Chapter 3, Stardust

As I changed my shoes, I said, "Dad, I need to step out for a bit. You can go ahead and eat, no need to wait for me."

Dad seemed to have heard the noise, and he poked his head out of the kitchen with a puzzled expression, asking: "Daughter, what are you planning to do?"

I close my eyes, the sunlight falls on my face, and before me is a vast expanse of red

Aunt He Pei has been hospitalized! This news came as a complete surprise. Without much thought, I hurriedly changed my clothes and rushed out of the house.

Before Chen Qiaoluo could speak, I self-reproachfully said: "It is all my fault, if it weren't for me ..."

Upon returning from the cafeteria with a meal for Gu Yu, I saw them confronting each other at the door of the hospital room. Gu Yu's complexion was quite poor, while Chen Qiaoluo stood in front of him with a face full of sorrow

I am sitting in the dining room of my home, while outside there is a raging storm. My father is bustling about in the kitchen. I rest my chin on my hand and gaze out the window, where the once upright camphor tree is being blown askew by the wind. On the television, the local news station is broadcasting current events. After listening for a while, I suddenly recall the litter of kittens I saw under the bridge last time.

He said: "Zhu Jun, thank you."

Chen Qiaoluo did not speak, but kept staring at me for a long time before finally lowering her eyelids and softly saying: "Zhu Junhao, could you please stop liking Gu Yu?"

Chen Qiaoluo over there also noticed the commotion on my side and hurriedly turned his head to look. Seeing that I was trapped by someone, he became distracted and immediately received a punch to his stomach from another person

The next time I saw Chen Qiaoluo was beneath the city bridge. A few days ago, Li Zi had sadly informed me that she had lost a cherished bracelet here. Today, as I happened to pass by with nothing to do, I thought I would take a look for her.

Chen Qiaoluo's gaze involuntarily glanced down towards the bridge arch.

What a casual attitude towards me

Seeing him like this, I immediately jogged over and carefully tended to his wounds, one by one. After applying the last band-aid, I spoke up with a sense of guilt: "Chen Qiaoluo, I am sorry."

I received a call from Xiao Hei Ge on the night after meeting Chen Qiao Luo for a week. His tone was slightly anxious as he said: "Jun, can you get in touch with A Luo? He Pei Jie suddenly fainted just now and has been sent to the city center hospital, but I can't reach A Luo by phone. If you can contact him, please have him come to the hospital immediately."

He said: "Chen Qiaoluo, there is no need for you to come over and pretend to be concerned."

"Really?" he asked uncertainly

Chen Qiaoluo over there seemed unaware that I was only pretending to sleep. He glanced at his phone and said, "Let me take you home, it's already past 7 o'clock."

The young man before me, I once thought he would be my best friend, yet I never anticipated that our friendship would be so fragile in the face of the test of time

Dr. Li's words rendered Gu Yu silent, his face marked by a profound sense of desolation

I watched him crouch down, lowering his head to stroke those kittens, and a surge of warmth suddenly welled up in my heart

At that moment, I realized that he was carrying a bag of food in his hand, which seemed to have been specially bought for these kittens to eat

It turns out that time has already passed such a long way

Compared to him, I truly feel like a failure

Just as I was looking down to help Li Zi find her bracelet, the sound of a cat meowing brought me back to my senses. Following the sound, I found a few newly born kittens nestled under a nearby bridge. Their mother did not seem to be around, and the kittens appeared to be hungry, continuously meowing.

I followed behind him as we walked towards the bridge tunnel. Although it was cold inside due to the shelter, we were not attacked by the rain. Seeing the bag of food that Chen Qiaoluo had placed there, I suddenly remembered that in my haste to rush over, I had brought nothing with me. If it weren't for Chen Qiaoluo coming here in advance, I would probably be here anxiously waiting.

When I woke up again, I was still lying on Chen Qiaoluo's back just like last time. The sky had already turned completely dark, and I had no idea how he had carried me out of the school.

As I walked down from upstairs, before even exiting the hallway, I could smell the scent of the earth after the rain. Braving the rain, I finally made it to the entrance of the community, where there were hardly any vehicles passing by on the street outside. I waited there for a while, then made up my mind and simply decided to walk over.

I hurriedly followed suit.

Gu Yu's mother lay on the bed with her eyes tightly closed, her face devoid of any color, and her features strikingly resembled those of Gu Yu. I do not know what illness Gu Yu's mother is suffering from, but I understand that at this moment, what she desires most is likely someone to keep her company

Seeing his indifferent expression, I immediately lost my temper, shook off his hand that was holding me, and with a hint of sarcasm on my face, said: "It really troubles you, Young Master Chen, to be concerned; whether I live or die probably has nothing to do with you."

Why do these two people know each other? I have never heard Chen Qiaoluo mention it before.

As soon as I finished speaking, Chen Qiaoluo hurriedly ran upstairs. I could not keep up with his pace, and by the time I reached the third floor, I saw him standing at the door without entering.

I chuckled self-deprecatingly and said, "Chen Qiaoluo, I probably haven't told you about my family. Actually, when I was in elementary school, my mother divorced my father. The reason for the divorce is quite ridiculous; she felt constrained by the family. At that time, she disregarded my presence and directly left with her suitcase. I still remember her last words to this day; she said she did not love my father and did not want to spend her life with someone she did not love. At that time, she disregarded my presence and directly left with her suitcase. I still remember her last words to this day; she said she did not love my father and did not want to spend her life with someone she did not love.

