CH 5

The morning classes at Haishi Number One High School tend to start earlier than other schools. The bell rings at 7:10 signaling the start of lectures and students have 5 minutes before they are considered tardy.

Cheng Chu entered the classroom right on time. She fell asleep late last night and the following morning, she accidentally turned off the alarm clock in a haze. Without Mrs. Song’s wake-up call, she overslept till 6:50.

She didn’t even have the time to eat breakfast. She quickly got ready, picked up her school bag, and rushed to the school.

The classroom was already full of people. Since Class 3 wasn’t a special class, the students were pretty relaxed when it came to studying. Most of them were grouped together and chatting rather than studying.

Cheng Chu placed her backpack on her seat and saw that the seat behind her was empty.

She simply thought that Gu Miao was late to class, but even after the bell rang signaling the end of the first period, he never showed up.

Chung Chu couldn’t resist and asked the class leader.

“Oh, just now the homeroom teacher said that he asked for a leave of absence, but I don’t know why.” The class leader looked at her weirdly, as if surprised that Cheng Chu would care about this person.

“Okay, thanks.” Cheng Chu absentmindedly thanked him and returned to her seat.

The high school coursework was not difficult for her, but it had been a long time since she last touched the material. She’ll need more time to relearn the material.

Cheng Chu had always been a hardworking and determined student, but today in class, she couldn’t focus at all. She kept worrying about Gu Miao.

[Why is he absent? Is he sick?]

Similar worries dominated her thoughts. Until after school, a boy from another class entered the classroom, asked where Gu Miao’s seat was, and picked up his homework for the weekend.

Cheng Chu picked up her school bag, chased after the boy that just left, and stopped the boy.

“Student, are you bringing Gu Miao his homework? What happened to him? Is he sick?”

The boy held the homework and paperwork for a few seconds before answering: “No, his cousin was injured. The cousin’s family had no spare time, so they asked him to take a leave of absence and take care of their son.”

Even after the boy’s figure disappeared into the corridor, Cheng Chu still stood there confused.

[When did Gu Miao get a cousin?]

She only knew that Gu Miao’s parents were dead and that his only relative was an elderly grandfather.

[Seems like I really don’t know him all that well.]

The afterglow of the setting sun scattered into the corridor as if staining the entire building a crimson color. Cheng Chu had her head lowered and was deep in thoughts when someone patted her on the shoulder.

“You’re here waiting for me?”

Hearing this familiar voice, Cheng Chu’s frantic heart slowly calmed down. She turned her head and rolled her eyes to the ceiling and said: “Stop popping out of nowhere, you understand?”

Sweat was still dripping from Lin Qifeng’s forehead, he was drenched head to toe with sweat. He casually wiped his forehead with his sleeve and said nonchalantly:” You think that was a scare? It was just a light pat.”

Probably because he just finished playing sports, his body reek of sweat.

Cheng Chu took a few steps back and said: “Don’t stand near me, you smell so bad.”

“Yeah, yeah. Princess, you are so high maintenance. Let’s go. The cars are waiting at the school gate. Would your highness want this lowly servant to carry the backpack for you?” He wore a sarcastic smile and what he said was equally sarcastic.

But Cheng Chu dearly misses that energetic and cheerful side of him.

She laughed a little, didn’t continue the conversation but said in a gentle tone: “Let’s go.”

Lin Qifeng raised his eyebrows in surprise and followed after her.

It was a Friday evening, everyone seemed to be rushing somewhere. Cheng Chu and Lin Qifeng had walked out of the school gate and saw an elegant but modest car parked on the corner of the street.

As soon as the driver saw them, he got out of the car quickly and eagerly opened the car door.

Cheng Chu’s father bought a house near the school to make it more convenient for Cheng Chu to travel to and from school. Usually, only Cheng Chu and the nanny live there.

But every weekend without fail, Cheng Chu would return to the old mansion to spend time with her family.

Lin Qifeng and she are neighbors, they grew up together. Every Friday, Lin’s family chauffeur would pick up Lin Qifeng and Cheng Chu on the way.

