C3 Youth Is Only in an Instant!

Father, Grandma, and the other parents had arrived early at the auditorium for the graduation ceremony. Grandma was ready with her camera, eager to capture every adorable moment of Miaojie.

Miaojie, already dressed in her graduation gown, looked like a little cylinder due to her petite stature. Her curly, shoulder-length hair, round glasses, and dewy skin made her look incredibly cute.

With her gown and cap on, Miaojie joined a group of classmates as they made their way to the auditorium. At the entrance, she scanned the crowd for her grandma and father. Xiaofu had also arrived:

"Miaojie, you're here," Xiaofu said, tapping her on the shoulder.

"Yeah, I just got here. Have you seen Ms. Yang and the others?" Miaojie asked, glancing at Xiaofu.

"Oh, I saw them over there," Xiaofu replied, pointing to a row of seats diagonally in front of them.

Grandma spotted them first, waving enthusiastically to signal them over.

"There are so many people, Ms. Yang, I didn't even see you," Miaojie said as she sat next to Grandma.

"Yes, your school really has a lot of people," Grandma replied.

"Today, it's mostly parents, so it feels crowded. Our school is actually known for having a small student body," Xiaofu explained.

"Yeah, there are a lot of parents here today," Miaojie agreed.

The graduation ceremony began. After the opening remarks and the principal's lengthy speech, the students finally reached the pivotal moment of receiving their diplomas. One by one, they walked up to the principal to receive the certificates that represented their hard work and memories. When "Miaojie Tong" was announced over the speakers, she felt a rush of excitement. She navigated through the crowd to the stage, where the principal smiled and said:

"Congratulations, Miaojie Tong, you've graduated."

She gave the principal a deep bow and said, "Thank you, Principal!"

With that, Miaojie successfully received her diploma, officially becoming a college graduate. The graduation ceremony ended, but the bonds between everyone remained strong. Miaojie, Xiaofu, and a few close friends headed to the sports field. On a large patch of land within the quarter-mile track, Grandma called everyone over to take some memorable photos.

"Miaojie, Xiaofu, come here! Let me take a few pictures of you in your caps and gowns. This is a once-in-a-lifetime look! Hurry up!"

"Okay, we know."

"Alright, you handsome guys and beautiful girls, don't be so stiff. Let's strike some fun poses," Grandma instructed.

"Like this?" The girls showed off their long legs.

"Perfect!"

"How about we all jump at the same time?" suggested one of the guys.

"Sounds great, but I'm worried we might not capture it," another guy chimed in.

"You can do it! Just follow his lead, trust me!" Grandma always had confidence.

"Yes, trust Ms. Yang. The key is for everyone to jump together," Miaojie encouraged.

"Okay, I'll count to three, and everyone jump!"

"Alright!"

"One... two... three!"

They all jumped, but their landings were out of sync.

"Doesn't seem like we got it," Grandma's voice sounded a bit disappointed.

"No worries, let's try again!" Xiaofu reassured her.

They returned to their spots.

"Okay, one... two... three!"

After three persistent attempts, they finally captured the perfect graduation photo, one to treasure forever.

Amidst the laughter and fun, time slipped away. As evening approached, Grandma felt a bit tired and decided to head home with Dad. After they left, Xiaofu suggested to the group, "How about we go to our favorite diner for dinner tonight?"

"Sure, why not? We're all free anyway," Miaojie said.

"Yeah, let's go."

"Let's go."

The restaurant was a quaint, rustic place known for its homestyle cooking. The decor was simple, but the food was top-notch, and it was conveniently close to campus, making it their regular spot.

They all headed to the restaurant, found a round table, and sat down. The owner, who seemed to know them well, greeted them warmly:

"Long time no see! What would you like to eat? We just got some fresh eel today."

"Let's take a look at the menu."

"How do you prepare the eel?"

"We can braise it, but the poached fish slices are quite popular."

"Poached fish slices sound great!"

"Let's get an order of poached fish slices, and you all can decide on the rest."

Miaojie handed the menu around, and a few minutes later, everyone had made their choices.

"Alright, enjoy some tea or juice while you wait. The food will be out soon."

"Thanks, you can get back to work."

Xiaofu opened her phone's photo album, scrolling through old pictures:

"Hey! Do you guys remember the cake fight at Miaojie's birthday a couple of years ago?"

"Of course! We barely ate the cake; it was all used as ammo."

"Don't remind me! It was my birthday, and I ended up the messiest!" Miaojie said with a mock-annoyed look.

"I still have those embarrassing photos. Check them out!" Xiaofu laughed as she showed the pictures.

"Oh my gosh, who is that? You can't even see their face!"

"Seriously? That's you! Don't you recognize yourself?"

"What? That's me? I look so messed up!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

"And look at this! Your charming sleeping pose!" Miaojie pulled out her phone and showed a picture to a guy next to her.

"Where did you take that? I look so ridiculous!"

"You remember, right? It was during our field trip. You were hanging out in our dorm at noon, and I think everyone has this photo. I even shared it in the group chat!"

"Oh my gosh, my embarrassing past!"

"Are we here to roast each other today?"

"This meal is amazing!"

Amidst the laughter, the waiter had already served most of the dishes. One of the more outgoing guys said to everyone:

"Looks like everything's here. Shall we start eating?"

"Yes!"

"Let me say something first." The guy gestured for everyone to raise their glasses.

"Well, how should I put it? It's been four years, and we've all been friends for that time. Four years might not seem long or short, but the friendship we've built is incredibly precious to me." Some smiled, others nodded quietly.

"Some of us have become like family, sharing everything with each other. After graduation, we'll all go our separate ways—some to grad school, some to work, and some even abroad, all chasing our dreams. I hope our friendship lasts forever, and I wish everyone a bright future!"

Miaojie looked at her friends with happiness, downing her drink in one go.

"Alright, let's dig in!"

The table was filled with endless conversations and laughter, everyone joking and chatting together.

After a few rounds of drinks, Miaojie watched her friends, hoping these moments could last forever. Meeting such great friends in the prime of her youth was truly a blessing.