Yu Xiaoying walked over unsteadily. Jun Feng looked surprised at her pale face. “Are you… okay?”
“Mm.” She gave him a transparent smile. “Let’s go back.”
Nana watched her worriedly. Throughout the journey, she remained silent. “We’re here…” she said, afraid Yu Xiaoying would collapse.
“Finally…” Yu Xiaoying sighed softly before collapsing onto the floor.
“Xiaoying! Xiaoying!”
Yu Xiaoying lay in bed, her head aching and throat dry.
“You’re awake?” A pair of cool hands touched her forehead.
“So hot!” Qin Na exclaimed.
“Please, lower your voice,” Yu Xiaoying weakly smiled. “I’m fine, just need some rest.”
“But you’re burning up!” Qin Na said, concern washing over her.
Yu Xiaoying replied with a smile, “Being sick is good; I won’t have the energy to think about things… I’ll rest a bit.”
Yu Xiaoying closed her eyes…
One hour passed, then two, and finally three.
Qin Na observed her quietly. Yu Xiaoying’s face was flushed, her eyelashes heavy, and her lips pale. She seemed to be in a deep sleep.
A worrying thought crossed Qin Na’s mind. She hurriedly found a thermometer and placed it under Yu Xiaoying’s arm. Her body was alarmingly hot!
39.8 degrees!
Qin Na was stunned. High fever! What should she do? Her mind raced.
“Wake up! We’re going to the hospital!” she urged, shaking Yu Xiaoying gently.
Yu Xiaoying opened her eyes slightly and waved her away. “Don’t shake me, I’m dizzy,” she said weakly.
What to do? Qin Na anxiously paced the room. Seeing Yu Xiaoying in bed, she bit her lip and dashed out.
The campus, usually bustling, was eerily quiet under the sun. Cicadas chirped incessantly.
The sun was scorching, and Qin Na was drenched in sweat. Suddenly, her eyes lit up as she spotted several student union boys in the distance. Rushing over, she grabbed one. “Classmate! Please help! Xiaoying is sick…”
While the boy remained dazed, a tall figure, Song Chu, ran towards Yu Xiaoying’s apartment.
“Song Chu, wait for me!”
Song Chu stood beside the bed, looking at Yu Xiaoying, who lay quietly. This was the second time he had stood by her bed, leaving him somewhat dazed.
Qin Na followed, stomping her foot. “Stop spacing out! Take her to the hospital!”
Qin Na tried to help Yu Xiaoying onto Song Chu’s back, but Yu Xiaoying resisted, sliding down again. All three were exhausted from the heat.
Sitting on the floor, Yu Xiaoying rasped, “Stop bothering me. Everyone get out. I want to rest!”
Furious, Song Chu forcibly picked her up. Yu Xiaoying struggled and shouted, “Put me down!” Ignoring her, he pressed down her resisting arms. As she tried to escape, he held her tightly, and eventually, she ran out of strength, biting her lip stubbornly.
The heat from her body transferred to his, causing a slight ache in his heart. Holding her felt like holding a radiator in summer.
“Having a high fever and still able to resist—good stamina!”
Yu Xiaoao glared at him.
“Call a car!” Song Chu ordered Qin Na, who was standing in a daze.
Hospital…
Yu Xiaoao lay there, with liquid dripping. Jun Feng, Dad, Mom, Na Na… Song Chu had already left.
She weakly parted her lips, “You can all go out, I want to rest. I’m so tired…”
They silently withdrew, understanding her. Tears quietly fell onto the snow-white pillowcase.
“Ji Ran, I miss you so much, what should I do…”
Yu Xiaoao had been daydreaming lately, often standing by the window for long periods, sometimes until darkness enveloped her room.
Qin Na noticed her lonely vigil but hesitated to speak. Whenever they passed Lin Yichen and Song Chu on campus, Yu Xiaoao walked by with a calm expression, as if she didn’t know them. Song Chu didn’t spare her a glance, and everything felt eerily calm.
“How could this be…” Even Qin Na, usually oblivious, couldn’t help but sigh.
Night…
It wasn’t as hot.
