Her and Jin Yiken’s third venue was Zhaohua Hall at ten o’clock at night.

Rows of luxury cars, a reserved nightclub, hundreds of friends, ear-splitting electronic music, strobe lights sweeping the entire venue. Familiar faces brushing shoulders and crowding together in heavy blue light. This party encompassed almost Jin Yiken’s entire circle of friends. Many artist friends of all sizes also came. Pengzi and Ban Wei were drinking, Si Bolin and Wu Jiakui were chatting. Shu Meng, who had just arrived, hugged her and called her baby. In the noisy and heated atmosphere, she loudly chatted mouth-to-ear with Fang Xuan. Less than five minutes of chatting and the two sisters were close. One pulled Long Qi saying they must “drink till death,” the other pressed against Long Qi’s shoulder and pushed Fang Xuan’s hand away: “Hey, why are you being so fierce to my baby?”

Her phone kept vibrating. So many people came. So many embraces. So much alcohol consumed. And in a tipsy state, Jin Yiken held her waist and kissed her neck a few times. By then it was already past midnight. He no longer entertained friends, no longer listened to the constant calling in his ears. Ears burning red, with someone whose limbs were equally softened by alcohol, he spoke dirty words in the corner as if no one else was there. Then, approaching midnight, he took her away early, abandoning the sports car. In the back seat of a taxi, they kissed. Both had drunk quite a bit. When she got out of the car, she insisted on taking a photo with the driver, even video-calling the driver’s wife, daughter, and all seven aunts and eight uncles to wish them blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea. Afterward, the slightly more sober Jin Yiken brought her to a place—what place she didn’t care about, what they did she also didn’t care about. After finishing, she went back to Yiming Bay with him. He removed her jacket. On the carpet beside the living room sofa, he took advantage of her in perfect harmony.

The first time had been held back for too long—several strands of hair were broken.

The second time was on the master bedroom bed. He called “wife” many times. She again had the feeling she would die with him on this bed.

…

The consequence of drunken debauchery was collapsing until noon the next day before going to school.

By that time, news about last night’s party had climbed to the top three hot searches. Half of the top ten were familiar people. The internet hadn’t been this lively on such a large scale in a long time. Various media accounts had gone crazy reposting party photos leaked from various channels. All kinds of short videos were also spreading everywhere. Her phone had countless missed calls. And when Lao Ping’s call came through, she was in the cafeteria sobering up. She’d ordered a bowl of noodle soup, pressing her forehead, wearing headphones with eyes closed, not having slept through it, her head swelling badly. Jin Yiken was more formidable than her. Not only had he drunk more fiercely and played harder than her last night, he’d also secretly concluded several business collaborations that night. After sending her to school at noon, he went back to the company to follow up on progress. His overseas courses weren’t finished yet. Everything he did here had to be done racing against time. A complete young, promising workaholic. While she was muddled in the cafeteria, listening to Lao Ping talk about this and that, turning the soda can on the table, examining the new tattoo on her finger.

He did it.

Taking advantage of her drunkenness, pulling her to a tattoo shop with coaxing and deception. Clearly something he’d premeditated for a long time. The style was designed by him in advance. Tattooed on both their ring fingers. Hers was the initial of his surname—”J,” uppercase. The horizontal line on the “J” extended to circle the ring finger, forming the appearance of a ring. The tail hook of the J also had a subtle arrow design, like half an anchor. And on Jin Yiken’s ring finger was the Chinese character of her name “七” (Seven). Like the J, it was designed into the other half anchor ring style, circling his ring finger.

It hurt like hell.

Later in the morning when they made love, he’d held her hands with fingers intertwined many times. The tattoos combined into a complete anchor. He said that was it—this lifetime he was committed here. No negotiation. From now on, every part of his body was related to her. Her body finally had his mark. He’d gripped very tightly then. She’d sweated a lot. He wanted her to call his name.

A bit rogue, a bit domineering, but also very clever.

Loved it to death.

She took a photo and sent it to Shu Meng. Shu Meng was already awake. The message came back in less than three seconds. Five words: Holy shit, did he propose?

She said no.

Shu Meng: This TM doesn’t count??

She typed: If you say this counts, then we’ve had plenty of this kind of thing between us. He already proposed long ago.

Shu Meng: Just make me die of jealousy. Does this tattoo hurt? I also want to get one for Pengzi. This silly dog always takes off his couple ring when going out to play.

Reply: Super painful. Even sobered up from alcohol.