Since I learned about the relationship between Gu Yu and Chen Qiaoluo, I have been more diligent in taking care of Gu Yu's mother at the hospital. I do not know whether this is for myself or for Chen Qiaoluo

Time seemed to come to a standstill

I cannot imagine that a young child, after experiencing so much, would still strive to live so diligently. Yes, to live diligently. Perhaps Chen Qiaoluo's truancy and lack of learning have disappointed everyone, but I know it is only because of Aunt He Pei. He does not want the only person he can rely on in his life to suffer any longer; his filial piety is enough to move everyone.

I still remember that day was a Friday, and I was fortunate enough to win a card from a classmate. However, when I happily returned home, my parents were not there. I thought they had just gone out to run errands, so I went out to play with the kids on the next street. Usually, at this time, my mother would come out to look for me, but when the last child was called back home for dinner, she still had not appeared, and I began to feel that something was amiss. A child's heart is always sensitive; when I hurriedly rushed back home, I saw several police officers walking around my house, and my mother was sitting on the sofa, crying incessantly. Usually, at this time, my mother would come out to look for me, but when the last child was called back home for dinner, she still had not appeared, and I began to feel that something was amiss. A child's heart is always sensitive; when I hurriedly rushed back home, I saw several police officers walking around my house, and my mother was sitting on the sofa, crying incessantly

Seeing this, I hurried over to assist him

"It's nothing." I stood up and looked at him, saying, "Don't worry, I really do have some urgent matters to attend to."

Seeing me like this, Chen Qiaoluo was too lazy to argue with me any further, and after leaving a remark of "Whatever you say," he came over.

I have never seen such a Grain Rain; it is as if a storm is brewing in his eyes

The matter of Chen Qiaoluo is a scar in my heart that has yet to heal, and I cannot expose it to others.

Upon seeing this, I couldn't help but walk over and pat his shoulder, saying, "Well done, Chen Qiaoluo, hiding such things in a place like this."

I did not know how long I had pretended to be asleep, until the shock in my heart was digested, and only then did I feign drowsiness, rubbing my eyes and saying: "Ah, how did I fall asleep?"

My face was slightly turned aside, yet my hands could not break free no matter what.

To reach the bridge tunnel, one must walk down the dirt road from the bridgehead, but with the rain pouring so heavily, that road has long been filled with mud and is even somewhat prone to landslides. However, at this moment, I could not afford to think about so much; I picked up a branch from the ground and leaned on it as I made my way down.

I slowly walked up to him, knowing that he was afraid that Aunt He Pei would be upset to see him like this

I disdainfully wanted to shake off his hand, kicked him hard with my foot, and said sternly: "Let go of me!"

I stood there in a daze for a while before I heard Chen Qiaoluo's slightly sad voice: "Zhu Junhao, do you still have feelings for Gu Yu?"

As I approached, Gu Yu asked, "How did you end up here?"

Then what about you? I looked straight into his eyes and asked

Of course it's true, just hurry up and leave. I gave him a gentle push forward, waved my hand and said, "See you at school tomorrow, I'm heading home now"

Chen Qiaoluo shifted his gaze back to the hospital room, and after a while, he requested of Xiao Heige: "Please do not tell my mother about my injury, I do not want her to worry."

I watched them with great interest until I heard footsteps behind me. When I turned around, I saw Chen Qiaoluo standing behind me

How is it?" The young man suddenly burst into laughter and said, "Just now, you hit my brothers so many times. How could I possibly let you go without retaliating? Chen Qiaoluo, I tell you, right now you should obediently stand there and let them hit you. Once they are satisfied, I will naturally let you go. If you dare to fight back, I cannot guarantee that something unsightly will appear on your girlfriend's beautiful face.

Look, we all know that Chen Qiaoluo is this kind of person. Even if he suffers severe injuries outside, he will not reveal a single bit to Aunt He Pei, simply because she is the person he loves the most, the only one in this world who is his sole companion.

If you can't stand it, then don't listen. I looked at him defiantly

Isn't it laughable? She simply does not understand what responsibility means, nor does she know how to be a mother. At that time, I did not understand her; now that I am growing older, I hate her even more, hate her for leaving without a word and for her irresponsibility. However, now that I hear you talk about your situation, I suddenly find my hatred to be so ridiculous. Regardless, I should be grateful to her for giving birth to me, shouldn't I? At the very least, without her, I would not have the wonderful life I have now.

Upon hearing my words, he released me and attempted to run outside

Chen Qiaoluo often played around with others, and for a while, he didn't seem to have the upper hand against the group in front of him. However, even so, my worries grew heavier and heavier. Just as I was worried about him, the young man who I had kicked earlier suddenly appeared by my side and grabbed me.

Chen Qiaoluo didn't speak again. Just as I was about to fall asleep, suddenly a shadow blocked the sun. Just as I was about to open my eyes to see what was going on, I suddenly felt a cold touch on my lips, followed by Chen Qiaoluo's voice.

Upon hearing his question, Little Black quickly replied, "The doctor has already examined Miss He Pei just now. There is nothing serious, just because she has been working too hard lately. She just needs to take care of herself and rest."

That is money, with one after another red hundred-yuan bills flying in the empty corridor.

