If you follow the road south from the school gate, you'll eventually reach Xishan Park at its end. The park boasts unique roations, vibrant flower dispys, elegant pavilions, and waterside terraces. It's a popur spot for elderly residents to do their m exercises.

  Si was the weekend, Zhuang Zi'ang allowed himself the luxury of sleeping in a bit. He rushed out, making a quick stop at a breakfast stall to grab some food for both of them.

  The park's abundance of trees provided a wele breath of fresh air. He easily spotted the familiar figure of the girl with the peach blossom tucked behind her ear he flower bed.

  Remarkably, it was the fourth day, and Su Yudiel was still wearing the same outfit, which remained as pristine and spotless as if it were brand new. She held a paper box in her hands, from which she was feeding a group of stray cats, her eyes radiating affe. A clowder of cats, a kaleidoscope of colors, had gathered arouheir meows creating a stant chorus.

  "Tiger, where have you been hiding? You're absolutely filthy!"

  "Pudding, tell me the truth, have you been sneaking around with a boyfriend?"

  "Cheese, you're nothing but skin and bones! Here, have some more."

  ...

  From a distance, Zhuang Zi'ang observed Su Yudiel's iions with the cats, a smile pying on his lips. It seemed she had bestowed a unique and endearing name upon each of the strays.

  "Little Butterfly," Zhuang Zi'ang called out, approag her.

  "Zi'ang, you made it!" Su Yudiel turned, her face breaking into a radiant smile. In that instant, her beauty seemed to eclipse the vibrant colors of the surrounding flowers.

  Zhuang Zi'ang breathed a silent sigh of relief. Thankfully, she hadn't called him "Big Dummy" this time.

  He held up the bag of breakfast. "You've been feeding the kitties, so I'm here to feed you."

  Su Yudiel, with her insatiable appetite, couldn't resist good food. She eagerly accepted the bag from Zhuang Zi'ang, settled down by the flower bed, and began to eat with gusto. She generously shared some of her food with the patiently waiting cats.

  Zhuang Zi'ang observed her, a gentle smile grag his lips. Such a beautiful girl, yet so down-to-earth, pletely uned with her appearance while enjoying her food.

  "What are you looking at? Dig in! Holy, you're such a dummy," Su Yudiel teased, shooting him a pyful gnce.

  Only then did Zhuang Zi'ang pull himself from his reverie, taking a sip of his now lukewarm milk. He found a strange fort ieasing; he felt a peculiar sense of unease when she didn't.

  As she ate, Su Yudiel's gaze flitted about restlessly, as if searg for something in particur. Notig her searg gaze, Zhuang Zi'ang inquired, "Is something missing?"

  A slight frown creased Su Yudiel's brow. "Tom hasn't shown up."

  "Tom?" Zhuang Zi'ang echoed, fusion evident in his voice.

  "He's a small, gray cat, a bit clumsy, ?????? the one iom and Jerry' cartoons," Su Yudiel expined.

  The image of the perpetually outsmarted cat from the cssic cartoon instantly sprang to Zhuang Zi'ang's mind. That feline character had brought joy and ughter to tless children throughout their formative years.

  "He's probably just expl erritory. Being a stray, he's bound to wander. I'm sure he'll be ba a few days," Zhuang Zi'ang offered reassuringly.

  "No, he wouldn't. I've been feeding him every weekend for a long time. He wouldn't just abandon me like this," Su Yudiel mumbled, her voice ced with a hint of despair.

  "See that sanitation worker over there? Let's ask her if she's seen him," Zhuang Zi'ang suggested, pointing towards a ing cart parked some distance away.

  "Alright," Su Yudiel agreed, a glimmer of hope returning to her eyes.

  The two rose to their feet and made their way towards the sanitation worker. A sense of foreboding, however, began to creep into Zhuang Zi'ang's heart.

  "Excuse me, ma'am, have you happeo see a small, gray cat around here? He's about this long, quite petite, and has a distinctive white pat his ear..." Su Yudiel inquired, meticulously describing Tom's physical attributes.

  "Ah, that one... I'm sorry to say, but he's gohe worker replied, her voice tinged with regret.

  "What?" Su Yudiel gasped, the carton of milk slipping from her grasp and falling to the ground with a thud. Her face was a mask of disbelief and horror.

