College student Bi Mingzhe, 20, has been carrying his disabled classmate Wang Li to school for eight years, since they were in junior high school. Recently, Bi gave up the chance to earn his bachelor's degree so that he could study alongside Wang in a vocational college.

Bi and Wang, who suffers from a neuromuscular disorder, began their friendship in a junior high school in Linxiang, a county-level city in Hunan Province. One day, 12-year-old Bi was locking up the classroom after school and found Wang still waiting for someone to pick him up. Bi carried Wang home on his back. Since then, Bi has carried Wang to and from school every day.

After high school, Bi had to decide whether to go his own way or stay with Wang for the next phase of education. Bi's good performance on his qualifying exams gave him the chance to study for a bachelor's degree.

However, he decided to study with Wang, who planned to attend Insurance Professional College, a higher vocational college in Changsha, Hunan Province.

"I didn't tell Wang that I could have earned a bachelor's degree until we were both enrolled at Insurance Professional College. He was surprised and even guilty," Bi told the Global Times.

Bi and Wang are in their third year, with Bi majoring in insurance underwriting and claims and Wang in customer service. Many schoolmates offer their help to Wang, who is happier and stronger than ever before.

Bi told the Global Times that he will attain higher degrees, adding that he will likely teach at Insurance Professional College in the future if Wang decides to become a teacher there as well.

Wang said that he will understand if Bi pursues his own career one day. "Bi may leave to follow his own life plan, but it won't affect our relationship. I understand him," said Wang.

Bi was honored as Youth of Hunan Province, and Wang was declared an excellent member of the Communist Youth League of China.