Chapter 30

Chapter 30

After uttering those words, she hardly dared to glance at Qin Si's expression.

She had known Qin Si since childhood and understood how proud and sensitive he could be, especially given the nature of their relationship.

Yet, the first time he took the initiative to invite her, she had rebuffed him just like that.

It was the closest they had ever been to each other.

He could clearly see the girl's pale side profile, her long eyelashes wet with tears. She had beautiful eyes, both innocent and enchanting. When she looked at someone with those dewy eyes, she resembled a bud adorned with morning dew, even her cheeks were damp.

She might not even realize that tears had already begun to fall.

"Don't cry," he said, his voice slightly hoarse.

Qin Si's fingers were quite cold, although it was unclear whether it was due to the extended time spent on the rooftop or if he naturally had a lower body temperature.

The boy's slender, well-defined fingers gently approached her.

Lu Nian looked up at him naively, her face tilted upwards and lips slightly parted.

A tentative approach that met no rejection.

Thus, he held her wet little face like that, silently wiping away her tears, one drop at a time.

If she doesn't want to go, then so be it.

He didn't want to force her into anything.

Just as long as she stops crying.

Lu Nian's tears finally ceased, and the cool touch that lingered on her cheek from his fingertips gradually withdrew.

The rooftop door closed.

The sunset began its slow descent in the west.

Lu Nian still stood stunned on the rooftop, the areas of her cheek he had touched felt burning hot.

As the sun set, she walked home with heavy steps.

Just as she stepped out of the school gates, she noticed a familiar license plate parked by the roadside.

The Lu family car was parked by the road, and upon seeing her, Lu Yang dashed out of the car, saying anxiously, "Why haven't you been answering our calls? Your classmate said you went to the infirmary, but you've been missing for a while. Your uncle is extremely worried."

She brushed off Lu Yang's hand, "I'm not feeling well, can you take me home?"

Lu Yang noticed her odd demeanor.

"Nian Nian, where have you just been?" he asked nervously, "You weren't bullied, were you?"

Lu Nian shook her head, unwilling to utter a single word.

It was her time of the month and she was already feeling unwell lately. Now, with her spirits extremely low, she felt she didn't even have the energy to speak.

Naturally, today's plan to visit Lu Zhihong was canceled.

Lu Yang directly escorted Lu Nian back to the Lu residence.

"Nian Nian? What happened?" Miao Miao was startled by her haggard appearance.

Lu Nian spoke softly, "It's nothing, just my period. Miao Miao, do we still have the painkillers I usually take?"

"Yes, we do." Miao Miao breathed a sigh of relief, but seeing Lu Nian's state, she couldn't help but worry, "It seems quite severe, should we call a doctor to check on you?"

Lu Nian shook her head, "I'll be fine after some rest. Uncle Zhang has already contacted the school and arranged a day off for me."

Miao Miao replied, "Alright, I'll go to the kitchen and make some porridge for you."

Miao Miao brought the medicine over.

Lu Nian took the medication and drank some water.

"I'm going to rest for a bit now," she told Miao Miao, "Please don't turn off the lights."

Miao Miao acknowledged with a "Okay."

She retreated softly, closing the door behind her.

Silence enveloped the room.

"I wanted to go..." She sniffled, her gaze fixed on the ceiling.

If it were possible to live unrestrained, to lead a life of true freedom where every action is guided by one’s own desires...

But there's no way.

She contemplated that perhaps she could wait until he finished his exams, and then she would seek him out to apologize, laying all matters out in the open.

Qin Si surely wouldn't mind.

She consoled herself.

Because, throughout their upbringing, even though Qin Si often got angry with her and seldom had kind words to say, he had never held a grudge against her, not even once.

Although his words were harsh at times, in reality, he had always been... one might even say, gentle towards her.

She felt fragile, yet strangely devoid of sleepiness.

With Lu Zhihong not at home, she got up, quietly retrieved her tablet, and logged into "Shanghai Rabbit."

She desperately wanted to paint now, yearning for an outlet to express her mood.

The account "Encounter Deer" had already garnered a group of followers.

Although Lu Nian mostly just posted her drawings and nothing else, never revealing any real-world information about herself.

Almost half a month had passed since she last logged in, and now, a plethora of unread notifications awaited her.

