Chapter 21
The rain gradually stopped in the latter half of the night. The morning sunlight filtered through the thin curtains of the hotel, casting long, warm bands of light on the floor. The air was filled with the freshness of the rain and the hotel's distinctive, disinfected, clean scent.
Qiu Yayu didn't sleep well; her dreams were bizarre and fantastical, always accompanied by the feeling of being confined in the train carriage and Cheng Hao's gloomy gaze. Several times she woke with a start, only to see Lü Xiaoyan sitting silently in the chair beside the bed in the darkness, like a steadfast rock on night watch. He wasn't asleep; he would simply whisper "I'm here" or hand her a glass of warm water when she woke up. His presence was the only remedy to dispel her nightmares.
Daylight broke, and the sunlight brought a bit of courage. Qiu Yayu changed into the clean clothes that Lü Xiaoyan had brought her from school early that morning. Looking at the still obvious bruises on her forehead and the lingering marks on her wrists in the mirror, she took a deep breath.
"Eat something first." Lü Xiaoyan pushed the warm porridge and steamed buns in front of her. He seemed more silent than usual, with faint dark circles under his eyes, but his gaze was unusually clear and calm, as if a certain determination had been forged overnight.
After breakfast, Lü Xiaoyan looked at Qiu Yayu and said in a calm but unquestionable tone, "I'll go with you to the Academic Affairs Office."
Qiu Yayu tightened her grip on the spoon and nodded.
They went directly to the student affairs office and found the director in charge of student discipline and safety. When Qiu Yayu brushed aside her stray hairs, revealing the marks on her wrists, and recounted her experience from the previous night, the director's expression turned very serious. This was no longer a simple pursuit or dispute; it involved restrictions on personal safety and potential attempted sexual harassment.
Lü Xiaoyan accompanied her throughout, and when Qiu Yayu became emotional or unable to speak clearly, he would calmly and objectively supplement key details—how Cheng Hao used his senior status and vehicle to lure her, how he locked the car doors in a secluded spot outside the school, and Qiu Yayu's disheveled state and injuries during her escape. He did not add any personal emotions, but simply stated the facts, yet every word carried immense weight.
After giving their statements and leaving their contact information, the director said he would immediately contact Cheng Hao's college to verify the situation and initiate an investigation.
Emerging from the registrar's office, the sunlight was somewhat dazzling. Qiu Yayu felt as if she had fought a tough battle, utterly exhausted. Lü Xiaoyan put his arm around her shoulder and whispered, "Go back and rest if you're tired."
"Um."
Instead of taking her back to her dormitory, he took her directly to the darkroom. This place seemed to have become their tacit safe haven; only here, isolated from the outside world's gaze and disturbances, could Qiu Yayu truly relax.
Lu Xiaoyan settled her on the familiar bar stool, poured her a cup of hot water, and then began, as usual, to tidy up the equipment on the workbench and prepare the medicine. He didn't ask many questions or offer much comfort; he simply used this almost ritualistic daily action to tell her that life goes on and some things will not change.
Holding the warm water cup, Qiu Yayu watched his busy figure, the familiar smell of chemicals lingering in her nostrils. Her anxious and flustered heart finally settled down little by little.
---
The news that Cheng Hao had been summoned for a meeting by the college leadership and the student affairs office was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake. Although the school tried its best to control it, it still quietly spread in some small circles. Various speculations and rumors began to emerge.
Some people didn't believe Cheng Hao would do such a thing, thinking it might be a misunderstanding or that Qiu Yayu was making a mountain out of a molehill; others had long harbored doubts about Cheng Hao's seemingly perfect image and were gossiping about it privately. Occasionally, strange glances would fall on Qiu Yayu, some out of sympathy, some out of curiosity, and some out of inquiry.
Qiu Yayu tried her best not to care. She went to class, the library, and the radio station as usual (she had temporarily taken leave for an interview assignment), and spent most of her time with Lü Xiaoyan. Lü Xiaoyan protected her even more closely, almost never leaving her side. With his silent and firm demeanor, he declared his stance to all the prying eyes.
