Script

"Oh, Senior Xu Yan."

The boy pointed out the window:

"Senior Xu Yan is out on the field, fretting. She's in a terrible mood, so you'd better not bother her."

Jiang Ran breathed a sigh of relief.

At least this meant Xu Yan was still alive.

But why was she in such a terrible mood?

He asked out of curiosity.

"It's because of the College Student Film Festival."

The boy gave a bitter smile:

"Look, the submission deadline for the College Student Film Festival is almost here, but our Film Club still doesn't have anything decent to submit."

"Senior Xu Yan will be a senior next year, so this is her last chance. Her biggest dream is to win an award at the College Student Film Festival, but things aren't looking good... Well, you know."

The boy explained that without a good script, Xu Yan had been working day and night on her writing, but she still wasn't satisfied with anything.

The long hours and repeated setbacks had left her on the verge of a breakdown.

"I see."

Jiang Ran understood, and he figured it out.

Perhaps this was another consequence of the Spacetime Butterfly Effect.

On the original Worldline, Jiang Ran had written a script for Xu Yan, helping her overcome her biggest worry. That's why she had gone out on March 26, and ended up jumping into the river to save a child who had fallen in.

But on this Worldline, no one had written Xu Yan a script. She was working herself to the bone, consumed with worry. How could she possibly feel like going out?

And so, by some twist of fate, she had unknowingly escaped death.

"Thanks. I'll go find her on the field."

Jiang Ran thanked the boy, then headed straight for the field.

Sure enough.

Even from a distance, he could see Xu Yan slumped over the exercise equipment, looking listless.

"Hey."

Jiang Ran called out.

Xu Yan turned around.

As if she'd seen a ghost, she suddenly hopped off the equipment and stood up straight:

"Jiang Ran!"

She called out loudly, looking utterly surprised.

Jiang Ran didn't know how to respond either. He waved, his hand frozen in midair.

"Hehe, sorry."

Xu Yan gave an awkward smile:

"I just didn't expect you to come looking for me at school... You've been avoiding me for the past two years, and I didn't want to bother you."

?

Jiang Ran tilted his head.

What was this new plotline?

But he immediately thought of Cheng Mengxue's death.

Wang Hao had said that Cheng Mengxue's sudden passing had hit him hard, leaving him dispirited and barely functioning.

Could it be...

That this had also created a rift between him and Xu Yan, leaving them with no contact or interaction for two years?

It seemed likely.

At least from Xu Yan's reaction just now, the two of them weren't as close as he might have imagined.

"Hope I'm not disturbing you," Jiang Ran replied.

"Not at all, of course not."

Xu Yan hurriedly waved her hands and looked at Jiang Ran:

"You seem to be doing well now, and I'm really happy for you."

"Anyway, just like we told you before, 'Little Xue's death wasn't your fault. You don't have to blame yourself so much. No one ever blamed you.'"

"Ah, let's not talk about that. You came all the way to Donghai University to find me. Is something the matter?"

Jiang Ran handed her the Club Dissolution Notice and explained why he'd come.

As a college student from another school, he couldn't think of any reasonable explanation for why he wanted to save Donghai University's Film Club.

The two things had nothing to do with each other.

He made up a friend, starting with "I have a friend," and concocted a story about someone who loved film cameras. He hoped Xu Yan could help them save the Film Club.

Honestly, even Jiang Ran thought the excuse sounded pretty flimsy.

He'd considered that Xu Yan on this Worldline might turn him down, which would have been perfectly reasonable.

But as he went on...

He realized the story he'd made up didn't really matter.

The way Xu Yan had looked at him from the start made it clear: no matter what he asked for, she would agree.

It was strange, but also unmistakable.

Xu Yan hadn't even seemed to listen closely to his story. She just kept nodding along, waiting for him to finish.

"No problem."

Sure enough, the moment Jiang Ran finished speaking, Xu Yan agreed:

"Leave it to me. I'll take care of it."

Well...

Jiang Ran scratched his head.

Xu Yan's readiness to help made him feel a little embarrassed.

For some reason, he felt that Xu Yan was being very gentle and careful with him, looking out for him.

Just as he'd sensed from the beginning, Xu Yan would agree to anything he asked today.

Why was that?

Seeing Jiang Ran hesitate, Xu Yan smiled, easygoing as ever:

"You don't need to look like that. It's fine. This is simple, nothing major."

"Hehe, do you know who my boyfriend is?"

Well...

That question stumped Jiang Ran.

Was Xu Yan's boyfriend on this Worldline the same guy as on the previous one?

Who on earth was he?

But still.

Whoever her boyfriend was...

A boyfriend who could get things done was a good boyfriend.

"Come find me at the Film Club tomorrow."

Xu Yan waved the Club Dissolution Notice and turned to leave, waving over her shoulder with her usual confidence:

"See you tomorrow."

The next day.

After a long journey, Jiang Ran arrived at the Film Club at Donghai University as promised.

"Here."

Inside the screening room, Xu Yan handed Jiang Ran a petition.

He didn't need to look. He already knew what was on it.

Because this paper... was the second time he'd received it.

It was a strange feeling.

The petition from the original Worldline had found its way back into his hands, following an entirely new course of history.

He turned the petition over.

It was covered in signatures from the presidents of various clubs, along with the signatures of five faculty advisers.

"Thank you," Jiang Ran said earnestly.

He meant it with all his heart.

He knew just how ridiculous and absurd the excuse he'd made up yesterday had been.

But Xu Yan hadn't asked a thing.

Even though she knew the story was made up, that it was a lie... she hadn't said a word. She'd agreed without hesitation and supported him without conditions.

It was hard not to be moved by that kind of trust.

Xu Yan was only a year older than him and Cheng Mengxue, but in every way, she really was a dependable older sister.

"We've been friends for years. No need to be so polite."

Xu Yan punched Jiang Ran lightly on the shoulder:

"It's good to see you getting back on your feet. You're looking as handsome as ever now that you've cheered up. Keep it up!"

Her unexpected encouragement filled Jiang Ran with warmth.

He looked at Xu Yan, wanting to do something for her in return:

"I heard you've been stressing over a script lately?"

At that, Xu Yan sighed, covered her forehead, and shook her head:

"You're telling me. This is my last chance to enter the College Student Film Festival, but I still can't come up with a script I'm happy with."

"Sometimes I think I should just shoot any old short film and be done with it, but I still can't bring myself to settle."

Jiang Ran smiled slightly:

"Do you have a laptop here?"

Xu Yan looked up, puzzled:

"We do. Do you want to use it?"

"Yeah."

Jiang Ran nodded:

"I have a script ready to go, and I think it's pretty good."

"If you don't mind... I'd like to write it out and let you take a look."