"Madam hasn't posted new artwork in a while!"

"www We miss our little brother dearly."

"Madam, would you consider collaborations?"

All were clamoring for new artwork, showering praises on her beautiful drawings. There were even solicitations for collaborations, offering prices that took Lu Nian aback. However, she was not in need of money and had absolutely no time to take on commissions, so she could only decline politely.

Lu Nian browsed through her previous drawings.

Lately, it seemed all her artworks featured him.

She grabbed her tablet, sat up from the bed, and draped a piece of clothing over herself.

Whenever her emotions were turbulent, seeking an outlet, she would crave the solace of her paintbrush.

Slowly crafting the composition, lines began to gradually emerge.

The rooftop bathed in the glow of the setting sun.

The young man was slightly bent over, she illustrated him with an open collar, revealing a segment of his slender, delicate collarbone. His skin was pale, always resembling a piece of jade devoid of warmth.

Yet she noticed, beneath his collar, a hint of a light red hue was faintly visible. Lu Nian couldn't get a clear view as he shifted, consequently concealing it once again.

Lu Nian paused, her hand hovering momentarily before she diverted her gaze, continuing to sketch his hand.

The sleeves of his shirt were casually rolled up to his elbows, showcasing well-defined wrists, all basked in the warm hues of the setting sun.

Backgrounds had always been her forte, handled with a blur technique, utilizing a watercolor approach.

... Sketching lines and adding colors, she didn't feel the slightest bit weary, continuing to draw persistently until it was finally complete,

Uploading the picture.

But this time, she added a sentence.

"I rejected the sunset."

It wasn't long since the update, and being late into the night after drawing for so long, Lu Nian felt a throbbing headache. She got up to get some water from the dispenser, noticing that her lower abdomen wasn't as painful anymore.

After dozing off for a while, she picked up her phone and logged into HaiTu, only to be startled by the notifications that greeted her.

It was evidently very late already.

"wwww Although there's no face shown, this time the young man in the picture seems exceptionally handsome."

"Adoring the collarbone, adoring the fingers."

"This time it's even in a modern style, is it a college parody?!"

"Wasn't it mentioned that the young man has a real-life model? Could it be a high school student?"

"The artist added a note this time, what does 'rejecting the sunset' mean? Could it be that the artist got rejected by their crush?"

"The guess above is incorrect, the subject clearly is 'I rejected,' so did the artist reject the young man?"

"Why is everyone talking about rejection? The atmosphere seems quite good though."

It was clearly just one picture, one line of text.

Lu Nian stared at the swirling discussions, her finger hesitating over the delete key for a long time, yet she couldn't bring herself to press it in the end.

Even though none of them hit the mark of truth.

But well, let it be.

She had already blurred out all details, ensuring no personal information was leaked.

This remained her sole sanctuary, where she could express her emotions freely and uninhibitedly.

The next day, Lu Nian didn't come to school.

At the end of school, Zhao Yayuan was busy sending a text message, her head bowed.

Chen Mo hurried up from behind, "Boss, have you seen the poster about the oath-taking ceremony the other day?"

Zhao Yayuan didn't look up, "What poster?"

"It's about that incident with the senior in twelfth grade. It's all been deleted now."

Zhao Yayuan, "What does it have to do with me?"

"No, listen." Chen Mo adjusted his backpack and lowered his voice, "I heard a little rumor, a really exclusive tidbit that hardly anyone knows about."

Zhao Yayuan was growing impatient, "If you have something to say, spit it out."

"Well, word is, the girl mentioned in that post, the one who's receiving financial support, is supposedly your rumored school belle girlfriend," Chen Mo divulged, "You see, the post was deleted so quickly afterward..."

Zhao Yayuan, "Lu Nian?"

Lu Nian was undeniably beautiful, a fact discernible to anyone with eyes. She excelled academically and was multitalented. Moreover, she was the sole heir of Lu Zhihong, the young miss of the Lu family. This series of background attributes made her extraordinarily outstanding wherever she went.

Lu Nian originally had a few friends due to her introverted nature. Additionally, the watchful eyes of Lu Yang and Lu Zhihong limited her social interactions. Apart from necessary socializing, she had only a handful of friends, even fewer of the opposite sex, practically none.