That afternoon, Qiu Yayu was reading in the library when Lü Xiaoyan went to buy her a drink. A girl from her class came over and asked in a low voice, "Yayu, I heard about... Cheng Hao's situation? Are you really okay?"
Qiu Yayu looked up and saw the genuine concern in the other person's eyes. Her heart warmed slightly, and she shook her head: "I'm fine, thank you."
"That's good," the girl patted her chest. "I never expected such a two-faced bastard! Don't worry, we all support you!"
Just then, Lü Xiaoyan returned. He placed a bottle of hot milk tea in front of Qiu Yayu and gave the girl a cold glance. The girl felt a little intimidated by his gaze, gave an awkward smile, and quickly slipped away.
Lu Xiaoyan sat down next to Qiu Yayu, inserted the straw, and pushed it in front of her.
"Don't worry about what others say," he said calmly.
"I know." Qiu Yayu took a sip of the sweet milk tea, the warmth sliding down her esophagus. She looked at Lü Xiaoyan's cold profile and suddenly asked, "Do you... do you think I'm a nuisance? I always make you worry."
From the bicycle accident to this incident, she always seems to be causing him trouble.
Lu Xiaoyan turned his head, his deep gaze falling on her face. He looked at her for a few seconds, then reached out and gently touched the purplish-blue mark on her forehead that had faded a bit.
“No.” He withdrew his hand, looked back at the book in front of him, and said in a deep but clear voice, “You have never been a problem.”
You are the only light I want to protect.
He didn't say the last sentence aloud. But Qiu Yayu sensed the unspoken words in his focused profile and that brief denial. She lowered her head, a slight smile playing on her lips, the unease she felt due to the rumors and her experiences replaced by a more solid warmth.
Undercurrents still flowed in certain corners of the campus. The investigation was ongoing, and Cheng Hao had not yet given any public response, creating a somewhat oppressive atmosphere. But in this quiet corner of the library, in the space where they kept each other company, Qiu Yayu felt that as long as he was by her side, she had the courage to face all the aftershocks and lingering shadows.
Unbeknownst to her, Lu Xiaoyan's silence concealed more than just companionship. A more measured and thorough "cleansing" of Cheng Hao was quietly being planned in his mind. He would never allow any potential threat to approach her again.
After experiencing this turmoil, Qiu Yayu also vaguely sensed that something about Lü Xiaoyan had changed. He remained silent, but was sharper than before, like a sword sheathed, hidden but not yet unleashed, yet exuding a chilling aura.
In spring, the campus is a riot of color, bathed in bright sunshine. But beneath this seemingly peaceful scene, some things have quietly changed, never to return to what they once were.
---
The red light in the darkroom acted as a protective veil, shutting out all the disturbances and prying eyes from the outside world. Qiu Yayu sat on a high stool, watching Lü Xiaoyan develop photos at the workbench. His movements remained steady and precise, as if no external turmoil could shake him in the slightest. But Qiu Yayu could sense that something was different.
His silence was deeper than before, like an undercurrent at the bottom of the sea, calm on the surface but surging with immeasurable power within. Occasionally, when he raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the not-yet-faded marks on her forehead or wrists, a fleeting cold sharpness in his eyes would make Qiu Yayu's heart clench slightly. It wasn't directed at her emotions, but rather carried a chilling decisiveness.
"Senior," she spoke softly, breaking the silence in the darkroom where only the sloshing of the medicine and the ticking of the timer could be heard, "Are you... angry with me?"
Lu Xiaoyan didn't stop developing the photos, but glanced at her sideways. "Why do you ask that?"
“Because… I always seem to be getting into trouble.” Qiu Yayu lowered her head, looking at her wrist, which was resting on her knee and still bore a faint bruise. “First, I had a bike accident, and now… if I hadn’t so easily believed him and gotten on the car, maybe things wouldn’t have happened…”
“It’s not your fault,” Lü Xiaoyan interrupted her, his voice low and firm. He put down the clips in his hand, turned around, and looked directly at her. In the red light, the contours of his face appeared even more distinct, and his eyes were as deep as an ancient well.
He walked up to her, so close that Qiu Yayu could clearly see her reflection in his pupils and the turbulent, complex emotions swirling in his eyes.