Chen Qiaoluo's mouth lifted with a self-deprecating smile. He said, "That year, my dad was working on the construction site, and Guyu's dad was the supervisor. It took two years from the start of the construction to its completion. During those two years, the developers used various excuses to stall the workers and withhold their wages. My dad and his colleagues were angry, so they went to confront them. Those big guys were all rough and ready, and they started fighting at the slightest provocation. They never thought that it would lead to such a big accident in the end."

I quickly brought my backpack from my shoulder to the front when I saw the situation. If I remember correctly, my dad put some bread and milk in my bag this morning. Sure enough, when I opened the backpack, I saw these things inside.

I was contemplating countless possibilities in my mind, and just as I hesitated, unsure whether to disturb them, Gu Yu suddenly raised his hand, and the bag he had been holding came crashing down onto Chen Qiaoluo's face

Well then, goodbye

As his voice fell, I saw Chen Qiaoluo pause and stand still. He stared at the young man and asked, "What do you want?"

It seems that he never thought I would compromise. Chen Qiaoluo was taken aback, then hesitantly asked, "Zhu Junhao, what did you say?"

Since the last incident, I have come to understand that the relationship between Chen Qiaoluo and me has changed. We can no longer joke around carelessly as we did before, mocking each other's flaws.

Just as I was getting drunk, I seemed to hear the voice of Chen Qiaoluo.

In an instant, the game of me chasing him unfolded on this crowded aisle.

Well, I told her.

When he mentioned me, my eyebrows involuntarily furrowed. This young man looks sleazy no matter how you look at him.

I hung up the phone and walked up to Chen Qiaoluo, asking, "Do you know if Auntie He Pei knows that you're out now?"

I don't know how long it has been. When I saw him stop talking, my heart felt like a desert. After glancing at him, I didn't say anything and turned around to leave.

It is unknown how long it took, and then he opened his eyes. After a while, as if he remembered something, he quickly got up from the ground and ran out.

At that moment, he also noticed me, ran over, waved his hand in front of me, and teasingly said: "What's wrong, Miss Zhu? Who are you staring at so intently? Don't tell me you've suddenly fallen in love with me!"

Just as I thought I was going to fall and get hurt, suddenly a pair of hands caught me from below, and then Chen Qiaoluo's face appeared in front of me.

Chen Qiaoluo seemed to have not heard what I said, as he walked directly to the nearby pile of waste. He reached behind the pile and, after a short while, pulled out a few cans of beer.

Meeting Chen Qiaoluo again was just a fleeting moment in this busy time. The next day, I returned to school still as arrogant and aloof as ever, Zhu Yunhao.

"Wish Junhao well, how did you come over?" His voice was puzzled.

Go ahead, if you have something to do, you can leave first. The young man put down his hand that was blocking us and pulled me over, saying, "But this little girl has to stay."

Then, a cold and indifferent voice of the drizzle sounded.

Little Hei sighed and remained silent.

I'm fine. I glanced at Chen Qiaoluo and walked to the side, continuing to say, "I'll go back in a while. Don't worry, I promise to get home safely."

We sat side by side on the stands of the football field, beneath us was a green lawn. I opened the pull tab of the beer can and handed it to him. Chen Qiaoluo took it silently and drank a big gulp while looking up. Seeing him like this, I also tilted my can and drank it all.

Only I know that all of this is just me deceiving myself.

These days, I have been in great agony. At this moment, when I see Chen Qiaoluo, I realize that everything is just because I can't let go. When I first became friends with him, didn't I already know that he was a bad boy? So why am I now troubling myself with these things?

"Chen Qiaoluo, how dare you deceive me!" I screamed as I rushed over, intending to hit him, but he swiftly dodged out of my reach.

Chen Qiaoluo returned to school a week later. When I saw him in the school hallway, I truly thought I was seeing things

Just as I was hesitating and unsure of what to do, my phone in my pocket vibrated. I took it out to see that it was a call from my father

I shook my head at him, quickly breaking free from his embrace, and ran to Chen Qiaoluo's side, kneeling down. My voice had long since become hoarse, and I kept calling out: "Chen Qiaoluo, Chen Qiaoluo..."

Haha, take it back? Gu Yu suddenly sneered and said, "Chen Qiaoluo, do you think I will be grateful to you just because of this? Don't dream, and don't forget who caused all of this."

Before I could finish my words, I was interrupted by Chen Qiaoluo, who hurriedly asked Xiao Heige, "What on earth is going on with my mother? Why did she suddenly faint out of the blue?"

Seeing him say this, Chen Qiaoluo completely gave up resistance and allowed those people to punch and kick him

After Chen Qiaoluo finished responding to me, he lowered his head again to play with the kitten

As expected, just as my words fell, the cue stick in his hand dropped to the ground, making a crisp sound on the tiled floor. He grabbed my shoulder and anxiously asked, "What happened to my mom? How could she suddenly faint out of nowhere?"

I stood up, and due to squatting for an extended period, my calves had completely gone numb. I stumbled, and just when I thought I would fall to the ground, a pair of hands firmly grabbed me.

Xiao Hei's words made us all breathe a sigh of relief

Could it be that I followed him all the way here? No, how could I possibly say that? I bit my lower lip tightly and said nothing at all

I patted him on the shoulder, jumped down from his back, and said in frustration: "How did I pass out again? You really should have called me."

