Chapter 46
Senior year of high school is like a clock wound up tightly, spinning wildly amidst endless tests and exams. Winter arrives, and the north wind, carrying fine snowflakes, taps against the classroom windows, but cannot dispel the heavy, caffeine-laden, and exhausting atmosphere inside.
Xu Nianlei has gradually adapted to the pace of the top class. Like a pebble thrown into a rapid current, after the initial ups and downs, she finally found her rhythm, and her grades stabilized around the thirtieth place in the class. She remained silent, but the panic in her eyes had lessened, replaced by a calmness honed by the sea of problems. Her relationship with the two girls in the mutual aid group became increasingly harmonious, and occasionally, a faint smile would appear on her face amidst their teasing.
Lu Baiyan remained the unattainable number one, a role model praised by all the teachers. His interactions with Xu Nianlei remained minimal—occasional eye contact, brief reminders when passing by, or a few carefully selected questions or thought-provoking ideas that quietly appeared in her drawer, targeting her recent weaknesses.
This silent vigil became Xu Nianlei's only stable support under high pressure.
However, fate always seems to like to deliver a heavy blow when people are just catching their breath.
In mid-January, a province-wide mock exam had just ended, and the results had not yet been released, temporarily easing the tension. On Friday evening, Xu Nianlei stayed behind to ask her physics teacher a difficult question, leaving school much later than usual.
The winter nights come exceptionally early; before seven o'clock, the sky was already as dark as ink. A biting wind blew, and the streets were nearly deserted. Xu Nianlei wrapped her gray wool coat tighter around herself (the same one Lu Baiyan had anonymously given her), quickened her pace, and just wanted to get back to that "home" that could at least shelter her from the wind and rain as soon as possible.
Just as she turned into that familiar yet unsettling alleyway not far from her home, a dark figure, like a ghost, staggered up from behind a nearby trash can and blocked her way.
The pungent smell of alcohol was nauseating, more biting than the cold wind.
It's Xu Jianguo!
He looked even more disheveled than before, with sunken eyes, a stubble beard, and a murky, crazed gaze fixed on Xu Nianlei, like a hungry wolf eyeing its prey.
"You...you little brat...I've finally...caught you..." He hiccuped, his voice hoarse and broken, carrying an ominous excitement.
Xu Nianlei's heart stopped instantly, her blood rushed backward, and every hair on her body stood on end. Fear, like cold vines, instantly tightened around her limbs and bones. She instinctively backed away, wanting to run, but her legs felt as heavy as lead.
"Run? You...you try running again!" Xu Jianguo lunged at her, grabbing her arm with astonishing strength, his nails almost digging into her flesh. "Money! Give me the money! I know...I know that bitch of a bitch...she definitely...definitely gave you the money!"
"I didn't! Let me go!" Xu Nianlei struggled desperately, her voice distorted by extreme fear, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. The alley was deep and dark, the light from the distant streetlights as faint as fireflies, unable to penetrate the darkness.
"No? Hmph!" Xu Jianguo grinned maliciously, his other hand roughly groping her body, trying to snatch her schoolbag. "I...I can't live anymore...It's all your fault...it's all your fault..."
His movements were brutal and insulting, and the foul breath he exhaled almost made her faint. Despair overwhelmed Xu Nianlei like a tidal wave. She felt as if she had fallen into a bottomless ice cave, surrounded only by darkness and this demonic father.
Just as she was about to give up struggling and her consciousness began to fade—
"Bang!"
A dull, resounding crash exploded in her ears!
The grip on her arm suddenly vanished, and Xu Jianguo let out a painful groan. He was thrown out like a rag doll by a tremendous force, crashing heavily into the mottled wall opposite him before sliding softly to the ground, emitting a series of painful groans.
Xu Nianlei stood frozen in place, her mind blank, completely unaware of what had happened.
A figure appeared out of nowhere and blocked her way.
Upright, resolute, and carrying a chilling, piercing anger she had never felt before.
It's Lu Baiyan!
What is he doing here?!
Lu Baiyan had his back to her, so she couldn't see his expression, only his taut jawline and his clenched fist, his knuckles white from the force. The oppressive aura emanating from him was more chilling than the winter night's cold wind.
