Shen Moyu then noticed: "Yuanyuan is wearing makeup?"
As soon as he said that, several pairs of eyes turned to look at her, and Chen Yuanyuan immediately blushed: "I only put on... a little bit of makeup." She touched her face: "What's wrong? Doesn't it look good?"
"It looks great. I was a little surprised to see it was your first time wearing makeup," Shen Moyu smiled.
"Haha, Yuanyuan has been studying makeup at home these past few days, and she spent a long time doing her makeup today," He Qing added from the side.
"Okay, okay! Just... a quick touch-up. Besides, I'm almost 20, I can't keep wearing two pigtails all the time."
Chen Yuanyuan had grown her hair long and even permed it into big waves. Her makeup wasn't particularly elaborate, but paired with her naturally beautiful face, any guy would be captivated. The red lipstick gave her a sophisticated look, as if she had instantly transformed from a little girl with two pigtails into a gentle older sister.
Chen Hang never forgets to flatter his wife: "Yes, yes, my baby is right, baby is the most beautiful!"
"Ugh—that's so cheesy!" Su Jinning and Song Wenmiao exclaimed in unison.
"By the way, what are your plans after this?" Su Jinning asked, taking a bite of her grilled skewer.
Chen Hang and Chen Yuanyuan smiled at each other. "We plan to return to China after graduation. We don't plan to develop our careers there. We'll try to go back to Shanghai or Beijing in the future."
Su Jinning nodded: "That's good. How about you guys?" He looked at Song Wenmiao and He Qing.
He Qing rested her chin on her hand and said, "I plan to settle down in Hong Kong in the future and develop my career there, but we'll see how things go." She smiled and said, "I'm just really tired of Shanghai."
"Hahaha, you're right." Song Wenmiao scratched his head. "My parents are both in Beijing, and I plan to stay there after graduation. What about you two?"
“Do you even need to ask? Just inherit your uncle’s company after graduation, the future is limitless!” Chen Hang chimed in.
Su Jinning punched Chen Hang: "You're everywhere."
Song Wenmiao waved his hand and said, "That's fine. When you're in trouble, brother, you can arrange a job for me or something. I can work as a cleaner at your company."
"Go to hell! You graduated from aviation university and you want to work as a cleaner here?" Su Jinning almost swung a beer bottle at him.
"Sure, I'll get you two a private jet or something!"
"Hahahaha..."
Chen Hang was still the know-it-all, telling them where many classmates had gone after graduation, which schools they had attended, who was planning to retake the college entrance exam, and that Gu Junxiao had also been admitted to Shanghai Jiao Tong University and was planning to come back this summer. Shen Moyu listened intently. He remembered that Gu Junxiao had told him in junior high that he wanted to go to Jiao Tong University, and Shen Moyu was genuinely happy for him to hear that he had achieved his goal.
The group chatted until late at night, their conversation surfacing from the future back to their first year of high school. They recounted how immature they were, what bizarre things they did, who was late for school and got punished, and who was caught skipping class.
It seems like everything happened not long ago, but suddenly it became a casual conversation after drinking. When we think back on it, everyone has a smile on their face, but tears are glistening in their eyes.
Whether Chen Hang was drunk or trying his best to stay sober, he held Su Jinning's shoulders and said a lot.
Su Jinning only remembered that the originally cheerful atmosphere suddenly turned gloomy, and the group raised their glasses to clink glasses once again.
In the past, sitting together for a meal like this was always a celebration, but this time, for some reason, it turned into a farewell.
Song Wenmiao said, "Everyone, study hard and keep in touch. We still have a group chat, right?"
Chen Yuanyuan wiped away her tears: "Yes, that's right. Let's all get together again at the end of the year."
For a moment, everyone was in a daze.
So the next time we get together won't be until the end of the year. Those days of spending every day together, playing and laughing, are truly gone now.
We are about to head to the next city, the next destination, the next train, and a better future.
Even if they cannot be together in the future, they still hope that everyone is doing well.
When we meet again in the future, we'll still have endless things to talk about and countless gossips to share.
Everyone waved goodbye, and as she watched their figures disappear into the starry night, Su Jinning couldn't help but tear up.
It turns out that climbing over the school's low wall doesn't count as growing up; taking off your school uniform and solemnly walking out the main gate is.
Their teenage years have come to a successful end, but their youth has only just begun.
——
As Su Yi wished, Su Jinning chose the Department of International Finance, and Shen Moyu also studied Financial Management for the sake of her future.
Fudan University officially started its semester on September 5th, but almost all students arrived at the school on September 3rd or 4th to drop off their luggage and familiarize themselves with the campus – essential things for starting school.
The two bought some basic accommodation supplies and went to the school to register in the afternoon.
Fudan University does have a large area. Right at the entrance is a long ginkgo avenue with dense shade that perfectly blocks the scorching sun, making it a nice place for an after-dinner stroll. In a couple of days, when autumn arrives, the ginkgo leaves will turn completely golden and carpet the avenue, creating a romantic farewell scene.
The finance department and the accounting department are quite far apart, and both are majors that require complete dedication. Once the semester starts, they will be extremely busy, so the two of them may see each other less often in the future.
Su Jinning sulked for a long time about this: "Why didn't you study finance with me? The teaching buildings are so far apart, and the dorms aren't even next to each other..."
Shen Moyu was both amused and exasperated: "Isn't it good for a person to have one skill? Besides," he blinked, "it makes it easier for me to manage the money in the future, so you won't have to hide any money from me, right?"
"Oh, so that's why you studied finance!"
"You can understand it that way too."
--
Today, with new students enrolling, the normally spacious path was suddenly packed with people.
Many senior students were waiting at the dormitory entrance, each holding a sign that read "Welcome to the University," which looked quite impressive.
"Hey, do you need any help?"
Su Jinning looked back and met a pair of familiar eyes. The two of them exclaimed in unison, "It's you!"
Bai Ming patted him on the shoulder excitedly: "You're amazing, kid! You actually got in!"
Su Jinning smiled sheepishly: "It's alright."