Only the Zhao siblings were somewhat closer to her.

Privately, many referred to her as an inaccessible blossom on a high peak.

A fierce energy filled Zhao Yayuan's refined features, "Go tell those gossipmongers to fuck off."

"If anyone spreads rumors again, let me know. I'll confront them face to face."

"It really isn't true?" Chen Mo asked hesitantly,

The rumors were detailed and seemed vivid, with quite a few specificities.

Zhao Yayuan looked up, "You all know better than me?"

Despite his handsome young face, he had a notably bad temper, rebellious and brash, capable of stirring up all sorts of trouble. Given his powerful background, not many dared to provoke him.

Knowing about his bad temper, Chen Mo quickly raised his hands, "Got it, I understood. I'll go dispel the rumors first thing tomorrow, officially debunking them with Zhao Bro's personal verification."

Zhao Yayuan gave him a pat on the back, "Get lost, you."

With a playful and grinning face, Chen Mo asked again, "Is the school belle really that aloof? How do you guys communicate normally?"

Zhao Yayuan, "Just regular communication."

Chen Mo chuckled, "Can you reveal to what extent things have progressed? Have you kissed?"

Zhao Yayuan, "..."

Chen Mo, "Alright, alright, young master, I got the message, I'll take my leave now."

After running halfway, he doubled back, giggling, "Going to play basketball tonight?"

Zhao Yayuan responded, "No, exams are nearing, I need to go home and study."

Chen Mo, "You actually need to study?"

Zhao Yayuan remarked, "How could I not need to? Applying for schools abroad requires taking exams, right? I won't stand a chance without having anything on my record."

The Zhao Residence.

Upon returning home, he was unexpectedly greeted by the sight of Zhao Tingyuan's sports car.

"Brother?" As he entered, he indeed found Zhao Tingyuan in the living room. "What brings you home today?"

"I came back to retrieve some documents," Zhao Tingyuan replied, "and to check on my younger brother while I'm at it."

Zhao Yayuan remarked, "There's nothing much to see here."

"Mother was ecstatic to see the improvement in your grades, and with your adulthood coming up next year, she plans to gift you something substantial," Zhao Tingyuan continued, "A house or a car? You get to choose."

Zhao Yayuan slumped onto the sofa, muttering, "Whatever."

"You could just ask them to come a bit later."

From childhood, Zhao Yayuan was unafraid of the heavens or the earth, but he feared his mother greatly.

Now that he had grown up and was considerably healthier than before, Jiang Wenying still treated him as though he were a four-year-old child.

"Bro, if you're heading back to campus now, give me a lift," he said to Zhao Tingyuan.

"Where to?"

"The Lu residence."

Lu Nian was recuperating at home, largely keeping to herself and not venturing out.

When Zhao Yayuan arrived, Lu Yang happened to be at the estate and came out to greet him.

Lu Yang courteously said, "Nian Nian is feeling somewhat unwell and is resting in her room at the moment. Perhaps you could visit at another time?"

Zhao Yayuan responded, "I am aware."

"The reason I came is that she's not feeling well," he said, "If she were perfectly fine, would there be a need for me to visit?"

Lu Yang's expression turned somber.

Truth be told, he was reluctant to let Zhao Yayuan see Lu Nian, having harbored a dislike for him since their first encounter.

However, Zhao Yayuan was not someone he could afford to offend, nor did he have the capacity to prevent him from interacting with Lu Nian.

If he aspired to secure a favorable position within the Lu corporation in the future, appeasing Zhao Yayuan was an unavoidable necessity.

Lu Nian was lying in bed, appearing rather frail and sickly.

Entering the room and ensuring she wasn't asleep, Zhao Yayuan asked, "What's ailing you this time?"

Recognizing him, Lu Nian was startled, "Who allowed you in?"

She is a young lady; how could they just allow a young man to enter her bedroom while she was asleep?

Moreover, she was lying there with her hair not properly combed, still dressed in her pajamas.

How could she present herself like this to another male?

"I am not an outsider, after all," Zhao Yayuan said.

Furious, Lu Nian grabbed a cushion from the bed and threw it at him, "Get out quickly, I haven't changed yet."

Zhao Yayuan caught the cushion effortlessly, "Then change, I will wait for you outside."

