Chapter 69: Soft and Warm ā Iāll carry you down, or hold you as we go down. Choose one…
The winter sun, a rarity in this season, filtered through the classroom windows, casting dappled, shimmering light across the desks. The classroom during self-study wasn’t entirely quiet; a low hum of whispers intertwined with the rustling of turning pages.
Jiang Yunian sat by the window, his head slightly bowed. Soft, sapphire-blue yarn was wound around his fingers, and long knitting needles weaved slowly but rhythmically between his pale fingertips, making a soft friction sound.
Hao Meng noticed and narrowed her eyes, teasing, “Did you two make up? Are you acting like a little wife again?”
Jiang Yunian’s fingers paused imperceptibly before resuming their movement. He forced the corners of his mouth into a dry smile, neither answering nor denying it.
The noise in the classroom gradually grew louder. Somewhat deliberate whispers rose and fellānot loud, but just enough for those nearby to hear clearly.
“Did you hear? Zhang Hao is in the hospital.”
“Really? No wonder I haven’t seen him for a few days.”
“I heard he was hurt pretty badly… apparently because of a conflict with Yunian in the cafeteria last week.”
“Are you sure? He’s only been back a few days and something like this happens again? And with Yunian involved? That’s too coincidental…”
“I didn’t believe it at first, but my buddy in the class next door told me himself. The guy is actually in the hospital; it can’t be fake.”
“No way. It was just a bump. Yunian is so thin; how could he knock someone into the hospital? Besides, his own leg injury hasn’t even healed yet.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Who told you Yunian did it?”
…
The discussion died down abruptly. The speakers cast furtive, probing glances toward Jiang Yunian as they spoke. The conflict between Zhang Hao and Jiang Yunian was common knowledge, and the recent decline of Zhang Hao’s family was indeed tragicāone could say they had fallen from grace to the point of being like stray dogs. Now, with his sudden hospitalization following the conflict, it was hard not to let one’s imagination run wild. Those who had unhesitatingly supported Jiang Yunian before were now hesitating. Some even found it suspicious. “Are you saying that behind Yunian… there’s someone else?”
“Impossible. Where would Yunian get that kind of background? If you asked him, would he even know?”
Who would dare to ask?
Hao Meng frowned, wanting to say something, but the bell rang at that moment. The group gossiping immediately scattered. She let it go, having made plans with someone, and hurriedly packed her things. She patted Jiang Yunian on the shoulder. “I’m leaving first. Don’t knit too late, and remember to eat.”
Jiang Yunian nodded gently. “Okay.”
The people in the classroom gradually dispersed until he was the only one left. The afternoon sun softened, elongating his silhouette. He knitted very slowly and carefully. Compared to the rushed clumsiness of the last time, his movements were obviously much more practiced now, the stitches fine and even. The cream-colored yarn against his fingers made them look even paler, almost transparent in the light. He knitted with focus, his long eyelashes drooping, casting flickering shadows on his skin.
The empty classroom fell into silence. If one listened carefully, one could hear his breathing, as well as a set of extremely light footsteps approaching slowly from behind. Accompanying them was a gaze so intense it felt physical, landing on his backāscorching hot, impossible to ignore.
Jiang Yunian didn’t look back, but the movements in his hands slowed down. “It won’t be finished that quickly, Senior, you…”
As he spoke, he turned his head. His voice cut off abruptly upon seeing the face clearly.
Standing behind him was not Lu Yuanbai, but…
Jiang Yan stood just a step away, watching him silently. There were obvious injuries on his face; his lips were bloodless, band-aids were stuck to his chin and cheek, and his left hand was wrapped in a layer of white gauze, faint dark red seeping through the edges.
Jiang Yunian’s gaze lingered on his injured hand and face for a moment. Connecting this with the gossip he had just heard about Zhang Hao, his heart sank. He vaguely had an answer. He knew Jiang Yan too well; this person was paranoid to the extreme. He could hurt himself, but he would never allow anyone else to touch a hair on his headāhis retaliation was always merciless. Only he was capable of such extreme methods.
He looked away, his voice somewhat dry. “You didn’t need to do that.”
Zhang Hao had already received enough punishment. He didn’t want to be dragged into this endless entanglement anymore; he just wanted a peaceful life.
Jiang Yan didn’t answer the question. His gaze landed on the ball of sapphire-blue yarn in Jiang Yunian’s hands and the partially knitted scarf. His already expressionless face turned a few degrees colder. “Knitting it for Lu Yuanbai?”
Jiang Yunian tightened his grip on the needles and yarn, pursing his lips in silence. In Jiang Yan’s eyes, this silence was tantamount to an admission. The hand hanging by his side clenched, the knuckles of his gauze-wrapped left hand turning white from the force, faint blood seeping out again. He suppressed the sour bitterness rising in his heart, his voice raspy with repression. “You’re together with him?”
Jiang Yunian’s gaze swept over the blood-stained gauze, his brows knitting unconsciously. “No… it’s not for him.”
Jiang Yan’s expression clearly showed he didn’t believe it; he had distinctly heard him call out to that wild man earlier. He endured and endured, but finally couldn’t hold back. He reached out and snatched the half-finished piece, which was only the size of a handkerchief, from his hands.
Jiang Yunian hadn’t expected him to get physical. His eyes widened slightly. “You…”
“Give it back.” He stood up to snatch it back, but unfortunately, his left foot hadn’t fully recovered. He stumbled in the process, nearly falling.
