As the time of parting arrived, he still did not utter a single word. Standing under the station's streetlamp, he merely gazed at me silently, his eyes soft beyond measure, with unspoken reluctance and longing hidden deep within. Although the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, there was a trace of bitterness lingering there.
I too looked at him, my eyes filled with sorrow and an unwillingness to part.
For reasons I couldn't fathom, we stood there, gazing into each other's eyes. We didn't speak, yet in that silent exchange, I felt that a thousand words remained unspoken.
I seemed to see the raw love in his eyes, so unguarded, crashing over me like a turbulent tide against the shore, as though he had loved me for many, many years.
The bus was drawing closer to the station.
I was about to say goodbye to him.
Perhaps it was the unwillingness to part that overwhelmed me, but just then, the world before me dimmed as he wrapped his broad arms around me, pulling me into his embrace. In that moment, I truly felt the magnitude of his stature, as if my entire body was embedded within his. His grip was so firm, it was as though he wanted to engrave me into his very bones.
His head buried deeply into the crook of my neck, and I could feel his breath, warm against my skin.
The autumn breeze continued to dance around us, and his lips slowly descended to my shoulder, their cool touch seeping deep into my limbs, causing my body to stiffen slightly.
Only after what seemed like an eternity did he finally release me, standing there in silence.
He spoke.
"Shen Jia, I've waited for you for so long. This time, you'll make it through."
"Shen Jia, I really can't bear to part with you."
"Shen Jia, I truly, truly miss you."
"Shen Jia, please, don't make me wait any longer."
"Shen Jia, I love you."
"Shen Jia, goodbye."
Chu Qingci's voice gradually grew faint in my ears.
The bus arrived at that moment.
He turned and walked toward the vehicle without a glance back. I wanted to chase after him, but found I couldn't move.
I strained with all my might to break free, but my feet felt as if they were rooted to the ground, unable to budge even an inch.
It wasn't until the bus had driven off into the distance that I could move again.
At that moment, I could no longer hold myself together. Slowly, I crouched down, hugging my arms as sobs wracked my body, and tears streamed freely from my eyes.
I swallowed the cries, stifling them in my throat, the faint sobs spilling over my frame.
Chu Qingci, who are you really? Why, in that moment, did I feel that you truly loved me for such a long time?
Why does it hurt so much?
I knew I would never receive an answer.
After my emotions calmed a little, I stood, my gaze hollow as I walked toward the direction of my apartment.
The holiday was nearing its end.
Since that day I parted with Chu Qingci, I hadn't left the house. Occasionally, we exchanged a few words over the phone, but they were few and far between.
The first day of school arrived, the morning sunlight piercingly bright.
The late summer, early autumn breeze gently brushed by, and the willows by the riverbank let their catkins float away, drifting in the sunlight.
In the pond by the green willows, a few wild ducks leisurely swam, creating ripples on the water's surface.
I arrived at school early, and as time passed, my friends gradually arrived.
After greeting one another, they all asked about the progress between Chu Qingci and me, and I chatted with them briefly.
About ten minutes later, I glanced out the window and saw his figure slowly approaching.
Though it was still late summer, the sunlight was harsh, streaming through the blinds and casting gaps of light on my desk.
Feeling somewhat restless, I stretched out my pale, slender fingers, moving them through the gaps in the light and shadow.
A sliver of morning sunlight landed in my palm, and my cold hand gradually warmed as the light seeped into my skin.
Bored, I rested my head on the desk, lazily closing my eyes, enjoying the warmth of the light.
After a few minutes, the light before me suddenly dimmed. The warmth disappeared, replaced by a coolness.
I squinted and lifted my gaze.
A tall figure stood before me.
Chu Qingci's cool, handsome face looked at me, and after a brief glance, he walked to a seat at the back of the room.
I didn't say anything, silently shifting my gaze and body to the back as well.
Looking back at him, I saw him slightly bow his head, searching for something in his bag. The faint sunlight shone on his eyes through the blinds, turning his pupils a warm amber, like the glow of a cat's eye stone. His long lashes cast a shadow beneath his eyes.
I didn't know why, but I was lost in thought, so much so that I didn't notice when he had left his seat and was walking toward me.
A moment later, his voice rang out before me.
"Shen Jia, stop daydreaming. Come help me move the books." His cold voice cut through the air, and I snapped back to reality, replying quietly.
"Okay." I followed his footsteps down the stairs.
The stairs were long, winding with several turns. As I was focused on observing his movements, I failed to notice the step below me and missed it.
In that instant, my heart skipped several beats, and I felt a wave of panic, as if I could hardly breathe.
Just as I thought I would tumble down the stairs,
Chu Qingci quickly reached out and grabbed me. One hand held the handrail, the other grasped me. Perhaps the force was too much, and he couldn't steady me.
Both of us tumbled down the staircase. At that moment, he pulled me into his arms, his large hand cradling my head.
There weren't many people in the corridor, but those who witnessed the incident were all in shock, rushing over to ask about our condition.