(1)
The chirping of cicadas is the melody of summer.
If summer ever came without the sound of cicadas, no matter how hot it got, it wouldn’t feel like summer—it would just feel like being stuffed into a giant oven.
Early in the morning, Sun Wei’s mother was tidying up the room that had been empty for a month—the tenant had vanished into thin air and still hadn’t contacted them.
Sun Wei squinted under the blazing sun, his brow furrowed, his eyes barely able to open.
The cicadas chirped “Zhi-er wa—” “Zhi-er wa—” without stopping, and the stronger the sun shone, the louder they got.
Sun Wei, who had never studied hard, felt he had made a new discovery in biology—these cicadas might just be solar-powered…
He walked without his feet touching the ground to the bus stop sign at the entrance, waiting for the bus heading from the suburbs to the city. He pulled out his phone and glanced at it.
It was still the old phone he’d used throughout junior high. He wanted a new one, but since he was planning to repeat a year, he couldn’t bring himself to ask.
So he could only envy those who had touchscreen phones with styluses and continue using his old one.
The back cover of the phone was a bit loose—probably from being dropped too many times. Now, even without dropping it, it felt like it might fall apart at any moment.
He opened the outdated QQ2008 and checked the group chat—even though it was early morning, it was already buzzing.
Much livelier than before graduation.
Everyone excitedly discussed where they were headed and gossiped about all sorts of things from school. Words they hadn’t dared say were finally spoken, and things they’d once cared about suddenly seemed to let go.
Seeing Sun Wei post a simple yellow smiley face, Fang Qiang greeted him: “Hey, Awei, where are you going to play during break?”
“Play my ass. I’m repeating a year.”
“The results aren’t even out yet, and you’re already repeating?”
“I know my own level. I already told my mom.”
“Did you get beaten?”
“Damn, I got beaten all night. Both of them together.”
“Haha—”
“Are there any repeat classes now?” Yuan Lanque, the hygiene monitor, asked under the nickname “Thorny Rose.”
“Outside school. I’m starting early. Gotta catch up fast, damn it.”
“Then your summer vacation is going to suck.”
“Just wait. I’ll definitely get into high school next year.”
Sun Wei felt the air getting hotter. He looked up and saw a bus approaching from a distance. So he casually sent a message saying “Boarding now,” stuffed the phone back into his pocket, and craned his neck, waiting for the bus to stop in front of him.
For others, this was a reward for three years of hard work, or maybe it was giving up because they couldn’t make it. Either way, they could finally relax.
Only someone like him, who had to repeat a year, had to tighten his nerves again—even more than during junior high.
Because repeating a year usually only allowed one chance.
Even if the school allowed you to repeat a second or even a third time, the pressure of wasting time, getting older, and watching peers move on was not something ordinary people could bear.
So this year was his last chance.
Sun Wei always ran away, always thinking he had a way out.
But without realizing it, he had reached this point.
There was no more retreat.
“It’s time to grow up.”
—
On a hot summer day, Fang Qiang was sweating buckets at the water station. His father said that during the high-temperature season, construction jobs would slow down, so he was working at the water station full-time instead of just occasionally—since he was still a minor, it was officially called a summer job.
“Fang Qiang! There are popsicles in the fridge. Help yourself!” the station chief called out.
“Got it, chief. I already had one.”
“Take a break if you’re tired. Don’t get heatstroke.” He patted Fang Qiang on the shoulder. “Kid, you’re getting tougher.”
“Heh… not bad.” Fang Qiang lifted a bucket of water onto the side of his scooter without much effort and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the towel hanging around his neck.
“Here are the delivery addresses for these orders. Check them, don’t mess up.”
“Okay.” Fang Qiang picked up the paper and glanced at it. Suddenly, he froze.
—Because one line looked especially familiar.
It had been less than a year since that incident, but to him, it felt like a long, long time ago. The address looked familiar at first glance, and after a second look, he remembered what it meant.
“What’s wrong? Somewhere you don’t know?” The station chief patted his shoulder, snapping him out of his daze.
“Huh? Oh… no. I’m pretty familiar with this area.” Fang Qiang quickly shook his head and stuffed the paper into his pocket. “I’m heading out!”
“Take it easy. Don’t get heatstroke!”
“Got it!” Fang Qiang swung onto his electric scooter, twisted the throttle hard. The freshly charged bike shot out with a whoosh, disappearing around the corner of the alley in seconds.
When he stopped again, he was under that familiar yet unfamiliar residential building.
