Chapter 13 The Cemetery
It suddenly started raining the day before the National Day holiday, and the weather forecast showed that the rain would continue for the next two or three days.
In the last English class before the holiday, the teacher told the students to study on their own. Yu Bai buried his head in his work and started doing exercises. As the class was about to end, most of the students in the class couldn't contain themselves and started to get restless, whispering and packing their bags. The English teacher tried to stop them but to no avail. Seeing that there were still ten minutes left in get out of class, she simply turned a blind eye.
Yu Bai looked up at the rain outside the window. It seemed to be getting heavier. The lush trees and the tall buildings in the distance were shrouded in the rain and mist, appearing hazy and indistinct.
She looked away and glanced at Jiang Jizhou's seat, only to find it empty; he was nowhere to be seen.
Yu Bai was taken aback.
After school, the crowd swarmed to the classroom door and dispersed noisily. Soon, only Yu Bai and a few scattered students remained in the classroom.
Jiang Jizhou still did not appear.
Yu Bai sent him a WeChat message, asking where he had gone, but after waiting for a while, she did not receive a reply.
Yu Bai had no choice but to put on her schoolbag and leave the classroom. She took the umbrella hanging on the window railing outside the classroom and searched around the teaching building again, but she couldn't even see Jiang Jizhou.
There was no news about him on WeChat either.
Yu Bai panicked a little, worried that something might have happened to Jiang Jizhou, so he decided to call Uncle Jiang first.
"Hey, Uncle Jiang," Yu Bai said urgently.
"He's taking a shower and didn't take his phone. Is there something you need?"
A soft, unfamiliar voice came from the other side.
Yu Bai panicked and hung up the phone, a bad feeling suddenly welling up in his mind.
She opened her umbrella and ran into the rain.
The rain grew heavier, becoming a downpour, pounding on the ground and splashing water that soaked Yu Bai's skirt. She ran very fast, and all she could hear was the sound of the rain pattering.
A mountain bike sped past me; it belonged to a tall, thin boy who was holding an umbrella in one hand and riding the bike with the other.
The mountain bike stopped not far in front of Yu Bai. The boy turned around and called out to Yu Bai.
Yu Bai looked up and saw that the boy was Chen Ye.
She rushed towards him as if he were her savior, her voice urgent, "Chen Ye, do you know where my brother went?"
Chen looked a little embarrassed, as if he had something difficult to say. He said vaguely, "Don't worry, he has something to do. You should go back first, or you'll catch a cold."
Upon hearing this, Yu Bai frowned slightly and stubbornly asked, "Chen Ye, just tell me, where did he go?"
Chen also saw that the girl's eyes were filled with tears, as if she would burst into tears at any moment. He couldn't help but tighten his grip on the umbrella handle, and finally told Yu Bai.
Cemetery.
Rain blurred her vision, and the autumn wind, carrying raindrops, blew under her umbrella, soaking Yu Bai's school uniform, but she was completely unaware, running wildly through the rain.
"Today is the anniversary of his mother's death."
“He goes there every year and sits there for a whole day and night. No one remembers him anymore.”
"With this heavy rain, he'll probably get a fever when he gets back."
...
Chen Ye's words echoed in her ears again and again. Yu Bai crossed the road with traffic lights and walked through the streets lined with sycamore trees... The flow of people decreased. She didn't know how long she had been running. She was so cold that she was numb. Then she saw the cemetery in her eyes.
It was already dark, and the sound of rain in the howling wind was like a beast hiding deep in a cemetery, emitting a low roar that made people feel scared.
Yu Bai seemed unconcerned as he walked up the steps and saw Jiang Jizhou standing in the rain, his black clothes soaked through, his bangs plastered to his skin, and his complexion pale.
A bouquet of flowers was placed in front of the tombstone, and the rain pattered on the wrapping paper.
Yu Bai walked up to Jiang Jizhou.
He remained motionless, seemingly unaware of anyone's arrival.
This was the first time Yu Bai had seen Jiang Jizhou like this. His eyes seemed to have lost all color, no longer displaying his usual high spirits and unrestrained arrogance, but instead filled with a stagnant silence, as if he had lost his soul.
Yu Bai moved the umbrella handle, and Jiang Jizhou felt a shadow fall, which then blocked the rain.
He turned his head to look at Yu Bai, his eyes wet from the rain, water droplets clinging to his eyelashes, looking listless.
Yu Bai unexpectedly caught a glimpse of vulnerability in his eyes.
The two looked at each other, remaining silent.
Yu Bai smiled slightly at Jiang Jizhou and silently tilted the umbrella toward him.
But Jiang Jizhou suddenly reached out and grasped Yu Bai's hand that was holding the umbrella. The wet, icy hand touched his skin, yet a burning sensation spread throughout his body.
He pushed the umbrella towards Yu Bai, and the rain stopped dripping from her wet shoulders.
"Why did you come?" Jiang Jizhou asked in a hoarse voice.
