Four years later
"Qin Yue, hurry up"
Qin Yue jogged over, holding his cap in one hand while using the other hand to stop his gown from flying.
"I'm coming"
He stopped beside Xu Wei who pushed him hastily towards Bai Jinhai.
"Stand close, smile, look like you actually like each other"
Qin Yue pushed his glasses up with his middle finger and gave the camera a smile while leaning towards Bai Jinhai who's hand was held up in a peace sign.
After a few clicks of the shutter, Xu Wei looked at the pictures in slight dissatisfaction.
"Not what I wanted but this'll have to do."
He handed the camera to Qin Yue who took photos of him and Bai Jinhai standing stiffly next to each other and then to Bai Jinhai who took pictures of Qin Yue and Xu Wei.
After that, they got one of the passing classmates to take several single and group photos of them.
They huddled over the camera and looked at the photos.
Xu Wei pinched his thumb and index fingers together.
"Perfect!"
Qin Yue's eyes softened as he looked at the figures captured in the frame.
"Congratulations."
Xu Wei's eyes turned red.
"Yeah"
Bai Jinhai quietly slung his arm over Xu Wei's shoulder.
"Do you really not want to consider joining us?"
Qin Yue shook his head without hesitation. Xu Wei had started a company with Bai Jinhai in their second year and it was doing quite well.
"I have other plans"
Bai Jinhai didn't insist. This wasn't the first time they had asked Qin Yue but never managed to persuade him.
"Are we going to be separated like this?"
Xu Wei sighed deeply.
"Growing up is really hard."
Although they were each busy with their own things and could not stick te each other like before, they still had several chances to get together but now that they were graduating, they would probably only drift apart even more.
Qin Yue rolled his eyes speechlessly.
"If anyone is going to complain shouldn't it be me? We were supposed to be good brothers but you two fell in love behind my back."
Xu Wei chuckled dryly and changed the subject
"We are officially members of society, we need to celebrate. Let's get drunk!"
Qin Yue glanced at Bai Jinhai who smiled without raising any objections and shrugged.
"Fine by me."
At the bar, Xu Wei had already finished several bottles of beer.
Xu Wei sniffed, picking up another bottle.
"A'Yue, why am I so unlucky? Not as unlucky as you but I'm almost there. Men are scum"
Looking at Bai Jinhai who seemed indifferent but his hazy eyes revealed his less than sober state, Qin Yue sighed softly. Dating within the friend group is really a disaster.
He didn't know what was wrong with them but they were clearly having problems. He could also see that they didn't want to tell him so he wouldn't pry.
Qin Yue watched them drink until they were both passed out before he paid the bill and hurled them into the backseat of the waiting taxi.
Thankfully they were living together. This would make his work a lot easier.
Upon getting to the address, he asked the taxi driver to wait outside and then supported them on each arm.
Qin Yue was already sweating by the time they made it to the door. He had a spare key but with these two hanging on his arms, he had no arms left.
Using his elbow, he gently pushed Bai Jinhai towards the wall and awkwardly supported him that way while fishing for the key from his pocket.
When the lock clicked open, Qin Yue let out a sigh of relief and quickly helped them inside.
He threw them indiscriminately on the bed, took off their shoes and locked the door on his way out.
Apart from a hangover, they would probably be aching all over by tomorrow.
Qin Yue flexed his sore arms, letting out a small groan, he got into the waiting taxi.
The driver was clearly impatient and hit the gas immediately he shut the door.
"My apologies for the delay"
The driver huffed out something that seemed like an answer and Qin Yue reclined his head, the glasses pressing against the side of his face a clear reminder of how close he had come to going blind.
He massaged his head tiredly. Previously he had thought that no matter how unlucky he got, he wouldn't die so he didn't care about his life or death but he realized that even without dying, he could live a life worse than death.
Not being able to see the light, having to rely on help for daily activities, not being able to do certain things on his own, that would be worse than killing him.
So apart from being thankful for being able to keep his sight, he gained a new understanding of his curse.
The doctors said he was lucky. Claimed it was a medical miracle. He had laughed outright in their faces but they didn't understand. They probably thought he had gone mad with joy.
If luck was measured by how close one came to losing everything, then he really was fortunate.
However, using the theory of one near death experience and one big break like the last time, he was still waiting for his luck to spiral.
Maybe this time, he'd win the lottery and become a millionaire. Although it had been so long and nothing happened yet, he was starting to lose hope.
The taxi slowed as it entered a quieter district. Streetlights stood at regular intervals, their glow slipping across the window in soft, measured pulses.
Qin Yue opened his eyes, narrowing them as the sharp light caught the edge of the glass.
The taxi stopped and Qin Yue got out, paid the fare and walked towards the old building. He climbed the stairs leisurely.
With how subpar the safety of this building was, trying to rush would get him maimed.
The hallway lights flickered on weakly as he stopped in front of his door and walked in.
He locked the door behind him and placed his keys on the table.
Qin Yue sat on the couch and removed his glasses, the scene in front of him becoming a blur.
For the first time in years, Qin Yue found himself in a state of confusion.
"What should he do now?"