He didn't even glance at Xu Jianguo, who was groaning on the ground. Instead, he turned around and his gaze fell urgently on Xu Nianlei. When he saw her pale face, her tear-streaked cheeks, and her torn clothes, the cold anger in his eyes was instantly replaced by a deeper heartache and lingering fear.
"It's alright." His voice was a little hoarse, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor. He reached out, wanting to touch her, but then stopped in mid-air. In the end, he simply brushed away the stray hairs on her forehead that were stuck together with tears. "Don't be afraid."
Those two simple words and that restrained gesture completely shattered Xu Nianlei's carefully constructed composure. She burst into tears, clutching him tightly as if grasping at a lifeline.
Beneath the cold fabric of her school uniform lay his warm body temperature and firm heartbeat. This tangible touch finally pulled her back from that terrible nightmare.
Lu Baiyan's body stiffened for a moment because of her sudden hug. Then, he slowly raised his hand and gently, with a soothing tone, put his arm around her trembling shoulders.
“It’s alright…it’s alright…” He repeated these three words, his voice deep and steady, like an anchor, stabilizing her little boat that was almost capsizing in the storm.
On the ground, Xu Jianguo struggled to get up, cursing filth under his breath.
Lu Baiyan gave him a cold glance, his gaze like a tangible ice pick, instantly silencing Xu Jianguo, leaving only trembling sobs of fear.
Lu Baiyan ignored him and gently patted Xu Nianlei's back, whispering, "Let's go."
He shielded her, bypassed the muddy figure on the ground, and quickly walked out of the suffocating alley.
When they reached the main road with streetlights, Lu Baiyan stopped. Xu Nianlei still clung tightly to his clothes, refusing to let go, as if letting go would plunge them back into darkness.
“How could he… how could he…” Xu Nianlei’s voice was still trembling.
"I just happened to be passing by." Lu Baiyan said succinctly, without offering any further explanation. How could he possibly tell her that he had learned in advance through anonymous channels that Xu Jianguo had recently incurred new gambling debts and had threatened to cause trouble for her and her daughter? That's why he had been keeping a close watch on them, and tonight, seeing her return home late, he had specifically waited for her nearby.
He looked at her pale face, still etched with fear, and her slightly swollen wrist (from Xu Jianguo's grip), and a dull ache shot through his chest. He knew Xu Jianguo was a threat, but he never imagined he would be so reckless as to attack so close to home.
This cannot continue. This malignant tumor must be completely eradicated.
"I'll take you back." Lu Baiyan's voice returned to its usual calm, but deep in his eyes, an unprecedented determination surged.
Xu Nianlei nodded, still clutching the hem of his clothes. The two walked silently in the cold night wind, she nestled beside him, drawing comforting warmth and strength from his body.
Lu Baiyan stopped in his tracks when he saw the dark red iron gate of her house.
“Go inside,” he said softly.
Xu Nianlei looked up at him, her eyes blurry with tears. Under the streetlights, his features were clearly defined, his eyes as deep as the night.
"Thank you..." All the words I wanted to say were reduced to just these two.
Lu Baiyan shook his head, his gaze falling on her face with a complex emotion she couldn't understand: "From now on, try not to walk alone at night. If you need anything... you can always contact me."
Xu Nianlei nodded heavily.
She watched him turn and disappear into the night. His tall, straight back, in her eyes at that moment, was like a sharp sword cleaving through the darkness, so imposing that it brought her peace of mind. It also stirred a certain emotion within her, like a spring bud breaking through the soil, which could no longer be contained and began to grow wildly.
She pushed open the door. Wang Xiuqin, unusually awake, was startled by her disheveled appearance. Just as she was about to question her, Xu Nianlei simply said, "She ran into a stray dog. It's nothing." She then went straight to her room and locked the door.
She leaned against the door, listening to her heart pounding like a drum. Her mind was filled with the moment Lu Baiyan appeared, his back shielding her, his hoarse voice saying "Don't be afraid," and the warmth of his embrace...
My cheeks, belatedly, started to burn.
At this moment, Lu Baiyan, walking in the cold night, had eyes as cold as iron. He took out his phone, dialed a number, and his voice was devoid of any warmth:
“Hello? Is this ‘Scarface Liu’? Regarding Xu Jianguo… I think we can discuss another ‘business’ deal.”
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