In reality, these were mere words to appease him; Lu Nian had no intention of meeting him outside.

The young man seemed to see through her, his thin lips curled up slightly and his peach blossom eyes squinted slightly, "If you don't come out, I'll have no choice but to come in."

"Or would you prefer I stay here and accompany you in sleep?" he asked, his peach blossom eyes shimmering with mirth, his tone languid and teasing.

"Rascal," Lu Nian almost hurled a pillow at him in anger.

But she had no choice; furthermore, she hadn't eaten much in the past two days. After the menstrual cramps subsided, she realized she was quite hungry and indeed needed to get up to eat something.

Zhao Yayuan inquired, "What happened to you now?"

The girl's eyelids were slightly swollen, making her large eyes appear even more clear and radiant. Her long hair draped over her slender, pale shoulders, portraying a pitiable image.

Without lifting her head, Lu Nian responded while eating, "Stomach ache."

"Menstrual cramps?" Zhao Yayuan pressed, "Or is there something else?"

Lu Nian remained silent.

"Let me guess, did you face another setback with that someone?" The young man's slender fingers idly played with the tassels hanging from the dining tablecloth, "Chasing after a man unsuccessfully, hence the swollen eyes from crying?"

Lu Nian paused her eating, glaring at him with resentment.

"Did I guess right?"

Propping up his chin, Zhao Yayuan's peach blossom eyes curved, he said with a smile, "I told you before, he is not into you, stop fantasizing."

"None of your business," retorted Lu Nian.

She couldn't even bother to refute him anymore.

"You two have no future together," Zhao Yayuan stretched lazily, "Your family won't approve, and any self-respecting man wouldn't settle for you. From what I see, he is not the type to be content with living off someone."

"You might as well let him go," Zhao Yayuan continued, "He will be taking the college entrance exam soon, and will definitely leave Ancheng. He only has a few more months here. With his abilities, he will certainly lead a good life outside."

Lu Nian remained silent, not uttering a word.

Her eyes held a haze of confusion.

What exactly did she desire? Wasn't her original intent simply to wish for Qin Si's well-being?

Logically speaking, he hadn't strayed off the path, and had actively severed ties with the Lu family. Given his capabilities, he was bound to have a bright future ahead. Yet here she was, attempting to drag him back into the morass that was the Lu family.

Was she being selfish?

The second mock exams for the twelfth graders had already commenced.

The college entrance exams were only two months away.

Ming Ge had been lying in the hospital for several months, living the life of a relaxed layabout, free from all responsibilities, but that period was finally coming to an end.

"I can finally be discharged tomorrow," Ming Ge exclaimed, "Damn, I feel like I've been lying here long enough to grow mold on my bones."

He asked the young man beside him, "I'm planning a celebration party tomorrow. Are you staying at the bar or going home?"

Qin Si replied, "Going home."

Ming Ge scrutinized him, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "Has your mood been down lately? Your face seems even more sullen than usual."

Qin Si didn't respond.

He usually maintained a cool and detached demeanor, seldom showing emotions on his face.

"I told you before, you don't need to look after me," Ming Ge said, "I could have checked myself into the hospital, and the folks at the bar can handle things there."

Qin Si retorted, "What, should I just wait for you to die at some roadside, and then witness your shabby bar closing down?"

Ming Ge, "..."

"Anyway," Ming Ge suddenly stated, "in the future, unless necessary, you don't need to help me out. At least for the next two months. We are just grassroots individuals, barely educated, braving the world until we hit thirty without even a warm bed to go home to."

"You're different from us," he continued, "You're intelligent. You must focus on your studies, excel in the exams, and later on, become... a person of great stature."

Ming Ge wasn't particularly educated, nor well-versed in formal affairs, so he could only summarize potential success as becoming a 'person of great stature.'

The young man didn't interrupt or contradict Ming Ge's sudden impassioned monologue.

He let Ming Ge continue speaking while he packed up his belongings in the hospital room.

"As for the girl you have feelings for, you should pursue her yourself," Ming Ge advised, "Assuming she reciprocates your feelings, there isn't much left to discuss. If not, well... we ought to persist in our pursuit, isn't love often won through perseverance?"

"Actually, we are quite the catch, intelligent, handsome, well-built, though perhaps a bit sharp-tongued, but we do care deeply..."