Yu Bai lowered his eyes, "I'll stay with you."
Her voice was very soft, drowned out by the sound of rain.
The night was dark, and the streetlights were even more blurred in the rain. In the dim light, Yu Bai could only see Jiang Jizhou's dark eyes, quietly and attentively watching him.
Yu Bai was almost completely engrossed in it.
After a long pause, Jiang Jizhou said, "Didn't you want to know what happened?"
Yu Bai was taken aback. Didn't he not want to tell him?
“He cheated on me when my mother was sick. His mistress came to my mother’s bedside and provoked her. My mother died the next day.”
"that's all."
Jiang Jizhou spoke calmly, and even managed a slight smile after he finished speaking.
But Yu Bai could sense the sadness and despondency emanating from him, like overflowing rain, damp and lingering.
Everyone has scars, hidden deep in their hearts, unspeakable, and they are the pain that lingers year after year.
He used a carefree and nonchalant attitude to mask his pain.
Yu Bai's eyes were clouded with mist.
She felt powerless to say anything at that moment, and her desire to embrace him reached its peak.
The next second, Yu Bai broke free from Jiang Jizhou's grasp, leaned forward, and opened her arms to hug Jiang Jizhou.
He was soaking wet, his clothes clinging to his body, chilled by the rain. Yu Bai shivered, but held him even tighter.
Jiang Jizhou's body stiffened, and he almost let go of the umbrella handle.
Then, Jiang Jizhou felt warmth wash over his cold chest. After a moment, he reached out his free hand and gently placed it on Yu Bai's back.
The rain, which had gradually subsided, continued to fall softly. Yu Bai heard Jiang Jizhou's strong heartbeat, while his own heartbeat had already become erratic.
"I will always be with you," Yu Bai said firmly.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Jizhou's expression shifted slightly, and his long, drooping eyelashes trembled gently.
"Mmm." Jiang Jizhou rested his chin on Yu Bai's hair, smelling the soft fragrance. He pulled Yu Bai's arms closer, almost embedding her into his body, drawing warmth from her.
I don't know how much time passed, but the rain stopped.
Yu Bai was frail, and after standing there for so long, she sneezed several times.
"How about we go back?" Jiang Jizhou asked gently.
Yu Bai bowed solemnly to the tombstone, then looked at Jiang Jizhou and said, "Okay."
Jiang Jizhou held up an umbrella, and the two walked side by side down the steps.
The steps were slippery after the rain, and the night was as dark as ink. Yu Bai slipped and almost fell, but Jiang Jizhou held her slender wrist and said, "Slow down."
Yu Bai turned her head to look at him, her mind filled with the memory of Ming Jing's words about him kissing Ruo An in the rain.
"Was that girl named Ruo'an?"
She suddenly spoke, and Jiang Jizhou was taken aback.
"Hmm," Jiang Jizhou replied indifferently.
However, that night in the living room, he clearly said he didn't remember, and her heart was filled with a bittersweet sense of loss.
"Then you're saying you don't know each other?" Yu Bai said, sounding a little angry.
Jiang Jizhou reached out his free hand and ruffled his hair, explaining patiently, "He's just an insignificant person."
He paused, then said, "If you hadn't told me, I would never have remembered."
"And what about me? Who am I?" Yu Bai's eyes were wet with tears.
“He’s an idiot.” Jiang Jizhou smiled mockingly.
She still acted like this, seemingly unconcerned, as if Jiang Jizhou, who had just embraced her tightly in the cemetery and appeared lost and dependent on her, was just a figment of her imagination.
Yu Bai then said, "But I heard from Mingjing that you two talked about it."
Yu Bai finally blurted out those words. They might be a little inappropriate, but she couldn't help it. She felt that if she kept them inside any longer, they would cause internal bleeding.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Jizhou frowned. "No."
Yu Bai was taken aback. No? She didn't know whether she should believe it or not.
"Really?" Yu Bai asked cautiously.
He smiled. "Really."
"So many people like your brother, how can I possibly date them all?" Jiang Jizhou chuckled at her, his beautiful peach blossom eyes seemingly full of affection and romance, but upon closer inspection, one could see that his eyes were indifferent and ruthless.
"What a bastard!" Yu Bai cursed inwardly, his heart aching and numb.
Then, Jiang Jizhou gently tapped Yu Bai's head, "Why are you so concerned about this, huh? Little sister."
He emphasized the word "sister," as if reminding her.
He only treated her as a younger sister. Yu Bai lowered her head, losing all emotion, and her eyes gradually became misty.
After I got home, it started pouring rain again.
Yu Bai has a fever.
39 degrees Celsius, so hot he was delirious.
Jiang Jizhou invited a doctor to her home to treat her.
They prescribed the medicine and then started an IV drip.
The slender needle pierced her blue veins, and Yu Bai's body trembled. Her dazed mind lost its ability to think, and her eyelids drooped as she saw Jiang Jizhou's figure.