Jiang Yan reached out to catch his waist, stabilizing him. His other hand held the ball of yarn high. In the empty classroom, the two were instantly closeāone forced to look up, the other looking down. The moment their gazes collided, both froze.
This posture, this distanceāit was too intimate, too familiar. Countless moments of solitude, those sweet memories filled with laughter and play, surged uncontrollably. Time seemed to stagnate at this moment, a dream returning to the past that neither could bear to break.
In the empty classroom, only the sound of their interwoven breathing remained, clearly audible.
Jiang Yan looked at this face he was deeply attached to. Those eyes, always carrying a hint of timidity, were slightly widened in surprise. The lips, glistening with a watery sheen, were close at hand, tempting him to taste. His Adam’s apple rolled. Unable to control himself, he leaned down, slowly, inching closer.
Just as his lips were about to touch, Jiang Yunian suddenly turned his head, dodging the unfinished kiss. Almost simultaneously, the crisp sound of footsteps approached from the corridor outside.
As if startled awake, Jiang Yunian pushed him away and quickly took a step back, widening the distance. He turned sideways, regulating his unsteady breathing.
Missing the warm body against his chest, Jiang Yan felt an emptiness. He couldn’t remember how many times this had happenedābeing pushed away, rejected, until he gradually felt numb.
Jiang Yunian steadied his breath and reached out again to retrieve the yarn from his hand. Jiang Yan raised his hand, easily avoiding him. He gripped the soft yet prickly yarn tightly, his knuckles white from the force. In the end, he said nothing. He turned around, taking the sapphire-blue half-finished product with him, and strode out of the classroom.
Jiang Yunian watched his retreating figure. That back seemed much thinner than in his memories, carrying a heavy sense of exhaustion. He silently sat back in his chair, looking at his empty hands, feeling a tightness in his chest. He had spent three days knitting that, and now he had to start all over again.
In the afternoon, the professor called Jiang Yunian to his office and gave him some news. The department had a slot for an exchange student to go to Pingjing University next year, during his junior year, for a period of one year. Pingjing University, located in the neighboring Pingjing City, was a top-tier private institution in the country. Ordinary people couldn’t even touch the threshold; this opportunity was extremely rare. The professor looked at him, his tone gentle and affirming. “Prepare your materials. Barring any accidents, this spot is yours.”
To be honest, Jiang Yunian didn’t want to leave home, to leave his familiar hometown for a strange environment. But he knew clearly what this opportunity meant for his future. One year in exchange for a brilliant stroke on his resume was worth giving his all.
He walked out of the office with a heavy heart and ran right into Lu Yuanbai coming out of the office opposite. Upon seeing him, Lu Yuanbai walked over and naturally supported him. “Why didn’t you bring your cane?”
Jiang Yunian felt his foot was much better today, so he hadn’t used the cane. He also didn’t really want to endure strange looks from others constantly.
“It’s much better. It’s fine if I walk slowly,” he explained.
That being said, going down the stairs was still a bit strenuous, especially since this was the fifth floor. He held onto the railing, walking down carefully. When he reached the stairwell, Lu Yuanbai stopped on the step in front of him and half-squatted down, turning his back to him.
Jiang Yunian was stunned. “Senior?”
“There are still several floors to go,” Lu Yuanbai turned his head, his tone gentle but brooking no refusal. “If you walk down like this, even if your foot is better, you’ll need the cane tomorrow. I’ll carry you down, or hold you as we go down. Choose one.”
This…
The usually gentle and considerate Senior was showing a rare persistence, which surprised him. Jiang Yunian had a soft personality; when others took a tough stance, he found it hard to stick to his own opinion. If someone scared him a little, he would likely surrender on the spot. Even if he felt hesitant inside, there was no time for excessive wavering. Other students could pass by at any moment; attracting attention wouldn’t be good.
Jiang Yunian’s ears turned red. He slowly leaned onto Lu Yuanbai’s broad back, his soft voice reaching the other’s ear. “Sorry to trouble you, Senior.”
“It’s no trouble.” Lu Yuanbai lifted him steadily and walked down with even steps. “I’m very willing.”
Lying on his back, Jiang Yunian could feel the other’s steady heartbeat and solid back. A long-lost sense of security wrapped around him. Occasionally, students going up or down the stairs cast curious glances, causing him to bury his face lower, as if that would stop people from recognizing him.
When they reached the first floor, Lu Yuanbai didn’t seem to have any intention of putting him down immediately. It wasn’t until the person on his back reminded him softly twice, sounding a bit anxious, that he reluctantly put him down. He even carefully straightened Jiang Yunian’s slightly wrinkled hem.
Finally, Lu Yuanbai looked at his face, which still held a faint blush. His gaze was tender as he naturally reached out to ruffle his soft hair, speaking softly, “It’s almost Christmas Eve. Do you have plans that night?”
“I don’t think so,” Jiang Yunian thought for a moment, then looked up and asked with straightforward innocence, “Is there something happening, Senior?”
Lu Yuanbai raised an eyebrow, a smile rippling across his lips. “Can’t I look for you if there’s nothing happening?”
“Of course not…” Jiang Yunian waved his hands hurriedly.
Lu Yuanbai leaned forward slightly, gazing into his eyes with unmistakable seriousness. “Have you forgotten? I’m chasing you.”
Author’s Note: Senior Lu is taking advantage of the situation; a certain someone is feeling very anxious haha.
(Happy National Day, babies! Finger heart [Red Heart][Red Heart])
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