When I handed him the money I picked up, he merely lowered his head and gently asked, "Zhu Junhao, are you disappointed in me?"

It is all my fault; if it weren't for me, Chen Qiaoluo wouldn't have been so severely injured. Following him all the way to the hospital, the guilt is almost overwhelming me. Seeing Chen Qiaoluo, with a face full of injuries, asking at the nurse's station where Aunt He Pei is, I hurried over and said: "She is on the third floor; Brother Xiao Hei told me about it earlier."

It seems he never expected to encounter me here, and he was just as stunned as I was.

My heart feels as if it is being gently gnawed by ants, leaving only a subtle and prolonged pain that erodes my entire being inch by inch

In the end, even I could not help but feel sad.

As soon as I picked up the phone, I heard his anxious voice: "Daughter, where on earth have you been? Why haven't you come back yet?"

I heard him continue: "In the following days, my mother always left early and returned late, and her eyes were almost always red and swollen during that time. I had asked about my father's whereabouts a few times, but whenever I brought it up, she would always cry, so I no longer dared to ask. In our old street, news always spread particularly fast; within a week, the news of my father's murder had spread throughout the entire street. The neighbors began to point fingers at our family, and the children who used to play with me no longer wanted to be around me. They said their parents told them I was the son of a murderer, that the blood flowing in my veins was inherently tainted."

A moment of worry enveloped my heart, and I suddenly stood up, preparing to go out

They seemed to recognize Chen Qiaoluo, continuously scratching his palm with their little claws. It appears that he has visited here more than once during these days

I know that Aunt He Pei is his Achilles' heel

I sighed and walked over to his side, standing on tiptoe to use a cotton swab dipped in antiseptic to clean his wound. Perhaps the pain from the antiseptic touching the wound brought him back to his senses, as Chen Qiaoluo turned his face to look at me. My hand holding the cotton swab paused in mid-air. After a while, he finally moved my hand away with his own, walked over to a nearby bench, sat down, and sighed, saying: "Come here, you must be tired standing on tiptoe all this time"

I do not know how long it has been when I finally heard him softly say to me: "Zhu Jun, it has been a long time since we last met"

Indeed, have you not heard of the most venomous of women's hearts

Where could Chen Qiaoluo be? A City is so large, where should I go to find him? I am standing at the entrance of the community, feeling lost and helpless

I turned around to look at Chen Qiaoluo, and in his eyes, there was an emotion I could not comprehend, deep as an endless abyss. I was taken aback for a moment, and after a while, I said with a hint of guilt: "How is that possible? I have always been able to take it or leave it when it comes to Zhu Jun. Since Gu Yu does not like me, there is no need for me to be so eager to like him, right"

Finally, when I reached the west wall, the figure of Chen Qiaoluo appeared. He was bent over with a cue in hand, preparing to break, surrounded by a few delinquent-looking youths

As soon as my father heard that I was going out, he immediately widened his eyes in disbelief and looked at me, saying: "It's raining so heavily, what are you going out for? What if something happens on the way? Aren't you trying to make me worry to death?"

Meeting his gaze, I spoke earnestly: "I say, let us make amends."

In the following days, I went to the hospital almost every day after school to visit Aunt He Pei, but I never saw Chen Qiaoluo again. Occasionally, Aunt He Pei would ask me what Chen Qiaoluo had been busy with lately, and I could only tell her that Chen Qiaoluo was occupied with something. I never told her everything about Chen Qiaoluo, as I, like Chen Qiaoluo, did not want to worry her

I do not know how much time has passed, when Chen Qiaoluo suddenly raised his head and glanced in my direction. Upon seeing me, a faint bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He then crouched down to pick up the banknotes that had fallen on the ground

Just as the two of us were bickering and walking forward like before, Gu Yu happened to walk towards us. I felt a sudden panic, and even my steps became disordered

My slightly sarcastic remark made Chen Qiaoluo frown. He looked at me and said, "Zhu Junhao, you don't need to speak with such sharpness."

Upon careful calculation, it has been nearly a month since I last contacted Chen Qiaoluo. Now, seeing him again, he seems to have lost a lot of weight; his once delicate face appears somewhat sunken, and he looks rather dispirited overall

As soon as he finished speaking, the people around him burst into laughter

I could not respond to Chen Qiaoluo's words, I could only silently drink with him. It turns out that the reason Chen Qiaoluo skipped class to work was like this, I had misunderstood him for such a long time.

Looking through the glass window on the door, Aunt He Pei seems to have fallen asleep, while Xiao Hei sits on the chair at the edge of her bed

Chen Qiaoluo glanced at him, his face displaying displeasure at being obstructed, and he said: "I have urgent matters to attend to right now; we can discuss anything else later"

"Hmph, my alcohol tolerance is quite good," I shot him a glance and said, "Aren't you still supposed to go to work? There's no need to see me off; I can go back by myself."

It seems he had not considered that I would suddenly appear here; he was stunned for a while before finally asking, "Zhu Jun, how did you end up here?"

As I held his hand, Chen Qiaoluo turned back and gave me a weak smile, saying: "Don't be sad. I am not saying these things to elicit your sympathy. I just wanted to share these matters with you, so I spoke up."

The heart feels as if it is being pricked by a needle, aching with each puncture.

I stood in place, watching him gradually disappear from my sight. A certain part of my heart felt as if it had suddenly been hollowed out, with the wind incessantly blowing into it, leaving only a painful emptiness.

