Chapter 73

Chapter 73

The private room was quiet.0

Su Ci's face was flushed red, her dark eyes reflecting the light, shimmering like water.0

Lu Zhe's head was buried in the girl's neck, and after taking a deep breath, he gradually calmed down.0

"My back hurts," she said. The table behind her was made of wood, and it was digging into her back painfully.0

Lu Zhe quickly lifted his head and straightened the girl. "I'm sorry."0

His gaze fell on Su Ci's neck. Her skin was snow-white and delicate, and he had not controlled his strength, leaving a mark.0

The red mark was particularly noticeable.0

He had lost control.0

His fingertips touched the red mark, and he gently rubbed it. "There's a mark here."0

Su Ci raised an eyebrow, the small teardrop mole below her eye looking incredibly alluring. "You should let my hair down," she said softly, leaning lazily against Lu Zhe's chest, not wanting to move at all.0

Lu Zhe reached out to untangle her hair, awkwardly letting it fall down.0

The soft ends of her hair curled up, and he gently smoothed it out. "There, it's done."0

Su Ci rubbed her flushed face against Lu Zhe's chest.0

After a while, she caught her breath and smiled like a sly little fox who had gotten away with something. She praised him, "Lu Zhe, your kissing skills have improved."0

Lu Zhe couldn't help but pinch the little troublemaker's cheek. Under the light, his usually cold face faintly showed a hint of red.0

At the Su household.0

Ji Chi rushed back immediately after military training.0

His breathing was a bit uneven.0

The maid saw Ji Chi hurrying in with a serious expression and quickly greeted him, "Young Master Ji Chi."0

"Is... is Su Ci back?" Ji Chi asked the maid.0

"Miss hasn't returned yet."0

Ji Chi calmed down, nodded, and then went upstairs.0

The maid curiously glanced at Ji Chi's retreating figure, wondering what he was in such a hurry for. Normally, in the Su household, Ji Chi and Miss had little interaction, and they barely had any contact.0

Su Ci returned home around nine in the evening.0

As she was about to push open her bedroom door, she suddenly noticed a tall figure standing in the corridor.0

The person suddenly walked towards her.0

"Ji Chi?" Su Ci was taken aback.0

She hadn't noticed when he appeared, or had he been standing there all along?0

Ji Chi was still wearing his military training camouflage uniform. He strode over with a sharp, forceful air.0

He stood in front of Su Ci, his hard, cold face showing no emotion.0

Su Ci asked him, "What's wrong?"0

Ji Chi looked down at Su Ci, meeting her shimmering black eyes. For the first time, Ji Chi felt a pounding in his chest, a heartbeat that echoed in his ears.0

From a young age, he knew he could like very few things, so he had no excessive desires or fantasies about the world around him.0

This was the first time he wanted to fight for something.0

Ji Chi's hand slipped into his pocket as he looked at Su Ci.0

Just as he was about to speak, his gaze inadvertently landed on the girl's neck. Her skin was snow-white, and the small red mark was particularly noticeable.0

All the words suddenly stuck in his throat.0

Ji Chi's gaze darkened, and he looked away.0

"What did you want to say?" Su Ci looked at Ji Chi with confusion.0

Ji Chi's wildly pounding heart was forcibly suppressed, clenched tightly. He looked calmly at Su Ci.0

After military training, he had accidentally overheard someone talking about Lu Zhe's condition of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He had lost his reason, gone mad, and desperately wanted to ask her for confirmation.0

If that was true, he thought maliciously, could he have a chance, could he wait for her...0

But now, it seemed all that didn't matter anymore.0

Ji Chi regained his sanity, pulling his hand out of his pocket. "Is your foot better?"0

Su Ci nodded. "Yes, thank you for the ointment."0

Ji Chi pulled at the corner of his mouth. "That's good." His voice was low and a bit hoarse. "I won't bother you anymore."0

Ji Chi turned and walked back to his room, his tall figure looking a bit lonely.0

Su Ci frowned, not understanding what was going on.0

Closing the door, Ji Chi took out a small box from his pocket and opened it.0

Inside the box was a pure silver clip with a tiny rabbit on it, much more exquisite than the clumsy rabbit on Su Ci's ankle.0

Ji Chi closed the box.0

He opened the drawer, his gaze dark.0

Ji Chi placed the small box inside the drawer, hiding it away.0

...0

The next day, the weather was still hot. Standing on the playground, even through shoes, one could feel how scorching the ground was.0

Sweat continuously dripped from their foreheads and necks, and their clothes were soaked.0

Only after hearing "dismissed" did everyone finally relax, their straight backs collapsing.0

Lu Zhe sat under the shade of a tree, taking big gulps of water. His cold, stern face attracted many furtive glances from girls.0

If it weren't for the news on the forum, many girls would have already approached Lu Zhe to strike up a conversation.0

Yang Shujing walked slowly, and all the other spots were already occupied.0

She leisurely walked to a spot not far from Lu Zhe and sat down.0

Taking out a tissue, she removed her hat and gently wiped the sweat off her face.0

