No. 20 Tulips in Late Spring

  The gradually rising temperature, the dazzling sunlight, and the various smells mixed in the dry air made Tonghua feel a bit dizzy, even a little nauseous.

  She sat dazed on a stone bench, watching Aijin jumping around in all directions, Niaojiao busy running back and forth while laughing and scolding, Meixue chattering loudly, Xiaomai being dragged around by them, her handsome boyfriend standing quietly beside her.

  Xia Yi smiled faintly, patiently waiting for the girls to choose the most beautiful scenery and strike the most adorable pose, then pressed the shutter under their urging.

  Everyone was very happy, so with one less person, they didn't even notice.

  "Alright, alright, I've taken enough photos here, let's go to the medicine garden!" suggested Aijin impatiently.

  "Uh-huh, there are still many places I haven't been to." Mei Xue expressed her support.

  "Run, Tong Hua!" Qiao shouted from afar.

  It wasn't that I didn't notice, but rather that I knew and just didn't care.

  Tonghua quietly got up and did not respond to Niu Qiao's shout, but followed them from a distance, walking heavily.

  They listlessly followed the noisy crowd into the medicinal garden. The medicinal garden was not as grand and resplendent as the peony garden, but rather simple and unadorned. In a small square in the center of the garden, there were plain flowerbeds with medicinal plants planted in them, arranged in an irregular pattern to mimic their natural habitat. Some of the plants that were in season quietly bloomed with flowers. The square was surrounded by simple brick and tile sheds, and further away, there was a glass greenhouse. Under the sheds, on long concrete platforms about half a person's height, potted seedlings were neatly arranged in rows, emitting a foul smell from the fertilizer.

  Listening to Aijin loudly reciting the names and uses of various medicinal materials in the medicine garden, Niaojiao laughed at her foolishness and corrected the words she misread. Mei Xue occasionally shouted that she wanted to take pictures, and Tonghua suddenly felt like going home.

  "Let's take a family photo in front of Li Shizhen's statue!" Mei Xue suggested loudly.

  Is that a statue of Li Shizhen? Oh, indeed, in the center of the garden, isn't it his marble statue?

  "Just now it was shining on the flower god, why did it come over here to shine on this old man!" Aijin complained discontentedly, still walking towards the statue.

  "Oh dear! Didn't we just say there was no room over there? This place is much more spacious!" Mei Xue exclaimed loudly.

  "Alright, alright, you all stand by quickly, I'll find someone... Ah! Classmate! Help us take a photo!" Nian Qiao looked around and luckily saw a few schoolmates walking into the garden.

  Xia Yi walked over to the classmate who was stopped and told him about the camera operation. Han Qi had already hung on Xiao Mi like a koala bear.

  It's like a child's painting, but I don't feel like walking over there. I don't even understand myself, what kind of stubbornness is this?

  "Xiao Hua, come quickly!" Xiao Mi shouted with a hint of strain in her voice as she carried the massive tailless bear on her back. ("You're so heavy," she muttered under her breath, but only received an even heavier squeeze in response.)

  "Oh..." The child's drawing weakly walked past.

  Why did she have to take a photo with these people. This group of selfish happy ghosts, not one of them showed any concern for her.

  The classmate who helped take photos adjusted for a long time until Aijin said her face was stiff from smiling, then started shouting: "One, two——"

  This guy is really stupid, it's just taking a photo, why bother with so much fuss.

  "Eggplant!" several girls exclaimed in unison.

  Why did Mei Xue hook her shoulders, is she familiar with herself?

  The child couldn't wait any longer after taking the photo. Without waiting for everyone to finish thanking others, he walked over to a stone chair on the side and sat down by himself.

  Aijin whispered to Xiaomi: "What's wrong with Tonghua? Why so unhappy."

  Xiaomi shook her head: "I don't know, maybe it's because of carsickness. Hmm...", turned around and pushed the handsome head behind her, "Han Qi——, you're really heavy!"

  Aijin rolled her eyes speechlessly, feeling that she had asked the wrong person. Xiao Mi didn't have the energy to care about others anymore. Just as she was about to go find Naiqiao, Mei Xue pointed into the distance and shouted:

  "Look, it seems like they're setting up a stage on the lawn over there, let's go take a look!"

  Everyone started moving again.

  Through a forest, a wide and open lawn presents itself before one's eyes.

  Yellow, white, red, pink, purple, tulips of various colors, like floating clouds in the sky, are embedded in the lush and flat lawn. On the other end of the lawn, several workers are building a stage, with banners already hung up, but it's blurry and can't be read what words they are.

  The tulips are very beautiful, but when I walked closer, I found that they had already begun to wither.

  The child looked at the tulips that had begun to wither, their flower shapes no longer intact. The sun shone on these dying flowers, exposing their damage and disarray for all to see. Yet tomorrow's visitors would surely still praise the beauty of the flowerbeds, without noticing the flowers' sorrow.

  Tonghua was standing by the flowerbed, lost in thought, when Aijin had already run to the other side of the lawn and back again, panting and saying: "I know what's written on the banner."

  Then, she cleared her throat with a serious expression and recited the words on the banner in a rhythmic tone: "'The City Botanical Garden Peony Festival and Shuicheng Evening News Peony Photography Competition Opening Ceremony'". As if she were the host of tomorrow's opening ceremony.

  "A photography contest? That's perfect timing! We took some photos today and can sign up tomorrow." Mei Xue said with a half-joking tone.

  Everyone despises him.

  "This is called taking a picture, not photography." Tonghua felt like he was talking to a primary school student.

  "Oh dear, it's all about participating." Mei Xue didn't mind the obvious disdain in Tong Hua's tone.

  "Ah——! I'm hungry." Aikin stretched his waist and interrupted the conversation.

  "You silly pig, what time is it now?" Nian Qiao scolded her while putting down her backpack. "Forget it, we're all tired from taking pictures. Let's take a break on this grass."

  Unanimous consent.

  They spread out the tablecloth, set out all sorts of braised dishes, bread, fruit, snacks and drinks, and everyone ate together without distinction. After eating his fill, Aijin soon said he was bored, but no one wanted to move, so she pulled away Xiaomi, bought a kite, and flew it.

  Han Qi, left by Xiaomi, quietly followed with his eyes the figure that was running and jumping on the distant grass.

  She didn't care about him anymore. The same scenario played out again, she who was dragged away would never turn back to hold his hand. She had never refused others because of him, but instead often ignored him because of others. Even if he had the urge to chase after her and grab her, it was completely destroyed by her figure leaving without any lingering attachment.

  When will she turn back and stick to herself with a reluctant face?

  The swallow kite soared high into the cloudless sky, while Millet lingered for a long time, unwilling to return to his side.

  "Ah!"

  The kite with broken string disappears in the sky.

  The two girls started blaming each other.

  Han Qi was still waiting for Xiaomi to at least turn around and smile at him.

  A smile, not even once was given to him.

  She seems to be able to forget him easily, no matter how he usually clings to her or sticks to her to make her remember him. She can still ignore his existence so easily.

  Tong Xiaomi, did you really like him?

  Thank you for your patience, if you like it, don't forget to vote/collection oh~