It was a massive cardboard box, wrapped in multiple layers of plastic bags.

Wang Fa still remembered the first time he saw that box—on an autumn evening.

That day, Lin Wanxing was just about to move into 17 Wutong Road, and the players had suddenly found their way there. When he went downstairs to buy cigarettes, he encountered a large crowd gathered at the entrance.

Lin Wanxing stood smiling under the streetlight then, and he and the players willingly helped her carry this enormous box to the rooftop.

Since then, the box has remained in the corner of her home. Later, a cloth was placed over it, transforming it into a perfect table, and no one had moved it since.

Until today, when Lin Wanxing arranged for someone to pack up her things and take away this box.

Lin Wanxing probably hadn’t anticipated that the old lady from the convenience store downstairs would be so nosy and vigilant.

The old lady first noticed that the landlady hadn’t returned home for a long time. Then, when she saw agents bringing people to the rooftop terrace, she carefully went upstairs to inquire what they were doing. Finally, she was kind enough to call the landlady’s “boyfriend.”

“Grandma doesn’t know how you two got into an argument, but when a young girl gets angry, there must be a reason. Just be more patient with her,” Wang Fa heard the old lady advise before hanging up.

Wang Fa felt utterly bewildered at that moment, a feeling comparable to when he had stood outside the players’ funeral.

Only then did he realize that being sentenced to death sometimes required no reason at all.

It took a long time to return to Hongjing from Cangmen, and Wang Fa had prepared himself to find the rooftop empty.

But he never imagined that when he pushed open the iron gate of 17 Wutong Road, he would see such a vast sea of paper.

Under the dim hallway lights, white papers were scattered everywhere like snowflakes, covering the entire smoky gray corridor, making it impossible to enter.

Looking up, a damaged cardboard box hung on the staircase on the second floor.

It seemed the box had been too heavy and was accidentally damaged during transport, causing its contents to spill out.

The air was filled with the distinctive ink smell of paper and books. Wang Fa bent down and picked up a sheet with childish stick figures drawn on it.

The drawing had instructions printed on it and was carefully numbered—apparently materials from some child psychology research Lin Wanxing had conducted.

The rental agent and delivery man were busy cleaning up the mess.

Seeing his arrival, the agent’s face clearly showed a trace of embarrassment.

Wang Fa held the paper in his hand, inexplicably wanting a cigarette.

“So you’ve come back,” the agent stacked some papers neatly, wiped his hands on his trouser seams, and carefully stepped through the gaps between the white papers to approach him.

“Yes,” Wang Fa glanced at the papers in the stairwell and crouched down to pick them up.

“No, no, no, let me do this!”

“She’s having everything packed up and shipped away?” he asked while collecting papers.

“Yes…”

“Where is she sending them?”

The agent fell silent.

Wang Fa looked up at him and smiled helplessly, “She instructed you not to tell me?”

“Well… please don’t ask. I’m just following orders.”

“I understand,” Wang Fa replied flatly after a moment.

In an instant, more and more students entered through the gate.

Seeing the books and papers scattered all over the floor and hearing that conversation, they roughly understood what had happened. Uncharacteristically, they didn’t make a commotion but instead bent down to help pick up the things that filled the entire hallway.

At that moment, the corridor was unusually quiet. The sounds of neighbors cooking and children’s cartoon laughter from televisions could be heard.

Lin Wanxing’s box indeed contained many items, probably encompassing all the precious memories from her entire college career.

Inside were her Chinese and English textbooks, lecture notes, printed papers, and research she had conducted.

Her handwriting was neat, and she was meticulous in everything she did.

Seeing Lin Wanxing’s red and white college awards scattered on the ground, they realized more clearly than ever before just how exceptional she truly was.

Ironically, such an outstanding student like Lin Wanxing had sealed away her entire college career. She had casually tossed these things in a corner, using them as a coffee table for miscellaneous items. If not for this moving accident, the box would probably never have been opened by Lin Wanxing again.

Wang Fa was certain of this.

In the hallway, the papers and books were gradually cleaned up, revealing the original cement steps.

A few photographs that had been pressed at the very bottom came into view.

Wang Fa picked up the photos and suddenly froze.

They were film photographs of Lin Wanxing—some of her alone, others with classmates.

