OK，The following is Chapter 1《Fading youth》The content of the expansion

OK，The following is Chapter 1《Fading youth》The content of the expansion。 --- ### 第一章 Fading youth 夕阳的光透过窗户洒在木地板上，Glowing with golden light。Liu Ruyan sat at the desk，Her fingertips kept sliding across the phone screen，Her gaze seemed to penetrate the screen，Looking at the distant, sealed memory。 It was a sultry summer day，Crickets chirped incessantly on the trees outside the window，As if venting endless anxiety。Her thoughts were pulled back to three years ago——the summer that changed her life。 “Like Smoke，You really aren't going to attend tonight's party?？"The other end of the phone，The voice was light and familiar，It was Liu Ruyan's best friend Xiran。 "Nope，I'm a little tired。”Ruyan replied，The voice was faint，Mixed with an emotion she hadn't realized herself, one she didn't want to mention。 Xiran on the other end of the phone was silent for a while，He said again：“You should go，Everyone misses you so much，Especially Gu Chen。” Hearing that name，Ruyan's hand trembled，She took a deep breath，The voice was still calm：“I don't really want to see him。” The night three years ago，The moon hung in the silent night sky， but beautiful。Ruyan and Gu Chen stood under the big camphor tree at the end of the old street，A gentle breeze blows，Bringing a hint of sweet fragrance。 “Like Smoke，I'm going abroad，It may take a few years。”Gu Chen turned his back to her，The voice is low。 Ruyan was stunned，It felt as if something in her heart had broken。She smiled stiffly："Oh，do you？OK，Rare opportunities。” “I just don't want to lose a friend either。”Gu Chen's voice concealed a hint of fatigue and helplessness。 That night，They didn't say anything more。They tacitly accepted the fact of separation，Ruyan watched Gu Chen's back fade away in the break of dawn。 As time passes，The warmth and sweetness of the past were replaced by bitterness。She knows一切开始变质，Maybe earlier，Just that none of them admitted it。 “It's no use thinking about these things now。”Ruyan said softly to herself。She got up and walked to the window，Push open the window，A gust of fresh air rushed towards her face，As if wanting to dispel the gloom in her heart。 She recalled that time：Laughter and joy，Skipping class together to eat street food，Riding bicycles together through bustling streets，She could only hear each other's heartbeats。 “Like Smoke。”A low voice broke the silence in the room。 She came back to her senses，Seeing the person standing at the door，It was the person she couldn't truly let go of——Gu Chen。He looked a little more mature than three years ago，But those eyes were still clear as ever，With an irresistible attraction for Ruyan。 “Gu Chen，What are you doing here？”She tried to keep her voice calm。 Gu Chen walked into the room，A slight smile：“Xiran told me you were here，I just wanted to come see you。” Ruyan's heart raced，She didn't know how to respond for a moment，Just stand there，Letting silence engulf the entire room。 “Like Smoke，Actually……” Gu Chen opened his mouth，But she didn't continue。It seemed like there were some words，Even across the distance of time，Still difficult to speak。 The two stood side by side，Watching the sky gradually darken outside the window。The street lights began to light up，Pouring the gentleness of summer night into every cornenally，Ruyan took a deep breath，Smiling to break the silence："How are you，Abroad？” “Not bad，Learning was busy，But it's finally over。”Gu Chen replied，A glimmer in her eyes，“Actually……I've been following your news。” "Oh？”Ruyan laughed lightly, not denying it，“I haven't changed much，It's still the same。” Their eyes met，Like in those days，But they all felt a kind of unavoidable strangeness。The past three years hadn't brought them closer，But it was like an invisible gulf，Making them unable to cross。 Ruyan turned around，As if unintentionally, she said：“It's not early，I have to get ready to attend tonight's party。” Gu Chen nodded，Smiled：“OK，Then I won't bother you。” After seeing Gu Chen off，Ruyan sat in the center of the room，Her heart was filled with mixed emotions。She knows自己对顾晨不只是朋友之间的情愫，But it was something deeper——a love hidden deep in their hearts。However，Their life trajectories seem to no longer coincide。 This is youth, isn't it?？They matured in missed opportunities and regrets，But in every quiet night，Recalling the promises and smiles of the past。 Ruyan stood up，She walked to the mirror，She reached out to tidy her slightly disheveled long hair。She knows，Tonight's might bring some changes，And those bygone youths，She was still beautiful in her heart。But life，Always have to continue。 她A slight smile，She said to her reflection in the mirror：“It's time to let certain things settle down。” Outside the window，The moon slowly rose，Illuminating the night scene of the bustling city，It also illuminated a glimmer of hope in Ruyan's heart。 --- This chapter interweaves with reality，Revealed the complex emotions of the characters，Setting the tone for the development of the entire novel's story。