At this point, Chen Qiaoluo suddenly turned to look at me and said, "Zhu Junhao, have you ever experienced the feeling of helplessness and despair? That day when I was alone in the empty house, I was truly terrified to the point of almost dying. The unease and fear within me eroded my heart inch by inch. I had no idea what I should do or what I could do."

After he said this, he ignored me and walked directly towards the intersection on the left

"That is." Chen Qiaoluo handed me a can of beer and sat down directly on the ground

At that time, I knew something had happened at home, but I was unwilling to believe it. I walked over to ask my mother why my father had not yet returned, but she remained silent, only crying continuously. That day, the police stayed at our house for a long time, and by the time they left, my father still had not come back. I do not even know how I fell asleep; when I woke up again, my mother had already left the house. I wanted to look for her, but I had no clue where to start, so I could only stay at home alone, waiting silently.

Apart from the sound of the wind and the occasional meowing of the kitten, the underpass was eerily quiet. I glanced at Chen Qiaoluo with some discomfort, and after a while, I awkwardly spoke up, saying: "Thank you so much for earlier."

The sadness in Chen Qiaoluo's voice made me pause for a moment. Just when I didn't know what to do, he suddenly lifted his head again, returning to his usual playful demeanor, and said: "Haha, silly Zhu Jun, I was just teasing you, look how scared you are."

"What did you say? Say it again if you dare," one of the men shouted

I spoke softly for a few moments, and just after hanging up the phone, I noticed Gu Yu's gaze had already turned in my direction. It seemed he had not expected to encounter me here; he was momentarily taken aback, then waved at me.

I saw him motionless, gritted my teeth and ran to the nurse's station to get a band-aid and some antiseptic. When I returned to Chen Qiaoluo's side, he was still in the same position. A pang of pain struck my heart, and I walked over and softly said: "Chen Qiaoluo, let me take care of your wound first, otherwise it will be bad if it gets infected later"

This torment lasted for an indeterminate amount of time, until a stern voice broke the silence. When I regained my senses, I found myself embraced by someone, followed by a familiar yet gentle voice that began to speak.

Seeing that he no longer paid attention to me and walked ahead, all my previous anger erupted at that moment. I rushed over and blocked his path, shouting: "Chen Qiaoluo, how long do you intend to continue wallowing in self-despair? Do you think what you are doing makes you a hero? Let me tell you, you are nothing but a coward. I know the issues at home are making you miserable, but what about me? Am I not suffering too? Many times I have told myself that I no longer need to consider you a friend, but I cannot do it. I know the issues at home are making you miserable, but what about me? Am I not suffering too? Many times I have told myself that I no longer need to consider you a friend, but I cannot do it. Chen Qiaoluo, I cannot do it!"

"Why should I call you? What if you get drunk and cause trouble? Wouldn't I be the one to suffer?" Chen Qiaoluo said to me with a feigned seriousness.

Faced with my accusations, Chen Qiaoluo's expression gradually turned unpleasant. He lowered his head and did not look at me, standing silently in front of me. The sunlight fell upon him, and for some reason, I could discern a hint of desolation in him.

"Is Zhu Junhao well?" He frowned slightly and suddenly smiled, "What a wonderful name."

Upon seeing me like this, they quickly became enraged and rushed over, intending to strike me

Looking at them, I have gained a new understanding of responsibility

The distance from my home to the Central Bridge is not far, but the rain is too heavy, making each step difficult. My shoes are constantly filling with rainwater, and my calves feel cold all over. The umbrella I am holding quickly broke under the force of the wind and rain. Gritting my teeth, I simply discarded the umbrella and walked forward into the downpour.

Seeing my determination, my father sighed and suggested, "How about I take you there instead"

Time seemed to stretch out all of a sudden, and all that remained in my sight was Chen Qiaoluo curled up on the ground. Tears flowed continuously from my eyes, and my vision had long since become a blur

It seems like Gu Yu also saw me, their gaze paused on me for a few seconds before moving away.

It seemed that he sensed someone approaching. Xiao Hei Ge glanced over in our direction, and upon seeing the two of us, he cautiously moved the chair aside and stepped out. However, upon seeing Chen Qiaoluo, he couldn't help but be taken aback and asked, "What is going on? How did it end up like this?"

Just as I was about to sit down like him, he suddenly stopped me and stood up. When I was puzzled, he directly took off his school uniform and laid it on the ground, then said to me: "Now it's fine, we can't let our Miss Zhu sit on this dirty ground."

Little Hei Ge went in again, Chen Qiaoluo stood outside watching, and I accompanied him. Several times, passing nurses wanted to take him to bandage, but he refused.

However, just as I was about to follow, we were suddenly stopped by a person beside us. This young man appeared to be in his twenties, with a hint of a malicious smile on his face. He looked at Chen Qiaoluo and said, "Chen Qiaoluo, you are not being considerate. You have such a beautiful girl and you don't bring her out for us to see."

He said: "Zhu Jun, if one day you come to know the truth, I hope you will not hate me"

He seemed as if he had not heard what I said, still maintaining his original posture

I looked up and saw Xu Xuan looking at me with a worried expression. I did not know when he had appeared.

As we passed through the intersection, Chen Qiaoluo turned to me and said, "Zhu Junhao, you should hurry to school."

