sunlight
Chapter 23: Sunlight
On the last Friday of October, Chen Yiyu took Bai Ke to an old neighborhood on the edge of the city. Old sycamore trees lined the bluestone road, and sunlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
They sat down in a noodle shop that looked quite old, the wooden tables and chairs polished smooth and shiny by time.
"This is a place I often came to when I was a child." Chen Yiyu looked at the old photos on the wall with a distant look in his eyes. "At that time, our family still lived nearby."
Bai Ke listened quietly. This was the first time Chen Yiyu took the initiative to mention his past.
"My dad was a very strong-willed man. He built the company from scratch. My mom was his college classmate. After getting married, she stayed at home to take care of her husband and children." His voice was calm, as if he was recounting someone else's story. "Back then, our family was very happy, until the company ran into trouble."
The waiter brought two bowls of steaming noodles. Chen Yiyu picked up the chopsticks but did not move.
"It was also an autumn like this when my dad was taken away for investigation. My mom cried and begged me to go find Uncle Qiu, saying that only he could help us." His fingers tightened slightly. "That's when I understood what it felt like to fall from a great height."
Bai Ke gently held his hand.
"The Qiu family did help us, but they also left me with a debt of gratitude I can't repay." Chen Yiyu smiled bitterly. "Luo Di has always loved clinging to me since she was little, and I've always treated her like a younger sister. But her feelings for me have become a bargaining chip for the Qiu family to control me."
"So you always feel that you can't let them down?" Bai Ke asked softly.
Chen Yiyu nodded and looked at her deeply: "But I can't betray my heart just to repay a favor."
Bai Ke's heart trembled slightly.
"Bai Ke," he said softly, "I know that making our relationship public right now might cause a lot of trouble. Luo Di's emotions are still unstable, and the Qiu family is also..."
"It's okay." Bai Ke interrupted him and smiled slightly, "We can take it slow and start with an underground relationship."
Chen Yiyu also smiled: "I'm sorry, you have always been so considerate."
However, the very next day, Chen Yiyu made a decision that surprised Bai Ke.
On Saturday afternoon, Bai Ke went to the psychology institute for her internship as usual. When she left the building at the end of her shift, she saw Chen Yiyu waiting outside. This wasn't the first time he'd come to pick her up after work, but this time, he was accompanied by someone else—the institute's director and his co-researcher in Germany.
"Bai Ke," the supervisor came forward with a smile, "Yi Yu just told me about you two. I didn't expect you two were a couple."
Bai Ke looked at Chen Yiyu. He took her bag naturally and said to the supervisor, "Thank you for taking care of Bai Ke during this time."
"Not at all. Bai Ke is very good." The supervisor gave them a meaningful look. "It's a good thing for young people to fall in love. There's no need to hide it."
After sending the supervisor away, Bai Ke asked Chen Yiyu in surprise: "Why did you tell the supervisor?"
In the setting sun, Chen Yiyu's eyes seemed to be filled with golden light: "Because I want everyone to know that you are my girlfriend."
He took her hand, interlocked their fingers, and walked calmly on the busy street.
"But Qiu Luodi..."
"I've already talked to her." Chen Yiyu's tone was firm. "I made it very clear that my concern for her is out of responsibility and guilt, but not love. I can't sacrifice our happiness just because of sympathy."
Bai Ke looked at his resolute profile, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. At this moment, she finally felt that the young man who always carried too much burden had finally learned to live for himself.
From that day on, Chen Yiyu showed up at the psychological institution on time every day to pick up Bai Ke from work. Like any ordinary couple, they walked hand in hand on the streets at sunset, occasionally buying a snack at the corner or sitting on a bench in the park to share their experiences of the day.
Sometimes when Bai Ke worked late, Chen Yiyu would wait for her in the reception area with books. His colleagues at the institution all knew this handsome and devoted "family member" and often joked that they were a "student couple."
One Wednesday evening, it suddenly started to rain. Bai Ke stood at the entrance of the agency, looking at the downpour with a worried look on his face.
"Give."
A dark blue umbrella was handed to her. Bai Ke looked up and saw Chen Yiyu's smiling face.
Raindrops hit the umbrella, making a crisp sound. They walked side by side in the rain, as if they had walked through a long time and finally found their home on this rainy day.
"Bai Ke," Chen Yiyu suddenly stopped and looked at her seriously, "Let's get married after we graduate."
The rain was very loud, but the words reached Bai Ke's ears clearly. She looked at him, saw the rain wet his hair, and looked at his eyes filled with deep affection.
"Okay." She answered softly, with warm liquid sliding down the corners of her eyes, and she couldn't tell whether it was rain or tears.
Chen Yiyu smiled, a smile that was like the sun shining through the dark clouds, bright and warm. He lowered his head and gently kissed away the tears on her face.
On this ordinary rainy day, on the busy street, they made a vow to stay together for life.
The space under the umbrella is small, but it holds all their past and future. And all the missed opportunities and regrets have become the most beautiful background of this rainy day.
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