The heating system wasn’t turned on in the car, the window was pulled down revealing a small gap that blew in the refreshing breeze.

Cheng Chu stared at Lin Qifeng’s handsome profile, a little lost.

She remembered in the past life, after graduating from high school, Lin Qifeng’s family’s business drastically turned for the worst. Later on, he and his family immigrated elsewhere.

They rarely see each other and they only make occasional calls.

Still, during her hardest and most bitter days, this seemingly heartless and playful teenager always silently stood beside her, supporting her.

It had been a long time since Cheng Chu last looked at him close up.

The evening breeze blew at the young man’s forehead and his light brown eyes that always exhibit gentleness towards anyone.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Did you realize how handsome I am?” Lin Qifeng saw that Cheng Chu was staring at him and smirked slightly.

Cheng Chu looked away and replied with: “Hehe…”

Sure enough, he’s still as egotistic as ever.

The car slowly drove into the villa. The Cheng family’s old mansion remains the same look as in her memory.

Cheng Chu put down her school bag and her slightly lowered eyes saw a pair of black leather shoes in the hallway.

Her heartfelt stuffy as she pulled over Mrs. Yang and asked urgently: “Is my brother back?”

“Yes, the young master said that he just got off the plane. He is now working in his office.”

Cheng Chu was about to run upstairs barefoot when Mrs. Yang chased after her and shouted: “Miss! Put on slippers, or else you’ll catch a cold.”

The wooden stairs seemed a little fragile, they made muffled noise if anyone ran across them.

Cheng Chu dashed up to the second floor and directly bumped into Cheng Yue.

He wore a white shirt, without a trace of wrinkles, and even his hair was brushed back to perfection. He didn’t look at all like someone who just arrived back from a long overseas plane ride.

The only noticeable imperfection was the faint trace of fatigue in between his eyebrows.

“Brother.” Cheng Chu hugged him tightly. The tears in her eyes burst out uncontrollably and unfortunately, all of them were rubbed against the neat white shirt.

Cheng Yue instantly panicked and awkwardly touched her head. Then he patted her head in a comfortable rhythm and said with caution in his voice: “What’s the matter? Chuchu, were you bullied at school?”

“No.” Cheng Chu sniffed and looked up at him and softly said: “I just miss you.”

[My brother is alive and well. Good.]

Cheng Yue smiled: “I heard from the secretary that because you couldn’t find me these days, you even called him multiple times. The foreign contacts and communications are not convenient, you know.”

He hugged Cheng Chu by her shoulders and urged her to walk: “Let’s go. Come to my room, I brought gifts for you.”

Cheng Chu didn’t care about the gifts, she just wanted to be with her brother.

But when Cheng Yue took out a jewelry box, she couldn’t help but widen her eyes in surprise.

Under the warm yellow light, the musical note-shaped diamond necklace shined brilliantly.

“Do you like it?” Cheng Yue lowered his eyes and asked gently.

Cheng Chu nodded again and again: “Mmhm. I like it so much.” She immediately wanted to put it on but Mrs. Yang called suddenly from outside the door: “Young master, Miss, come down for dinner.”

Cheng Chu had to put away the necklace for now and went downstairs with Cheng Yue.

At the dinner table, Cheng Chu kept looking at her cheerful parents and his stoic but gentle big brother.

Everything is fine.

The long-lost sense of belonging seemed to wrap her anxious heart in a pool of warmth.

Cheng Chu lowered her head to conceal her red eyes. She secretly decided that in this life, she will not only compensate Gu Miao but also do her best to save her brother’s life.

***

Early on Sunday morning, Cheng Chu dragged her brother to the hospital.

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Cheng Yue is a workaholic, working overtime and staying up late is the norm. He would often forget to eat if he’s too immersed in his work.

Cheng Chu remembered that his brother would die in an accidental plane crash a year later. But before that, he had been hospitalized several times due to stomach and liver issues.

So a few days ago, Cheng Chu scheduled an appointment for a physical examination.

