Everything I Got from Online Shopping Was Legit

Chapter 225: Clothes May Be New, but People Are Not the Same

‘Wah la la’

The sound of rain hitting the car never ceased. Lin Mo parked his car downstairs in the community. Holding a cigarette between his fingers, he lit one for himself — a rare move — under the weight of his mood.

He had heard from Wang Chu that when one was tired or in a bad mood, smoking a cigarette could calm the mind a lot.

He gave it a try and almost choked himself to tears. Could smoking really relieve anxiety? Not necessarily. But for those who didn’t know how to smoke, even sadness left them not knowing what else to do.

Jiang Xia’s departure might have been only a small interlude in his life — something he could pretend not to care about — something that time would eventually help him forget. But not now.

Just a while ago, he had gone to the delivery station and mailed several boxes to himself and some contacts.

Some of those people had never returned; others were already working outside. Though they were classmates, some had graduated from vocational school a year earlier and were already out there struggling through society.

Since everyone was in a gloomy mood, no one suggested getting together. First, it had been too long since they’d seen each other, so there was a sense of unfamiliarity. Second, the rain was only getting heavier. So, everyone tacitly went home on their own.

Even Lin Mo’s closer friend, Wan Chunlong, hadn’t mentioned finding a place to eat and talk today.

It seemed that everyone’s spirits had been dampened by Jiang Xia’s sudden departure.

When the cigarette burned out, Lin Mo flicked the butt out the window. It was instantly doused by rainwater. He took a deep breath, gathered up the box on the passenger seat, and got out of the car.

The rain outside was growing heavier, now reaching the level of a moderate downpour. Lin Mo hurried forward holding the box, but despite his pace, the rain still dampened his hair.

“This heavy rain—where have you been? Quick, dry off! Eh? What’s that?”

Seeing Lin Mo come in looking so drenched, his mother, Zhou Min, quickly handed him a towel and then noticed the box in his hands.

“Just a souvenir from a friend,” Lin Mo said as he took the towel and rubbed his hair absentmindedly. Not in the mood, he added, “Mom, I’m going to my room. I already ate outside, so don’t call me for dinner.”

After saying that, Lin Mo carried the box into his bedroom alone.

Zhou Min naturally noticed her son’s abnormal mood, but since he didn’t speak, she couldn’t ask. That was what people meant when they said a grown son is no longer under his mother’s control.

Back in his room, Lin Mo placed the box in front of the window and stared at the pouring rain. For some reason, a faint sense of fear crept up on him — a fear of opening the box before him.

Even though he had met Jiang Xia’s mother today and confirmed the news of her death, it still felt as if, as long as this box remained sealed, everything that had happened was just a dream.

In his heart, the real Jiang Xia still lived on. She might have been living another kind of life — maybe she had gotten into university, fallen in love on campus, been in a happy relationship, and planned to marry after graduation — or maybe she already had, settled elsewhere, raising an adorable child of her own.

The price, however, was that they would probably never meet again in this lifetime.

After all, for the past three years, Jiang Xia had always been like that in his heart. Many people had unwittingly had their last meeting; she wasn’t the only classmate he had never seen again after graduation. Everyone lived well — just apart.

He didn’t know how much time had passed before he finally came back to his senses. Looking at the box before him, he decided to open it — after all, this was her last wish.

It was just an ordinary cardboard box, with his name written on one side in marker. The seal was carefully taped shut.

Lin Mo opened his drawer, took out a utility knife, and slid it along the seam of the tape. He took a deep breath and slowly lifted the lid. The box was packed full. At the top lay a photo frame — inside it was a picture of Jiang Xia.

In the photo, Jiang Xia had turned slightly to the side, smiling, her right hand pointing toward the camera — as if pointing directly at him. It was clearly her imitation of Li Shimin’s signature gesture.

Lin Mo looked closely. Beside her face, there appeared to be a comic-like dialogue bubble with words inside it:

【Deskmate, I knew you’d come. We meet again!】

In that instant, Lin Mo felt as if the picture had come to life, as though Jiang Xia were really speaking to him.

Seeing this, he couldn’t help but smile and even chuckle aloud.

“No wonder it’s you — I knew it. Behind that gentle face of yours lived such an interesting soul!”

He knew that with Jiang Xia’s personality, even if she were gone, she wouldn’t say tearful goodbyes. She had always been mischievous and loved to laugh. How could she ever make things so heavy?

After looking at the photo a while longer, Lin Mo placed it aside and turned to the other items. There were quite a lot.

A few foreign classics, a glasses case, her pencil case from senior year, a plastic water cup, her examination admission ticket, and a transparent square plastic box filled with candies.

He found a thick stack of photos — all pictures from her trips over the years. There were also two framed photographs: one was a class graduation photo, though she was missing from it; the other was of her alone, standing in the same spot where the class had taken the graduation photo.

Her gaze wasn’t directed at the camera but slightly up toward the left corner — as if looking at something — and she wasn’t even standing in the center, but on the far right side, as though she had left that empty space for her classmates.

