Summer and Autumn Love

     A

    single fragrant flower is picked and placed in water, its delicate aroma slowly spreading. A cup of tea is brewed, and the leaves unfurl at the bottom of the cup. Gazing, touching, and lost in thought, one realizes that everyone has a dream, and every dream has a

    scene. Youth may have faded, but time leaves its mark, and a particular scene lingers in the mind. The March breeze blows gently, and the sunlight becomes much warmer. The willows on campus dance in the wind. The morning sun stands by the lake, enjoying the beauty of spring. The sky is so blue, the water so clear, and scattered flowers by the lake playfully nod among the grass.

    "Hey!"

    a voice called out. Chenyang turned around and saw two female classmates.

    Chenyang pointed to himself and said, "Are you calling me?"

    A girl with a ponytail said, "Who else would I call? Who else is here?"

    Chenyang scratched his head and smiled, "Oh, is there something you need?"

    The girl said crisply, "Nonsense, why would I call you?"

    Chenyang thought to himself, "This girl is not someone to mess with," and quickly said, "I'm also a student at this school. I just enrolled last year."

    The girl continued, "I didn't need to check your ID. Is this pen yours?"

    Chenyang subconsciously touched his pocket, and the pen was indeed gone. He quickly said:

    "Yes, it's mine. I dropped it when I bent down to look at the flowers,"

    the girl said, feigning surprise as she smiled at another short-haired girl. "Do boys like admiring flowers?"

    The short-haired girl smiled and said, "Alright, Yuxia, hurry up and give the pen back."

    Yuxia said, "What, are you in such a hurry? You haven't fallen for this junior, have you?" She then laughed again.

    The short-haired girl slapped the girl named Yuxia and said, "What are you saying? It's someone else's pen, it should be returned."

    Yuxia then smiled at Chenyang and said, "How about this, junior, you go to the lakeside and pick some flowers for your senior, and I'll return the pen." "You,"

    Chenyang said petulantly, seeing the girl's expression, "I don't want the pen anymore. You can pick the flowers yourselves, but look over there."

    The two girls followed Chenyang's gaze to a sign on campus that read: "The tender grass, how can you bear to trample it? The beautiful flowers, cherish them."

    After looking at it, the two girls glanced at Chenyang's serious expression and laughed again. The girl with short hair said, "Okay, classmate, I was just joking with you. Here's your pen back," and snatched it from the girl's hand. Chenyang took the pen, gratefully thanked the girl, and the two girls left.

    Chenyang vaguely heard the girl named Yuxia say to another girl, "Xiaomei, this little boy seems to share your interests; he likes to stroll by the lake." Chenyang remembered the name Xiaomei. Their

    second encounter was in the school cafeteria. Chenyang was queuing for food when two familiar figures appeared in another line—it was the two girls. Seeing them wearing their new school uniforms, Chenyang found it amusing. They were both freshmen, yet they called themselves seniors. In the cafeteria, Chenyang mustered her courage and deliberately sat next to the two girls, smiling, "Senior ladies, what delicious food are you eating?" Xiaomei and Yuxia laughed again when they saw Chenyang. Yuxia said, "Oh dear, junior's here for revenge!" Xiaomei glanced at Chenyang, smiled, and didn't say anything. Chenyang sat down as well, and the atmosphere became harmonious amidst laughter. The three became good friends. Chenyang's major was different from Xiaomei's and Yuxia's, but after class, the three would still go for walks in the campus park and participate in campus activities together. When they went out, Xiaomei would mostly listen to Chenyang and Yuxia's conversations, rarely joining in their arguments. Although he chatted with Yuxia, Chenyang would always observe Xiaomei's expression. If Xiaomei laughed, Chenyang would continue the conversation; if Xiaomei didn't want to listen anymore, Chenyang would find a new topic. Xiaomei, a beautiful, aloof girl, Chenyang... He couldn't understand why Yuxia was so concerned about Xiaomei's feelings. Gradually, Yuxia grew tired of these simple chats and walks, and the three of them met less often. Chenyang and Xiaomei, without Yuxia's prompting and feeling embarrassed to be alone together, had fewer opportunities to meet. Without Xiaomei and Yuxia, Chenyang felt something was missing from his school life. After many days apart, Chenyang learned what longing felt like. Sometimes, he would foolishly wonder if Xiaomei missed him too. Then he would laugh at his own thoughts; he was still young, still in school, how could he be falling in love so early? Was this what adults called puppy love? Chenyang still went to the park to admire the drooping willow branches, the pink flowers, and the swimming fish. Unintentionally, Chenyang saw... When Xiaomei's essay was published in the school's poetry journal, its fresh and captivating language revealed a hint of melancholy in her words, Chenyang noticed a shared interest in prose. Xiaomei loved the golden autumn and the gentle drizzle, things Chenyang also cherished. In one of her essays, Xiaomei likened summer and autumn to lovers: autumn arrives softly, but summer departs; their love was fleeting, a brief glance, a separation of hands—the helplessness of love and affection. Therefore, he dared say that the autumn rain was the tears of summer and autumn. Chenyang was even more drawn to Xiaomei's melancholic aura.

