PAIN - CHAPTER 6:
Bai Xun Yin never expected Yu Luo Yin to help her.
She bit her lip, flustered, wanting to say thank you but her phone was still in the classroom.
All she could do was mouth the words, thank you.
Yu Luo Yin lifted a chair with one hand, effortless and casual.
Seeing her silent gratitude, he asked with a lazy grin, So you really want to thank me?
Bai Xun Yin nodded hard.
Then hold the umbrella properly. Stop leaning it all my way.
You’re blocking my view.
She didn’t seem to understand the difference between holding an umbrella
for him and with him. Half her body was already exposed to the rain.
Did he, a grown man, really need to be kept that dry?
Her slender neck flushed pink. She smiled shyly but didn’t move.
She stubbornly kept the umbrella tilted over his head.
Yu Luo Yin had no way to deal with her stubbornness except
to walk faster toward the senior building.
When he carried Bai Xun Yin’s stool into the classroom,
a small commotion rippled through the room.
Students who had already finished moving their furniture looked up in shock Yu Luo Yin,
the Yu Luo Yin, was here.
And he was helping Bai Xun Yin.
Several curious glances slid toward Sheng Chu Ran,
who was by the window reapplying makeup.
Her face was so stiff with anger that not even her foundation could hide it.
Stay put, Yu Luo Yin told Bai Xun Yin without glancing at anyone else.
Then he turned and left.
The girl watched him walk away, still stunned.
He’d taken her umbrella, clearly to stop her from going back out.
So… was he planning to move her desk too?
Bai Xun Yin stood frozen in place. Droplets from her soaked
ponytail traced a cold line down her neck.
Bai Xun Yin. Sheng Chu Ran’s voice cracked through the noise, sharp and tense.
Why did Yu Luo Yin help you?
That was what everyone else was wondering too. Dozens of eyes darted toward her.
But Sheng Chu Ran’s stare was the fiercest accusatory, almost trembling.
Bai Xun Yin frowned slightly. She didn’t know the answer either.
But if she said that, Sheng Chu Ran would never believe her.
Say something! Sheng Chu Ran’s temper snapped.
She shoved Bai Xun Yin against the wall. How do you even know Yu Luo Yin?
Almost every girl in school knew Sheng Chu Ran was after Yu Luo Yin.
No one else dared to get close. So why would he help this mute girl?
A prickling unease twisted in Sheng Chu Ran’s chest.
Her palms were damp she didn’t know if it was from rain or sweat.
Bai Xun Yin hit the wall softly, her body delicate and yielding.
She looked at Sheng Chu Ran, her gaze cool, a hint of disdain flickering in her dark eyes.
Her lashes lifted slowly, and for a moment, Sheng Chu Ran’s spine went cold.
Oh, right. You can’t talk, can you. Sheng Chu Ran
scoffed after a long silence, pretending to laugh it off.
A mute like you dares to compete with me?
Bai Xun Yin narrowed her eyes slightly. She saw it then
the insecurity trembling beneath Sheng Chu Ran’s arrogance.
So that’s what she’s afraid of.
But Bai Xun Yin had never intended to compete for anything.
The whole thing felt meaningless.
She lowered her gaze, brushed past Sheng Chu Ran,
and sat down at her desk the one Yu Luo Yin had carried in for her.
Why had he done that, really?
Yu Luo Yin’s just being nice, Sheng Chu Ran said loudly enough for everyone to hear,
like she was performing for the room.
If he saw any girl moving furniture, he’d help.
Don’t get the wrong idea no need for anyone to start dreaming.
It was a clear attempt to stake her claim.
But everyone knew Yu Luo Yin didn’t return her feelings.
Who exactly was she declaring her sovereignty to?
Ridiculous.
Still, a few students rushed to agree with her,
while others watched Bai Xun Yin with growing interest.
Bai Xun Yin took off her wet jacket and wrung it dry.
Her face remained calm, indifferent,
as if Sheng Chu Ran’s words were just noise in the background.