Chen Qiaoluo said: "Since my father was imprisoned, I have seen my mother take money out many times. Once, I secretly followed her and discovered that she was giving money to the family of the person my father killed. Over the years, my mother has been in poor health and can no longer earn much money, while Gu Yu's mother has been getting worse since that incident. I have no choice; I know that compensation is our responsibility. Since my mother can no longer repay, it falls to me to bear this burden. Over the years, my mother has been in poor health and can no longer earn much money, while Gu Yu's mother has been getting worse since that incident. I have no choice; I know that compensation is our responsibility. Since my mother can no longer repay, it falls to me to bear this burden. A son must repay his father's debts; this is the natural order of things."

I cast a disdainful glance at them and said, "They are nothing but a bunch of petty thugs, yet they truly believe themselves to be significant figures"

I had not anticipated encountering Chen Qiaoluo in this hospital room the next day

The sorrow in his eyes was like the rising tide of the sea, instantly submerging me, leaving only the sound of lonely winds in my chest

Go to the place I should go

It is all my fault; if I could lower my stance a bit, Chen Qiaoluo would not have to suffer so much now

You stand at the crossroads, looking back step by step

Just when I thought Chen Qiaoluo would get angry, I heard him soften his tone and say: "Guyu, please don't be like this. Auntie's health is the most important. You can hate me, resent me, but I beg you to take this money back."

I stayed in the hospital for an entire night. Several times I offered him the bread I had bought, but he shook his head in refusal. Although I felt sad inside, there was nothing I could do.

I cast a disdainful glance at them without saying a word

In my impression, Gu Yu has always been gentle and refined; I have never seen him so flustered. Startled, my body acted faster than my mind, and I got off the car directly.

I shook my head, but saw him stand up and walk outside. I stood there in a daze for a few seconds before chasing after him.

After this summer vacation, it seems that everything has begun to change. I even feel that I have grown significantly since hearing about the matters concerning Chen Qiaoluo and Gu Yu. The pride of Chen Qiaoluo and the resentment of Gu Yu stem from the fact that each of them carries too much on their shoulders

Chen Qiaoluo's irreverent expression quickly brought me back to my senses. I reached out and swatted away his hand that had been waving in front of my eyes, and said irritably: "Chen Qiaoluo, enough already. Even if you were the last man on this planet, I would never fall in love with you. Do me a favor and give up on this idea."

No need

After saying these words, Gu Yu did not look at Chen Qiaoluo again, turning around and walking into the hospital room, leaving Chen Qiaoluo standing there all alone. Beneath his feet were scattered hundred-yuan bills, and he stood there like a traveler without a way home

I stayed with Chen Qiaoluo in the hospital until dawn, and finally left the hospital with him.

I do not know how much time has passed, but after drinking two cans of beer, Chen Qiaoluo slowly began to speak: "Zhu Junhao, do you know? When I was young, I was very mischievous. At that time, my father would always chase me down the street with a stick. And whenever this happened, my mother would always stand up to protect me. My father listened to my mother, so I took advantage of her kindness towards me and continuously challenged his authority.

Seeing this, I felt a sudden panic and shouted loudly: "Chen Qiaoluo!"

The guilt within me surged as the intoxication took hold, and I leaned back against the steps with my eyes half-closed. After a while, I gently spoke up: "Chen Qiaoluo, you need not be too hard on yourself."

That kiss he gave me that evening, I can only regard as an unreal dream of my own making, to the extent that I do not even dare to remember it

I turned back to look at Chen Qiaoluo, his face appearing indistinct in the dim twilight.

The sound of the class bell echoed in my ears, yet none of us had any intention of going back. It had been a long time since I had skipped class, and indeed, whenever I encountered Chen Qiaoluo, I would transform into a different version of myself

In August, I worked at a restaurant with Chen Qiaoluo. I knew he needed money, so I accompanied him. He told me that I didn't have to do this, but I brushed it off with a laugh.

I was taken aback, and before I had a chance to react, I saw everything inside the black plastic bag fly out.

The Morning Star in late autumn

The relationship with Chen Qiaoluo has returned to the past because of this heavy rain. I no longer ask him what he is doing, nor do I urge him to go to school. It feels as if a weight has been lifted from my heart, and even Li Zi has remarked that I seem much happier than before. I know this is because of Chen Qiaoluo; we occasionally meet for meals and conversations as we used to, making me feel as if I have returned to the past.

The sun was still shining brightly outside as I caught up with Chen Qiaoluo and stopped him abruptly. At that moment, I did not know what was wrong with me; I just felt that I could not let him leave all alone.

Thinking of this, I immediately called the class monitor to ask for that girl's phone number. After hurriedly explaining my identity and intentions over the phone, I obtained the specific location of that billiard hall amidst the girl's confusion

Chen Qiaoluo glanced at me and after a while replied nonchalantly, "It's up to you."

During this period, my relationship with Li Zi has undergone a qualitative leap. Without Chen Qiaoluo, my life has gradually been filled by Li Zi. We often go shopping together, and she proudly shows me her collection of celebrity posters.

Chen Qiaoluo and I were clearly very close just a month ago, but why has everything changed in such a short time? I have heard people speak of the terrifying nature of time; it can easily overturn everything we hold dear.

Because of his support, I jumped down directly from above and stood up straight. The rain kept hitting us, and I looked into his eyes, asking in return: "Why can't I come over? But you, how did you end up here?"

