Defense

Chapter 13: Defense

The echoes of the New Year's bells still lingered in the night sky. Bai Ke stared at the tears glinting in Chen Yiyu's eyes, feeling as if the moment had been stretched to infinity. She waited for his unfinished words, the answer that had hung in the air since the first snow of her sophomore year of high school.

"Bai Ke!"

Li Meng's voice suddenly interrupted, breaking this precious moment. He strode over, blocking Bai Ke with a stern look, and faced Chen Yiyu directly.

"You're here to mess with Bai Ke again?" Li Meng's tone was filled with suppressed anger. "It was you who left without saying goodbye, and now it's you who's hanging out with Qiu Luodi. What do you think of her?"

The softness in Chen Yiyu's eyes faded instantly, returning to his usual indifference. He glanced at Li Meng, then at Bai Ke, his lips moving slightly, but ultimately saying nothing.

"Li Meng, it's not what you think..." Bai Ke explained hurriedly.

"So what?" Li Meng turned to look at her, his eyes full of heartache. "How many times do you have to be hurt by him before you understand? If he really cared about you, why would he be so stingy as to even give you an explanation?"

Chen Yiyu's fists clenched slightly, and Bai Ke could see the tense curve of his jawline. She knew that those unspeakable hardships were like shackles that trapped him.

"I'm sorry." Chen Yiyu finally uttered only these three words, looked at Bai Ke deeply, turned around and disappeared into the night.

Bai Ke looked in the direction he left, his heart icy. From his second year of high school to his first year of college, a full two years, he still hadn't said it out loud.

Li Meng sighed and softened his tone: "Bai Ke, I don't want to see you sad. But he can't give you what you want."

Bai Ke forced a smile and said, "Let's go back. I'm tired."

In the second semester of my sophomore year, spring is gradually taking hold on campus.

The college art festival organized by Bai Ke encountered a problem - the original sponsor suddenly withdrew its investment, and the stage equipment and promotional materials needed to be re-raised.

"Don't worry, I know the head of a cultural company and can introduce him to you." In the student union office, Lu Zihan handed her a cup of hot water and said, "I'll go with you to meet them tomorrow."

Bai Ke nodded. During this period, Lu Zihan had indeed given her a lot of help, and he had always maintained a suitable distance, which gradually made her let down her guard.

The next day, they successfully negotiated the sponsorship. On the way back to school, Lu Zihan suddenly said, "You're more capable than I thought. Many freshmen would panic if faced with this kind of situation, but you've prepared such a thorough plan."

"I'll do my best." Bai Ke said modestly.

Lu Zihan looked at her with deep eyes: "Sometimes I feel like you have experienced a lot and are much more mature than your peers."

Bai Ke didn't respond.

During the preparations for the art festival, Bai Ke often worked late into the night. A few times, she had a vague feeling that someone was watching her from a distance, but every time she turned around, she saw only empty campus paths.

In early April, the Student Union organized a cross-departmental debate on the topic of "In youth, are unspoken regrets more beautiful or more painful?"

Bai Ke represented the School of Psychology and drew the stance of "more beautiful".

On the day of the competition, the auditorium was packed. Standing on the debate stage, Bai Ke casually glanced across the audience and unexpectedly spotted Chen Yiyu. He was sitting in a corner, quietly watching her.

When it was Bai Ke's turn to speak, she put down her prepared manuscript and improvised:

"The opposing debaters believe that unspoken regrets are more painful because they only see what they have lost. But I want to say that the unspoken feelings of youth are like unopened gifts, always retaining the most beautiful possibilities."

Her voice was clear and firm: "Love expressed out loud may be rejected and may deteriorate over time. But love left unspoken can remain forever fresh in our memories and become the strength that keeps us moving forward."

There was silence in the audience, and everyone was listening attentively.

"I admit that unspoken regrets will bring pain. But it is precisely these pains that allow us to learn to grow and cherish. They are not the failures of youth, but the most beautiful footnotes."

After Bai Ke finished her speech, the audience burst into applause. She saw Chen Yiyu lower his head slightly, and the light cast a faint shadow on his face.

The results of the debate competition were announced, with the School of Psychology winning. Bai Ke was named the best debater.

After the game, Lu Zihan was the first to come forward, his eyes gleaming with unprecedented admiration: "Your performance today was fantastic. I've never seen anyone interpret 'regret' so beautifully."

"Thank you." Bai Ke smiled, but his eyes unconsciously drifted towards that corner.

Chen Yiyu's seat is empty.

"The student union will celebrate tonight, you must come." Lu Zihan's tone was filled with enthusiasm that could not be refused.

Bai Ke nodded, but felt inexplicably lost.

That evening at the celebration banquet, Lu Zihan paid special attention to Bai Ke. He sat beside her, attentively refilling her drink and chatting with her. While the other members of the team exchanged flirtatious glances, Bai Ke seemed somewhat absent-minded.

In the middle of the banquet, she went to the balcony under the pretext of getting some fresh air. The spring night breeze was exceptionally gentle, and the lights of the library in the distance twinkled.

She recalled her own words from the debate competition: "Unspoken regrets are more beautiful." But is that really the case? Are those unresolved feelings, those moments of hesitation, truly better than a clear answer?

"So you're here." Lu Zihan's voice came from behind, "Are you feeling unwell?"

"Just a little bored." Bai Ke didn't look back.

Lu Zihan stood beside her and said softly after a moment of silence: "Bai Ke, you are really special. Not only your ability, but also your unique perspective on things."

Bai Ke turned sideways cautiously, but met his extremely serious gaze.

"I know you may have heard some rumors about me," he continued, "but I'm different about you."

At this moment, Bai Ke's gaze fixed on the path downstairs—Chen Yiyu was walking alone in the night, looking up in her direction. Their eyes met briefly in the air, and then he turned and left, and the air behind him became cold and quiet.

Lu Zihan followed her gaze and frowned slightly: "Is that Chen Yiyu?"

Bai Ke didn't answer. She looked at the figure walking away and suddenly realized that what she said during the debate was just a form of self-consolation.

The regret that is not expressed out loud is still painful after all.

The spring breeze blew, bringing the fragrance of lilac flowers from afar. Bai Ke took a deep breath and smiled politely at Lu Zihan: "Let's go back."

This spring, some stories are still going on, while some may have come to an end.