A story between me and little girl Zhang Shiyu!

🔹 Prologue: The daily life of adulthood wrapped in repetition

I work a 9-to-6 job at a small company, handling similar tasks day after day, and occasionally working overtime until 10:30 at night.
Returning to my empty home, I was left with only games and stock market charts to keep me company.

🔹 Encounter: An unexpected connection in QQ

Until one evening, the familiar QQ notification sound suddenly rang out - "Ding Ding Ding".
For those of us born in the 1990s, QQ carries the memories of our entire adolescence. We were the platform's earliest inhabitants. While most people have moved on to WeChat, I still can't bear to uninstall it. So many of my youthful memories are buried there...

I clicked on the flashing profile picture and sent a message: "Who are you?"
The other party quickly replied: "Follow each other!!"

Out of curiosity, I clicked on her QQ space - what caught my eye were colorful emoticons and vibrant daily photos, all filled with the innocence unique to a 13-year-old girl.

After a brief conversation, I learned that her name is Zhang Shiyu and she is a sophomore student at a middle school in Wuhan, China.

🔹 Companionship: The subtle warmth that transcends age

After a brief conversation, I found it very interesting. Her childish frankness and innocence made me feel like I was back in junior high school.

She always happily shares interesting campus stories: daily chatter, little gossip about classmates, etc.

I am conservative and don't talk much, but that doesn't hinder her enthusiasm at all.

Her world is pure and bright, like a painting that has not yet been tainted by reality.

Living in this era, it may be a blessing for people who would otherwise have no intersection to meet and get to know each other in the virtual world.

We gradually went from initially "expanding" our circle of friends to becoming friends who chatted every day.

Late one night, she sent a voice message, her clear voice tinged with playfulness: "Hey, uncle, your life isn't really that boring, is it? That would be too boring! Do you want to come to Wuhan? I'll take you out to play."

Even though I knew it was impossible, I still replied, "Okay, you must take me with you if you have the chance."

Her messages became my daily stress reliever. Even something as simple as "I drank three cups of milk tea today" would make me smile. We went from text chats to voice chats (mostly sent by her), sometimes she would send 99+ messages in a row.

I also gradually learned about her hobbies:

• Ma Jiaqi, who likes Times Youth League;

•Love to listen to Jay Chou’s songs;

•I hate rainy days because my shoes get wet.

She would also confide in me her troubles: she lived with her father and often complained that he wasn't attentive enough. Once, she sent me a recording of an argument with him.
After listening to that, I said, “I really wish I were your dad.”

She asked curiously, "Why?"
I half-jokingly replied, “Because your father seems to treat you badly, I actually wish I had a daughter as lovely as you.
But she refuted seriously: "Actually, Dad loves me very much, we just like to argue with each other.
Okay, I misunderstood.

This went on for a long time...

🔹 Separation: The friend list that suddenly disappeared

Until one day, she said her mother wanted to take her away because of the follow-up arrangements of her parents' marriage.
She rarely chats or messages me anymore.

A month later, she suddenly disappeared from my QQ friend list.
I thought this relationship was over, and I felt a little sad...

🔹 Reunion: Old acquaintances on QQ after many years

Years later, my QQ rang with that familiar notification tone again. She sent a message: "Do you still remember me?"
I teased her on purpose: "Who are you?" Actually, how could I forget.
To be honest, I was a little surprised - I am an introvert and don’t have many friends. I always feel that I am someone who is easily forgotten.

She said that she is now in high school and rents a house near the school for convenience. Her mother comes to take care of her every week.

However, her messages were no longer as continuous as before, and only a few words of casual chat were left occasionally.
The academic pressure of high school and the strict discipline of her parents left some traces of her growth.

But people always have to learn to grow. I hope your future will be as bright as a brocade and get better and better.

Although we met on the Internet, I will always remember you as a friend.