After a while, she hesitated and took out her phone, then turned to face Lu Zhe.0

"Lu classmate," Yang Shujing spoke in a low, soft voice, gentle and pleasant to hear in the hot weather.0

Lu Zhe looked at her.0

Yang Shujing showed him the school forum page on her phone. "Someone on the forum posted about you, saying you have ALS and won't live long."0

She looked sincerely at Lu Zhe. "You can file a complaint and ask the forum admin to delete it."0

Lu Zhe casually glanced at it; the words "ALS" were highlighted in red.0

Yang Shujing pocketed her phone, "Don't take their comments to heart."0

"I think you're amazing. Even the instructor praised you. You're much more capable than others and don't seem like you're sick at all." Yang Shujing looked at Lu Zhe with admiration, her voice gentle. "Everyone else is trying to avoid military training, but you're still persisting despite your condition. Lu Zhe, you're really amazing."0

If it were any other guy, being looked at by Yang Shujing with such admiration and adoration would have already stirred their emotions.0

Lu Zhe just nodded expressionlessly.0

Yang Shujing spoke with concern, "You should take care of your health. If you can't handle the training, you can tell the instructor and ask for leave."0

It was only then that Lu Zhe looked at her.0

Yang Shujing felt a tightness in her heart as she was gazed at by his dark eyes. Her gaze became shy, and her biting her lip betrayed her inner embarrassment.0

Lu Zhe coldly said, "I know my own condition."0

Yang Shujing nodded. "My father knows a doctor who specializes in treating ALS. He has a lot of experience in this area. I can add you as a friend, ask my father for the doctor's contact, and send it to you."0

Lu Zhe directly refused, "No need."0

The next moment, the instructor called for assembly, and Lu Zhe quickly stood up and left, not even glancing at Yang Shujing.0

Yang Shujing pocketed her phone, her eyes smiling, showing no embarrassment from being ignored by Lu Zhe.0

After military training.0

Yang Shujing had just returned to the dormitory, and her roommate called out to her, "Shujing, did you break up with Shen Shi?"0

"Yes," Yang Shujing sat down at her chair, "What's up?"0

The roommate said, "Shen Shi called me and asked me to relay that he wants to talk to you. He said you blocked him." She felt a bit unwilling, "If you have time, just give him a call. I've already passed on his message."0

Yang Shujing smiled and said, "We've already broken up. There's nothing to talk about. I don't want to give him hope and then disappoint him."0

The roommate was speechless.0

She and Yang Shujing were classmates in high school.0

To outsiders, Yang Shujing's appearance wasn't particularly beautiful, but her gentle, submissive eyes and the comfortable tenderness she exuded made her popular.0

In high school, many people liked her.0

What was unexpected was that Yang Shujing would actively pursue a boy in the class who was not in good health and had a cold, aloof personality.0

Not long after, Yang Shujing broke up with the boy and then pursued a senior who had a foot problem and was antisocial.0

Later, after breaking up with the senior, Yang Shujing began to take care of Shen Shi, who had just transferred to the school.0

Due to his heart condition, Shen Shi's personality was relatively quiet and dull.0

Initially, Shen Shi was cold towards Yang Shujing and didn't interact with her, but Yang Shujing's tenderness and persistence eventually wore him down.0

In the end, the young man lost in darkness was touched by Yang Shujing, who was as gentle as water, like a beam of light.0

Her roommate wasn't surprised to hear that Yang Shujing had broken up with Shen Shi. Everyone thought Yang Shujing was beautiful and warm, but her roommate knew her well enough to understand what kind of person she really was.0

At that moment, her roommate's phone rang again. She glanced at it and handed the phone to Yang Shujing. "Shen Shi is calling me again. You should answer it."0

Yang Shujing was in front of the mirror, about to apply a face mask. "I'm not answering. Just hang up."0

Her ??‌‌?‌‌???‌‌?‌‌‌??‌‌?‌????‌‌?‌?‌??‌‌?????‌‌????‌??‌‌‌??‌?‌‌????‌?‌‌???‌‌??‌‌?‌???‌‌??‌‌???‌‌??‌‌?‌‌??‌‌???‌‌??‌‌??‌‌??‌‌?‌‌????‌?‌‌???‌‌??‌‌?‌????‌‌?‌????‌‌‌??‌??‌‌?‌‌‌?‌‌???‌‌??‌‌‌??‌?‌‌??‌?‌‍roommate, holding the phone, couldn't help but say, "If you didn't like him, why did you get together with him in the first place?"0

Yang Shujing smiled. "I used to like him, but not anymore. You can tell him that I have someone I like now." She turned to look at her roommate. "The person I like now is Lu Zhe."0

Her roommate was surprised.0

She knew Lu Zhe from their class. He was tall and handsome, but she had seen the campus forum today, which mentioned that Lu Zhe had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).0

Her roommate frowned. "You don't really like Lu Zhe."0

Just like the other boys she had pursued before, Yang Shujing didn't really like them.0

