Young Brave Hearts – CH 005

Chapter 5

For a long time afterward, Zhu Yunque didn’t actively pay attention to Lu Rangchen.

At least, that’s how it appeared to outsiders.

She continued to obediently play the role of a well-behaved student, seemingly uninterested in anything else besides studying.

Even when she bumped into Lu Rangchen on campus, she would only glance at him calmly, at Xu Linda’s enthusiastic urging, without showing any emotion.

It seemed she was inherently uninterested in such a dazzling and flamboyant young man.

This made Xu Linda curious, saying she didn’t know what kind of boy Zhu Yunque would like in the future.

But that was only on the surface.

Only Zhu Yunque herself knew that almost every time during recess, she would casually glance in a certain direction during a brief moment of turning.

Less than a second later, she would subtly look away.

Over time, that brief moment became the most secret and shameful secret of seventeen-year-old Zhu Yunque, growing into a towering tree in a corner of her heart, never spoken of to outsiders.

She never dared to hope that she and Lu Rangchen would have anything going on.

They belonged to two different worlds.

She didn’t want to lower herself to the dust for someone she couldn’t reach, no matter how hard she tried.

But fate always seemed to have a way of unexpectedly arranging things for her.

It was a morning in late June.

Zhu Yunque was waiting for the bus at the stop as usual.

Having stayed up all night working on two math tests she wasn’t good at, she was groggy after waking up and accidentally fell asleep on a bench.

Unexpectedly, the No. 65 bus arrived at the stop not long after, but Zhu Yunque, still on the verge of sleep, was completely unaware.

Until her arm was suddenly touched, and a clear, magnetic male voice rang out, “The bus has arrived.”

A faint scent of ebony and sandalwood wafted into her nostrils, and Zhu Yunque’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.

At the same time, the sound of car horns blared around her.

The two sounds intertwined, and Zhu Yunque’s brow furrowed slightly as she awoke from her light sleep.

The moment she opened her eyes, golden sunlight shone on the arrogant, dazzling figure ahead, making him shine brightly in the crowd, with an almost unreal halo.

Lu Rangchen, wearing the same blue and white school uniform and a gray backpack slung loosely over his shoulder, his languidly handsome figure boarded the bus with the flow of people, paid the fare, and walked towards the back of the bus.

Behind the clear glass window, his profile, as if sculpted, was cold and sharp. White earphones were plugged into his ears, as if isolating him in an untouchable world.

In an instant, Zhu Yunque’s mind was stunned.

Her steps felt like walking on cotton; she boarded the bus in a daze, swiping her bus card.

The early morning bus was exceptionally crowded.

Unsurprisingly, the boy’s figure was obscured by the throng of people.

Zhu Yunque’s heart was racing. Her slender arms gripped the railing with difficulty, her lips pressed together until they turned pink. She could only catch glimpses of him through the gaps in the railing as he looked down and fiddled with his phone.

Later, the bus arrived at the Nancheng No. 3 Middle School stop.

Lu Rangchen got off first, joining the morning flow of students heading to school.

Zhu Yunque, however, had already lost all courage.

Even as she silently followed him into the school, she didn’t muster the slightest courage to go up and thank him.

–

Zhu Ping’an arrived home late that night.

At this time, the whole family was asleep. He tiptoed, spoke a few words with Deng Jiali in the living room, and then returned to his bedroom.

Zhu Yunque heard the noise, turned over in the dark, and after a moment, fell into a deep sleep again.

The next morning, she was awakened by the crying of a child, along with the sounds of Deng Jiali making breakfast and the conversations of several adults.

Zhu Yunque, her face bare, slowly got out of bed, took her toiletries to the bathroom, and found the door closed.

Deng Jiali caught a glimpse and hurriedly called out, “Deng Jiaqiang, hurry up, Queque needs to go to school!”

From the bathroom, Deng Jiaqiang responded impatiently.

Zhu Yunque smelled a hint of smoke and unconsciously frowned.

After a two-second standoff, she finally picked up her toiletries and turned to go to the kitchen to get ready.

