When Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo start their first year at Wuhan University, they expect the usual challenges of student life-new friends, cramped dorms, and late-night study sessions. But their dormitory holds a dark secret, one that Yibo can't ignore...
Wuhan University stood proudly against the backdrop of lush hills, its majestic architecture a testament to China's aspiration for knowledge and progress. The wide stone pathways were bustling with students, books in hand, their minds full of ambition and dreams. The campus was a sanctuary where young scholars from all over the country gathered to shape their futures, but none shone brighter than Gu Yiye and Wei Rulei.
Gu Yiye was known for his quiet demeanor, always dressed impeccably in his neatly pressed uniform. He moved with purpose, his steps measured, his gaze unwavering. With sharp features and an aura of calm confidence, he was the type of student who never missed a class, who answered questions with precision and always seemed a step ahead of everyone else. His dedication to his engineering studies was unmatched, and he was often found at the library, immersed in books on mathematics, mechanics, and physics.
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In contrast, Wei Rulei was the soul of the literature department. Slightly shorter than Gu Yiye, with a constant smile and an air of effortless charm, he was known to recite poetry in the courtyards, his voice carrying like a song. His hair was often tousled, and his ink-stained fingers spoke of hours spent scribbling verses and stories. Unlike Gu Yiye, who kept his emotions close, Wei Rulei wore his heart on his sleeve, unafraid to laugh loudly or debate passionately.
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Their paths first crossed one rainy afternoon when the library was unusually crowded. Gu Yiye, as usual, had claimed his favorite spot by the window, where he could see the rain drumming against the glass while studying his notes. He was lost in thought, calculating the complex equations of his latest assignment, when a voice interrupted his concentration.
"Excuse me, could you help me with these?"
Wei Rulei's voice was warm and friendly, tinged with a slight nervousness as he struggled with a precarious stack of books on ancient poetry.
Gu Yiye looked up, surprised. "Of course," he replied, setting aside his papers. He moved swiftly, taking half the books from Wei's arms.
"You shouldn't carry so many at once."
Wei grinned, wiping rainwater from his brow.
"Thanks. I got carried away, as usual. There's just something about poetry, you know? Once you start, it's hard to stop."
Gu Yiye nodded, his expression softening as he followed Wei to an empty table.
"I understand. Numbers have the same effect on me."
"Numbers and poetry-what an unlikely combination," Wei said with a laugh, setting his books down with a thud.
"I'm Wei Rulei, by the way. Literature major."
"Gu Yiye. Engineering,"
Gu replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
They exchanged a few more polite words before returning to their respective work, but something had shifted. In the days that followed, they found themselves gravitating toward each other, drawn by a shared sense of curiosity and a mutual respect for each other's passions.
One evening, as the sun dipped low and bathed the campus in a golden glow, Wei found Gu Yiye sitting alone on a bench under the cherry blossoms, lost in his thoughts. The petals were just beginning to bloom, a delicate pink against the blue sky.
Wei sat down beside him, pulling out a notebook filled with scribbles and half-finished poems.
"I've been working on something new," he said, flipping through the pages.
"It's about the fleeting nature of time. Would you like to hear it?"
Gu Yiye nodded, closing his own notebook filled with diagrams and equations.
"Please."
Wei's voice was soft but clear, each word carefully chosen:
"The river flows, relentless and pure, Time slips by, unheeded, unsure. Moments fade like whispers in the night, Gone too soon, like a bird in flight."
Gu Yiye listened intently, feeling the weight of each line settle within him. There was a vulnerability in Wei's words that he admired-an ability to capture the ephemeral nature of life that he himself struggled to express. When Wei finished, there was a brief silence, filled only by the sound of the wind rustling through the trees.
"That was beautiful,"
Gu Yiye finally said, his voice tinged with admiration.
"You have a way of seeing the world that I envy."
Wei smiled, pleased by the compliment.
"Thank you, but I think it's just a different kind of seeing. You look at the world through numbers and patterns. I look at it through emotions and stories. Both are important, don't you think?"
Gu nodded, thoughtful.
"Yes, they are. You remind me that there's more to life than what can be calculated."
From that day on, their friendship deepened. They became inseparable, often seen walking together through the university gardens or sharing tea at their favorite teahouse just outside the campus gates. The teahouse was a cozy, unassuming place, filled with the scent of jasmine and old wood. It became their haven, a place where they could escape the pressures of academia and simply be themselves. One evening, as they sipped tea by the window, watching the world go by, Wei turned to Gu with a mischievous grin.
"Do you ever wonder what the future holds for us?"
Gu Yiye considered the question, his gaze fixed on the steaming cup in his hands.
"I think about it often. I want to build things that last, to create something meaningful. But lately... I don't know. The world feels so uncertain."
Wei nodded, his expression growing serious.
"The war... It's like a dark cloud hanging over us, isn't it? My family wants me to leave Wuhan, to go somewhere safer, but I can't. This place, our dreams... it's all worth fighting for."
Gu Yiye looked at him, seeing the determination in his eyes.
"We'll face whatever comes, together," he said quietly. "And we'll make it through. We have to."
Their conversation continued long into the night, the teahouse owner eventually kicking them out with a smile and a gentle reminder that even the most dedicated students needed sleep. As they walked back to the dormitory, the moonlight casting long shadows on the cobblestones, they felt an unspoken bond-a promise that whatever the future held, they would not face it alone.
Gu Yiye and Wei Rulei were more than just friends; they were kindred spirits, bound by dreams, laughter, and the quiet understanding that comes only when two souls recognize each other in a world full of chaos. But as they returned to the familiar halls of Wuhan University, neither could have imagined how soon their resolve would be tested or how quickly the peace they cherished would be shattered by the drums of war.
