PAIN - CHAPTER 16:
The day of the oath-taking ceremony fell on a weekend.
The freshmen and sophomores had the day off,
but the senior students and their parents filled the school inside and out, bustling with energy.
Everything followed the usual pattern: marching in formation,
chanting slogans, shouting out solemn promises from the chest.
Except Bai Xun Yin didn’t have to do any of that.
Her silence, for once, was a gift. She couldn’t chant,
couldn’t swear loyalty, couldn’t shout with the crowd.
After some consideration, Teacher Yu Shen decided she’d be more
useful helping backstage than out in the parade.
There wasn’t much to help with anyway.
Other students carried chairs and flags,
all she had to do was check the speeches and set out bottles of water for the guests.
She carried an armful of water around the back of the stage,
slipping behind a massive banner and accidentally bumped into someone.
The impact wasn’t hard, but the bottles rolled out of her arms and clattered onto the ground.
In a school packed with students, bumping into people was nothing unusual.
Bai Xun Yin crouched quickly to pick up the bottles,
but froze when a pair of elegant high heels appeared in front of her.
A clear, calm female voice drifted above her head. Are you alright?
A graceful hand bent down to help her gather the bottles.
The voice struck Bai Xun Yin like a spark.
It was both unfamiliar and… known. She looked up and her breath caught.
The woman standing before her wore a lilac suit, every curve poised with quiet strength.
Her figure was that of a woman in her forties, mature yet radiant,
her skin smooth and glowing, her lips bright against pale skin.
When she tilted her head, shoulder-length curls brushed across her cheek.
Bai Xun Yin stared, eyes wide and shining.
The woman seemed amused. Straightening up,
she brushed her skirt and smiled with effortless grace.
Classmate, she said kindly, are you staring because you know me?
Bai Xun Yin nodded so quickly it was almost comical.
Her fingers tightened around the bottle until her knuckles whitened.
Yes she knew her.
Gu Yuan. A renowned physics professor, a researcher, a scientist.
And Bai Xun Yin’s idol.
She’d watched every one of Gu Yuan’s lectures online,
bought her books, read her interviews, even her papers like a fan chasing a star.
She had dreamed of meeting her someday at a university lecture.
She had never expected her idol to simply appear out of nowhere,
in the middle of her high school ceremony, like a dream stepping into daylight.
Gu Yuan noticed the awe in her face and smiled knowingly.
You like physics, don’t you?
Bai Xun Yin bit her lip, frustrated that she couldn’t speak. She nodded again, hard.
Didn’t think I’d run into a high schooler who recognizes me,
Gu Yuan said, glancing at her watch. I have to speak at your ceremony soon,
so we’ll have to save our chat for another time, little one. Until we meet again.
Before Bai Xun Yin could even react, a few teachers and administrators hurried over, beaming.
Professor Gu, this way please.
Professor Gu, it’s an honor for our school to have you here.
The familiar rhythm of polite official talk faded into the air as
they led Gu Yuan away toward the stage.
Bai Xun Yin stood frozen, watching that graceful figure climb the steps, her heart trembling.
It felt unreal like a dream she didn’t want to wake from.
She had always hoped that someday, in college,
she might attend one of Gu Yuan’s open lectures.
She never imagined the dream would come true this early.
Her heart was so light she forgot all about the water bottles still in her arms.
A smile bloomed quietly on her face.
Then a voice broke through her daze.
Bai Xun Yin.
Yu Luo Yin’s tone was sharp with irritation.
She turned to see him school jacket half-zipped, dark hair damp with heat,
his sharp eyes fixed on her like she’d done something wrong.
What was he even angry about now? She hadn’t done anything.
But Bai Xun Yin was in too good a mood to care.
She pulled out her phone and typed patiently. Teacher asked me to bring water.
She pointed at the box beside her.
They asked a girl to carry this? Yu Luo Yin snorted, tapping the box with his knuckle.
Don’t bother. I’ll take it. Go sit with your parents are they here?
She blinked, then nodded.
Then go, he said. Or are you planning to keep doing the heavy lifting?
She frowned and typed again. But aren’t you about to give your speech?
Everyone knew Yu Luo Yin had been chosen as the student representative speaker.
He raised a brow, pretending nonchalance. Oh? You’re that concerned about me?
Her cheeks heated instantly. Her reply was stiff and fast. All the students know.
Yu Luo Yin chuckled, clearly entertained. Fine, my mistake.
But let me help you anyway. Otherwise you’ll miss my speech
and then who would I be performing for?
His words landed too easily, careless but piercing.
It was ridiculous how one boy could sound so natural
saying things that made your heart clench.
The thrill of meeting Gu Yuan still lingered in Bai Xun Yin’s chest,
making it impossible to stay mad. She tried to glare at him,
but it came out softer than intended almost playful.
Yu Luo Yin smiled, hoisted the box effortlessly, and
before walking off, pointed toward the parent section.
His lips moved silently: Wait for me.
Maybe all young people were like this reckless, dramatic, craving a little romance.
Maybe he just didn’t want her to look away.
But to want something like that, maybe she mattered just a little more than he’d admit.
Bai Xun Yin felt her heart lift, and before she could stop herself,
she smiled back at him and nodded.
It was the first time she’d ever responded to him like that.
The first time she’d smiled at him, really smiled.
Her pale face seemed to glow, her eyes curving like soft peach petals.
Yu Luo Yin froze for a heartbeat.
For one wild second, he wanted to kiss her.
But he held it in. Desire and restraint clashed quietly in his chest.
He dropped his gaze, his lips curling in a small, unreadable smile.
When he finally stepped onto the stage, it felt like fire and ice burned together in his heart.
Under thousands of eyes, he stood tall before the microphone.
The sunlight washed over his face, his posture steady and proud.
Respected leaders, teachers, fellow students…
The words of his speech were ordinary, the kind written for every ceremony.
But from his mouth, they carried a kind of quiet gravity.
He wore only his school uniform, yet he looked like he belonged in another world slim,
calm, the air around him charged with quiet brilliance.
To Bai Xun Yin sitting among the crowd, Yu Luo Yin outshone even the sun.
She couldn’t look away.
Only when he wasn’t beside her could she dare to watch him this freely.
No wonder girls like Sheng Chu Ran fell for him. No wonder so many others did too.
Yu Luo Yin was the kind of boy who seemed to hold the world’s light in his hands.
Even the smallest sliver that escaped through his fingers could dazzle anyone nearby.
He was everything that youth dreamed of handsome,
untouchable, a storm wrapped in sunlight.
And in the quiet corners of her heart, Bai Xun Yin finally admitted it.
She couldn’t resist him.