Chapter 10
After the scarf and bookmark incident, Xu Nianlei finally understood. She couldn't, and didn't deserve, anything beautiful, especially Lu Baiyan's attention. It would only bring him trouble and plunge her into a deeper abyss.
When she returned to school on Monday, she began to deliberately and completely distance herself from Lu Baiyan.
When he explained the problem, she shook her head and said, "No need, I can do it myself"; when he handed her the notes, she pretended not to see them; he could even sense that she was avoiding his gaze.
Lu Baiyan was puzzled, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. He could sense the despair and alienation emanating from her, stronger than ever before. He tried to ask her what was wrong, but she just lowered her head, remaining silent, or made excuses to leave in a hurry.
Liu Yiduo and Wen Wanyu witnessed all of this. Wen Wanyu mocked, "See? They got warned by the class monitor's mother and now they know how to be scared. At least they have some self-awareness."
Upon hearing this, Lu Baiyan seemed to understand something, and his gaze darkened.
Chapter Twenty-Four: The Standoff in the Rain
It was another rainy night after evening self-study. As the students left one after another, Xu Nianlei, as usual, did not bring an umbrella. She took a deep breath and prepared to rush into the rain again.
But someone gently grabbed her wrist from behind.
She froze, turned around, and met Lu Baiyan's deep eyes. He held an umbrella in his hand, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.
"Why are you avoiding me?" His voice was particularly clear amidst the sound of rain.
Xu Nianlei tried to break free, but he held her even tighter. She lowered her head, her voice choked with sobs, "There's no reason... let go of me..."
"Is it because of my mother? Or those rumors?" Lu Baiyan persisted, asking stubbornly.
"Neither!" Xu Nianlei suddenly looked up, tears mingling with the rain as they streamed down her face. "We're not from the same world! Do you understand? Getting close to you will only bring me trouble! I beg you, please stay away from me, okay?"
She practically screamed these words, using all her strength and courage.
Lu Baiyan stared, stunned, at her red eyes and tear-streaked face. He had never seen her so emotionally distraught.
Taking advantage of his momentary daze, Xu Nianlei forcefully shook off his hand and rushed into the torrential rain without looking back. This time, she was more resolute than ever before.
Lu Baiyan stood there, holding the umbrella, watching her figure disappear into the rain. For the first time, a huge sense of powerlessness and...heartache welled up in his heart.
After that confrontation in the rain, the relationship between the two plummeted to its lowest point.
Xu Nianlei seemed to have completely shut herself off. Apart from necessary academic exchanges, she hardly spoke to anyone, especially Lu Baiyan. She became even more silent, and her face was always pale.
Lu Baiyan stopped trying to get closer. He became more taciturn than before, radiating an aura that kept strangers at bay. Only when he occasionally glanced at the empty seat next to him would his gaze become unusually complex.
Liu Yiduo seemed quite satisfied with her current situation, and her advances towards Lu Baiyan became even more obvious. Rumors about them being a "golden couple" began to circulate in the class.
Everyone thought that the ambiguous relationship between Xu Nianlei and Lu Boyan was completely over. Only Xu Nianlei herself knew how much her heart ached whenever she saw Liu Yiduo talking to him naturally, or seeing them walking side by side on campus.
She carefully picked up the bookmark that her mother had crushed, painstakingly glued it back together, and treasured it in a box that no one could find. It was the only and last glimmer of light in her youth, though it was now shattered beyond recognition.
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