I Don't Like This World, I Only Like You (我不喜歡這世界，我只喜歡你) by Qiao Yi (喬一)

When we were in elementary school, Water Margin hero cards from Little Raccoon snacks were all the rage—anyone born in the 90s probably remembers collecting them. Neither Guanchao nor I had much pocket money back then. But he had a phenomenal memory—photographic, really. After reading Water Margin once, he went to school the next day and started storytelling. He'd trade each story for a card, and just like that, he managed to collect all 108 cards.

Years later, I found the complete set under my bed and called him. He sighed sentimentally, "That was my childhood, right there."

"Do you know why I did all that?" he asked.

"Wasn't it to show off your amazing memory?"

"No. Remember how you used to like Lin Chong? Only Cheng Jiajia had that card, and she wouldn't even let you take a look. Told you to buy it yourself. I was so mad, but I didn't have money—so I had to earn them this way."

I was deeply moved and immediately promised to buy him the mechanical keyboard he'd been eyeing.

That night, teary-eyed, I told F the story. Partway through, I suddenly slapped my thigh: "Damn! I got duped!"

F looked up and asked what was wrong.

Gritting my teeth, I said, "I just remembered—Cheng Jiajia transferred schools in second grade!"

The Water Margin cards only became popular in fourth grade!