Chapter 5

 The time at the beginning and end of each month flies by quickly, and before they knew it, it was time for Bai Xunyin, Sheng Churan, and Zhong Qin to take their turn cleaning the classroom again.

Every month, one or two evenings would see them locked in the classroom after cleaning. Bai Xunyin didn’t want to stay behind alone while her classmates left early, risking being locked in, but if she left without cleaning, their homeroom teacher, Shen Langli, would certainly criticize her the next day.

Sheng Churan’s family had close ties with the school administration; otherwise, Shen Langli wouldn’t be so blatantly biased. It was almost an open secret that Bai Xunyin would be locked in the classroom as a way for Sheng Churan to vent her frustrations. 

Everyone knew and cooperated—Bai Xunyin herself cooperated too. Being locked in and waiting for the security guard to let her out was preferable to causing a scene and enduring snide remarks from her classmates and teacher that would make it hard to focus in class.

But today, Sheng Churan didn’t leave with Zhong Qin and lock the door after everyone had left. Instead, she approached Bai Xunyin.

Bai Xunyin, puzzled, set down the chalkboard eraser and looked at them.

Seeing Bai Xunyin’s clear, water-like eyes, Sheng Churan got even angrier. She bit her lip and spoke in a sinister tone, “Come with us somewhere.”

Bai Xunyin shook her head, picked up a piece of chalk, and wrote two words on the board: “No, thanks.”

Whatever Sheng Churan wanted to do, Bai Xunyin had no interest in accompanying her.

She was already accommodating enough by enduring Sheng Churan’s baseless bullying.

“It’s not up to you!” Sheng Churan snapped, her delicate eyebrows furrowing as she grabbed Bai Xunyin’s slender arm and yanked her down from the podium.

Without grabbing their bags, the three girls stumbled and tugged each other out of the classroom.

Bai Xunyin’s arm throbbed from Sheng Churan’s grip, her fair skin marked with fresh red welts.

“Hurry and call Lu Ye,” Sheng Churan urged Zhong Qin as they reached the hallway. “Tell him we’ve got Bai Xunyin here. Make sure he brings Yu Luoyin.”

Now Bai Xunyin understood Sheng Churan’s intention.

She wanted to use Bai Xunyin to lure Lu Ye and his friends, especially Yu Luoyin, over.

But what did she have to do with Lu Ye? Bai Xunyin, somewhat exasperated, yanked her arm free from Sheng Churan’s grip—caught off guard, Sheng Churan staggered back a couple of steps.

“What are you doing?” Sheng Churan snapped.

Ignoring her, Bai Xunyin returned to the classroom, grabbed her bag, and prepared to leave.

“Hey, I’m talking to you. You can’t leave!” Sheng Churan, spoiled and irritable, blocked Bai Xunyin’s path with Zhong Qin, insisting, “If you leave, Lu Ye won’t come.”

...

Bai Xunyin found this particularly amusing.

She squeezed her palm lightly, then pulled out her phone and typed a message, which she showed to Sheng Churan: [Lu Ye has nothing to do with me. He doesn’t like me. Using me to get him and his friends to come over is useless.]

From what Bai Xunyin had observed, Lu Ye was a proud and self-respecting boy who didn’t actually have feelings for her. He had made things clear the last time they talked, so he definitely wouldn’t come because of her—let alone bring Yu Luoyin along. Sheng Churan’s actions were completely unnecessary.

But Sheng Churan didn’t believe her and continued to block Bai Xunyin’s way, refusing to let her leave.

Desperate to get close to Yu Luoyin after so long without an opportunity, Sheng Churan had become frantic, even going to his class after school and failing to find him. She was throwing everything at the wall, hoping something would stick.

However, Bai Xunyin had no desire to be Sheng Churan’s tool for her little romantic schemes.

Ignoring the pain from the scratches and the sharp stabs from their long nails, Bai Xunyin used all her strength to break free from Sheng Churan and Zhong Qin’s hold and escaped.

She sprinted down the stairs at full speed, practically a blur in her haste to leave the school grounds. Sheng Churan’s frustrated shouts echoed behind her, “Bai Xunyin! You just wait!”

Bai Xunyin knew this meant she had thoroughly offended Sheng Churan once again. She could almost predict that the coming days in class would be even tougher—Sheng Churan would certainly make things more difficult for her. But right now, Bai Xunyin didn’t care. She just didn’t want to stay there any longer.

Her mind was a chaotic mess, like a ball of yarn unraveled by a cat’s paw. Fearing that Sheng Churan might chase after her, she ran without looking back, nearly colliding with someone.

Almost.

Bai Xunyin nearly stepped on the person’s white sneakers.

The scent of sandalwood lingered around him, and his long fingers gently steadied her, then politely stepped aside to let her stand properly.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Bai Xunyin wanted to apologize. As she lifted her head, she met a pair of dark eyes.

They were like black onyx, with star-like sparkles inside—crystal clear.

It was Yu Luoyin. Bai Xunyin recognized his face but remembered his eyes even more vividly.

Yu Luoyin spoke softly, his deep voice pleasant, “Are you alright?”

Caught off guard, Bai Xunyin stepped back a couple of steps, biting her lip. She took out her phone and typed ‘I’m fine, thank you’ in the memo app to show Yu Luoyin.

The last two times he had spoken to her, she had been a bit rude.

This time, she couldn’t act like that again—even if she couldn’t speak, she had to express her gratitude.

Yu Luoyin didn’t seem surprised by her typing. His gaze followed her phone to her slender, fair fingers, then to her arms, which were marked with fresh scratches and nail marks.