    It was as if he had found a kindred spirit. Chenyang also loved to immerse himself in literature, to express his inner pride, aloofness, and even... Overconfident, Chenyang finally mustered the courage to ask Xiaomei and Yuxia out for a walk. Of course, Chenyang knew he was still too shy to ask Xiaomei out alone, but Yuxia didn't like quiet flower-viewing and moon-gazing. Gradually, the three-person dates smoothly became Chenyang and Xiaomei's dates. The stone benches in the park and the rocks by the lake became their reading spots. On Sundays, they would sometimes sit there all day. They didn't say much, but they seemed to understand each other's thoughts. Love, for these two young people who had just entered college, was hazy, yet something they longed for. The setting sun reflected in the water, golden sunlight painting the entire lake surface. The two sat by the lake as usual, and Xiaomei whispered, "Chenyang, can I lean on you for a while?" Chenyang nodded excitedly. Xiaomei rested her head on Chenyang's shoulder. Everything was so quiet, so quiet you could hear the wind rustling the leaves. While Chenyang was still immersed in this joy, Xiaomei shed tears.

    Xiaomei's dropping out of school was a blow to Chenyang, somewhat sudden. Initially, Xiaomei took a week off, and that week was agonizing for Chenyang. He even wrote a countdown in his notebook. Chenyang realized he had fallen in love with Xiaomei, completely infatuated. He was immersed in the joy of this affection even in class. For teenagers of this age, perhaps it's not love, but the word "like" certainly applies. Chenyang spent a week folding 365 lucky stars, wishing Xiaomei good luck every day. He also wrote a love letter in one go. Through so many days of interaction, through that warm, sunny afternoon, Chenyang felt that if he wanted to be Xiaomei's boyfriend, she wouldn't refuse. So, for a week, Chenyang couldn't concentrate on his studies. He completely immersed himself in a longing for love, imagining themselves hand in hand, flying together, discussing the world, their love blossoming.

    A week finally passed, and Chenyang wanted to express his longing in words. Xiaomei arrived; she had lost weight, her face lacking its former radiance. When Chenyang greeted her with enthusiasm, Xiaomei was indifferent. She brought Yuxia with her, and Chenyang's enthusiasm slowly subsided. The three chatted casually, and whenever Chenyang asked Xiaomei what she was doing at home, she always changed the subject. The letter of confession in Chenyang's right hand was clenched until it was sweaty; his passion had been extinguished by Xiaomei's indifference. So, the letter wasn't delivered that day.

    Back in his dormitory, Chenyang secretly vowed to give the letter to Xiaomei the next day. If she agreed, it would be his blessing; if not, he would beg her to remain his friend, even if only as an ordinary friend.

    The next day, Chenyang waited for Xiaomei outside her classroom, but she didn't appear. He found Yuxia and asked where Xiaomei was. Yuxia said sadly, "Didn't Xiaomei tell you? She dropped out of school." "What? Dropped out? Why?" Yuxia said, "As a friend, I wanted to tell you about Xiaomei, but she wouldn't let me, and she didn't want to become the subject of gossip. Xiaomei originally got into high school with the third-highest score in the whole school, but her father's health wasn't good. If Xiaomei finished high school and then went to university, she would have to study for another four years. So Xiaomei listened to her mother's wishes and went to this ordinary vocational school, hoping to learn a skill and then go out to work. Last week, Xiaomei's father's illness suddenly worsened, and he couldn't get out of bed. The family relied solely on her mother. Xiaomei's younger brother is still in school. Xiaomei didn't want to see her mother so overworked, so she applied to drop out. She said she was going to go to another city to work with her cousin. Oh, and she left you a letter. Take a look." "

    Chenyang: Hello, I wish you happiness every day. Please forgive my abrupt departure. Meeting you was the happiest and most unforgettable experience of my campus life. Thank you for your companionship during this time. I wish you will meet the right person for you in the future."

    Chenyang stood by the lake where they met. The willows by the lake were tinged with a pale yellow in the autumn season, and the pink flowers had already drooped their heads, bearing fruit. Chenyang quietly felt the drizzling rain. Autumn had come gently, but summer had gone. Would this rain be the tears of summer and autumn?