Undercurrent
Chapter 10: Undercurrent
In late autumn, the ground of University A is covered with fallen leaves.
Bai Ke walked briskly down the hallway of the Student Union office, clutching the newly printed event plan. Two months had passed since that awkward welcome party, and she had already put Chen Yiyu out of her thoughts.
"Starting over"—those four words sound easy, but doing so requires the courage to uproot the past. Joining the student union was her first step—finding her place in a new field, filling every moment where she might think of him with busyness.
"Bai Ke, you're just in time." Student Union President Lu Zihan leaned out of his office with a gentle smile, "Have you printed the plan?"
"Well, I've revised it according to your last suggestion." Bai Ke handed the document over and inadvertently noticed that he was wearing a turtleneck sweater today, which made his already handsome face look even more elegant.
Lu Zihan, a junior in the Economics Department, was the Student Union President and a prominent figure on campus. He always managed unique and creative events, and his interpersonal skills were just right, earning him widespread praise.
"It's a great idea! The 'Interdisciplinary Innovation Forum' aligns perfectly with the school's spirit of integration," Lu Zihan said, flipping through the proposal with admiration. "Inviting outstanding students from each department to share their research projects is a very innovative idea."
Bai Ke smiled slightly: "It's mainly your guidance."
This wasn't a humble remark. Ever since she joined the Student Union's Publicity Department, Lu Zihan had indeed taken exceptional care of her, not only frequently assigning her important tasks but also patiently guiding her on how to perfect her plans.
"You take the minutes of the forum preparatory meeting on Friday." Lu Zihan naturally took the other documents from her arms, "I'll take the heavy items."
This kind of considerate gesture has become more frequent recently. Although Bai Ke feels a little uncomfortable, it is difficult to refuse.
Preparations for the forum were proceeding intensively. As one of the main planners, Bai Ke devoted nearly all of her spare time to the project. On the day the guest list was finalized, she stared at the candidates recommended by the Physics Department, feeling a slight chill in her fingertips.
Chen Yiyu's name is on the list.
"Chen Yiyu from the Physics Department, is he the genius who was recommended for admission through the competition?" Another girl from the Publicity Department came over to look at the list. "I heard he rarely participates in activities like this, but he actually agreed this time."
Lu Zihan glanced at the list and then looked at Bai Ke: "Do you know him?"
Bai Ke lowered his eyes: "High school alumni, not familiar with them."
This was the first time she lied to Lu Zihan, and she felt a little guilty.
Friday's preparatory meeting was held at the Student Activity Center. Bai Ke arrived half an hour early to set up the venue. When Lu Zihan arrived, she brought her a cup of hot milk tea.
"You've been working hard lately," he pushed the milk tea in front of her with a gentle smile, "a small token of comfort."
Bai Ke thanked him and took it, and felt that several members around him exchanged meaningful glances.
Five minutes before the meeting started, Chen Yiyu walked in alone. He was wearing a simple black coat and carrying a backpack, and he looked thin and tall. Bai Ke subconsciously lowered his head, pretending to organize the meeting materials.
"Student Chen Yiyu," Lu Zihan took the initiative to greet him, "Welcome, I am Lu Zihan, the president of the Student Union."
Chen Yiyu shook hands with him briefly, his eyes swept across the venue, and lingered on Bai Ke for a moment, so quickly that it seemed like an illusion.
"Please take a seat." Lu Zihan led him to the conference table, right across from Bai Ke.
Throughout the meeting, Bai Ke tried to focus on taking notes, but she could always feel the gazes from the other side. When she looked up, Chen Yiyu was always looking at the speaker, or lowering his head to write something in his notebook.
"Regarding the publicity work for the forum," Lu Zihan looked at Bai Ke, "Bai Ke, how is the publicity plan you're in charge of progressing?"
Just as Bai Ke was about to answer, Chen Yiyu suddenly spoke up, "Have the publicity channels covered the professional platforms of all departments?"
This was the first time he spoke today. His voice was a little deeper than in high school, but still clear.
"We plan to push the information simultaneously on the campus official website and bulletin board." Bai Ke answered, trying his best to sound calm and professional.
"Not enough." Chen Yiyu looked her straight in the eye. "We should target the characteristics of different departments and conduct targeted promotions in professional forums and academic groups. General promotions will hardly attract the attention of the target audience."
Lu Zihan smiled and continued, "Student Chen Yiyu is right. Bai Ke, I'll leave this part to you to complete. If you have any difficulties, feel free to contact me."
