[262小说]:262xs. c o m 一秒记住！
“Thankyousomuch,Mrs.Wang,“hesaid,takingthebasketfromher.“Thisisexactlywhatweneededtobrightenupourday.“
Mrs.Wangsmiledbackathim,hereyesshiningwithwarmth.“IjustwantedtowishyouallahappyNewYear,“shesaid.“AndIhopethatthissmallgiftcanbringalittlebitofjoyintoyourlives.“
ZhuangJiefelthisheartswellwithgratitudeashelookedatMrs.Wang.Thiswaswhattheholidayseasonwasallabout?connection,community,andkindness.Andinthismoment,surroundedbythepeopleandthingsheloved,hefelttrulyalive.
ButjustashewasabouttothankMrs.Wangagain,acommotionbrokeoutoutside.Thestreetwasfilledwithpeopleshoutingandpointing,theirfacesaglowwithexcitement.ZhuangJiefollowedtheirgazeandsawastrangesight?alargetruckhaddrivenintothealley,anditwasdecoratedwithcolorfulstreamersandlights.
Thetruckwasemblazonedwithagiantbannerthatread“ChenXue‘sBirthdayParty“.ZhuangJie‘seyeswidenedinsurpriseasherealizedwhomustbedrivingthetruck.ChenXue,theiroldfriendfromschool,hadcomebacktotownfortheholidays.
ZhuangJiecouldn‘thelpbutfeelasurgeofexcitementashewatchedChenXueclimboutofthedriver‘sseat,hisfaceradiantwithhappiness.Hewascarryingalargecakeandabunchofballoons,whichheproceededtoinflatewithaloudwhooshingsound.
AsChenXuemadehiswayintothealley,ZhuangJiecouldn‘thelpbutfeelasenseofnostalgiawashoverhim.Thiswasthefirsttimethey‘dseenChenXuesincegraduation,anditfeltlikenotimehadpassedatall.Theyexchangedwarmhugsandgreetings,theirfacesfilledwithsmiles.
Therestoftheafternoonwasspentinabluroflaughterandcelebration,asChenXuebroughthisinfectiousenergytotheparty.ZhuangJiewatchedwithamusementasChenXueproceededtosetupaministageinthealley,completewithamicrophoneandaloudspeakersystem.
Astheyalltooktheirseats,ChenXueraisedhishandsforsilence.“Okay,everyone,“hesaid,hisvoiceboomingacrossthestreet.“It‘stimeformyspecialbirthdayperformance!“
ThecrowderuptedintocheersasChenXuebegantostrumalivelytuneonhisguitar,themusicsendingshiversdownZhuangJie‘sspine.Hefelthisheartswellingwithjoyashewatchedtheirfriendperformwithsuchpassionandenthusiasm.
Andthen,justastheywereallgettingcaughtupinthemoment,everythingchanged.Aloudnoiseechoedthroughthealleyway,makingeveryonejumpinsurprise.ThelightsonChenXue‘struckflickeredwildlybeforegoingoutcompletely,plungingtheareaintodarkness.
ZhuangJiefelthisheartsinkintohisstomachashewatchedtheirfriendstumblebackwards,hisguitarslippingfromhisfingers.Itwasasiftimehadcometoastandstill,andallthatexistedinthismomentwasChenXue‘sprecariousbalance.
Withouthesitation,ZhuangJiesprangforwardtohelphisfriend.Thesoundofhisvoicecarriedacrossthestreet,calmandclearevenamidstchaos.“ChenXue,areyouokay?“heaskedfirmly.
Butbeforetheycouldanswer,afaintcryechoedthroughthenightair?thecriesthatcamefromnoplacebutthosewhowerecloseby.
2 ⑥ 2 Ⓧ 𝚂 . ℂo 𝐌