“He’s the one in the wrong.” Lü Xiaoyan said each word clearly, her tone icy and unquestionable. “He took advantage of trust and harbored malicious intentions. You don’t need to bear any responsibility for his malice.”
His words were like a solid rock, firmly supporting her self-doubt and wavering emotions. Qiu Yayu looked at him, her eyes slightly red.
"But..." she wanted to say something else.
“No buts.” Lü Xiaoyan raised her hand, and this time, without hesitation, her fingertips gently brushed across the faint blue mark on her forehead, the movement carrying an almost reverent gentleness. “You just need to remember that no matter what happens, I will be by your side.”
His fingertips were slightly cool, yet their touch carried a burning heat, leaving an imprint on her skin and on her heart. Qiu Yayu looked up at him, seeing the unwavering determination and protectiveness in his eyes, and all her unease and grievances seemed to be quietly soothed in that moment.
She reached out and gently grasped his hand, which he hadn't yet withdrawn, pressing her cheek against his cool palm like a kitten seeking comfort and reassurance.
"Mmm." She closed her eyes, nodded vigorously, her voice thick with nasal tone, yet full of dependence and trust, "I know."
As Lü Xiaoyan felt the soft touch of her cheek and the warmth of her body emanating from his palm, a crack finally appeared in the corner of his heart that had been frozen by anger and murderous intent, allowing a warm current to flow in. He took her hand in return and tightened his grip.
The two nestled together quietly in the red light of the darkroom, neither speaking a word. The smell of developer in the air no longer smelled cold and pungent; instead, it carried a strange, comforting familiarity.
At this moment, Qiu Yayu clearly felt that their relationship had entered a deeper level after this ordeal. It was no longer just the sweetness and excitement of first love, but also a heavy and firm commitment to supporting and protecting each other in adversity. She saw the fire of anger that burned for her beneath his calm exterior, a fire capable of destroying everything, and beneath that anger, the unfathomable tenderness and responsibility.
In her complete reliance and trust, Lü Xiaoyan became even clearer about what he had to do. His task was not merely to punish Cheng Hao. He needed to build a safe enough world to protect her within, ensuring that no storm could ever harm her again. This determination required more of his heart and soul than any photographic work.
A few days later, Qiu Yayu noticed that the strange looks and whispers that had occasionally fallen on her seemed to have gradually disappeared. Cheng Hao's name also seemed to vanish from public view overnight. She vaguely heard that Cheng Hao's family seemed to have some problems, his father's company was in trouble, and he himself had temporarily suspended his studies and left school for "personal reasons."
She didn't ask Lü Xiaoyan if any of this was related to him. She simply took his hand gently one evening while they were walking by the lake, looking at his calm profile in the sunset.
Lu Xiaoyan felt her strength and looked down at her.
"Thank you, Lü Xiaoyan," she said softly, her eyes reflecting the bright and warm glow of the setting sun.
Lu Xiaoyan looked at her, without asking for thanks, but simply raised their clasped hands and placed a soft, feather-like kiss on her wrist, which had faint bruises.
Everything is understood without words.
The lake's surface was rippling in the evening breeze, shimmering with golden light. Spring was drawing to a close, and the scent of summer was faintly in the air. The crisis of that rainy night seemed to have passed, and the wounds were slowly healing. But they both understood that some things had changed forever. Their bond, having weathered fear, anger, and protectiveness, was like pure gold tempered by fire, stronger and more inseparable than ever before.
However, the script of fate is never rewritten because of personal affection and effort. The greatest storms often arrive quietly when people think the storm has passed.
As the seasons change, the early summer breeze begins to dispel the last traces of spring's coolness. The gardenias on campus are in full bloom, their fragrance so strong it's almost suffocating. The atmosphere of final exams grows ever stronger, and the library and study rooms are filled with students engrossed in their studies, temporarily easing the lingering effects of the previous turmoil.
Cheng Hao's quiet disappearance was like a pebble thrown into a lake; once the ripples subsided, the lake returned to calm, at least on the surface. The school handled the matter discreetly and swiftly, without a public statement; only a small circle knew that he was temporarily suspending his studies due to "family reasons" and "personal development choices." The various speculations gradually lost their novelty, replaced by new gossip and academic pressure.