At the very bottom of the box was an Experimental High School jacket. Lin Mo picked it up and found it familiar — there was a pig-head doodle on the back. It turned out to be the very jacket he had lost in high school — she had taken it.

For a moment, countless emotions surged through him. Memories of his high school years flooded back like a tide. He couldn’t help but put on the jacket, zipping it up. It still smelled faintly of detergent — so familiar.

As he slipped his hands into the pockets, he suddenly felt something. He took it out — two envelopes.

One had a cartoon portrait drawn in ballpoint pen. Though somewhat anime-like, Lin Mo instantly recognized it as Jiang Xia.

The little figure had puffed cheeks and clenched fists, with a bold line of text beside it:

【Read this one first, got it!】

Lin Mo smiled, tore open the glued envelope, and as he pulled out the letter, a photo fell to the ground.

He bent down to pick it up — it showed two young people in school uniforms embracing.

The boy squatted slightly, the girl stood on tiptoe, her arms wrapped around his neck, her hands clutching tightly at his shirt. The boy’s hand gently patted her back.

At that moment, Lin Mo remembered — on the last day of high school, that girl had gone around hugging everyone in the class, even every teacher of every subject.

He remembered how tightly Jiang Xia had hugged him back then — how much strength she had used — he hadn’t realized then it was all of it.

Taking a deep breath, he set the photo aside and unfolded the letter.

【Dear Deskmate,

If you’re reading this, Lin Mo,

I owe you an apology — I ran away without saying goodbye.

If you can see this letter, that means I’m no longer here. Yes, big sister is sick — the serious kind.

To be honest, when I first found out, I panicked. But then, strangely, I calmed down quickly — even felt a sense of relief. From that moment, I was freed from the old path of life.

The pressure of the mundane world was so heavy that I used to fear looking back. But now, I finally had a reason to relax.

I spent the money meant to extend my life on experiencing all kinds of things. I went to Mount Tai, took photos on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, rode cable cars, wore floral dresses I’d never dared to wear before, and recorded sunshine, sunsets, and dandelions. My spirits soared — I’d never felt so free in twenty years.

I met many people every day. I looked them in the eyes, confident, open, and genuine. Many people liked me, and I was grateful that the world once loved me too.

Only when I realized that life happens just once — and that the mortality rate is 100% — did my real life begin.

This sudden illness merely unlocked my chains early, letting me, in my best years, do the happiest things.

Wherever life may go, it’s like wild geese leaving traces in snow; who sits with me? The moon, the breeze, and I.

To live for myself, not to be bound by others — I have wrestled with myself for so long, but I’d rather be me!

There’s no such thing as happiness or unhappiness in this world — only comparisons between one situation and another. Only those who have faced death can understand how joyful it is to live.

So don’t feel sad for me. My main mission in life is already complete — it was to be happy. As for you, my friend, your main mission is probably to work — and everything else, like marriage, travel, or even seeing a doctor, will require leave from work.

I don’t want that kind of life — where every major event must fit into the cracks between working hours. I don’t want to be a wind-up machine.

Don’t pity me. I don’t want to be someone’s accomplishment, nor do I want anyone to sacrifice for me. Don’t stop for me — just enjoy life!

If you meet someone you know will never stay with you, would you still start? I would. Because even if you have to part, the version of me you changed will stay behind — to embrace me forever.

I can accept becoming a star in the sky, but I can’t accept opening my window to another summer without you.

So on the last day of school, I left myself behind — like seawater returning to the ocean, I chose to stay as the seashell on the shore.

Lin Mo, you know, I’m really glad I spent the last half-year sitting beside you. You let me into a boy’s world, and I was so happy.

I remember a line from The Little Prince: ‘Maybe there are 5,000 flowers that look exactly like you, but only you are my one and only rose.’

If school were to start tomorrow, I’d already feel happy today. After I found out about my illness, I knew that every bond I formed would come with the risk of tears — but I wasn’t afraid. Because it was worth it.

Alright, that’s enough. My life isn’t over yet — my journey continues. Next stop: Guilin!

When you read this letter, I’ll definitely be gone, but not yet. I just came back from the Great Wall — became a true hero, wahahaha! Just think of me as still traveling.

I didn’t want to say goodbye in person. Let this letter be my farewell. Oh, and if, decades from now, you ever see a girl who looks exactly like me, you must say hello — that’ll definitely be me.

Because next time we meet, it’ll depend on luck. Don’t you dare pretend not to know me — and when you say, ‘Long time no see,’ make sure your voice doesn’t tremble.

That’s it. I’m tired. Going to sleep. Goodnight, my dear deskmate. Remember me — my name is —— Jiang Xia】

Putting down the letter, Lin Mo exhaled heavily and looked toward the window. The rain was still pouring. Then he picked up Jiang Xia’s photo — the one with her Li Erfeng gesture — and smiled, mimicking the same pose.

“Got it!”

At that moment, Lin Mo and the Jiang Xia in the photo seemed to point at each other, making a silent promise.

If they truly met again, how could he pretend not to know her? He would definitely run over, just as he did back in school, and greet her cheerfully.

As the saying went:

Alone white rabbit, glancing east and west; Clothes may be new, but people are not the same.