Soon after, Zhu Ping’an returned with fresh soy milk. By then, Zhu Yunque was already back in her bedroom, getting dressed.

Knowing she was awake, Zhu Ping’an immediately knocked on the door.

It was Tuesday, so there was no need to wear the school uniform. Zhu Yunque was unusually wearing a light pink dress, her shoulder-length hair loose, making her look even more delicate and well-behaved.

Zhu Ping’an smiled. “This dress is pretty.”

Zhu Yunque silently picked up the shopping bag and said calmly, “Mom bought it for me.”

With that, she brushed past him and walked straight to the door.

Zhu Ping’an was taken aback. “Where are you going? You haven’t had breakfast yet.”

Zhu Yunque, holding onto the doorframe, changed her shoes. “I’m going to be late for school.”

With that, she turned and pushed open the door, leaving no time for anyone to react.

Zhu Ping’an could only hurriedly follow her downstairs to school.

Zhu Yunque didn’t refuse.

Since she had to see the teacher anyway, going early or late didn’t matter, and she’d save herself the trouble of squeezing onto the bus.

The two walked together through Yanliu Lane, where Zhu Ping’an had specially bought her her favorite chocolate-filled bread and milk.

Zhu Yunque ate slowly and deliberately in the taxi, looking at the street scene outside the window as she ate.

During the ride, Zhu Ping’an struck up a few conversations with her, mostly about her studies, such as whether the recent material was too difficult for her to keep up with or if something had happened at school that was affecting her.

Zhu Yunque remained silent for a long while before glancing at him and saying, “The school is great; nobody bothers me.”

Zhu Ping’an stared at her intently. “Nobody bothers you, so where’s your schoolbag?”

Zhu Yunque: “…”

Zhu Yunque didn’t want to talk to him anymore and turned back to eating her bread.

The taxi took them to school. Zhu Yunque quickened her pace, and Zhu Ping’an, having paid the fare, hurried after her, handing her a hundred yuan.

Zhu Yunque glanced at it. “I have money; Auntie gave me some yesterday.”

“Take it,” Zhu Ping’an said. “Buy whatever you like to eat. Dad isn’t home often and can’t take good care of you.”

He paused, then smiled awkwardly. “Just don’t tell your Auntie.”

Perhaps because she ate her bread too quickly, Zhu Yunque suddenly felt nauseous. She frowned slightly as she took the money and quickly walked past Zhu Ping’an into the school with the flow of people.

It was getting late. Zhu Yunque had barely sat down in her seat when the morning bell rang. Perhaps because Zhu Ping’an had come to see the teacher, Zheng Guoxiong didn’t stay on the podium to supervise this time. Instead, he gave the class monitor a few instructions to keep an eye on discipline before turning and leaving.

A rustling sound filled the classroom.

Xu Linda whispered to Zhu Yunque, “Your parents are here?”

Zhu Yunque took out the few worksheets she hadn’t taken home last night, removed the pen caps, and started working. “They’re here.”

She paused, then turned to Xu Linda. “Have you finished your homework? Let me copy it.”

Xu Linda’s eyes widened. She usually copied Zhu Yunque’s homework; this was the first time Zhu Yunque had asked her for it.

She handed her the worksheet she had hastily completed, asking curiously, “What were you busy with last night? You didn’t do a single question.”

Zhu Yunque’s expression remained indifferent. “Gao Ge locked me out yesterday; I couldn’t take my things.”

Her soft voice rippled like calm water around them.

Xu Linda’s eyes widened instantly.

Almost instantly, the classroom fell silent.

A variety of gazes swept towards the center of the vortex—surprise, gossip, astonishment, disbelief.

Zhu Yunque slightly raised her eyes and saw Gao Ge, sitting in front of her, visibly stiffening.

–

The thirty minutes of morning self-study flew by as they quickly finished their papers.

The bell rang.

The class monitor began collecting papers.

Zhu Yunque handed in her paper and then placed the pink shopping bag on Gao Ge’s desk.

This action completely dumbfounded everyone around her.