He didn’t waste any time. He hoisted a bucket of water onto his shoulder and jogged up the stairs—moving fast actually saved energy; walking slowly meant stopping frequently to rest.
Fang Qiang panted like an ox, rushed to the door that was no longer so familiar, set down the bucket, and banged on the door with two loud thuds. But it was just like delivering water to any other house. No difference at all.
Even when the door opened and Lu Hong peeked out halfway, his expression didn’t change.
As if he really didn’t recognize her at all.
“Water’s here.” Fang Qiang said calmly, handing over a sweaty receipt. “If you have change, that’s best. I can’t break large bills.”
Lu Hong’s eyes darted nervously. She instinctively hid behind the half-open door, showing only half her face and an arm holding out some change.
“Who is it?” a young man’s voice came from inside the room. Fang Qiang glanced up—it was a stranger’s face.
“Water delivery.”
“Oh, let me bring it in.”
“You can leave it at the door,” Lu Hong said coldly, acting as if she didn’t know him either.
Fang Qiang counted the money, confirmed the amount was correct, and tucked it into his waist pouch. Then he turned and ran down the stairs.
Not to escape anything—just like usual, hurrying to the next delivery.
“What’s wrong?” the young man’s voice came from behind.
“Nothing.” Lu Hong opened her mouth but watched Fang Qiang disappear into the stairwell. In the end, she said not a single word.
Fang Qiang swung onto his scooter and turned around without hesitation, driving away.
He felt an inexplicable relief in his heart, as if a blocked sewer full of sludge had finally been cleared. “It’s really not a big deal…” he muttered to himself, shaking his head. The smile on his face was as bright as the sun overhead. “Just a stranger.”
(3)
Wang Xinru stood in front of the not-so-large airport in T City, looking up at the flow of travelers. It wasn’t until someone accidentally bumped into her that she snapped back to reality.
“Sorry about that.”
“No problem…” She smiled softly, pulled out the handle of her suitcase, and dragged it into the security check hall ahead.
It wasn’t her first time flying.
But it was the first time flying alone.
She gently squeezed the freshly printed boarding pass that still had a hint of warmth, picking up her pace a bit.
A line had already formed at the baggage check-in counter. She silently went to the end, slightly curious, standing on tiptoes to see what was happening up front.
It looked like people had to fill out a form first, then put their luggage on the scale next to it before they could pass through the security gate.
She had flown a few times before, but her parents had handled everything. She never had to worry about it.
Going through the process by herself for the first time made Wang Xinru’s palms feel sticky, as if they were sweating constantly.
The line moved slowly. Finally, it was her turn.
The staff member glanced at her and frowned: “Checking luggage?”
“Y-yes…”
“Where are your parents?”
“I’m alone…”
“Do you have a Minor Flight Application Form?”
“Yes, yes—I just got it from the police station.”
“Alright, let me see.”
“Here…”
“Okay. Let me verify your information. Put your suitcase on the weighing scale first.”
“O-okay.”
Because she was a minor, her paperwork was more complicated than most. Fortunately, it didn’t take too long.
“Weight limit exceeded. You’ll need to pay extra.”
“No problem…”
“Go over there to pay, then take the receipt to that window to get your boarding pass.”
Wang Xinru made a few extra trips and finally got her boarding pass. Then she walked into the departure lounge with her backpack.
To be safe, she had arrived nearly two hours early. Now that all the paperwork was done, she could finally find a seat and relax.
This was T City, not far from her small hometown.
But soon, she would fly to another distant city.
And after that, she would go abroad.
Even she didn’t know if she would ever come back.
The thought of living in a foreign country made her uneasy—compared to that, she much preferred the solid ground beneath her feet.
Even in this era of advanced internet, going abroad still felt like a farewell.
She pulled out her phone, casually played a round of Snake, but her heart was still in turmoil. She couldn’t concentrate.
So she couldn’t help opening QQ again. After a half-minute delay, several messages popped up.
Blue Emotions: “Xiao Ru, have you arrived at the airport?”
Do You Understand My Tears: “Xiao Ru~ Remember to tell us you’re safe after you land!”
Man Must Be Strong: “How did it go? Did you get the police station’s form?”
Superman: “Safe travels, Wangwang.”
Carnival: “Remember to take lots of photos and post them on my page—I’ll like them!”
Wang Xinru curled her lips slightly. Then, suddenly, she perked up, held down the keyboard with both hands, and replied to each message one by one…