Su Qingyan had a dream.

In the dream, she was thirty-four, wealthy with billions to her name, and successful in her career. Though she had been single all these years, it had allowed her to devote all her energy to her work, and she found joy in it.

Then came that torrential rainy night.

As an overloaded truck illuminated the night with its blinding headlights, cutting through the layers of rain, she realized too late that she couldn’t dodge it. At that moment, despair and resignation washed over her.

Suddenly, a figure lunged forward, pushing her away with all his might. In that instant of confusion, she turned to look back. For the first and last time, she saw his face clearly.

He appeared to be around her age, with tousled black hair framing a handsome face that radiated warmth. There was something inexplicably familiar about him.

At the funeral, the authorities awarded him a medal for bravery. His grieving parents, who had rushed from their hometown, clung to the casket, nearly fainting from their sorrow.

She canceled all her business commitments, donning black mourning attire. With overwhelming grief and guilt, she took on all the responsibilities for the funeral, diligently handling every detail.

After the funeral, she accompanied his parents back to their hotel. Kneeling before them, she bowed her head three times, promising to take on the responsibility of caring for them. She vowed to be the most considerate daughter and the most dutiful daughter-in-law.

The casket was taken back to their hometown, and she was shocked to discover that he was her fellow townsman from Yunan. Even more surprisingly, she learned that his name—Lin Ran—felt oddly familiar.

Returning home, despite the protests of Lin Ran’s parents, she insisted on caring for them and managing household chores, seamlessly stepping into the role of daughter and daughter-in-law.

After tidying the living room and master bedroom, she entered Lin Ran's room. This was her first time alone in a male classmate’s bedroom.

From his parents, she learned that after graduating high school, Lin Ran had not lived at home, leaving behind traces of his teenage years in this space.

As she surveyed the room—game discs, magazine posters, awards—each detail seemed to echo with the boy he once was. Until she accidentally discovered a photo pressed under the glass of the desk: “Yunan High School Class of 2006, Senior Year, Class Ten.”

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The gold-embossed text struck her like a hammer, leaving her dizzy and her mind buzzing. Almost desperately, she searched the photo and, sure enough, spotted her eighteen-year-old self, cold and proud, undeniably the center of attention.

And there was the tall boy, shy and awkward, standing quietly in a corner of the group. Memories rushed back in a torrent, unveiling the past like a film reel.

Lin Ran was that Lin Ran.

What felt like a déjà vu was, in fact, a reunion after many years. It wasn’t a random act of bravery by a stranger but a selfless sacrifice from her high school deskmate.

Staring at the photo, tears streamed down her face. She had only a vague impression of him, and they had barely exchanged words during their time together. Yet now, she felt an unpayable debt of gratitude.

Fortunately, she had all the time in the world to get to know him anew.

Lin Ran had kept a diary since childhood, and a stack of his notebooks sat on the shelf. After getting permission from his parents, she began to read them.

The diary entries were detailed and mundane, covering everything from what Lin Ran ate each day to the emotional journey of his school years. As she read, she often found herself laughing at his amusing anecdotes or empathizing with his sorrows.

Gradually, she discovered that her high school deskmate was honest, brave, and kind—qualities she admired but hadn’t known before.

She became completely absorbed in his diaries, feeling his joys and sorrows as if they were her own. It was as though she had formed an unprecedented bond with him, like true soulmates.

When she reached the high school entries, she was astonished to find mentions of herself. It turned out that this shy boy had once secretly liked her but had never mustered the courage to act on it.

[You coward…]

[If I could live again—]

[Let me be the one to pursue you.]

That night, lying in Lin Ran's bed before falling asleep, she couldn’t help but smile at these thoughts.

But as she drifted off, she found herself in a world of darkness.

In the endless void, she spotted a figure that looked like Lin Ran, drifting just out of reach.

Suddenly, an intense pain and overwhelming guilt crashed over her like a wave, compelling her to stretch out her hand toward him.

It felt so close yet just beyond her grasp. Desperation threatened to consume her.

Refusing to give up, she extended her arm further and further. Just a little bit more!

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, her hand made contact with his. Overjoyed, she summoned every last bit of strength and lunged forward, clasping his hand tightly.

In an instant, the darkness shattered. Light began to seep in around her.

Faintly, she heard the familiar voice of her high school teacher from over a decade ago, shouting in anger.

At the back of the classroom, Su Qingyan propped herself up, rubbing her sleepy eyes, and was astonished to find herself in a bright and clean classroom.

The air was humid and warm. Everything felt both strange and familiar.

As she looked up, she met the gaze of the boy sitting next to her. He was handsome, with tousled hair that looked as though it was begging to be ruffled.

In that instant, her eyes welled with tears. Excitement, joy, and a mix of emotions surged through her. Ignoring the stares from everyone around her, she threw her arms around him tightly.

Amidst the uproar, Su Qingyan choked out, “I found you!”