Chapter 17 - IP Chapter 17
Incurable Pain | Chapter 17
As soon as Yu Luoyin’s speech as the representative of the senior class ended, he hastened his pace and stepped down from the stage.
He dragged his school uniform jacket and threw it to Zhou Xin, who was responsible for technical concerns and was standing nearby. He then hurriedly dashed away from behind the stage.
During this time, Gu Yuan had been speaking to various leaders from the stage. Upon seeing Yu Luoyin’s shadow, she instinctively called out, “Luoyin!”
However, Yu Luoyin didn’t even acknowledge her and didn’t look back.
…
Gu Yuan suddenly felt somewhat embarrassed, but she still maintained her calm smile. She tidied her stray hair behind her ear with her fingers, radiating elegance and charm.
“Dean Gu.”
The principal standing beside her observed the scene and awkwardly chimed in, “He’s quite far away, Luoyin might not have heard you just now.”
“Whether he heard or not, he wouldn’t pay attention to me.”
Gu Yuan was casual about it and said with a direct smile, “This child has been spoiled by me. He’s upset with me lately. I’m sorry if this caused you all any trouble.”
Several principals and directors immediately echoed in agreement.
“Not at all, having Dean Gu come to speak at our oath-taking ceremony is our honor.”
“Indeed, you managed to spare time for a visit despite your busy schedule. It’s all because of the children.”
“Many students in our school have attended Dean Gu’s lectures…”
…
Amidst the mutual flattery, Gu Yuan maintained a faint smile, poised and graceful, just as she appeared during her lectures and open classes.
The thing that annoyed Yu Luoyin the most was this aspect of her – he felt like his mother was putting on airs.
Therefore, after the student’s speech concluded, Yu Luoyin would hastily leave the vicinity of the stage, avoiding being associated with the label of “Gu Yuan’s son” and being forced into a display of false politeness.
He took off his school uniform, leaving only a simple white T-shirt, and amidst the gazes of the crowd, he ran towards the seating area. He unerringly ran to where Bai Xunyin was.
The parents wouldn’t forget, of course.
They could all recognize Yu Luoyin as the young man who had just spoken on stage. Their eyes all lit up simultaneously, radiating a halo of “someone else’s child.”
This included Ji Huiying. She was even taken aback by his entrance. She hastily pulled Bai Xunyin to the side and whispered, “Yinyin, look, isn’t that the outstanding student from your school?”
Bai Xunyin turned her head and met Yu Luoyin’s deep eyes. She was so startled that she nearly stood up. However, she suppressed the remaining traces of reason and stared at him blankly.
She looked at the slightly out-of-breath Yu Luoyin, who had run from the stage.
He leaned down and spoke to her ear. Amidst his slightly disheveled breath, there was a hint of a smile, “Come.”
He didn’t want to stay inside the venue and listen to Gu Yuan’s speech. He wanted to leave.
—But of course, he couldn’t leave alone. He wanted to take Bai Xunyin with him.
Taking advantage of Bai Xunyin’s daze, when she couldn’t retrieve her phone to type out a refusal, Yu Luoyin politely said to Ji Huiying beside them, “Auntie, our class teacher has something to discuss with Bai Xunyin. He asked me to pass on the message.”
He disguised himself as a diligent student, capable of fooling everyone in the world.
Who wouldn’t believe such a Yu Luoyin? After all, he had just been on stage delivering a speech.
Ji Huiying naturally believed him without a doubt. She smiled and nodded, even urging Bai Xunyin, “Yinyin, you should hurry and go with your classmate. Don’t delay the teacher.”
…
Reluctantly, Bai Xunyin stood up and followed Yu Luoyin out.
In the bustling crowd, no one noticed that his wrist was gently but firmly holding onto her wrist, not letting go.
Having no choice, she left the venue with Yu Luoyin. Amidst the sea of people, she couldn’t stand it any longer and pulled her wrist free from Yu Luoyin’s grip. Amidst his nonchalant laughter, she typed indignantly.
[What are you doing?]
“It’s boring to listen to all those empty words inside the venue,” Yu Luoyin shrugged, saying matter-of-factly.
“Isn’t it better to take a chance to get out? And is it bad to bring you along?”
Bai Xunyin frowned.
[I want to go back and listen to the leaders’ speeches.]
After all, she had just seen her idol Gu Yuan. It was likely that she would be speaking at the oath-taking ceremony.
She felt a bit unwilling to miss such an opportunity.
