Holding Hands
Chapter 22: Holding Hands
The beginning of a new semester always brings a familiar yet unfamiliar atmosphere.
Bai Ke sat in the classroom, her fingers unconsciously twirling the pen. The loose schedule of her senior year gave students more time to arrange their own schedules, and also gave her more room for her wild thoughts.
There was no news from Chen Yiyu throughout the summer vacation.
She thought her confession that night was just drunken nonsense, and as the alcohol wore off, so did the words. Just like the unfinished words from her second year of high school, like the interrupted confession on the first snow, like the unfulfilled promise by the lake. All the heartbeats, in the end, turned to regret.
"Bai Ke!" Lin Xiaoyu ran into the classroom breathlessly and sat down next to her. "I heard..."
Bai Ke raised his head and saw the complicated look in his friend's eyes.
"Chen Yiyu and Qiu Luodi had a showdown." Lin Xiaoyu lowered her voice, "During the summer vacation, he told Qiu Luodi that he didn't want to be a puppet anymore. He wanted to pursue the life he truly wanted."
Bai Ke's heart skipped a beat: "And then?"
"Qiu Luodi..." Lin Xiaoyu hesitated for a moment, "She took sleeping pills and was sent to the hospital for gastric lavage. She lay in bed for several days."
The pen in Bai Ke's hand fell on the table with a crisp sound. She thought of Qiu Luodi's pale face, the stubborn look in her eyes when she looked at Chen Yiyu, and the grievance when she said, "My father has done so much for your family."
"How is she now?" Bai Ke asked softly.
"She has been discharged from the hospital, but her mental state is very bad. Chen Yiyu has been staying with her in the hospital until her condition stabilizes."
So this was the reason why he had been out of touch for the entire summer. Bai Ke felt mixed emotions, worried about Qiu Luodi and heartbroken for Chen Yiyu's situation.
The bell rang for class. Bai Ke tried hard to concentrate, but he couldn't help but wonder how Chen Yiyu was doing now, and whether he was silently enduring everything alone again.
The back door of the classroom was gently pushed open, and a familiar figure flashed in. Chen Yiyu was wearing a simple white shirt. He was much thinner than before the summer vacation, and there was a faint dark spot under his eyes. He sat down in the last row, his eyes passing through the crowd, and fell on Bai Ke.
Bai Ke's heartbeat suddenly accelerated. He was coming.
She could feel his gaze throughout the entire class. The professor's voice became distant, and all her senses were focused on capturing the presence of the man behind her.
During the break, Bai Ke hesitated whether to turn around to look for him, but she felt someone sitting down in the empty seat next to her.
"Long time no see." Chen Yiyu's voice was low, but with a gentleness she had never heard before.
Bai Ke turned her head and met his deep eyes. There was fatigue and pain in them, but more importantly, there was an unmistakable determination.
"Are you... okay?" she asked softly.
Chen Yiyu didn't answer, but gently held her hand under the desk. His palm was warm and strong, and his fingertips were trembling slightly.
People were coming and going in the classroom, and the students were chatting and playing with their mobile phones. No one noticed the secret hand holding under the desk.
"I remember what we said that night." Chen Yiyu's voice was very soft, so only she could hear it. "I remember every word."
Bai Ke's cheeks instantly burned. Chen Yiyu's palms seemed to be on fire.
"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting for so long." His thumb gently stroked the back of her hand, "But now, I can finally come to you."
The professor started the lecture, but Chen Yiyu did not return to his seat. He just sat beside her, one hand supporting his chin pretending to listen to the lecture, and the other hand tightly holding her hand under the desk.
Bai Ke's heartbeat was so rapid that it felt like the whole classroom could hear her drumming heartbeat. This was the first time in all the years they had known each other that they had been so close. It wasn't an accidental collision, not a polite support, but a clear hand-holding.
"Your hands are so small." Chen Yiyu suddenly leaned close to her ear and whispered.
A warm breath brushed past her ears, and Bai Ke's ears turned red. She glared at him, only to meet his smiling eyes. At that moment, she seemed to see the boy who had explained homework to her in the library during her sophomore year of high school. The sunlight shone through the window onto him, softening the passage of time.
The bell rang, and Chen Yiyu finally let go of her hand. His warmth still lingered on her fingertips, and Bai Ke quietly clenched her palm, wanting to retain that warmth.
"Are you free this afternoon?" he asked as he packed his books, his tone so natural as if they had been together like this for a long time.
"I'm going to do an internship."
"I send you."
They walked out of the classroom side by side. The autumn sun shone through the corridor windows, casting mottled shadows on the ground. Several classmates looked at them curiously, whispering to each other.
Chen Yiyu didn't care at all and took the schoolbag from Bai Ke's hand naturally: "Have you been hesitating recently about whether to take the postgraduate entrance examination or work?"
"Yeah." Bai Ke nodded, secretly studying his profile. He had lost a lot of weight, his jawline was more distinct, but his eyes were brighter than before.
"No matter which path you choose," Chen Yiyu stopped and looked at her seriously, "I will support you."
After walking out of the teaching building, Chen Yiyu took her hand again, this time, in the sunshine, in front of everyone's eyes.
"This time," he whispered, "I won't let go."
The autumn wind blew, gently caressing the treetops. Bai Ke looked at their clasped hands, and the corners of his lips unconsciously curled up.
Those unfinished stories of youth have ushered in beautiful notes at some corner.
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