The next day, Chen Qiao Luo didn’t come to school. Li Zi told me that his right foot was severely sprained and he had been hospitalized. Although I felt a pang of sadness, I pretended to be unaffected. I wanted to visit him, but I realized how cowardly I had become. I was too afraid to face him.
I saw Gu Yu again a week later.
It was late autumn in A City, and a cold rain was falling. I was feeling unwell from my period and stayed in the classroom long after school had ended. By then, the room was empty, and I sat at my desk, resting my head on my folded arms. I had called my dad earlier to ask him to pick me up, but he was stuck at work and told me to wait at school.
Whether it was the rain or the cramps, the atmosphere around me felt unbearably bleak.
As I let my thoughts wander, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the silence. I raised my head in confusion and saw Gu Yu standing beside my desk. His sudden appearance left me momentarily frozen.
The rain outside intensified, creating a steady rhythm of pattering sounds against the windows.
Noticing my stunned expression, Gu Yu smiled and said, “I happened to pass by your classroom and saw you sitting here. Are you alright, Zhu Yun Hao?”
His words snapped me back to reality, and I shook my head weakly.
Seeing this, he suddenly leaned down and pressed his hand to my forehead. His palm was warm—almost like a furnace—against my skin.
His touch made me freeze in place, my entire body stiff. Even my breathing felt hesitant, as though any movement might shatter the fragile moment.
After a long pause, Gu Yu finally removed his hand and placed it against his own forehead, sighing with mild exasperation. “I thought you had a fever, but it doesn’t seem like it.”
He then asked, “What exactly is wrong with you?”
Was I supposed to tell him it was menstrual cramps? No, there was no way I could say something like that. My face grew hot with embarrassment, and I awkwardly replied, “Nothing, I’m fine.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, Gu Yu let out a soft laugh, one so beautiful it resembled a blooming lily. He playfully ruffled my hair, saying, “You know, you always give me the impression of being like a weed—resilient and impossible to topple. But now, it seems I was wrong. Even you have moments when you look so delicate and pitiful.”
His sudden gesture startled me, leaving me frozen in place, unsure of what to do.
Seeing my reaction, Gu Yu’s smile deepened. He followed up with, “Zhu Yun Hao, have you thought about what I said last time?”
“What he said last time?”
Could he mean… the proposal to date?
My mind raced with possibilities.
But before I could formulate a response, Gu Yu leaned in closer. The next moment, before I could react, I felt a soft touch against my lips.
It was Gu Yu’s kiss.
I stood there as if struck by lightning, my entire body stiffening.
Then, his voice came softly to my ear: “Zhu Yun Hao, let’s try dating. If it doesn’t work out, we won’t force it.”
His words left me dazed, unable to respond. Before I could gather my thoughts, Gu Yu was suddenly pulled away.
Startled, I looked up and saw Chen Qiao Luo standing there.
After a week of not seeing him, he looked noticeably thinner. His face was etched with anger, and without a word, he swung a fist at Gu Yu with all his strength. The punch landed on Gu Yu’s face, causing his head to tilt to one side.
Chen Qiao Luo shouted, “Gu Yu, this was always between us. Why do you have to involve Zhu Yun Hao? I know you hate me. You can hit me—I promise I won’t fight back—but why must you hurt her?”
“Hit you?” Gu Yu sneered, turning his face back toward Chen Qiao Luo. His eyes were filled with dark mockery. “Then how would I be any different from your jailbird father? Let me tell you, Chen Qiao Luo, I’ll make sure you live in torment for the rest of your life.”
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