If there was one event every student looked forward to in their final year, it was the school festival.
For most students, it was about food stalls, games, and skipping classes.
For Zhao Ming, it was about becoming famous.
For Su Ran, it was about having fun.
For Jiang Chen, it was… unavoidable.
---
Planning the Class Booth
A week before the festival, the class teacher stood in front of the classroom and said,
"For the school festival, every class must prepare a booth. You will decide what to sell or what game to organize."
Immediately, the classroom exploded with ideas.
"Haunted house!"
"Food stall!"
"Ring toss game!"
"Photo booth!"
Zhao Ming stood up dramatically and slammed his hand on the desk.
"I propose a snack empire."
"That's not an idea, that's your personal dream," Su Ran said.
Jiang Chen looked at the list quietly.
"Food stalls usually earn the most money."
Everyone turned to him.
Zhao Ming pointed at him.
"See? Even the top student supports my snack empire."
In the end, the class decided to open a dessert and drinks stall.
Zhao Ming immediately volunteered.
"Of course I will manage the food. I have experience eating."
Su Ran volunteered to help with decorating the stall.
Jiang Chen volunteered to handle money and calculations.
"Of course," Zhao Ming said.
"The most trustworthy face will hold the money."
---
Decorating Day
The day before the festival, students stayed after school to decorate their stall.
Su Ran was cutting colored paper and making signs while standing on a chair trying to tape decorations higher up.
"Be careful," Jiang Chen said from below.
"I am very stable," she replied.
The chair wobbled slightly.
Zhao Ming looked up.
"If you fall, I will not catch you. I value my life."
"You are useless," she said.
Jiang Chen quietly held the chair steady with one hand.
She didn't look down, but she knew he was holding it.
"Done!" she said after taping the sign.
When she climbed down, she noticed he didn't move his hand until she was completely off the chair.
She pretended not to notice, but she did.
---
Festival Morning
The festival day arrived, and the entire school looked completely different.
There were colorful banners everywhere, music playing from speakers, students walking around in casual clothes instead of uniforms, and food smells everywhere.
Their class stall had cupcakes, cookies, juice, and bubble tea.
Zhao Ming was wearing an apron and shouting like a salesman.
"Best desserts in the entire school! Buy one, become smarter! Buy two, become happier!"
"That is false advertising," Jiang Chen said while counting money.
"It is emotional advertising," Zhao Ming replied.
Su Ran was handing drinks to customers and laughing at Zhao Ming's dramatic sales techniques.
Surprisingly, their stall became very popular.
"You actually helped," Su Ran told Zhao Ming.
"I told you," he said proudly.
"I am a business genius."
"You are loud," Jiang Chen corrected.
"Loud business genius," Zhao Ming replied.
---
The Festival Games
After a few hours, their teacher allowed them to leave the stall and walk around the festival.
"This," Zhao Ming said, stretching his arms,
"is freedom."
They walked around the school, visiting other booths, playing small games, and eating too much sugar.
At one game booth, they had to throw rings onto bottles to win prizes.
Su Ran tried first and missed every single throw.
"This game is unfair," she said.
Jiang Chen tried next and got two rings perfectly.
The booth owner gave him a small stuffed toy.
He looked at the toy for a moment and then handed it to Su Ran.
"You won it," she said.
"You tried first," he replied.
Zhao Ming put his hand on his heart dramatically.
"This is a romantic festival now. I feel like a third wheel."
"You are a third wheel," Su Ran said.
"I am the main wheel," Zhao Ming replied.
---
The Ferris Wheel
The school had rented a small temporary Ferris wheel for the festival.
Zhao Ming immediately pointed at it.
"We are going."
"I don't like heights," Su Ran said.
"You will survive," he replied.
They ended up sitting in one small cabin together.
Zhao Ming kept shaking the seat slightly to scare Su Ran.
"Stop moving!" she said.
"I am testing the safety," he replied.
Jiang Chen held the side rail and said calmly,
"If she falls, I will push you out first."
Zhao Ming froze.
"Friendship ended."
Su Ran laughed so hard she forgot to be scared.
When the Ferris wheel reached the top, the entire school was visible below them. Colorful stalls, students walking around, music playing softly from far away.
For a moment, all three of them became quiet.
"This looks different from up here," Su Ran said softly.
"Yes," Jiang Chen replied.
Zhao Ming looked down at the school and said,
"We spent so many years here."
Su Ran nodded slowly.
"Yeah… we did."
No one spoke for a moment.
Then Zhao Ming ruined the emotional moment by saying,
"If I drop my phone from here, will it hit the principal?"
"Do not test that," Jiang Chen said immediately.
---
Evening Festival Lights
By evening, lights turned on around the school, and everything looked warm and golden.
Students were taking photos everywhere.
Zhao Ming suddenly said,
"Photo. Now. Last year festival. Important memory."
They stood near the decorated stalls while another student took their photo.
Zhao Ming did a dramatic pose.
Su Ran laughed.
Jiang Chen just stood normally.
After the photo, Zhao Ming looked at them and said,
"Listen. When we are old and successful, we will look at this photo and remember this festival."
Su Ran smiled.
"We're not even graduated yet and you're already talking like an old man."
Jiang Chen looked at both of them and said quietly,
"This might be our last school festival together."
They all became quiet for a second.
Then Zhao Ming said,
"Then we must eat more food to make the memory stronger."
"That is not how memory works," Su Ran said.
"That is exactly how memory works," Zhao Ming replied.
---
Walking Home After the Festival
They walked home slowly that evening, tired but happy.
The streets were quiet, and the night air was cool.
Zhao Ming walked ahead, talking about how successful their stall was.
Su Ran walked next to Jiang Chen quietly.
"Today was fun," she said.
"Yes," he replied.
"I wish school could stay like this forever," she said.
He didn't answer immediately.
After a few seconds, he said quietly,
"It won't. But we'll remember it."
She looked at him but didn't say anything.
And as they walked under the streetlights, neither of them realized that the end of high school was getting closer and closer.
But for now, they still had time.
Time for more festivals.
More jokes.
More quiet walks home.
More last row days.