In the photos, the young woman leaned forward making peace signs at the camera. She wore a bright T-shirt and a school skirt, revealing a slight glimpse of her fair waist. Her eyes were clear and captivating, her smile radiant and beautiful.

Though somewhat exaggerated, it was as if the light suddenly shone in—Wang Fa had never seen Lin Wanxing so lively and happy.

He racked his brain, continuously recalling.

They had won so many matches together and shared many moments filled with laughter and joy, with Lin Wanxing always wearing a gentle smile.

But not once had he seen Lin Wanxing so relaxed and casual.

Wang Fa held the photographs, his fingers turning slightly pale.

It was then that he began to feel something concrete. The current Lin Wanxing and the former Lin Wanxing were almost completely different people.

No matter how relaxed and at ease she appeared, she had always lived in a shadow, never seeing daylight. Though the corridor had been completely cleared, the air gradually became suffocating.

The delivery man brought new cardboard boxes.

Wang Fa and all the players stood nearby.

They watched as Lin Wanxing’s books, notebooks, and reports were placed one by one into the new boxes.

The box closed, and the tape ripped open with a screech, wrapping around the box circle after circle. In the moonlight, the tape reflected a cold light.

For a moment, Wang Fa felt that what was being buried wasn’t just Lin Wanxing’s former college life, but her entire life.

But he had no idea what was happening. He could only stand there stupidly, holding Lin Wanxing’s old photographs, watching as the box slowly departed.

Breathing heavily, the journey back to the rooftop seemed particularly long.

The students, having played an intense match and traveled all day, now climbed the stairs with slow steps.

First floor, second floor, third floor…

When they reached the iron door of the rooftop, the procession stopped.

The stairwell was dim with no light.

Lin Lu walked to the front. He stood before the iron door without making any move, and no one behind him urged him on.

They remained silent for a long time.

“Why is this happening?” Finally, Lin Lu couldn’t help but turn to look at everyone behind him, his tone filled with bewilderment.

No one knew who sat down first, but the others followed, settling on the steps, with no one wanting to go back.

Wang Fa clearly understood the players’ feelings.

It seemed that if they pushed open the door and returned to the terrace, they would have to fully accept the fact that Lin Wanxing had arranged for someone to pack up her things and move out completely.

At the very least, it must be cold behind that door now, and no one wanted to face the darkness and emptiness of the terrace.

Wang Fa looked down at the photograph in his hand, trying to find some clues to explain Lin Wanxing’s behavior.

Heavy breathing filled the air, and silence continued for a long while.

Qin Ao couldn’t help but take out his phone and call Lin Wanxing.

But apart from the long waiting tone, no other sound came from the other end.

Again and again, Qin Ao persistently dialed, but each time he heard the mechanical female voice announcing the call had failed.

“Stop calling.”

Finally, Fu Xinshu’s bitter voice broke the silence.

“What exactly happened?!” Qin Ao asked angrily, not understanding.

“Why did she just leave like this?”

“Why did she abandon us?”

Fragmentary and chaotic discussions gradually arose in the stairwell.

It was almost an extremely humorous scene.

Whenever they spoke, the motion-sensor lights in the stairwell would turn on, illuminating confused and helpless faces, and after silence fell, the lights would go out again.

“Why did she leave like this? It’s not like her,” Feng Suo vigorously rubbed his hair, speaking carelessly but from the heart.

“Why isn’t it like her?” Wang Fa put away the photo and looked back at his players.

“It just feels… a bit irresponsible to leave like this. Our teacher has always been very responsible.”

“She firmly believes in human independence. The most responsible thing she has always tried to teach you is that you are all independent and isolated from each other. No one needs to be responsible for anyone else’s life.”

It was a cruel statement. As Wang Fa said it, he felt it might be a comfort to himself.

The players fell silent again, and likewise, the hallway lights gently extinguished.

Someone sighed, and the lights came on again.

This time, the light was a dim yellow, like a mist rising, making everything seem hazy and uncertain.

Looking up at the ceiling, they realized it wasn’t the light on their floor.

Someone came around the stairs and appeared before them—a delivery man in uniform.

“Uh…” The man lifted his cap slightly, surprised to see the staircase full of people.

“Are you…” he pulled out an express document from his pocket, checked the recipient’s name again, and asked, “Are you the Hongjing Eighth Middle School high school football team?”