A sense of danger hung in the air...
Emily cautiously stepped back a half-step.
"Bang!"
A sharp knock on her forehead exploded like a firecracker! She yelped in pain. Ugh, she still couldn't dodge it.
"Do you think I'm someone you can just call upon and dismiss at will? Are you trying to get yourself killed?!" Ryan glared at her. "I refuse to leave!"
"...Oh."
Emily rubbed her forehead. If he wasn't leaving, then so be it; why did he have to hit her?
"...Does it hurt?"
His tone was rigid.
She groaned, "It does."
"Bang!" Another sharp knock landed!
Tears nearly spilled from Emily's eyes. Ugh, Ryan was such a violent maniac.
"I asked you if it hurt?!"
He menacedly raised his finger, ready for another intimate encounter with her forehead.
"...Do you want me to say it hurts... or that it doesn't?" She peered at him cautiously through her fingers.
"Tell me the truth!"
"Uh... it seems a little bit painful…"
His finger curled up, as if it might mercilessly strike again at any moment.
"But actually, it doesn't hurt at all! Wow, it really doesn't hurt!" Emily hurriedly blurted out, "It doesn't hurt! Not at all! How strange!"
"Hmm."
As if satisfied, his large hand pressed against her forehead, rubbing it vigorously. The strength was so great that tears welled up in Emily's eyes, but she didn't dare to let out a single whimper. Stupid Ryan!
Suddenly, the dim-witted Ryan cradled her head with both hands.
Under the streetlamp.
His face leaned closer to hers.
Emily's eyes widened.
His lips were right in front of her, the sparkle of the diamond dazzling her senses.
She nervously closed her eyes, holding her breath.
And then—
A gentle exhale, slightly warm, slightly cool, brushed against her forehead, as light as a feather, so delicate, so soft.
She opened her eyes in surprise.
In his gaze, there was a wild, awkward heat mixed with shyness. Seeing her stunned expression, he barked, "What are you staring at! Close your eyes!"
In that instant, she didn't dare to look again.
Ryan chuckled softly. He enjoyed teasing her, relishing the way this clever little cat could sometimes turn into a cute little mouse. He remembered reading somewhere that if a girl liked someone, even if he bullied her, she wouldn't feel hurt. That must have been a lie, because her forehead was already flushed red.
"Hey…"
Emily peeked at him through her eyelashes. Was he laughing? The corners of his mouth twitched.
"What?" he feigned seriousness.
"I want to go back…"
"Why?"
"It's a bit chilly." The sweat on her skin had completely dried, and the night breeze brought a wave of coolness. She had just recovered; she didn't want to get sick again.
"But I don't want to leave!"
"Ah…" Emily's face fell in disappointment.
Amidst the night, the sounds of laughter and music drifted from the open-air cinema on the edge of the playground. Ryan turned his head to look, then suddenly said:
"Let's go watch a movie."
The night sky was low and filled with stars.
The movie screen was a white wall illuminated by the projector, where the male and female leads began their romantic journey of love, separation, and reunion...
Students sat on the tiered steps, in small groups, occasionally shedding tears, applauding, or falling into thoughtful silence.
Ryan and Emily occupied the last and highest step. The night breeze swept around them; his hair was dry, carrying the refreshing scent of his recent shower. He wrapped his arms tightly around the shivering Emily, his voice firm as he said, "See? You're not cold anymore, right?"
His strength pulled her into his embrace, nearly toppling her over.
But—
It was in that moment that she heard his heartbeat.
"Thump—"
His heartbeat echoed in her ear.
"Thump—"
His heartbeat resonated with hers.
"Thump—"
She could even feel the warmth of that heartbeat, the rhythm of blood coursing through his veins.
Time slipped away in the darkness, and everything felt unchanged. She was still herself, and he was still him. As long as he existed, so would she; and as long as she existed, he would be there, too.
Young...
I know you've never really left...
The students in the International Trade class gradually grew accustomed to Ryan's absence becoming a thing of the past, even if he still arrived late, always kicking the classroom door open.
They also got used to Emily dutifully taking notes for Ryan every day, whispering answers to him when the teacher called on him, rushing to intervene during his fights with other students while apologizing on his behalf, and wearing a carefree smile even when he teased her.
So when Ryan submitted his paper in Human Resources class and answered Professor Louis's questions with unexpected ease, the classmates merely widened their eyes, but no one gasped in surprise.
Were Ryan and Emily in a relationship?
There was a day when Emily was sitting at her desk, immersed in her notes, when a wave of whispers rippled through the classroom. She glanced up to see Ryan's ex-girlfriend striding confidently into the room, her presence commanding attention. With a look of disdain, she scanned Emily from head to toe, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Are you really with him?" she scoffed, her voice dripping with derision.
Before Emily could respond, Ryan's textbook flew through the air, hitting the girl squarely on the nose, causing her to stumble back, her carefully done makeup smudging.
From that moment on, no one dared to question the nature of Ryan and Emily's relationship again.
Until one afternoon—
"This is Howie, a transfer student from Lingyun Academy. Please give him a warm welcome," the staff member announced with a smile as she gestured toward the new boy standing at the podium. He stood nearly six feet tall, with raven-black hair and piercing dark eyes that shone with an eagle-like sharpness.