Yang Shujing turned back to the mirror. "You're not me. How would you know what I'm thinking?"0

The person she liked now was indeed Lu Zhe. Someone with ALS, trapped in darkness, must feel so desperate.0

She could be Lu Zhe's light, his hope in life, his angel, giving him warmth.0

Her roommate asked, "What about Shen Shi?"0

Yang Shujing's tone was slightly impatient. "I don't like him anymore. He's too annoying, which is why I blocked him."0

Pursuing people who were trapped in darkness and becoming their savior was much more challenging than being with ordinary boys.0

This time, she had a feeling that Lu Zhe would be more challenging than any of the boys she had encountered before.0

Her roommate glanced at the screen of the phone, which was still lit up. She pressed the end call button. "Shujing, I hope you don't get yourself into trouble one day."0

After saying that, her roommate took the washbasin to the bathroom.0

Yang Shujing looked at herself in the mirror and smiled, shaking her head. Her roommate just didn't understand her.0

Becoming someone else's light was a good thing.0

The forum post about Lu Zhe remained popular. His good looks and terminal illness had attracted a lot of attention, keeping the post trending.0

Over the past two days at school, whenever people encountered Lu Zhe, they couldn't help but pay extra attention to him.0

Lu Zhe, however, wasn't affected by anyone. Back in high school, he had grown accustomed to the sympathetic or even disdainful gazes.0

He quietly sat under the shade of a tree. There were only two more days left of military training.0

The afternoon sun was scorching. After so many days, everyone's skin had darkened several shades. The girls, despite applying face masks and sunscreen every day, couldn't avoid getting darker. Moreover, their strict drill instructor had ramped up the training intensity in the past two days, leaving them too exhausted to worry about their skin. All they hoped for was the end of the military training.0

At that moment, Yang Shujing walked over to Lu Zhe with a thermos flask and sat down, not too close but not too far away.0

She unscrewed the thermos and poured some mung bean sweet soup into the lid.0

She handed the lid to Lu Zhe, speaking gently. "It's so hot today. I got some mung bean sweet soup from the cafeteria at noon. It can help cool you down. Would you like some?"0

Lu Zhe coldly refused. "No, thank you."0

Yang Shujing smiled warmly. "I washed the thermos and the lid. They're very clean. You can feel free to drink without any worries."0

Lu Zhe looked at her. His dark eyes were calm. "My girlfriend would mind."0

Yang Shujing's hand holding the lid tightened.0

She hadn't expected Lu Zhe to have a girlfriend.0

This didn't make sense.0

Lu Zhe had a terminal illness, and his life was limited. Everyone knew what ALS patients would eventually become. Logically, girls might feel sympathy for Lu Zhe, but no one would actually like him.0

Just like the boys she had pursued before, they had all suffered from discrimination, ridicule, and pity. No one had been willing to be with them.0

Only she didn't mind, becoming their savior.0

Yang Shujing retracted her hand, her face showing no trace of embarrassment. She sincerely said, "I'm sorry. I didn't think too much about it. I just thought it was too hot, and your health isn't good. The mung bean sweet soup can help cool you down."0

Lu Zhe looked away, not paying her any more attention.0

Yang Shujing gazed at the young man's stern profile. There was no denying that Lu Zhe was even more handsome than the boys she had pursued before.0

She didn't lose her composure. Instead, she reached out and tapped the boy in front of her. "I brought some mung bean sweet soup. Would you like some?"0

The boy was flattered. "Thank you."0

He took the lid from Yang Shujing. If not for his darkened skin from the sun, one could have easily seen him blushing.0

Yang Shujing smiled graciously. "You're welcome."0

Then, she held the thermos and sipped the mung bean sweet soup slowly, not bothering Lu Zhe again.0

It seemed as if her offer to Lu Zhe had been a casual, kind gesture, not something she had planned.0

...0

The air conditioner in the room kept the temperature comfortable, making it easy to feel drowsy.0

Su Ci had no idea about the forum post regarding Lu Zhe. She was preoccupied with saving golden cotton candy.0

The golden cotton candy she had earned by saving the little fat boy earlier had been split: half went to Lu Zhe, and the other half was kept for Fu Gui.0

Fu Gui had leveled up again.0

It told her that Lu Zhe needed to consume forty-nine golden cotton candies to be cured.0

Su Ci lay half-reclined in the hanging chair, eating fruit and counting how many people she had saved and how many golden cotton candies Lu Zhe had eaten.0

After a while, Su Ci realized she had earned twelve golden cotton candies, with nine going to Lu Zhe after splitting some with Fu Gui.0

That meant she still needed to save forty more people.0

Saving so many people wasn't easy for her, but it wasn't particularly difficult either. It was just a matter of time.0

Su Ci felt that saving forty-nine people to get Lu Zhe was worth it.0

Thinking about this, she happily squinted her eyes.0

Her bare feet swayed with the movement of the hanging chair. Su Ci leaned lazily against the backrest, her dark eyes sparkling.0

After completing her task, Lu Zhe would be hers.0