The full body examination required the patient to have an empty stomach, so breakfast was not allowed. Cheng Chu was worried about her brother’s stomach. As soon as the blood draw was completed, she immediately ordered a breakfast delivery.

The restaurant was not far. Within a few minutes, the delivery staff called.

Because only the hospital address was written with no specific floor, Cheng Chu had to go to the hospital entrance to get the delivery.

The morning air was filled with the smell of fresh-cut grass. Cheng Chu carried two bags of porridge and quickly walked through the hospital gates.

At the corner ahead, a familiar figure flashed past.

Strangely enough, the figure was tall but thin, like Gu Miao.

Cheng Chu couldn’t stop herself from walking closer, only to realize that it really was him!

The hospital was bustling with people left and right. Gu Miao was quickly walking through the crowd. He was carrying a delivery bag in his hand and wore a dark black coat, but he looked like a thin tree branch wrapped by a loose plastic bag.

He walked up to the third floor in silence and entered a ward in the corner.

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The door was not closed tightly, Cheng Chu sneakily looked inside through the crack in the doorway.

In the not-so-large ward, Gu Miao was carefully opening the food delivery package. He took out the disposable chopsticks and only then did he carefully bring the food bowl to the boy sitting on the hospital bed.

In contrast, the young man arrogantly looked down at Gu Miao and reluctantly took the bowl, and slowly started to eat.

After taking a few bites, he suddenly put down his chopsticks. He pointed to the basin next to him and demanded Gu Miao for something.

Cheng Chu felt a rush of pain in her heart. She knew that the teenager must be Gu Miao’s cousin, who he was asked to leave school to take care of.

But the cousin’s attitude towards him was nothing like how one would treat a family member.

Domineering and arrogant, he was treating him like a lowly servant.

In the ward, Gu Miao lowered his head in silence. After a long time, he got up and picked up the basin on the table, and proceeded to walk out.

He moved so fast that Cheng Chu didn’t have the time to hide. She directly met his deep and dark eyes.

Cheng Chu quickly calmed down and smiled in a heartbeat: “Hey, what a coincidence. Hahaha… uh… Nice seeing you here.”

For a moment, Gu Miao thought that he was hallucinating.

His hands tightened around the washbasin. His dark eyes filled with emotions as he stared at her. He was stunned for a while before pursing his lips and whispering: “Yeah.”

Even though there were a thousand words he wanted to tell her hidden deep in his heart. He only replied one word.

He was afraid that if he said any more, his stuttering habits would start again.

The lights in the hospital were bright. Cheng Chu could see the heavy fatigue shown in between his brows and his deep red bloodshot eyes.

She felt a sharp pain from her heart and thought of the rundown sofa that was beside the hospital bed. She suddenly realized that Gu Miao must have taken care of his cousin all night, he probably didn’t even rest his eyes.

And the breakfast that he bought didn’t seem to have his share either.

The two stood silently in the hallway. Gu Miao’s grip tightened around the basin and heard Cheng Chu whisper: “Have you had breakfast yet?”

His mind that hasn’t rested all night was still stuck, surprised at the incredible chance to meet Cheng Chu in the hospital.

Hearing her question, Gu Miao instinctively shook his head in reply.

As expected.

Cheng Chu sighed, lifted her eyes and gave him the bag she was holding, and said: “Here.”

“No.” Gu Miao shook his head subconsciously.

Cheng Chu pursed her lips and added: “I brought extra, I can’t finish them all.”

The hospital was filled with the scent of disinfectants, but Gu Miao could only smell the sweet porridge. As if a warm cup of water were given in winter, it warmed up his cold and hollow stomach.

He bowed his head in reply.

Under the hospital lights, the girl’s doe-like eyes were clear and bright, as if stars had accidentally fallen into them.

There were no signs of pityness, just endless pure kindness.

The exhaustion dissipated in an instant and Gu Miao’s heavy and gloomy heart jumped at a rapid rate.

He knew that he could never refuse those pairs of eyes.

As if unable to restrain himself, his whole heart yearns for her.