  "He was hit by a car while crossing the road. Poor thing. Someone gave him a makeshift burial by the roadside," the worker expined, choosing her words carefully, perhaps to soften the blow for the obviously distraught girl.

  The unfortunate reality was that many stray cats met their demise on the roads, their bodies ofte mangled and disfigured. And not everyoook the time to give them a proper burial, their remains ofteo be further desecrated by passing vehicles.

  "How could this have happened? How... how could this be?" Su Yudiel stammered, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her cheeks.

  Standing beside her, Zhuang Zi'a a palpable wave of grief emanating from her.

  The sanitation whed, shaking her head. "Such a passionate young soul, to be so heartbroken over a stray."

  "Little Butterfly, please don't cry. They say cats have nine lives, you know," Zhuang Zi'ang said softly, attempting to sole her.

  Su Yudiel leaned her head against his shoulder, her body shaking with quiet sobs. "Tom was my favorite," she choked out, "He was such a sweet, gentle soul."

  Zhuang Zi'ang's hand hovered hesitantly in the air for a moment before he finally, gently, patted her head in a f gesture.

  "Little Butterfly, try not to be too heartbroken. All living things, cats and humans alike, must eventually face death..." He paused, his voice heavy with unspoken sorrow, before adding, "It's aable part of life."

  Su Yudiel lifted her head, her eyes red and swollen with tears, seemingly not grasping the full implication of his words.

  Zhuang Zi'a her gaze, his own eyes refleg a deep sadness. "Partings are iable, Little Butterfly. Just like you and I, one day, we'll have to say goodbye, perhaps soohahink."

  "Why?" she asked, her voice thick with tears. "Is it because you don't want to be my friend anymore?"

  "No, Little Butterfly, that's not it at all. More than anything, I want to be your friend forever."

  "Then promise me you won't leave me," she pleaded, her voice barely a whisper.

  Zhuang Zi'ang tried to find a way to expin without causing more pain, but it was no use. He himself was grappling with the terrifying prospect of that impending separation, unsure if he possessed the strength to face it wheime came.

  Further dwelling on this agonizing and ultimately unanswerable question would only serve to deepen their sorrow. Zhuang Zi'ang forced a smile, attempting to steer the versation towards a lighter topic. "Hey, no more tears, remember? We promised to be happy, and we have a kite to fly!"

  "Just... just give me a few more minutes," Su Yudiel pleaded, her voice muffled by sobs. "Then I'll be alright."

  "Take all the time you need," Zhuang Zi'ang said softly, his heart ag for her. "lenty of time."

  When my time es, will you shed tears for me?

  If you don't, does that mean we weren't really friends?

  But if you cry too much, it'll break my heart.

  So, please, just a few tears will be enough.

  The m sun gradually asded, casting its warm rays upon the grass and flowers. The stray cats, having fiheir meal, dispersed in different dires.

  Zhuang Zi'ang took out a tissue aly wiped away the glistening tears that still g to Su Yudiel's eyeshes. "There, there. Let's go fly that kite. And then I'll treat you to something delicious. You said it yourself, when you're feeling down, good food is the best medie."

  Su Yudiel rubbed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, and finally mao pose herself. She then slung her bck shoulder bag over her shoulder. "Alright, let's go to your pce then."

  "What for?" Zhuang Zi'ang was taken aback.

  "To make the kite, silly! What else would we fly?" Su Yudiel retorted, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

  Zhuang Zi'ang suddenly uood. He had assumed they would buy a kite from a store, but Su Yudiel inteo make one from scratch.

  Clearly, the tter was far more meaningful. There was a unique sense of aplishment in crafting a kite with your own hands and watg it sh in the sky.

  The two left the park and headed towards the apartment plex. As they reached his building, they ran into their neighbor.

  She beamed at the sight of Little Butterfly. "Well, hello there! You're back again."

  "Good m," Su Yudiel greeted her politely.

  "You should e over more often. Zhuang seems much happier when you're around than when he's alohe neighbor said meaningfully.

  "I will, because we're good friends," Su Yudiel replied. Her smile ure and i, without any hidden agenda. Even Zhuang Zi'ang wondered if she even uood what the neighbor was implying. In other people's eyes, a young man and ending time together wasn't just about being good friends.