OS - 49

Zhou Yu, of course, wouldn’t let Cheng Yuzhou go find Yan Ci.

Cheng Guoan had just been transferred to the city, and many eyes were on him. It wasn’t convenient to interfere with Yan Ci’s affairs at this time, and Yan Ci also didn’t want the Cheng family to know.

“Don’t be angry,” Zhou Yu stopped Cheng Yuzhou, “I just wanted to explain that we weren’t hugging. Everything else is in the past.”

Cheng Yuzhou’s words about going to find Yan Ci just now weren’t a joke. He had been holding back ever since he learned of the Yan family’s misfortunes. Many times, even when he was dissatisfied with Yan Ci, he never actually resorted to violence.

If Zhou Yu’s heart swayed even slightly towards Yan Ci, he would have no room to compete or fight.

“In the past?”

She thought for a moment, “For me, it’s in the past. My conscience is clear about him; I’ve done everything I could.”

“Everyone is innocent, but you shouldn’t have to bear those burdens,” Cheng Yuzhou lay back on the bed. He had a car to catch tomorrow morning, and their time alone was already limited; he didn’t want to spend it all talking about another person.

Her room was simply decorated but very clean and tidy. The bouquet of flowers was in a glass vase, placed on the desk, not looking out of place at all.

Zhou Yu looked at it for a long time, then couldn’t help but tell him, “This is the first time I’ve received flowers.”

“Do you like them?”

“I like them.”

“Then I can send them with confidence in the future,” Cheng Yuzhou pulled a small white daisy from the vase, snapped off a section, twisted the remaining slender stem into a ring, then took her hand and slowly placed it on her finger.

Zhou Yu rolled over and put her arms around his waist. The hand with the flower ring slipped inside his T-shirt.

________________________________________

Faint gasps blurred between their teeth. Her initiative and softness challenged Cheng Yuzhou’s self-control inch by inch, tempting him to become more and more unrestrained. At first, there was a thin layer of fabric between them, but then he couldn’t hold back.

The air grew warm. Cheng Yuzhou pulled the thin blanket over Zhou Yu, attempting to calm the surging heat.

“Do you want to... go to the supermarket?”

One sentence ignited the still-unsettled desire. She was too proactive today. Cheng Yuzhou almost completely gave up resisting, caressing her slender shoulder blades and repeatedly reminding himself that she had just been sick before finally getting out of bed without clothes.

“Don’t indulge me,” he bit her wrist, then picked up the clothes from the end of the bed, helped her put them back on, and turned off the light, “Go to sleep.”

He didn’t sleep well that night; Zhou Yu knew it. From the Cheng family’s house back to Nanjing, and then from Nanjing to Baicheng, he had spent the day helping to fix this and that, barely resting.

In the morning, when she saw him off at the station, he stood in the sunlight, smiling at her, but the fatigue in his eyes was still very obvious.

Grandma was home alone, so Zhou Yu couldn’t stay out for too long.

“Did you forget anything?”

“As long as the documents aren’t left behind, it’s fine. Forgetting other things doesn’t matter, I’ll be back anyway. You can keep them for me for now,” Cheng Yuzhou put down his suitcase and hugged her, “It’s too hot, so this is far enough. I’ll call you when I get home.”

It was almost time for boarding.

Zhou Yu took half a step back, “You go in first. I’ll wait until the train leaves before heading back.”

She wanted to look at him a little longer.

Cheng Yuzhou leaned down and kissed her, “Aren’t you afraid of the sun?”

“Maybe sunbathing will make me taller,” Zhou Yu smiled, “You go on in.”

Even for a brief separation, Cheng Yuzhou felt reluctant. He waited until the last two minutes before going in to scan his ticket.

Zhou Yu didn’t walk him to the waiting area. She stood under the bridge, listening to the increasingly distant sound of the tracks. It was a while before she slowly walked back.

The flowers in the vase were a bit wilted. Zhou Yu remembered to change the water morning and night, trying to make the flowers live longer.

That day, she sat in the yard and watched a sunset, watching the sky grow darker and darker, watching the outlines of the surrounding mountains, rivers, and trees gradually blur into the night. She knew that tomorrow morning, the sky would still lighten, but nothing would change.

________________________________________

When Liu Fen came back, she didn’t speak, sitting in the yard all day.

On the day the gaokao results were announced, many classmates gathered to discuss college applications. Zhou Yu learned on her way to the internet cafe that Cheng Yuzhou and Yan Ci were the top two science students at Baicheng No. 1 Middle School this year, with only a four-point difference between them: one scored 689, the other 685.

Zhou Yu checked her scores; she didn’t do badly either.

The schools she would apply to had been decided before the Cheng family moved. Zhou Yu waited until the last day to submit her applications.

The aftermath of the coal mine accident had results. Liang Tian was helping the Zhou family secure more compensation. If things went smoothly, the victims’ families would receive compensation before the end of the summer vacation. Liang Tian had been a reporter for many years, offending many but also having a wide network. Cheng Yuzhou took Liu Fen’s medical records and went to see a doctor with her.