Shu Meng: Jin Yiken is really bold and skilled. Your agent doesn’t care?

Reply: My agent’s salary is still managed by him.

Shu Meng sent a string of “hahahahaha,” then said: Really not easy, all these years for you two.

She replied with one word: Mm.

Then, ten seconds of “typing…” from Shu Meng’s side. She listened to Lao Ping’s nagging in her headphones, pulled the tab and took a sip of soda water. Students around walked back and forth. WeChat dinged: So you two really only slept with each other and are each other’s first loves?

…

She sent a question mark.

Shu Meng: You said it yourself when you drank too much yesterday. You were comparing experiences with Fang Xuan.

“I was comparing experiences with Fang Xuan??”

“Sorry sister, if you hadn’t revealed it yourself, I thought all your previous scandals were real… I also always thought Xiao Kuikui and Jin Yiken had… When we weren’t close in England, what I heard from Pengzi made me think they were officially dating.”

Xiao Kuikui was Shu Meng’s pet name for Wu Jiakui. As long as Shu Meng recognized someone as one of her own, she could get along warmly with anyone. Long Qi hadn’t figured out what to reply when Shu Meng sent another line: Have you contacted Xiao Kuikui? Hurry and take responsibility for her.

“What responsibility?”

At the same time, Lao Ping’s “Don’t answer Ban Wei’s calls today” jumped in. She’d just responded to those busy but fulfilling schedule items and asked why—did she cause trouble yesterday? As soon as Lao Ping heard, he knew she hadn’t been online yet. He dropped a line: “Your abilities are quite something. My boss just took half a day off to talk business, and you, little ancestor, went and kissed Wu Jiakui head-on. Couldn’t even pull you away.”

“You said I kissed who?”

“Who did you kiss? Now you know to ask who you kissed? Why didn’t you grab anyone else but Wu Jiakui? The key point is this lady also drank too much. The two of you were all passionate hugging and crying. Now photos are exploding all over the internet. Your two groups of fans are dumbfounded. Your CP fans are celebrating universally. The topic is about to rush to the top of the list. Ban Wei wasn’t clear last night, but this morning he’s clear. He hates you like you scratched his car. He’s anxious to settle accounts right now. If he calls, don’t answer. Once you answer, he’ll definitely pull you out to drink again. You give me peace of mind in ballet class. For the next three months, you don’t get to indulge.”

“Wait, Jin Yiken didn’t stop me?”

“Don’t even mention it. You two held hands like parting in life and death. Wu Jiakui said she’d never been so devoted to another person. And you too—afterward you even wiped each other’s tears saying you two should just live together and men can all stand aside. Really made me laugh to death. Let me tell you, you kissed her first. Wu Jiakui hasn’t woken up yet. When she wakes up, she’ll also go crazy. You made quite a few enemies drinking at this party…”

Speaking of this, the call was cut off. Sure enough, fear what comes—Wu Jiakui’s sharp call killed through. Even through the screen, she could feel the sky-high anger of being taken advantage of on the other side. She hung up and switched back to Lao Ping’s call: “She doesn’t lose out from me kissing her, right?”

“Is that your point?”

“Does her aunt know?”

“Sister Wu issued her a house arrest order. Thanks to you.”

“Excellent.”

She replied.

About to hang up, Lao Ping hadn’t finished speaking, anxiously saying: “There’s also something about Hao Shuai’s side. Listen to the end.”

“Hao Shuai came back as your assistant?”

“Wasn’t your high school called Beifan?”

…

“Right.”

“Didn’t you not answer calls yesterday? Apparently your high school is holding a fiftieth anniversary celebration next month. The administrative office teacher called the number you left in the school register, but no one answered. They could only contact Hao Shuai’s side to notify you to return to school to participate.”

…

The cafeteria bustled. In WeChat, Shu Meng was still chatting back and forth with her, sending a bunch of photos of her and Wu Jiakui being “passionate.” She replied to Lao Ping: “I’m not going.”

“Why aren’t you going? They invited you as an honored alumna. So glorious, so good for public relations. Perfect for killing those old comments that loved mocking you as a little troublemaker. Go.”

“They weren’t wrong. You’re not unaware of what I was like before.”

“Even if you don’t go, my boss has to go. You two graduated from the same school.”

Lao Ping’s words proved prophetic. Jin Yiken received the notification even earlier than Long Qi.

