My Youth:Chapter 4

 　　It was a weekend evening.

　　I was sitting at my desk, organizing photos I'd taken a few days ago. My tutoring classes were on holiday, so I had some free time. I often went out for street photography with Xia Meng,
　　which I enjoyed. On my computer, I was still struggling with the color tone of a picture when my phone rang again—it was Xia Meng.
　　"What's up? Why are you calling me so late?" I asked.
　　"Lu, do you know? There's a photography exhibition the day after tomorrow at the XX Building. Are you going?" Lin Lu excitedly told
　　me. I chuckled, "Are you always busy investigating the news? Always jumping to conclusions?"
　　"Of course not," she smiled. "So, are you going to the photography exhibition?"
　　"Yes, I am. Seeing more masterpieces will definitely benefit my future photography. I don't want to take meaningless photos." "
　　Okay, seven o'clock the day after tomorrow, see you at X Park."
　　"No problem."
　　The brief call ended. The
　　next
　　morning, I saw that radiant figure in the park, like a warm ray of sunshine. I pushed my bicycle and walked quickly towards her, but not far away I saw a somewhat surprising figure. I couldn't remember who it was for a moment, and my thoughts were interrupted by Xia Meng's pleasant voice.
　　"Let's go." She said, handing me a cup of tea. "There's a nice cold drink shop nearby, bought two."
　　"Thanks." I took the drink and replied.
　　Xia Meng and I walked side by side on the tree-lined path, but I was absent-minded. My thoughts unexpectedly went blank, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember. Who was it? I wondered.
　　The exhibition hall wasn't too far, only a ten-minute walk. The building was tall, and the glass was all a bright, shimmering lake blue, quite characteristic of the city.
　　I parked my bicycle and walked in with the enthusiastic Xia Meng, not noticing that a figure also entered behind us.
　　The exhibition hall wasn't crowded, nor was it empty; it was very quiet. My gaze swept across the various photographs, and then, almost unconsciously, it settled on a picture in the corner.
　　The work was titled "Loneliness." It depicted a maple forest in late autumn, a light drizzle falling, the maple leaves mostly withered yellow, fluttering down. The nameless wild grasses on the ground had turned from lush green to dark, growing in clumps. A slender girl walked along a path carpeted with fallen leaves, her hair flying, her white canvas shoes standing out, her blue and white checkered shirt loosely draped over her shoulders. She walked alone on this path of fallen leaves at the edge of the world. It was a poignant scene, a solitary traveler walking alone, only the rustling of the remaining leaves on the branches—a perfect blend of movement and stillness. Looking closer, I couldn't help but be surprised; the person in the picture... somewhat resembled me.
　　Just then, someone gently patted my shoulder, and a sweet voice rang out: "Oh, you're here for the photography exhibition too?" In a daze, I suddenly realized that this was the same figure I couldn't remember...