Chapter 4
The moment Ling Yao's arm rested on Su Rui's shoulder, Su Rui froze.
The weight wasn't entirely physical; it felt more like an invisible, scorching brand, burning through his thin summer uniform, burning his skin and nerves. Ling Yao was more than half a head taller than him, and for leverage, he inevitably leaned forward with the majority of his weight, carrying the scent of sweat and sunlight, with a faint, expensive cedar base, enveloping him completely.
Su Rui's heart pounded wildly in his chest, nearly shattering his ribs. He tried to straighten his thin back, trying to bear the sudden, dizzying weight. One hand carefully wrapped around Ling Yao's waist, but he didn't dare to hold him firmly, his fingertips hanging stiffly in the air.
"Let's go, why are you standing there?" Ling Yao's voice came from above his head, with a bit of irritation caused by pain, and impatient urging.
"Oh... okay, okay." Su Rui came back to her senses suddenly, her cheeks burning, and she almost held her breath. She supported him and moved forward slowly step by step.
The road became incredibly long and yet incredibly short.
Every step felt like walking on cotton, yet also like treading on a knife's edge. Su Rui's senses were magnified: the tense muscles on her waist, felt through the fabric, the occasional subtle gasps of pain from Ling Yao, and his own deafening heartbeat.
They were so close, so close that Su Rui could see the sweat-soaked hair on Ling Yao's temples and count the tiny shadows cast by his drooping eyelashes. This was a distance he had never dared to imagine.
Silence fell over the two of them like a heavy curtain. Only Ling Yao's occasional muffled groans from the bumps and Su Rui's increasingly rapid breathing could be heard.
"You..." Ling Yao suddenly spoke, his voice flat.
Su Rui was so frightened that she almost stumbled: "Huh?"
"You're really tight-lipped." Ling Yao tilted his head, his gaze fixed on his red, burning earlobe. His tone couldn't tell if it was praise or something else, "You didn't tell anyone about it."
Su Rui's heart felt like it was being clenched by a hand, aching and swollen. He lowered his head, staring at the tips of his shoes, which had been washed white, and the laces of Ling Yao's expensive sneakers. His voice was as thin as a mosquito's, "...I promised."
Ling Yao seemed to chuckle, very lightly and quickly, and dissipated into the air, making Su Rui suspect that it was her own illusion.
"Why did you come here?" Ling Yao asked again, his eyes still lingering on him, with a scrutinizing and probing look, "Aren't you afraid of me?"
Su Rui's throat tightened. What should he say? That it was because of the candy? That he couldn't help but worry even after being teased like that? That he was possessed?
In the end, he just bit his lower lip tighter, shook his head, and squeezed out a dry answer: "...You are hurt."
This answer seemed too simple and straightforward, even a little stupid. Ling Yao didn't say anything else, just retracted his gaze and looked forward again, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
Embarrassment and uneasiness spread again.
As he neared the infirmary's door, Ling Yao's steps suddenly paused. He leaned against the cold corridor wall, breathing lightly. His hair was damp with sweat, a few strands clinging to his smooth forehead, making him look unusually fragile.
"Listen," he turned his head and looked at Su Rui, lowering his voice with an unquestionable tone, "Don't talk nonsense after you go in. If the school doctor asks, just say I twisted it accidentally and you just happened to be passing by."
Su Rui nodded in surprise.
Ling Yao stared at him for two seconds, as if to confirm his obedience, then he closed his eyes slightly tiredly, and opened them again: "Let's go."
Su Rui supported him and pushed open the door of the infirmary.
The smell of disinfectant hit them. The school doctor was sorting medicine inside and came over immediately when he saw them.
"What's going on?" the school doctor asked, his eyes flicking back and forth between Ling Yao's swollen ankle and Su Rui.
Su Rui was so nervous that her palms were sweating. She opened her mouth and was about to say "passing by" as Ling Yao instructed, but she heard the person next to her speak first.
Ling Yao's voice regained its usual lazy tone, but it was filled with undeniable certainty: "I sprained my ankle playing basketball. He's my classmate, he helped me over."
Su Rui suddenly looked up at Ling Yao.
Ling Yao didn't look at him, but just frowned slightly at the school doctor, looking like a young master who was enduring pain and a little impatient.
The school doctor didn't ask any more questions and gestured for Ling Yao to sit down for examination.
Su Rui stood aside, watching the school doctor skillfully treat the injury, but her heart felt like a small stone was thrown into it, sending out chaotic ripples.
Why did he... change his words again?
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