I think that Chen Qiaoluo and I are perhaps like two straight lines on different trajectories. Although we once intersected, we will only drift further apart in the long years to come. And we will not look back.

"Chen Qiaoluo, Xiao Heige asked me to find you. He said your mother suddenly fainted just now and has been taken to the city center hospital." I looked at him and spoke without a trace of emotion.

We have all hidden the things we least want to face within ourselves, while telling everyone that everything is fine. As I comfort Aunt He Pei, I am also comforting myself, reminding myself that Chen Qiaoluo is still the same as he used to be

At the end of June, City A experienced a heavy rainstorm, and the entire city seemed on the verge of being submerged by the rainwater. Due to this sudden downpour, No. 12 Middle School also made an exception and suspended classes.

We did not speak again. After a while, the door of the operating room was opened from the inside, and then the doctor came out. Upon seeing this, Gu Yu immediately rushed over and asked, "Doctor Li, how is my mother?"

"It's nothing." He replied and did not say anything else

There is nothing to apologize for, he said淡淡地.

Just when I thought I was doomed, Chen Qiaoluo suddenly rushed in front of me to block those people. In an instant, both sides began to fight.

"No, I will not let her know," Chen Qiaoluo said firmly, looking at Aunt He Pei in the hospital room

I did not know how long I had been walking until I reached the central bridge; my body was completely soaked, and the prolonged journey in the rain left me feeling utterly exhausted

The sound of the wind seemed to amplify in that moment, and it was unclear how much time had passed before he gently opened his mouth and said: "Alright"

My heart felt as if it were covered by a silent wave, and I did not know how long it had been before I finally spoke: "Chen Qiaoluo, you should go take the university entrance exam. Only by being admitted to university will your life have hope, and you will be better able to make amends for the Gu family."

This rain has come at just the right time, and it has drenched me, causing me to suddenly awaken to reality

The desolation in his words made me unable to help but feel sad. I reached out to hold his hand, and his palm was icy cold. I opened my mouth, wanting to say something to comfort him, but the words just wouldn't come out. I thought that at this moment, what he needed most was not those empty words of comfort, but the genuine companionship of another person

Self-blame surged like a tidal wave, instantly engulfing me

It is unclear how much time has passed, until the sunset gradually painted the horizon red, Chen Qiaoluo finally spoke: "You must be very curious about the relationship between Gu Yu and me. The person who was accidentally killed by my father back then was Gu Yu's father."

I opened my mouth, and after a long while, I finally blurted out: "Let me treat you to a drink."

I was startled by Chen Qiaoluo's sudden action, and feeling flustered, I decided to pretend to be truly asleep. However, countless thoughts kept flooding my mind.

I do not know how much time has passed, but the meowing of the kitten awakened me from my thoughts, and Chen Qiaoluo beside me also stood up

As soon as the words fell, I took an umbrella, opened the door, and walked out

It was only after I followed him all the way to the hospital that I realized I had acted foolishly. He is merely someone who does not like me, so why should I shamelessly worry about him? I chuckled bitterly to myself, yet I still followed him into the hospital.

My heart felt as if it had been violently stabbed by someone, and I gritted my teeth as I walked over and pulled Chen Qiaoluo up forcefully.

I stood up from the steps, just about to walk down, when I heard Chen Qiaoluo's voice. He said: "Jun, there is not a single person in this world who wishes to become a bad person. I know that my father made mistakes back then, but that was merely an unintentional error. His mistakes have already caused two families to fall apart, and he has borne the bitter fruit of his actions. However, I do not hate him; I only know that he is my father, the person I love the most. The mistakes he made have already led to the destruction of two families, and he has faced the consequences of his actions. Yet, I do not hate him; I only know that he is my father, the person I love the most. I cannot change the past, but what I can do is to make every effort to repay the sins my father has committed."

I believe that some people need to grow independently. Whether it is myself or Chen Qiaoluo, in the end, we must each move forward alone, facing the unforeseen future by ourselves

After hesitating for a while, I finally spoke up: "Chen Qiaoluo, let's not make a fuss anymore, shall we?"

As the words fell, both of us fell silent for a moment

Indeed, it has been a long time since we last met

Such a result was something I had never anticipated, and the shock in my heart instantly overwhelmed me

I smiled at Chen Qiaoluo and downed the beer in one go

Gu Yu almost ran to the fifth floor. It was only after he finally stopped at the door of a room that I realized it was the operating room. He anxiously paced back and forth there, and I wondered in my heart who was inside. The person who could make Gu Yu this anxious must be someone very important to him

Be careful," he said

Completed

In an instant, I understood everything; it turned out that he, like me, could not help but worry about these kittens. At that moment, the walls I had built within my heart seemed to collapse in an instant. I thought perhaps Chen Qiaoluo had not changed after all; how could someone so compassionate become a person I no longer recognized

I had not expected to encounter Gu Yu on my way home. It was already past 8 PM, and after parting ways with Chen Qiaoluo, I boarded the bus home. As I passed by Tashan Middle Road, I happened to see him hurrying along the street.

A wave of sadness suddenly surged from the depths of my heart, and my nose tinged with a sourness that nearly brought me to tears. I quickly lowered my head to prevent Chen Qiaoluo from seeing me like this, and only raised my head again when the sadness had lessened, responding sharply: "It is truly commendable that you, Young Master Chen, still remember me. I thought that after such a long time apart, you would have completely forgotten who I am."

