Dong Wei paced towards the library desk where the student librarians are hanging out. Exams are coming and most of the students are cramming inside the facility. Most of them are huddled on the math sections, a few on the language section, and almost nothing in the entertainment section. It seems that everyone is doing their last time studying before the exams.

The librarians are also affected by it. Since the books will still be taken out, they didn't bother to collect it to return on the shelves. They only have to wait until the closing hours to clean all the mess. Now, they focused on their studies, quietly highlighting whatever texts on their books.

Lang Yuan is also one of the librarians, however, he wasn't cramming like everyone. He already studied at home and just using this free time to scan his notes to reread some important points. This is why a few people are envious of him. Lang Yuan is a known genius. All he needed to do is to look and stare at an object. His mind process is faster than anything else.

When Dong Wei arrived on the front desk, he only needed to knock to gain the attention of almost all the students in the library. The knock is not loud, but for the students that have their brains activated, one stimulus is enough to gather their attention. Dong Wei made an apologizing look before looking at Lang Yuan that seems to be too focused on whatever he is reading.

Lang Yuan is just flipping his notes. None of the words from the notes entered his mind as it was occupied by something else. It is only when Dong Wei patted his shoulders that he managed to notice the other person's presence. He looks up to greet his senior.

"Senior Wei... is there anything you need?" Lang Yuan asked.

Dong Wei noticed that something is different with Lang Yuan. Normally, his expression is only in between the straight face and confusion.

However, the sight before him showed that Lang Yuan seems to be worried about something. For the people that did not know him, they will not notice the change. But for Dong Wei who seem to like this Junior could see the difference.

"No. Actually, I am here to remind you," Dong Wei leaned on the table.

Lang Yuan pushed his eyeglasses up with a frown. Did he forget something? Dong Wei understood his expression so he said:

"Remember that I invited you out for a meal? Mom is at home. She said that it should be time to bring you home to give her thanks for helping me," Dong Wei said.

"Oh..." Lang Yuan slowly nodded. Indeed, Dong Wei told him about it the other day. "When will it be?"

"How about this Saturday?" Dong Wei said.

"Saturday?" Lang Yuan, then again, pushed the rim of his eyeglasses up. From just expression, Dong Wei could tell that something is bothering the youth.

"Are you not free this Saturday?" Dong Wei asked.

"Um... actually..." Yan JiaYi will be discharged this Saturday.

That person said that he only needed one night of stay. However, the next day, Yan JiaYi broke out a fever. It extended for a few days. Lang Yuan wanted to just take leave to visit at the hospital.

But Mother Yan knows that the midterms exam is coming so she warned Lang Yuan to not go until the exams are done. The exams will be on Friday. Saturday is the only time he could go.

"If you are busy then we could move the date," Dong Wei just shrugs his shoulders. "Though, mom would be away. I am the only one who would cook for you."

"Senior Wei, you don't really have to-"

"Uh-uh, I won't listen to you. Didn't you agree already? How about Wednesday next week? The results of the exam will come on that day. We will celebrate your topping the first place again." Dong Wei said.

"Eh? I'm not sure if I could still get the top this exam," Lang Yuan muttered. He wondered if ever he could concentrate in class.

"Nah, it's you. Whatever you do, you will always get the top," Dong Wei reaches out to ruffle the soft hair of the junior. "I believe in you so you should also believe in yourself. Understand?"

"En," Lang Yuan nodded.

Dong Wei wanted to have a chat but the library isn't the perfect place to do it. Lang Yuan is also on his shift so he could not just walk out and leave his position. Dong Wei decided to just say his regards and left with a smile. Lang Yuan watched the senior walk away before returning to his notes.

He tried to do his usual studying but Lang Yuan did not get the result that he wanted. Instead of forcing his brain to absorb information, Lang Yuan just took all of his things inside his bag and told the other librarians that he will go and clean some tables. The others just nodded and have him clean some mess.

He took a cart from the corner then started collecting the books that were not in use from the tables. He only needed to turn around a few tables to fill his cart full. Then, he paced towards the shelf to look at the sections where the books should be placed.

Lang Yuan is already familiar with the library's sections that's why he was quite fast in returning the books on the shelves. Though, while he was returning the books, his mind is wandering somewhere. It made him place a few books on wrong places to which he quickly realized.

He heaved a sigh. "I think I should just take some rest-"

Somebody that was passing on the same shelf accidentally bumped against the book-filled cart. It made a few books to topple down. Lang Yuan watched as that person just walk away as though it did not notice the books falling. It did not even help him pick up the books.

There's nothing that he could do than to pick it up himself. Calling that person will only cost an effort so he just let things pass. As he was picking the books one by one, Lang Yuan caught sight of a cookbook that seems to be very out of place. Against the pile of mathematics and sciences books, this cookbook is indeed standing out.