Medical conditions in the small county were limited, and the medical records were incomplete. The doctor didn’t give a clear answer, saying it would be best to bring the patient to the hospital for a face-to-face consultation.

“Son, can we talk?” Liang Tian turned off the car’s music, “If it’s just dating, then what you’ve done is already enough.”

Cheng Yuzhou’s feelings for Zhou Yu were more than just dating. He felt for her, wanted to make her life easier, but in fact, he couldn’t do anything without the Cheng family. Everything he was doing now was through his parents’ connections.

“She’ll also be studying in Nanjing, so it’ll be convenient for Auntie to be hospitalized and see doctors then. Mom, if you meet her, you’ll definitely like her.”

Liang Tian smiled, “A girl my son likes would naturally have her unique shining points. You’ve done so much for her, does she know?”

“She knows some parts; some I haven’t told her yet.” For example, the compensation matter, Cheng Yuzhou had already asked Liang Tian for help before senior year started last year.

“You two are still young. Crossing the line might give the other person a psychological burden. In short, think it through yourself. Her mother’s illness isn’t a one or two-day thing, and there’s also a very elderly grandmother.”

Cheng Yuzhou thought about discussing it with Zhou Yu that night. When he got home, he just received his university admission letter, so he called her.

Zhou Yu was at the hospital. Liu Fen had drunk pesticide last night and was not yet out of critical condition.

Yan Ci, his arm in a cast, was smoking by the flowerbed. The phone rang for a long time before Zhou Yu answered.

Liang Tian had work matters to attend to, so Cheng Yuzhou took his phone to the balcony.

“Why is your voice so hoarse? Did you catch a cold? Is it still raining at home?” Even with only a slight difference from usual, Cheng Yuzhou sensed Zhou Yu’s abnormality.

“It’s sunny today,” Zhou Yu looked down, “I slept for a while, just woke up.”

Cheng Yuzhou asked, “Did you receive your admission letter?”

“...Not yet.”

“I received mine today. You should get yours soon too. There’s an interesting envelope inside.”

“Cheng Yuzhou...” Zhou Yu got up and walked to an empty spot, saying very calmly, “I didn’t apply to Nanjing University. None of my applications included any schools in Nanjing. I’m sorry, I lied to you.”

The weather was dry and hot. Her words were like cold water splashed over his head. Cheng Yuzhou froze, even his palms were cold. They had already agreed to go to university in the same city. Those two days when she filled out her applications, she even said it was okay if she didn’t get into Nanjing University, there were other schools.

“What do you mean?”

She said, “I’m not going to Nanjing anymore.”

Cheng Yuzhou was silent for as long as he thought. They contacted each other every day, and he had countless text messages saved on his phone that he couldn’t bear to delete even one. Just two days ago, she was saying she missed him, asking him how the plane trees in Nanjing were different from those in other cities.

“Are you breaking up with me unilaterally? I won’t agree to break up over the phone. Of course, I wouldn’t agree to it in person either. Did something happen at home? Wait for me, I’m buying a ticket now.”

She didn’t deny it, “Just say it over the phone. It’s too far; going back and forth is too much trouble.”

Cheng Yuzhou’s hand on the railing clenched into a fist, “Why? Why did you lie to me on the day you filled out the application? Is it that you don’t believe I like you, or you don’t believe I can accompany you to any city?”

Zhou Yu had already drafted what she would say in her heart the day he boarded the train leaving Baicheng, and she had practiced it repeatedly, yet when it was time to speak, her mind was still blank.

He was so angry but held back from lashing out at her.

“It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s just unnecessary. You originally wanted to study at Nanjing University. Your friends, classmates, and parents are all in Nanjing.”

“Without you, what’s the point?”

“I... I can’t go, Cheng Yuzhou, I can’t go, I have no choice,” Zhou Yu squatted down, covering her eyes with one hand, tears dripping through her fingers onto the ground, “Let’s just... end it here.”

“End it here?” Cheng Yuzhou repeated the three words, “Then what was all this time we spent together?”

“Let’s just end it here. From now on... let’s not contact each other anymore,” Zhou Yu hung up the phone.

Yan Ci watched her sob, utterly helpless.

That familiar number only gave a busy signal no matter how many times he dialed. Cheng Yuzhou kicked over the flowerpot on the balcony. The newly opened admission letter was pressed under the dirt, but he didn’t care. He picked up his phone with the shattered screen, trying to book a flight, but his hand was shaking so much that even the simple action of restarting it took several tries.

Liang Tian rushed to the balcony, looking flustered. Cheng Yuzhou thought he had made too much noise losing control just now.

The balcony was a mess. Liang Tian didn’t even bother to ask what was wrong.

“Son, pack a few clothes. We’re going to your uncle’s house tonight. Wanyue is sick.”