School was on break, with only a few people scattered around campus. Yu Xiaoao occasionally returned, but mostly stayed at school, avoiding her parents’ worried looks.
Her heart was too heavy to bear.
Sitting on a bench, looking at the stars, she thought,
“Ji Ran, how are you? Now that you’re gone, I realize how much I miss you. Would the sky in a foreign country also have such beautiful stars? Are you missing me too?”
Phone rings.
“Hello?”
“Xiaoao! Come to MIX!” Qin Na’s excited voice came through, loud music in the background.
“Don’t refuse, come. Jun Feng is here too, and… just relax a bit.”
“Okay.” The words of refusal turned into agreement. Yu Xiaoao looked at the sky.
MIX bar. Dim lights. Intense music. Decadent men and women.
Yu Xiaoao, dressed in white, passed through the crowd like a spirit in chaos. Her eyes sparkled in the wild light, her lips a seductive cherry red, and her ethereal smile was breathtakingly beautiful.
Jun Feng and Na Na smiled at her as she joined them.
Giving them a reassuring smile, she teased Jun Feng, “Look, I’m not dead yet.”
Jun Feng stroked her hair, and she rubbed against him like a kitten.
She had become much more obedient.
Yu Xiaoao and Na Na laughed, tasting sweet drinks while the bartender smiled at them.
“Hey!” A hand landed on Jun Feng’s shoulder.
“Oh!” Jun Feng smiled.
Yu Xiaoao and Qin Na turned to look, stunned by a muscular man resembling a society boss, followed by lackeys, and a girl beside him with striking cool eyes that sparkled with charm. Her barely-covered chest heaved as she stared directly at Yu Xiaoao and Qin Na.
Inside the MIX bar, beneath dim, ambiguous lighting, Lin Yichen and Yu Xiaoao locked eyes. Lin Yichen’s icy expression contrasted with the atmosphere.
“This is my little baby,” the big brother laughed, kissing Lin Yichen, who looked shocked.
Jun Feng laughed, followed by the big brother, while Lin Yichen’s expression grew awkward. Yu Xiaoao’s laughter turned into pure mockery.
The big brother then pulled Lin Yichen away, leaving Qin Na in shock.
“Oh my God!” she exclaimed, “Is this really Lin Yichen? The gentle, delicate Lin Yichen?”
Yu Xiaoao’s expression turned dark, complex emotions crossing her face.
“Should we tell Song Chu?” Qin Na asked cautiously.
“Don’t touch her!” Yu Xiaoao insisted, staring intently at Qin Na. “This girl is more complicated than I imagined.”
Qin Na obediently fell silent.
Yu Xiaoao turned her head, watching the men and women lost in their drunken dreams on the dance floor.
Jun Feng walked over, grabbed her shoulders, and looked her directly in the eyes. “No matter what happens, your brother will always be your backing.”
“Okay! Help me investigate someone…”
Looking at the materials in her hand, Yu Xiaoye was shocked. What kind of girl was this? She was Lin Yichen, a dark night rose from an unfamiliar circle, her beauty captivating many admirers. At school, she was pure and touching; at MIX, she was charming and seductive.
Yu Xiaoye stood by the window for a long time, hesitating, her fingers gripping the phone tightly. Finally, she whispered, “Is this Song Chu? I… have something to say to you.” Her voice faded into the summer night.
In the familiar small grove, Song Chu watched the silent Yu Xiaoye intently. “Do you know Lin Yichen?”
His eyes darkened as he coldly asked, “How much do you know about her?”
“She’s not what you imagine…” Yu Xiaoye chose her words carefully.
“Why are you doing this?” Yu Xiaoye looked at him in surprise.
“She’s a simple girl, stop slandering her. She told me everything that happened at MIX,” his icy words painfully stabbed Yu Xiaoye. “How did you become like this? What are your intentions?”
Intentions?
Yu Xiaoye laughed softly, her eyes slightly squinting. “What do you know?”
“I know that I still like you and would do anything for you! But Yichen is truly pitiful. You are strong and proud, but she is fragile,” Song Chu said, looking at her with pain.