Lang Yuan flipped the book over. The title on it says "One hundred and one ways to cook eggs". Somehow, the title made Lang Yuan chuckle. It made him remember that time when he found that large egg. Honestly, he was really hungry at that time and was planning to cook it...

Well, he changed his mind after realizing that there is life on that egg.

Now he is missing that...

Missing what?

Missing who?

Suddenly, there was a breeze that just happened to pass. Lang Yuan looked up and realized that there's an open window not far from him. It happened that as he was looking up a strong wind blew making the curtains dance.

The light reflected by the sun is so bright that Lang Yuan has to cover his eyes with his arms to avoid it. Though, when his eyes adjusted with the light, he was able to see the world beyond the large window.

Old trees with large branches shading a few old stone chairs, Lang Yuan recognized the hidden resting place that he often stays when idle or out in class. It was the place that he accidentally discovered when he was looking around for a peaceful time to study.

He held the cookbook on his chest and walked towards the window. Since the library is slightly elevated, the windows are also a bit up high, almost reaching the second-floor level. This made Lang Yuan to not realize that the 'back of the building' hideout is right just beside the library.

Also, he had never gone to this section before. And if ever that he did, he had never seen the windows open since most of the time it was closed due to air-conditioning. The association between two places never coincides with his imagination making him miss a very important connection.

Amazed with his discovery, Lang Yuan idled around the window and watched the field with delight. Since it was hidden, only a few people were hanging around the area. They are either reading something or sleeping on the corner. Lang Yuan found his usual spot that is situated right just under a huge tree.

The look from above is different from what he usually sees the place. This time, he could only see a portion of that place since the lush of the tree is covering half of the surface giving shade to the object underneath it. It is as though the tree is purposely hiding the glimpse of a memory...

Lang Yuan never forgets things easily but it doesn't mean that memories will always stay forever. After some time, memories will occasionally fade like footsteps on the seashore. Once you put a step forward, what is left will be erased. One can retrace the path but it will never be the same as before...

Some things needed to change.

Einstein once said that time is relative - time will solely depend on the person's perspective.

A five-minute waiting time could be longer than an hour spent with the person you like. The one-second difference in a race could be slower, while an eight-hour sleep is very short for a sleep-deprived college student.

Though, Lang Yuan is sure that humans could only live at the 'present'. Nobody could buy the future, and nobody owned the past - both intervals are illusions made for people to believe that time is running. No, it wasn't running. It is pacing depending on the person's thoughts.

Yan JiaYi, that person, will never have the future that he wanted. He had long stopped running as his time stopped a few years ago. What keeps him alive is the reigns that were tied by the people who cherish him, pulling him up to see the things that he could still grasp.

Yan JiaYi had long given up.

Maybe it is time for Lang Yuan too.

He wasn't apathetic, Lang Yuan is very sensible as such. He might look like some rigid rock that is immovable and heavy, but in actuality his mature thinking made him realize things more than his age.

If that person did not want him...

If that person chooses to hide...

Then Lang Yuan will choose the other path as well.

Yan JiaYi already foresaw a future without Lang Yuan, then Lang Yuan will also do the same. Maybe, like parallel lines, their fate is just to meet and greet but will never coincide. One will continue the straight-line path while the last one will cut it shorter...

"Did he just assumed that I am a weak person?" Lang Yuan asked the wind.

If you ask who is the weaker one, it would be Yan JiaYi. Lang Yuan, who had been discriminated against when he was still young never even once thought of stopping. Maybe he is weak before, but it doesn't mean that he can be weak forever. Lang Yuan's success is due to his determination to survive.

After all, human life is very fickle. One will not know when the candle will end shortly.

Looking down on that spot, Lang Yuan could see a faint image of two persons talking. Those two figures were somehow talking harmoniously, though the one who does the most entertainment is the smiling figure. The one who wore a solemn look only watched the other figure make fun of himself.

In the future, the two figures will no longer occupy the bench. Both will be leaving on their good. The place will return to its tranquility as though the memories left behind were just the vandalism of time. Sooner, it will be forgotten, only remembered by the century-old trees that guarded the place.

Maybe the trees will also eventually forget about it...

Lang Yuan took a look back to the book that he was holding then heaved a sigh. He placed it back to the cart and went back to the open window. Glancing to the outside world, it was indeed pretty as a dream. But everyone knows that it was just a facade created by the world to pretend that everything is right.

The large window that was opened by who knows who was pulled close by Lang Yuan, cleansing his heart from the worries that he accumulated, and close it shut tightly. Once the door is locked, nobody could go and open it back again.

He won't be able to return as he keeps on walking forward.

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Yay! I (finally) UPDATED!