroughly enjoying themselves. On the other hand, after Wang Zheng and his band left, Ge Xiaofei secretly entered their rehearsal room. She sat in Wang Zheng's seat and looked at his sheet music, feeling very happy. On her way home, she happened to meet Ma Li. She asked him why he was here, and Ma Li told her that he lived nearby. Ge Xiaofei saw Ma Li's backpack and inquired, learning that Ma Li knew how to drive. Ge Xiaofei was very curious, so Ma Li asked her if she wanted to try driving his car, and Ge Xiaofei happily nodded.

Zhang Jun asked Luo Qiqi if they could continue to play together in the future, but Luo Qiqi didn't answer. She didn't know how to respond because her mindset had changed a lot with age. She made an excuse, saying she needed to go to the restroom, but quietly left. Jiajie, feeling upset due to his breakup, also came to Binhe Park to find Wang Ling but saw her having a good time with another guy. They got into an argument, and a woman nearby came over and slapped both Wang Ling and Jiajie. Jiajie was dazed and stopped causing trouble. Jiajie was about to leave, but then he changed his mind, returned, and challenged the other guy to a beer-drinking competition, which the other guy lost.

In 1989, Xu Xiaobo's father left his job due to a work-related injury. The factory officials made him wait, citing paperwork issues as an excuse not to provide compensation, and only the factory manager gave him a small sum of money to send him away. Xu Xiaobo visited his mother, who was mentally unstable. His mother told him that his father would be off work soon, and they would go to pick him up together. She was unaware that his father had already passed away. Two women happened to be discussing their family matters, and Jiajie, despite verbally claiming he didn't want to help Xu Xiaobo, still cursed at the two women in defense of Xu Xiaobo. Xu Xiaobo asked the people in charge of reimbursements to double-check the amount of money his mother was reimbursed; it didn't add up.

Director Xie told him that his mother's medical expenses couldn't be reimbursed by the factory anymore. He suggested an alternative: Xu Xiaobo could take his father's place in the factory and work directly there. Xu Xiaobo declined the offer. He still wanted to go to college, and when he did, he would take his mother to the city for medical treatment. Fast forward to the present, classmates were discussing who had answered the last question in chemistry correctly. They thought Xu Xiaobo had, but in reality, he hadn't. It was actually Cui Yang, one of the over twenty students in the class, who had answered it correctly, achieving the top score in chemistry. This dealt a heavy blow to Xu Xiaobo, who had consistently been the top student. He went to the rooftop alone to clear his mind.

Luo Qiqi was running on the sports field when she met Chen Jin, who was also running. She stopped Chen Jin and told him she wasn't doing well in English and wanted to know how to improve her English scores. Chen Jin advised her to compare her exam papers with others'. Luo Qiqi realized her vocabulary was lacking, and Chen Jin suggested that she start by memorizing the course material. If she could memorize the textbook, she would be well-prepared for the high school exams. Luo Qiqi felt that nobody's memory could be that good to remember the entire textbook, but Chen Jin asked her if she still remembered reading "One Look, Ten Lines" when she was younger. Luo Qiqi seemed inspired, and her eyes became determined.

Chen Jin felt that in this school, many people make resolutions every day, but it's easy to make resolutions and hard to stick to them. He hoped that a year later, Luo Qiqi would still be committed. Luo Qiqi started reciting English every day and quickly prepared for the exam. In July 1995, on the first day of the college entrance exam, Xu Xiaobo sat in the examination hall. Jiajie paced back and forth at home, saying that he had never been so nervous for an exam before. Luo Qiqi remained silent. Jiajie asked if she hadn't just taken her final exams; how did she do? Luo Qiqi told him that the teachers had gone to invigilate, so they didn't know yet, but if she didn't do well, her mother would send her to work at the factory.

Luo Qiqi returned with ice popsicles, and Jiajie told her he had taken a short nap. When he woke up, Xu Xiaobo's mother was nowhere to be found. Luo Qiqi quickly went out to look for her and coincidentally ran into Xu Xiaobo, who had returned after the exam. Xu Xiaobo went home to get a picture of his mother and rushed out to search the streets. Despite searching into the night, they couldn't find her. Xu Xiaobo asked Jiajie if his mother had taken her medicine. Jiajie confidently claimed she had, but when he felt his pocket, he realized the medicine was still there. Xu Xiaobo angrily punched him. Xu Xiaobo continued to search for his mother through the night and arrived at the exam hall early the next morning.

