That evening, I went to the train station to see Xiaojing off. Although she kept saying she couldn't adapt and would come back, this place is after all our own. It's easier to get things done when you know people and hear comforting words. But deep down, we both understood that from now on, we would be separated. We don't know when we will meet again. These days have really helped me understand Xiaojing. Her determination exceeded my imagination. She is truly a girl who is gentle on the outside but strong on the inside. As she entered the station, I couldn't hold back my tears. This timid, shy, often lost girl who couldn't tell directions, because of an unfaithful man, chose to leave and seek survival far away. What courage and determination this is!

The moment of parting arrived, and Xiaojing hugged each of us one by one, choking up as she said, "Take care, I will come back to see you all when I have the chance. When you go there, make sure to contact me. Good sisters will always be in my heart." With a final wave, Xiaojing's slender figure disappeared at the end of the corridor. My tears couldn't be stopped. In my heart, I silently blessed her, this beautiful and brave young woman. I believe she will find a man who truly cherishes her and discover her own happiness.

Three days after Xiaojing left, Yuan returned. He called my office, and as soon as I heard it was him, I directly said, "I'm not here," and hung up. At the end of that year, Yuan got married—of course, to Xiaoqian. He sent me an invitation, and the day before the wedding, he called me to urge me to attend. I declined directly, saying I had something else to do. At that time, I had already developed a deep disdain for him. In my eyes, he had become synonymous with being opportunistic, unfaithful, and lacking in loyalty.

Xiao Jing went to Guangzhou and with the help of a senior fellow student, she found a job. There are many private enterprises there. Xiao Jing studied accounting, so it was not difficult for her to find a job. The senior fellow student has always had a secret crush on Xiao Jing. Now that the person he admires is right in front of him, he seizes the opportunity to show his affection. Unfortunately, he approached Xiao Jing at the wrong time, as she was probably heartbroken and not interested in anyone at that time. So, despite his two years of pursuit, he was unsuccessful and eventually married a girl from Shandong.

After five years, Xiao Jing finally received good news. After working in Guangzhou for three years, she changed jobs to a private enterprise. The wife of one of the company's shareholders, who had recently passed away, fell in love at first sight with Xiao Jing. At that time, Xiao Jing was ready to settle down. After being together for over a year, they got married. I couldn't attend the wedding because I had just had a baby, but Lily and the others went and brought back photos that made me very happy. The man in the photos was handsome, only eight years older than Xiao Jing (I was worried about the age difference). Lily said he was very loving towards Xiao Jing. Behind the photos Lily brought back for me, Xiao Jing had written, "Amei, we must be happy."

In the second year of their marriage, Xiao Jing gave birth to a son. She has been a full-time homemaker ever since (apparently, it's a custom there). It has been many years since we last met, but Xiao Jing's appearance in the video calls has changed very little. She must be leading a happy life.

Since our friend got married, we have lost contact. I changed jobs and did not inform him. Occasionally, at class reunions, people mention him, but I only hear that he is doing well. I haven't bothered to inquire further. Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, more than ten years have passed. At this point, I have matured from a rebellious and artistic youth into a steady middle-aged woman. Our friend is now a department head in a position of authority. It was unexpected when we ran into each other one afternoon at the entrance of a hotel.

I had just got off at the entrance when he had already gone in through the glass door with his companion. He caught sight of me from the corner of his eye, walked back out through the glass door, and came straight to me, saying, "Amy, it's really you, it's been so many years." The ruthless passage of time had smoothed out my sharp edges and greatly increased my tolerance and patience. I could now face everyone and everything calmly, so I smiled and said, "It's you, too, having a meal here?" His companion was watching from inside the door, so he said, "Yeah, I'll go in first, tell me which room you're in, I'll come find you later."

I told him the room number, and sure enough, he came over to find our room. He asked for my phone number, called me on the spot to make sure I had his number saved, and said "I'll contact you later" before hurrying out. Our interactions then returned to normal, occasionally calling or texting each other, but we never met alone, both of us being very busy, until the summer of 2010. It was when Argentina, led by Coach Maradona, suffered a crushing 0-4 defeat to the German team. I was feeling very upset, and after the game, Yuen sent me a text: "Let's meet tomorrow, for our old horse?" Without hesitation, I agreed, and the next afternoon, we met at a very elegant tea house for a long-overdue conversation.

Yuen in front of me was still as suave as ever, unchanged over the years. His skin had even become fairer. As for me, I had put on some weight, with spots appearing on my face. Time was so unfair to both men and women. Years of estrangement had accumulated many topics, especially for two football fans like us. We chatted happily, discussing former classmates, Maradona's son-in-law Aguero, and Messi. Our insights were sharp and our words flowed smoothly. For a moment, I felt like we had returned to our youthful days, carefree and open with each other.

But we didn't meet just to talk about these things. I always felt that he owed Xiaojing an explanation. He needed to repent, and I hoped he would pay the price for his unfaithfulness.