Qin Si did not let him finish that sentence. He hoisted his single-strap bag onto his shoulder, remarking indifferently, "I've completed the discharge procedures for you. I'm leaving now."

The door to the hospital room had already been shut, keeping Ming Ge's incessant chatter confined within.

He walked home alone.

The house was eerily empty, with no lights on.

He prepared a simple meal nonchalantly. After finishing, he cleaned up, took a bath, and then sent all the accounts from the shop over the past few months to Ming Ge, including hospitalization documents and recovery period precautions.

He wasn't sure if Ming Ge could comprehend them.

However, he didn't have the energy to worry about it now.

The young man, with wet hair, sat down at the table, pulling out test papers from his backpack.

This was the most stressful period he had ever experienced. Not just the physical exhaustion, but also the weight of various matters bearing down on him - choices about the future, matters concerning the Lu family... and about her.

After that day, he hadn't seen Lu Nian again.

Under the lamp's glow, the young man's facial features appeared even more refined and handsome. His freshly washed black hair was wet at the tips, with droplets of water tracing down his elongated neck, flowing slowly along his collarbone and disappearing into deeper realms.

...He sat with eyes closed, his expression indifferent, yet his thin lips were tightly pressed together. His fair skin made the flush that surged onto his cheeks and behind his ears especially noticeable.

The young man opened the locked room; everything inside remained unchanged, preserving the exact state of that day, even the small creases on the bedsheets remained intact.

He quietly closed the door.

Then, the light was extinguished, plunging everything into darkness.

...

Time passed slowly, the chill of spring had completely faded, giving way to the tentative spread of summer warmth.

Lu Nian recovered and returned to school.

Everything seemed no different from before; even Lu Zhihong had been discharged from the hospital.

The results of the second mock tests were released.

Lu Nian secretly went alone to check the honor roll, where that familiar name still held the first position.

She let out a huge sigh of relief.

It seemed, he wasn't affected.

Just a little over a month left, as long as this month passed smoothly.

"He will leave Ancheng."

Zhao Ya's words suddenly echoed in her mind.

Lu Nian pursed her lips, her spirits gradually sinking.

People are inherently selfish, she mused. Although aware that Qin Si would have a brighter future ahead, the news of his imminent departure, possibly never to return, couldn't possibly be described as "good" news for her.

They had grown up together since they were children, playing the roles of childhood sweethearts. Except for those tumultuous two years, they might not have kept in touch constantly, but she always knew that he was just around the corner, just a phone call away, rather than separated by thousands of miles.

If she couldn't catch up academically and was forced to go abroad in the future, the distance between them would be not just thousands of miles, but an entire ocean apart.

"Nian Nian, Nian Nian," Tian Yue called her worriedly.

Lu Nian snapped back to reality, "Oh."

"You've been zoning out a lot lately," Tian Yue remarked, "Are you still feeling unwell?"

Lu Nian shook her head, "No."

"Then hurry up," Tian Yue urged, "Didn't you pledge to improve your rank by at least fifty places by the end of term?"

The two of them were walking to buy bubble tea.

Lu Nian muttered, "Seems a bit hard, I'm considering lowering it to 30 ranks..."

"No changes allowed! I've taken note," Tian Yue boasted proudly, "Heh, if you fail, Miss Lu will be treating me to bubble tea all summer."

Lu Nian, "..."

The two young girls chatted as they crossed the campus.

Both were dressed in the school's spring uniform, which accentuated their slender legs, emanating an aura of youthful vitality.

The campus was bustling with people coming and going. A tall young man brushed past them.

While Tian Yue continued her chirpy conversation, Lu Nian froze in her tracks.

In the past, whenever she encountered Qin Si on campus, they would mutually pretend not to know each other, and now...

Although still feigning ignorance, watching his receding figure filled her with an overwhelming sense of loss.

She wondered if Qin Si would ever forgive her.

Her mind was a whirlpool of chaotic thoughts.

"Nian Nian..." Tian Yue tugged at her sleeve.

The shadow drew closer.

Quietly nestled in his palm was a rabbit-themed pen, a sight too familiar.

Lu Nian pat her pocket and realized it must have been her pen; she had unknowingly pocketed it after finishing her assignment. Now her pocket was empty.