Thinking about his mother, he found it impossible to concentrate, and it was the same on the third day. He gave up, submitting his exam paper with fifteen minutes to spare. After leaving the examination hall, Luo Qiqi told him that they had found his mother. Xu Xiaobo cooked a meal for his mother, and while cooking, he couldn't hold back his tears. He confided in Luo Qiqi that he was finished. He thought about his father and how he had always wanted to leave, but if he did, what would happen to his mother? He felt incredibly selfish. Luo Qiqi witnessed Lin Lan being bullied by three girls. She approached and helped Lin Lan, and the two of them smiled at each other and went to Binhai Park to have fun. Lin Lan talked to Luo Qiqi a lot, thinking that she was very intelligent and could go far by going to college. She was determined to go to college and encouraged Xu Xiaobo not to give up. They both had to move forward; Xu Xiaobo couldn't stop.

Jiajie arrived at his shop, and a girl came in. He told the girl that he wouldn't bring just anyone here. Jiajie brought out some drinks and wanted to share them with her. The girl asked why he was being so nice to her and if he wanted to be friends. Jiajie replied affirmatively, saying he wanted to be really good friends. The girl turned her head and saw Luo Qiqi and Xu Xiaobo peeping through the window, which startled her. Jiajie told her that they were his friends, and everything was fine.

Just as they were about to share an intimate moment, a waiter came and informed them that there was a fight in the dance hall.

Jiajie went outside to check and found that among the women causing the disturbance was the one who had slapped him when they broke up. He looked at the situation and mocked her, revealing that she was actually the third party in their relationship, and he insulted her. Xu Xiaobo advised him not to go too far, but the woman got angry, saying he was a fool who didn't know anything, and she left.

The waitress came to say that she had forgotten her bag, and Xu Xiaobo went out to return it. He apologized to the woman on behalf of Jiajie. The girl didn't mind, and she explained what had happened earlier to Xu Xiaobo. Xu Xiaobo noticed that her shoes were damaged and offered to fix them, but the girl declined and left wearing the damaged shoes.

Xu Xiaobo began his senior year, and his teacher advised him to maintain a good attitude, which was more important than anything else. Luo Qiqi and Ge Xiaofei went to the swimming pool together. Just as they changed into their swimsuits and came out, they bumped into Ma Li. Ge Xiaofei pulled Luo Qiqi over to greet Ma Li. When Luo Qiqi raised her head, she saw Zhang Jun, and he saw her too. He quickly approached her, but Luo Qiqi kept avoiding him.

Ma Li's good friend, Lin Yue, approached them, and Ma Li introduced Ge Xiaofei to her. Lin Yue's bar was about to open, and her birthday was approaching, so she invited Ge Xiaofei to her bar. Ge Xiaofei asked if Luo Qiqi was going, and if she didn't go, she wouldn't either.

On the way back, Ge Xiaofei told Luo Qiqi that there was no military training for their grade, but they would make it up this time. Luo Qiqi asked if all the grades' students would train together, and Ge Xiaofei seemed to understand her thoughts. She asked if Luo Qiqi had spoken to Zhang Jun, but Luo Qiqi didn't reply and left.

Luo Qiqi and Ge Xiaofei were sitting under a tree chatting when suddenly Wang Hua and Song Peng threw a ball near them. They made inappropriate remarks and teased Ge Xiaofei. Luo Qiqi couldn't stand it and spoke up. However, Song Peng pushed her to the ground. Zhang Jun, who was sitting not far away, saw this and, during the running exercise, deliberately stepped on Song Peng's shoe, seeking revenge for Luo Qiqi.

They argued, and the instructor punished them with a run. A girl suggested running with Zhang Jun, and their classmates began to cheer. Luo Qiqi, feeling angry, left the scene.

Xu Xiaobo's classmate at the front desk told him that their school had a collaboration with a prestigious school in Xi'an, and his name was on the list. Xu Xiaobo went to the teacher, who explained that only one student from each class would be selected, and they were looking for a student with good academic performance from a financially disadvantaged background. The teacher wanted to recommend Xu Xiaobo for this opportunity. However, Xu Xiaobo hesitated because his mother was ill, and there were many family matters to attend to.

The teacher believed it was a rare opportunity and advised Xu Xiaobo to think it over carefully before giving her an answer. She assured him there was no rush. Luo Qiqi was doing her homework when Jiajie persuaded her to meet his friend, who turned out to be Lin Yue, the girl they had seen at the swimming pool earlier. They had met before. Coincidentally, Zhang Jun was also present. Jiajie asked Luo Qiqi to sing, and Zhang Jun selected a song to sing with her. Zhang Jun invited Luo Qiqi to go for a spin, and he kept talking. Luo Qiqi didn't want to deal with him and left. Zhang Jun followed her and took her to the skating rink.

Zhang Jun told her that he wanted to be friends with her. Luo Qiqi questioned if he thought any girl would follow him around just because he wanted them to and threatened to have her brother break his legs if he bothered her again.