The young man beside me, seeing Chen Qiaoluo looking over, held me hostage and said to him: "If you continue to be fierce, do you believe I will make your girlfriend suffer right away"

My shoulder was pinched painfully by him, but I paid no attention. I looked straight into his eyes and said, "I don't know"

I am a person lacking in resolve, at least when it comes to facing the Grain Rain.

Chen Qiaoluo did not speak again

Ignoring the discomfort in my heart, I began to search for Chen Qiaoluo's figure table by table. Occasionally, some delinquent youths would come over to tease me, but I paid them no mind

I had not expected Guyu to ask this question, and I was completely taken aback. After a while, I finally managed to stammer out: "I am Zhu Yunhao, my name is Zhu Yunhao."

I cautiously observed everything from a short distance away like a voyeur. I do not know how much time had passed when my father's call came in

Seeing me chase after her, Chen Qiaoluo stopped in her tracks

"Xiao Yu, you have arrived." Dr. Li removed his medical mask and said, "Your mother is temporarily out of danger, but I have already told you last time that her condition is basically untreatable. If she becomes critically ill again, even the legendary Hua Tuo would be powerless to save her."

Seeing me like this, Guyu seemed to understand the general idea and then asked, "What is your name?"

"Let us go." His low voice sounded.

Chen Qiaoluo's sudden action brought a surge of warmth to my heart. I sat cross-legged on my school uniform and opened the pull tab, clinking the can with Chen Qiaoluo.

But if you do this, Sister He Pei will find out sooner or later" Xiao Hei said with concern

Well

I did not know what to say, so I could only reach out my hand to grasp his. He sensed my movement and turned back to give me a weak smile. Then a nurse pushed a hospital bed out from inside, and Gu Yusong released my hand and ran over.

Refusing to toast is equivalent to drinking a penalty drink

Just when I was anxiously at a loss for what to do, a conversation I had overheard a few days ago suddenly flashed through my mind. It was merely a casual chat among a few girls, something I would have forgotten easily, but now I recall that they had mentioned Chen Qiaoluo. One of the girls seemed to have said that she had seen him on her way home, and the location was apparently at the entrance of an underground billiard hall. It was merely a casual chat among a few girls, something I would have forgotten easily, but now I recall that they had mentioned Chen Qiaoluo. One of the girls seemed to have said that she had seen him on her way home, and the location was apparently at the entrance of an underground billiard hall

I cautiously took steps, as raindrops incessantly struck my face, akin to being harshly scraped by a knife. Just as I was about to reach the bottom, my foot suddenly slipped, causing my entire body to lurch forward

What a fool I am, wishing for Jun to be well. I am mocking myself in my heart

Aside from hearing about his father from Chen Qiaoluo last time, this is the first time he has spoken to me in such detail about his family matters. He said, "Although our family has no money, at least we live happily. At that time, I thought I would truly be able to live a carefree and joyful life for the rest of my life. However, everything changed in the year I turned ten.

Seeing this, the few individuals behind him immediately rushed forward and shouted: "You actually dare to hit our people, are you tired of living!"

Seeing my response, Chen Qiaoluo pretended to be heartbroken and shouted at me: "Zhu Junhao, you are truly heartless!"

I do not know if it is because Chen Qiaoluo has disappointed me, but I have been feeling somewhat low-spirited these past few days. Several times, Li Zi has asked me if something is wrong, and I could only shake my head.

Hello Zhu Yun, are you doing well

In my astonishment, a slap landed on my face, and his face had contorted with anger

In the dim light, I could sense the aura of sadness emanating from him. I wanted to reach out and embrace him, but ultimately I restrained myself.

It seems he never considered that I would resist, and the young man, in pain, released my hand and crouched down in agony

These two words flashed through my mind in an instant

Despair and sadness instantly filled my heart, and I kept calling his name, but all that responded to me was noise

I followed him all the way to the rooftop of the school. Seeing that he had no way to retreat, I couldn't help but smile happily and said: "Chen Qiaoluo, you came here on your own. If you obediently come over to meet your end, I might consider letting you off this time."

I hurriedly took a car to get there, and before I even entered, I heard the loud commotion inside. I quickly ran down the stairs, and almost all the people inside were delinquent youths. It seemed they had not considered that a strange girl would come here alone, and for a moment, all eyes were fixed on me.

The wind kept blowing on the rooftop, and Chen Qiaoluo and I sat there for the entire afternoon, finishing all the liquor he had hidden away

I tore the bread into pieces and placed them in front of them, then took out my cup, twisted off the lid, and poured some milk to hand over. Before long, they gathered around and began to eat.

The remedial classes at school lasted for a month and then concluded. During this period, Chen Qiaoluo seemed to have taken my words to heart, as he did not skip a single class. Occasionally, I would encounter Gu Yu at school, and his attitude towards me had improved significantly compared to before

"I do not sympathize with you," I replied, looking into his eyes. "Chen Qiaoluo, sympathy is an act reserved for the weak. In my view, you are strong enough, strong enough to make me unable to help but admire you."

But as soon as my words were spoken, they were drowned out by the noise. I saw Chen Qiaoluo being pushed to the ground, fists raining down upon him like raindrops.

I just hope that after the sun sets today, everything will be better tomorrow