She was about to turn and head back to the venue, but Yu Luoyin persisted and grabbed her wrist from behind. Just as he made a move, Bai Xunyin seemed to have a psychic intuition and flicked her hand backward. The result was, unfortunately, that their fingers tangled together.
This was the first time their fingertips had made direct contact. It felt like an electric shock, and Bai Xunyin couldn’t help but freeze for a moment.
Being an absolute “opportunist,” Yu Luoyin took advantage of Bai Xunyin’s momentary daze and immediately pulled her along as he ran.
While the students from the first and second year were in class, the seniors were inside the venue “listening” to the speeches. On the expansive field covered in green grass, only their white figures raced across it, getting faster and faster.
“Bai Xunyin.”
While they were running, Yu Luoyin didn’t forget to ask her with a smile, “Have you heard the song ‘Eloping to the Moon’?”
As the young man ran ahead of her, when she looked back at him, it was as if he was bathed in sunlight. His radiant smile made even the surrounding sun lose its brilliance.
Bai Xunyin would forever remember this smile; it was the most distinct color in her otherwise dull high school years.
Following Yu Luoyin’s words, Bai Xunyin unconsciously nodded obediently.
Indeed, she had heard that song, and strangely enough, she was feeling something akin to the lyrics right now.
“I feel like we’re quite similar to this song right now.”
Yu Luoyin also said this, then straightforwardly asked, “What do you think?”
Bai Xunyin couldn’t help but curl her fingers, feeling a warmth rise to her neck.
She didn’t continue rejecting Yu Luoyin, nor did she remember the fact that she was supposed to listen to Gu Yuan’s speech. She allowed him to pull her to their familiar “secret base” – the deserted and overgrown back sports field of Third Middle School.
Yu Luoyin seemed to particularly like this place and often brought her here.
Both of them were a bit tired from running, and they were slightly out of breath when they let go of each other’s hands.
Bai Xunyin felt like her hand was still damp from Yu Luoyin’s grasp moments ago, and her heart was pounding in her chest.
Once she calmed down a bit, she took out her phone and proactively asked Yu Luoyin.
[Why do you like this place?]
This was the first time Bai Xunyin had taken the initiative to ask Yu Luoyin something, and he seemed momentarily surprised by it.
“Why do I like this place…”
Yu Luoyin murmured softly, then after a moment, he smiled and said, “Because you like it.”
Bai Xunyin’s breath caught, and she stared at him in a daze.
In truth, she had already had a feeling about it, but hearing Yu Luoyin say it out loud still made her feel both flattered and anxious.
“I’ve seen you sneak off to this place before.”
Yu Luoyin squinted his eyes, recalling the image of the slender girl – Bai Xunyin, wearing white sneakers, leisurely strolled through the overgrown open area, seemingly unconcerned about the hem of her pants being scraped by the grass, revealing her ivory-white calves.
He had accidentally stumbled upon this scene once, and that image had lingered in his mind for a long time.
Unexplainably, he would often come here. Perhaps he wanted to create a “coincidental encounter,” but most of the time, he would just sit there quietly for a while.
Strangely enough, this was all from the second half of their sophomore year. It was something that had happened shortly after he had met Bai Xunyin.
However, as they entered their senior year, he was the one who came here more often, while the young girl visited less frequently. Yet Yu Luoyin knew she liked this place, so he said he liked it too.
During the time of a youth’s fervent heart, the dazzling boy and the ambiguously affectionate words he uttered were the most captivating.
Very few girls could resist these two things, and Bai Xunyin was no exception.
She looked at Yu Luoyin’s delicate and clear profile, closed her eyes for a moment, and the words that Ah Mo had once said echoed in her mind.
“Sometimes, we really need to be brave. We only have eight months left.”
“I want to apply to the same university as him. I’m afraid I’ll regret it if I miss this chance.”
…
Similarly, Bai Xunyin was afraid of regretting in the future.
As the end of their senior year drew closer, her panic increased. She was anxious about Yu Luoyin’s proximity but even more afraid that one day he might drift away, disappearing completely.
With him would go the radiance he brought into her life, and she would feel like she was back in the shadows.
Perhaps, regardless of what the future held, she should be a bit braver and put in a bit more effort.
Even though Bai Xunyin was well aware that in reality, she and Yu Luoyin were worlds apart–
In terms of family background, social status, and even physical health…
She didn’t even have a healthy body.
But Yu Luoyin said he liked her, and she didn’t want to miss it out.
So, while the young man was resting against the wall, Bai Xunyin summoned her courage and slightly tiptoed––
The girl’s lips carried the fragrance of lemons as they lightly brushed against Yu Luoyin’s jawline.