His eyes darkened.

He gently touched one of the scratches on her arm, his voice turning cold, “What happened?”

Bai Xunyin flinched, instinctively pulling her arm back.

The sudden contact made her ears flush slightly red. Under Yu Luoyin’s probing gaze, Bai Xunyin shook her head.

Then she nodded slightly to him before turning to leave.

The way she ran off in her school uniform reminded Yu Luoyin of the two times he had asked for her name and she had run away.

Yu Luoyin watched Bai Xunyin’s slim figure for a few seconds before slowly withdrawing his gaze, a playful smile tugging at his lips. He had come here because of the ‘information’ from Lu Ye, but the girl had run away.

So what was the point of staying?

Yu Luoyin chuckled and turned to leave, his tall figure striding away confidently.

That evening, the rare sunny weather in Linlan was pleasant.

The gentle evening breeze carried a hint of heat. After running some distance and finally stopping, Bai Xunyin felt slightly breathless from the warmth.

Just then, Amo’s call came through, snapping Bai Xunyin out of her daze. She answered the call, and Amo’s bright, cheerful voice filled her ears—

“Yinyin, I’ve finished my transfer paperwork! My dad said I can join your class next semester!”

“Your summer vacation starts in about half a month, right? I’ll be back in Linlan by then. Hehe.”

Unable to speak, Bai Xunyin could only smile on her end of the call.

The frustration from earlier began to fade away as her friend’s cheerful words brought a sense of calm. She suddenly felt like she might have been a bit overheated earlier—Linlan’s weather in June was the hottest.

So Yu Luoyin’s touch wasn’t something she imagined.

It was really just the heat, almost like burning.

Amo, Bai Xunyin mouthed silently, come back soon.

She missed her.

Amo and Bai Xunyin had been in the same school since elementary, even for the first semester of high school.

With Amo around, Bai Xunyin, who had recently lost her voice and was struggling to adapt, found high school life a bit easier to bear.

But Amo’s parents were businesspeople and moved to a nearby city two years ago to expand their company, taking Amo with them. The two friends had to part ways, staying in touch through WeChat and meeting during long holidays.

Now that Amo’s parents were back in Linlan, Amo could return to their high school.

Thinking about being in the same class with Amo again next semester, Bai Xunyin felt a rare surge of energy.

After hanging up, she sent Amo a message: [Waiting for you.]

With something to look forward to, the next half month flew by, bringing them to the brink of summer vacation.

The summer break at the end of the second year of high school is often considered the last bit of ‘paradise’ for students before the grueling journey of the third year begins.

There is a tradition in the school where, before the holidays, students in their second year of high school have to move their desks, chairs, and study materials to another building.

This building, located in the eastern part of the school and somewhat isolated, is specifically designated as the "battlefield" for third-year students.

However, students have to move their desks and chairs themselves, as the school does not assist with this.

Unfortunately, on the day of the move, it started to rain heavily in Linlan, not just a drizzle, but enough to drench anyone who stepped outside.

Moving things in this weather was truly a torment.

Bai Xunyin looked at the rain pouring outside the window, furrowing her brows in worry.

In such situations, other girls would usually ask some male classmates for help, holding an umbrella and coordinating the "teamwork" of moving things.

But Bai Xunyin had no one to ask.

She felt a bit embarrassed to ask for help, and even when one or two boys offered, they were called away by the girls around Sheng Chu Nian.

The helpful boys were in short supply and high demand.

Bai Xunyin sighed, her moist eyes filled with a misty layer of sorrow. After a while, she held up an umbrella with one hand and tried to lift the chair with the other.

Stepping out from under the shelter, she started to move her things to the other building.

After just a few steps, her pants were already soaked, and her hand was so slippery she could barely hold onto the chair.

Bai Xunyin gritted her teeth, thinking she could take a shower and some cold medicine later; she just needed to move her things first. She put away the umbrella and used both hands to carry the chair.

After a long stretch, halfway through, her hair was completely drenched, the black strands sticking to her pale face, and rainwater blurred her vision.

Bai Xunyin put down the chair to catch her breath, using the back of her hand to wipe the rain from her face.

The rain was getting heavier, and she couldn't delay any longer.

Just as she was about to lift the chair again and make a final push to the building, someone pressed her shoulder.

It was a large, slender hand, pale and marked with faint veins.

A shadow fell over Bai Xunyin's head; it was an umbrella.

Amid the wind and rain, someone unexpectedly shielded her in this small corner.

Startled, Bai Xunyin turned her head and saw the well-defined, delicate side profile of Yu Luoyin.

His face was expressionless as he held the umbrella over her with one hand and effortlessly lifted the wooden chair with the other, moving his hand from Bai Xunyin's shoulder to the chair.

Sometimes, the difference in strength between girls and boys was undeniable.

"I'll help you," he said calmly, gesturing with his eyes for Bai Xunyin to walk ahead.

His demeanor was calm and composed, in stark contrast to the girl's fluster.

"Is that okay?" Seeing that Bai Xunyin wasn't moving, Yu Luoyin chuckled, handing her the umbrella. "Well, follow the others' example and hold the umbrella for me."

Other girls were usually coquettishly asking boys for help and holding the umbrella for them.

But she was silly, struggling on her own.

Bai Xunyin's pale face turned a shade of pink. After a moment's hesitation, she took the umbrella from Yu Luoyin, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against his.

Amid the wind and rain, she could barely hear Yu Luoyin's voice clearly, yet the pounding of her own heart was unmistakable.

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