Also as an “honored alumnus,” but this title’s value was much weightier than her four words. For the past three years, he’d been at the pyramid’s peak—the all-around excellent student held in the palms of teachers and principals. At every major occasion, he must be brought back to “have a heart-to-heart talk.” But she knew what people she’d encounter returning to Beifan. Those cold treatments suffered, the ostracism endured, the rumors shouldered, and the verbal attacks eaten—all vividly there. Her darkest and most intense period of youth also grew wildly there. It wasn’t that she’d never received class reunion invitation messages before. Back then, busy filming and entangled in the on-and-off relationship with Jin Yiken, she felt it uninteresting. She hadn’t paid any attention. Now the official invitation had come.

Her fingers tapped lightly on the table surface. She leaned against the chair back.

Thinking.

Not many classes in the afternoon. After they ended, Jin Yiken came to pick her up.

On the way, he picked up Long Er, Wukong, and Qijie. He drove an SUV. The two silly dogs poked their heads out in the back seat, tongues lolling, panting. He leaned over from the driver’s seat to open the passenger door, single-handedly lifting Qijie who was sitting in the passenger seat to the back seat.

At that moment, Wu Jiakui and Ban Wei’s calls came through again and again. Grand celebration online. Surrounding students came and went, taking notice. In the distance, two or three paparazzi cars were parked. She brushed back her hair and got in the car. In the storage compartment was yogurt he’d bought for her. After closing the door, she tore open the straw. The pointed end popped through the yogurt lid with a “poof.” Raising her knee, she sat: “What were you busy with today?”

The car set off. Four in the afternoon. The horizon gradually showed gold.

“Helped my mom move, confirmed your end-of-year schedule with Lao Ping, went back to your place to check script progress, drafted several contracts with legal affairs, signed several newcomers, missed you.”

Smiling because of the last two words, Jin Yiken asked back: “What were you busy with today?”

“Coordinated with school to change dorms, sobered up, stopped pain, recovered, missed you.”

The car drove. The window was opened slightly. Evening wind blew in, mixing with the warm air inside the car, forming a particularly comfortable “natural wind.” Her long hair gently lifted. Long Er’s fur in the back seat was also blown up.

“Who did you sign?”

“All boys. I only sign boys here.” He replied to the key point.

“Are they handsome?”

“Overall still a bit worse than your husband.”

She scoffed, smiling. After, she slowly asked: “Do you still remember that little dark room at Beifan before? On the third floor next to the teachers’ office. I was always in there reflecting and making up homework. You were always in there waiting for me.”

“You want to go back and see?”

He understood immediately, replying to her. She continued: “Do you still remember those people from before? Zhuo Qing, Jiang Bing, Yu Jingli, Gu Mingdong, my cousin, Bai Aiting…”

Paused two seconds.

“Dong Xi.” He helped her complete it.

Then asked: “Who’s Yu Jingli?”

“Regular class. Sent you sexually harassing texts, blocked me at the school gate.”

“She blocked you?” He turned his head. “I didn’t know. You didn’t come to me?”

“We were having a conflict then. You got along well with Bai Aiting. Too lazy to pay attention to me. I had Si Bolin settle it. Didn’t let him tell you.”

He recalled that tragic period of being dumped by her. The car was still driving. Speed unchanged. He replied: “You lost out having conflicts with me, didn’t you?”

“Lost out.”

“Still going to have conflicts?”

“Depends on my mood.” Then asked, “Tell me, isn’t it magical? At Beifan High School, three years, accumulated three years of grudges, swallowed this breath for three years. Now there’s a particularly good opportunity to hold my head high and exhale this breath. In the past, I’d have to seize this opportunity and kill in all directions. But now my realm seems different. How those people talk, how they see, what they think of me—today it’s all particularly unimportant.”

“But one thing is particularly important.”

“What?” She turned her head.

“The school’s fiftieth anniversary seating this time is divided according to graduating class. Your husband is in the top class. You’re in the poor students’ class. Even if you go in glory, you’ll still be crushed by me.”

…

…

“All TM honored alumni and you’re still putting me in the poor class??” Her voice suddenly loud.

“Weren’t you in the poor class before graduation?”

She didn’t reply. Two seconds later said: “Take me to sit in the top class.”

“On what grounds?”

“Family member. Take me to sit in the top class, Jin Yiken. I don’t want to sit in the poor class. Lao Ping will definitely call media then. This would be too embarrassing for me.”

“At most you count as my legal employee, not yet my legal family member.”