After all, Gao Ge’s ostentatious gift-giving to Lu Rangchen yesterday had been so conspicuous; almost everyone had seen the shopping bag. And yet, the shopping bag had been returned untouched, and through Zhu Yunque no less.

Xu Linda was even more stunned. She thought Gao Ge’s mischief last night was outrageous enough; how could this happen?

Xu Linda, unable to contain her gossip, kept pressing Zhu Yunque to tell her what had happened.

However, before Zhu Yunque could speak, Gao Ge returned.

Seeing the pink shopping bag on the table, she was utterly shocked. Her thoughtful deskmate silently pointed to Zhu Yunque, who was quietly working on her problems at her seat.

Gao Ge looked at Zhu Yunque in disbelief. “What’s going on?”

This shout successfully drew everyone’s attention.

Zhu Yunque didn’t even lift an eyelid. “I ran into him last night when I left. He asked me to return it to you.”

She used “him” instead of “Lu Rangchen” because she didn’t want to attract more attention.

She didn’t like using his name as a gimmick, nor did she want people to think she had anything to do with Lu Rangchen.

But these words, in Gao Ge’s eyes, took on a completely different meaning, as if Zhu Yunque and Lu Rangchen were close, and she was showing off to her.

But what hurt her most was the deeper meaning—Lu Rangchen had absolutely no feelings for her; he even had to ask someone else to pass on the returned gift.

This humiliating moment, exposed by Zhu Yunque, felt like revenge.

Gao Ge instantly lost control of her emotions. Ignoring the stares from all sides of the classroom, she recklessly yelled at Zhu Yunque, “Who do you think you are? Why are you passing on his gift?!”

Although everyone knew Gao Ge was proud and self-centered, this was the first time she had so openly confronted a classmate.

Xu Linda was dumbfounded and speechless. “Are you crazy, Gao Ge? Zhu Yunque was just helping out; why are you yelling?”

Gao Ge ignored her.

She looked at Zhu Yunque with a mixture of grievance and shame. Everyone stared at each other, mouths agape. The usually quiet and reserved Zhu Yunque suddenly opened her eyes.

Like a scroll unfurled.

Every subtle expression on her fair and delicate face was laid bare—her pride, her disdain, her indifference, and her sharpness.

They stared at each other for two seconds.

Gao Ge’s eyes flickered slightly, her expression softening slightly.

Zhu Yunque looked at her calmly for two seconds, then suddenly spoke, “So, you’re going to bully me?”

These words were like a knife, sounding calm but hitting the nail on the head.

The atmosphere instantly became deathly still.

The entire classroom fell silent.

Unexpectedly, Gao Ge’s face flushed red, flustered and anxious. “Who’s going to bully you? Don’t make false accusations!”

Just as she finished shouting, the bell rang for class.

The first class was English, and the teacher was notoriously strict and ruthless.

Gao Ge didn’t dare to disobey, so she could only angrily turn around and sit down, shifting her chair leg forward a considerable distance.

Zhu Yunque, however, remained completely silent.

After a few seconds of silence, she lowered her eyes and took out her English notebook to prepare for class. She didn’t say a word to Gao Ge for the entire morning.

_

The incident of Zhu Yunque and Gao Ge’s conflict quickly spread throughout the school.

Xu Linda disliked Gao Ge even more.

She bumped into her twice in the girls’ restroom, rolling her eyes so hard she almost saw France.

At noon, Xu Linda and Zhu Yunque went to a small restaurant outside the school for lunch. When they returned, Xu Linda saw that Gao Ge’s eyes were red, as if she had just been crying.

Their eyes met unintentionally.

Gao Ge immediately looked away.

Seeing this, Xu Linda scoffed, “You have the nerve to act all aggrieved first.”

Normally, Gao Ge would have exploded.

But now, her shoulders slumped, like a defeated peacock.

Zhu Yunque squeezed Xu Linda’s hand under the table, not wanting her to get involved in this mess.

Just then, her phone rang.

It was her mother, Feng Yanlai.

Zhu Yunque’s eyes flickered slightly. She said she was going out to take this call and left the classroom.

