The fifth picture is of Huo Feng’s first time teaching them to dance hip-hop in front of a video; their movements are not standardized, but each person is very serious.
The sixth one features Huo Feng taking them to buy bicycles to practice cycling, with all 11 of them gathering at Grandpa’s doorstep.
——Photo from Grandpa.
The seventh, the eighth, the ninth...
Every single picture is a cherished memory Huo Feng has with his ten brothers...
Huo Feng’s eyes are rimmed red, a hot wetness filling his gaze. He raises a hand to cover his mouth, silently gazing at the photos, the words, those years that have passed...
Damn it... so moved to the point of cursing!
In high school, there were very few photos of the 11 of them.
During the sports event, the picture of all 11 of them in basketball uniforms bore a line of text: [In high school, you, Huo Feng, and us 11. We’ve been crazy all along, and finally, you’re ready to get serious. Her arrival took up half of your life; we’re lonely, isolated, yet we generously offer our blessings...]
In these words, ’Her’ clearly refers to Pu Sangzhi.
Pu Sangzhi, standing next to Huo Feng, looks at each photo and text attentively, tears falling as the tear-jerking background music plays, overwhelmed by the sentiments of these ten tough guys.
Near the stage, the ten brothers look up at the curtain, quietly wiping away their own tears.
The main character Huo Feng himself takes several deep breaths, trying to restrain his emotions, yet the silent, unnoticeable tears still fall...
Huo Feng firmly purses his lips, his reddened eyes glistening with tears, sparkling like diamonds.
On stage, the photos continue to play...
One photo paired with a line of text...
[In our freshman year, we organized a street dance for her. Seeing how happy you were, talking non-stop about her, we thought you were really dumb! Yet we also felt for your hardships!]
[That summer holiday, we proposed to join you for extra lessons. Thinking about it, you’ve been addicted to studying for quite a while, afraid you would forget us... At times, we were actually a bit jealous of her!]
[In our sophomore year, you grew closer to her and spent less time with us. Don’t worry, Feng, by then we’d stopped being jealous. We just hoped you would get into Tsinghua and marry her. If you were happy, so were we.]
[Finally, senior year... There are no pictures for senior year!]
[No pictures, but there are words.]
[Feng, we’re graduating soon, and we’ll finally part ways. All these years with you, we were willing with all our hearts!] Googlᴇ search 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⚑𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⚑𝓷𝓮𝓽
[Feng, you’ve influenced our entire lives. We sincerely hope you won’t forget us!]
[I, Pan Bo, Gu Yang, Lin Yuhao, Zheng Sen, Wang Chao, Chen Li, Zhao Guobin, Zhang Wei, Zhang Wei, Zhu Hao... are brothers for life! Till death do us part, bonds unbroken!]
[Brotherhood and loyalty, worth their weight in gold, facing any peril without a second thought!]
The last statement of this slide show was a line from the song they had all sung together during the initial screening...
As the text concluded, the whole place dimmed...
No one turned on the lights, yet the atmosphere exploded in that instant!
Just then, the ten brothers, unbeknownst to anyone, had already closed in not far from Huo Feng.
They had been inching toward Huo Feng, no matter the time or place, no matter the situation...
Just like during these three years when Huo Feng made swift academic progress; they knew they couldn’t keep up but still endeavored to close the distance...
Throughout those three years that Huo Feng protected Pu Sangzhi, the ten of them stayed unwaveringly by his side!
Huo Feng takes a deep breath, his lips tightly pursed...
In two or three steps, he moves forward, and his group of friends also steps toward him...
Soon, they all gather together, with Huo Feng giving a big hug to Pan Bo, Gu Yang, and Lin Yuhao.
The surrounding brothers also close in, hooking shoulders and circling Huo Feng at the center as they embrace deeply...
Eleven tall men, eleven fiery tough guys, eleven boys rumored in school to be bullies.
At this moment, however, they are just like boys, hugging each other tightly, crying out loud with tears and snot...
"I can’t bear to part with you, Feng, boo hoo..."
It’s impossible to distinguish whose voice is whose. All that is known is they’re crying loudly, their sorrow of parting deeply permeating this moment.
Turning around, Pu Sangzhi, who is watching this scene, also cries uncontrollably, her tears flowing like water from an uncapped fire hydrant...
They are going to separate...
They, are going to part ways...