Chapter One: Back to Parents' Side

  It was finally the start of school, and Qī Bīng hurried to school with excitement. On one hand, he was going to be in third grade now, on the other hand, he hoped that the class monitor would also advance as scheduled.

  Until the opening ceremony, the seat next to him was still empty.

  The class monitor didn't come to class as expected. Ji Bing's heart seemed to be hollowed out in an instant, and his head was buzzing, he didn't hear what the teacher said.

  After the opening ceremony, Mr. He was silent for a moment, looked at the class monitor's seat with his eyes, and then slowly said: "Classmates, I have something sad to tell you today. Your class monitor Lin Ning, she... ... She will never come to be your classmate again... ... Last week she passed away in Beijing Hospital due to ineffective treatment of leukemia, leaving us forever."

  The classmates who were just whispering to each other suddenly froze, the air seemed to solidify, and then fell into a long silence. Afterwards, the sound of girls sobbing echoed through the air.

  Teacher He was also in tears: "What a good child, gone so young. Do you know? Before she went to the hospital, she wanted to come to school and say goodbye to all of you. At that time, she couldn't walk anymore, her parents didn't let her come. In the end, she gave up. She asked her mother to tell the teacher and classmates that she would be back in school soon."

  He looked at the empty seat, he didn't believe what the teacher said, he thought the class leader was still there, still in this world, and would be back soon. Originally a living person, how could they just disappear? Thinking of Qiang's father's death, he couldn't help but shiver. That tragic death was etched in his memory forever. It was gone forever, without even leaving behind a complete corpse, leaving only horror and fear.

  But the monitor's death was so sudden, so unpredictable, she was like a flower bud that had not yet bloomed but withered forever. Thinking of the time spent together in class and on the way home, Qī Bīng couldn't help but tear up, her heart slightly trembling. Qī Bīng thought the monitor had gone on a distant journey, with an innocent gaze, wearing beautiful clothes, carrying an enchanting floral scent... ... It wouldn't be long before the monitor would return, Qī Bīng still thought so. Because he felt that death would not come to the monitor, death belonged to those who deserved it.

  For several days, Ji Bing has been like a eggplant that's been beaten, without its usual lively appearance.

  Daming said to him: "I know you like her, she's gone, just remember her good side."

  "She's still alive! She'll be back!" Ji Bing shouted at him.

  Ji Bing still can't accept this fact in front of her eyes.

  The class monitor's gentle eyes, radiant smile, lively dance moves, and serious expression when standing up to shout slogans, as well as her slightly pale face, once existed so vividly.

  The two years of sitting at the same table are so clear and profound. The class monitor's breath is so fresh and warm, the touch of her arm seems to have just passed, but the warmth remains... Liking her is a vague feeling, a testament to friendship, a childhood dream, a pure confession.

  He couldn't hold onto her, even when she was once so close, but everything seemed like a distant memory, like a dream. She was like a crane that could never be touched again, forever staying in the deepest part of his heart, with likes, marks, fantasies, and most deeply - pain.