Broken Wings
Chapter 25: Broken Wings
In March, the magnolia flowers on campus have just bloomed, and the winter chill has not yet completely dissipated.
Bai Ke walked out of the library with a few professional books in her arms. Her work after becoming a regular employee was busier than she had imagined, but she enjoyed it. Thinking of her dinner appointment with Chen Yiyu in the evening, the corners of her mouth raised unconsciously.
At that moment, a sharp brake sound shattered the tranquility of the campus. A red sports car arrogantly stopped in front of the teaching building. Qiu Luodi got out of the car. Her sunglasses covered most of her face, but her tightly pursed lips revealed her anger.
Bai Ke instinctively stopped and saw Chen Yiyu walking out of the teaching building. His brows were slightly furrowed, clearly displeased with this sudden confrontation.
"Chen Yiyu, do you really have to force me like this?" Qiu Luodi took off his sunglasses, his eyes red and swollen, obviously he had just cried. "My dad said he could arrange for us to go to the same university, why did you refuse?"
"Lodi, we've talked about this many times." Chen Yiyu's voice was calm. "I have my own life plan. I can't always follow your family's arrangements."
"Is it because of her?" Qiu Luodi turned his head abruptly, his gaze piercing Bai Ke like a knife. "That ordinary woman?"
Bai Ke stood there, feeling the air around him freeze. Passing students stopped to watch the excitement.
Chen Yiyu took a step forward and stood between Bai Ke and Qiu Luodi: "This has nothing to do with her. This is my own decision."
"I don't believe it!" Qiu Luodi's voice became sharp. "Everything has changed since she appeared! Have you forgotten what your father said before he died? He asked you to take good care of me!"
Chen Yiyu's body suddenly stiffened. Bai Ke knew that this was the shackles he could never truly break free of.
"My father asked me to take care of you, but not at the cost of my life." Chen Yiyu's voice was still calm, but Bai Ke could hear the pain in it. "Luo Di, what you need is the help of a professional doctor, not just me as your lifeline."
Qiu Luodi's tears instantly welled up, and she took out a small medicine bottle from her bag: "Then I will take these medicines now, do you believe it?"
Bai Ke's heart was in her throat. She couldn't help but step forward: "Qiu Luodi, calm down..."
"Get out of here!" Qiu Luodi pushed Bai Ke away fiercely. "It's all because of you! If it weren't for you, Chen Yiyu wouldn't treat me like this!"
Bai Ke was caught off guard and fell backwards. The moment she lost her balance, she subconsciously used her hands to support herself on the ground. A sharp pain shot through her right wrist, causing her to cry out in pain.
"Bai Ke!" Chen Yiyu immediately rushed to her side, and when he saw her wrist bent at an unnatural angle, his face turned ashen in an instant.
He turned to face Qiu Luodi, his voice as cold as ice: "From now on, there will be no more connection between us."
Qiu Luodi stood there in a daze, the medicine bottle slipped from her hand, and the white pills scattered all over the floor.
Chen Yiyu stopped looking at her and carefully helped Bai Ke up: "Hold on, I'll take you to the hospital."
The smell of hospital disinfectant filled Bai Ke's nose. His right wrist was already in a cast. The doctor said it was a distal radius fracture and would require immobilization for four to six weeks.
"I'm sorry." Chen Yiyu sat in front of the bed, holding her left hand tightly, "It's because of me again..."
Bai Ke shook her head and wanted to give him a comforting smile, but it affected the scratches on her face, causing her to gasp in pain.
"If it weren't for you," she whispered, "I couldn't bear to see her hurting herself like that."
The door of the ward was pushed open, and Li Meng and Lin Xiaoyu walked in hurriedly.
"Oh my God, Bai Ke, are you okay?" Lin Xiaoyu rushed to the bed and looked at her plastered hand with heartache. "Qiu Luodi is really crazy!"
Li Meng patted Chen Yiyu's shoulder and said, "We've all heard about it. Do you need any help?"
Chen Yiyu shook his head, his eyes never leaving Bai Ke: "I'll take care of it."
As night fell, after Li Meng and Lin Xiaoyu left, they were the only two left in the ward. Moonlight streamed in from the window, casting a soft silver glow over everything.
"Bai Ke, there's something I want to tell you." Chen Yiyu's voice was particularly clear in the night. "I've accepted an offer from the Max Planck Institute in Germany and will go there to study after graduation."
The news came so suddenly that Bai Ke was stunned. She didn't know how to react for a moment.
"Why... have I never heard you mention it?"
"Because I'm waiting for the right opportunity." Chen Yiyu gently stroked the fingertips of her left hand. "The Max Planck Institute is a top research institute, and this opportunity is rare. I want to give you a better future, instead of always living under the shadow of the Qiu family."
Bai Ke remained silent. She understood Chen Yiyu's choice, but a trace of unease remained in her heart. Germany, such a faraway place, could their newly begun relationship withstand such a test?
"How long will it take?" she asked softly.
"Probably two years." Chen Yiyu's voice was low, "But I will come back every year, and you can also come to see me during the holidays. Wait until I settle down there..."
He didn't finish his words, but Bai Ke understood what he meant.
The next day, Lin Xiaoyu came to the hospital to accompany Bai Ke to go through the discharge procedures. While waiting, she hesitated and said, "Bai Ke, there's something I'm not sure whether I should say..."
"What's up?"
"I heard... Qiu Luodi is also going to study in Germany," Lin Xiaoyu said cautiously, "Her father donated a large sum of money to Heidelberg University so that she could go to Germany with Chen Yiyu."
Bai Ke's heart sank. So, was Chen Yiyu's decision to go to Germany really based on an agreement with Qiu Luodi? Were those promises about the future just a lie?
After returning to school, Bai Ke was always worried. Chen Yiyu took good care of her, picking her up and dropping her off at school every day and helping her take notes.
But every time she wanted to ask about Germany, she swallowed the words back, afraid that the answer would disrupt the current peace.
A week later, in the evening, Chen Yiyu walked Bai Ke back to the dormitory. Downstairs, he gently hugged her, avoiding her injured right hand.
"Regarding going to Germany," he suddenly said, "I've already talked to Uncle Qiu and made it clear that I won't be attending the same university as Luo Di. I chose the Max Planck Institute precisely because it's not in Heidelberg."
Bai Ke raised her head and looked at him in surprise.
"Xiaoyu told me," he smiled slightly, "I guess you've been worried about this. I'm sorry, I should have explained it earlier."
Under the moonlight, his eyes were sincere and gentle. Bai Ke suddenly felt that his suspicion was so ridiculous.
"I chose to go to Germany, not to escape, but for our future." He kissed her forehead gently, "This time, I won't let anyone or anything separate us."
Bai Ke lay in his arms, feeling his strong heartbeat.
The road ahead may still be full of challenges, but as long as they trust each other, nothing can stop them from moving towards a common future. The night is getting darker, but tomorrow's sun will rise as usual.
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