Behind the second teaching building, there was an abandoned little garden. On sunny days, students often frequented it, smoking, chatting, or joking around.

Perhaps because of the recent rain, it was deserted now, quiet and cool.

Zhu Yunque sat in the gazebo, answering Feng Yanlai’s call.

Feng Yanlai didn’t have Zhu Ping’an’s good temper.

Zhu Yunque’s poor performance on the test this time displeased her, so her tone was rather harsh. “Your teacher told your dad that you haven’t been focused lately, and your homework isn’t going well either. Tell me the truth, are you dating someone?”

Parents of this age, at the slightest sign of trouble in their child, will immediately jump to this conclusion.

Zhu Yunque gripped her phone tightly, showing no remorse. “No.”

“Then why? Are you falling behind?”

“No, not really.”

Seeing her hesitation, Feng Yanlai lost her patience. She sighed and tried to be gentle. “Yunque, if anything’s wrong, you can tell Mom. Mom will help you.”

Zhu Yunque slightly shifted her gaze and, sure enough, saw several boys walking and laughing along the tree-lined path not far ahead.

One of them was very tall, wearing a white shirt and jeans. His handsome, arrogant face was particularly striking, and his magnetic voice, with its youthful huskiness and raspiness, was like a captivating melody, resonating deep within the winding path.

Her heart pounded silently. She looked away, her gaze lowered, somewhat absentmindedly. “How will you handle this without you around?”

Upon hearing this, Feng Yanlai instantly understood most of it. “Did Deng Jiali and that old lady bully you?” she asked.

“No.”

“Then what happened?”

Zhu Yunque paused for a few seconds, then slowly said, “My aunt’s younger brother has been living with us lately. Ye Tian said… he was just released from prison not long ago.”

The air suddenly froze.

Feng Yanlai fell silent abruptly. After a few seconds, she said coldly, “Okay, I understand.”

The call ended.

Zhu Yunque slowly let out a sigh.

When she looked up again, the group had already arrived near the pavilion.

Seemingly surprised by the presence of someone, the lead man with the buzz cut stopped. Following him, Lu Rangchen, hands in his pockets, stopped, his dark eyes gazing intently at her, then raising an eyebrow.

Zhu Yunque’s eyes flickered.

He recognized her.

Her mind was bound by this thought, tense and uneasy.

Zhu Yunque lowered her eyes, almost uncontrollably turning and walking down the other side of the pavilion.

She could have left then.

But after a short while, she suddenly stopped, turning back to look at the pavilion.

At this moment, the old but clean pavilion was already occupied by several tall, muscular boys.

Lu Rangchen sat with one leg crossed, leaning against the side closest to her, a lollipop dangling from his mouth, casually flipping through an unknown book. His long, elegant fingers, like umbrella ribs, exuded a lazy yet arrogant air of aristocracy.

A few boys nearby were laughing and making trivial remarks.

The lighter clicked.

Zhu Yunque hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and stopped a few meters from the pavilion.

Out of the corner of his eye, Lu Rangchen’s fingers paused, and he subconsciously turned his gaze, instantly meeting Zhu Yunque’s eyes.

A pair of dark, bright eyes, without glasses, clear and unobstructed.

Compared to that day, she looked more docile, more delicate, and cleaner.

Lu Rangchen’s thick eyebrows furrowed slightly, his gaze towards her ambiguous yet gradually probing.

Before he could speak, the others noticed Zhu Yunque.

Qiang Dengzhe stepped forward with a “Hey!” and laughed, “Isn’t this the girl from Class B? What’s up?”

His loud voice echoed in the small garden.

A sense of oppressive pressure immediately arose, leaving everyone feeling trapped.

Zhu Yunque held her breath, her gaze fixed on Lu Rangchen almost against her will. She moved her lips, “Money.”

Her weak enunciation carried a pitiful, broken quality.

Lu Rangchen paused, his hand still turning the pages of his book, his eyelids fluttering slightly.

Zhu Yunque stared intently at him. “I still owe you a hundred yuan.”