She had no interest in watching clowns perform,
even when the clown was right in front of her.
Not long after, Yu Luo Yin returned under the curious eyes of the entire class
carrying Bai Xun Yin’s desk.
Sheng Chu Ran was still hovering nearby. Her eyes lit up at once, and she hurried forward.
Yu Luo Yin, your clothes are soaked. I brought a hair dryer let me help you dry off!
Only Sheng Chu Ran would bring a hair dryer and a full set of cosmetics to school.
The three of them Yu Luo Yin, Bai Xun Yin, and Sheng Chu Ran
stood in a strange triangle that made everyone’s curiosity burn brighter.
People loved gossip. It was human nature.
But Yu Luo Yin didn’t give them much to imagine.
He ignored both girls completely.
Like Sheng Chu Ran said, maybe it really was just a casual favor.
He set the desk in front of Bai Xun Yin, ran a hand through his dripping black hair,
and left without another word.
A few drops fell from his hair onto Bai Xun Yin’s desk.
She lowered her gaze, and in the quiet that followed, she heard Sheng Chu Ran sigh with relief.
For once, Yu Luo Yin’s indifference made her happy.
She even hummed a little tune as she swayed back to her seat.
Bai Xun Yin let her hair down to dry and reached into her desk for a spare uniform.
As she lifted the books, a folded note fluttered out and landed on the floor.
She froze. That hadn’t been there before.
She picked it up.
Written in dark ink, the handwriting sharp and powerful, were three simple words:
Remember to repay me.
Yu Luo Yin never did anything without expecting something in return.
Bai Xun Yin stared at the note for a long moment before folding it neatly away.
When all the desks had finally been moved, their teacher, Shen Langli,
stepped onto the podium and began the usual speech about summer break.
Study hard, don’t play too much, next semester you’ll be seniors.
Finish this year strong and you’ll have plenty of time for fun later.
Bai Xun Yin only half listened. Her phone buzzed on her lap—Amo had sent a message.
Yinyin, are you done moving desks? It’s still raining in Linlan.
She looked out the window. The heavy downpour had softened into a misty drizzle.
Almost as if the rain had stopped just for them.
Even a faint rainbow shimmered at the edge of the sky.
A strange, light feeling filled her chest. She typed back:
Amo, I met someone… special.
Back in Yu Luo Yin’s classroom, someone tossed him a towel.
Hey, Yu-ge, did you really go help that mute girl move her desk?
What else would I be doing? Yu Luo Yin chuckled. Playing in the rain?
His friends laughed.
You sure have a unique way of chasing girls, Lu Ye teased.
Why wait until she’s drenched before stepping in?
They had all finished early and gone to help at the other building.
Because of a bet to see who could win Bai Xun Yin’s heart
the others had egged Yu Luo Yin on until he finally went.
He’d stood in the shadows, watching her struggle alone.
A thin girl, delicate, trying to lift desks by herself in the pouring rain.
Only when she ran out of strength did he stroll forward, calm as ever, to help.
Lu Ye still wanted to kick him for it.
She’s too fragile for that, he grumbled. If you hadn’t gone, I would’ve helped myself.
That’s why you never get anywhere, Yu Luo Yin said with a lazy smile.
Helping her right away isn’t half as romantic as sharing the rain.
He remembered how her ears had turned pink under the umbrella, glowing against her pale skin.
Zhou Xin Sui pushed up his glasses. Yu-ge, he said thoughtfully,
are you doing this for the bet… or do you actually like her?
The room went quiet. Even the others looked up in surprise.
Yu Luo Yin, like her? The mute girl?
He didn’t answer right away. The towel muffled his laugh. What do you think?
Zhou Xin Sui hesitated. Honestly, she’s really pretty. It wouldn’t be strange if you did.
Exactly.
Yu Luo Yin tossed the towel onto his desk, his wet hair softening into a loose, clean mess.
His features were elegant, but his smile was wicked.
Maybe so. But I’m only doing it for the bet.