Qiu Yayu's life seemed to be returning to normal. The scars on her forehead and wrists were almost invisible, and her work at the radio station was back on track. She was still inseparable from Lü Xiaoyan, but Lü Xiaoyan's protection had become more meticulous and more silent. He was no longer just by her side, but more like an invisible barrier, isolating her from all potential anxieties.
That day, Lü Xiaoyan was developing a new batch of photos in the darkroom, photos they had taken at the botanical garden. Qiu Yayu sat beside her, flipping through a photography magazine, her gaze occasionally drifting to a beautifully packaged rectangular box on the workbench.
It was a camera case. She had saved up for a long time and asked her cousin, who was studying abroad, for help before finally buying the rare film camera that Lü Xiaoyan had admired for so long in a professional magazine but had hesitated to purchase due to its price and rarity. She imagined the light that would shine in his usually calm eyes when he received this gift. She planned to give it to him on his birthday, as a huge surprise.
Thinking of this, Qiu Yayu couldn't help but smile, her eyes filled with a sweet joy. She quietly moved the box closer to herself and covered it with a magazine.
"What are you laughing at?" Lü Xiaoyan's voice suddenly rang out. He had stopped what he was doing and was looking at her.
Qiu Yayu was startled, like a child caught doing something wrong. She quickly suppressed her smile and shook her head: "It's nothing, I just saw an interesting report."
Lu Xiaoyan glanced at her slightly flushed cheeks and flickering eyes, but didn't press her for answers. His gaze lingered for a moment on the magazine beside her, a barely perceptible hint of understanding flashing in his eyes. He turned away to continue developing the photos, a barely perceptible upward curve to the corners of his mouth.
He had actually discovered it long ago. He had noticed her secretly browsing camera websites, her encrypted email exchanges with her cousin, and her recent frugal lifestyle. He hadn't pointed it out, but rather cooperated with her "secret operation," even secretly helping her solve some minor problems that might arise with international shipping. He cherished this clumsy yet sincere affection that she had carefully hidden.
This will be the most precious and cruel gift he has ever received.
In the evening, while the two were having dinner together, Qiu Yayu received a phone call from home. Her mother kept nagging on the phone, reminding her to take care of herself during the final exams, and asking how she and "Xiaoyan" were doing lately.
"We're fine, Mom, don't worry," Qiu Yayu replied with a smile, her gaze tender as she looked at Lü Xiaoyan across from her.
After hanging up the phone, she said to Lü Xiaoyan, "My mom said that when you have time during your vacation, you can come to our house for dinner, and she will make you your favorite lotus root soup."
“Okay.” Lü Xiaoyan nodded, already planning his summer vacation. He wanted to take her to a nearby town famous for its starry sky to take pictures; the Milky Way there on summer nights must be beautiful.
Like any ordinary couple, they planned for their upcoming exams, looked forward to the summer vacation, and dreamed of countless days they would spend together in the future. The fear of the rainy night and the shadow of malice seemed to have truly been dispelled by the early summer sunshine and the warmth of each other's company.
However, unseen by Qiu Yayu, Lü Xiaoyan's gaze occasionally deepened. He hadn't completely let his guard down. The troubles of Cheng Hao's family and his own leave of absence from school were indeed related to his use of family connections and resources; he needed to ensure that the venomous snake had no chance to retaliate. Beneath his seemingly peaceful campus life, an undercurrent of ensuring her absolute safety still surged.
They all believed that the biggest storm had passed. They all believed that although the road to the future might be bumpy at times, the direction was clear and the destination was bright.
They didn't realize that the cruelest thing about fate is its unpredictability and inevitability. It never shows mercy because of people's good wishes, nor does it offer any rehearsals or warnings.
That rare camera, carefully wrapped and filled with boundless love and anticipation, ultimately did not live to see its owner's birthday.
And the girl who said "I'll wait until you have time during your vacation" will never again drink the lotus root soup her mother made for her beloved.
All the peace and warmth, all the plans and aspirations, are just a brief and precious illusion before the storm.
The real farewell is approaching in the most unexpected way.
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