After the waiter refilled the tea for the Nth time, I suddenly asked Yuan, "Do you still remember Xiao Jing, who committed suicide for you back then?" Being so close, I could clearly see Yuan's face turning red. This was a topic he least wanted to bring up, but he was well aware that in our relationship, this was an unavoidable subject. He picked up the cup and took a few sips of water. Slowly, his complexion returned to normal. Putting down the teacup, he looked directly at me and said clearly, "I have never forgotten her, she has always been in my heart."

He continued, "I feel sorry for her. Whenever I think of her, my heart aches, but I had no choice. Since I chose the path of a civil servant, career advancement became my biggest pursuit. When the road to success clashed with love, I hesitated and resisted, but in the end, I could not overcome my desire for power. I betrayed our love." I expressed my disbelief, "Is power really that important to you?"

Yuan nodded firmly and said, "Ah Mei, I was born into a family of a low-level civil servant. My father retired as a section-level cadre. Although his rank was low, I grew up influenced by the officialdom culture of China. For someone like me without connections, in order to survive in the bureaucracy, no matter how talented and capable I am, it would be considered good if I could reach the department-level rank by the time I retire. With examples everywhere before me, Ah Mei, I was not willing to accept that fate. I wanted to change my destiny, and Xiao Qian was the person who could change my fate. By marrying her, my career prospects immediately brightened. How tempting was that!"

I looked at this successful man in front of me, feeling a chill in my heart. Yes, Xiao Qian was indeed the person who changed his fate. With her strong support, Yuan was already a department head at the age of 35, while most of his classmates were still at the section-level. Compared to Yuan, these people were incomparable. With his current development trend, there was no problem for him to reach the position of a bureau chief before retirement. However, I still had to ask him the question I most wanted to know, which was, "Have you ever regretted it until now?"

Yuang sighed and said helplessly, "I knew you would ask this. It's just typical of you women, Ame. Give me another chance, and I would still make the same choice. It was a difficult decision but one that was carefully considered. Xiaojing is a great woman. If I were a second-generation official or wealthy, I wouldn't need to rely on developing myself. She would be the ideal wife. However, what I need is career advancement, which she cannot provide. Her goodness is something I cannot afford. Our breakup is actually an inevitable outcome."

I got angry immediately and scolded him, "Nonsense! Now you say that breaking up was inevitable. What were you doing when you were pursuing her in the first place? Didn't you know about her family's situation? You were talking about marriage and now you break up. Are you still a decent human being?"

Yuang got up to pour me some tea and said, "Calm down, Ame. When I was in school, I didn't know I would become a civil servant. Love was all that mattered back then. We could completely satisfy each other, so love was passionate. But entering society, many things changed. I suddenly realized that Xiaojing couldn't give me what I needed, and what she wanted, I might not be able to provide. That's why I say breaking up was inevitable." I disagreed with him, "What does Xiaojing want? As long as you love her, she will be content. Is that something you can't provide? Stop trying to justify yourself."

Yuang said seriously, "Ame, you think I'm just finding excuses to forgive myself. But have you ever thought about it? People's needs are constantly changing. When we just graduated, maybe as long as I loved her, she would be satisfied. But after getting married? If I remain an ordinary civil servant, inferior to others in many aspects, would she still love me the same way? Wouldn't she look down on me in her heart? She is so beautiful. If a wealthy and powerful person pursued her, wouldn't she possibly change her heart?"

Even though I am not Xiaojing, I can still answer this question decisively: "We women will never change our hearts because of material possessions. We are creatures born for love. As long as there is love, we are willing to give everything for it, without hesitation. Even if it means sacrificing everything, we do not regret it even if we face death nine times."

Seeing my confidence, Yuan could only nod. Perhaps he did not want to argue with me on this issue. At that moment, his phone rang, and he answered the call in front of me. I could tell it was his wife asking him to pick up their child. He readily agreed, and I knew the conversation was coming to an end. I quickly asked him one last question: "Do you love Xiaoqian?" He fluently replied, "Love? Of course, how could I not love her, a woman who has brought me so much."

Yuan has already been captured by power, and Xiaojing cannot hold on no matter what she does. Even if she does well, maybe they will be entangled for a while longer. Xiaojing sees through this, understanding that even if they eventually get married, if Yuan's career is not successful, he will blame her in his heart and resent her. They still cannot be happy, so, taking the initiative to leave is her wisest choice - she loves too deeply and cannot let go.

I was very dissatisfied with his slick attitude. He clearly knew what I was asking, yet he evaded the question. Ultimately, he is a person who mixes career and relationships, and his ability to read between the lines is top-notch. After some thought, he said, "A man's life definitely needs to experience a love that is deep and unforgettable. However, this kind of feeling is enough once in a lifetime. Between Xiaoqian and me, we may not have the dizzying, all-consuming feeling, but we support each other, respect each other. She is tender and considerate towards me, and I am caring and affectionate towards her. Isn't that love? There are many kinds of emotions in this world, and not necessarily a marriage built on intense love can be happy. I believe a marriage where partners complement each other and fulfill each other's needs is more stable."