By then, the car had unknowingly moved from the bustling city roads into the spacious and quiet mountain-circling highway. She asked where they were going. He said taking a drive. Also asked: “Want to see a double rainbow?”

“It didn’t rain. Where would a rainbow come from?”

He didn’t answer at first. The steering wheel was turning through a curve. The car speed slowed. After passing this curve, he leisurely said eight words: “There’s localized rain in the city today.”

At the same time, outside the mountain, on the horizon, at the city’s edge, a brilliant golden light shining straight illuminated the entire car interior. She’d been chatting with Shu Meng on her phone. Squinting from the light, she turned her head. Her own hair, shoulders and body, his arm—all plated with a layer of golden thread. And at this moment, at the horizon, two clear rainbows—one deep, one shallow—spanning half the city. Magnificent momentum. Breathtakingly magnificent beauty. The car was driving. Wind gently blowing. Long Er and Wukong climbed to the back seat window, barking in the golden light. She looked and listened to him say: “Awesome or not?”

“How did you find this place?”

Mood incredibly good.

Jin Yiken replied: “In a dream.”

“You’re just making things up.”

“At night, you can also see stars here. If you don’t believe it, stay.”

“Where would stars come from in deep winter?”

“There are. In my dream, I used this trick to pick you up.”

She ignored him, smiling. The car later stopped at a scenic viewing platform where they could overlook the entire city in golden dusk. The wind was quite strong. He took a scarf from the back seat and draped it on her. Before getting out, he asked what song she most liked to hear, emphasizing it must be her favorite.

Alright, the atmosphere now was quite suitable for playing a song. She thought for a few seconds and said: “*See You Again*.”

His hand switching songs paused: “From *Furious 7*? You’re sure?”

“Play it.”

“So sentimental.”

“I’ve been enjoying watching it recently. Play it.”

Speaking, she got out of the car. Wind whipped up the scarf, entangling with hair, blowing backward. Jin Yiken switched the song. The intro played. Atmosphere and emotion both just right. When she was still lost in thought at the car door facing the double rainbow, Jin Yiken’s index finger knuckle tapped the car hood.

Looking at him—his height of one meter eighty-six, hands in pockets standing in golden light, short hair slightly disheveled in the wind, impossibly handsome. After tapping the car hood, his hand extended toward her, hooking his index finger, gesturing for her to come over.

“What?”

Arriving in front, hands held, he pointed again at the car glass: “Look over there.”

“What?”

After looking for a long time, besides the silly faces of two dogs and one cat inside the car window, she really didn’t see anything else. She withdrew her gaze, looking at Jin Yiken. He was a head taller than her. Her scarf blown by wind was draped over his shoulders and body.

He took something from his pocket.

…

“You chose the music, you like the place, you raised the audience, the dashcam will record for you. Although we don’t lack this step, this sense of ceremony—my girl must have it.”

Following his words, she looked down, watching him open that small velvet box in his hand. The second before opening, she already realized what situation this was. But when she saw that huge, brilliant diamond ring, she really couldn’t take it. Just now she’d been calm, but now a surge of heat welled up in her heart. Long hair gently lifting, she stepped back. He pulled her back. She immediately asked: “Is it still in time to change songs now?”

“Too late. I’ve already started.”

“Psycho, why didn’t you say so earlier?” Blaming him verbally, a bit of a choke leaked into her voice. She pointed at the dashcam. “Does that thing make you look thin?”

“Yes. I found a good angle.”

After speaking, he stepped back half a step, smiling. His eyes looking at her were full of smiles—an appearance of “I’m about to do something big,” proud yet nervous. She looked with red eyes. Then when his knee slowly touched the ground, the song inside the car happened to reach the chorus climax. Long Er barked once. Dusk golden light penetrated the double rainbow, looking down on city buildings, slanting down to his shoulders and body. She stood with her back to the light. He smiled facing the light. The hand holding the ring box shook. Jacket collar, hair, her scarf—all flying in the wind. He tilted his forehead, waiting for her to extend her hand.

Made her laugh with tears. She brushed back her long hair and extended her hand. He took the diamond ring from the box: “Which finger do you want to wear it on?”

“Does the size fit?”

“I’ve figured out all the data on your entire body.”

The extended hand hit his hand once. Hit so hard the diamond ring almost fell. He held it firmly. She moved the ring finger of her left hand. He put it on.

Done. Locked in.

Diamond ring on left hand, ring tattoo on right hand. She said: “Congratulations, Jin Yiken. At such a young age, you’ve already tricked me into your hands.”