After the meeting, everyone left one after another. Bai Ke was sorting through the meeting notes when he heard Lu Zihan say to Chen Yiyu, "Thank you for your suggestions, they're very constructive. How about we have dinner together? We can discuss the details of the forum."
Chen Yiyu's gaze passed Lu Zihan and fell on Bai Ke: "Sorry, I still have experiments to do."
After he left, Lu Zihan walked over to Bai Ke and sighed softly: "This junior student doesn't seem easy to approach."
Bai Ke didn't respond, but just quietly put away his laptop.
Over the next two weeks, preparations for the forum entered a critical phase. Bai Ke often worked late into the night in the Student Union office, and Lu Zihan would always find excuses to stay with her.
"It's so late, I'll take you back to the dormitory." At 11 o'clock that night, Lu Zihan picked up his coat and said to Bai Ke who had just finished the promotional manuscript.
It was indeed very late, so Bai Ke didn't refuse.
The campus was quiet and peaceful on the autumn night, and the streetlights cast a warm glow on the cobblestone road. As they walked side by side, Lu Zihan recounted his experience participating in the National College Student Entrepreneurship Competition as a freshman. His humorous recounting made Bai Ke burst into laughter.
When they reached the path near Bai Ke's dormitory building, they saw a person in front of them. Bai Ke looked closely and found that it was Chen Yiyu.
He stood under the street light, holding several thick foreign books in his hands, his eyes fell on Lu Zihan's hand on Bai Ke's shoulder - just now when going down the stairs, Bai Ke twisted her foot, and Lu Zihan helped her up, but did not withdraw his hand in time.
"Chen Yiyu?" Bai Ke subconsciously took a step back and distanced himself from Lu Zihan.
Chen Yiyu's eyes were as cold as ice. He said nothing, just nodded slightly to Bai Ke, then turned and left.
"He seems to have misunderstood something." Lu Zihan smiled, but there was no apology in his tone. "Do you need me to explain it?"
"It's okay." Bai Ke said softly, "We weren't familiar with each other to begin with."
As soon as I said this, a subtle pain arose in my heart.
The day before the forum officially began, Bai Ke went to the Physics Department to deliver some materials. In the hallway, she unexpectedly ran into Chen Yiyu. He was discussing a question with a professor, his focused profile strikingly clear in the sunlight.
Seeing Bai Ke, the professor ended the conversation and left. Chen Yiyu stood there, as if waiting for her to speak first.
"This is tomorrow's schedule," Bai Ke handed him the folder. "Your speech will be in the third session."
Chen Yiyu took the folder, but did not leave immediately: "Do you know Lu Zihan?"
"He's the president of the student union. He's very capable and takes good care of his members," she answered cautiously.
Chen Yiyu's mouth curled up into an almost invisible arc: "Take care? It's really 'take care'."
"What do you mean?"
"Last year, I had a senior who was also in the Student Union's Publicity Department." Chen Yiyu's eyes were sharp. "Lu Zihan also 'took care' of her, until her relationship problems affected her grades and she lost her qualification for postgraduate study."
Bai Ke didn't know about these things.
"Of course, this has nothing to do with you." Chen Yiyu's voice returned to its usual coldness. "I just don't want you to affect the forum preparations because of your personal problems."
After saying that, he turned and left, leaving Bai Ke alone in the empty corridor.
Back in the student union office, Bai Ke found Lu Zihan sitting at her workstation, flipping through a notebook on her desk.
"You're back?" Lu Zihan straightened up as if nothing had happened. "Did the information from the Physics Department arrive?"
Bai Ke looked at his gentle smile, and suddenly remembered Chen Yiyu's words, and a chill rose in her heart.
"Just arrived," she replied briefly, putting the notebook back into the drawer.
Lu Zihan seemed to sense her alienation and said softly, "After the forum ends tomorrow, I'll treat you to a meal."
Bai Ke looked at his peach blossom eyes that were always smiling, and for the first time noticed the trap flashing in them.
"I have a date with my roommate after tomorrow's meeting." She declined.
Lu Zihan's smile faded a little, but soon returned to normal: "Next time."
After he left, Bai Ke opened the drawer and took out the physics notebook that Chen Yiyu had returned to her. On the title page, his elegant handwriting was still clear: "Thank you for that rainy day."
Outside the window, the autumn wind suddenly picked up, sweeping up the fallen leaves. Bai Ke suddenly realized that some care is sincere protection, while some care is nothing but a carefully designed trap.
And the person who pretended not to know her may never have truly forgotten that rainy day.
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