"It hurts so much." She shed tears of her own volition, her voice choked with sobs.
Jiang Jizhou sat beside Yu Bai, his eyes unconsciously revealing worry. "Honey, you'll be fine after the IV drip is finished."
The door to the room was pushed open, and Uncle Jiang stormed in angrily.
"Why did you run out in the rain? You made your sister get a fever," he scolded Jiang Jizhou.
Jiang Jizhou remained silent.
Yu Bai defended Jiang Jizhou, "No, Uncle Jiang, it was my own carelessness."
"Don't try to excuse him. This kid is getting more and more outrageous. If he keeps this up, you can get out of the country and stay away from me." Uncle Jiang vented his anger on Jiang Jizhou.
Yu Bai's eyes widened, wishing he could get up immediately to explain to Uncle Jiang.
Jiang Jizhou's handsome face darkened with a sinister expression as he said, word by word, "Today is the anniversary of my mother's death."
Upon hearing this, Uncle Jiang paused, stunned for a long time, as if all his strength had been drained away.
A moment later, he said to Yu Bai, "Bai Bai, take good care of yourself."
After saying that, he left the room.
"I'm sorry, I made you get scolded," Yu Bai said softly.
Her face was flushed, her eyes were red and wet, and her soft hair was tied into pigtails, making her look like a cute lop-eared rabbit.
Jiang Jizhou smiled and said softly to her, "Then get well soon, and if you do, your brother will give you a gift."
Yu Bai's heart stirred, while Jiang Jizhou got up and went to the balcony, where he stood leaning against the railing.
His black shirt was still wet; he hadn't changed it since he came back and was busy taking care of her when she was sick.
His figure melted into the night, exuding an indescribable loneliness and desolation. But Yu Bai was not the one who could heal him; he only saw her as a child, as his younger sister.
He might not like Ruo'an, but he certainly didn't like her either.
And today I caused him trouble, and made him get scolded.
The hand placed under the covers gradually clenched.
Yu Bai wondered if keeping his distance would be better for both of them, and he wouldn't be so anxious or troubled by love.
They never had a chance.
If he understands his sister's place, she might be able to stay with him longer.
How could someone as dissolute and capricious as him possibly stay for her?
Yu Bai had a fever and stayed in bed for three days, during which time it rained the whole time.
When Chen came to play games with Jiang Jizhou, he also took the opportunity to visit Yu Bai.
He teased Yu Bai, "I was worried that A-Zhou would get a fever, but he didn't. You, on the other hand, did."
Yu Bai smiled shyly and embarrassedly.
Chen also placed a bouquet of flowers she had bought on her bedside table. It was a bouquet of bright orange-yellow flowers, reminiscent of a fruit juice balcony.
"Thank you." Yu Bai's voice was soft and gentle. Her fair face was flushed from the fever, and her delicate features made Chen Ye blush.
"It's alright, I wish you a speedy recovery."
Chen and she exchanged a smile.
When Jiang Jizhou pushed open the door, this was the scene he saw. Looking at Yu Bai's smiling face, he suddenly felt inexplicably short of breath and his chest tightened.
"Weren't you playing games? Why aren't you coming over yet?" He looked at Chen Ye, his tone tinged with impatience and anger.
Chen Ye was still grinning at Yu Bai. He was a sunny, handsome guy with a very approachable smile.
The peacock spread its tail feathers, and Jiang Jizhou rolled his eyes inwardly.
"By the way, Yu Bai, we don't have each other's contact information yet. Let's add each other on WeChat." He said, taking out his phone.
"Why would I add you on WeChat? You two aren't even that close." Jiang Jizhou lowered his eyebrows, his gaze fixed on Chen Ye with a cold glint in his eyes.
"Isn't it all about going from strangers to friends, right, Yu Bai?" Chen didn't notice the low mood emanating from him and was still smiling at Yu Bai.
Jiang Jizhou wanted to pull him away immediately, but Yu Bai just smiled and said, "Mhm."
Jiang Jizhou suddenly felt a sense of frustration, as if his own cabbage had been eaten by a pig, because this girl was siding with outsiders.
"Hehe, I knew it." Chen Ye gave Jiang Jizhou a smug look and hurriedly added Yu Bai on WeChat.
Only then did he happily and contentedly go to the game room with Jiang Jizhou.
"ko" +1 +1 +1...
In the end, Chen stopped chuckling and his face turned as black as if he had just come back from mining coal.
In the past, when he played games with Jiang Jizhou, Jiang Jizhou would just play casually and even let him win a few rounds. But today, Jiang Jizhou quickly and decisively defeated him in every round, completely crushing him and making his gaming experience completely unenjoyable.
Chen asked cautiously, "Brother Zhou, do you dislike me?"
Jiang Jizhou glanced at him and said, "No, you were so happy just now, you have to be happy with me for a while."
Chen Ye: "..."
A note from the author:
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