Then she was embraced by him as he stood up. Arms around his neck, they shared a kiss in front of the car. Winter warm wind blew. Golden light brilliant. Her forehead against his, she asked: “So can I sit in the top class now?”

“I’ll accompany you to sit in the poor class.”

Jin Yiken replied.

Laughed out loud.

Yes, it had always been like this.

…

…

…

…

…

I’ve always been someone who’s not good at and doesn’t like writing endings.

Choosing the ending point here, it seems some things haven’t been explained clearly. Was the copyright for *The Wicked Woman* obtained? How did Long Qi’s career develop? Did *The Town* successfully start filming? Between Xi Jing and Wu Jiakui, who won? Were their university lives still full of twists and turns… Can only say, the world of Girls’ School is still operating. Long Xinyi is still collecting Long Qi’s items left at her aunt’s house to resell to fans. Hao Shuai’s aspiration is still to be the most badass agent. Lao Ping is still shrewdly calculating how to distribute the little ancestor’s resources evenly to all artists in the studio. Ban Wei is still chasing Wu Jiakui all over the world. Wu Jiakui is still the little spirit being held up by her family while constantly planning independence. Fang Xuan still loves eating crayfish. Wu’er still wants to make a good movie. Lu Zimu is being urged by Lian Shaozi for manuscripts. Long Ziyi is still fighting with Chu Yaozhi over custody of the twins. Gu Mingdong is delivering food, but his bubble tea shop is about to open. Zhuo Qing is still working hard to expand his network at university. He always claims to outsiders that Jin Yiken is his closest buddy from high school. Bai Aiting’s new boyfriend is studying abroad at the same university as Jin Yiken and lost to Jin Yiken in basketball. Yu Peng is still in the hospital bed, forever unable to harm another girl. Zang Siming is under house arrest at his parents’ home in Singapore. Zang Xipu still recommends newcomer actors like Long Qi to producers who come offering scripts. Yan Wenjing is busy handing over resources, using this to exchange with Lian Shaozi for opportunities to see her daughter. Shu Meng is arguing with Pengzi about getting ring finger tattoos. Si Bolin received intelligence about his brother’s successful proposal, instigating people to organize a hot pot gathering. Dou Junyun is still trying every means to default on Jin Yiken’s car compensation payment. Zhou Yicong is going all out to save his quality idol image. Gao Ningning decided to turn off the iCloud function. Jian Yizhen still refuses to give up every opportunity to make herself popular again. Fan Mi still hates those young girls and boys who dare debut relying only on their faces. Nalin still operates her beauty blogger account. Recently, the messages she sends Ge Yinling get fewer and fewer replies. Wu Yishan is busy inquiring which dorm room Long Qi changed to. Ge Yinling, concealing her identity as Director Shao’s niece, finally received the next web series contract. Fu Yu’ao is still resident at the bar. Lin Hui is still heartbroken about the last unrequited love that went nowhere. Zhang Muyi still likes Dong Xi.

Dong Xi received an admission notice from a prestigious art academy abroad. When packing, she didn’t omit the red string bracelet tied with a wooden peach.

Jin Yiken is still a young man full of roguish talk but devoted twenty-four filial piety, owns a company, raises two dogs and one cat, likes tattoos and loves smoking, willing to die for one person, also willing to live to ninety-eight for one person. He now wants to live to ninety-eight.

Long Qi has many dramas to film, is loved by many people, hated by many people. Her skin is still very fair, eyes still very beautiful, making eye contact is fatal. Beautiful, aloof, and hard to pursue. She still has a reunion of old classmates to attend.

Beifan Forum is active again. Students are boiling. Thousands of accounts eagerly await the return day.

Winter cicadas are still singing. These children you’ve watched grow up have promising futures.

And I’ve stopped recording.

————————2014.2.22~2019.2.3————————

*Girls’ School*, also known as *Cicadas in Midwinter*, complete. Thank you for five years of companionship.

(The Beifan High School fiftieth anniversary celebration will be released as an extra from an observer’s perspective on the “Kids’ Help – A Sui” Weibo. There will also be some expanded extras from small theater scenes released successively—all trivial matters that weren’t written into the main text. But when they’ll be released, I can’t say for sure either. It’s been five years. You all know this procrastinating scoundrel author’s character. Having come this far, abandoning the story would be a loss. Happy New Year’s Eve. After tomorrow, you’ll welcome the first New Year without being annoyed by Long Qi. Congratulations on growing up.)

Goodbye.