A little after eight in the evening.
The lights in the county town's new district had all come on.
Two warm yellow lamps hung outside the restaurant entrance, while a light, upbeat pop song played through the speakers.
A row of cars and electric scooters was parked by the roadside. Several young people stood on the steps, chatting noisily.
"Qingning, take it slow on the way home!"
"Let's hang out again next time."
"Zhang Yan, bye—"
"Bye."
Zhang Yan stood a little farther back, carrying her bag with a polite smile on her face.
But whenever someone actually looked at her, she would instinctively avert her gaze.
Last night, she had received an invitation from Liu Qingning.
She said that since it was rare for her to be back in Jing County, a few friends had arranged to get together, so Zhang Yan should come out and relax with them.
She had originally wanted to refuse.
But Liu Qingning's tone had been too natural and her attitude too warm, as though this was nothing worth turning down.
Before she could figure out how to decline, she had been muddle-headedly dragged along.
They had gone shopping, sung karaoke, eaten, and played all day.
Among the group were Liu Qingning's friends from the county, as well as people their age who had graduated from No. 2 High School.
Everyone chatted and laughed, and the gathering was genuinely lively.
As Zhang Yan followed along, she could not help feeling a little envious.
She envied Liu Qingning.
Cheerful, radiant, popular.
As for herself, she had gradually become someone who did not talk much after fifth grade.
Throughout middle school and high school, other than Tang Song, she had hardly had any truly close friends.
She had had a few playmates from the village when