Rebirth: Illuminating a Brilliant Life

In order not to make the two of them give up the city they wanted to go to for her sake, Su Xuan went to her homeroom teacher's house a day early to fill out her college application.

The next day, Meng Jiawei and Cheng Ran rushed over to confront Su Xuan after learning the news. Meng Jiawei frowned and shouted, "Su Xuan, why did you do this? Didn't we agree to discuss it together?"

Su Xuan lowered her head slightly, avoiding their gaze, and answered softly, "I don't want you to hesitate or make any sacrifices because of me. You have places you want to go, and you should move firmly toward them."

Cheng Ran looked at Su Xuan, her eyes filled with incomprehension and grievance: "But we've always been there for each other. How can you make such a unilateral decision? What do you take us for? Is our friendship so fragile that it can't even withstand the test of living in different cities?"

Su Xuan's lips trembled slightly. She raised her head, tears glistening in her eyes: "It's precisely because I cherish this friendship so much that I don't want to become a burden to you. I know the road ahead is long, and even if we're not in the same city, our friendship will not change."

Meng Jiawei and Cheng Ran were speechless after hearing her words. Silence spread among the three of them, with only their breathing conveying their inner turmoil and reluctance.

Su Xuan chose a university in Beijing as always, but she didn't expect that after a few days of consideration, they would also choose a university in Beijing.

After submitting their applications, Meng Jiawei and Cheng Ran were filled with anxiety. The days of waiting for the admission results felt like an endless, agonizing thread.

Meng Jiawei refreshes the admissions website countless times every day, his eyes glued to the screen, his fingers trembling slightly from excessive tension, afraid of missing any information.

Cheng Ran kept replaying every detail of filling out her college application in her mind. One moment she was worried about whether her score was competitive enough, and the next she was afraid that some unexpected situation would cause her to be rejected.

They would also get together in their spare time, and the conversation would always unconsciously circle back to university admissions.

They shared their anxieties and expectations, trying to find solace in each other. Su Xuan, upon learning of their choices, was filled with guilt and gratitude. She, too, anxiously awaited the results, silently praying that all three would be successfully admitted to universities in Beijing, allowing their friendship to continue and shine even brighter in the same city.

Every time their phone vibrates, their hearts leap into their throats, unsure whether it's a glimmer of hope or just another period of torment.

Although none of the three were able to enter Peking University as they had initially hoped, they still embarked on wonderful chapters of their university life at their respective universities.

After entering the History Department of Peking University, Su Xuan quickly immersed herself in the vast river of history. She spent her days wandering through the ancient books section of the library, accompanied by thick history books, eagerly absorbing historical knowledge.

In class, she actively participates in various academic discussions, and her keen insight and unique perspectives often evoke praise and reflection from professors and classmates.

In her spare time, she also joined the history and culture research society at Peking University, where she followed the society members to conduct field investigations of historical sites, combining book knowledge with practice and constantly enriching her knowledge system.

Meng Jiawei thrived in the Information and Communication Engineering program at Beijing Institute of Technology. He devoted himself wholeheartedly to various professional courses and experimental projects, demonstrating exceptional talent and a tenacious spirit of research in complex circuit design and coding.

His research group, comprised of classmates, has repeatedly distinguished itself in school-organized science and technology competitions, and their research findings have attracted the attention of experts in the field. In addition to his busy academic schedule, he also participates in school science and technology innovation lectures and exchange activities to broaden his horizons and keep abreast of industry trends.

Cheng Ran is working hard in his law program at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. He diligently studies various legal provisions and classic cases every day. In mock court training, he demonstrates excellent oratory skills and rigorous logical thinking, playing the role of a skilled lawyer and advocating for the rights of his "clients." He actively participates in the school's legal aid club, providing legal consultation services to those in need both on and off campus, continuously improving his legal literacy and application skills through practice.

Despite attending different universities, their friendship remained strong. They would always get together on weekends and holidays.

They might exchange their learning experiences and life insights in a coffee shop in Zhongguancun; or they might visit cultural venues in Beijing, such as the National Museum and the Forbidden City, to interpret and appreciate these cultural treasures from different professional perspectives, sparking intellectual exchanges in interdisciplinary communication. They know that no matter how far apart they are, this friendship will shine brightly in the long river of time, accompanying them through every important stage of their lives.

During their university years, although the three of them often got together, Meng Jiawei and Cheng Ran carefully hid their special feelings for Su Xuan every time they met.

Before each gathering, Meng Jiawei would repeatedly tidy his outfit in front of the mirror, trying to present his most perfect self. However, when he actually faced Su Xuan, he would become extremely nervous. The words of confession that he had rehearsed countless times in his mind were like a fishbone stuck in his throat, impossible to spit out.

He feared that if his confession failed, their precious friendship would be shattered, and he couldn't imagine what life would be like without Su Xuan and Cheng Ran's company. He watched Su Xuan laugh and share interesting stories from Peking University at the party, and could only listen silently from the side, quickly concealing the occasional flashes of love in his eyes.

Cheng Ran was the same way. He would toss and turn the night before the party, thinking about whether or not to take advantage of the atmosphere of the party to express his feelings to Su Xuan.

However, when he saw Su Xuan's clear eyes, his courage vanished instantly. He knew how much Su Xuan cherished their friendship and was aware of the delicate balance between the three of them. He worried that his confession would trouble Su Xuan and destroy their family-like bond that had lasted for many years.

Therefore, he chose to bury this love deep in his heart and continue to accompany Su Xuan as a friend. He would lend a helping hand without hesitation when she needed it and sincerely congratulate her when she achieved something. However, the love hidden in his heart grew stronger and stronger with the passage of time, yet it was still hard to express.

After realizing Meng Jiawei and Cheng Ran's feelings for each other, Su Xuan was caught in endless inner turmoil and struggle. She often thought about it repeatedly when she was alone, recalling every little detail of how she met and got to know them. Meng Jiawei's calmness and reliability always provided solid support when she encountered difficulties; Cheng Ran's enthusiasm and cheerfulness always made her laugh with humor when she was feeling down.

She knew that whichever option she chose, it could cause immense harm to the other person, and this harm could very well shatter their friendship completely. She tried to maintain the status quo discreetly, neither giving any special response nor deliberately distancing herself. However, this delicate balance only left her increasingly exhausted.

On countless nights, Su Xuan gazed at the stars outside her window, her heart filled with conflicting emotions. She wished time could stand still in the pure days of their friendship. But reality, like a cruel sculptor, forced her to confront this emotional dilemma. She began to consciously or unconsciously reduce her time alone with them, trying to temporarily escape this turmoil amidst her busy university life. Yet, each time the three of them gathered, seeing the look in their eyes stirred up the suppressed emotions within her, causing her to sink deeper and deeper into this emotional vortex, unable to find a way out.