Chapter 26

In front of the empty platform, the sound of car engines coming from afar could already be heard.

"Two minutes until the next bus." Noah put away his skateboard, his voice calm and undisturbed.

Su Yue held him tightly, greedily savoring the last trace of his warmth. After a long while, he finally let go and jumped off the board.

"Will we... meet again?" Su Yue mustered all her courage and asked that humble question.

Noah simply looked at him, offering no attempt to stop him, no smile, and not even a perfunctory promise.

Su Yue felt rebuffed and his heart sank.

The long-distance bus, like a giant with heavy steps, panted as it pulled into the station. He boarded the bus as if fleeing, sat by the window, bit his lip tightly, and vowed never to turn back.

But when the car had driven ten meters away, all his stubbornness crumbled instantly. He lunged to the other window and desperately peered out.

The platform was deserted. Noah walked away decisively, as if he had never been there.

His heart clenched, and his breath felt like it was being slashed by a knife. Su Yue felt dizzy and disoriented, and amidst the gasps of passersby, his consciousness completely vanished into darkness.

In Weiming Town, the afternoon sun slanted into the ward.

When Su Yue opened his eyes again, Dr. Snow was standing by his bedside, his expression as kind as ever.

“All indicators are normal.” Snow adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. “She was probably too tired, that’s why she fainted in the car. Are you having such a blast at your distant relative’s house?”

“Everything is normal…” Su Yue said thoughtfully.

After spending a month with Noah, the fatal wound had completely disappeared, which was a miracle in itself.

But the thought of Noah quickly dimmed his expression.

"Who bullied you? I'll teach him a lesson for you." Dr. Snow closed the door, his tone revealing a hint of an elder's protectiveness.

After holding it in for a long time, Su Yue could only say sullenly, "I've run into an unreasonable old farmer from the mountains, heartless and ungrateful. Oh well, I'm too lazy to argue with him."

“That’s because he wasn’t lucky,” Dr. Snow comforted him, a subtle, all-knowing helplessness flashing in his eyes. “You’re still young. Just forget about the unhappy things.”

The ward was quiet for a long time. Su Yue curled up, like a wounded little animal.

"Dr. Snow, I think... I've fallen in love with someone. Even though I've been rejected, I still like him so much." He said softly, "But he's a man... Am I sick?"

Dr. Snow adjusted his glasses, his tone gentle yet firm: "Liking someone has never been about gender; it's simply a natural choice of the soul. Su Yue, it's the 21st century now. You need to learn to be brave and be yourself. Don't be afraid; you'll always be my VIP, and I'll always be here."

Su Yue felt a warmth in her heart, and her nose began to sting again. She quickly turned her head away, not wanting to embarrass herself in front of Dr. Snow.

"The new school year is about to begin, and things will gradually get better," Dr. Snow advised before leaving.

Su Yue hummed in agreement and lowered her eyes.

The second year of high school began amidst the chirping of cicadas and the heat of summer.

Su Yue met up with Martin and John at the school gate. After not seeing each other for a whole holiday, Martin and John immediately transformed into two noisy cicadas, chattering away non-stop. Su Yue simply listened calmly, opening the locker door and putting the books inside one by one.

"Hey guys!" Martin suddenly lowered his voice, his face solemn as if announcing a state secret, "I've decided, this semester, I'm going to—find a girlfriend!"

John's eyes lit up, and he immediately clapped his hands in agreement: "What a coincidence! Me too!" The two excitedly gave each other a loud "give me five," as if they had already reserved their membership in the "Broken Hearts Alliance."

Immediately, two eager gazes turned to Su Yue. "What about you? Any big plans for the new semester?"

Without thinking, Su Yue casually replied, "Study hard and make progress every day."

"Tch—" John rolled his eyes without hesitation. Martin grinned and grabbed Su Yue by the neck with his thick arm. "Brother, say something human! Change it, hurry up!"

Su Yue's face turned slightly red from being squeezed, but he remained unusually stubborn: "I won't change!" He truly had no interest in romance at the moment.

"Oh, still being stubborn?" Martin grinned mischievously, his other hand roughly ruffling Su Yue's carefully styled hair from the morning, instantly turning her elegant, well-groomed hair into a wild, messy bird's nest. "Still want to hang out with us? Will you change?"

Just as Su Yue was about to struggle to the end, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a figure appearing at the other end of the corridor out of the corner of her eye—Mike.

Almost simultaneously, Mike also saw him, his eyes instantly locking onto him, a triumphant smile playing on his lips, as he strode towards him.

Su Yue felt a chill run down his spine and immediately changed his mind: "Change it! I'll change it, okay!"

Martin released his arm with satisfaction and looked at him curiously along with John.

Su Yue spoke rapidly: "...My goal is to protect myself first!" After saying that, he practically launched himself into the air, turned around and slipped away, disappearing around the corner of the corridor in the blink of an eye.

Martin and John were left standing there, staring at each other in disbelief. "What kind of bullshit target is this?"

"What's wrong with him? He seems more sensitive since coming back from his vacation. Did he experience something traumatic while staying with relatives in Germany?"

"Who knows... Hey, good morning! Senior Mike!"

"Hello, Senior Mike!"

When Mike arrived, Su Yue was already gone. He sighed helplessly, his gaze falling on Su Yue and his two still bewildered childhood friends, and smiled slightly, "You two..."

"Here!" Before he could finish speaking, Martin and John had already reflexively straightened their backs and stood at attention. The aura of the football team's ace was no joke; his solid muscles and star power were enough to inspire awe in most students.

Mike's smile deepened, and he put his arms around their shoulders, one in each hand, as if lifting two restless little animals: "Martin, John, right? There's something I'd like to ask you two for a small favor..."

Martin and John said in unison, their voices booming, "What are your orders, sir!"